We’ve got all 30 teams back in action for another busy Friday of MLB picks and predictions! Our tipsters have handpicks the best games and best picks to ensure that you start your weekend as a winner!
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Chicago Cubs – 2.20PM ET
The Diamondbacks and Cubs will kick off their three game series at Wrigley Field this afternoon for what will be the first match of our Friday MLB schedule.
Jesse Livermore
Based on what I’d seen in the first half of the season, I wasn’t sure if I would ever be writing these words, however, the Arizona Diamondbacks will enter this series having won their last four games. Yep, the D-Backs recently swept the Pirates at home in their midweek series. However now that they are hitting the road, I can’t see Arizona continuing their run of wins on Friday, especially with Zac Gallen at the mound. The Diamondbacks 11-38 record on the road is the second worst of any MLB team in 2021, and although he pitched well against Chicago in his last start, Arizona are 0-7 in Gallen’s last seven starts. As well as that, the Cubs are an 11 game above .500 team at Wrigley Field this season, and they will have the stronger of the two bullpens in this matchup.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Chicago Cubs (-146)
Tim Newton
The Diamondbacks take their four-game winning streak on the road to face the Cubs this afternoon and I like them to continue their winning ways. Chicago are 28-17 at Wrigley Field but have lost four of their last five and last time they returned home from a road trip they got smashed by the Phillies. While Arizona isn’t quite on the level of the Phillies, they are in a bit of a purple patch at the moment and I like the momentum they carry in. Zac Gallen is starting for the Diamondbacks, which is a tricky one to judge. He hasn’t been great this season but pitched 5.2 innings against Chicago on Saturday and only allowed one run off three hits. However, for Chicago, Zach Davies is getting the start and last time he did, he was far from ideal. Two runs on six hits along with four walks and just three strikeouts in 4.2 innings isn’t great and should help the Diamondbacks to keep in this one.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks +1.5 (TBA)
Katherine Mouradian
The Diamondbacks are really struggling as of late on the road, winning just 11 of their previous 51 road games. They are also just 12-46 in their previous 58 overall. The Cubs on the other hand the Cubs are doing really well as of late when they are playing a team with a winning percentage of less than .400, they have won six of their last seven. Although, the Cubs are just 5-15 in their last 21 overall, so both teams are not performing that well. So, I’ll be looking elsewhere, the unders! The under is 15-5-1 in their previous 21 when playing a team with a winning percentage of less than .400.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Under TBA (TBA)
Sweep! 🧹🧹🧹 pic.twitter.com/QwNmKEwzN2
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 21, 2021
Washington Nationals @ Baltimore Orioles – 7.05PM ET
The Orioles and Nationals will meet for the first match of their weekend set at Oriole Park on Friday night. Washington recently took two wins from their three games against Miami at home, while Baltimore dropped two of their three games against the Rays in Tampa Bay.
Jesse Livermore
Although they had a rough start to the second half of the season against the Padres at home, the Nationals found some form with the bat in their most recent series against the Marlins in Washington, outscoring Miami 25-7 in the three game set, including an 18-1 victory on Monday. Seeing as Juan Soto has five home runs and 12 RBIs since competing in the Home Run Derby over the All-Star Break, I like his hot bat to lead the Nationals to a win on the road in Friday’s series opener, especially when coming up against Baltimore’s Jorge Lopez. Lopez is 2-12 with a 6.04 ERA in 2021, and the right hander is 0-2 in his last three starts after conceding 10 earned runs in just 13.1 innings of work.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Washington Nationals / Over 9.5 (+191)
Tim Newton
The Nationals might be the hardest team to pick in baseball. They go from a 24-8 loss to beating the same side two nights later then beating a new team 18-1 before losing to them 1-3 two nights later. It is an absolute roller coaster but I think they will be at a high tonight. The Orioles have the second worst record in baseball and are just 13-30 at home this season. Combine that with the fact that Baltimore has allowed 5+ runs in six straight home games, Jorge Lopez getting the ball first for the Orioles and this could get in blowout territory. Washington is top 10 for both OPS and hits on the season and their offense will be far too strong in this one.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Washington Nationals / Over 9.5 (+191)
Katherine Mouradian
The Nationals have the better recent stats leading into this game, they have won six out of their last seven interleague games, as well as this they have won 12 out of their last 15 games when they are the favorite. The Orioles are 21-47 in their previous 68 games played on a Friday. Again, I’ll be looking for the total market, the over in particular. The over is 4-1-1 in the Nationals previous six games overall, and 3-0-1 in the Orioles last four games played on a Friday.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Over 10 (-114)
Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Mets – 7.10PM ET
After six games on the road, the New York Mets will return home for the first time in the second half of the 2021 MLB season when they host the Blue Jays on Friday. However, Toronto are four games above .500 on the road this year.
Jesse Livermore
This matchup will feature one of the league’s most damaging offense’s and one of the league’s strongest pitching staffs. Toronto’s lineup has clubbed 5.18 runs per game in 2021, ranking them in the top five teams in the league, while New York own the fifth best team ERA in baseball, 3.49. However, with Steven Matz taking the mound for Toronto, I am going to take the Blue Jays on the road on Friday. Matz spent the first six years of his career with the Mets, so he will feel right at home at Citi Field. As well as that, Matz is coming off five shutout innings against Texas in his last start and he, along with the Blue Jays damaging lineup, should be enough to lead Toronto to victory on Friday. Especially when considering that New York’s lineup has scored just 367 runs in 2021, the second fewest in baseball.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Toronto Blue Jays / Under 8.5 (+277)
Tim Newton
The Mets should relish getting back home, where they are 28-14 for the season, and I believe it will help them take care of business tonight. The Mets have won three of their last four games and come in with some momentum after taking care of the Reds to the tune of 7-0 on Wednesday. While Tylor Megill is getting the ball first for just the sixth time in his career, he has some form behind him after pitching a six-innings shutout against the Pirates on Saturday. He will be tested against one of the best offenses in baseball but I think the home crowd behind him will be enough to help Megill, and the Mets, get over the line in the opener.
Tim’s MLB Pick: New York Mets (-108)
Katherine Mouradian
The Blue Jays are not doing too well as of late when playing against a team with a winning record, they have won just one of their previous six. They are also just 3-8 in their previous 11 games played on a Friday. On the other hand, the Mets are 5-0 in their previous five series opening games, as well as this, they are 13-4 in their previous 17 games when playing a team with a winning record. I’ll be taking the Mets.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: New York Mets (-108)
Vladdy makes US wanna shout 💥 #PLAKATA pic.twitter.com/dPZjwEsqzl
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 22, 2021
Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros – 8.10PM ET
A pair of AL West rivals will kick off their three game weekend series in Houston on Friday night when the first placed Astros host the last placed Rangers at Minute Maid Park.
Jesse Livermore
In what has the potential to be one of the most lopsided matchups on Friday’s MLB schedule, the AL West’s first placed Astros should have no trouble securing a victory on Friday when coming up against the division’s last placed Ragers in Houston. Both starting pitchers will enter this matchup with an ERA in the low fours, however the Astros lineup has clubbed a league high 521 runs in 2021, which is good for a 5.37 runs per game average. On the other hand, Texas are 0-7 since the All-Star break and they will continue their lengthy road trip in Houston this weekend. The Rangers have scored just 1.4 runs per game during that seven game stretch, including three shutouts, and we can’t see them hitting a winning score against the division leading Astros in Houston on Friday.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros -1.5 / Over 8.5 (+234)
Tim Newton
A bit of a mismatch in the all-Texas showdown between the Rangers and Astros tonight. While Houston have actually lost two of their last three series, they have won two of their last three, all against Cleveland, who is a much better team than Texas. The Rangers are still yet to be victorious since returning from the All Star break, losing seven straight since then and nine straight overall. Combine that with the fact that they are 13-37 on the road this season and it may not even matter who is in the lineup or on the mound for either side.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros -1.5 (-126)
Katherine Mouradian
The Rangers, like many other teams, are struggling on the road, winning just 16 out of 72 road games, as well as this they have won just 17 out of a total of 61 games. It seems like this game is certainly the Astros to lose. The Astros are 31-15 in their previous 46 overall. If you are looking for a duel bet, the over is looking pretty good as well. The over is 13-5-1 in the Rangers previous 19 games on the road. The Rangers are also just 5-21 in their previous 26 meetings in Houston.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros (-250)
Chicago White Sox @ Milwaukee Brewers – 8.10PM ET
An interleague matchup between two first placed teams will conclude our Friday evening MLB schedule when the NL Central’s Milwaukee Brewers host the AL Central’s Chicago White Sox for the first match of their three game series at Miller Park.
Jesse Livermore
This is undoubtedly the most eagerly anticipated game on today’s MLB schedule for me, as the two division leaders prepare to lock horns in Milwaukee. As a result of their two recent losses to the Royals, the Brewers have now lost five consecutive games at Miller Park, where they are just four games above .500 this season. However, the White Sox also have not been a strong team on the road this year, owning a mere two game above .500 road record despite their 58-38 overall record on the season. Both teams boast a top 10 pitching staff, however seeing as Freddy Peralta (2.39 ERA) owns a 4-1 record and 2.04 ERA at home this season, I am going to take the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday night. Chicago’s Lucas Giolito is a successful pitcher in his own right, however the right hander has allowed eight earned runs in his last two road starts.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Milwaukee Brewers (-134)
Tim Newton
A highly anticipated matchup between two division leaders but they both come in with some poor recent form. The Brewers just dropped both of a two-game home stand against the lowly Royals while Chicago just split a four-game series with the struggling Twins. That isn’t ideal form coming into such a massive matchup, especially when the sides haven’t faced each other yet this season. When they played last season, the travelling team won each of the four matchups and I am going to follow that trend in this one. While it shouldn’t have any impact, there is a lot of partying going on in Milwaukee at the moment due to the Bucks winning the NBA Championship and that may be somewhat distracting right now. Chicago on the other hand can begin their road trip by making a statement to the league with a win in this one, and I liked them to do just that.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Chicago White Sox (+112)
Katherine Mouradian
I am looking forward to this game, probably one of the most exciting games of the day. The White Sox are actually doing well recently when it comes to games on the road, they have won their last five games out of five on the road. The Brewers are just 1-7 in their previous eight interleague games. When it comes to the White Sox and Brewers playing each other, the White Sox are leading as of late, winning the last four encounters.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Chicago White Sox (+112)
Brewers-White Sox probables for this weekend:
RHP Freddy Peralta (7-3, 2.39) vs. RHP Lucas Giolito (8-6, 3.90)
RHP Corbin Burnes (5-4, 2.16) vs. LHP Carlos Rodon (8-3, 2.14)
RHP Brandon Woodruff (7-4, 2.04) vs. RHP Lance Lynn (9-3, 1.94)
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) July 21, 2021
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
