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MLB Over/Under Best Bet: Can AL ERA leader Jason Vargas lead the way to another under?

By Matt Zylbert

Apr 13, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas (51) delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas (51) delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jason Vargas has been outstanding in the first month of the 2017 campaign, with the under cashing in each of his first three starts.

Nice win yesterday to conclude the weekend and bounce back from Saturday’s loss. That also solidifies the current run at 6-1-1, so hopefully there’s more of the same ahead in the week ahead. Here’s what I have for Monday.

Zylbert’s 2017 MLB Over/Under Record: 12-9-3 (57.1%), +220

Yesterday’s Result: Montgomery vs Nova Under 7.5 (WIN)

KC Royals @ Chicago White Sox
Jason Vargas vs Miguel Gonzalez
UNDER 7.5 (-110) (via OddsShark)

If you’ve been keeping up closely with the baseball season through the first three weeks, you’d know that veteran left-handed Jason Vargas has been one of the best surprise stories in the game thus far.

Vargas shockingly leads the American League with a 0.40 ERA entering tonight’s fourth assignment, as he’s been downright excellent in the early going. Not only has he allowed just one run in 20 2/3 innings, he’s also accumulated a sparkling 23/2 K/BB as well. Simply put, Vargas is on his game right now, and finally being fully healthy for the first time in years probably has a lot to do with that.

In the meantime, fellow veteran Miguel Gonzalez has been very solid in his own right, carrying a 2-0 record and 2.84 ERA into tonight’s series-opening affair.

Gonzalez is coming off a very sharp outing in which he shut down the Yankees over eight-plus frames, surrendering only one run on four hits and a walk. This is someone who could be reascending again after kind of fizzling out in Baltimore a couple of years ago.

Not only will under backers have two starters who are clearly on their game right now, but we’ll also have two struggling offenses involved as well. The White Sox are ranked dead-last with a .205 team batting average, while the Royals really aren’t any better, being third-worst in the bigs with a .207 mark.

The bullpens for both teams have been effective, and if these veteran starting hurlers continue churning out quality work, the under will be in good shape.

*Always check back to see if additional action has been added.

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