AL Action Highlights Thursday’s MLB Betting

With the baseball season now well underway, today is the day to start getting into the MLB Betting action!

Thursday’s most exciting games come from both coasts, as the American League is spotlighted.

Baltimore Orioles (6-4 SU, 6-4 R/L, 4-6 O/U) at New York Yankees (6-4 SU, 4-6 R/L, 7-3 ATS)

Thursday, April 14: 7:05 p.m. Live from Yankee Stadium, New York, NY

Betting Odds:

Baltimore: +1 ½, -120, +170

(Jake Arrieta-R)

New York: -1 ½, +100, -200

(Phil Hughes-R)

Total Runs:

Over 10 ½: +105

Under 10 ½: -125

Starting in New York, we’ve got two teams that are tied atop the AL East. One is the New York Yankees, which everyone expected to be here. The other? The Baltimore Orioles, who’ve been one of the surprise MLB Betting picks this season.

But after starting the year 6-1, the Orioles have come back down to earth, losing three straight. And the biggest problem is, the pitching, which was a strength to start the year, has struggled over that stretch. The opener of this series on Wednesday night was no exception, as the Yankees pounded out 12 hits in a 7-4 victory. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada each hit a home run.

And with the struggling Jake Arrieta on the mound for Baltimore, it’s honestly hard to see things going any differently in Thursday’s MLB Betting action. Through two starts Arrieta is 1-1, but his most recent outing was a disaster, as he lasted just 3.1 innings in a loss to the powerful Texas Rangers. Well, the Yankees lineup looks a lot like the Rangers, and we expect them to have a similar impact this evening. And with Baltimore’s offense batting just .217 as a team, we see it hard for them to keep up if this game gets high scoring.

The Bronx Bombers will live up to their name on Thursday, with a comfortable Run Line victory. Take that, and the over run total in tonight’s MLB Betting action.

MLB Betting Pick: New York Run Line (-1 ½, +100) and OVER 10 ½ Runs (+105)

Detroit Tigers (5-7 SU, 4-8 R/L, 6-5-1 O/U) at Oakland Athletics (6-6 SU, 8-4 R/L, 5-6-1 O/U)

Thursday, April 14: 10:05 p.m., Live from Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Betting Odds:

Detroit: +1 ½, -165, +130

(Phil Coke-L)

Oakland: -1 ½, +145, -150

(Gio Gonzalez-L)

Total Runs:

Over 7 ½: +105

Under 7 ½: -125   

Next, we head out West, where two teams looking to get on a roll will do battle. Both the Tigers and A’s need a signature win, but the question is, who will get it here?

For all intents and purposes, the smart MLB Betting pick tonight seems to be Oakland. They send their best pitcher, Gio Gonzalez to the mound, looking for his third win of the season. Through two starts the lefty has been masterful, allowing just one earned run in 13 innings pitched, in victories over Minnesota and Seattle.

And with Gonzalez matching up with the struggling Coke, we like Oakland that much more. Coke is a crafty lefty, that hasn’t been all that crafty this season through three appearances, with a 4.00 ERA. Coke started the year in the bullpen, and made his first start of the season against Kansas City last week, giving up two earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched.

While Coke did look better in the starters role than as a reliever, we guess that we’ll trust the lefty after we’ve seen him a few times.

Until then, back Gonzalez, and the A’s. They’re the smart, Thursday MLB Betting wager to make.

MLB Betting Pick: Oakland Money Line (-150)