MLB Sharp Report: Pros Betting Dodgers-Cubs, 2 Other Tuesday Games

Wiseguys got their week started off on the right foot yesterday, going 2-1 with their Monday plays. Sharps will look to pick their spots and keep the good times rolling today.

After analyzing Tuesday’s stacked 16-game slate using the betting tools available at Sports Insights and The Action Network, I’ve identified sharp action on three MLB games.

Betting Terms to Know

Steam Move: Sudden, drastic and uniform line movement across the market caused by an overload of sharp action from respected players.

Reverse Line Movement: When the betting line moves in the opposite direction of the betting percentages. It’s a top smart money indicator.

Line Freeze: When one side is getting heavy betting, but the line won’t budge, indicating sharp liability on the other side.

Juice: The tax or commission that bettors must pay sportsbooks in order for them to accept your wager. A -115 juice means a bettor would have to wager $115 to win $100.

• Full Sports Betting Glossary 
• Sharp Betting 101: How to Track Professional Betting Action
• How to Bet on Baseball: 15 Simple, Profitable Tips

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Pittsburgh Pirates

7:05 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: Diamondbacks (moved from +121 to +100)

Wiseguys cashed on the Snakes last night and they're going back to the well tonight.

This line opened with Pittsburgh listed as a -131 home favorite. Nearly 60% of bets are backing the Buccos, yet the line has plummeted down to -108. Why would the oddsmakers sweeten the Pirates' price if the public is already backing them?

If it looks fishy, there's a reason why.

Arizona is receiving only 42% of bets but 55% of dollars. This influx of smart money dropped the Diamondbacks from +121 to +100.

Using our Sports Insights Bet Signals, we tracked four separate steam moves on the D'Backs (+107, +107, +106 and +100). We haven't seen a single conflicting move (or buyback) on Pittsburgh.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs

8:05 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: Cubs (moved from +103 to -105)

Casual bettors see the Dodgers at a pick'em price and can't lay off. But sharps are buying low on the Cubs at home in a rare Wrigley Field night game.

This line opened with Los Angeles listed as a short -111 road favorite. Despite receiving 59% of bets, the Dodgers have fallen to -102. Normally, the line will move toward the team getting the majority of bets, not away from them. If it doesn't, it's a dead giveaway that wiseguys are on the other side.

We tracked three big steam moves on the Cubs, with Goodfellas crushing Chicago at +102, +107 and -108. This overload of respected money from pro players pushed the Cubbies from short dogs to short favorites.

Texas Rangers @ Oakland Athletics

10:07 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: Over (8)

Average Joes almost always gravitate toward overs. After all, it's much more fun to root for home runs, base hits and high-scoring games. When recreational bettors load up on an under, it creates a rare contrarian over opportunity for the wiseguys.

That's exactly what we're seeing tonight in Oakland.

This total opened at 8.5. Heavy public under betting (60%) dropped the line down to 8. That's when sharps got down hard on the deflated Over 8, triggering four steam and reverse line moves.

The Over 8 is currently being juiced up to -115, indicating over liability and the next move likely back up to 8.5.

Two added bonuses for sharps sweating the over:

1. The wind is blowing out to straightaway center at 5 mph.
2. Joe West is behind the plate. Since 2005, the under has lost -16.39 units with Cowboy Joe calling balls and strikes.