4 Bets to Make on the Diamond for Friday
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Now that the 2021 MLB season is more than a month old, it is starting to get a bit easier to handicap games every day. Baseball is still a very unpredictable sport, but trends have started to emerge, and this is a sport where the trends seem to matter.
With that in mind, here are four MLB bets to make for the games taking place on Friday, May 7.
Chicago Cubs -1.5 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Chicago Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend at Wrigley Field. This is already the third series between the NL Central rivals, and each team has won three games.
Pittsburgh caught the Cubs at a good time earlier this season, but Chicago is now red-hot after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates have played well at times to begin the season, but this is going to be a long year in Pittsburgh.
The pitching matchup on Friday features Trevor Cahill (1-3, 7.40 ERA) of the Pirates taking on Zach Davies (1-2, 8.22 ERA) for the Cubs. Both pitchers have really struggled to begin the 2021 season, and that could lead to a high-scoring affair. Pittsburgh has scored just 106 runs so far this season, and that is near the bottom of the league. The Cubs are the sixth-highest scoring team in baseball despite not hitting for a high average.
This one could get out of hand in a hurry for Cahill, and the Pirates as the Cubs just have so much momentum. The best bet in this game is to take the Cubs -1.5 over the Pirates in the series opener.
Boston Red Sox -160 at Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles made some history this week as John Means threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. Baltimore has actually been better than expected this season, but they are facing a tough challenge this weekend.
Boston comes to town, and the Red Sox are bringing an impressive 19-13 record with them. The Red Sox have gone 9-4 on the road to begin 2021, and Baltimore has gone just 4-10 at home.
The pitching matchup is usually the first thing to focus on when betting on baseball, but the Red Sox offense is simply too hard to ignore. Boston is leading MLB with a .263 batting average, and they are second in runs scored with 154 of them on the season. The Orioles have gotten some great pitching this season, but it takes offense to beat the Red Sox. Baltimore just won’t be able to keep up, and betting the Red Sox -160 is the right play in this game.
Chicago White Sox -153 at Kansas City Royals
American League Central Division rivals square off this weekend when the Kansas City Royals host the Chicago White Sox. The Royals got off to a hot start in 2021, but it is the White Sox that are now coming on strong.
The pitching matchup in this game favors the Chicago White Sox in a big way, and the visitors also have a big edge in terms of total offense as well. It will be Carlos Rodon (4-0, 0.72) taking on Brad Keller 2-3 (8.06) on Friday night. Rodon has already thrown a no-hitter this season, and he has been sharp each time out. The Royals have struggled to score runs of late, and this could be another dominating performance for the White Sox starter.
Kansas City is right around league average in most offensive statistics, and that spells serious trouble against Chicago. Keller is going to give up some runs, and it will be hard for the Royals to give him much support. This game could get out of hand in a hurry, but the safe play is taking the White Sox -153 over the Royals.
St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 vs. Colorado Rockies
There are plenty of storylines at Busch Stadium on Friday when the Cardinals and Rockies begin a weekend series. Nolan Arenado will be facing the Rockies for the first time since being traded away, and Colorado will be starting a pitcher that was acquired in that deal. Austin Gomber makes the start for the Rockies, and he is just 2-3 with a 5.90 ERA to begin the season. Gomber will be pitching on a mound that he is comfortable with, but the Cardinals provide some challenges. Jack Flaherty makes the start for the Cardinals, and he is a perfect 5-0 to begin the year. Flaherty has not been as sharp this season as in year’s past, but he is still capable of shutting down a lineup.
St. Louis has been playing well at home, and that lineup is going to do some serious damage on Friday night. Colorado won’t be able to keep up, and the Cardinals -1.5 is the right play.
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Derek Hudson
Derek is a long time sports bettor who grew up in Providence, RI. Derek is data driven and believes the key to betting the sportsbooks is finding an edge in analytics. Derek is happily married and has two young boys. Derek will bet on anything if you let him.
