Pro Edge Sports MLB Betting Tip Sheet: 5/28

May 28, 2014

With a full slate of baseball games on Wednesday, the experts at Pro Edge Sports wanted to provide sports bettors with several value investments on the diamond.  We hope you enjoy Pro Edge Sports MLB Betting Tip Sheet:

San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks (-111)

On May 6, Arizona recalled right-hander Chase Anderson from Double-A Mobile and optioned starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Anderson was enjoying a phenomenal season at the Double-A level where he was 4-2 with a 0.69 ERA and 0.72 WHIP, including allowing just 22 hits in 39 innings of work. Anderson’s 38/6 K/BB ratio was also impressive so we are nit surprised that the 26-year-old has been given a chance at the highest level.  Since 2009, Anderson has garnered  a 3.44 ERA in 398 innings pitched.

In his Major League debut earlier this month against the White Sox, Anderson was masterful in limiting Chicago to just one run on two hits over 5 1/3-innings.  He should continue to have success against an anemic San Diego offense that is batting a mere .224 with a .277 on base percentage in 2014 (3.2 runs per game), including hitting .212 with a .264 on base percentage on the road (2.9 runs per game) and .226 with a .278 on base percentage versus right-handed starters (3.1 runs per game).

Meanwhile, San Diego starter Tim Stauffer recently took the spot of Robbie Erlin in the Padres’ starting rotation and made his first start since 2012 against the Cubs last week (5 IP; 2 H; 0 ER; 5K; 1 BB).  The problem for Stauffer is the fact that he is not properly stretched out and will be on a strict pitch count tonight.  The other issue facing Stauffer is his dislike for Chase Field where he owns a 4.24 ERA over the last three seasons.  The matchup certainly favors the Diamondbacks, who have a .757 OPS at home this seaon.

Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals (-145)

Miami starter Henderson Alvarez is 0-2 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.84 WHIP on the road this season where opponents are batting .350 against him.  Meanwhile, Alvarez’s counterpart, Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, takes the mound in terrible form with a 6.11 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over his last three starts.  At this time last year, Zimmermann was 8-2 with a 1.71 ERA and three complete games, but those results have not materialized this season.  In fact, Zimmermann is just 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through ten starts in 2014.

Miami is 7-17 on the road this season where the Marlins are batting a woeful .232 with a .293 on base percentage (3.4 runs per game).  Even better news for Washington bettors is the fact that Zimmermann is supported by an outstanding bullpen that owns a 2.09 ERA and 1.15 WHIP this season, including a 1.77 ERA and 1.19 WHIP at home and a 1.67 ERA and 1.00 WHIP versus division opponents.  Zimmermann is also better than his peripheral statistics suggest as evidenced by his 3.44 xFIP and 3,48 SIERA.

Technically speaking, Miami is 22-57 on the road versus right-handed starters, 33-77 as road underdogs, 27-75 on the road with a total between 7 and 8.5 runs and 1-6 in Henderson Alvarez’s last six road starts.  In contrast, the Nationals are 52-23 at home versus teams with a road win percentage of less than .400, 43-21 as favorites, 22-6 in Jordan Zimmermann’s last 28 starts in game 2 of a series, 23-8 in Zimmermann’s last 31 home starts and 40-14 in Zimmermann’s last 54 starts as a favorite.  We also like the fact that Washington is a perfect 7-0 in Zimmermann’s last seven starts versus the Marlins, while the Nationals are 19-7 in their last 26 meetings against Miami.