3 Best Bets June 26: Cincinnati Is Today's Top Underdog
Cincinnati Reds vs. Baltimore Orioles
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards in Baltimore
Who Starts for Baltimore?
Cole Irvin starts for the Orioles tonight.
So far this season, Irvin has struggled against every team except the lowly Royals.
Even Oakland, for example, amassed six earned runs against him in four innings.
In addition to struggling to induce soft contact, he consistently allows a lot of hard contact.
His pitches lack the quality to render him competitive against any decent lineup.
For example, he relies heavily on a fastball that is rather weak.
This pitch places in the 20th percentile in velocity and in the fifth percentile in spin.
As such, he is Baltimore's least profitable pitcher for bettors to back.
Reds Lineup
The Reds match up superbly well against Irvin given his combo of four pitches and his fly ball-inducing style.
They rank fourth with a .473 slugging rate against his favorite pitches from lefties.
Moreover, they slug .71 better against fly ball pitchers than they do against ground ball ones.
Several Red batters also carry strong form into this game.
Jake Fraley, for example, has a five-game hitting streak as part of which he has belted a double and three homers.
Baltimore's Bad Spot
The Orioles are in a bad spot because they underperform on their first game back from a road trip.
In this spot, they were shut out by the Rays, blown out by the Rangers and Mariners, and just eked out wins over abysmal Detroit and Kansas City.
Their mediocre slugging rate against Reds' starter Brandon Williamson's pitches from lefties doesn't add hope.
Best Bet: Reds ML at +118 with BetOnline
Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 8:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington
Who Starts for Detroit?
Matt Boyd starts for the Tigers today.
Boyd's last start creates a false sense of promise in him because it took place against the Royals.
The fact that he had allowed nine earned runs in his previous two starts, which took place against the Twins and Diamondbacks, is telling.
He consistently struggles against stronger competition.
Furthermore, opponents that match up well against him reliably thrive.
Two of his worst starts came against the O's and Diamondbacks.
Those teams rank seventh and tenth, respectively, against his favorite pitches from lefties.
Rangers Lineup
The outlook for Texas's lineup today is solid because it matches up well against Boyd.
It ranks fourth in slugging .452 against his pitches from lefties.
Moreover, Boyd is a fly ball-inducing pitcher, and the Rangers slug .493 against fly-ball inducing pitchers compared to .358 against ground ball-inducing ones.
Among others, watch out for Robbie Grossman and Mitch Garver.
Grossman slugs .536 against him, Garver .933.
Who Starts for the Rangers?
Andrew Heaney starts for Texas today.
Whereas Boyd frequently implodes, Heaney is consistent.
Heaney has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight straight starts.
Tigers Lineup
Heaney's outlook is solid today because the Tigers rank second-to-last with a .370 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.
Two of the three batters with strong track records against Heaney are inactive and the other is enduring the worst season of his career.
Additional Factor
Expect the Rangers to be extra focused today.
They are 5-2 after a two-game losing streak with both losses coming against tough teams.
Best Bet: Rangers RL at -106 with BetOnline
Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 9:38 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
Who Starts for the Angels?
Reid Detmers starts for the Angels today.
His 3.19 home FIP is especially impressive because it is deflated by his poor start to the season back in April.
Right now, he is pitching superbly: in his last two home starts, he has allowed one earned run in 12.2 innings.
Moreover, he has allowed two earned runs in his last three starts overall in 18.2 innings.
His form is particularly impressive because he's sustaining it even against teams that match up well against him.
For example, most recently he shut down the Dodgers. He likewise handled the Cubs and Rangers.
Detmers is thriving while inducing fly balls and avoiding hard contact.
He leans especially on a uniquely hard and tight slider and on a fastball and curveball that enjoy a lot of movement.
Starter and Lineup Comparison
Dylan Cease starts for the White Sox today.
In terms of runs allowed and opponents faced, Cease's form isn't as convincing as Detmers'.
Moreover, Detmers matches up better against the White Sox lineup than Cease does against the Angels.
Both are fly ball-inducing pitchers, but the Angels slug .474 against fly ball pitchers whereas the White Sox slug .399 against them.
The White Sox would rather face ground-ball-inducing pitchers.
Angels' Lineup Will Thrive Today
L.A.'s outlook is solid today because it ranks fifth with a .456 slugging rate against Cease's favorite pitches from righties.
Cease is already 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA in Angel Stadium.
Additional Factor
The White Sox are in a bad spot.
They are 3-9 in road series openers.
Best Bet: Angels ML at -124 with BetOnline
Cincinnati Reds vs. Baltimore Orioles
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards in Baltimore
- Cole Irvin's pitching arsenal is uniquely weak
- The Reds match up excellently against Irvin
- Baltimore is in a bad spot
Who Starts for Baltimore?
Cole Irvin starts for the Orioles tonight.
So far this season, Irvin has struggled against every team except the lowly Royals.
Even Oakland, for example, amassed six earned runs against him in four innings.
In addition to struggling to induce soft contact, he consistently allows a lot of hard contact.
His pitches lack the quality to render him competitive against any decent lineup.
For example, he relies heavily on a fastball that is rather weak.
This pitch places in the 20th percentile in velocity and in the fifth percentile in spin.
As such, he is Baltimore's least profitable pitcher for bettors to back.
Reds Lineup
The Reds match up superbly well against Irvin given his combo of four pitches and his fly ball-inducing style.
They rank fourth with a .473 slugging rate against his favorite pitches from lefties.
Moreover, they slug .71 better against fly ball pitchers than they do against ground ball ones.
Several Red batters also carry strong form into this game.
Jake Fraley, for example, has a five-game hitting streak as part of which he has belted a double and three homers.
Baltimore's Bad Spot
The Orioles are in a bad spot because they underperform on their first game back from a road trip.
In this spot, they were shut out by the Rays, blown out by the Rangers and Mariners, and just eked out wins over abysmal Detroit and Kansas City.
Their mediocre slugging rate against Reds' starter Brandon Williamson's pitches from lefties doesn't add hope.
Best Bet: Reds ML at +118 with BetOnline
Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 8:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington
- Matt Boyd reliably struggles against strong teams
- The Rangers match up very well against Boyd
- Texas is in a strong buckle-down spot
Who Starts for Detroit?
Matt Boyd starts for the Tigers today.
Boyd's last start creates a false sense of promise in him because it took place against the Royals.
The fact that he had allowed nine earned runs in his previous two starts, which took place against the Twins and Diamondbacks, is telling.
He consistently struggles against stronger competition.
Furthermore, opponents that match up well against him reliably thrive.
Two of his worst starts came against the O's and Diamondbacks.
Those teams rank seventh and tenth, respectively, against his favorite pitches from lefties.
Rangers Lineup
The outlook for Texas's lineup today is solid because it matches up well against Boyd.
It ranks fourth in slugging .452 against his pitches from lefties.
Moreover, Boyd is a fly ball-inducing pitcher, and the Rangers slug .493 against fly-ball inducing pitchers compared to .358 against ground ball-inducing ones.
Among others, watch out for Robbie Grossman and Mitch Garver.
Grossman slugs .536 against him, Garver .933.
Who Starts for the Rangers?
Andrew Heaney starts for Texas today.
Whereas Boyd frequently implodes, Heaney is consistent.
Heaney has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight straight starts.
Tigers Lineup
Heaney's outlook is solid today because the Tigers rank second-to-last with a .370 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.
Two of the three batters with strong track records against Heaney are inactive and the other is enduring the worst season of his career.
Additional Factor
Expect the Rangers to be extra focused today.
They are 5-2 after a two-game losing streak with both losses coming against tough teams.
Best Bet: Rangers RL at -106 with BetOnline
Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 9:38 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
- Andrew Heaney's form is rather impressive
- The Angels enjoy clear matchup advantages with their pitching and lineup
- Dylan Cease dislikes pitching in Angel Stadium
Who Starts for the Angels?
Reid Detmers starts for the Angels today.
His 3.19 home FIP is especially impressive because it is deflated by his poor start to the season back in April.
Right now, he is pitching superbly: in his last two home starts, he has allowed one earned run in 12.2 innings.
Moreover, he has allowed two earned runs in his last three starts overall in 18.2 innings.
His form is particularly impressive because he's sustaining it even against teams that match up well against him.
For example, most recently he shut down the Dodgers. He likewise handled the Cubs and Rangers.
Detmers is thriving while inducing fly balls and avoiding hard contact.
He leans especially on a uniquely hard and tight slider and on a fastball and curveball that enjoy a lot of movement.
Starter and Lineup Comparison
Dylan Cease starts for the White Sox today.
In terms of runs allowed and opponents faced, Cease's form isn't as convincing as Detmers'.
Moreover, Detmers matches up better against the White Sox lineup than Cease does against the Angels.
Both are fly ball-inducing pitchers, but the Angels slug .474 against fly ball pitchers whereas the White Sox slug .399 against them.
The White Sox would rather face ground-ball-inducing pitchers.
Angels' Lineup Will Thrive Today
L.A.'s outlook is solid today because it ranks fifth with a .456 slugging rate against Cease's favorite pitches from righties.
Cease is already 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA in Angel Stadium.
Additional Factor
The White Sox are in a bad spot.
They are 3-9 in road series openers.
Best Bet: Angels ML at -124 with BetOnline
