MLB Over/Under Best Bet: Martinez, Cahill tangle in series opener at Petco

Trevor Cahill has looked excellent after a month and change into his tenure with the Padres. Can he continue his superb work at home in tonight’s Interleague series opener?

Yesterday’s 1-1 performance was pretty much my season in a nutshell early on, with my Blue Jays-Rays Under 8 bet being a decisively right call that won without a sweat, yet we couldn’t pull off the sweep, as Nationals-Phillies Under 8.5 was on pace until a fluke two-out, three-run pinch-hit homer off the bat of Aaron Altherr in the bottom of the eighth wrecked the bet. In any event, let’s see what we have to begin the second week in May.

Zylbert’s 2017 MLB Over/Under Betting Record: 20-17-3 (54.1%), +150

Yesterday’s Result: Biagini vs Cobb Under 8 (WIN), Roark vs Hellickson Under 8.5 (Loss)

*Each bet graded as if it were to win 100 dollars/units

Texas Rangers @ San Diego Padres

Nick Martinez vs Trevor Cahill

UNDER 7.5 (+105) (via OddsShark)

Arguably one of the best-kept secrets in the National League right now concerning pitchers appears as if it might be Trevor Cahill, who has just flourished in his return to a starting role.

Cahill’s already been highlighted a couple of times in this daily column — I’m 0-1-1 in two previous bets this season with him listed as one of the probable starters — but his journey throughout 2017 is one worth investing in.

After reemerging last year in the Cubs bullpen, the nine-year veteran has harnessed that momentum in a successful stint thus far on San Diego’s pitching staff, being 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Those numbers may not pop out at first glance but how about this: Cahill has already logged 37 strikeouts versus 11 walks through five starts, spanning 30 innings of work, with opponents mustering just a .214 batting average off the right-hander. Furthermore, he’s served up only two home runs.

And with Cahill slated to do his bidding from Petco Park this evening, it’s worth noting that he’s allowed just a single run over his two home starts, so he’s seemingly already become very much acclimated to San Diego’s pitcher-friendly stadium.

Nick Martinez doesn’t have the benefit of making his home starts within the confines of a park that is helpful to hurlers, but fortunately for us, we won’t have to worry about that in his fourth assignment of the campaign.

The 26-year-old has jostled over the past few years back and forth between the Rangers’ pitching rotation and the minor leagues, and perhaps now is finally his time to permanently stay put. Despite an off showing his last time out in Houston against the Astros, Martinez has actually contributed some fine work up to this point, have notched two quality starts in three tries, and that success might not be a coincidence.

Since returning to the majors, Martinez has brought along increased velocity with him, and it’s significant enough to the point where it could make him stick this time around. He’s flashed potential before, and perhaps this will be the missing piece to solidify Martinez on the pitching staff.

I would much rather this series opener between the Rangers and Padres come with an over/under line of 8, but even so, all we may need is merely one strong outing from one of the starters for the under to ring true. And considering how Martinez and Cahill have been mostly rolling along as of late, it’s a bet worth making.

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