MLB Line and Total Shifts Report - July 18 - Plus a Free Pick

Gambling911.com has your all important line and total shifts report, an indication as to how either action or opinion is helping to move a number.

*6 weeks free trial - test drive - best in the biz *Deposit with Bitcoin - They'll double it! *Get your own domain, customized website, logo *Switch in under an hour, earn mrore $$ for doing so *Odds featured on DonBest.com *Thousands of betting options daily + live in-play *Easy and discreet payment options include gift cards *Walmart gift cards also accepted Start Earning Money From Your Sheet Here

Athletics-Twins OVER - The total on this game had to be reviewed at a number of books.  All were trending upwards from 10 to 10.5, which might not say much.  However, we did find books that had moved the line to 11 for brief times. 

At 10.5, less than 60% of the action was on the OVER.

Coupled with the total movement, we would want to gather information about recent meetings and starting pitching as the OVER looks somewhat promising on the surface.

Eight of the last ten meetings have seen fewer than 11 runs scored.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (9-3, 3.61 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (8-4, 4.03)

Beginning with the no-hitter he threw May 7 against Cincinnati, Fiers is 7-0 with a 2.09 ERA over his last 12 starts. His latest gem saw him scatter eight hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. He limited the Twins to two runs (one earned) in six frames prior to the All-Star break and is 6-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 12 career meetings.

Gibson came out of the break and had his second-shortest start of the year, a 3 2/3-inning effort at Cleveland in which he was reached for three runs (one earned). He has just one quality start over his last six appearances - one of which came in relief - but it was at Oakland on July 3. Ramon Laureano is 4-for-5 with a home run and a double against the 31-year-old Gibson, who has a 3.81 ERA in five career starts versus the Athletics.

The number of UNDERs when we consider the current total will prevent us from taking the OVER. 

Oakland also ranks in the top 5 bullpens and Minnesota the top 12.

Angels +134 - This morning Houston was at -170 with the super enticing number of -144.  Books seem to be enticing folks to jump all over Houston, which might make sense if LA was getting much of the action.  We have seen a 25 cent drop at Intertops. Houston had 62% to 83% of the betting public love. 

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Wade Miley (7-4, 3.32 ERA) vs. Angels RH Matt Harvey (3-4, 6.88)

Miley served up three homers to Texas in his last turn but still escaped with a no-decision after giving up five runs - three earned - and four hits over 6 2/3 innings. The 32-year-old has posted a 4.50 ERA in 11 road starts compared to a superb 1.86 mark in eight home outings. Miley defeated the Angels on May 4, when he gave up two runs and six hits over six frames, to improve to 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four career starts against the club.

Harvey missed more than seven weeks with back issues but was solid in his return, allowing one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings while defeating Seattle. Despite the good performance, the 30-year-old is just 2-3 with an 8.91 ERA in seven home starts. Harvey lost to the Astros on May 5, when he gave up five runs and five hits over 4 2/3 frames, and is 0-2 with a 16.20 ERA in two career starts versus the team.

The Angels have been playing some decent Baseball of late and are three games above the .500 mark.  They've beaten Houston in two of the last three and half of the last six meetings.

Mets-Giants OVER 7.5

This one has moved from 7 to 7.5 and four of the last ten meetings have gone OVER that number. 

The Mets have permitted five or more runs in half of their last ten, but it's the Giants scoring that really catches our eye.  They've scored 8 or more runs in four of their last five and six of their last ten.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (7-4, 4.55 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 3.86)

Syndergaard is 4-0 with a 3.82 ERA over his last five starts and he recorded nine strikeouts with zero walks in a seven-inning effort at Miami his last time out. The Texas native picked up a no-decision with 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball against the Giants at home June 4. Active San Francisco batters are hitting .182 with zero extra-base hits in 77 at-bats against Syndergaard, who has allowed one run and four hits in 17 career innings at Oracle Park.

Bumgarner let up one unearned run in five innings at Milwaukee on Saturday, which left him 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA over his last four appearances. He also had a quality start opposite Syndergaard in New York last month and is 6-0 with a 2.00 mark in eight career matchups with the Mets. Todd Frazier (7-for-17, two home runs) and Wilson Ramos (7-for-19, two home runs) have had some success versus Bumgarner.

Syndergaard is probably due for a bad start, Bumgarner as well.  The Mets have one of the worst bullpens. 

The OVER is 7-1 in Syndergaard’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.  The OVER is 6-2 in Syndergaard’s last 8 starts overall.   The OVER is 5-2 in Bumgarner’s last 7 home starts.

While the Angels are attractive, we'll hold back with Harvey starting and facing off against a solid Astros squad. 

We do like the OVER 7.5 with the Mets-Giants game and that will be our play today.

Our Free Picks Record July 18

2019 MLB Record: 17-12-2 (58.6%) - No Plays Over -160

2018-19 College Basketball Record: 12-9 (57.1%)

2018-19 NBA Record: 7-5 (58%)

2018 MLB Record: 45-35 (56.2%)

2018 NBA Record: 12-4-1 (75%)

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com