For an updated breakdown of Friday's betting action, be sure to tune in to the VSiN Market Insights Podcast with Josh Appelbaum. It will be posted at 3 p.m. ET. I'll also be joining The Lombardi Line at 1:30 p.m. ET to offer a market update and then co-hosting Betting Across America with Mike Pritchard from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.
In the meantime, let's discuss where respected money is leaning for a trio of Friday Night MLB games...
6:05 p.m. ET: Tampa Bay Rays (35-28) at Baltimore Orioles (28-37)
The Rays just got swept by the Yankees in a three-game series in New York. On the flip side, the Orioles just hung tough and split a four-game series on the road against Toronto. In tonight's AL East division series opener, Tampa Bay hands the ball to righty Shane Baz (0-1, 19.29 ERA) and Baltimore starts fellow righty Dean Kremer (1-1, 3.86 ERA). This line opened with the Rays listed as a -135 road favorite and the Orioles a +115 home dog. Sharps are buying low on the Rays after losing three straight, steaming Tampa Bay up from -135 to -145. Favorites off a loss who made the playoffs last year are 124-64 (66%) this season. The Rays are 28-15 as a favorite and 26-21 against righties. The Orioles are 25-35 as a dog and 16-25 against righties. Tampa Bay is 4-2 against Baltimore this season. The Rays are +18 in run differential. The Orioles are -40.
7:05 p.m. ET: San Francisco Giants (35-27) at Pittsburgh Pirates (25-37)
The Giants are 8-4 over their last 12 games, having just taken two of three at home against the Royals. Conversely, the Pirates are 1-9 over their last ten games and just lost three of four at home against the Cardinals. In tonight's series opener, San Francisco starts lefty Carlos Rodon (5-4, 3.18 ERA) and Pittsburgh counters with righty Zach Thompson (3-4, 4.50 ERA). This line opened with the Giants listed as a -190 road favorite and the Pirates a +175 home dog. Wiseguys aren't scared off by the big chalk and have steamed the Giants up from -190 to -200. Non-division road favorites are 125-60 (68%) this season. When both teams are coming off a day off, as is the case here, the favorite is 53-26 (67%). San Francisco also has correlative betting value as a big favorite in a low total game (7.5). The Giants are 29-19 as a favorite, 16-13 on the road and 23-21 against righties. The Pirates are 18-30 as a dog, 13-17 at home and 9-13 against lefties. San Francisco is hitting .239 while Pittsburgh is hitting .220. The Giants are +40 in run differential. The Pirates are -101.
8:40 p.m. ET: San Diego Padres (41-24) at Colorado Rockies (27-37)
The Padres are 11-3 over their last 14 games and just swept the Cubs in a four-game series on the road. Meanwhile, the Rockies are 4-10 over their last 14 games and just got swept by the Guardians at home. In tonight's series opener, San Diego hands the ball to rookie lefty Mackenzie Gore (4-2, 2.50 ERA) and the Rockies counter with veteran southpaw Kyle Freeland (2-5, 4.39 ERA). This line opened with the Padres listed as a -145 road favorite and the Rockies a +125 home dog. Pros aren't outsmarting themselves on this one. They're riding the better, hotter team, steaming San Diego up from -145 to -155. Road favorites are 220-125 (64%) this season. San Diego has the far better pitching staff, sporting a team ERA of 3.32 compared to Colorado's 5.01. The Padres are 26-15 as favorites, 24-11 on the road and 16-6 against lefties. The Rockies are 18-30 as dogs, 16-19 at home and 10-12 against lefties. San Diego is +74 in run differential. Colorado is -69.