Today the weekend wraps up with 15 MLB games, 15 NBA games and 7 NHL games. Yesterday we saw MLB unders go an incredible 13-1-1. Unders are now 21-11-2 (66%) on the season. Favorites are off to a 22-12 (65%) start.
With these early season trends in mind, let's discuss where smart money is leaning for several MLB games today...
1:05 p.m. ET: Oakland Athletics (0-2) at Philadelphia Phillies (2-0)
The Phillies have taken the first two games of this Interleague series, winning the opener 9-5 as -190 home favorites and then winning again on Saturday 4-2 as -200 home favorites. In this early afternoon series finale, Oakland hands the ball to young righty Daulton Jefferies (1-0, 3.60 ERA in 2021) while Philadelphia counters with veteran righty Zach Eflin (4-7, 4.17 ERA). This line opened with Philadelphia listed as a -200 home favorite and Oakland a %plussign%180 road dog. Pros seem to be saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," steaming the Phillies up from -200 to -220. Non-division home favorites are 500-314 (61%) since over the past two seasons. The total opened at 9.5 and has fallen to 9, signaling pro money leaning on a lower-scoring game. The forecast calls for high 40s with 15 MPH winds blowing in from left center.
1:10 p.m. ET: Baltimore Orioles (0-2) at Tampa Bay Rays (2-0)
The Rays have won both games in this AL East divisional clash, beating the Orioles 2-1 as -185 favorites in the opener and winning again yesterday 5-3 as -210 home favorites. In this afternoon's series finale, Baltimore hands the ball to righty Tyler Wells (2-3, 4.11 ERA in 2021) while Tampa Bay sends out veteran righty Corey Kluber (5-3, 3.83 ERA). This line opened with the Rays listed as a -200 home favorite and the Orioles a %plussign%185 road dog. Wiseguys aren't outsmarting themselves on this one. They're backing the Rays to complete the sweep, steaming Tampa Bay up from -200 to -210. Home favorites -200 or more are 4-0 so far this season. The total is 9 with the under juiced to -120. Some shops have even fallen to 8.5. This indicates some respected money leaning under. The under is 2-0 so far this series. Historically, unders have performed better in domes or closed roof stadiums due to the perfect pitching conditions and the ball doesn't travel as well indoors.
2:10 p.m. ET: Cleveland Guardians (0-2) at Kansas City Royals (2-0)
The Royals have taken both games in this AL Central series, winning the opener 3-1 as %plussign%110 home dogs and winning again on Saturday 1-0 as -120 home favorites. In this afternoon's series finale, Cleveland taps righty Cal Quantrill (8-3, 2.89 ERA in 2021) while Kansas City trots out lefty Kris Bubic (6-7, 4.43 ERA). This line opened with the Royals listed as a short -120 home favorite and the Guardians a %plussign%110 road dog. Respected money has come down on Cleveland to avoid the sweep, dropping the Guardians from %plussign%110 to -105. Essentially, sharp Cleveland money has dropped the game to a pick'em. The Guardians have value as a divisional dog with a high total. The first two games of this series sailed under. But today's total is 8.5 with the over juiced up to -120, signaling some over support and a possible rise to 9. The forecast calls for low 70s with 20 MPH winds blowing out to dead center, which provides an added boost to the offense.