:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67045508/1147207205.jpg.0.jpg)
Wednesday’s MLB card offers some interesting spots to get in on at DK Sportsbook. With some hot offenses facing rusty pitching, team totals will be the focus today. But DK Sportbook does a great job offering creative wagers, so we’ll get in on some of those as well.
Here’s what I’ve got for Wednesday:
MIAMI MARLINS VS. CINCINNATI REDS (6:40 P.M. ET)
CIN ML (-148)
While the Reds are off to a miserable start to the season, they’re a better home team at 2-4. Miami is just 3-8 in the early going, with a 1-3 road record. RHP Tyler Mahle pitched six shutout innings in Pittsburgh in his first start of the season, and Miami ranks just 25th in OPS against RHP.
While RHP Trevor Richards has been solid to begin the season, the Reds have lost both of his starts by allowing the opposition to score six runs in each game. The Reds have some good LHBs for this matchup in Joey Votto, Scott Schebler and Jesse Winkler, which Miami lacks in its lineup. I would play this one smaller than the other plays in this article just because you have to pay the most juice, and the Reds are the worst of the teams we’ll be betting on.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (7:05 P.M. ET)
OAK team total: OVER 5.5 (-109)
The Orioles will be starting RHP Dan Straily in this game, who didn’t even have a home during spring training. That was evident in his debut with Baltimore, when he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen to the Yankees — including a pair of home runs. Straily clearly still has work to do to reach his peak, which is merely an average MLB pitcher at best.
The A’s smashed for 13 runs Tuesday in Baltimore, and have hit Straily well in the past — Oakland’s bats are 11-for-36 (.306) against him in their careers. The A’s are averaging 5.43 runs in road games this season, so being in a hitter’s park like Camden Yards only should help this team total.
Related Bet: OAKLAND ATHLETICS VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
OAK to score first and win: YES (+125)
This bet ties in perfectly. Oakland is -180 on the moneyline, but we can boost those odds all the way to +125 if it scores first. Being on the road gives the A’s the first chance to bat in each inning, and given the numbers we just looked at with Straily, it might not take long for these bats to strike. Oakland RHP Frankie Montas has just a 2.45 ERA through two starts this season, so if the A’s do take a few innings to get going, they have a solid option on the mound to keep the Orioles’ bats under control.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES VS. CHICAGO CUBS (8:05 P.M. ET)
PIT team total: OVER 2.5 (-141)
You have to lay some juice on this one, but 2.5 is SUCH a low team total against Chicago RHP Yu Darvish, and a horrendous Cubs bullpen. Let’s start with Darvish’s season — he owns an 8.10 ERA, giving up six runs in 6 2/3 innings. Walks have been a huge issue for Darvish, putting 11 runners on base to just six strikeouts. Darvish hasn’t pitched more than four innings in either of his starts and his early exits have left the Cubs in terrible spots, losing those games 8-6 and 9-4.
Pittsburgh’s bats that’ve faced Darvish are a combined 15-for-44 (.341) against him, suggesting it might be able to get to him early. The Pirates are averaging close to four runs per game this season and have scored over 2.5 runs in six of their nine games.
SEATTLE MARINERS VS. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (10:07 P.M. ET)
SEA team total: OVER 5.5 (+112)
Seattle’s historic start continued Tuesday with another six runs. The Mariners are averaging eight runs per game, and have gone over this 5.5 total in an astounding 11-of-13 games this season. While regression is due at some point in time, this matchup suggests the bats should be able to keep the offense coming.
RHP Heath Fillmyer went back and forth as a starter and bullpen arm for Kansas City last season, finishing his first year in the majors with a 4.26 ERA. The Royals’ bullpen finished dead last in ERA in the 2018 season, and it hasn’t proven to be improved so far in 2019. Getting plus odds on this number feels like a gift.
PARLAY OF THE DAY
CIN/OAK/SEA moneylines (+327)
This just would be a small parlay to kind of wrap up most of the plays we like within the article. If we do well with all of the main bets, wins for these three teams could be a nice cherry-on-top to more than triple our money. Let’s make a good day even better.
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
Odds and lines subject to change. See website for actual odds.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.