Friday is here, and that means another full slate of baseball, with all 30 teams in action and most starting three-game weekend series. Every MLB game features dozens of potential wagering opportunities at the best betting sites, and MLB betting always ramps up for the weekend with so many games to choose from. Among the series starting Friday are the Cleveland Guardians heading to Atlanta to face the Braves, the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox visiting the St. Louis Cardinals.
SportsLine expert Adam Thompson has a selection of picks for Friday’s games. An analytics-driven exploiter of matchups, Thompson specializes in the NFL, MLB and the NBA. He also has delivered consistent winners in college basketball, horse racing and golf. Over the past two seasons, he’s up over 70 units in MLB and over 60 units in the NBA. You can find more of his picks at SportsLine, and in the member-exclusive SportsLine Discord server, a community of sports betting enthusiasts and SportsLine experts.
Here’s Adam Thompson’s best bets and analysis for Friday’s MLB games.
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Best MLB picks for Friday
Marlins ML +130
The Tigers are licking their wounds upon their return home after getting swept by the Twins. Detroit has managed more than three runs once during this current five-game skid. It was favored in all of them.
Miami has won two in a row, outscoring the Reds 8-1 and 7-4. Miami’s offense has scored at least four runs in all but one game since Opening Day. Its OPS vs. right-handers sits at .861, so it should have a shot against Keider Montero, who was solid through four innings vs. the Cardinals in his one start before things fell apart in the fifth.
Marlins RHP Chris Paddack was rocked by the White Sox in his opening start, but then shut down the Yankees in the Bronx for his follow-up. Paddack may have a quick hook, but that’s OK with the way the Marlins’ bullpen has been going (2.84 ERA).
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Braves ML -132
The Guardians have started strong because their pitching, per usual, has been strong. But this Friday showdown with the Braves in Atlanta isn’t a favorable pitching matchup for them.
Braves RHP Bryce Elder hasn’t allowed a run through 13 innings. The bullpen behind him has a scant 0.82 ERA, best in the majors. The Guardians offense has scored over four runs twice since March 29.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has scored eight and seven runs the last two outings and should be productive again vs. inconsistent Slade Cerroni, who was roughed up in his lone road start.
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Brewers ML -204
It’s been a struggle for the Nationals pitching staff lately. It’s allowed seven-plus runs in seven straight games, and Washington has lost six of those.
Nats RHP Jake Irvin (8.00 ERA) and the bullpen (6.34 ERA) may not reverse the trend here. Milwaukee is winless when it scores 0-2 runs (0-4) but unbeaten when it scores more (8-0).
Keeping up is going to a challenge against Brewers starter Chad Patrick, who’s allowed one run through 9.1 IP. He’s backed by a fresh bullpen sporting a 2.66 ERA..
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