Followed my 2-0 Sunday with an 0-2 Monday and that never feels good. LA and Pittsburgh had a 5-2 score after the 4th inning and couldn’t get one more run for my ‘over’ the rest of the way. No point in whining about what could have been though, as I’ve already moved on to today’s board and found a few plays I like for you tonight.

All lines taken from Pinnacle Sports with ‘bet amounts’ to win on favorites and flat on underdogs

Play of the Day in Bold

MLB Pre-All Star Break: 101-107-13 (+$691)

MLB Post-All Star Break: 4-4 (+$169)

CFL YTD: 2-3 (+$88)

MLB Plays

Pittsburgh ML (-118) $354 to win $300

The Pirates dropped the opener last night as they couldn’t sustain any pressure late in the game. However, tonight they face a rusty Josh Beckett who hasn’t been on the mound since July 6th and doesn’t have the greatest numbers supporting him tonight.

L.A is 2-5 SU the last seven times Beckett’s been listed as an underdog and that goes hand-in-hand with his 2-7 SU record the last nine times he’s face a winning team. He’s clearly a guy who’s best days are long behind him and the Pirates already beat him (2-1) earlier this season. I’m expecting Pittsburgh to jump on him early and with a 12-4 SU record in their last 16 as favorites and a 6-1 SU run going at home, the Pirates will grab that early lead and hold on to it the rest of the way.

Miami ML (+165) $200 to win $330

Nothing like a bit of reverse line movement in favor of a big dog like Miami as people continue to back the overpriced Braves. Atlanta is one of the worst teams in the majors offensively thanks to their high strikeout rate and complete reliance on the HR ball. If they were a team that could pound out singles and doubles they would be running away with their division, but that’s not how they are built and when they are running cold the losses will continue to mount. Miami won in extras last night against this Braves team and with a 4-1 SU mark in their last five on the road against a southpaw, I like the value with this play tonight.

Tampa ML (+140) $200 to win $280

This is another valuable underdog as there aren’t too many teams out there that are hotter than the Rays right now. Tampa has won 16 of their last 21 games overall as they try to climb back into the AL East race. They are up against a great pitcher in Adam Wainwright tonight, but it will be interesting to see how Wainwright responds after his All-Star game controversy and getting roughed up a bit in that lone inning of work. He’s a guy I’ve long been expecting to regress and the 2nd half of the season is where he’ll do it.

St Louis is only 2-5 SU in their last seven interleague games as a favorite and are 1-6 SU in their last seven interleague contests at home. Those aren’t flattering numbers for the Red Birds and with the Rays sporting a 14-3 SU record in their last 17 on the road and 6-1 SU the last seven times they’ve been underdogs, tonight’s the night Wainwright suffers a defeat.