MLB Best Bets for Friday, July 23rd

We are ready to tackle the MLB for Friday, July 23, 2021. Below are the three best bets to make for baseball.

Rangers vs. Astros

Kolby Allard has been starting for about two months now and in most games has been hit rather hard. Especially in his last two starts when he gave up five earned against the Blue Jays and four solo home runs against the A's. Jake Odorizzi starts for the Astros and has been decent against the Rangers in his career. I really liked the under on his strikeout total (5.5), but that has been pounded and is now -168, which is too much juice for me. Instead, I am playing the Astros over five runs for the game.

Cardinals vs. Reds

Tyler Mahle for the Reds has had a strong year so far. His last outing against Milwaukee was not good, but aside from that, he's held the opposition to low run totals in most of his starts. Against St. Louis, he has held them to a .200 batting average. He also has 17 strikeouts in two games against them. I'm playing Mahle over 6.5 strikeouts for the game. In addition, though, I am playing the total game under. I don't expect many runs scored against Mahle, and Wade LeBlanc has performed well lately. Play the under 9.5 runs today.

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Gerrit Cole is pitching for the Yankees tonight. Somehow, the Yankees are plus money. The only justification I can find for this is that Eduardo Rodriguez has a 2.65 ERA against the Yankees in three starts this season. In Cole's only start at Fenway this season, he gave up 3 home runs and five earned runs. I don't think that happens again and am happy to take Cole through five innings at +100.