8월2일 best MLB bets

Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays (-110, 8)

Both teams are on a roll, winning nine of their last 10, and pitching has big a big part of their recent surges.

The Twins are coming off back-to-back shutouts and have allowed a total of only 19 runs during the 10-game stretch. The Rays have allowed just 20 in the same span.

But the roll has taken a toll on the Rays' starting pitchers, all of whom lasted at least six innings in each of their two starts during the team's hot streak.

So manager Joe Maddon has decided to give them all an extra day of rest and has called up righthanded prospect Jeremy Hellickson to face the hot-hitting Twins.

"It's our attempt at being prudent, monitoring their pitches and innings," Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times. "It's about having a very capable pitcher like Hellickson who we feel good about throwing out there in that moment."

The big difference between the two team's success has been hitting. The Twins scored in double-digits in three straight games and tallied 68 runs during their 10-game stretch. The Rays managed just 39.

Hellickson is a top prospect, going 12-3 with a 2.45 ERA at Triple-A Durham, but he's making his big-league debut against some big-time hitters. Welcome to the show, kid.

Pick: Twins

Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates (145, 8)

Talk about two teams headed in opposite directions, this matchup between the red-hot Reds and the piss-poor Pirates only matters in one dugout.

The Reds have won four of their last five after getting a rare series win against the Braves over the weekend. They showed true grit by rallying late to win the last two.

The Pirates have lost eight of their last 10 and have scored only 25 runs during that span. The Bucs are batting just .246 against lefties this season.

But pitching is the real concern for Pittsburgh, with starter Ross Ohlendorf (1-8) returning to the mound for the first time since getting hit in the head by a liner against the Rockies.

Ohlendorf has lasted more than six innings only three times in his last 10 outings and the Bucs traded away closer Octavio Dotel, throwing their bullpen in disarray. This one probably won't be close enough to matter.

Pick: Reds

Streaking

John Lackey (10-5, 4.26 ERA), Boston Red Sox

Lackey is finally starting to live up to that five-year, $82.5 million he signed in the offseason. The former Angels ace survived a miserable first two months of the season and has rebounded nicely in June and July.

The Red Sox are 3-0 in his last three starts and 8-4 in his last 12. He also owns a 2.35 ERA over his last three appearances.

Brett Myers (8-6, 3.10 ERA), Houston Astros

Houston traded away most of its talented veterans but held onto Myers. There’s even talk the Astros are close to signing the former Phillies hurler to an extension.

So while Houston begins its youth movement, the club wants Myers to hang around and anchor the rotation – and for good reason. Just take a look at dude’s stats.

Even with a brutal lineup and relief staff, the ‘Stros are 4-0 in Myers’ last four outings.

Slumping

Monday’s group of hurlers doesn’t feature a guy who’s really been piss poor lately, but there are three quality arms coming off terrible starts.

Fausto Carmona (10-8, 3.92 ERA), Cleveland Indians

Carmona was rocked for seven runs on 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings last week against the Yankees.

"Fausto just didn't have it," Indians manager Manny Acta told reporters after the game. "That's the wrong lineup not to have your pitches working for you. They hit him around and put him in a big hole."

Yovani Gallardo (9-5, 2.77 ERA), Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers’ ace was a victim of the Big Red Machine in his last outing. Gallardo surrendered six runs, five of which were earned, in just 2 2/3 innings.

"It was one of those days that it just felt like anything I threw up there was going to get hit," Gallardo said after getting the hook.

Johan Santana (8-5, 3.11 ERA), New York Mets

This two-time Cy Young winner allowed a career-high 13 hits in his last trip to the hill. He got tagged for six runs in the first inning and need 38 pitches just to get out of that first frame.

"Johan really did a great job of settling down, saving our bullpen a little bit," Mets third baseman David Wright told the Associated Press after the game.

Santana allowed just one more run before being lifted in the top of the sixth inning.