MLB Best Bets for Friday, August 6, 2021
I’m excited for a great weekend slate of baseball. Let’s start it off on the right foot by getting three winners into our pocket.
White Sox vs. Cubs
There is no question which Chicago team is better this season and especially today. The White Sox have the divisional lead, the better team, and the better pitching staff. However, one of the few holdovers from the Cubs garage sale was Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks has been guilty of the longball quite a bit this season, but aside from that, he has been very successful. April was rough for him, but every month since he’s had a 3.00 or lower ERA. What’s strange is that he’s normally been very dominant at Wrigley Field, and this season he has been better on the road. Lance Lynn, for the White Sox, has been good no matter where he pitches, but his road ERA is almost a full run higher than at home. The wind is predicted to blow out today. FanDuel Sportsbook has the line at 9 runs right now, some shops are as high as 10. Pounce on the over 9. I’d also sprinkle Jose Abreu to leave the yard at +250.
Mets vs. Phillies
I’m sure most casual baseball fans/bettors aren’t familiar with Kyle Gibson’s successful 2021 campaign. However, the Mets are hitting him pretty well in the 65 career at-bats they’ve collectively had against him – batting .312. Marcus Stroman has had almost double the amount of at-bats against him from Phillies hitters, and he has held them to just a .192 average. Stroman has been better on the road and better at night than during the day. That bodes well for tonight’s away game that he’s starting. The biggest problem right now is that the Mets are playing poorly and the Phillies are coming into this series hot. Instead of playing a side, I’m taking the under 9.5 on the game at -118. If you want a side, I lean the Mets simply because of pitching.
Marlins vs. Rockies
There has been action on both sides of this game; it doesn’t seem as if the sharps can decide exactly who they think will win this. For the Rockies, German Marquez has been good, especially at home. In the homer-happy Coors Field, he has given up just four home runs this year. For the Marlins, it looks like at the deadline they wanted to focus on bolstering the pitching staff for upcoming years. Sandy Alcantara is one of the guys I expect the Marlins to build around. He has faced Rockies batters 31 times and given up just four hits (.088 average). I like the Marlins to steal this game and take the opener of the series at +140.