MLB Premium Play 08/26: St Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds

MLB - 951 St Louis Cardinals @ 952 Cincinnati Reds

(Starting Pitchers: A. Wainwright vs H. Bailey)

***TRIPLE DIME PLAY***

With the series tied at 1-1, these two teams will fight today for the win that gives them the victory on this series. For that, the Cardinals will start today their ace Wainwright, who is coming from a complete game against Houston, where he shutout the Astros while allowing just five hits, while striking out 12 batters. He is now back on his best form and after a month of July where he had 2.18 FIP and 2.73 xFIP, he keeps being impressive in August as well, with 1.16 ERA, 2.00 FIP and 2.63 xFIP. He had a few struggles earlier on the season against the Reds when he was still looking for his best form, however looking at this current form and the fact that the Reds' roster is hitting .198 BA and .586 OPS in 131 AB's against him, I believe Wainwright will have another quality outing today.

On the other hand, Cincinnati will start Bailey today, who is coming from an outing in Philadelphia, where he allowed two runs and seven hits in 6.1 innings. Bailey keeps being impressive on the road with a 2.91 ERA and 3.11 FIP, but he definitely struggles much more at home with a 5.42 ERA and 5.63 FIP! Bailey has faced the Cardinals twice previously on this season and while on the first game, he was pounded with 4 earned runs in 5.2 IP, he was very lucky on his second outing against St Louis, with a 1.13 ERA on that game, but with a 4.97 FIP and 4.64 xFIP, in a game where he allowed 9 hits and had just 2 strikeouts, but he still only allowed 1 earned run. And if Wainwright dominates the Reds, the same doesn't happen with Bailey against the Cardinals, as the Cards' roster is hitting .328 BA and .979 OPS against him in 122 AB's. 

After Cincinnati's blowout win yesterday, I expect Wainwright to help the Cardinals bounce back with a dominant performance, while the in-form Cards batters should put Bailey in a lot of trouble today. Therefore, I'll be taking St Louis on this contest. Triple Dime Play!

Pick: 5 units (Triple Dime Play) on 951 St Louis Cardinals ML (w/ A. Wainwright) @ -130 / 1.77 on Betonline

MLB - 953 Houston Astros @ 954 New York Mets

(Starting Pitchers: L. Harrell vs J. Hefner)

NOTE: No writeup for this play

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 953 Houston Astros ML (w/ L. Harrell) @ +147 / 2.47 on Betonline

MLB Free Premium Play 08/26: Toronto Blue Jays @ Baltimore Orioles

Toronto  at Baltimore  MLB - 971 Toronto Blue Jays @ 972 Baltimore Orioles (Starting Pitchers: H. Alvarez vs C. Tillman) With Baltimore fighting for a wildcard placing, they can't lose games like this one. Toronto will start Alvarez today and he is now clearly on a major slump. He looked impressive early on the season, but he started to struggle recently, with his last outing at home against Texas showing exactly that, as he had allowed eight runs on twelve hits in just 4.1IP. He is too hittable and the Orioles will have a field day with him today, after Alvarez being very lucky on his first two starts against Baltimore this season, as he posted an ERA of 3.86 and 2.57 in those games, while having a 5.67 FIP + 5.28 xFIP and 5.81 FIP + 5.43 xFIP. It's regression time for Alvarez and he will be pounded today. The Orioles will start Tillman today, who has been a very solid SP in Baltimore. He is coming from an outing in Texas last Tuesday, where he allowed just three runs and six hits in 6.2 IP, in a very good performance for him. Toronto's lineup is a very poor one nowadays due to some many injuries and an in-form and solid SP like Tillman won't have problems against them today. With Baltimore having such a SP edge and hitting edge as well for this contest, I fully believe the Orioles won't have problems in beating Toronto today and complete the series sweep. Therefore, I'll be taking Baltimore today. NOTE: Also available on 5Dimes at -121 / 1.83 Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 972 Baltimore Orioles RL -1 (w/ C. Tillman) @ -119 / 1.84 on Pinnacle

MLB Premium Play 08/25: Kansas City Royals @ Boston Red Sox

MLB - 929 Kansas City Royals @ 930 Boston Red Sox

(Starting Pitchers: J. Guthrie vs A. Cook)

***TRIPLE DIME PLAY***

This is a special game considering the trade the Red Sox just made with the Dodgers, with Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto being sent to LA for a package of prospects. With Boston being in a terrible spot tonight because of that, the Royals have a huge chance to get the win in here.

Especially when Kansas City will start Guthrie today, who has been ridiculously good lately, with a 0.97 ERA and 23/5 K/BB ratio on his last four games. He has a 0.94 ERA, 2.02 FIP and 3.66 xFIP in August and even though he has struggled in the past against the Red Sox when he was in Baltimore, that Red Sox lineup had Carl Crawford and David Ortiz, who used to make him struggle big time, but they will be both out of today's game. With a weak lineup for tonight's game, I expect the Red Sox to be dominated by the super in-form Guthrie.

Speaking of that trade, Josh Beckett was supposed to start today and on his place, Boston is starting Aaron Cook, who was about to get released due to his poor outings. He has a 5.03 ERA and a 1-5 record since the All-Star break and he will just have 3 days rest for this contest, so I believe Kansas City won't have problems in scoring a few runs tonight, something that should be more than enough for them, as they have the red hot Guthrie in the mount tonight.

With such a huge SP edge on this contest favoring the Royals and with the Red Sox presenting a poor lineup tonight due to some injuries and the trade they just made with the Dodgers, I believe Kansas City will comfortably win tonight's game and so, I'll take them in here. Triple Dime Play!

Pick: 5 units (Triple Dime Play) on 929 Kansas City Royals ML (w/ J. Guthrie) @ -105 / 1.95 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/25: Los Angeles Angels @ Detroit Tigers

MLB - 925 Los Angeles Angels @ 926 Detroit Tigers

(Starting Pitchers: D. Haren vs D. Smyly)

I don't expect a good night for any of these two pitchers, especially against such powerful offenses. The Angels will start Haren and he has allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 7IP over his last two outings. He had some extra rest before this contest, but I don't believe his problem was tiredness. Over his last seven starts, his FIP was lower than 4 just once and with Detroit being a top hitting team against RHP, I believe Haren will have another poor outing today.

On the other hand, Smyly was recalled by the Tigers and he wasn't being very impressive in the minors with a 6.11 ERA and 4.11 FIP in seven starts. He is a pitcher who heavily struggles against RH batters and with the red hot Angels offense being exclusively composed by RH batters, I believe Smyly is going to have a very problematic game.

With both pitchers heavily struggling against two powerful offenses, I believe we are into a slugfest and so, I'll be taking the Over in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 925/926 Over 9.5 (w/ D. Haren & D. Smyly) @ -120 / 1.83 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/25: New York Yankees @ Cleveland Indians

MLB - 921 New York Yankees @ 922 Cleveland Indians

(Starting Pitchers: H. Kuroda vs J. Masterson)

The Yankees will start Kuroda tonight, who has been amazing lately, and he allowed just one run and six hits on his last 17 innings! Kuroda is amazing against RH hitters with .208 BA, 3.04 FIP and 2.91 xFIP, however he struggles with LH hitters with .260 BA, 4.24 FIP and 4.32 xFIP! He will face tonight a Cleveland lineup with 6 LH hitters plus 2 switch hitters, so Kuroda will have to pitch against 8 lefties tonight, so this will likely be a tough night for Kuroda.

But it won't be any easier for Masterson, who will start tonight for Cleveland. He is coming from seven runs allowed in 5.2 IP in Oakland, with his 11.12 ERA, 6.98 FIP and 3.95 xFIP showing his struggles. He will now face a patient lineup of the Yankees, who are #6 in the league in BB% with 8.7%, something that will make Masterson struggle, as he only has the fastball on his arsenal and without a good command, the Yankees will pound him, especially when they are by far the best team in the league in hitting against fastballs.

So, with Kuroda facing a lineup full of left handed hitters and the struggling Masterson facing the patient and deadly lineup of the Yankees, I expect a game with much more runs scored than yesterday and so, I'll take the Over in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 921/922 Over 8.5 (w/ H. Kuroda & J. Masterson) @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker

MLB Premium Play 08/25: Miami Marlins @ Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB - 915 Miami Marlins @ 916 Los Angeles Dodgers

(Starting Pitchers: J. Johnson vs C. Kershaw)

On this great game with two good pitchers on the mount, I believe it will be the much superior offense of the Dodgers to make the difference in here. Miami will start their ace Johnson tonight and he is coming from an outing in Colorado, where he threw 119 pitches. He has been very solid lately, but he has been getting no run support whatsoever, so I believe he may be in danger of a big letdown tonight against a Dodgers offense who just keep getting better and better, especially now with Adrian Gonzalez making his debut tonight.

On the other hand, Kershaw will start tonight for the Dodgers and he has been likely the best pitcher in the league lately. With his dominant pitching, he won't have problems with the poor Marlins offense, something that will put Johnson in tremendous pressure on the other side. I expect Kershaw to completely dominate the Marlins, while Johnson won't be able to handle the powerful Dodgers lineup for the whole game, allowing some runs that will be enough for the Dodgers having a comfortable win tonight. Therefore, I'll be taking the Dodgers in here.

NOTE: Also available on 5Dimes at -135 / 1.74

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 916 Los Angeles Dodgers RL -1 (w/ C. Kershaw) @ -128 / 1.78 on Pinnacle

MLB Premium Play 08/25: Milwaukee Brewers @ Pittsburgh Pirates

MLB - 911 Milwaukee Brewers @ 912 Pittsburgh Pirates

(Starting Pitchers: S. Marcum vs J. Karstens)

Milwaukee will start the returning Marcum, who is coming from the DL due to an elbow injury. He pitched 71 pitches in a rehab start in Triple-A, but he will of course be limited on his pitch count tonight and we all know how poor the Brewers bullpen is and therefore, even if Marcum has a good outing tonight, the Pirates will have the opportunity to pound the Brewers bullpen later in the game.

The Pirates will start Karstens tonight, who has been very solid lately. He has a 3.60 ERA, a 3.74 FIP and a 3.94 xFIP in August and he is coming from two runs allowed on two hits in 7.0IP against St Louis. He has good numbers against the Brewers with .227 BA and .760 OPS in 97 AB's, so I believe he will have another good outing tonight.

With Pittsburgh trying to get revenge from yesterday's loss and with the very solid Karstens surely giving them more security in terms of pitching than the returning Marcum and the terrible Brewers bullpen, I believe the Pirates will bounce back tonight and get a comfortable win in here. I'll be taking Pittsburgh tonight.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 912 Pittsburgh Pirates ML (w/ J. Karstens) @ -131 / 1.76 on 5Dimes