Mariners To Houston: World Champs, My Ass
Seattle crushed the Astros in three game series sweep: “Houston, you’ve got a problem: it’s us.”
It was a proverbial ass-whupping, a slap in the face of the worst kind. Seattle went into Houston and swept a three game series with no mercy. They won the season series against Houston 8-2 and smacked them around in the process with a 53-27 scoring margin. The Astros were shut out Friday, get routed 10-3 on Saturday and trailed 6-0 in the third inning Sunday, before losing 7-6.
Seattle left town a half-game behind the Astros in the standings, having completed its first sweep of them in five years. With both teams chasing Texas, it left Houston closer to third place than first in the AL West.
Houston is now not only threatened with not winning the A.L. West, but with actually missing the playoffs. They carried a slim one game lead over Toronto for the last spot going into tonight’s game with Boston. The Red Sox are red hot, having just swept the listless Yankees and moving to within three games of Toronto for the last wild card spot.
JOHN FREDERICKS:
MLB MONEY LINE WAGERS FOR Monday August 21 2023
2023 MLB Godzilla Season Stats
253-213-1 Minus -$905
*Based on all wagers at $100 per game at money or run line odds as specified in Draft Kings. Note: If money line is -$150, we are laying $150 to win $100, etc. If we take +$130 and we win, we win $130 for our $100.
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August 21, 2023
We went 1-1 yesterday, dropping $6o and expanding our annual deficit to minus – $905.
Let’s start the week off right.
It’s Doggy Monday!
Giants (+145) at Phillies
The Giants have only managed to win one of their last four, and three if their last ten. They played really good teams: Texas, Tampa and Atlanta.
The Phillies are smoke and mirrors. They lost five of seven, and against inferior teams, losing back to back series to the Twins and Nationals.
Why is Aaron Nola treated by Vegas like he’s Sandy Koufax? He’s coughed up 15 runs in his last four starts against the power hitting Royals and Pirates.
The line is too good to pass up.
Pick: Giants (+145)
M’s at White Sox (+165)
In sports, it’s called a let-down. In baseball, it’s called a come-down game. Seattle is red-hot and they are hitting the cover off the ball, winners of six straight and a three game statement sweep over Houston in Texas (see above).
The Mariner’s Luis Castillo has allowed 12 runs in his last three games, he may be getting a little bit gassed. I’ll go with the come-down game here for Seattle.
Pick: White Sox (+165)
Kansas City (+120) at Oakland
The A’s should not be favored over anybody—ever.
Pick: Royals (+120)
Boston at Astros (-130)
After getting embarrassed at home by Seattle, this team needs a wake-up call. I understand they had a big team players only meeting after Sunday’s game, with Maldy holding court.
The Astros have averaged 5.8 runs a game against lefty starters this season, hitting .272 as a team. James Paxton has been touched up in his last five starts, and Houston has hit .268 lifetime against him.
The Astros were humbled this past weekend. They need to wake up.
Pick: Houston (-130)
Rangers at D-Backs (+150)
The Rangers got swept by the Brewers and they looked as miserable as Houston in doing so. This Arizona bunch just won’t quit. The D-Backs are desperate. Is Jordan Montgomery really that good? We’ll see tonight. He’s not worth -170 on the road.
Pick: Arizona (+150)
Astros or Bust.