Inside Pitch Breakdown: MLB Blowouts, Development Struggles, and Betting Angles
As the 2025 Major League Baseball season turns into June, The Inside Pitch podcast hosted by Scott Seidenberg and former MLB pitcher Josh Towers offers a deeply analytical look at the current state of the game. The latest episode captures the alarming rise in blowout games, developmental shortcomings across teams, bullpen management, advanced betting strategies, and the ripple effects of player injuries.
A Historic Surge in Blowouts
Seidenberg opens with staggering data: 46 games have already been decided by 10 or more runs before June. This number surpasses every season dating back to 2004. Towers calls this unprecedented, noting multiple occasions where starting pitchers were left in to allow 12 or more runs — something he had never witnessed during his career. The mental damage for young pitchers exposed to such outings can be lasting, particularly as many are rushed through minor league systems without proper developmental grounding.
The Cracks in Development
Towers offers a scathing critique of how today’s system has broken down player development. With the draft shortened and minor leagues contracted, organizations are fast-tracking young talent who are ill-equipped to make in-game adjustments. Analytics, while valuable for some aspects, fail to address these real-time challenges. Towers emphasizes that many young players lack emotional resilience and decision-making experience when the game shifts, as seen in recent collapses by teams like the Diamondbacks. Contrasting this, veteran-led clubs like the Padres exemplify how experience and composure can steady a team even after disastrous innings.
Bullpen Management: The Bettor's Edge
One recurring theme throughout the episode is bullpen usage as a critical metric for betting strategy. Towers and Seidenberg analyze the importance of bullpen health when handicapping matchups. Using the Red Sox as an example, they illustrate how proper bullpen rest after efficient starts gives bettors confidence to back the team. Rested bullpens allow managers greater tactical flexibility, avoiding low-leverage relievers who are often deployed during blowouts.
Betting Futures: Who Leads June?
The discussion transitions into futures betting for the month of June. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Tigers are co-favorites at +650 to secure the most wins this month. Towers strongly favors the Tigers based on their favorable schedule loaded with home games and soft opponents. The Giants at 10-1 also present intriguing value, though their schedule contains more challenging series.
Towers also projects a bright future for the Nationals, comparing their developmental trajectory to the Tigers'. With additional free-agent acquisitions, Washington could emerge as a serious contender in the upcoming seasons.
Profitability Insights
Breaking down team profitability, the Tigers currently top Major League Baseball for both moneyline and run line bets. Betting $100 per game on the Tigers has netted $1,460 so far. The Cubs, Cardinals, Guardians, and Mets round out the top five, while the Rockies remain the most profitable team to fade.
Run Support Imbalances
An in-depth discussion on run support reveals stark disparities among pitchers. Andrew Heaney of the Pirates receives a paltry 2.17 runs per start despite sporting a 3.39 ERA. Meanwhile, Max Fried enjoys a robust 7.17 runs per start, allowing him to pitch deeper and with greater confidence. Towers explains how run support influences pitching approaches, with stronger backing giving pitchers freedom to experiment while maintaining control.
Injury Concerns: Corbin Burns
Corbin Burns' recent injury scare took center stage as Towers broke down the biomechanical risks that led to Burns’ suspected elbow injury. Observing Burns mouth “elbow is done” upon exiting his start, Towers explains that when pitchers allow their elbow to drop below shoulder level during delivery, it concentrates dangerous levels of stress on the elbow ligaments, often resulting in tears.
Honoring Legends: Mariners Retire 51 Twice
The Mariners announced the unprecedented retirement of jersey number 51 for both Ichiro Suzuki and Randy Johnson. Towers reflects on his pitching battles with Ichiro, explaining how simple, targeted pitch sequencing enabled him to limit the future Hall of Famer’s production despite Ichiro’s dominance in many zones.
Final Thoughts
The episode concludes with Seidenberg offering promo codes for Pregame.com and previewing both NBA and Stanley Cup finals alongside upcoming MLB series. Their discussion provides a comprehensive look into the complexities of modern baseball, blending high-level analysis with actionable betting insights.