have arguably the greatest righty in playing the game right now.

This is without him.

This is without him.

And I'm like, oh, my God, that's so true.

But they've always been lefty heavy, or they've had switch hitters.

Like the 0-9 team had a million lefties and switch hitters.

And then it was A-Rod and Jeter, I'm pretty sure.

It was, how many coaches? Tell everybody, tell

But I, I think it's just gonna be so difficult for either of the teams that win in the National League side of things to be able to pull off an upset, whereas in the American League, it just feels so much more wide open.

Yeah, 100%.

The one thing I keep thinking about are the teams getting byes.

Who's going to get screwed by the bye? And I, I'm kinda leaning towards that being the Guardians because of they kept winning and winning and winning and winning.

They would not lose to close out the season, but it wasn't their bats.

They weren't swinging one of the hottest bats in baseball like a Padre.

They just have phenomenal pitching, and how far is phenomenal pitching going to take you when you don't have any bats? And now we get to watch them take on the White Sox once again, and I'm sitting here on Wednesday night thinking, "Should I take the White Sox plus 134 to come out of this series?" Because you know I can't stop talking about this team, but I was...

And it just feels like this has been a very wacky new post-season where because of all the bullpen pitching, it's really allowed for a lot of p- player props to get home thus far.

Would that be the case for you? Maybe not tonight, but maybe in the series overall.

Yeah, I have three more series leader home run leaders for this one.

I figured the Red Sox would be lefty heavy.

I took these props prior to them dropping the pitchers for the series.

And I took Ramos 25 to one Spencer Jones, who is a lefty, but crushes lefties.

I boosted that to 26 to one.

And I took Paul Goldschmidt 30 to one to lead the series in home runs.

Where are you on this series and where are you on game number one down there in the ATL? You guys

And I do think that there are quite a few teams that they're going to want to try to play some spoiler, especially if they're within the league and or division.

Yeah, like the Royals last night against the White Sox.

The time of this recording is Wednesday.

The White Sox won 14-11, and that's starting to concern me.

I'm honestly looking to, if they make it, they have to still win tonight.

The Rangers lose.

They're in.

How do you take a look at those American League races? Because there's still a lot to play for for quite a few of these teams.

And for the Blue Jays, even though they entered into the day on Monday, 75-75, if you just utilize your eyes, it feels like they're playing some of the best baseball of any team in the American League.

They're one of the hottest teams in baseball.

And I did the Moneyline predictions every single day for most of the summer for covers.

And writing them every single day, any game they played, their WRC Plus was in the gutter for what felt like 90% of the season.

And now I think today it's so high right now.

They're so high.

hot they're so dangerous it's so funny that this team after writing about them pretty much every day is going to be a dark horse in the postseason after having one of the most miraculous runs a year ago and I I mean I don't know if you saw this coming or you felt that they would be able to turn around I mean Vladdy finally hit his first home run at home but Part of me wanted him not to hit one at home because it just would be such an interesting stat to have in my back pocket.

Have there been a few guys that you've been gravitating to the last few weeks with regards to these player props? Because I do think that this time of year, it becomes a little bit more murky and just a little bit more difficult to gauge because you just don't know who some of these guys are going to be going up against.

And how have you been taking a look at things recently with regards to some of the player props? Because it does seem like you've been searing a little bit more for some of these guys that have had 25, 30 plus home runs as far this season, because it feels like there's been quite a bit of a divide between the haves and the have nots in terms of guys going yard recently.

Oh, 100%.

Put them on my cards.

Josh Peck's brother that plays for the Tigers.

I took him today.

My card from day to day is, Pretty inconsistent in terms of stars, guys I haven't bet on in a while, like a Jackson Merrill I bet yesterday, which had been Sunday – or excuse me, Monday.

Yesterday felt like a Sunday.

This is not breaking news here, but I do think that with regards to just taking a look at motivation this time of year, it just doesn't mean a lot, especially this year, because it feels like almost every team is in a must win situation right now.

It's actually not that.

This is a great tinfoil conversation, tinfoil hat conversation, excuse me, because I feel like now that maybe once the NFL kicks off in two weeks, we'll notice it more if you are a baseball diehard, if you're really looking at numbers and day in, day out, that you'll see more misprices.

I think once the books have to overcompensate for the massive amount of bets they're taking in with college football and the NFL, baseball is going to be in the rearview.

sure they're giving us props but are they really hyper fixated on those props like they are the last couple weeks month or so probably not because they're not getting as many bets as they once were because it's all football and we know football is king and i respect everyone that loves football but some people out there like to get a break from the game that we all know and love and I think it's a great time to maybe shop around, maybe look for props you might not have looked at before and understand what is good value.

And off the dome, just the example, I think I've spoken about it.

The prime example is Kyle Schroeder's props are always so weird.

One being his Homer prop.

But how do you take a look at this landscape right now where out of all teams, I know that they lost on Sunday, but the Royals have had the hottest team in the American League the last few weeks.

They have great pitching, but they don't have one of their studs going today in Dustin May, and you're isolating a play- a, a hitter's prop on the Rangers.

Yeah.

So I typically use a tool, batters-box.

I use it, I mention it every article, every time I come on any network.

And today he does not have an elite or strong rating.

He has an above average, wasn't, which isn't the greatest, and I communicate with the, the founder and developer every single day.

We're very close friends.

But you still like the, the singling out of hitter prop here.

They've actually been very profitable for you over the last two or so weeks.

It's interesting, like Braves.

Literally classic, great job promoting it, MLB, you're the best.

But they're number one in the NL East.

They're, they're a corpse.

They're statistically atrocious over the last 21 plus games.

Their WRC plus is severely low.

And with everything that we've been seeing in the second half, everything that we've been seeing this season, has there been a thing or two that you maybe tweaked with regards to maybe the specific bets that you place, or just a little bit in the process in general? Because this has been a highly unusual season.

[laughs]

His prices for his hit is great.

His bases price is even better.

But I o- I only took the double and the home run because they were both six to one.

I boosted the home run, I think, to seven to one.

But two props for him to boom.

He's making a ton of hard contact in his last 10 games, has a six... or, f- excuse me, 506 X slugging, making 63.6% hard hit, 13.6% barrel rate.

What about from a Brewers perspective, do you have any player props that you like?

White Sox here in this one, and they're going up against Nolan McLain today, and yet you are gonna go ahead and take on McLain, despite the fact it seems like he might have righted the ship.

Yeah, I, I love Munetaka Murakami.

I like him nearly every single day because of the prices.

If you look at the prices every single day, you'll know it's kind of wrong.

I mean, minus 145 is what I got for his hit.

You'll probably see minus 150.

That's a go.

Yes.

I think we're also seeing that that 27 and 3 run, that was just a magical run that I don't think is gonna be duplicated, and I think it's trying to figure out where in between A and B this team truly is.

Yeah, and I, I bought in on them.

I think they're a fantastic story.

I am worried they're stealing the thunder from the White Sox on who has the better story and what manager deserves the award.

But I mean, getting that hot in July, is it the greatest thing ever? Is it too early to be that hot? And I think you and I would both lean towards, yeah, it's probably not the best to be that hot in July.

Do that in September leading into the playoffs.

But they were going to cool off eventually, and then they, they did this week against the Blue Jays.

And I think that that leads to a very interesting dynamic, not just here in the month of August, but what we're gonna be seeing in postseason baseball because scoring to start with in October always goes down.

I do think that's a little bit of a crossroad series for them, and it's gonna be so interesting to see what this young team does at the trade deadline.

Yeah, and I don't even know if that game's gonna play.

I mean, it, it's been stormy all day over here, and now it's clearing up.

But they, they probably will.

But Noah Schultz on the bump Monday, and I know Venables has been very concerned about his performances over the last couple of outings, because they've been terrible to say the least.

I already think...

I think they lose, just to foreshadow.

Bringing in there a veteran or two and buying at the deadline I really think is the way to go, because while the White Sox might have many cracks at the apple, they might not have a better crack than this with how weak that entire league is.

For more on the Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball, here's our very own Colby Marchio.

What's going on everybody? Colby Marchio here with your Monday MLB update.

We're back, folks.

Second half of the MLB season is here, and there's only one topic I wanna talk about right now.

Today, as of the time of recording, is Monday, and the Boston Red Sox are on a 13-game winning streak, the hottest team in baseball.

During the break, I took them to win the AL East.

I boosted it to 44 to one.

... a little bit further off the board.

You know, that's a, a good talking point with Schwarber because before the break against Brady Singer the closing price for Schwarber's home run was even, and I know you and I know that's just an idiotic price to pay for a baseball player's ceiling.

I mean, he's not gonna do anything more.

He can't hit a, something beyond a home run in terms of, outside of, obviously, grand slam, two, three hom- two, three runs.

But there's no reason anyone should ever go pay that price, and I just wanted to say that because it's insane.

And I was on the two home runs that day because it was 10 to one, and I thought that was a pretty decent price when one is even.

And then a lot of people were trying to tell me that that makes it an L word.

And other than the White Sox, is there maybe a team or two that you have a little bit of confidence to be able to win some games? Because at some point, someone has to win games.

What are you doing here, Marlins and A's?

Oh, yeah.

We're taking the Marlins first five team total over two and a half.

I boosted that to plus money again, and they're handing them out like candy.

Last 12 games, the Fish, they're on fire.

A 126 WRC plus, 350 wOBA, 800 OPS, taking on Aaron Civale.

And I, as an Italian, it's not great fading an Italian, but he's got a poor rating today on Batter Sight and Box.

I mean, when it's all said and done, what do you think plays out in the Central? What do you think plays out i- in the West? Just kind of a bunch of mediocre teams all jostling to try to be the best mediocre team.

And just how do you take a look at them in an American League that personally, from my vantage point, I've never seen a weaker league in the history of baseball?

Yeah, and Jake and I talk about the White Sox too much because we have...

We kinda collaborated on the White Sox team total over preseason, and then dabbling on Will Venable to win AL Manager of the Year, which looks pretty good right now.

It's wild, Greg.

I, I'm, I'm now having to do more money lines and stuff, just keeping an eye on it for covers.

Just seeing how often the White Sox are still plus money to win and, I mean, are they the greatest team ever assembled? No, but the number one thing I was high on them for preseason was I felt the power of friendship brewing, and we all know teams that click and mesh well together are more dangerous than any talent-heavy roster assembled.

They're gelling.

He is a good man.

Are you starting to be able to get to that sample size? Because now we're at 70, 75 games for these teams where you're feeling a little bit more comfortable in terms of these team totals and are willing to dive in a bit more.

I am, and I'm also getting pickier with prices.

Today we're recording Monday, and I was looking at the possibility of taking the Cubs against Lorenzen.

They have a ton of elite bats.

I mean, Lorenzen's one of the worst pitchers on the date, recording on Monday.

And I was like, "Ooh, you know, the Cubs are probably in a good spot here.

Lorenzen's giving up a ton of hard contact.

And I know you've been looking at a few of the, shall we say, top-end guys, but at the same time, you've still been doing a nice job trying to find more of these guys that are typically in that neighborhood of, like, five to one, six to one to hit a home run.

Looking for these better days.

With more on today's Major League Baseball slate, let's welcome in our very own Colby Marchio.

What's going on, guys? It's me, Colby Marchio.

Colby M.

Bets wherever you need to find me.

We're here to talk baseball.

Let's get into it.

Crack those knuckles.

You also get into team totals a little bit more as we get later on into the season, and feel like we're starting to get that good sample size where we're able to know these teams quite a bit better.

100%.

I've been waiting for you to message me to be like, "Hey, I need you to come on 'cause, Greg, I've been holding onto some information for you that I know you'll nerd out with me." And I've kind of shifted my process a little bit more, looking at things a little bit more than I have in the past, and that's ground ball rate, fly ball rate, and line drive rate.

I want guys elevating the ball.

I've always looked at poorly rated, uh, ground ball rates, which is always important, but really making sure I like a guy.

Is he in a good spot to boom? Is he gonna elevate tonight? And Greg, I don't know how this isn't a thing, but I came up with a new term.

It's called elevation rate, which is just line drive and fly ball rate combined.

Oh, good.

Must be 21.

What's up, guys? Happy Tuesday.

Colby Marchio here, Colby on bets, wherever you need to find me.

Let's talk a little baseball.

Let's talk about this past weekend, 'cause I haven't been able to talk about it with anyone.

I'm talking to you.

This ain't a, this ain't a one solo show.

[upbeat music]

2020 maybe.

It's been a very long time.

Maybe 2016 I was thinking.

[laughs] I don't know, but, like, when they were good in '21, probably that year.

But I'm obsessed with this team.

People forget that I'm a Yankee fan, so I, I try to keep my bias out of everything, like you and I do.

We bet every single day.

Has that sort of been the same approach for you, or have you been diving a little bit more into them here in the early part of the season?

Coming up here tonight, a much larger slate, and we turn to Colby Marchio to break down Tuesday here in Major League Baseball.

Thank you, Scott.

Yep, Colby Marchio here to give you a quick little run-through of what's going on in the MLB and some leans for T- Tuesday's slate.

Let's get, let's get it out of the way.

Let's get it out of the way.

Sadly, we're doing another Mon- Monday recording, and this will be going up on Tuesday, and we lost yet another legend.

Last week we lost John Sterling.

But what have been sort of the, shall we say, type of players that you've been looking for these last few weeks that have led you to success?

success?Yeah, I'm still waiting for that home run on Bangalore as they had the, the bases, which is typically what I bet on.

And I'm, and I'm glad we're talking today because I wrote about it either Saturday or Friday that I'm taking a new approach with my betting on a day-to-day basis.

Like la- last year and years prior, I would shy away from guys who are on hot streaks or massive hit streaks, or they homered the day before.

I kinda regret having that ideology over the past couple years because it's kind of how I view the pitcher versus history argument.

I don't care.

I d- I don't look at it.

Yes.

Cancel anytime.

what's going on scott happy tuesday to you and everyone that is listening thank you for tuning in listen this is the baseball portion of the better day podcast and a lot to talk about in these five short minutes that i'm going to be rambling numero uno biggest news of the day could be between two things depending on How you view yourself as a fan and how old you are, because I'm going to go with my fandom since I'm a New York Yankee fan and I live in the city of Chicago.

John Sterling passed away this morning and honestly started off my day on a pretty sad note.

As somebody who lives in Chicago, I didn't really listen to the New York radio and New York broadcast, but I did.

Listened to him when I used to work at Napa Auto Parts as a driver before I went to DePaul, hence the hat that I'm wearing above for the people watching.

That was the year producer Matt down below calls the team of destiny, the 2017 New York Yankees.

And listening to John and Sue was an absolute blast.