Four-pick cross-sport parlay for Friday (+1807 odds): MLB and MLS picks

Matthew Lowrimore

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Matthew has been with Pickswise for a while now, covering a wide variety of sports. His main passions are college football and UFC, and those are the sports he has covered the most. Matthew uses a variety of methods to handicap games, including stats, trends, injuries, and situational factors. His goal is to consistently give out winners and will put in the research to try and achieve this. For Matt Lowrimore media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.

@Sixfigurematt

MLB pick: Philadelphia Phillies ML (-135) vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 7:05pm ET

Philly needs starter Vince Velasquez to get this series off to the right start. He is anything but reliable, though. It seems to depend on what kind of opponent he is taking on, but he has been good against bad teams. Pittsburgh does not have a lot of options for starters but Will Crowe is getting his shot. He is a little too easy to hit to expect much success, especially with the team he has behind him. He is prone to the long ball. In 3 of his last 6 starts, he has given up multiple homers. When you look at Velasquez’s good starts, a couple against Miami really stand out. The Pirates are similar to that lineup, though probably worse, so we can back him and the Phillies with more confidence than normal. Take Philadelphia.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our MLB picks and predictions, as well as our prop bets, parlays, and MLB Best Bets

MLS pick: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC ML (-130), 8pm ET

Coming into Thursday’s game against Atlanta United, there are four main differences that should put your mind at ease if you’re an Orlando fan. First, the Lions are playing at home, where they’ve won four times and lost just once this season. Second, they’ll be much more rested: those who did play on Sunday did so with just two days of rest between their prior match against Philadelphia and that one. Third, and most crucially, Nani and Chris Mueller should be back in the lineup. And finally, while Atlanta are as desperate for a win as anyone, they, unlike NYCFC, can’t seem to figure out a formula, no matter how many different tactics they try. Back Orlando to get all three points.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our free Soccer Predictions, with soccer picks from the CONCACAF Gold Cup throughout the tournament and the MLS all season long.

MLB pick: Seattle Mariners ML (-130) vs Texas Rangers, 8:05pm ET

The Mariners have the starting pitching advantage in this one, as well as a better offense and a far superior bullpen. There are not many opportunities for bettors to get all three facets of the game to line up in favor of one club, and only have to pay a price of -130 at sportsbooks. Seattle is arguably the best value play on the MLB slate this evening.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our MLB picks and predictions, as well as our prop bets, parlays, and MLB Best Bets

MLS pick: Portland Timbers ML (+250) vs LA Galaxy, 10pm ET

Portland finished with as many points as anyone else in the Western Conference last season, and despite a rough start to 2021 have been picking it up lately, currently sitting just one point out of a playoff position. The Timbers have struggled on the road this year but they were clearly the better team the last time they played the Galaxy, a 3-0 home victory for Portland in May in a game that saw them complete a crisp 92% of their passes. With the Galaxy fielding a much less formidable team than they did in that game, take Portland to repeat the result, and expect them to take all three points.