Ricky Dimon
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a more-than-full 16-game slate on Tuesday, July 29. In addition to a doubleheader between the Blue Jays and Orioles, the schedule features Rays vs Yankees, Dodgers vs Reds, Cubs vs Brewers and Mets vs Padres. The Pickswise team has been in fine form this season. I’m 52-42-2 record so far in this best bets piece while going 4-for-10 on Same Game Parlays at +481, +632, +439 and +600 odds. Pickswise’s MLB handicapping team on the whole is 108-74-7 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 EVERY GAME today.
MLB best bet: Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees Under 8.5 (+100)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Whenever Max Fried toes the rubber for New York, your first inclination has to be the Under. And there is no reason to waver from that in this particular matchup against AL East rival Tampa Bay. Fried has absolutely befuddled the Rays so far this season. In 2 appearances against them, the southpaw is 2-0 with zero runs allowed in 14.2 innings of work. Overall this year, Fried is 11-4 with 2.62 ERA and 1.04 WHIP to go along with 116 strikeouts and just 30 walks in 127.1 innings. He is even more dominant at home, sporting a 2.24 ERA with opponents batting .201 against him in the Bronx.
The Rays are countering with Joe Boyle, who is sporting a 1.42 ERA through 19.0 innings. Boyle does not work especially deep into games, but Tampa Bay comes in with a solid 3.88 bullpen ERA. No pitcher will have to face Aaron Judge, because the slugger is sidelined by an elbow injury. The Yankees have scored more than 5 runs in a game only once since the all-star break. I’m expecting a low-scoring affair all around on Tuesday.
Read our full Rays vs Yankees prediction for tonight’s game on TBS
MLB best bet: Kansas City Royals ML over Atlanta Braves (-124)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The Braves actually won a game on Monday in Kansas City, but I don’t see them winning another one on Tuesday. Their 10-7 success in the series opener ended a 5-game losing streak. Atlanta can win when Spencer Strider is on the mound, but everyone else – literally – in the original pitching rotation is injured. The front office scrambled up a trade for Erick Fedde this past weekend, sending nothing – literally – to the Cardinals (either cash or a player to be named later). Fedde is 3-10 with a 5.22 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
Even after prevailing on Monday, the Braves are 19-34 on the road this year. Now they have to face Seth Lugo of the Royals, who is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. The right-hander has been outstanding at home, boasting a 2.48 ERA. Kansas City is a solid 5-3 in its last 8 contests, a stretch that includes taking 2 of 3 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field. There is no need to overthink this one; KC is the better team with a more favorable pitching matchup and playing at home.
Read our full Braves vs Royals prediction
