It's Friday, so let's get down to some MLB expert picks. There aren't flawless odds on the board today, so don't mind me if I pivot to a totals bet for this slate.
Here are my MLB expert picks for June 21, 2024:
MLB Expert Picks: June 21st, 2024
You can jump directly to today's picks here:
Pick 1: Orioles (-155) vs Astros
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 8:10 pm ET
Firstly, Baltimore is hot lately, winning seven of its last 10. The O's dismantled Luis Gil yesterday and Gerrit Cole the day before. There's no pitching matchup the Orioles should be afraid of. And that's why Friday's ML bet comes without restraint, as Baltimore welcomes right-hander Jake Bloss to The Show.
Bloss might've eventually been a normal MLB'er, but Friday he got the call directly from Double-A to help a floundering Astros rotation. Anyone who goes straight from Double-A to MLB is a mandatory fade in their first start. I hope my baseball hardos can appreciate this.
Baltimore is truly hot on offense, too. The O's own an .873 OPS this week, which ranks third in baseball. With Grayson Rodriguez on the hill, we can do a lot worse than a -155 ML.
Pick 2: Braves vs Yankees UNDER 8.5 Runs (-120)
Matchup Preview - Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
I know, an UNDER after the Yankees got lit up 17-5. Clever, right? Well, frankly, I couldn't decide on the ML, so this is the safer option. And the -125 odds keep this viable for me.
Chris Sale and Carlos Rodon highlight a fantastic pitching matchup, and each pitcher has a resume of success vs their respective opponents. Rodon is particularly dominant, holding Braves hitters to a .357 OPS in 41 at-bats. For example, Marcell Ozuna is 1-for-10 lifetime vs Rodon. Sale is gangster, too, holding Aaron Judge to a 6-for-28 line with one homer, 16 Ks, and a .710 OPS.
So if you haven't caught my drift, I'm not so bullish on offense Friday. Judge is a monster, so it's rare he'll falter, but today actually might be a decent day to bet his UNDER 1.5 total bases. Other bets I love: Sale OVER 18.5 total outs (+150) and OVER 6.5 strikeouts (-150).
We've got a real pitching palooza on our hands. Let's hope that coincides with a sweat-free UNDER.
