Although there are only 16 teams in action on this Monday afternoon of Major League Baseball, our tipsters have still got free winning picks for five games on today’s schedule!
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets – 5.10PM ET
A pair of divisional rivals will kick off our Monday afternoon MLB schedule in New York when the first placed Mets host the third placed Braves at Citi Field. This is a preview for the first game of a double header between the two NL East teams.
Jesse Livermore
Although they only managed a 2-2 split from their four game series over the weekend, Atlanta continued their solid offensive form without Ronald Acuna Jr; as they outscored the Phillies 24-12. Given their solid form with the bat and Kyle Muller’s recent record with the ball, I am going to take the Braves on the road in this matchup. After allowing just four earned runs in his last three outings, Muller owns a 3.20 ERA in 2021. Although Marcus Stroman has been a solid performer at the mound in his own right, Muller’s form combined with Atlanta’s offense should see the Braves win game one of Monday’s double header. As well as that, New York have won just one of their past five games against NL East rivals, while Atlanta have won eight of their past 11 against their division.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Atlanta Braves (+140)
Tim Newton
A dominant performance by the Braves on Saturday was undone with a 1-2 fizzer yesterday. They now continue their roadtrip against the Mets in this one, who are leading the NL East, eight games above Atlanta. New York comes in having won three of their last four games and stays at home after a series win over the Blue Jays. Given this is the first of a double-header, there are plenty of tactics at play but given the Mets have been the class team of the division all season and are at home for the matchup, they should have the edge. Of New York’s last three double headers, they won the first game in two of them while Atlanta haven’t had one in over a month. That isn’t a good sign, especially considering they played the Mets in their last one and lost the opener 4-2. The Braves inconsistency will continue on the road and New York should prove too classy at home.
Tim’s MLB Pick: New York Mets (-160)
Katherine Mouradian
The game kicks off a five game series, and a double header today. The Braves have a fairly good record when it comes to their previous five games on the road when playing a team with a winning record, they have won four out of the last five. However, the Braves have not won any of their last four first games of the doubleheader. On the flip side, the Mets have won the last six out of six when it comes to the first game of a series. They have also won five of their previous seven games played on a Monday, and 23 of their previous 34 games played at home. I like the Mets to get the win here.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: New York Mets (-160)
So many crooked numbers 😍#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/Yd6XnMScdt
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 25, 2021
Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sox – 7.10PM ET
After a poor weekend that saw them win just one of their three games, the Toronto Blue Jays will look to make up some ground in their division on Monday night when they take on the AL East leading Red Sox in Boston for the first match of a four game series.
Jesse Livermore
With Alex Manoah set to miss another start for the Blue Jays due to a back injury, Toronto will likely be forced into giving Thomas Hatch his first start of the 2021 season. Hatch was a solid performer in 2020, however debuting against the Red Sox at Fenway Park is no easy feat. Seeing as Boston’s lineup owns a +36 run differential at home this year, a 5.09 runs per game average and recently (last week) clubbed 11 homers in two games against Toronto, I can’t go past the AL leading Red Sox at home on Monday. Especially when considering that Boston is going to have an advantage in the pitching matchup with Nick Pivetta making his 20th start of the season.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Boston Red Sox (TBA)
Tim Newton
After a 3-1 series win over the Yankees, Boston hosts another AL East rival in Toronto. The Blue Jays continue to sit just above 0.500 but are playing some inconsistent baseball at the moment. A 10-3 win over the Mets was sandwiched between 3-0 and 5-4 losses and the Red Sox are, at least on paper and in form, a much better team. Nick Pivetta is set to start for the home team and that is a really positive move. He is 8-4 on the season, including against the Blue Jays last week. Given he is at home and Toronto have Thomas Hatch making his first start of the season for this one, the advantage goes clearly to Boston.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Boston Red Sox / Over TBA (TBA)
Katherine Mouradian
AL East leading Red Sox take on the Blue Jays in the first of a four game series. The Blue Jays have a fairly decent recent record on the road, winning 13 of their previous 18 games. But if you look at the games played on Monday, they haven’t won any of their previous five. When it comes to the Red Sox, they are great on a Monday, winning all five of their previous encounters, they also are convincing on game one, winning 24 of their previous 32 game one of a series. I’ll be backing the Red Sox here to start their week off on the right foot.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Boston Red Sox (TBA)
Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs – 8.05PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs are set to meet at Wrigley Field on Monday for what will be the opening match of a four game series between these two NL Central rivals.
Jesse Livermore
With Wade Miley and Kyle Hendricks making starts for their respective teams, this is undoubtedly shaping up to be the best pitching matchup of today’s MLB schedule. Hendricks owns a 2-0 record and 2.19 ERA from four starts in July, while Miley is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA from three starts this month. Given that this game is taking place in Chicago, I am going to take the Cubs to win this one in a low scoring affair. Chicago has a +29 run differential at Wrigley Field this season and their 30-18 record at home is the best of any home record in the NL Central.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Chicago Cubs (-134)
Tim Newton
While there is just 3.5 games difference between the two sides in the NL Central standings, Chicago has a massive advantage being at home in this one. The Cubs are an impressive 30-18 at Wrigley Field this season and are coming off a 2-1 home series win over the Diamondbacks last time out. However, Cincinnati won’t be easy beats, coming off a 2-1 series win over the Cardinals. They will also have Wade Miley starting on the mound and he has been very impressive so far this season, going 8-4 with an ERA of just 2.72. That will give the Reds strikers plenty of confidence and they will certainly need it in this one. Kyle Hendricks is set to start with the ball for Chicago and he currently has the most wins of all pitchers, 12. That is a massive plus for the Cubs at home and it may prove to be too much of an edge.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Chicago Cubs (-134)
Katherine Mouradian
Both the Reds and the Cubs need to start winning more consistently if they want to be series playoff contenders, so there is a lot of pressure mounting on both teams. The Reds have a pretty decent record when it comes to Monday games, they have won 11 of their previous 14, and they have also won four of their previous five games on the road. On the flip side, the Cubs are really struggling at the moment, out of their previous six games on a Monday they haven’t won a single one. Also, they have won just six of the 24 previous games overall. It’s not all doom and gloom for the Cubs however, as the Reds have won just 18 of their previous 57 meetings in Chicago, and the Cubs have won all four of their last meetings. I like the Cubs here to bounce back and improve their recent stats.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Chicago Cubs (-134)
Kyle Hendricks, elevated 88mph ⛽️ and Sword. ⚔️
And K Strut. 😀 pic.twitter.com/nabkj9CpZR— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 22, 2021
Colorado Rockies @ Los Angeles Angels – 9.38PM ET
A pair of fourth placed teams will look to find some form early in the second half of the 2021 MLB regular season when the AL West’s Los Angeles Angels host the NL West’s Colorado Rockies for the first match of a three game series at Angel Stadium.
Jesse Livermore
Although Colorado is sending their ace to the mound in German Marquez, I haven’t seen enough from the Rockies on the road this season to suggest that they are capable of defeating the Angeles in Los Angeles. Marquez has a 2-5 record and 3.89 ERA on the road this year, while the Angels will be sending the likely AL MVP to the mound in Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani has a 4-1 record and 3.21 ERA with the ball this season, while his 35 home runs are three clear of the second most in baseball this year. Given Ohtani’s ability to take a game away from you with the bat and with the ball, I am going to take Los Angeles at home on Monday. Especially when considering that Colorado is 10-36 with a -98 run differential on the road this year.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels (-164)
Tim Newton
After stealing game one against the Dodgers, the Rockies dropped two straight games and only managed to score two runs combined in those losses. While the Angels don’t quite have the same quality bullpen as their LA counterparts, they have kept opponents to two runs or fewer in their last three wins, indicating they have what it takes to play a defensive style and win. That will be on show with Shohei Ohtani making the start for the Angels, given his 4-1 record and 3.21 ERA. He is coming off a six-innings shut-out and should give the home team a massive advantage. The Rockies are just 10-36 on the road and I don’t think they have a chance in this one.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels / Under 8.5 (+185)
Katherine Mouradian
The Rockies are currently on a two game losing streak, while the Angels are on a two game winning streak. The Rockies are struggling as of late, only winning one of their previous five opening games of a series, and they have won just 13 of their previous 54 games on the road when playing against a right handed starter. Looking at the Angels now, they have won four out of their previous five games at home after being on the road for more than seven days. They also have won 16 of their previous 21 games when they are playing a team with a losing record. The Angels seem like the way to go for this one.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels (-164)
Houston Astros @ Seattle Mariners – 10.10PM ET
A pair of AL West rivals will round out our Monday night MLB schedule when the third placed Mariners host the first placed Astros for the first match of their three game series at T-Mobile Park.
Jesse Livermore
Seeing as Seattle have won just six of their last 20 games against Houston, I am going to take the division leading Astros on the road for this matchup. Not only do Houston boast the No. 1 offense in baseball (5.35 runs per game), but they will also have an advantage in the pitching matchup with Luis Garcia making his 17th start of the season on Monday. After shutting out the Indians on Tuesday, Garcia owns a 7-5 record and 2.86 ERA in 2021, while the Astros have won nine of his past 11 starts. As well as that, the Mariners have a -8 run differential at home this season.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros -1.5 (-110)
Tim Newton
The Astros face another AL West opponent here and should be looking to carry momentum from their 3-0 series sweep of the Rangers into this one. While getting on the road after six straight at home is tough, especially when you lost your last two road games by a combined 14-1, Seattle isn’t quite on the same level as the White Sox and their offense may be too much to handle. Especially with the Mariners handing the ball to rookie Darren McCaughan for his first career start, a dangerous and daunting task against one of the top three batting lineups in the league. Seattle should be tougher than the Rangers, but that isn’t saying much and it still won’t be enough.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros (-184)
Katherine Mouradian
AL West leading Astros will take on fellow AL West team the Mariners on Monday night for a three game series. The Astros have won 11 of their previous 15 games on the road, and have won four of their previous five games overall. The Mariners also have a decent recent record, they have won eight of their previous 11 games when they are the underdog, and they have won five of their previous seven games at home. The thing that will set the Astros apart is their recent record against the Mariners. The Astros have actually won 22 of the previous 30 meetings in Seattle, and they also have won 44 of their previous 61 meetings between the two teams. I’ll be on the Astros for this game.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros -1.5 (-110)
The @astros‘ Luis Garcia has been a force in 2021.@AlLeiter22 | #MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/RJvMMFK4TC
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 24, 2021
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
