Ricky Dimon
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a full 15-game slate on Friday. It features Mariners vs Cubs, Tigers vs Rays, Mets vs Phillies and Red Sox vs Giants. The Pickswise team has been in fine form so far this season. I’m 39-29-2 record so far in this best bets piece while going 4-for-8 on Same Game Parlays at +481, +632, +439 and +600 odds and 6-2 on YRFI/NRFI picks. Pickswise’s MLB handicapping team on the whole is 68-50-5 on their best bets. Let’s keep it going as we get into my MLB best bets of the day!
Also don’t forget to check out our MLB picks for Friday’s slate.
MLB best bet: Chicago Cubs ML over Seattle Mariners (-126)
Odds available at Bet365 Sportsbook at time of publishing
It’s hard to fathom why the Cubs aren’t bigger favorites on Friday – they might be by first pitch, however. Yes, the Mariners enjoyed an off day on Thursday. Still, the Cubs had a home game (and in the afternoon) and find themselves at Wrigley Field again for this series. It’s not like they had to travel. Chicago will be well rested and ready to go, also eager to bounce back from Thursday’s 8-7 loss to NL Central rival Milwaukee. It’s also worth noting that the Cubs got rained out on Wednesday, so their bullpen arms are also well rested for the most part.
Chicago is handing the ball to Matthew Boyd, who is 6-3 with a 2.79 ERA. He is sporting a 2.25 ERA at the friendly confines, so it’s not a big surprise that his team is 6-0 when he pitches at home. Seattle is countering with George Kirby, who is 1-3 with a 5.96 ERA. There is really no need to overthink this one. The Cubs are the much better team in general and they simply don’t lose with Boyd going at Wrigley Field.
MLB best bet: Texas Rangers -1.5 over Pittsburgh Pirates (-126)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
There are the Pittsburgh Pirates when Paul Skenes pitches and then there are…the Pittsburgh Pirates. Those are, of course, 2 very different teams. Pittsburgh is close to an automatic fade when Skenes isn’t on the mound, and he isn’t on the mound on Friday. This matchup with the Rangers is no exception to the rule that you should bet against the Pirates whenever someone other than Skenes toes the rubber. After all, Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.19 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) is starting for Texas.
It is true that the Rangers have struggled on the road this season, but don’t overlook the fact that they are 4-1 in their last 5 such contest – a stretch that includes 16-4 and 16-3 humiliations of Minnesota. Texas now faces Mike Burrows, who is 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. This is simply a pitching mismatch. With a full 9 innings guaranteed at the plate as the visiting side, Texas should be able to cover the -1.5 run line on Friday.
