Thursday, September 17, and every game left on this board has something riding on it: Chicago trying to take the AL Central lead back from Detroit, the Phillies and Mets in Queens, San Diego on a 9-1 run chasing a wild card, and a Twins-Angels nightcap on the coast. The bats with the longest current runs are the ones playing for something. Two games were left off entirely, Kansas City at Houston and Boston at Texas, because both home teams are opening with a reliever ahead of a bulk arm, which is not a pitching matchup we can price.
The games
| Game | First pitch (ET) | Expected starters |
|---|---|---|
| Padres at Rockies | 3:10 PM | Michael King (R) vs Tanner Gordon (R) |
| Phillies at Mets | 7:15 PM | Aaron Nola (R) vs Nolan McLean (R) |
| Tigers at White Sox | 7:40 PM | Framber Valdez (L) vs Erick Fedde (R) |
| Twins at Angels | 9:38 PM | Taj Bradley (R) vs Walbert Ureña (R) |
The board
| Bet | Record | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Riley Greene Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI | 2+ in 6 straight, 9 of his last 11 | -118 |
| Justin Crawford Over 0.5 Hits | 7-game hitting streak, a hit in 21 of his last 28 | -159 |
| Marcus Semien Over 0.5 Hits | A hit in 6 straight, 14 of his last 19 | -160 |
| A.J. Ewing Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI | 2+ in 3 straight, 12 of his last 15 | +110 |
| Royce Lewis Under 0.5 Runs | Scored in 1 of his last 11, held off the board in 22 of 25 | -190 |
| Mets game First 5 Innings Over 4.5 | 5+ runs through 5 in 14 of the Mets' last 20 | -110 |
Greene Came Back Swinging
Riley Greene missed three weeks with a hamstring strain and returned in early September. Since then he's put up at least 2 hits, runs and RBI combined in 6 straight games, going 2, 3, 3, 6, 4 and 6 on the count, with a homer and 3 RBI against Colorado on Sunday inside that run. The Over has cashed in 9 of his last 11 overall. Thursday's number in Chicago is 1.5 at -118 against Erick Fedde, in a series that decides who leads the division.
Worth a look: Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI at -118.
Crawford's Streak Hits a Week
Justin Crawford pushed his hitting streak to 7 games in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Washington, and the Phillies' rookie center fielder has a hit in 21 of his last 28 dating back to late August. Thursday he gets Nolan McLean at Citi Field, and the Over 0.5 Hits line is -159.
The lean is Over 0.5 Hits.
Semien Keeps Finding Holes
Six straight games with a hit for Marcus Semien, and 14 of his last 19. The Mets second baseman hasn't gone hitless since September 8. Aaron Nola is expected to start for Philadelphia, and the books have Semien at -160 to keep it going.
Worth a look: Over 0.5 Hits at -160.
Ewing at Plus Money
A.J. Ewing has reached 2 or more hits, runs and RBI combined in 3 straight games (2, 3 and 3), and in 12 of his last 15. The rookie started in center field again Wednesday, and Thursday's line is 1.5 at +110, the only plus-money Over on this board.
Could be a value play: Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI at +110.
Lewis Isn't Crossing the Plate
Royce Lewis has scored a run in 1 of his last 11 games, and he's been held off the scoreboard in 22 of his last 25. The Twins face Walbert Ureña in Anaheim Thursday night, and Under 0.5 Runs is -190.
Stands out: Under 0.5 Runs.
Early Runs in Queens
The Mets' games have produced 5 or more runs through 5 innings in 14 of their last 20, with 7 and 5 in the last 2, and the First 5 Innings Total for Thursday's opener against Philadelphia is 4.5 at -110. Nola and McLean are both expected to start.
Worth a look: First 5 Innings Over 4.5 at -110.
Quick hits
- Bo Bichette hasn't scored in 5 straight games, and in 15 of his last 21, which makes Under 0.5 Runs at -175 the quiet side of a loud Mets lineup.
- The Padres have led through 5 innings in 5 straight, and with Michael King on the mound at Coors Field the First 5 Innings Run Line is -0.5 at -120.
- Dillon Dingler has been held scoreless in 23 of his last 26, though the run is 1 game old after he scored Monday. Under 0.5 Runs is -165.
Four games, four races, and a rookie at plus money. The kind of Thursday that decides who's still playing in three weeks.
Lines move right up to first pitch, so check the current number with our line shopping guide before you act on any of it, and today's MLB trends hub has the rest of the board. And please gamble responsibly.