Free MLB Picks Today for Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

Free MLB Picks Today for Wednesday, June 16th, 2021
Wed 16th June 2021

Two of the best teams in the American League headline this Wednesday’s MLB schedule when the Rays face the White Sox. We’ve got a free moneyline selection for not only that game but four other matches of today’s busy MLB action!

Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!

Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago White Sox – 2.10PM ET

The two best teams in the American League will conclude their series in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon when the White Sox host the Rays for the final match of their three game set.

Chicago tied this three match series at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s decider thanks to Tuesday’s 3-0 victory. Adam Engel had the offensive highlight of the match, hitting a solo homer at the bottom of the fifth. However, Dallas Keuchel was the player of the match after throwing seven scoreless innings in the shutout victory.

Tuesday was the first time Tampa Bay had been shutout since the 12th of May. 

Lucas Giolito will make his 14th start of the season for the White Sox on Wednesday for this series finale. Giolito has a 5-5 record, 3.81 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 96 strikeouts from 75.2 innings of work this season. The right hander has been solid in his last three outings, allowing just seven earned runs on 15 hits in 20 innings of work. 

Although it is not confirmed, Ryan Yarbrough is expected to make his 10th start (14th appearance) of the season. Yarbrough is 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 59 strikeouts from 72 innings of work this year. The southpaw allowed just two runs (zero earned) in six innings in his last start on Friday, which was a game that the Rays won 4-2 over the Orioles.

When looking at the starting pitchers, team ERA’s and offensive run per game averages, not much really separates these two teams. However, someone has to win this game and we are going to take the Rays on the road. Tampa Bay has a .827 winning percentage since May 13, including a 12-4 record from their last 16 road games. There is certainly a case to be made for Chicago at home, however with Tampa Bay having the more potent offense we are going to take the Rays at underdog odds.  

MLB Pick – Tampa Bay Rays (TBD)
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Pittsburgh Pirates @ Washington Nationals – 4.05PM ET

The Nationals will look to complete their third series sweep at home this season when they take on the Pirates for the final game of their set in Washington. 

As a result of their 8-1 victory on Tuesday, Washington have taken a 2-0 lead in their three game series against Pittsburgh heading into game three on Wednesday. Yan Gomes was the hero with the bat in the Nats most recent win, hitting a grand slam home run at the bottom of the first to give Washington an insurmountable 5-0 lead. Patrick Corbin took the win with the ball, allowing just one earned run in 8.1 innings  

Tyler Anderson had a day to forget at the mound for Pittsburgh, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits in six innings with the ball. Tuesday’s loss extended the Pirates active losing streak to nine consecutive games, and it was their seventh game in that streak that they lost by two runs or more. 


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Chase De Jong will look to snap the Pirates losing streak when he makes his fourth start of the season on Wednesday. Each of De Jong’s three starts this year have ended in a no-decisions, however the right hander still owns a 4.80 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 12 strikeouts from 15 innings of work. De Jong has thrown five innings in each of his starts this season, allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits. 

Paolo Espino will be given the responsibility of completing the sweep for the Nationals on Wednesday when he makes his second start (15th appearance) of the season. Espino has an 0-2 record in 2021 to go along with a 2.78 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 19 strikeouts from 22.2 innings of work. The right hander has thrown 5.2 innings in his last three appearances, allowing just three earned runs on six hits in that time. 

Although neither pitcher has thrown a great amount this year, Espino has been performing at a very solid level throughout his small sample size this season. As well as that, we haven’t seen enough from Pittsburgh recently to suggest that they are capable of bringing an end to their nine game losing streak on the road on Wednesday afternoon. Especially when considering that Washington has scored 5.33 runs per game across their last three contests (including outsourcing the Pirates 11-2 so far this series) and Pittsburgh have scored two runs or fewer in five of their nine consecutive losses. 

MLB Pick – Washington Nationals (TBD)
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New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays – 7.07PM ET

The Yankees and Blue Jays will continue their three match series on Wednesday night when the two AL East rivals meet for the second game of this set. 

New York brought an end to their three game losing streak with a win in game one of their series against Toronto on Tuesday. In what was a game filled with offensive highlights, Chris Gittens scored a homer on his first career hit to tie the game at 2-2 before Clint Frazier hit an RBI double at the top of the eighth to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead, which proved to be the final scored. 

Bo Bichette hit a pair of home runs on Tuesday, however it wasn’t enough to get Toronto over the line in the one run loss.

The Yankees will send ace Gerrit Cole to the mound for his 14th start of the season. Cole has a 7-3 record, 2.31 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 113 strikeouts from 81.2 innings this season. The veteran right hander has been slightly below his best recently, having already given up seven earned runs in two starts in June. Cole had only allowed 15 earned runs combined through the first two months of the season. 

Ross Stripling will make his 10th start (11th appearance) of the season for the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Stripling owns a 2-3 record, 4.91 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 49 strikeouts from 47.2 innings of work this year. The right hander has thrown 15.2 innings in his last three starts, allowing six earned runs on 14 hits in that time. 

As much as Cole’s form and reputation have taken a hit over the past two weeks, the Yankees ace still has the third most strikeouts in baseball and a more than impressive 2.31 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. Although Toronto possesses the more potent offense in this matchup, New York’s lineup has undeniably found some form with the bat recently, as they have scored 5+ runs in six of their past seven games. The Yankees offense should be able to get on top of Stripling much easier than the Blue Jays will get on top of Cole, giving New York an advantage for this ‘away game’, which will be taking place in New York as Toronto are playing home games in Buffalo due to COVID-19.

MLB Pick – New York Yankees (-162)
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Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros – 8.10PM ET

The Rangers and Astros will conclude their short two games set in Houston on Wednesday night. 

Houston will look to complete a two game sweep over Texas at home on Wednesday after winning Tuesday’s series opener 6-3. With the scores tied at 2-2 at the end of the ninth, Texas’ Nate Lowe hit a go ahead RBI single at the top of the 10th. However, Jose Altuve then clubbed a walk-off grand slam at the bottom of the 10th to give the Astros a three run victory. 

Kyle Gibson threw six innings and allowed just one earned run for Texas on Tuesday, however Josh Sborz (1) and DeMarcus Evans (4) allowed five costly runs in the ninth and 10th to give Houston life in both innings. 


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Jordan Lyles will take the mound for Texas on Wednesday for what will be his 14th start of the season. Lyles is 2-4 this year to go along with a 5.37 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 57 strikeouts from 67 innings of action. The right hander is coming off a solid last outing against the Giants last week, having thrown six innings for just one earned run on six hits. 

Houston will counter with Zack Greinke on Wednesday. From 14 starts this season, Greinke owns a 6-2 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 62 strikeouts from 85.2 innings of action. The right hander gave up four earned runs in three innings in his last start, however Greinke threw 17 innings in his two prior starts and gave up just two earned runs on 12 hits in that time. 

Although Tuesday’s loss came at the bottom of the 10th inning, it was still the Rangers’ 18th loss on the road from their last 19 games outside of Texas. And seeing as the Astros 5.52 runs per game average is the best in baseball and they will have their ace on the mound in Greinke, we can’t see the Rangers improving on their road record against the Astros in Houston on Wednesday night.  

MLB Pick – Houston Astros (-240)
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Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Francisco Giants – 9.45PM ET

A pair of NL West rivals will close out our Wednesday night MLB schedule when the first placed Giants host the last placed Diamondbacks for the third match of their four game series. 

As a result of their 8-9 loss on Tuesday night, Arizona have now lost their last 21 games on the road this season. The Diamondback had a 7-0 lead at the top of the second inning and they were leading proceedings 8-5 at the bottom of the eighth, before Joe Mantiply and Humberto Castellanos gave up two earned runs each in the eighth inning to hand San Francisco the unlikeliest of victories. 

Mike Yastrzemski was San Francisco’s hero with the bat, hitting a go-ahead grand slam off  Castellanos at the bottom of the eighth to give the Giants a one run lead. 

Arizona’s Merrill Kelly will make his 14th start of the season on Wednesday night. Kelly has a 2-6 record, 5.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 68 strikeouts from 75.1 innings of work this season. The right hander was not at his best in his last start, allowing three runs in five innings against the Angels in a game that the Diamondbacks lost.

The Giants will counter with Anthony DeSclafani on Wednesday night. In 13 starts this season DeSclafani owns a 6-2 record, 3.09 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 66 strikeouts from 75.2 innings of action this year. The right-hander was incredible in his last start, throwing a complete-game shutout against the Nationals in a 1-0 win.

Along with ace Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani is the driving force behind a Giants pitching staff that owns a 3.18 team ERA, good for the third best average in baseball this season. Seeing as Tuesday’s loss extended Arizona’s losing streak on the road to 21 consecutive games and their overall recent losing streak to 12 consecutive games (their second 10+ game losing streak of the season), we are going to take the Giants at home on Wednesday with DeSclafani on the mound. San Francisco have had the second fewest losses at home this season and we can’t see them being upset in this contest. 

MLB Pick – San Francisco Giants (-172)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel & Bet365 

Jesse is and always has been a lover of sports. No matter the league, no matter the game, Jesse is constantly keeping up to date with the latest odds, news, injuries and stats. He has a strong interest in the NBA and the NFL, and he will always strive to keep you up to date with the best news, odds, predictions and picks that the ever engaging sporting world has to offer.