Every MLB team is in action today, with games beginning at 2:20 p.m. ET. Can Zac Gallen get right against the Cubs? Will MacKenzie Gore succeed against a lineup that he has faltered against in his career, and will Kyle Schwarber continue his hot hitting?
Here are the best PrizePicks plays for Friday, Sept. 8's MLB action.
This Season: 82-90
Gallen has struggled in his last two games. Granted, both of those starts came against the Dodgers and the Orioles, but he has combined for just seven strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Tonight, however, he gets a solid matchup against the Cubs.
Every MLB team is in action today, with games beginning at 2:20 p.m. ET. Can Zac Gallen get right against the Cubs? Will MacKenzie Gore succeed against a lineup that he has faltered against in his career, and will Kyle Schwarber continue his hot hitting?
Here are the best PrizePicks plays for Friday, Sept. 8's MLB action.
This Season: 82-90
Gallen has struggled in his last two games. Granted, both of those starts came against the Dodgers and the Orioles, but he has combined for just seven strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Tonight, however, he gets a solid matchup against the Cubs.
The Cubs are 12th in the league in total strikeouts, so there isn't much of an advantage for Gallen there. But Gallen does have great career numbers against this lineup. While he has only struck out 15 batters in 50 at-bats, he has also held the lineup to a batting average of .120. This is a prime spot for Gallen to get right, and this number is probably a full strikeout below where it should be.
Gore has only struck out one Dodgers batter in his career, but we actually like his over tonight. In his last start, he struck out just two. Considering the Dodgers are also 18th in the league in total strikeouts, it seems like everything is pointing to the under.
But this number is really low. Gore has 147 strikeouts in 132.1 innings this season, and he has pitched at least 5.0 innings in seven of his last eight games. If he goes 5.0 innings again tonight, he should be able to clear this number easily. After all, he has only thrown fewer than four strikeouts in six of his 26 games this season.
Schwarber is the ultimate boom-or-bust hitter. He has 41 home runs this season, but he is batting just .195. This average has recently shot up, thanks to some hot hitting over the last few weeks. He has hit safely in 14 of his last 18 games, and he has recorded two hits in three of his last five.
But we don't trust Schwarber tonight. He has no prior experience against Marlins' starter Eury Perez, a player who doesn't give up many hits or home runs. Additionally, Schwarber's numbers against the Marlins' bullpen aren't great. He's been hot, but we expect him to revert back to his average tonight.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:
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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.
