MLB Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (6/15)
The weather is getting warmer, and we’re fully into the MLB season. Let’s look at interesting matchups for tonight.
Today’s MLB Best Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Los Angeles Angels (+114) at Texas Rangers (-134) | O/U 8 (-115/-115)
The Angels can grab the 3-1 series win tonight and narrow their AL West deficit. They have the perfect pitcher going with Shohei Ohtani, and he’s putting up MVP numbers once again on the bump and at the plate.
On the other side, the Rangers are in a bit of a slide, as they’ve dropped five of their last seven. The normally-solid pitching staff is on a bit of a slide themselves, with a 5.40 ERA during this stretch. Nathan Eovaldi wasn’t at his sharpest in his last start, allowing four earned, which is the most he’s allowed in his last nine starts, but he still earned the win.
Ohtani has a good history against the Rangers and Eovaldi went eight scoreless in his previous start this season against the Angles. I’m concentrating on this pitching matchup, which will be a duel.
Pick: Under 4.5 Runs In First 5 (-118)
Toronto Blue Jays (+104) at Baltimore Orioles (-122) | O/U 9 (+100/-122)
The Blue Jays were able to sneak in a low-scoring win to force the rubber match. Yusei Kikuchi has an excellent record, but his underlining stats are not, including a 1.34 WHIP and xSLG in the ninth percentile. His 5.99 runs of support have been a big help for him.
Baltimore has been on a great run recently, but the loss on Wednesday night snapped their five-game win streak. The offense has been stellar, with a 1.001 OPS and 11 home runs in their last six games. It’s been a breakout year for Tyler Wells, and he has a 3.24 ERA and an 0.85 WHIP.
Wells already had a good history against the Jays from before this season and with the Orioles’ offense and Kikuchi’s struggles, Baltimore will take the final game.
Pick: Orioles Moneyline (-122)
Chicago Cubs (-150) at Pittsburgh Pirates (+130) | O/U 8.5 (+100/-122)
It’s been all Chicago in this series, as they’ve outscored the Pirates 21-9 in the two wins. They are in good shape to pull the brooms out with Marcus Stroman on the mound, and he’s coming in off five straight winning starts, pitching to a 1.26 ERA.
The inconsistency of Pittsburgh continues; they lost five of their last seven after winning six straight. They have a chance at a bit of relief as Johan Oviedo has been on a tremendous run, allowing opponents to hit .187 during his last two starts.
The theme of this series is offense, but I like this pitching matchup to change that.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-105)
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