Sports Betting Week: Royals vs Jays on Tap

On the MLB slate this week the Kansas City Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays meet up for the first time since last year’s ALCS. The Royals won that series 4-2.

The three-game series gets started on Monday. The Royals enter the series having lost two of three to the Philadelphia Phillies while losing Lorenzo Cain to the DL. Toronto split a four-game set with the Cleveland Indians. Including last year’s playoff games the Royals were 7-6 versus Toronto last season.

In the National League, NL Central rivals meet up when the St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both teams are hot with St. Louis having won four in a row and the Pirates three straight. Pittsburgh is 5-4 in nine matchups with the Cardinals this season, but in the last five the Cardinals have won three straight while going 4-1.

Also in the NL, the Miami Marlins take on the New York Mets with both in the hunt in the NL East. The Mets have won four in a row, while the Marlins have been scuffling a bit at 2-4 in their last six. Miami is 4-1 in their last five home games versus the Mets and for totals bettors the OVER is 8-1 in their last nine.

On the links this week the PGA takes a break, but there are interesting events on the EPGA and LPGA tours for bettors.

On the EPGA schedule the Scottish Open takes place at Castle Stuart Golf Links. Rickie Fowler won in Scotland last year, but he won’t be back to defend. The favorite at online sportsbook Bovada is Henrik Stenson at +1000, followed by Branden Grace at +1100. Phil Mickelson, who won the Scottish Open in 2013, is listed at +2000.

The LPGA Tour has their third Major of the season this week with the U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle Golf Club. The first two Major titles this season went to Lydia Ko (ANA Inspiration) and Brooke Henderson (Women’s PGA Championship). Ko, who has three Tour wins already this season, is the Bovada favorite at +450, while Henderson is a +1200 underdog.

A busy week for the UFC begins on Thursday night with UFC Fight Night 90. The main event is a Lightweight title bout between champion Rafael dos Anjos and Eddie Alvarez. Dos Anjos is a heavy favorite at -375 at Bovada, while Alvarez is a +285 underdog.