When a Major League Baseball game is played at a historical site, bookmakers in Las Vegas need to ensure they carefully consider all factors to set the right odds. The recent “Field of Dreams” game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees where eight home runs were hit in the thin Iowa air serves as a reminder of this. Most sportsbooks initially set the total at 9, but with significant betting action on the “Over,” it was adjusted to 9.5. The game ended with a 9-8 win for Chicago on a Tim Anderson walk-off home run.
This Thursday night in Birmingham, Alabama, the San Francisco Giants will face the St. Louis Cardinals at the iconic Rickwood Field for a Negro Leagues tribute game. The game will be broadcast at 7 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app. The initial total for the game was set at 9.5, with St. Louis being favored at -116. However, the total quickly dropped to 8.5 before settling at 9.
According to Westgate SuperBook senior baseball trader Randy Blum, the field dimensions at Rickwood Field look suitable for a normal game. Allegedly, Major League Baseball has added 10 feet to the official dimensions, with no significant elevation. The historic dimensions of Rickwood Field, which included very long distances to the outfield fences, would have made scoring low runs difficult.
The pitching matchup for Thursday’s game features San Francisco’s Keaton Winn (3-7, 6.66 ERA) against St. Louis’ Andre Pallante (2-3, 4.61 ERA). Despite the drop in the total market, the performance of these starters doesn’t inspire much confidence in keeping the game low-scoring.
While the game outcome remains uncertain, betting analyst Sam Panayotovich leans towards San Francisco, especially focusing on slugger Jorge Soler for potential wagers. Soler is offered at +120 to accumulate over 1.5 total bases and +160 to drive in at least one run. There’s also a chance he could hit a home run at +550.
Given the unpredictable nature of the game, Panayotovich suggests placing bets on Soler, who has a history of capitalizing on mistakes. With Pallante likely pitching only a few innings, Soler could have multiple opportunities to make an impact against the vulnerable St. Louis bullpen.
In conclusion, the game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field offers an exciting opportunity for baseball fans and bettors alike. By focusing on key players like Jorge Soler, there’s potential for lucrative betting outcomes in what promises to be a closely contested matchup. Stay tuned for the game airing on FOX and the FOX Sports app at 7 p.m. ET to see how it all unfolds.