Lyles — not Kershaw — is money pitcher
TLos Angeles Dodgers have won all seven of Clayton Kershaw’s starts this season. But the three-time Cy Young Award winner has been only the second-best money pitcher in baseball.
The surprising journeyman on the mound who has made the most cash for bettors is Pirates righthander
Jordan Lyles (5-1, 2.81 ERA). Pittsburgh has won eight of his nine starts, including Thursday’s 14-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
A $100 bettor would be up $880 after backing Lyles in each of his starts, according to Covers.com, with a Pirates-and-under parlay cashing in five of the wins.
With almost one-third of the season in the books, let’s take a look at some of the other biggest winners and losers (through Wednesday’s games).
Money teams
The Houston Astros (33-17) have been the hottest team in baseball, winning 15 of 18 games, but the perpetual favorites rank eighth on the list of money winners, based on $100 bets.
The Minnesota Twins (32-16) have been the most profitable team by far, earning $1,641 for their backers. The Dodgers (32-18) are second with a profit of $805, followed by the Texas Rangers ($768), Chicago Cubs ($673) and Milwaukee Brewers ($642).
The Twins lead the majors in runs scored (273) and are second in batting average (.269) and home runs (90). Minnesota leads Cleveland by seven games in the American League Central and is a minus 350 favorite at William Hill sportsbook to win the division. But handicapper Micah Roberts still expects the Indians (+210) to win the division.
“I’d like to believe that the Twins are for real. I just can’t really get behind them,” said Roberts (Sportsline. com), a former Las Vegas sportsbook director. “The Indians’ bullpen has been great this season, and their starting rotation and bats will get better. I think, in the long run, the Indians will pull through.”
Biggest losers
The Nationals (19-30) have been the biggest losers at the books, costing their backers $1,810. Washington ace Max Scherzer is the biggest loser on the hill, hemorrhaging $1,200, as the team is 2-9 in his starts.
The Red Sox (27-23) have been the second-biggest losers, at minus $1,099, and ace Chris Sale is the second-biggest losing pitcher at minus