Kevin Davies
Show Bio
I hope you like day baseball because there is plenty of early action on the diamond today. The Rockies and Twins start things off with an early first pitch in Minnesota and the day concludes with a star-studded matchup between the Rangers and Dodgers in Los Angeles. I’ve found my 3 favorite picks for today and created an MLB parlay at nearly 10-1 odds with DraftKings Sportsbook, so let’s get right into it. You can also find out our MLB picks for each of today’s big matchups.
Orioles -1.5 (+154)
Nationals ML (+114)
Cubs ML (+100)
MLB parlay odds: +987
We recommend betting on today’s MLB parlay with DraftKings Sportsbook, where you can get the best odds available AND if your first wager of just $5 is a winner, you’ll receive $150 in bonus bets along with your winnings! Sound good? All you need to do to join DraftKings is click here.
Baltimore Orioles -1.5 over Atlanta Braves (+154)
It’s gone from bad to worse for the Braves this season. Atlanta lost Spencer Strider very early in the season and then Ronald Acuna Jr. a month and a half later to a knee injury. Those 2 players are cornerstones to the Braves team, and without them, Atlanta hasn’t been what we’ve come to expect. In the last 40 games, the Braves rank 29th in batting average, 30th in on-base percentage and 30th in OPS. This seems like a mistake, but I can assure you it’s not. Atlanta isn’t getting the same production from Michael Harris, Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Sean Murphy, and that has led to a lot of problems.
In the series opener, the Orioles won 4-0. Atlanta mustered just 5 hits all game as Marcell Ozuna continues to be the only Braves hitter with any sort of success lately. With that loss, Atlanta extends its losing streak to 4 consecutive games. As for the O’s, they’ve won 5 straight. Plus, in Baltimore’s last 17 games, they’ve won by at least 2 runs every single time. Backing the Orioles -1.5 is worth the risk at these odds to kick off our MLB parlay.
Read our full Atlanta Braves vs Baltimore Orioles predictions
Washington Nationals ML over Detroit Tigers (+114)
I was once really high on Reese Olson. He seemed to be the perfect backend starter behind Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, but Olson’s success has hit an abrupt stop. In his 2 starts in May, the right-hander has allowed 13 runs, 18 hits and 2 home runs in 9.1 innings to the Red Sox and Brewers. I’m not sure what’s changed in his last few starts, but he hasn’t looked like the same pitcher.
It’s been the opposite for Washington starter Jake Irvin, who started slow but has looked fantastic recently. Irvin had a 4.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP after April which wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. However, Irvin posted a 2.45 ERA in May and currently has a 1.50 ERA in June. He’s allowed more than 2 earned runs just once in his last 8 starts and has limited hitters to a .193 batting average and .227 xBA in that span. I’m siding with the better pitcher and taking the Nats to win again.
Don’t miss today’s best MLB player prop bets — our props experts are on a 4-0 run!
Chicago Cubs ML over Tampa Bay Rays (+100)
Last season, the Rays jumped out of the gate and were one of the best teams in the league for the first 2 months. Tampa Bay brought back nearly the entire team for 2024, but the results haven’t been the same. The Rays are 32-35 and have been the center of plenty of trade talks as Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena could be dealt in the coming months. Tampa’s pitching hasn’t been that great either since their normal rotation besides Zach Eflin is hurt, so that has left a lot of responsibility to guys like Aaron Civale. In 13 starts, Civale has a 5.31 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He’s a very hittable pitcher that doesn’t get many swings and misses.
On the mound, Chicago is starting Javier Assad. The right-hander had a fantastic start to the year as he lowered his ERA to 1.49 by the middle of May, but he’s seen a bit of regression since that hot start. Even then, Assad gets plenty of weak contact and is facing a Rays lineup that has been struggling in the last 2 weeks. At plus-money odds, I’m all over the Cubs to round off today’s MLB parlay picks.
