For an updated breakdown of Thursday'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 be joining The Lombardi Line at 1:30 p.m. ET to offer a market update and then I'll be co-hosting Betting Across America with Ben Wilson from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. I'll also be joining Rush Hour with Danny Burke at 6:15 p.m. ET.
In the meantime, let's discuss a trio of MLB games receiving sharp action today...
6:05 p.m. ET: Atlanta Braves (44-32) at Philadelphia Phillies (39-37)
The Braves have taken the first two games of this NL East grudge match, winning the opener 5-3 as +110 road dogs and then winning again on Wednesday 4-1 as -140 road favorites. In tonight's series finale, Atlanta hands the ball to righty Ian Anderson (6-4, 4.60 ERA) and Philadelphia counters with fellow righty Aaron Nola (4-5, 2.98 ERA). This line opened with the Phillies listed as a -125 home favorite and the Braves a +110 road dog. Pros have gotten down hard on the Phillies to avoid the sweep, steaming Philadelphia up from -125 to -150. The Phillies are 25-21 as a favorite. The Braves are 6-11 as a dog. Anderson has an ERA of 5.06 in the month of June while Nola sits at 2.00. We could be looking at a lower scoring game as the total is 8.5 with the under juiced to -115. When the total is 8.5 or higher, the under is 310-261 (54%) this season.
6:10 p.m. ET: New York Yankees (56-20) at Houston Astros (47-27)
These are the two best teams in the American League and both are playing well as of late (both 7-3 in their last 10 games). The Yankees just swept the Athletics at home while the Astros just swept a short two game series against the Mets on the road. In tonight's series opener, New York starts righty Luis Severino (4-2, 3.38 ERA) and Houston taps fellow righty Luis Garcia (5-5, 3.68 ERA). This line opened at virtual pick'em with both sides listed at roughly -110. Respected money has pounced on the best team in baseball at a short price, steaming the Yankees up from -110 to -120. Non-division road favorites are 143-74 (66%) this season. New York is 52-19 as a favorite, 22-11 on the road and 38-13 against righties. The Yankees also have correlative betting value as a favorite in a low total game (8). The Astros could be shorthanded as star slugger Yordan Alvarez left yesterday's game after a collision with teammate Jeremy Pena.
10:10 p.m. ET: Oakland Athletics (25-52) at Seattle Mariners (36-41)
These AL West rivals are trending in opposite directions. The Athletics are 2-7 over their last nine games and just got swept on the road at the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Mariners are 7-2 over their last nine games and just took two of three at home against the Orioles. In tonight's series opener, Oakland hands the ball to righty Adrian Martinez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) and Seattle taps fellow righty Logan Gilbert (8-3, 2.44 ERA). This line opened with the Mariners listed as a hefty -200 home favorite and the Athletics a +185 road dog. Sharps aren't scared off by the expensive chalk price and have steamed the Mariners up from -200 to -210. Home favorites -200 or more are 115-45 (72%) this season. Seattle also has correlative betting value as a big favorite in a low total game (7.5). The Athletics are just 20-43 as a dog, 17-24 on the road and 17-35 against righties. The Mariners are 18-11 as favorites, and 31-28 against righties. Seattle leads the season series 4-2. The Mariners will lean on their bats, hitting .232 compared to .210 for the Athletics. Seattle is 5-2 in Gilbert's last six starts.