Top 3 MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (6/28)
With the NBA and NHL seasons wrapped up, it's time for Major League Baseball to take center stage for the rest of the summer. The league rolls out a full 15-game slate today, and below I've narrowed in on three of the games from a sports betting perspective. Here are my top three MLB best bets for Saturday, June 28th.
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Saturday's Best MLB Bets
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM)
San Francisco Giants (-170) vs. Chicago White Sox (+140) | O/U 8.0 (-110/-110)
The Giants (45-37) snapped their three-game slide on Friday night, taking down the White Sox (26-56) in a 3-1 affair. The teams are back at it this evening, and we have a great starting pitching matchup between Robbie Ray and Adrian Houser. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET from Rate Field in Chicago, IL.
Houser, who's on a one-year, $850,000 deal with the White Sox, is going to pitch himself right out of the Windy City at this rate. I mean that in a good way, because the right-hander has been dealing this season. He enters the weekend with a record of just 2-2, but brings in a 2.27 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The 32-year-old is a prime candidate to get shipped out to a contender at the deadline. With his form and the way Ray (2.83 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) has looked this season, I'm playing the under today in Chicago.
Both of these sub-3.00 ERA pitchers should find success against a couple of bottom-half offenses. Over the last week, the Giants are a modest 17th in wOBA (.317), while the White Sox are 25th (.261). Ray has held the Sox to a slash line of .189/.268/.351 over 37 career head-to-head at-bats. Finally, the wind will be blowing in from left field at around seven miles per hour (MPH) at first pitch, which should aid the pitchers. Give me the under.
Bet: Under 8.0 Runs (-110)
Philadelphia Phillies (+135) vs. Atlanta Braves (-160) | O/U 8.0 (-110/-110)
The division-leading Phillies (48-34) hammered the Braves (37-44) 13-0 on Friday night, and they'll look to keep things rolling tonight when they turn to Jesus Luzardo. The Braves counter with Spencer Schwellenbach in this National League East clash, which gets underway at 7:15 p.m. ET from Truist Park in Atlanta, GA.
I just cannot pass up on this plus-money price with the Phillies. In my mind, this game is a 50-50 toss-up, so a +135 payout signals there's value to be had with the National League East leaders.
This feels like a complete overreaction to Luzardo's recent two-start stretch, where he was tipping pitches and got blown up for 20 combined runs in the two outings. However, the southpaw has bounced back and just blanked the Mets over 6.2 innings in his most recent outing on Sunday night. Luzardo (4.08 ERA) has limited the Braves to a slash line of .245/.314/.382 in 110 at-bats. Considering they're just 22nd in wOBA (.283) over the last seven days, he should pitch well enough to keep his team in the game. Let's take a flier on the Phillies as underdogs tonight.
Bet: Phillies Moneyline (+135)
Washington Nationals (+105) vs. Los Angeles Angels (-125) | O/U 9.0 (-105/-115)
The MLB slate wraps up out West with a fun matchup between the Nationals (34-48) and the Angels (40-41). Michael Soroka gets the nod for the Curly W's, while the Halos opt for Kyle Hendricks. First pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.
The Nationals have not been playing quality baseball this month, as they're just 4-15 over their last 19 games. They continue to have issues all over the field, but their pitching staff has been a major concern. Soroka (5.06 ERA) will take the mound tonight, and the Angels have seen him well in the past. Los Angeles' current roster is 7-for-17 (.412) against him with a 1.059 OPS. Washington's bullpen is also the second-worst in the MLB, ranking 29th in both ERA (5.74) and WHIP (1.54).
We should see Los Angeles' offense explode tonight. Surprisingly, they've been the best unit in baseball over the last week. The Angels are ranked first in both wOBA (.391) and ISO (.260). They'll turn to Hendricks (4.83 ERA), who has limited the Nationals to a slash line of .170/.235/.191 over 47 at-bats. All things considered, I think it's best to lay the -125 juice and back the Angels at home.
Bet: Angels Moneyline (-125)