MLB Best Bets for Saturday, July 31, 2021

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What a stretch we are in right now. 9-0 on our last nine plays and we also hit our sprinkle yesterday for +270. Let’s get right to it and get it again.

Cubs vs. Nationals

Well, in the span of about 24 hours, the Cubs lost their entire starting infield (catcher not included). Bryant went to the Giants, Baez went to the Mets, Rizzo is a Yankee, and Nico Hoerner is on the IL. However, Kyle Hendricks is still on the Cubs and still a great pitcher. The good news for the Cubs is that the Nationals also traded away one of their best players. Aside from Juan Soto, the rest of the Nationals are hitting just .160 against Hendricks in their career. What is left of the Cubs is also not hitting particularly well against Joe Ross, just .181. I am going to play the under 8 runs in this game as I think both teams will struggle to get any firepower. I also am going to sprinkle the Cubs to win and under 8.5 runs at +320.

Reds vs. Mets

Rich Hill is starting for the Mets for the second time since being shipped over from Tampa. In his first start, he gave up three runs in five innings to the Blue Jays. In this game he gets to face a Reds team that is hitting 20 points worse in batting average against lefties. The Mets, on the other hand, are batting 12 points higher against southpaws. Wade Miley has been great for the Reds this year and he has a good track record against Mets hitters. The Reds are also coming into this game on a four-game winning streak. I think this is a low-scoring game, at the very least through the first five innings. I’m playing the Mets/Reds under 4.5 runs through five innings at -120.

Brewers vs. Braves

Brandon Woodruff has had a strong campaign so far this season. In four of his last six games, he’s had eight or more strikeouts. His total today is at 7.5, it is heavily juiced towards the under. Atlanta hitters have struck out on average once every three at-bats against Woodruff. So far this year he has 146 Ks in 126 innings. This season, Atlanta hitters are striking out over nine times a game. They struck out 12 times last night, and have struck out over 10 times on average over their last three games. I’m going to take my shot on Woodruff going over 7.5 strikeouts tonight at +144.