MLB Monday best bets: Can Gausman limit Dodgers once again?
We've gone 45-31-2 with our MLB picks thus far this season, and we love the value on the board to start the week. Here are our favorite bets for Monday:
Astros -1.5 (-115) vs. Indians
Indians starter J.C. Mejia threw eight scoreless innings to begin his MLB career, but he's lucky to still have a spot in the rotation given his performance since. The 24-year-old sinkerballer has posted a ghastly 10.07 ERA over his last six starts, allowing six earned runs in three of those outings.
He'll be tasked with upending an Astros team that's 27-14 since June 1 - a mark tied for the best in MLB - and swept the Indians earlier in July with a combined 20-10 run differential. Houston is 13-6 in Zack Greinke's starts and should win this one convincingly.
Angels-Athletics under 8 (-105)
While Shohei Ohtani has posted MVP-level production at the plate this season, he's been pretty effective on the mound, too. The Angels' two-way star has allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts this season, and his ERA (3.49) would be 2.58 if not for a disastrous start at Yankee Stadium on June 30.
He'll be dueling breakout arm Cole Irvin, who owns a 2.95 ERA since the start of June with just three home runs allowed; that second metric is especially important against Los Angeles' power-friendly lineup. The Athletics are 12-6 to the under in Irvin's 18 starts this season, and that trend should continue Monday.
Dodgers under 4 runs (-110) vs. Giants
It's always a risky proposition betting under on this Dodgers lineup. But if anyone can limit the damage, it's Kevin Gausman, who's likely to take the mound for Monday's divisional clash after a brief personal leave.
The Giants ace has allowed two runs or fewer in 16 of 18 starts this season, going at least six innings in all but two of those. San Francisco's opponents have plated fewer than four runs in 13 of his 18 starts, including in Gausman's last outing against L.A. on June 29.
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.