Ricky Dimon
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a full 15-game slate on Wednesday. There are 10 afternoon specials and 5 evening affairs, so baseball fans can be entertained all day long. The lineup features Red Sox vs Phillies, Yankees vs Blue Jays and Brewers vs Mariners. The Pickswise team has been in fine form so far this season. I’m 51-37-2 record so far in this best bets piece while going 4-for-9 on Same Game Parlays at +481, +632, +439 and +600 odds. Pickswise’s MLB handicapping team on the whole is 105-67-7 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 on Wednesday’s slate.
MLB best bet: Atlanta Braves ML over San Francisco Giants (-165)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The Braves aren’t winning many games these days, and really they can’t given their pitching situation. Basically everyone is hurt, including Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach. However, they can win when Spencer Strider is taking the mound. Strider started the season as Atlanta’s 1 injured starter; now he is Atlanta’s 1 healthy starter. The right-hander has delivered 4 consecutive quality starts and his streak would be at 8 if not for missing the innings quota (5.0 instead of 6.0) just once during this hot stretch. Strider did not allow a single run in his most recent appearance, blanking the Yankees across 6.0 innings en route to a 7-3 victory last Friday.
San Francisco is countering with Justin Verlander, who – it is fair to say – is washed up at 42 years old. The veteran isn’t the worst pitcher in baseball, but an 0-8 record is an 0-8 record. And a 4.99 ERA is a 4.99 ERA. You can’t argue with the numbers. The Giants have lost his last 6 starts and are 2-11 in his last 13 outings. Moreover, they are 1-4 in the second half so far and 1-6 in their last 7 overall. The Braves should be even bigger favorites in this one.
After yesterday’s winner, find out ThatGuyBets’ MLB YRFI/NRFI best bet for today
MLB best bet: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 over Minnesota Twins (-103)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
It is true that the Dodgers have been struggling in recent weeks, but their bats are coming around. They have scored at least 5 runs in 4 straight games, including 7 on 2 occasions during this stretch. More of the same should continue with Minnesota’s Chris Paddack on the mound. The right-hander is 3-9 with a 5.14 ERA and 1.31 WHIP this season, and he has been especially bad of late. After pitching great in April and May, Paddack compiled a 6.06 ERA in June and owns a laughable 7.80 ERA so far in July (3 appearances). Mookie Betts is 6-for-9 lifetime against him with 1 home run and 2 doubles.
Additional bad news for the Twins is that Tyler Glasnow is back – and maybe better than ever – to anchor L.A.’s pitching staff. Since missing all of May and June because of shoulder inflammation, Glasnow has given up just 1 earned run in 2 starts across 11.0 innings of work this month. The right-hander faced Minnesota once last year and fired 7.0 innings of shutout baseball while striking out 14 batters, walking none and allowing a mere 3 hits. Give me the Dodgers to win big on Wednesday.
See Javan Shouey’s best MLB player prop bets for today, targeting Max Fried and Brandon Pfaadt
