We’ve got free moneyline picks for five series opening games on this action packed Friday of Major League Baseball! Is there a better way to kick off your weekend?
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees – 7.05PM ET
Two of the in-form teams in the American League will face off on Friday night when the Yankees host the White Sox for the first encounter of their three game series.
After dropping Monday’s game against the Rangers 2-5, the Yankees won the final three games of their set in Texas to secure 3-1 series victory on the road. Domingo German pitched seven shutout innings in New York’s most recent 2-0 victory on Thursday.
Similarly, Chicago are also coming off a series victory on the road. The White Sox defeated the Twins 2-1 in Minnesota on Wednesday to secure a 2-1 series victory. Lucas Giolito struck-out 11 batters and allowed just one run on two hits in eight innings at the mound.
Matheny on Minor’s quality start: “Mike Minor was special tonight. He had a real nice game plan and executed it well….It’s hard to ask much more.”#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/uo9gOhL3zW
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) May 16, 2021
Carlos Rodon will look to continue Chicago’s good form with the ball when he makes his seventh start of the season on Friday. Although he allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings in his last start, Rodon still has a 5-1 record with a 1.47 ERA, 0.873 WHIP and 49 strikeouts over 36.2 innings of work this season.
New York are sending Jordan Montgomery to the mound for his ninth start of the year. Montgomery also struggled in his last outing, allowing five runs on six hits in just three innings with the ball. The southpaw comes into this contest with a 2-1 record, 4.75 ERA, 1.152 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 41.2 innings of work this year.
Both New York (3.35 ERA) and Chicago (3.28 ERA) rank amongst the top 10 team ERA’s in the league this season, as the Yankees pitching staff has been the sixth best in baseball this year, while the White Sox has been the fourth best.
Given that Rodon has been nothing short of terrific so far this season, while Montgomery is the worst of New York’s starters, we like the White Sox to win this matchup on the road. As well as their advantage at the mound, Chicago also boasts the third best offense in the league when looking at runs scored in 2021 and we like them to get on top of the struggling Montgomery early in this encounter.
MLB Pick – Chicago White Sox (-106)
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New York Mets @ Miami Marlins – 7.10PM ET
The Mets and Marlins will face off in Miami on Friday night, for what will be the first match of a three game series between these two NL East rivals.
Although they lost their most recent game 4-5, New York took a 2-1 series victory from their three matches against the Braves in Atlanta. The Mets were on the cusp of a rare sweep on the road before Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a walk-off homer at the bottom of the ninth.
As for the Marlins, they also recently claimed a 2-1 series victory over the Phillies in Philadelphia thanks to their 6-0 victory on Thursday. Sandy Alcantara struck-out nine Phillies batters in six scoreless innings at the mound. Offensively, Garrett Cooper recorded two runs from two hits while also collecting four RBIs.
Jordan Holloway will make his third start for the Marlins this season. Holloway has a 2.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP from 16.2 innings of work this year. Miami will support Holloway with the seventh best pitching staff in baseball, currently boasting a 3.60 team ERA.
New York are yet to name their starting pitcher for Friday’s matchup. However as it stands, the Mets are the fifth ranked pitching staff in the league with a 3.29 team ERA.
Seeing as the Mets lineup ranks dead last in the league for runs scored this season, we can’t see them putting up a winnable score against Holloway and the Marlins star studded pitching staff. Especially when considering that Miami’s offense is coming off a solid six run victory in their last outing and they will likely be facing the the Mets on a bullpen day.
MLB Pick – Miami Marlins (TBD)
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Tampa Bay Rays @ Toronto Blue Jays – 7.37PM ET
The Rays and Blue Jays will continue their AL East rivalry on Friday night when the two sides meet for the first match of their three game series.
Tampa Bay look to have rediscovered their 2020 AL pennant form over the past week, having outscored their opponents 63-23 across their recent seven game winning streak.
The Rays defeated the Orioles 10-1 in their last start thanks to a three run, four hit, four RBI performance from Randy Arozarena with the bat and a two hit, one earned runs, four strikeout performance from Rich Hill’s six innings with the ball.
Randy Arozarena might be activating god mode again pic.twitter.com/JEcPXURB2W
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) May 20, 2021
As for the Blue Jays, they recently squandered an opportunity to make up some ground against the Red Sox. With their series in Boston tied at 1-1, Toronto blew a 7-5 lead by giving up three runs at the top of the ninth to give the Red Sox a 2-1 series victory.
Rafael Davis allowed four hits, three runs and a walk in a costly ninth inning for the Blue Jays.
Ray’s ace Tyler Glasnow will make his 10th start for the season against the Rays on Friday. With a 4-2 record, 2.35 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, Glasnow has been one of the best pitchers in the league this season, as his 85 strikeouts are the equal second most in the majors. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on five hits in eight innings at the mound in his last start, while also collecting 10+ strikeouts for the fourth time in five starts.
Toronto are yet to name their starter for Friday’s clash.
As Tampa Bay are scoring a staggering nine runs per game across their seven game winning streak and will be sending their ace to the mound on Friday, we like the Rays to continue their winning ways against the Blue Jays in this matchup. Toronto have been in solid form, however it is going to be tough to keep this potent Tampa Bay offense to a beatable score on what looks to be a bullpen day for the Blue Jays.
MLB Pick – Tampa Bay Rays (TBD)
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Detroit Tigers @ Kansas City Royals – 8.10PM ET
A pair of AL Central rivals will face off in Kansas City on Friday night when the Tigers look to bridge the gap between themselves and the Royals in the first match of their three game series.
Since their 9-24 start to the season, the Tigers have an 8-2 record from their past 10 games. In that time, Detroit defeated Kansas City on three occasions and outscored their four opponents 49-35 across the 10 game stretch.
As a result of their recent 6-2 victory over the Mariners in Seattle, the Tigers completed a series sweep on the road and are now just 3.5 games behind the Royals in their division.
Kansas City have also turned around their recent form slump, winning four out of six games since snapping their 11 game losing streak. The Royals won each of their past two games against the Brewers, outsourcing Milwaukee 8-4 in the two game series.
Mike Minor (5.02 ERA) will look to keep the Royals on the winners list on Friday. The left hander is coming off his best start of the year, having held the White Sox to just one run on two hits across seven innings.
Jose Urena will start for Detroit on Friday night. Urena was dragged prior to the third innings in his last start after allowing four runs on five hits. He has a 1-4 record with a 4.22 ERA this year.
Given that the Royals are at home and starting to find their form again, we like Kansas City to get a vindicating win over Detroit on Friday. Minor is coming into this encounter in good form which will give Kansas City an advantage at the mound, while offensively the Royals are still boasting a better offense than the Tigers when looking at runs scored. Even after their 11 game losing streak earlier this month.
MLB Pick – Kansas City Royals (-164)
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Chicago Cubs @ St Louis Cardinals – 8.15PM ET
The two top teams in the NL Central will face off in St Louis on Friday when the Cardinals host the Cubs for the first match of their three game series.
St Louis will enter Friday’s matchup having recently won each of their two games against Pittsburgh. Following Wednesday’s 8-5 victory, the Cardinals walked away having outscored the Pirates 13-7 across the two games.
As for the Cubs, they recently claimed a 3-1 series victory and the No. 2 spot in their division thanks to Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Nationals in Chicago.
Kyle Hendricks has 14 starts with 8+ IP, 1 R since 2015.
The most by a @Cubs starter in that span. pic.twitter.com/NKVoTLBdzM
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 16, 2021
Kyle Hendricks will look to continue the Cubs winning ways when he makes his ninth start of the season. Although he enters with a 5.27 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 42.2 innings pitched this year, Hendricks is coming into the match in solid form. The right hander collected eight strikeouts and allowed just one run in eight innings in his last start.
St Louis’ Carlos Martinez will return from the IL to make his eighth start of the season. Although Martinez has the superior ERA (4.35) and WHIP (1.16) in this pitching matchup, he was tapped around in his last game. Martinez gave up five runs in five innings against the Rockies in his last start.
When looking at form, Chicago have won five of their past six games, while St Louis have won just three of their past seven, including two victories over the lowly Pirates.
Seeing as the Cubs lineup has scored 5+ runs in five of their past six games and Hendricks boasts a 2.70 ERA from his last three starts, we like Chicago to continue their solid form on the road on Friday. Although they lead the NL Central, St Louis have given up 5+ runs in four of their past five outings, while only having scored 5+ runs twice in their past six starts.
MLB Pick – Chicago Cubs (-118)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
