Here we are with our top MLB picks, best bets, and reliable predictions for the day, as 34 teams will be in action across the USA. Of the 17 active games on Friday, we have our top five picks for you to place your wagers on and increase your chances of winning.
The Dodgers, fresh off a home series loss to the Marlins, will now hit the road and travel to St. Louis to take on the Cardinals in a fiery three-game series. The Phillies, who completed an emphatic series sweep over the Giants at home, will now travel to Miami to take on the Marlins in a four-game intra-divisional series.
Top MLB Picks and Best Bets Today
St. Louis Cardinals vs. L.A. Dodgers: Moneyline, Dodgers (-186)
The Dodgers are .645 on the season with a 20-11 record, leading the NL West. The Cardinals are not too far off, contending a 18-13 record, just two games behind divisional leaders the Reds in the NL Central. Both teams have been slightly inconsistent over the last 10 games, with records of 5-5.
The Dodgers will be starting Emmet Sheehan (2-0) in the series opener on Friday night at Busch Stadium, as the Cardinals will start Matthew Liberatore on the mound. LA has an 8-5 away record this season, and we believe the Dodgers’ offense should fire at a place where they have succeeded multiple times in the past. Take the Dodgers’ moneyline in this one.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. San Francisco Giants: Total Under 7.5 (-108)
An in-form Rays side kicks off a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Giants on Friday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays are fresh off a back-to-back series win against the Twins and the Guardians, holding a decent 18-12 record, and in second place in the AL East division.
In contrast, the Giants were swept by the Phillies in Philadelphia and now sit at the bottom of the NL West division with a 13-18 record. San Francisco will give the ball to Robbie Ray for the series opener in Tampa Bay, who will be up against the Rays’ Shane McClanahan. We expect a bullpen battle in this one, keeping the bats silent and total under 7 runs.
Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Run Line, Phillies -1.5 (+129)
The Marlins will be starting Eury Perez in the series opener against the Philies at home in Loan Depot Park, while the visitors will give the ball to seasoned star Zack Wheeler, who is still looking for his first win of the campaign. Hitters in focus will be Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh for the Phillies, and Liam Hicks and Xavier Edwards for the Marlins.
While the Phillies’ winning margin in the series sweep has been 7 runs in the first and just 1 in the next 2, we expect the visitors to register a winning margin of at least 2 runs against the Marlins tonight. The Phillies will cover the spread tonight as their offense continues to fire in Miami.
Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks: Moneyline, Cubs (-143)
The Cubs kick off a seven-game homestand with a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field on Friday night. Chicago holds a 19-12 record this season, with a strong 7-3 mark in its last 10 games, placing it second in the NL Central.
The D-backs are above .500 and trail the division leaders, the Dodgers in the NL West, by just 3.5 games. This series is expected to be competitive, but the prediction favors the Cubs opening with a victory tonight.
Chicago’s Colin Rea (3-1) will start for the home team against Zac Gallen (1-1) of the D-backs. We anticipate contributions from Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, and Dansby Swanson tonight, and Rea is likely to limit opposing runs to secure the win.
Colorado Rockies vs Atlanta Braves: Total Over 11 (-105)
This will be the most exciting series in both leagues this weekend. The Braves have now secured seven series wins on the trot, and the Rockies, too, look in decent form after securing a series sweep against the Mets on the road.
The Braves, who currently hold the best record in baseball (22-10), will start Grant Holmes on the mound against the Rockies tonight. Holmes will be up against Jose Quintana, who is 1-2 for the season.
We expect the bats to run on either side tonight as Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Hunter Goodman, and Mickey Moniak all look in great form at the plate this campaign. While the moneyline heavily favors the visitors, we pick the total to go over 11 in this one, with strong offensive output from both teams.
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