Amid the new Major League Baseball series starting this weekend, there will be a lot of moving and shaking in the American League Central as the top four teams expected to compete for the division title battle each other (Royals vs. Guardians and Tigers vs. Twins). In addition, the Mariners will aim to put pressure on the Rangers after falling four games back in the division early.
Do any of these games make our MLB Best Bets column?
Read on for our top MLB picks for Friday, April 11th.
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Friday's Top MLB Picks
(MLB odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Pittsburgh Pirates (+134) at Cincinnati Reds (-158) | O/U 8.0 (-110/-110)
The Reds are 2-0 in Brady Singer’s first two starts, beating two division contenders (Brewers and Rangers) by a combined score of 25-10. Singer has only allowed three earned runs through 12 innings of work, and struck out seven or more batters in each start.
Compared to his first two opponents, this series opener against the Pirates should be a walk in the park. Pittsburgh ranks in the bottom 10 of the league in batting average on balls in play (BABIP), and has not done much damage with the National League’s lowest slugging percentage. Cincinnati should also hit Pirates southpaw Bailey Falter, who has allowed an eye-popping 55.9% hard-hit percentage thus far.
Pick: Reds Moneyline (-158)
San Francisco Giants (-102) at New York Yankees (-116) | O/U 8.0 (-110/-110)
The Giants are arguably the biggest surprise of the MLB season to date, as their 9-3 record has them right in the mix with the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks in the National League West.
San Francisco should find offensive success against Marcus Stroman (0-0, 7.27 ERA), a pitcher the Yankees were eager to cast off before the injuries to Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil happened.
Stroman ranks in the 11th percentile in chase percentage and is in the bottom quarter of all pitchers in expected ERA (xERA), expected batting average (xBA) and strikeout rate. Meanwhile, I expect Giants southpaw Robbie Ray to neutralize a Yankees lineup ranked first overall in slugging, but one that has dipped to ninth in that metric over the last seven days.
Pick: Giants Moneyline (-102)
Texas Rangers (-122) at Seattle Mariners (+104) | O/U 6.5 (-122/+100)
Through two starts, Jacob deGrom has shown signs of being his vintage self, striking out nine batters through 10.2 innings and leading his team to two wins over American League East opponents.
The Rangers pitcher was tagged for two home runs in his last start, but the long ball should not be an issue when facing a Mariners lineup that has hit 14 home runs this season and ranks 19th in ISO.
Seattle’s pitching staff also ranks in the top half of the league in ERA and BABIP at home this season. Bryce Miller should limit a Rangers lineup that has been held to four or fewer runs in nine out of 13 games this season.
Pick: Under 6.5 Runs (+100)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.