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MLB Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (6/3)

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We’re just over a third of the way through the MLB season, and we’re starting to get a great idea of how every team is going to shape up in 2023. With each team having roughly 60 games under their belts, there is plenty of statistical data available to help us find an edge from a sports betting standpoint. Below I’ve narrowed in on my top three bets for today’s 16-game MLB slate.

MLB YTD: 39-66 (+13.82 Units)

Today’s Best MLB Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Detroit Tigers (+128) vs. Chicago White Sox (-152) | 8.5 (-112/-108)

The White Sox took care of business in last night’s series opener when they beat the Tigers 3-0 on the southside. The divisional foes are back at it this afternoon, and we have a pitching matchup between Michael Lorenzen and Dylan Cease. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET from Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL.

Both of these hurlers threw in last weekend’s series when these two teams faced off. Lorenzen pitched in the Saturday game and limited the Sox to just two unearned runs on two hits and a walk over 6.2 innings of work. Cease wasn’t nearly as sharp in his Sunday outing, where he gave up four earned runs on four hits and four walks over 4.0 innings pitched. 

I’m locking in the under in this spot. I’m still expecting Cease to put everything together and return at least somewhere close to his 2022 form, where he finished second in Cy Young voting. He’ll have an excellent opportunity against a Tigers team that’s just 26th in team batting average (.230) and 28th in OPS (.660). Furthermore, with the injury to Riley Greene, Detroit’s best hitter at .296, I believe this offense is going to take another step back. I’m expecting another low-scoring affair today – give me the under!

Bet: Under 8.5 (-108)

Colorado Rockies (+122) vs. Kansas City Royals (-144) | 9.5 (-106/-114)

The greatest trend in baseball cashed again last night as the Rockies beat the Royals 7-2, moving Kansas City to 0-12 in Jordan Lyles’ starts this year. We’ll have another edition of this interleague matchup today as Austin Gomber and Daniel Lynch each take the ball for their respective clubs. This game gets underway at 4:10 p.m. ET from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

When I saw that Gomber was taking the ball this afternoon, I initially thought the over would be the play in this game. The left-hander enters this game at 4-4 with a 7.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 11 starts. However, he has been better away from Coors Field, where his ERA dips to 4.35, and opponents are hitting just .234 against him. Furthermore, he has great head-to-head numbers against Kansas City. The current roster is slashing just .150/.261/.150 against him over 20 at-bats. 

On the flip side, Daniel Lynch is set to make his second start of the season. The southpaw faced the Nationals on Sunday, limiting them to two earned runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings pitched. Lynch will take on a Rockies side that has struggled against LHP this season, hitting just .234 (25th) while posting a .659 OPS (29th). After reviewing the numbers, I think 9.5 runs is too high, and I’m locking in the under in K.C. 

Bet: Under 9.5 (-114)

Los Angeles Angels (+142) vs. Houston Astros (-168) | 8.5 (-118/-104)

The Astros have already won two games against the Angels to start the weekend, beating them 5-2 in the opener on Thursday and putting on a 6-2 encore last night. Houston will turn to Cristian Javier as they go for three straight wins over their divisional opponent. The Halos counter with Patrick Sandoval in this matchup scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX.

The Astros have owned the Angels in Texas in recent history, winning seven of the last eight home games. I’m not going against this trend, and I’ll lock in Houston on the run line in this spot. I think runs are going to be tough to come by for the Angels as they’re running into the right-handed Javier, who is in great form. Over five starts in May, he posted a 2.40 ERA and 0.83 WHIP over 30.0 innings of work. He has allowed just one earned run in each of his last three outings, and Houston has covered the run line in all three games. 

Sandoval, on the other hand, has struggled against this Houston lineup. The current roster is slashing .312/.359/.615 against him over 96 at-bats. Of the 30 hits they’ve recorded, 13 have been for extra bases, including seven home runs. All things considered, I think there’s enough data here to say that the Astros stretch their lead out to at least two runs at home. 

Bet: Houston Astros -1.5 (+112)

Check out our other best bets for Saturday:

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