Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

sports betting:

Vegas Play of Day: Cardinals at Pirates

The fifth season of the annual Play of the Day betting competition between the Sun’s sports staff is now under way, effective July 1.

Bankrolls start at $10,000 for each of the four participants, with the objective to increase it as much as possible over the next year. The minimum daily wager is $300, with a $200 penalty assessed for failing to place a bet on an assigned day.

Past winners are Case Keefer in 2017-2018, Ray Brewer in 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, and Taylor Bern in 2014-2015.

Pittsburgh Pirates minus-120 vs. St. Louis Cardinals, $720 to win $600: The Pirates are one of the hottest teams in baseball, including an 11-game winning streak last month to emerge as a contender in the wild-card playoff race. They went from potentially trading their veteran players, to upgrading the pitching staff through trades.

Acquiring Chris Archer from Tampa Bay is considered one of the best trades at the deadline in all of baseball. Not only will Archer help this season, he’s under contract for a few more. And Archer will do more than help on the days he is pitching.

Enter Ivan Nova.

Nova is supposed to be one of Pittsburgh’s top starters. However, he’s struggled to the tune of a 4.33 earned run average this season. Best guess: Having someone like Archer up the ante on the staff will do wonders for Nova. Today against St. Louis is his first start since the trade, meaning he should be extra motivated to re-establish himself as a front of the rotation pitcher.

Plus, the Pirates are playing at home on a Saturday night. One betting theory is to always bet the home team at home on Saturdays.

(5-1, $11,308), Granger (3-0, $10,455), Grimala (3-2, $9,900), Brewer (2-3, $8,960)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21