2% Take Colorado (#953) (action)

Pittsburgh has no business in this price range – period.  The Pirates started 11-4, but they’re 3-14 since, 1-8 in their last nine ballgames; every bit the bottom feeder that they were expected to be.   No shock, then, that Pirates backers have lost money for the full season, despite that hot start.  To call this lineup ‘ice cold’ is something of an understatement. 

Pittsburgh has scored 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 4, 2, 2, 5, 0, 4, 2, 1, 2 and 0 runs in their last 17 ballgames. That’s not a hitting slump, it’s a bad offense.  Throw in a consistently ‘iffy’ bullpen and Pittsburgh is clearly a ‘bet-against’ team in this price range. 

It’s surely worth noting that as a favorite the Pirates area 3-8 as a favorite of -110 or higher this year, not a team to lay prices with!  Top pitching prospect Jared Jones is a guy the betting markets seem to love; yet the Pirates are just 1-4 in his last five trips to the hill. 

The Rockies have been awful, particularly on the highway – hence the big underdog price they’re getting today.  That said, Colorado held a team meeting following their second extra inning loss in three days at Miami, then responded with their first ‘wire-2-wire’ win of the entire season in yesterday’s game.  It’s a bet-on spot for the road underdog against as false a favorite as you’ll find in MLB.  Take the Rockies.

Line Parameter: 2% at +170 or higher, 1.5% at +169 or lower