As the 2021 NBA season is now in the books, Major League Baseball is the standalone sport for the rest of your summer! And we have another set of picks lined up for your Wednesday afternoon!
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays – 12.10PM ET
A pair of AL East rivals will kick off our midweek MLB action in Florida on Wednesday afternoon when the second place Rays host the last placed Orioles for the third and final game of this series at Tropicana Field.
Jesse Livermore
Considering that the Rays have a 7-1 record against the Orioles this year (six of which have come by two runs or more) and a 13-2 record against Baltimore from their last 15 encounters, I can’t go past Tampa Bay at home for Wednesday’s matchup. Although Baltimore drew first blood in the series opener on Monday, that victory was just the O’s 18th from their past 50 road games. Whereas Tampa Bay have won six of their past eight clashes at Tropicana Field. As well as that, the Rays lineup will be coming up against the struggling Keegan Akin on Wednesday. Akin owns a 8.19 ERA from 48.1 innings this season and he has conceded five earned runs from seven innings against the Rays this year.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (TBD)
Tim Newton
The Rays bounced back with a 9-3 win yesterday to level the series with the rubber to take place this afternoon. The win put Tampa Bay within a game of the Red Sox for top of the AL East and moved them to 29-18 at home for the season. On the other side of the result, Baltimore now sits at 18-33 on the road for the season and just 24-50 against teams above 0.500. Things don’t get any prettier for the Orioles with Keegan Akin getting the start. He has been nothing short of disastrous for Baltimore this season, posting a 8.19 ERA and 1.6 WHIP. Tampa Bay’s offense, which is seventh for runs, should be licking their lips at this matchup and once again prove too strong.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 / O TBA (TBD)
Katherine Mouradian
The Orioles were once again dominated by another team this season, last time out the score was 9-3. There aren’t a lot of stats that would convince you to back the Orioles, they are 78-199 in their previous 277 playing a team with a winning record, and they are 14-39 in their previous games played on a Wednesday. On the other hand, the Rays are 74-33 in their previous 107 games at home and more recently are 15-5 in their previous 20 game three of a series. Cannot see the Rays losing here.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (TBD)
Back to your regularly scheduled programming
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 21, 2021
Kansas City Royals @ Milwaukee Brewers – 2.10PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals will meet for the second and final match of their two game series at American Family Field on Wednesday afternoon, as Kansas City are looking for a victory to wrap up a rare two game series sweep on the road.
Jesse Livermore
Although Kansas City took game one of this short two game set on Tuesday, I cannot see lightning striking twice for the Royals in Milwaukee. So, I will be picking the Brewers in this matchup. Quite simply, Milwaukee have won 12 of their past 14 games at home when coming up against below .500 teams and they own an impressive 16-7 record from their last 23 games. Contrastingly, Kansas City have lost six of their past eight games and they are 0-7 in Brad Keller’s last seven starts. Keller is 6-9 with a 5.97 ERA this season, while Milwaukee’s Eric Lauer is 3-4 with a 3.83 ERA this year and 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA from four day games this season.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+108)
Tim Newton
Surely the 56-40 Brewers, at home, bounce back against the 38-55 Royals after last night’s disappointing showing. Milwaukee has a top five bullpen this season but gave up five runs to the lowly Royals last night, being just the second time they have allowed at least five runs for the month of July. From an offensive perspective, Milwaukee isn’t anything to write home about but they allowed Kansas City, who have a bottom five bullpen, to restrict them to just two runs.
The Brewers will be looking for some revenge in this one, hoping to get on top of Brad Keller, who is starting for the Royals and has an ERA of 5.97 for the season. If Milwaukee can take advantage of this poor pitching choice while getting back to their usual defensive ways, they should take this one easily.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+108)
Katherine Mouradian
It was interesting to see the Royals take the first game of this short two-game series. I’m not too sure that the Royals can back up that great performance again in the second game. The Royals are only 2-9 in their previous 11 in game two of a series. On the flip side, the Brewers are 35-16 in their previous 51 overall. The Brewers, playing at home, will have enough to get the job done on Wednesday afternoon.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Milwaukee Brewers (-174)
Seattle Mariners @ Colorado Rockies – 3.10PM ET
The Rockies and Mariners will face off in Colorado on Wednesday afternoon, when the two teams meet for the second match of their two game series at Coors Field.
Jesse Livermore
Although Seattle will enter Wednesday’s clash as the more accomplished of the two teams this season, Colorado are a vastly different team at home compared to what they are on the road. The Rockies are 32-20 at Coors Field this year and they boast a +37 run differential at home this season. Whereas Seattle will enter Wednesday’s series finale with a 51-44 overall record and a 21-24 record on the road. Despite their winning record, the Mariners currently ranked 22nd in the league for run differential (-49), including a -42 differential on the road this year. Seeing as Colorado will enter this matchup with the more reliable offense (when at home), I like the Rockies to continue their dominance at Coors Field.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Colorado Rockies (TBD)
Tim Newton
The Mariners are in somewhat of a purple patch, winning two straight, three of their last four and six of their last eight. To go into Colorado and steal one from the Rockies on the road is tough, especially in the series opener, but Seattle looked impressive in their 6-4 win on Tuesday. They now have an opportunity to win this two-game series and end their five-game road trip on a high before returning to Seattle on Thursday. However, I am expecting the Rockies to be a bit more competitive in this one. Colorado are 32-20 at home for the season and should be able to take advantage of a Seattle side that will be tired and weary at the end of their trip.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Colorado Rockies (TBD)
Katherine Mouradian
The Mariners are entering the second half of the season fairly strong, and have won six of their last 10. They have even been playing well on the road as of late, winning four out of their previous five road games. The Rockies are also performing fairly well, winning 19 of their previous 26 home games. When looking at games between the two teams, the Mariners have just won three of the previous 12. I’ll be backing the Rockies, especially considering they are playing at home.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Colorado Rockies (TBD)
The Rockies really like Coors Field 😅 pic.twitter.com/a6Sew5hlWH
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) July 18, 2021
Cleveland Indians @ Houston Astros – 8.10PM ET
A pair of American League teams with playoff aspirations will wrap up their three game series in Houston on Wednesday night when the AL West’s Astros host the AL Central’s Indians for the final match of their set at Minute Maid Park.
Jesse Livermore
After piling nine runs on against Cleveland in game three of this series on Tuesday, Houston’s lineup has now clubbed a league high 517 runs for a 5.38 run per game average on the season. Seeing as that potent offensive lineup will be coming up against the inexperienced Eli Morgan on Wednesday, I am going to take the Astros to complete the series sweep over the Indians at home. Morgan has a 1-3 record and a dismal 7.86 ERA so far in his rookie season. As well as that, Houston will have Lance McCullers Jr. giving them an advantage at the mound, as he owns a 7-2 record and 2.80 ERA through 15 starts this season.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros -1.5 (-118)
Tim Newton
Houston has been dominant in this series, winning the first two games, including a 9-3 slaughter on Tuesday. The Astros offensive lineup has been nothing short of breathtaking this season, ranking 1st for runs and hits while being 2nd for OPS. Given the Indians are starting their rookie Eli Morgan in this one, there could be another blowout on the cards. While Cleveland is throwing out a rookie in tonight’s clash, Houston will give breakout star Lance McCullers the start and he should be more than enough to give the Astros a head start in this one.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros (-255)
Katherine Mouradian
The Astros were able to get a comfortable win against the Indians on Tuesday and I’d say they will be able to do it all again on Wednesday. The Indians don’t have a good recent road record, winning just two of their last nine games on the road, they have also won just two games of their previous 12 against a team that has a winning record. The Astros like playing on Wednesday, they are 8-1 in their previous nine Wednesday games. Also, the under seems like the way to go here, it is 5-1-1 in the Indians previous seven game three clashes, and 5-1 in the Astros previous six games when they are the favourite.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros / Under 9.5 (+150)
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers – 10.10PM ET
The two best teams in baseball will close out our Wednesday night baseball schedule when the Dodgers host the Giants for the third match of their four game set in Los Angeles. The series between these two NL West rivals is currently tied at 1-1, as San Francisco are holding onto a one game lead at the top of their division.
Jesse Livermore
Although the Dodgers tied this series at 1-1 with a walk-off win on Tuesday, I am going to take the Giants to cover as underdogs in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Los Angeles will be starting Julio Urias on the mound for this matchup and although he owns a 12-3 record, Urias has surrendered nine runs (eight earned) on 14 hits against San Francisco in two starts this season, while also allowing four earned runs on seven hits against the Rockies in his last start. As well as that, Los Angeles failed to get the better of Logan Webb when the two teams met earlier in the year, as Webb collected a win and allowed just two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts across five innings of action.
Jesse’s MLB Pick: San Francisco Giants +1.5 (-134)
Tim Newton
Facing a third straight loss, second straight to the Giants, Will Smith delivered for LA, scoring a three-run homer in the ninth innings to give the Dodgers the 8-6 win. Energy will be high for the Dodgers after that one and it makes tonight’s contest even more interesting. The Dodgers have arguably had the best bullpen this season, including Julio Urias, who is starting tonight. However, he is suspect to some poor performances. Urias has a 12-3 record but is just 1-1 against the Giants this season, giving up eight earned runs across 11 innings in those two games. San Francisco has Logan Webb on the mound first and his 4-3 record is even more impressive when it includes a 1-0 record against the Dodgers where he allowed just one earned run and had seven strikeouts in five innings. Given that both sides are top 10 for both hitting and pitching this season, and the momentum is now on LA’s side, I am inclined to back the home team for this one, but it will be close!
Tim’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-180)
Katherine Mouradian
The Dodgers managed to scrape out a victory last time out against the Giants, by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Dodgers are now closing in on the first place Giants in the NL West. The Giants don’t have a good record as of late when playing the Dodgers, winning just four games of the last 12. When Julio Urias is starting, the Dodgers are 7-1 in their previous eight. I’ll be taking the Dodgers tonight.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-180)
The crowd goes crazy at Dodger Stadium. #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/36sH4lOpPp
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2021
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
