Sports Betting Week: World Series Rematch

On the diamond this week there’s a World Series rematch on tap as the Kansas City Royals visit the New York Mets.

The Royals and Mets faced off in a short two-game series to start the season, which they split 1-1. If you include the World Series the Royals obviously have the edge in the matchup with a 7-2 record in their last nine meetings. The Royals are also a solid 4-1 in their last five games in New York at Citi Field.

Aside from the World Series rematch the best baseball matchups this week are in the National League. First up is an NL Central faceoff between the division leaders - the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals stumble into the series having lost five straight heading into Monday’s opener. Chicago is 4-2 against St. Louis so far this season and 7-2 in their last nine. They’re also 7-3 in their last 10 home games against the Cardinals and in the last eight games at Wrigley Field the final score has gone OVER the posted total seven times.

Two teams heading in opposite directions also clash this week when the San Francisco Giants visit the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are in a major slump right now having lost five in a row and nine of their last 10. The Giants are on an eight-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10. Pittsburgh has the historical advantage recently, as they are 6-1 in their last seven against San Francisco.

This week’s stop on the PGA Tour is the Quicken Loans National at Congressional. Troy Merritt is the defending champ, but he’s a huge +15,000 underdog to repeat at online sportsbook Bovada. Rickie Fowler is the tournament favorite at +1400 and Patrick Read is listed at +2000.

Football kicks off north of the border this week with the start of the CFL season. The season opener is Thursday with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats taking on the Toronto Argonauts in the first game at BMO Field.

The early odds have Toronto listed as a 4.5-point favorite. Hamilton has won four straight versus Toronto straight-up and six in a row against the spread. In their last 10 matchups Hamilton is 8-2 SU and 9-1 ATS.