Matt Fargo – Sports Handicapper

This is a play on the ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS as part of our MLB Monday Underdog Double Play. San Francisco has lost four straight games after getting swept as home by the White Sox and they are now 8.5 games behind the Dodgers in the National Leaue West. They are two games over .500 on the road and they do not warrant to be favored by a number like this away from home especially with the offense in a tough spot. The Giants are hitting .238 on the road and have struggled of late especially with a .202 average over their last seven games. Carlos Rodon has had a great first season with the Giants as he has a 2.62 ERA and 1.09 WHIP but the Giants just are nor winning as they are 7-8 in his 15 starts including a 3-5 record on the road. The Giants are 1-5 in their last six when their opponent scores five runs or more in their previous game. Arizona lost two of three at Colorado over the weekend but has won four of its last six games following a five-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks are 19-22 at home and despite playing in what is considered a hitters park, they have been led by the pitching which is the case tonight. Madison Bumgarner has a 3.63 ERA on the season and he has been very good at home, posting a 2.98 ERA in eight starts. He has allowed two runs or less in four of his last six starts with those other two being on the road and this is his fourth start against his former team and he has a 3.93 ERA in the first three meetings. Here, we play on National League home underdogs with a starting pitcher whose winning percentage is worse than .300 and with a team slugging percentage of .390 or worse on the season. This situation is 24-10 (70.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (960) Arizona Diamondbacks

This is a play on the CINCINNATI REDS as part of our MLB Monday Underdog Double Play. Cincinnati snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Braves on Sunday. The Reds are a modest 4-5 over their last nine games and it has been a struggle this season, especially on the mound where they are ranked last in runs allowed per nine innings but have shown improvement of late. After starting the season 3-22, Cincinnati has gone 24-29 which is far from great but have brought home a big ROI. Hunter Greene has been really good or really bad and it all depends on his command as he throws fire and he has allowed three runs or less in nine of his 15 starts. The Reds are 5-2 in their last seven series openers. The Mets defeated Texas on Sunday and they have been struggling by going 5-7 over their last 12 games. They have a 3.5-game lead over the Braves in the National League East and they have been solid on the road with a 23-16 record. The offense leads the way as they are averaging 4.84 runs scored per nine innings which is No. 4 in baseball and the line reflects the pitching matchup but they have not given Taijuan Walker much as he has been solid with a 2.72 ERA but they are just 7-6 in his starts as he has gotten just 3.2 rpg of support. The Mets are 9-18 in their last 27 games against the money line against a starting pitcher who gives up one or more home runs per start. Here, we play on National League home underdogs with a starting pitcher whose winning percentage is worse than .300 and with a team slugging percentage of .390 or worse on the season. This situation is 24-10 (70.6 percent) over the last five seasons. 9* (956) Cincinnati Reds