Although there were just three games to scratch your Monday MLB itch, all 30 teams are back in action this Tuesday!
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Los Angeles Dodgers @ Pittsburgh Pirates 7.05PM ET
The reigning champions will take on the second worst team in the National League on Tuesday afternoon when the Dodgers head to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates.
Los Angeles are at the midway point of a six game road trip, having recently won just one of their three games against the Braves in Atlanta. The Dodgers were five run victors in game one, however they were then outscored 10-6 in their following two losses.
Contrastingly and surprisingly, the Pirates will enter Tuesday’s clash fresh off a series victory, having recently won three of their four games against the Marlins. Pittsburgh won the opening three games of the series 5-3, 9-2 and 8-7. However, they failed to complete a series sweep at home, going down 1-3 on Sunday.
With his 671st homer, @PujolsFive passes Barry Bonds for fourth on the all-time total base list with 5,980. pic.twitter.com/LmGV6JCUle
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 6, 2021
The Pirates will send JT Brubaker to the mound for Tuesday’s series opener. Brubaker is 4-4 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 55.1 innings across his 10 starts this year. Although he has allowed 12 earned runs in his last three starts, Brubaker threw six shutout innings in his most recent outing against Colorado.
Walker Buehler will make his 12th start of the year for the Dodgers. Buehler is 4-0 in 2021 with a 2.82 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 70 strikeouts from 70.1 innings of work. The right-hander has allowed five earned runs from 16 hits in his last 19 innings across three starts.
Although the Dodgers are on the road and Brubaker has been serviceable this season, Los Angeles’ lineup are averaging 5.31 runs per game and they will have the in-form Walker Buehler giving them an advantage at the mound. Buehler should be able to get on top of the Pirates offense, who are averaging just 3.55 runs per contest, which will allow the championship right hander to improve on his undefeated record in 2021.
MLB Pick – Los Angeles Dodgers (-186)
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Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies 7.05PM ET
A pair of NL East rivals will kick off their three game series in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, when the third placed Phillies host the second placed Braves.
Although they are on the road, the Braves will enter Tuesday’s matchup full with confidence having recently wrapped up a 2-1 series victory over the Dodgers at home. After dropping the series opener 5-9, Atlanta outscored the reigning champs 10-6 in their next two victories.
Similarly, the Phillies will also enter this series having won their past two games. After losing their series opener to Washington, Philadelphia won the final two games of their series 5-2, 12-6 to wrap up a series victory at home.
The Phillies will send ace Aaron Nola to the mound for his 13th start of the season. Nola is 4-4 with a 3.84 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 78 strikeouts from 70.1 innings of work this year. The right hander has thrown 16 innings in his last three starts, allowing eight earned runs on 17 hits in that time.
Drew Smyly will take the ball for the Braves on Tuesday, which will be his 10th start of the season. Smyly comes in with a 2-3 record, 5.98 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 43 strikeouts across 46.2 innings of work this season. The southpaw has given up 13 earned runs on 18 hits in his last three starts.
Although this Braves lineup will be full of confidence having recently defeated the reigning champions dynamic duo of Clayton Kershaw and Trevor Bauer, we are going to take the Phillies at home on Tuesday. Aaron Nola is dominating teams at home this season, owning a 2.35 ERA in 30.2 innings of work. As well as that, the Phillies batting lineup should be able to get on top of Drew Smyly and the Braves unreliable rotation, who own the 21st ranked pitching staff in baseball (4.41 team ERA).
MLB Pick – Philadelphia Phillies (-155)
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Washington Nationals @ Tampa Bay Rays 7.10PM ET
The Washington Nationals are headed to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays for the first match of their short two game set.
Following a seven game road trip, the Rays are headed back to Tampa Bay having won four of their last seven games. Tampa will enter Tuesday’s series with a two game winning streak behind them, as they defeated the Rangers in Texas on Saturday and Sunday to claim a 2-1 series victory on the road and improve to a 38-23 record, which is the best in baseball. After losing the series opener 4-5, the Rays outscored the Rangers 10-1 in their following two victories.
Contrastingly, Washington will enter this series with a two game losing streak behind them, having recently dropped their final two games against the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Nationals won the series opener 2-1, however they were then outscored 17-8 in their two losses.
Won the game, won the series #RaysUp
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 6, 2021
Jon Lester will make his eighth start of the season for Washington on Tuesday. Lester has an 0-2 record this year, to go along with a 4.37 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 25 strikeouts from 25 innings with the ball. The southpaw has allowed just two earned runs on 10 hits in his last two starts.
Tampa Bay will counter with their ace, Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow is 4-2 on the season with a 2.69 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 106 strikeouts from 77 innings of actions across 12 starts this year. The right hander has allowed just three earned runs and collected 19 strikeouts in his last two outings.
With 19 wins from their past 23 games, it is hard to pick against Tampa Bay at home in this matchup. Especially when considering that the Rays are scoring an average of 4.95 runs per game and they will be giving Tyler Glasnow the ball on Tuesday. As well as that, the Nationals have lost three of their last four games and out of their last eight losses overall, each one has come by at least two runs or more.
MLB Pick – Tampa Bay Rays (-210)
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Toronto Blue Jays @ Chicago White Sox 8.10PM ET
A pair of American League teams with legitimate playoff aspirations will face off in Chicago on Tuesday night when the White Sox host the Blue Jays.
Tuesday will be the White Sox’s fifth of seven consecutive games in Chicago, as they recently completed a 3-1 series victory at home against their division rivals, the Detroit Tigers. Chicago outscored Detroit 19-13 across the four game series.
As for Toronto, they recently suffered a 1-2 series loss to Houston. Although the Blues Jays won game two 6-2, the Astros won games one and three 13-1 and 6-3 to claim a series victory on the road.
The Blue Jays will send Robbie Ray to the mound for his 11th start of the season. Ray is 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.138 WHIP and 69 strikeouts this season. Ray has also allowed an AL high 14 home runs this season from his 58 innings with the ball.
Cy Young contender Carlos Rodon will take the ball for his 10th start of the season. Rodon is 5-2 with a 1.98 ERA, 0.823 WHIP and 80 strikeouts from 54.2 innings of work this year. In his last three starts, Rodon is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 31 strikeouts over 18 innings of action.
Toronto is getting healthier day by day and their lineup is capable of putting up a big score, averaging 4.94 runs per contest. However, Rodon has been incredible this season and we like him to steer the White Sox to another victory at home. Especially when considering Chicago’s lineup is averaging an impressive 4.93 runs per game themselves, and they will be coming up against Robbie Ray, who leads the American League in home runs conceded this season.
MLB Pick – Chicago White Sox (-150)
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New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 8.10PM ET
The New York Yankees are headed to Minnesota to kick off their three game series against the Twins.
As a result of being swept by the Red Sox in their most recent series at home, the Yankees have now lost four consecutive games. New York will be looking to return to form against Minnesota in this midweek series.
As for the Twins, they recently split their four game series against the Royals in Kansas City. Although they dropped the opening two games of their weekend set 5-6 and 5-14, Minnesota tied the series at 2-2 with a pair of one run wins on Saturday and Sunday.
“I wanted to get the guys out there a little rest, and get as many outs as I could.”
Jordan Montgomery talks his strong outing against the Rays in the Yankees’ 4-3 victory. pic.twitter.com/4P1yHHhPbD
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 3, 2021
Michael Pineda will make his 10th start of the season for the Twins on Tuesday. Pineda is 3-3 this year with a 3.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 48 strikeouts from 47.2 innings with the ball. The right hander has given up nine earned runs on 14 hits in his last three starts, throwing 14.1 innings in that time.
The Yankees will counter with Jordan Montgomery at the mound. Montgomery is 3-1 from his 11 starts this year, to go along with a 3.92 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 59 strikeouts from 59.2 innings with the ball. The southpaw has thrown 18 innings in his last three starts, giving up just four earned runs on 15 hits in that time.
Given the Yankees recent form (2-8 in last 10), there is certainly an argument for picking the Twins at home with Pineda at the mound. However, Minnesota are one of the few teams this season that have been undeniably more inconsistent and disappointing than New York. As well as that, Pineda is coming off an outing that saw him give up four runs to the lowly Orioles, and he is playing through a forearm injury. Montgomery has been a solid performer this year and we like him to lead the Yankees to a win on the road.
MLB Pick – New York Yankees (+138)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel & Bet365
