MLB Betting Preview: Division Leaders Clash

Early division leaders square off in a three-game series starting Tuesday when the Houston Astros visit the Cleveland Indians.

Cleveland enters the week 10-8 on the season and tied for top spot in the AL Central. They’re also on the move on the Word Series odds at the Bovada Sportsbook up to the No. 2 slot at +650. They will be in tough Tuesday night against Houston ace Dallas Keuchel (3-0, 0.96). They’ll counter with Josh Tomlin (1-2, 11.68).

Keuchel appears to have regained his Cy Young winning form after a rough 2016 season. In his last outing he limited the Los Angeles Angels to one run on eight hits over seven innings while striking out seven.

Tomlin recorded his first win of the season last time out against the Minnesota Twins, but he has still had a rough go early on. In his only start at home so far this season Tomlin lasted only 1 2-3 innings after the Chicago White Sox lit him up for seven runs.

Keuchel owns a solid 3-0 record and a 2.27 ERA in five career appearances against Cleveland. Tomlin has only thrown one inning against Houston in his career.

Baseball’s biggest rivalry will also be renewed Tuesday night when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox meet up for the first time this season.

In Boston, the Red Sox will send reigning Cy Young winner Rick Porcello (1-2, 5.32) to the hill and the Yankees will go with Luis Severino (1-1, 4.05).

Porcello was a hard-luck loser in his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays. He went seven innings and allowed three unearned runs but took the loss in a 3-0 Boston defeat.

Severino was also tagged with a loss last time out after giving up four runs (three earned) with 10 strikeouts over eight innings in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Last season the Red Sox were 12-7 versus the Yankees and that included an impressive 8-2 record at home.

Switching to the NL, the matchup of the night is the Los Angeles Dodgers at the San Francisco Giants. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (3-1, 2.54) goes up against Ty Blach (0-0, 4.76), who will be making his first start of the season for San Francisco.

Los Angeles should be big favorites at the Bovada Sportsbook, but don’t immediately write off the Giants. Coincidentally, Kershaw and Blach faced off last October and Blach picked up the win after pitching eight shutout innings. The trends also favor the Giants, who are 8-2 at home in their last 10 versus the Dodgers.