Free MLB Picks Today for Friday, July 21st, 2023

Our free MLB picks are out for Friday, July 21st, 2023! Make sure you check our MLB picks before the action kicks off.

Look below to find our free MLB picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!

San Diego Padres @ Detroit Tigers – 6:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

The San Diego Padres had a lot of expectations coming into the season and it is fair to say that they have been a little bit underwhelming up until this point of the year. They have a lineup full of some of the best power hitters in baseball, but they haven’t quite clicked yet, and they are running out of time if they want to make a deep playoff run. They will need to get hot at the right time and the opening game of this series against the Detroit Tigers gives them a perfect opportunity to take advantage of one of the less competitive teams this season. San Diego comes into this game with a record of 46-51 through their first 97 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. 

The Detroit Tigers are having a rough season, but they still find themselves with an opportunity to make a playoff run during the back half of the year. That is because the American League Central division has been awful this season. Detroit only finds themselves a handful of games out of first place at the moment. They will need to start grabbing some victories like the opening game of this series at home against San Diego to get themselves some much-needed momentum, heading into the rest of the season. However, I don’t see that happening here on Friday night as I have San Diego picking up the victory in the opening game of this three-game weekend series.

Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays – 6:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

Baltimore grabbed a huge victory in the opening game of this series on Thursday night and they will be looking to get their second consecutive victory over Tampa Bay here on Friday. It took them until extra innings to get the job done but the Orioles picked up a series opening victory in 10 innings behind a solid performance from Kyle Gibson. Now Baltimore has moved into sole possession of first place in the American League East division by half of a game coming into the second game of this four game weekend series. Baltimore has now picked up eight victories in their last 10 games on the season as they are one of the hottest teams in the league at the moment.

Tampa Bay will be looking to bounce back after their loss in extra innings to open up the series as they look to reclaim first place in the American League East division. Tampa Bay has been struggling as of late as they now have a five game losing streak, coming into the second game of the series and they have lost seven out of their last 10 on the year as well. They should have the pitching advantage of this matchup with Zach Eflin taking the mound for them against Baltimore on Friday night. He has 10 victories to his name this season and Tampa Bay has played well when he has started games for them. I expect that to continue as I think the Rays will break their losing streak and grab the victory here on Friday.

Colorado Rockies @ Miami Marlins – 6:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

It has been a rough year for the Colorado Rockies this season, and they are likely going to continue to experience more rough times ahead in the series against the Miami Marlins. Colorado is still very fresh in their rebuilding era and it’ll be a long time before they compete again for a National League West division championship. They come into this game with 59 losses through their first 96 games of the season, and they are currently in last place in their division. They come into the opening game of this series on a one game losing streak, and losers of six out of their last 10 on the year.  

The Miami Marlins have been solid this season and that is thanks in part to their trade for Luis Arraez over the off-season. He has been instrumental in their success on the year, and they look to be on a collision course with the playoffs at the end of the regular season. However, that could change quickly if they don’t turn things around as they are in the middle of a slump at the moment. They come into the opening game of this series as losers of six straight games and eight out of their last 10 on the season. Luckily for them they still are eight games above .500 at the moment with 53 victories in their first 98 games of the season. I expect them to snap their losing streak in the opening game of this series here on Friday night as well.

Kansas City Royals @ New York Yankees – 7:05PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Kansas City Royals have been one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball this season and they are on pace to lose over 100 games this year. It is just another long year in their near decades long rebuild at this point. As this team has not been relevant since they lifted the World Series trophy in the early 2010s. Kansas City comes into the opening game of this series with 70 losses through their first 98 games of the season. They have lost their last two games in a row and seven out of the last 10 on the year as they just cannot seem to string any type of consistency or victories together this season. 

The New York Yankees had a lot of high hopes coming into the season, but they have flown under the radar because of the success within their division. New York is currently experiencing a rough patch as most of their key players are spending time on the injured list, and they are struggling to get themselves back in playoff contention at the moment. They come into the opening game of this series on a four game losing streak, and they have lost seven out of their last 10 on the season as well. They will need to bounce back quickly as their record is starting to linger around .500 as they come into this game with a 50-47 record through their first 97 games of the season. However, I think they will break their losing streak and grab a victory over Kansas City here on Friday night at home.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Cleveland Guardians – 7:10PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Philadelphia Phillies were yet another team, full of potential coming into the season and they are yet another team that has been underwhelming up until this point of the year as well. After winning the National League pennant last season, many people expect them to compete for an National League East division championship. However, they just hasn’t been the case, and all the high hopes that Trea Turner had coming into the season after an incredible performance in the WBC quickly faded along with his MVP hopes as well. Philadelphia comes into this game on a two game losing streak and as losers in their last five out of 10 games on the year.

The Cleveland Guardians are in a similar position as the Philadelphia Phillies coming into this three game weekend series at home. After an unsuspecting run to the American League Central division championship and coming one game away from the ALCS, their season hasn’t gone as expected either. Many people expect them to run away with the American League Central division, and the only reason they are still in the hunt to win the division is because of how awful the division has been this season. They have gotten off to a sluggish start and the bullpen continues to blow games for them, which brings them into this series a few games under .500. However, I do expect them to pick up the victory here on Friday night over Philadelphia to open up the series.

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.