Ricky Dimon
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The quietest days of the entire sports year have come and gone and the second half of the Major League Baseball season is here to save us from the doldrums. There are a full 15 games for the resumption of festivities on Friday, with Giants at Pirates and Dodgers at Mets being televised on Apple TV+. It all gets started at 6:05 pm ET with a showdown between the Padres and Phillies.
Below are my plays for Friday, and also be sure to check out all of our MLB picks.
Brewers -1.5 (+130)
Guardians ML (+132)
Angels -1.5 (+122)
MLB parlay odds: +1090
For this parlay we are going with two favorites on the run line and an underdog on the money line. Let’s break down each of the legs.
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Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 over Cincinnati Reds (+130)
We are wasting no time diving right into an important matchup to begin the second half. Separated by just 1 game atop the National League Central standings, the first-place Reds host the second-place Brewers for a 3-game series. Cincinnati was perhaps the story of the league in the first half, but don’t sleep on Milwaukee. The Brew Crew compiled a 49-42 record and 10 of their last 15 games heading into the break. Now they send Corbin Burnes to the mound, which is good news for the visitors. Burnes is 7-5 with a 3.94 ERA and through 2 July outings he has allowed just 4 earned runs in 13.0 innings. The Reds are countering with Graham Ashcraft, who is 4-6 with a horrendous 6.28 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Ashcraft faced the Brewers on June 3 and it was an unmitigated disaster, as the right-hander allowed 10 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks in 4.0 innings during a 10-8 loss. Don’t be surprised if Milwaukee victimizes him again.
Cleveland Guardians ML over Texas Rangers (+132)
Is the honeymoon over for the Rangers? They started out the year scorching hot but went into the break losing 11 of their last 16 games. Jon Gray has not really been responsible for that slump, but he hasn’t been getting any help. Texas has lost each of his last 3 starts and 4 of his last 5. The Guardians, on the other hand, have won 6 of their last 9 contests to reach .500 and take them to the top of the American League Central. That’s right; even with a mediocre record, Cleveland leads Minnesota by a half-game. Although this team is far from spectacular, being in first place will undoubtedly have the Guardians extremely motivated at the beginning of the second half. They have Aaron Civale on the mound for Friday’s game and he is sporting a 2.56 ERA. As considerable underdogs, they visitors have great value with Civale toeing the rubber.
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LA Angels -1.5 over Houston Astros (+122)
It’s a Shohei Ohtani day, so… why not make this bet? Ohtani gave up 5 runs in his most recent outing, but more than a week off for the All-Star break can do pitchers a world of good – especially one who also bats every day. With Ohtani well rested, I think he can take care of the Astros on Friday. It should also be noted that the star right-hander is sporting a 2.35 ERA at home compared to a 4.60 ERA on the road. The Astros are 1-3 in their last 4 games and J.P. France is not one of their stud pitchers. France has been hurt by the home-run ball in 2023, with 8 dingers surrendered in 11 appearances – including 3 to the Cubs in only 3.2 innings of work on May 18. The Angels are not the guys you want to be facing when you are having trouble keeping the ball in the park.
You can also check out our YRFI/NRFI Best Bets for Friday’s slate
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