With September just around the corner, we are entering the final stage of the MLB regular season. Many teams are fighting for a postseason spot and it will be very interesting to see which of them is going to make it.
A new week usually means the start of new series of games. Here’s our pick of the two best match-ups in the upcoming two days. Read through it and then bet on both these games using our many online bookmakers here!
Cincinnati Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals
Date: Monday, August 30, 2021
Time: 6:40 PM (ET)
Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
National League Central Division rivals Cicinnati and St Louis begin a three-game series with this Monday evening duel at the Great American Ball Park.
The Reds are 4.5 games ahead of the Cardinals but both teams are far behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, that are 7.5 games ahead of the Reds.
The Reds are focused on making it to the Wild Card game and currently stand in second in the NL behind the unreachable Los Angeles Dodgers, who enjoy a lead of 11.5 games.
Expect Cincinnati to start Luis Castillo on the mound in the opening game. The 28-year-old right-handed pitcher is not having his best season: he is 7-13 with 4.29 ERA, well below his career average of 3.77. Castillo is 1-2 in his last three starts, when he allowed almost 6.5 hits per game.
On the other side, the Cardinals will start 37-year-old Jon Lester. Lester has a 4-6 record this season and a 5.27 ERA – numbers that clearly indicate that the veteran is past his prime. Lester usually doesn’t pitch past the 5th inning these days, and you can expect that pattern to continue on Monday.
Both these teams had lost two of their last five games before the Sunday night games.
The Reds have won six out of the last seven games against the Cardinals, making them clear favorites to start this series with a win.
The last four games between these two have seen 12.5 runs on average.
Both teams have players on the 10-day injury list who will not be suiting up for the upcoming series.
The Reds will definitely be without Jesse Winker, Brad Brach and Tejay Antone while Mike Moustakas is listed day-to-day.
The Cardinals will play on Monday without Ryan Helsley, Wade LeBlanc, Justin Miller, Andrew Miller and Dakota Hudson, who is on the 60-day injury list.
Betting on Reds vs Cardinals - Odds and Tips
Spread: Reds -1.5/Cardinals +1.5
Moneyline: Reds 1.5/Cardinals 2.7
Over/Under: 9
Picks: Reds -1.5/Moneyline Reds/Over
Toronto Blue Jays vs Baltimore Orioles
Date: Monday, August 23, 2021
Time: 7:07 PM (ET)
Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
This is a matchup between two teams having remarkably different seasons.
The Blue Jays have a decent 52.3 winning percentage, but are left at a disadvantage by the fact that they play in arguably the strongest MLB division. The Rays, Yankees and Red Sox are all ahead of them, leaving the Blue Jays in fourth place in the AL East.
A postseason spot remains just within their reach, even though the Wild Card game is their only real option for making the playoffs.
Making it to the Wild Card will be a challenge in itself, given that the Blue Jays are fifth in the run, 6.5 games behind the Red Sox.
They need to make up some ground fast, and opportunities don’t come much better than a three-game series against the Orioles.
The Orioles are just a disaster this season. They have an MLB-wort 40-88 record and lost 19 straight games before snapping that losing streak against the Angels last week. They strike out frequently, are only managing 4.10 runs per game and struggle on the defensive end too, with a -45 DRS.
Robbie Ray will be the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays while the Orioles still hadn’t settled on a starting pitcher at the time this preview was written.
Ray is having a very good season, with a 9-5 record and 2.72 ERA.
Both teams have lost three of their last five games but the Blue Jays have won seven of the last ten against Baltimore.
Toronto will be without injured Cavan Biggio, Brad Hand and George Springer while Santiago Espinal is listed as day-to-day.
The Orioles have no inured players but that fact won’t make any difference against the Blue Jays.
Betting on Blue Jays vs Orioles: Odds and Tips
Spread: Blue Jays -1.5/Oriloes +1.5
Moneyline: Blue Jays 1.35/ Oriloes 3.25
Over/Under: 9
Pick: Blue Jays -1.5/Moneyline Blue Jays/Over
