As June approaches, sports bettors are always looking for profitable opportunities. With the NBA and NHL seasons coming to an end, and no current NFL action underway, MLB is on center stage. When it comes to Major League Baseball, starting pitchers play a crucial role in determining a team’s success. While looking for potential angles going forward, let’s look at which starters in the American League have been the most profitable for sports bettors to back, based on their team’s performance when they have taken the mound as of May 28, 2023.
Matthew Boyd – Detroit Tigers (+565)
Left-handed starting pitcher Matthew Boyd leads the American League in profitability, despite his unimpressive 5.74 ERA. The Tigers have managed a 6-3 record when Boyd starts this season. Since Detroit has been an underdog in 22 of its first 24 wins this season, the team’s wins typically come with a nice return. Due to almost always being an underdog, even in losses, backing Boyd and the Tigers’ comes with the potential of strong returns and minimizes the sportsbooks’ house advantage. With the Tigers playing hard under manager A.J. Hinch and upcoming future starts for Boyd scheduled to be against teams like the Rangers, White Sox, Diamondbacks, and Twins, backing Boyd will continue to offer the potential for low-risk situations with chances for significant returns.
Brayan Bello – Boston Red Sox (+468)
At just 24 years old, Bello has been delivering for the Boston Red Sox. Despite not having an All-Star-caliber season, Bello has contributed to the team’s success helping the Red Sox win five of his last six starts. Over the recent stretch, Bello has maintained a 3.03 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. He should be favored in his May 30th start against the Reds and then will have a tough test against the Rays, possibly on June 4th. Bello’s unproven name, but recent solid form and the support of a potent offense will likely continue to give sports bettors value in supporting him.
Shane McClanahan – Tampa Bay Rays (+450)
Unlike the other names on this list, Shane McClanahan stands out as a Cy Young candidate. The Rays have excelled when he starts, boasting an impressive 10-1 record. With a stellar 1.22 ERA at home, McClanahan provides a reliable option for bettors, regardless of the opposition. As the Rays continue to perform with the best record in baseball, backing McClanahn should be a profitable strategy in the future. However, as great as McClanahn has been, bettors will often have to lay hefty prices on him as we advance, and it’s not realistic to expect the Rays to win more than 90% of his starts. Still with a career 30-14 record and 2.75 ERA in 64 starts, McClanahan’s success is no fluke.
Dean Kremer – Baltimore Orioles (+425)
Baltimore has found success behind Dean Kremer going 7-4 in his starts. Although Kremer initially struggled this season, he has shown improvement with a 2.45 ERA in his last five games, with four of those starts resulting in Orioles victories. With upcoming road starts against the Giants and Brewers scheduled for Kremer, bettors should take advantage of the positive trends and consider backing him in these matchups. Not only has Kremer been steady on the mound, but the market still undervalues how good the Orioles are as a team overall. Keep looking for chances to back Kremer and the Orioles, who have been the most profitable team for sports bettors to back in MLB both this season and last season as well.
Ken Waldichuk – Oakland Athletics (+385)
Despite being a part of a historically terrible team, Waldichuk finds himself on this list due to the team’s 5-4 record when he starts. With a 7.40 ERA, Waldichuk’s appearance on this list has more to do with the A’s being such a significant underdog whenever he steps on the mound. Given the A’s struggles this season and Waldichuk’s upcoming matchups against the Braves, Pirates, and either the Brewers or Rays, it’s hard to make a strong case for Waldichuk as a trustworthy option in the near future.
Here as some of the best of the rest to consider as summer officially approaches:
6. Martin Perez- Texas Rangers +385
7. Marco Gonzales- Seattle Mariners +370
8. Chris Sale-Boston Red Sox +361
9. Zach Eflin-Tampa Bay Rays +359
10. Gerrit Cole- New York Yankees +342
