Rory Gold

MLB Weekly Preview – June 17-19

Not into the US Open sports betting online? Not to worry – interleague play rages on in Major League Baseball and there are plenty of exciting games to bet on. Let’s have a look at some of the week’s best matchups.

Wednesday, June 17

Diamondbacks @ Royals – 8:10 p.m. ET

Max Scherzer (3-4, 3.63) vs Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.72)

Two of the most dynamic young hurlers in baseball betting go head to head at Kaufmann Stadium Wednesday when AL Cy Young frontrunner Zack Greinke hosts Max Scherzer and the Diamondbacks. The D-backs are struggling but young Scherzer is a bright spot – he’s allowed three or fewer runs in five of six starts. Meanwhile, Greinke is mortal in June with a 5.84 ERA, though his home ERA for the season is a run lower than his road ERA.

Tigers @ Cardinals – 8:15 p.m. ET

Edwin Jackson (6-3, 2.24) vs Todd Wellemeyer (5-6, 2.20)

Young Edwin Jackson has a tough task when he travels to Busch Stadium to face Albert Pujols and the improved St. Louis Cardinals, but his sparking 1.55 road ERA suggest he may be up to the task. Todd Wellemeyer has struggled to keep the ball in the park all season long, so conservative betting management players will likely pick the safer Tigers here. But can you pass up the Cards as an underdog at home?

Thursday, June 18

White Sox @ Cubs – 2:20 p.m. ET

Jose Contreras (2-5, 5.2) vs Randy Wells (0-3, 2.55)

The battle for Windy City supremacy continues Thursday afternoon at Wrigley, where Randy Wells hopes to get some much-deserved run support. Amazingly, he’s 0-3 despite a 2.55 ERA in seven starts. He has a tough test against Jose Contreras; the veteran has looked like a new pitcher since returning from the minors, tossing 16 scoreless innings over two starts. The Cubbies need Alfonso Soriano (.625 average against Contreras) to chip in some offense if they want to finally give Wells his win.

Rays @ Rockies – 3:10 p.m. ET

Matt Garza (4-4, 3.63) vs Ubaldo Jimenez (5-6, 3.92)

Two of baseball’s hottest teams collide, sending their fiery young starters to the mound, and something has to give. It’s tough to bet against the Rockies right now in your MLB predictions , especially with Todd Helton partying like it’s 10 years ago (23 RBI in his last 23 games). But Matt Garza always seems to pitch his best when the competition is tough, so you can’t count the Rays out.

Friday, June 19

Dodgers @ Angels

Chad Billingsley (9-3, 2.72) vs Joe Saunders (7-4, 3.66)

Could the Angels be in for a world of hurt on Friday? Dodgers ace Chad Billingsley saves his best work for opposing parks, sporting a 1.94 road ERA. However, the Angels could be sending the right guy to the hill in Joe Saunders, who always pitches well at home and has a 2.92 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers. Do you capitalize on the chance to pick the Angels as underdogs at home or will Torii Hunter’s injury scare you away when you wager online?