Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt have made some unbelievable defensive plays over the course of their careers. It’s why they have 13 Gold Glove Awards between the two of them. So, when both players can’t hold back their smiles after a play, you know something ridiculous just occurred.
That’s exactly what happened on Saturday night.
During the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Alek Thomas hit a grounder that took a crazy hop off the plate towards the middle of the infield. It was the kind of hop that should have resulted in an infield hit every time. But Arenado is on another level.
Arenado fielded the high bounce with his barehand, and in a fluid motion, fired off a hard throw in the dirt to Goldschmidt. As impressive as Arenado’s effort was, you really can’t overlook that scoop from Goldschmidt. He had almost no time to react to such a hard throw from short range, and yet, Goldschmidt managed to get his glove in the perfect spot for the scoop.
After the game, Goldschmidt tried to play off his part in the Web Gem as luck, but there aren’t many other first basemen who make that play.
Goldy tells @TheCatOnBallyTV that he was blown away by Arenado's insane play: "I couldn't help but laugh and smile at that. … I just had to take that moment in and be thankful I was a part of it."
Previewing Sunday’s Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (0-2) visit the St. Louis Cardinals (2-0) Sunday at Busch Stadium for a 2:15 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Pirates-Cardinals MLB betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Pirates at Cardinals: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Mitch Keller vs. RHP Dakota Hudson
Keller in 2019: 1-5, 7.13 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie.
Career vs. Cardinals: Never faced St. Louis before.
5 road starts in 2019: 1-3, 11.14 ERA (26 ER, 21 IP).
Hudson in 2019: 16-7, 3.35 ERA in 33 games, including one start.
2019 vs. Pirates: 1-0, 4.24 ERA (8 ER, 17 IP) in four games (three starts).
Career vs. Pirates: 2-0, 3.38 ERA (8 ER in 21 1/3 IP) in seven total appearances (three starts).
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The PIRATES at +140 to pull off an upset is just a terrible price. Mathematically it says that team wins 41% of the time, however, the Cardinals beat Pittsburgh in 14 of 19 meetings in 2019, and have won the first two games this season.
So, the only gaming logic I can muster up to bet the Pirates here is that they are so poorly priced BetMGM is trying to get us to take the Cardinals. You know bookmakers are always trying to sucker us.
And you know what? I am betting on this logic. We got first win of the season motivation, plus four of the five Pirates wins over the Cardinals last season being in St. Louis, on our side.
Here’s the thing though, because of writing deadlines I am giving this pick out now. But the Pirates (+140) will get juicier so maybe wait closer to first pitch before wagering. BET PIRATES (+140).
New to sports betting? A $100 bet on the Pirates (+140) earns a $140 profit if they upset the Cardinals.
Since we are taking the Pirates (+1.5, -154) on the upset because of bizarro pricing, we are PASSING on the run line. Let me explain. This could go bad because Pittsburgh is bad — the Pirates had the fifth-worst run line record in the MLB last season (75-87). Plus, they gave up the third-most runs.
It’s outrageous to pay -154 for a measly +1.5 runs against a Cardinals team projected to have six more wins this season than the Pirates. St. Louis also beat Pittsburgh by two-plus runs nine times in 2019. AVOID THE RUN LINE.
Oh, we LOVEthe OVER 9 (-110). Pittsburgh played the most Overs in MLB last year (93-63-6 O/U) and had the fourth-highest percentage of Overs in division games and road games.
The Cardinals starter — Hudson — is talented but hasn’t exactly dominated Pittsburgh in his limited action against them. The Pirates’ current lineup slashed .298 BA/.364 OBP/.404 slugging percentage in 47 at-bats against Hudson, according to DailyBaseballData.com. There weren’t a lot of runs put up, but maybe they’re due?
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Analyzing the top 10 MLB season prop bets that should be exploited for easy wins.
The 60-game MLB season begins Thursday, July 23. The truncated season means player stats will look different. Nonetheless, there is action to be had with prop bets for the coming season. Below, we look at BetMGM futures odds, making our picks and best bets for the top 10 MLB season props to bank on.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmidt has become a slow starter, struggling the last two seasons in March, April and May. But this 2020 MLB season is July, August and September. He batted .274 from March to May in 2019 and .209 in 2018 during the same months. Take the UNDER .275 (-115) for his batting average this season.
2. Gerrit Cole’s strikeouts: 104.5
(Over -115/Under -115)
Gerrit Cole should get 12 starts for his new team, the New York Yankees, this season. He had 112 strikeouts in his first 12 starts last season and 116 in his first 12 starts of 2018. Take the OVER 104.5 (-115).
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3. Gerrit Cole’s wins: 6.5
(Over -130/Under +100)
Cole has had more than six wins in his first 12 starts of a season only once in the last four years – and that was 2015. He’ll have the quality Yankees lineup to give him support, but it’s smart to go with history. Go UNDER 6.5 (+100).
4. Arizona Diamondbacks’ runs: 299.5
(Over -125/Under -105)
The Diamondbacks averaged 5.01 runs per game last season. They upgraded two bats in the lineup with CF Starling Marte and RF Kole Calhoun. That, combined with a likely scenario in which batters are better than pitchers early in the season, means the Diamondbacks will not struggle to score runs. Go OVER 299.5 (-125).
5. J.D. Martinez’s home runs: 14.5
(Over -110/Under -120)
To hit 15 home runs in 2020, Boston Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez will need to average one every four games he plays – and that’s playing every game. He has averaged fewer than four games per homer only once in the last three seasons. Go UNDER 14.5 (-110).
Jul 12, 2020; Boston; J.D. Martinez during practice at Fenway Park. (Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty – USA TODAY Sports)
6. J.D. Martinez’s hits: 62.5
(Over -115/Under -115)
In his last two seasons, Martinez averaged 1.23 hits per game, while appearing in 91.3% of Boston’s games. In a 60-game season, that means playing in 55 games and getting 67-68 hits. Take OVER 62.5 (-115).
7. Jose Altuve’s batting average: .300
(Over -115/Under -115)
Houston Astros 2B Jose Altuve only batted .298 in 2019, snapping five consecutive seasons of .313 or higher. Take OVER .300 (-115).
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8. Clayton Kershaw’s strikeouts: 70.5
(Over -115/Under -115)
If Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw makes all 12 of his starts this season and averages only six innings per outing, he will pitch 72 innings. He has averaged at least nine strikeouts every nine innings in four of the last five seasons. In his career, the future Hall of Famer averages 1.08 strikeouts per inning. Using his career rate, he would have 71 strikeouts if he made only 11 starts and averaged only six innings per start. Take the OVER 70.5 (-115).
9. Freddie Freeman’s batting average: .295
(Over -115/Under -115)
Atlanta Braves 1B Freddie Freeman has batted at least .295 four seasons in a row. Go OVER .295 (-115).
10. Aaron Judge’s home runs: 15.5
(Over -110/Under -120)
Based on Aaron Judge’s last two seasons, the Yankees slugger averaged a home run every 3.96 games. At that rate, he would have 15 if he played in every single game. Take the UNDER 15.5 (-120).
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