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The One Hitter: MLB game-by-game betting breakdown (7/9)

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Each day, we are going to try and give you a quick preview of today’s main slate and any interesting betting angles that we spot. Take a look.

Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Orioles

White Sox (-136), Orioles (+116)
Total: 10.5 runs
Dallas Keuchel (L) vs. Jorge López (R)

Three things to know

  • Jorge López has really struggled on the mound this season, but the Orioles don’t have many great options – he’s walked 10.2% of hitters and allowed 1.56 HR/9.
  • López does not miss many bats – his 8.5% swinging-strike rate would be the second-lowest number of his career.
  • The White Sox don’t have Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert back, but they are coming soon, and that’s scary – they are fifth in team wOBA in the last 14 days (.325).

Best bets: A major mismatch here. Slam a F3/F5 bet here on the Sox and even consider some home run props.

Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians

Royals (+124), Indians (-146)
Total: 9.5 runs
Brad Keller (R) vs. Triston McKenzie (R)

Three things to know

  • Brad Keller has been awful this season – he’s logged a 6.93 xERA in 87.1 innings and 35.8% hard-hit rate.
  • This Royals offense is struggling – they own an 85 wRC+ mark over the last two weeks.
  • Triston McKenzie will be recalled to start this game – but the righty has been volatile with a 31.2% strikeout rate and 20.6% walk rate.

Best bets: The OVER. Both teams will have plenty of runners on base. 

Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Red Sox

Phillies (+108), Red Sox (-126)
Total: 10.5 runs
Vince Velasquez (R) vs. Garrett Richards (R)

Three things to know

  • The stuff has never been the issue for Garrett Richards, but the command has – his ugly 10.6% walk rate is supported by a lowly 60.3% first-pitch strike rate.
  • Vince Velasquez has been the same old pitcher – too many walks (12.1%), and too many homers (1.54 HR/9).
  • The Boston offense has been good, but Philly remains disappointing (17th in wRC+).

Best bets: The OVER. It’s hot, humid, and these two pitchers are bad. This could resemble a slow-pitch softball game. 

Atlanta Braves at Miami Marlins

Braves (-132), Marlins (+112)
Total: 7.5 runs
Charlie Morton (R) vs. Zach Thompson (R)

Three things to know

  • Rookie Zach Thompson has been incredible this season – spanning 24 innings, he’s logged a 32.0% strikeout rate with an impressive 7.0% walk rate.
  • Hitters are really struggling to make hard contact against Thompson – they’ve only smacked him for a 29.8% hard-hit rate.
  • Charlie Morton has been great lately – he’s rocked a 27.6% strikeout rate this season.

Best bets: Marlins Park has been a pitcher-friendly environment, and these pitchers have been fantastic. I am betting on the UNDER here.

Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers

Athletics (-136), Rangers (+116)
Total: 9.0 runs
Cole Irvin (L) vs. Jordan Lyles (R)

Three things to know

  • Young lefty Cole Irvin hit some bumps in the road, but he’s picked things up – and one thing you won’t get is free passes. He’s only walked 4.5% of hitters this season.
  • Oakland has jumped all over starting pitching recently – they own a .173 ISO and 9.4% walk rate in the last two weeks.
  • The Rangers have been better at the plate, but they still strike out too much – they have a 24.6% strikeout rate in the last 14 days.

Best bets: With Irvin improving lately, a same-game parlay on the A’s (F3/F5/Moneyline) feels like a good bet.

Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee Brewers

Reds (-104), Brewers (-112)
Total: 9.0 runs
Wade Miley (L) vs. Eric Lauer (L)

Three things to know

  • Arguably the best two teams in the NL Central square off – and this will be interesting as the Reds rank fifth in wOBA, but the Brewers lag behind at 21st.
  • The Brewers are striking out at an intense clip – a 25.7% strikeout rate over the last two weeks.
  • He’s tossed a no-hitter this season, but Wade Miley owns a consistent 19.7% strikeout rate on the season.

Best bets: Both pitchers have been solid lately, and the line indicates Vegas is confused as well. I’d be the UNDER here.

Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins

Tigers (+198), Twins (-240)
Total: 9.5 runs
Matt Manning (R) vs. Kenta Maeda (R)

Three things to know

  • Is Maeda finally turning things around? In his last start, he was brilliant in seven scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
  • Matt Manning has arguably been one of the worst pitchers this season – he’s struck out only 7.4% of batters this year.
  • With that low strikeout rate, Manning is getting pounded, allowing a 46.4% hard-hit rate.

Best bets: Another same-game parlay. Manning has struggled a ton, and the Twins are still a top-10 offense.

Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres

Rockies (+194), Padres (-235)
Total: 8.0 runs
Kyle Freeland (L) vs. Blake Snell (L)

Three things to know

  • These teams are certainly going in opposite directions – the Padres are one of the best offenses in the league, while the Rockies have been the league’s worst offense in the last two weeks.
  • The Blake Snell truthers have been very quiet. While he is still striking batters out (29.2%), he owns a 13.8% walk rate.
  • Snell’s 54.5% first-pitch strike is the lowest mark of any qualified starter.

Best bets: I like the OVER here. While the Rockies stink, Blake Snell has been terrible.

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners

Angels (-126), Mariners (+108)
Total: 8.5 runs
Alex Cobb (R) vs. Marco Gonzales (L)

Three things to know

  • Over 60.2 innings, Alex Cobb has been brilliant. He owns a 27.3% strikeout rate and 6.1% walk rate thanks to a nasty splitter. Don’t let the ugly ERA fool you.
  • Marco Gonzales has had his command escape him – he’s on pace for a career-worst 9.0% walk rate.
  • Seattle can’t help but striking out a ton – they have logged the third-worst strikeout rate in the last two weeks (26.7%). Free Jared Kelenic!

Best bets: Another great same-game parlay opportunity. Cobb has been delightful, Gonzales has struggled, and hopefully we witness another Shohei blast.

(Get all my MLB betting picks here)

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