Winning in the Dugout: MLB Betting Guide

If there’s worry about how the Los Angeles Dodgers are struggling right now, it does seem that the focus is expected to shift on how they are going to stay on track for a championship finish this year. Despite being able to respond with a 7-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals, it seems that there’s going to be a lot of concern about their pace heading for the rest of the season.

Shohei Ohtani drilled the first pitch of the series finale on Sunday against the Cards, and he went on to gap in the left-center field before cruising to the second base with a stand-up double. He would go on to stay there for the next three hitters before Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman smashed line drives for outs.

The Dodgers went a mere 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position for the whole series. That is something that is very disappointing indeed considering the fact that they weren’t really playing that way. However, it does raise some concerns with this kind of play as they shift to battle another rival in the San Diego Padres.

The “Luck” Narrative

Well, there has been a lot of talk about how the Dodgers are simply relying on luck when it comes to their hits, and one can say that this is quite the 50-50 reality so far. That struggle on runners is definitely seen and felt well, but what was more evident in this stretch against the Cardinals was their lack of aggressive approach.

But in terms of bad luck, one can say that the Dodgers may have solved it – at least for now. That’s what manager Dave Roberts has to say, and it cannot be denied that they needed this one well.

“I don’t think that was there,” the manager said after his team’s 7-3 victory on Sunday afternoon. “There was a narrative out there for a little bit, but you know, it’s baseball, and so our guys kind of take it in stride. And I thought we were pretty good today with runners in scoring position.”

Los Angeles has gone 3-for-14 on those regard in the win, and they have certainly done a great job – or a satisfactory one at the very least, in avoiding what could have been the club’s second sweep for this season. No way they would have survived it in any other way, which says a lot about the hopes of a competitive run once more.

Surviving the Season?

Despite being third overall in the National League, it cannot be denied that this is starting out to be a disappointing season for LA. That comes bearing even more stakes for many people when you mention that the team was also the winner of the previous year’s World Series, so there’s that.

And yet, the Dodgers are only standing at meager 39-27. That is closer to the teams from the 4th to 8th seed teams in the National League, and a few wins behind the top seed New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs following suit.

This season has been about redefining what the Dodgers really are made of. Dealing with the complacency after winning, and learning more about each other as they seek to come up with some of the best rallies to get back on a more competitive track in the 2025 MLB season as well.

Cincinnati was holding on for dear life when they battled the Milwaukee Brewers in an unexpected tight showdown. So when the ball was on their pitching side and was later thrown, fans were definitely in for a massive ride as it looked like it would be a home run for the visitors, only to be saved by TJ Freidl as the ball nearly went over the wall.

Emilio Pagán drilled a promising score of his own to make it a 4-2 lead, but it cannot be denied that it was Friedl’s massive save that sealed the deal with a leaping catch that no one expected him to pull off. The lights went wild in the stadium as fans celebrated a thrilling victory to give the Reds their first win in this three-game series.

All games have been tight contests, even today’s showdown. However, nothing tops off that massive play from Friedl as it definitely goes down as one of the biggest highlights for Tuesday Baseball. That win also puts them close to the eighth seed of the National League, just a few more wins behind the Brewers and the San Francisco Giants.

Clutch Saves Happen

As much as this is celebrated as if the Reds won the World Series, clutch saves happen in the game, and that is not new. What’s unique, however, is the frequency of these kinds of saves. For Friedl’s big play, it was not just a simple save – but rather a risky one to begin with.

For starters, Friedl chased down the ball as soon as it went up high. He did not look at the path he was going down on – thus the risk of a potential slip up or even a misstep, but luckily, he ended up jumping on the wall (that has a protective foam specifically designed for players to jump on), and eventually caught the ball in what has been a defining clutch moment.

"How about that?" Friedl said. “I knew it was hit well off the bat. I was kind of just tracking it. Probably when I was coming close to the warning track, I was like, ‘I could have a chance at this. It’s possible.’ Anything is possible.”

That massive save also ended the Brewers’ eight-game winning streak. The Reds evened up the rivalry showdown in the second game, and now they can ignore whatever result the third game had to offer.

On the Other Side of the Bat

While fans are celebrating Friedl’s game-winning play, this comes as a frustrating finish for Jake Bauer, who was at the batting end of the attempted home run. Had Friedl not made a fantastic save, it would have been a walkoff victory for the Brewers. Instead, the club goes 1-1 before today’s affair to wrap up the series.

“It’s a rollercoaster,” Bauers said. “I got the pitch I was looking for, put a good swing on it and you thought you might have got enough. And then the game’s over, you lose. That’s why they don’t make a level higher than this, because guys can go and make those plays in a big spot like that.”

The Reds will now continue their homestand as the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks come onto their turf. The Brewers, on the other hand, will host the San Diego Padres in their three-game clash starting this Friday.

The season hasn’t been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers so far, but then they are still capable of showing signs of life at this point even at the bottom of the National League. Paul Skenes rallies this gritty team as they pulled off a stunning 10-1 smash on the Arizona Diamondbacks to get into 21 wins.

Now headed to San Diego for the next three games, Skenes and the Pirates are carrying a promising pace after that offensive burst as the team looks to keep on winning once more. It seems that this season will be something to look forward to as they seek to salvage it as well.

Skenes was on the fiery side – and yet he hasn’t been able to come up with impressive scoring bursts, but has found his groove when it mattered most. Dominating at Chase Field has been his strong suit, and he made sure that he would be able to keep his pace going as they now hope to keep on winning in the next set of games.

A Massive Win for the Pirates

Pittsburgh stands with a 21-36 record as of the time of writing and is dead second to the last in the National League. It has been a tough season with the team having a lot of injuries, but then they are trying to find ways to win. One of those ways is to have Skenes ride on a winning groove. This May hasn’t been quite his big game though, as he entered this final stretch at 0-3, only to claim his spot on the win column late.

Skenes took out seven batters in over six and ⅔ innings, which marked the fifth time in a row that he has at least struck out half dozen players on the batting side. On top of that, he was pitching at a 2.32 ERA during that stretch, and yet was still able to close out the month of May with a promising finish, thanks to a flurry of runs.

Majority of the damage came from the sixth inning, which saw them generate a total of five runs. The Pirates chased Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen and kept their foot on the gas as they rallied all the way to the finish and kept the D-backs from scoring once more.

A Chance at a Climb with Skenes?

Paul Skenes has emerged as the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching staff, and his continued excellence is pivotal for the team's resurgence in the 2025 season. Following a stellar rookie year where he posted a 1.96 ERA and set a franchise record with 170 strikeouts, Skenes has maintained his dominance into the new season.

This performance marked his 10th quality start in 12 appearances, underscoring his consistency and reliability on the mound. Beyond his on-field achievements, Skenes has taken on a leadership role within the Pirates' clubhouse. Drawing from his experiences and insights gained from veterans, he has been instrumental in fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration among his teammates.

His calm demeanor and work ethic serve as a model for others, and his influence is evident in the team's improved performance and morale. As the Pirates aim to end a decade-long playoff drought, Skenes' ability to lead both on and off the field will be crucial in guiding the team back to contention.