Wednesday, July 1, 2015 | 12:50 p.m.
Related Coverage
Falling between June’s NBA Finals and August’s start to the football betting season, July comes in as a month of flux for local sports books.
From now on, it’s going to be the same way for our Play of the Day column, which uses odds from the South Point. We’re resetting with brand-new $10,000 starting bankrolls and making it an annual competition.
Taylor Bern emerged as the winner, and only profitable handicapper, of the 2014-2015 season. The 2015-2016 version will run through July 1, 2016.
We’ll still keep lifetime records at the bottom of the page, but as of today, the standings are all even. Without further ado, the pressure is on to start the new Play of the Day with a victory.
Texas Rangers plus-165 at Baltimore Orioles: $260 to win $429
The Orioles should beat the Rangers tonight to avoid getting swept at home. But does Baltimore win this matchup two out of every three times as the betting line suggests?
That’s where I digress. The value is on the Rangers in a somewhat evenly matched game between teams with two of the better offenses in the league and resurgent though not overpowering starting pitchers.
There’s a reason Texas has been the most profitable team in the American League, and second in the majors, to bet on this season. A $100 bet on the Rangers in every game would have produced a profit of more than $1,500, according to covers.com, behind only the Saint Louis Cardinals.
They’re undervalued because no one expected Texas to compete for a playoff spot at the beginning of the season. Likewise, the prospects for tonight’s starter Nick Martinez weren’t considered too high.
While some of Martinez’s peripherals are still alarming, he’s gotten by with a 3.39 ERA and quality starts in seven of his last nine appearances. Baltimore’s Wei-Yin Chen has been better, but it’s not like he’s turned into an ace this season.
Yet for some reason, that’s how he’s being priced at sports books tonight.
Current Standings: Bern (0-0, $10,000), Keefer (0-0, $10,000), Brewer (0-0, $10,000)
Lifetime Records: 2014-15 champion Bern (85-74-1), Keefer (82-87-2), Brewer (73-89-2)
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy