Series opener and closer betting trends are often forgotten in the larger MLB betting trends world, but there are some interesting notes to pry.
For whatever reason, some teams are just way better or worse in the opening (first) games of series, and the same is true for the closing final games.
Before checking out our free MLB computer picks to inform your daily baseball picks, check out these opening and closing MLB series trends:
Team Records When Opening A Series
- Phillies - 23-9 (71.9%)
- Reds - 21-11 (65.6%)
- Dodgers - 21-12 (63.6%)
- White Sox - 5-27 (15.6%)
- Marlins - 10-22 (31.2%)
- Red Sox - 12-20 (37.5%)
It's not surprising to see teams like the Phillies and Dodgers opening series' well (they're arguably the two best teams in baseball). But, the Reds are certainly a shock.
Cincinnati is currently 49-53 (48% win rate) on he season and fourth in a weak NL Central, but somehow they're the most profitable team in MLB to start series. Even just in July, the Reds are +2.21 units in series-opening games.
On the flip side, the Red Sox are the bad standout here. They're actually a solid team overall right now but as you'll see below they make up for these struggles to open series by finishing strong.
Team Records When Closing A Series
- Red Sox - 22-10 (68.8%)
- Mets - 21-11 (65.6%)
- Diamondbacks - 20-12 (62.5%)
- White Sox - 7-25 (21.9%)
- Rockies - 9-23 (28.1%)
- Reds - 10-22 (31.2%)
As I mentioned above, the Red Sox start slow and finish quite strong. They're baseball's best (and most profitable) series-closing squad. They're 9-3 in their last 12 series-closing games, losing back-to-back series closers just once all season.
The Mets and Diamondbacks are both interesting squads to close out series, too. Both Arizona and New York are playing 10% above their standard win rates in the final games of series.
There's something about those final games that seems to get Mets start SS Francisco Lindor going. In his last three series closing games, the shortstop has 7 hits, 3 walks, and 8 RBI.
