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MLB weekly best bets: Reynaldo Lopez will extend stellar run vs. A's

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We got back on track with a 2-1 record on our weekend MLB picks, which included an outright win by the Orioles as unlikely live 'dogs. Here are our favorite plays this week:

Giants-Rockies over 11.5 runs (-120)
Sept. 7, 8:40 p.m. ET

When Chi Chi Gonzalez is on the mound, the over is always worth a look. The Rockies' struggling spot starter carries a 6.13 ERA into Tuesday's contest and has allowed at least three runs in each of his last five outings despite lasting five or fewer innings in all of them. He's gone 4-2 to the over in his last six games at home, with those contests averaging a combined 14 runs.

Those totals are common for Coors Field, where the Rockies' bats have plated at least five runs in 12 of their last 15 games. Decent pitching has kept half of those games under the total, which won't be the case Tuesday with Gonzalez toeing the rubber.

Diamondbacks over (TBD) vs. Rangers
Sept. 8, 3:40 p.m.

It's been a rough few months for Rangers rookie Kohei Arihara, who owned a 6.59 ERA after his first seven starts before a stint on the 60-day injured list. He was perfect through three innings in his Wednesday return before allowing a solo shot in the fourth, which was an issue for him in his final outings before the long layoff.

He could run into trouble against the Diamondbacks, who've surprisingly plated at least four runs in nine of their last 11 games and hit at least one home run in 17 of their last 23 contests. If Arihara is chased from this one early, the Rangers' bullpen is ill-equipped to back him up.

White Sox (TBD) at Athletics
Sept. 9, 3:37 p.m.

As if the White Sox needed another star in their rotation, they appear to have found one in Reynaldo Lopez, a former top prospect who's turned his career around after five lackluster MLB seasons. He's been electric in his sixth, posting a 2.08 ERA and 0.718 WHIP with strong command through 39 innings.

The same can't be said for Athletics starter Sean Manaea, who owns an 8.00 ERA since the start of August and has ceded five or more runs in three of his six outings over that stretch. Both of these teams are hitting well as of late, but Lopez is the safer bet on the mound.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.

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