Category: Milwaukee Brewers

Rounding the Bases: MLB Straight Up Picks for Every Game Today (Bet Dodgers as Road Underdogs)
8 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Rounding the Bases: MLB Straight Up Picks for Every Game Today (Bet Dodgers as Road Underdogs)

Saturday's MLB slate is headlined by the battle between the two favorites to win the World Series, the Dodgers against the Yankees in the Bronx.

The World Series preview in June takes center stage as all of Major League Baseball is in action on Saturday. Lucky for you, we have commentary on how to bet every game!

Keep reading to find out how we view each game on the Saturday slate.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Pick: Mets (+150)

There’s some variance baked into this game with it being played in London as part of MLB’s London Series. 

With a short center field fence and the wind projected to be blowing out at London Stadium, this can be a short outing for the likes of Ranger Suarez, who is driving most of the opening odds in this game. 

Pick: Twins (-120)

Simeon Woods Richardson continues to thrive for the Twins in his first full season with the club, posting a 3.04 ERA while showcasing excellent control, posting a walk rate of only six percent. The Minnesota starter will match up against Pirates opener Carmen Mlodzinski, who will put a ton of pressure on the Pittsburgh below average bullpen. 

With the pitching edge, including a better pen, I’ll take the Twins as short road favorites. 

Pick: Nationals (+120)

MacKenzie Gore has been outstanding this season, striking out a career best 27.3% of batters with a career low 3.57 ERA. 

The former Padres prized prospect is starting to see perform like it and now draws a Braves team that is struggling without Ronald Acuna Jr, who tore his ACL and is out for the year. Atlanta is hitting only .211 in June. 

Pick: Athletics (+135)

The Blue Jays remain a non starter for me as a road favorite, even against the lowly A’s. 

Kevin Gausman has been overvalued all season, and Toronto is only 6-6 in his 12 starts. The right hander has an ERA of 4.60 while his xERA is far worse at 5.26, per MLBStatcast. He is striking out only 22% of batters, the lowest rate since 2018, and remains a worthy fade. 

Pick: Brewers (-165)

Freddy Peralta has been outstanding this season, striking out nearly a third of the batters he has faced while keeping his walk rate below eight percent, about the big league average. 

It’ll be tough sledding for the Tigers lineup that is bottom third in Major League Baseball in OPS while the Brewers are far better at generating run support for its pitching staff, fourth in the same metric. 

Pick: Royals (+115)

The Royals rallied to win 10-9 on Friday, and the team remains a great bet at home, 23-10 at Kauffman Stadium this season. 

Kansas City will have a stiff test against Luis Castillo, but the Royals ability to generate power is notable considering Castillo has allowed a barrel percentage in the 28th percentile this season, per MLBStatcast, and allows a high fly ball rate of over 60%. 

Pick: Rays (+115)

Both starters have missed time this season, with different results, but I’m betting on it going in a different direction on Saturday. 

Kyle Bradish of the Orioles has made six starts and has been pitching the best baseball of his career. He is striking out 32% of batters, way above his career average, while allowing a hard-hit percentage of only 25%, 99th percentile in the big leagues. 

While it’s a fantastic start for a league average pitcher, regression will come for him soon. 

I’ll try here, on the road against a Rays team that has pop in the lineup and a pitcher who has a high ceiling in Taj Bradley. The hard throwing right hander hasn’t had good results this season, his xERA is hovering around 7.00, but i believe he can outperform expectations given the Orioles have the third fewest walks on the year. 

Pick: Reds (-120)

The Cubs’ skid has continued while the Reds have won six straight, so I’ll side with the hot home team. 

It also helps that Chicago is bottom 10 in OPS against left handers this season as the team faces Reds’ starter Andrew Abbott. 

Pick:Red Sox (-205)

Chicago snapped a 13 game skid on Friday, but I’m not counting on two wins in a row. 

Pick: Rockies (+160)

Can Kyle Gibson justify this price tag? The veteran pitcher has a 3.69 ERA that is supported by a 4.99 xERA with a walk rate hovering around 10%. 

For what it’s worth, Ryan Feltner pitches better on the road than at the hitter friendly Coors Field, so I can get behind him outperforming expectations. 

Pick: Dodgers (+105)

The two best teams in baseball continue its weekend series, and I’ll side with the road underdog given the Yankees’ overall fitness with Juan Soto’s status in doubt for the foreseeable future. 

If New York’s lineup isn’t at its best, it’ll be tough to keep up with the Dodgers, who have the highest OPS against left handed pitching this season. 

Pick: Guardians (-160)

Cleveland is the far more talented side here and should have little issue snagging a road win. 

Ben Lively’s strikeout rate is at a career high of 23% and the Guardians have the clear offensive edge, 11th in OPS against the Marlins, who check in 29th. 

Pick: Diamondbacks (+125)

I’ll take Arizona to stay hot in June, winners of five of six, at an underdog price. 

Ryne Nelson isn’t a strikeout-focused pitcher, only 14.9%, but he has limited his walks to only six percent, which is impactful against a Padres team that is reliant on drawing walks to get runners on base. Nelson’s ERA is also due to come down from his mark of 5.44, with an xERA of 4.77. 

Pick: Astros (-165)

Angels starter Tyler Anderson has been among the best pitchers in baseball, but I expect a tough summer for the veteran left hander. 

He has an ERA of 2.37, which is staggering to see given some of his other numbers, including a 16% strikeout rate and 10% walk rate. Meanwhile, his xERA is 4.49, making him ripe for a few blow ups as the season continues. 

I’ll count on Saturday against a Houston lineup that is top five in OPS against southpaws. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Arizona Diamondbacks, atlanta braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, MLB best bets, MLB Betting Preview, MLB Picks, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays
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Every MLB Team's World Series Odds Through First Two Months of 2024 Season
7 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Every MLB Team’s World Series Odds Through First Two Months of 2024 Season

We're officially more than two months into the 2024 Major League Baseball season so it's time to take a step back and take a look at the futures markets.

What teams have underperformed? What teams are a surprising contender? Are there any teams we should bet on now or are there a few we should stay away from?

In this article, we're going to take a look at the latest World Series odds for all 32 teams. Let's dive into it. All odds listed in this article are via FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Dodgers, despite underperforming by their standards, are still set as the World Series favorites at +260, which is an implied probability of 27.78%. There's no denying the talent this roster has and they're still playing well enough to have a hefty lead on the NL West.

The New York Yankees have been the best team in baseball through the first two months. Their pitching has been sharp and their offense, specifically the play of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, has been unbelievable. If I were to pick one team to win it all at this point of the season, I'd pick the Yankees.

The Phillies have the best record in the National League at 44-19. They have a great chance to yet again go on a deep playoff run.

The injury bug has bitten the Braves, most notably Ronald Acuna Jr., who will miss the rest of the 2024 season. There's still plenty of time for them to rally and there's a reason they're still fourth on the odds list to win it all.

The Orioles are still well behind the Yankees in the AL East, but at 39-22, they'll be back in the playoffs once again.

The Seattle Mariners lead the AL West, but their offense needs to wake up if they want to be true World Series contenders in 2024.

The AL Central was supposed to be the worst division in baseball, but as of writing this article, four of the five teams are at .500 or above, including the Minnesota Twins at 33-29.

The Houston Astros don't look like the same contender they once were. Their metrics are still respectable and their offense has woken up in recent weeks. If there's one team that has got off to a slow start that I could see getting hot in the second half of the season, it's the Astros.

The Cleveland Guardians are eye-popping 40-21 as of writing this article. While that's impressive, I wouldn't be surprised if he saw some regression from this team in the second half of the season.

The Milwaukee Brewers lead the NL Central and have had one of the better offenses through the first two months of the season. They are a team to watch in the National League.

It's been a bad start to the season for the defending World Series champions. Their offense has been middling and their bullpen continues to cost them games. They need to find a way to turn the ship around or they're going to fail to make the playoffs.

The Kansas City Royals might be the single most surprising team in the Majors this season at 37-26. Not only has their record been good, but they have the metrics to back it up. Between strong offensive statistics and more than one Cy Young candidate in their rotation, the Royals could be a Cinderella story in 2024.

The Blue Jays may be the most disappointing team in the Majors. Despite looking like a talented squad on paper, their offense has been without teeth and their bullpen has been abysmal. On top of that, their rotation hasn't been nearly as good as it was last year. Time is running out for Toronto.

I feel sorry for Mets fans. It's been a disaster of a season and they're already 16.5 games back from the Phillies in the NL East.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Arizona Diamondbacks, atlanta braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, World Series
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Rhys Hoskins Gets Warm Reception From Phillies Fans in Return to Philadelphia
4 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Rhys Hoskins Gets Warm Reception From Phillies Fans in Return to Philadelphia

Rhys Hoskins returned to Philadelphia on Monday for the first time since parting ways with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, and the City of Brotherly Love welcomed him back with open arms.

Hoskins, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in free agency, spent the first seven years of his career with the Phils, and he received a warm reception from fans during his return to Citizens Bank Park on Monday evening as Philadelphia hosted the first of a three-game set against the Brewers.

The Phillies played Hoskins's old walk-up song, "Slide" by Calvin Harris, for his first at-bat of the game, something they very rarely do for opposing hitters, and the crowd rose to his feet to show their respect and admiration for the 31-year-old.

With his bat in one hand, an emotional Hoskins waved to the adoring crowd during an ovation that lasted for around a minute.

Although he popped out in his first at-bat during the second inning, he managed to ignite the crowd later on with a solo shot, which was Milwaukee's lone run of the game.

Despite the fact that Hoskins no longer dons the Phillies' white and red uniform, Monday's reunion made clear that there's no love lost between the veteran slugger and the fan base.

Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Rhys Hoskins
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Brewers vs. Phillies Prediction, Odds, Pick and Probable Pitchers for Monday, June 3
3 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Brewers vs. Phillies Prediction, Odds, Pick and Probable Pitchers for Monday, June 3

Two first-place teams in the National League face off on Monday night – the first game of the day in Major League Baseball – and the Philadelphia Phillies are heavily favored over the Milwaukee Brewers

Philly enters this game with the best record in the NL, and it will have NL Cy Young favorite Zack Wheeler on the bump for his 13th start of the season. While the Brewers haven’t officially released who their starter will be, it appears Bryse Wilson will either start or come in after an opener in this matchup. 

DraftKings Sportsbook has player props up for both Wheeler and Wilson.

With Philly set as such a big favorite, how should we bet on this matchup? I’m eyeing a play on the total on Monday. 

Run Line

Moneyline

Total 

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Milwaukee Brewers

William Contreras: One of the best catchers in baseball this season, Contreras is hitting .316 with eight homers and 44 runs batted in across 59 games. He’ll be a driving force for Milwaukee’s offense if it can knock off Wheeler on Monday. 

Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler: The NL Cy Young favorite, Wheeler has been lights out this season, posting a 2.32 ERA and 2.78 FIP. The Phillies are just 6-6 in his 12 starts, but Wheeler has recorded a win in each game that Philly has won. He’s coming off six innings of two-hit ball against the San Francisco Giants in his last start. 

In the 2024 season, no team has hit the OVER more than the Brewers (34-22-3), and I’m leaving there again on Monday. 

These two teams are No. 3 (Milwaukee) and No. 5 (Philadelphia) in OPS this season, and Wilson could be due for some regression on the mound despite his respectable ERA in 2024.

Wilson has a Fielding Independent Pitching of 5.00 and an expected ERA of 4.75, a sign that he’s been a little lucky so far this season. Against a Phillies lineup that has several sluggers, that could be an issue.

Plus, in Wilson’s last two outings, the Brewers have combined for 16 and nine runs, clearing this total on both occasions. 

I don’t love taking an OVER when Wheeler is on the mound, but he has given up at least three runs in four of 12 starts and two or more in six of 12 outings. It may not be a lot, but it’s enough to help this total in what could be a big game for the Philly offense. 

Pick: OVER 8.5 (-105)

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Find Peter Dewey's betting record here You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.

Bryse Wilson, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Williams Contreras, Zack Wheeler
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Tommy Pham Explains Heated Exchange at Home Plate With William Contreras
2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Tommy Pham Explains Heated Exchange at Home Plate With William Contreras

Tensions flared between Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham and Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras during Sunday's matinee after Pham was thrown out at home in the bottom of the eighth inning on a play that wasn't particularly close.

There was a moderate collision between Pham and Contreras at home plate, and the Brewers catcher appeared to bark some superlatives at the veteran outfielder after slapping the tag on him to end the inning.

Whatever Contreras said did not sit well with Pham, who looked back toward Milwaukee's dugout and eventually needed to be restrained by his teammates as he shouted in the direction of Contreras.

Ultimately, not much came of the situation, though Pham didn't hold back when asked about the moment by reporters after the 6–3 defeat.

"One-run ball game, close play at the plate—actually it wasn't even f–ing close... Third base coach sends you, you gotta go. I'm nailed out at home by a mile, I'm going to the dugout and I hear the tough guy with all the 'hoorah' sh–. I'll never start anything but I'll be prepared to finish it.

"There's a reason why I do all kinds of fighting in the offseason. Because I'm prepared to f– somebody up," Pham said.

Pham endured a frustrating day at the plate, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk. The White Sox fell to 15–45 following Sunday's loss, the worst record in MLB.

Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, Tommy Pham, William Contreras
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Shota Imanaga's odds for NL Rookie of the Year move into plus-money; Paul Skenes owns the second-shortest odds
31 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Shota Imanaga’s odds for NL Rookie of the Year move into plus-money; Paul Skenes owns the second-shortest odds

In a stark departure from his usual form, Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Shota Imanaga allowed seven earned runs to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday and struck out only one across 4 ⅓ innings. It was the first time the lefty allowed more than three runs in a start this season and his ERA "ballooned" to 1.96 as a result.   

That could be good for bettors.

Entering Wednesday's game, Imanaga was the odds-on favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award at -125, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Thursday morning, his odds were +105. 

Imanaga has been the heavy favorite for the award for some time now, and this move to plus money could be a chance to grab some value on the rookie.

More importantly, this uncharacteristic start highlights the volatility of backing pitchers for the award.

Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes has the next-best odds for the award at +210 at DraftKings. Olivia Dunne's boyfriend has been lighting up the gun with a fastball that averages 99.3 mph and a max velocity of 102 MPH. He has a 2.25 ERA and a 21-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 16 innings pitched in three starts.

While the velocity is impressive, there is risk to backing Skenes. Not only could his pitching style potentially be more conducive to injury, like a player he's compared to, former Cy Young award winner Stephen Strasberg whose rookie season was cut short for Tommy John surgery, Skenes plays for a team that is not expected to win many games. Skenes could be a generational talent, but I will wait to pull this ticket until there's better value. 

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto has the next-best odds at +650, followed by another Pittsburgh starter, Jared  Jones, at +1300.

Milwaukee Brewers third-baseman Joey Ortiz has the shortest odds among hitters at +1500, well ahead of teammate Jackson Chourio (+5000), who entered the season as a favorite. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Cubs, Imanaga, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB bets, MLB futures, MLB rookie of the Year, NL Rookie of the Year, Pirates, Skenes
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Royals Broadcast Went Into Hilarious Silence After Analyst Dropped Awkward Line
8 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Royals Broadcast Went Into Hilarious Silence After Analyst Dropped Awkward Line

For about 30 seconds, there was nothing but deafening silence to be heard during the sixth inning of Bally Sports Kansas City's broadcast of the Kansas City Royals' clash against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.

Royals analyst Rex Hudler took the microphone to further break down Kansas City right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo whiffing Brewers shortstop Willy Adames with an 81.7-mph slurve.

"And then you drop the deuce on the outside part of the plate," Hudler said. "That big curveball, nice, right out of the zone, just like you like it."

Play-by-play announcer Ryan Lefebvre didn't say a word. He let the moment breathe with viewers soaking in every last word of Hudler's funny phrasing.

Finally, the silence broke.

"Just to clarify—a deuce is a curveball," Lefebvre said.

"Yeah, it's two," Hudler responded, referencing the number of fingers that catchers use to signal for a curveball.

Too funny.

Adames eventually got his revenge for the sixth-inning strikeout, blasting a three-run go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth. The Brewers beat the Royals 6–5.

Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB
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Brewers Fan Has Intensely Excited Reaction After Catching Gary Sanchez Home Run
7 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Brewers Fan Has Intensely Excited Reaction After Catching Gary Sanchez Home Run

The Kansas City Royals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Monday at Kaufman Stadium. Ten thousand fans were in attendance to see the home team come from behind to win their 21st game of the season, but at least one of them did not care about the final score.

There was one on and two outs when Gary Sánchez stepped to the plate in the fourth inning. After taking three pitches from Cole Ragans, he hit a fastball deep to left center. As the ball hurdled towards a waterfall feature, a Brewers fan jumped and grabbed the ball with his outstretched, gloved hand and caught the home run.

What followed was one of the most intense celebrations in the history of sports.

If there was ever a case for excitement to be measured on the Richter scale, this is it. This guy was jacked up. Who knows how long he's been bringing that glove to games hoping for this exact thing to happen?

And for the ball to be hit by a player on his favorite team in a different city? That's a really intense state of euphoria. Like the kind of thing that only happens when Dan Campbell or a young Blake Griffin is involved. Guys who win by knockout in the UFC are more subdued.

This is why sports are the best. All this guy really did was catch a baseball. Big deal. But everything that preceded this moment made him react like it the greatest thing to ever happen to to anyone. Ever. And that's worth celebrating.

Dan Campbell, Gary Sanchez, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB
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Umpires Demand Brewers Pitcher Change Glove Despite Fact He Used It Previous Night
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Umpires Demand Brewers Pitcher Change Glove Despite Fact He Used It Previous Night

If you like messy baseball, this week's three-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the surprising Milwaukee Brewers is the series for you.

On Tuesday, tensions between the two teams erupted into a bench-clearing brawl that led to four suspensions. Somehow, the Brewers found time to pull out an 8–2 victory—turning the tables on the Rays after they shut out Milwaukee 1–0 Monday.

In Wednesday's series finale, the hijinks continued. Late in the game, umpires asked Brewers pitcher Thyago Vieira to change his glove—seemingly oblivious to the fact that Vieira had used the same glove in the previous night's game.

Milwaukee's announcers on Bally Sports Wisconsin speculated that the change was due to the coloring of the removed glove, and chuckled at the fact that Vieira replaced it with a garish yellow one.

Seemingly unfazed by the change, Vieira hurled a scoreless ninth inning in a 7–1 Brewers win.

Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, Tampa Bay Rays, Thyago Vieira
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Father of Brewers Rookie Got to Announce His Son Getting a Hit in Major League Debut
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Father of Brewers Rookie Got to Announce His Son Getting a Hit in Major League Debut

When a Major League Baseball player makes their debut, it's even-money odds that the home broadcast will find their elated parents in the stands and conduct an in-game interview. It's an even safer bet if the player does something memorable and an absolute lock if, say, their father is Canadian announcer Rod Black, who worked at TSN as host and called Toronto Blue Jays games from 2002-2009.

Okay, perhaps that's a little specific but it came into play during the Milwaukee Brewers-Tampa Bay Rays game at Miller Field on Tuesday night, where Tyler Black got into his first contest as a pinch-runner after an injury and proceeded to get a hit in his first two official at-bats.

Quite a pace.

Bally Sports Wisconsin reporter Sophia Minnaert was live with his family for the second hit, which was expertly called by someone with experience in the field.

That's some solid comedic timing. These family check-ins can be a bit stiff as one member always seems a bit reticent to be on camera but Black was down to chew up some scenery and bask in the pride. Had to be a cool moment for everyone involved and they'll always have the video to remember it by.

Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Tyler Black
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