Saturday, June 04, 2022 Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics (MLB) - 4:05 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -125 Boston Red Sox Rating: 9* Mike's 1st Inning Firestarter (WIN) Yes, Nicky P. may have a higher-looking 3.95 ERA overall. After closer examination, he's pretty snug & confident when visiting the A's & has the numbers to prove it. In addition, Pivetta has his Red Sox 3-0 & has a low 2.14 ERA over his last 3. Definitely take the Oakland A's for NO SCORE in Inning 1! San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) - 4:10 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: 120 San Diego Padres Rating: 9* Mike's NL Opening Inning Momentum Carrier (WIN) Don't under-estimate this SD pitching staff. Southpaw MacKenzie Gore has dominated over his last 3 starts (2.00 ERA) & has a 0.76 ERA/2-0 Record during day games this season. Take the Milwaukee Brewers for NO SCORE in Inning 1. Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) - 4:10 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -120 Tampa Bay Rays Rating: 8* Mike's 5-Inning Affair Play (WIN) As I predicted last week, the White Sox are headed for a downer (now lost 6 of 7)! I also feel their 5-Inning record of 21-24-5 is an over-achievement. While the Pale Hose have beaten the patsies (16-13 SU), they've struggled mightily versus winning teams (7-14 SU). Take the TAMPA BAY RAYS to be up after 5 Innings! NOTES: It was another perfect weekend as the winning streak has now hit 8 in a row in MLB action. Many tell me bases is the toughest sport in which to win. I'd agree. That may have been true back in the "bookie" so-called heyday years of the 80's thru the early millennium (where you bet either ML side or total). However, after analytics & diversified betting has recently emerged, I'm afraid it's become a very pleasant sport to win. Where are these so-called wins coming from? The answer comes from a number of places. First, I hold the ML side bets for when a good team is coming off being humiliated, coming off a game where they vastly under-achieved or has revenge from an earlier series. Second, there's a BIG advantage when playing a offensively-struggling team to NOT SCORE in Inning 1 versus a HOT or consistently good early starter. Third & last, I hold other bets on HOT teams with good starters for ML bets to be in the lead after 3 innings & some others after 5 innings. Using advanced analytics, there are a HANDFUL of consistent pitchers who have a DOMINANT record after 3 & 5 innings as well as shutting down weak-hitting teams in the 1st Inning. In addition, betting a weak-hitting team NOT TO SCORE in an early inning after a scored inning can be quite profitable. Unibet does offer these live betting/game in progress bets. There you haver it! I hope you've enjoyed your MLB season with me thus far. Be sure to look for my Belmont Stakes picks @ VTD this Saturday as I've hit the exacta, trifecta & superfecta in 21' & I'm also coming off hitting the trifecta & superfecta in the Preakness 3 weeks ago. I'll have exotic plays (possibly long-shot Super Hi-5 plays if offered) along with Exacta,Trifecta, Superfecta & straight plays to end my Triple Crown season in style. Stay tuned. Mike Handzelek's 2022 MLB Record: 19-7 for a surreal 73%