Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Wednesday, June 29th (2022)

Bettors get plenty of opportunities to cash wagers early today, as eight of the 15 games have first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET or earlier. Do any of the early games appeal to us?

Here are our best bets for Wednesday’s MLB action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>

Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees O/U

The first two games of the A’s-Yankees series have been entirely different, with the Yankees winning a 9-5 slugfest on Monday and a 2-1 pitcher’s duel last night. In today’s series finale, we expect more of the former.

The Yankees have scored nine or more runs in 15 games this season, so they could easily surpass this total by themselves against Oakland starter Cole Irvin (2-5, 3.29). New York has seemingly hit home runs against everyone this year, but that is especially true against lefties, as the Yankees’ 40 home runs against southpaws lead the majors.

New York counters Jameson Taillon (8-1, 3.19), and he looks like a pitcher going through some mid-season struggles relative to his early success. Taillon has pitched to a 4.45 ERA in June and is coming off allowing a season-high six earned runs in 5.2 innings in his last start. Taillon’s WHIP is also a 1.30 in day games compared to a 1.01 at night, and his OBA is also up 29 percentage points in day games.

New York’s 55-20 is tied for the sixth-best record through 75 games in MLB history. This is once again a mismatch against the major’s worst team, but we are finding more value in the total on this game as opposed to laying the steep moneyline odds with the Yankees.

Bet: Athletics-Yankees OVER 8.5 (-105 at DraftKings) 

Houston Astros vs. New York Mets RL

The Mets better hope they do not face the Astros in the World Series if they make it there, as their four head-to-head meetings have been lopsided. Houston has outscored New York by a combined score of 22-6 this season and looks to finish off the Mets with its ace on the mound. The Astros were surprising underdogs (despite playing the MLB-best Yankees) in Verlander’s last start. Houston is surprisingly not bigger favorites against the less powerful Mets despite Verlander’s early statement to be considered for a third career Cy Young. However, given how good Verlander has been and how lopsided the games between these teams have been, we are getting greedy with laying the -1.5 runs at plus odds instead of taking Houston’s more-than-fair moneyline odds.

New York counters with Taijuan Walker (6-2, 3.03), who has allowed 8.3 H/9 and has a 6.8 K/9 rate, both of which are on pace to be his worst in the last five seasons. That spells trouble against an Astros lineup that ranks third in the league with a 128 wRC+ over the previous two weeks.

Bet: Houston Astros -1.5 Runs (+130 at DraftKings)  

Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies O/U 

Braves slugger Ronald Acuna Jr. has missed the last couple of games but could be activated in today’s matchup against the Phillies. Given that he has a career slash line of .281/.376/.540 and a 137 OPS, he makes an already fearful Braves lineup much deeper.

Atlanta has destroyed left-handed pitching all season, as they rank second in the majors with a .808 slugging percentage against southpaws. Thus, Philadelphia’s Ranger Suarez (6-4, 4.23) should be in for a long night, just like when he allowed five earned runs in 4.1 innings in his lone start against Atlanta this season.

On the other side, Atlanta’s Kyle Wright (8-4, 3.18) has shown some of the youth (he has only made 28 career starts) in his last couple of trips to the mound, as he has allowed nine earned runs and a whopping 21 hits in his previous 11.1 innings. Philadelphia’s lineup may miss Bryce Harper (out indefinitely with a broken thumb), but guys like Kyle Schwarber can more than make up the slack, as he hit his 11th home run this month in last night’s contest.

Bet: Braves-Phillies OVER 8.5 (-115 at DraftKings)  

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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.