MLB Betting Guide: Expert Picks Against the Spread for Weekend’s Games

We are coming to the end of another big week in the MLB, and we are starting to see the divisions take shape, which includes some slow starting teams getting into gear.

As we do at this time every week, we are going to look ahead to the schedules for the next few days to try and pick out 4 weekends games where you could potentially win some money by playing against the spread.

My Analysis for the Weekend MLB ATS Picks

One of the main things we look at with these games is the pitching matchups, but we, of course, also look at current form and a number of other trends. We are on a solid run right now, going 3-1 with our picks last weekend to move to 7-1 over the last 2 weeks. Let’s see if we can keep things going this weekend, starting with a pair of Friday night games.

Baltimore Orioles over Chicago White Sox

Friday, May 24, 7:40 PM, Apple TV+ | Before we get started, please be aware that any win/loss or streak records mentioned in these picks are prior to the Wednesday night games. This will be the second game in the series, with the first set to go on Thursday. The Orioles are currently struggling, losing each of their last 3 games to fall 2 ½ games back of the Yankees in the East. It does, though, feel like a minor skid as opposed to anything worse and this might be the series to get them back on track. The White Sox are in rough shape and could be easy prey for Corbin Burnes (4-2 2.56 ERA).

Arizona Diamondbacks over Miami Marlins

Friday, May 24, 9:40 PM | The Diamondbacks are slowly but surely losing ground to the Dodgers in the West and are now 9 games out of first. They have a chance to get right on Friday night, though, as they have what looks to be a very favorable pitching matchup. Braxton Garrett of the Miami Marlins has pitched just 9.2 inning this season, but he has been absolutely rocked in those, coming into this game with an ERA over 10. On the flipside, Zack Gallen will start for the D-Backs as he looks to improve on his 5-2 record.

Seattle Mariners over Washington Nationals

Saturday, May 25, 4:05 PM | Okay, on the face of it, this looks like a pitching matchup that actually falls in favor of the Nationals. The problem that they have at the moment is that they are on a ridiculously bad run of form, winning just 2 of their last 10 games. They will have Trevor Williams (4-0, 2.35 ERA) on the mound to face Logan Gilber (3-2, 3.20 ERA) in what looks to be a very even matchup. The Mariners have won 2 in a row and are quite comfortably at the top of the Central Division, and I like them to have a solid outing on Saturday.

San Francisco Giants over New York Mets

Sunday, May 26, 1:40 PM | This is the second and final series between these two teams this season, with the Giants taking the opening 3-game series 2-1. We have what looks to be another good pitching matchup in this one, but again, one of these teams does not inspire a ton of confidence in me. The Mets have been horrible of late and have just 2 wins in their last 10 games. They also have a losing record at home, all of which are factors that I believe swing things in favor of the Giants.

Another big weekend is upon us, with the MLB season moving quickly along.

As we do at this time every week, we are going to look ahead to the weekend and select 4 games that we think you can wager on with a high level of confidence.

My Analysis

We set the bat pretty high last week, going a perfect 4-0 with our picks, but can we repeat the magic again this weekend. That remains to be seen, and while we had quite a few games that we really liked over the next few days, we have narrowed it down to 4. We take several factors into account, such as current form and the starting pitcher matchup, all of which we think adds up to a win for the teams we select. Without further ado, let’s get to the MLB picks.

Philadelphia Phillies over Washington Nationals

Friday, May 17, 6:10 PM | This will be the second meeting of these teams this season, with the Phillies taking 2 of 3 from their division rival the last time they hooked up. The Phillies are on a roll at the moment, winning 7 of their last 10 games to take a 2 ½ game lead at the top of the NL East. The Nationals finished in the cellar last season, and while they have moved up to 3rd this time around, they are still well off the pace being set by the Phillies and Braves. Philadelphia is 16-8 at home, and with Zack Wheeler on the mound, I think they get the win here.

Detroit Tigers over Arizona Cardinals

Friday, May 17, 9:40 PM | You hate to count out any team at this still relatively early part of the season, but both of these teams have some work to do if they want to continue playing beyond the end of the regular season. The Tigers are a game below .500 and 5 ½ games out of the lead in the AL Central. The D-Backs are 2 games below the .500 mark and 7 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. Both could use a lift in this weekend series, but I think it will be the Tigers who get it with Tarik Skubal (5-0, 2.02 ERA) on the mound.

Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals

Saturday, May 18, 7:15 PM, NESN | Every team comes into the season with a certain level of expectation, but not every team can live up to it. The Cardinals were one of the sexy picks this season, but they are floundering, sitting last in the division and losing 7 of their last 10. The Red Sox are perhaps a little better than expected, but they are also still playing .500 ball at 22-22. I think they have a chance to get back above the middling mark, especially on Saturday against Miles Mikolas, whose bloated ERA is at 6.19.

Toronto Blue Jays over Tampa Bay Rays

Sunday, May 19, 1:37 PM | I might be taking a little bit of a risk with this one, but of all the games I had picked out for Sunday, this is the one that kept niggling at me. These teams have already played 4 times this season, splitting that series 2-2. Offense was very much at the forefront in those outings, so keep an eye on the run total, too. The Rays come into this weekend on a modest 2-game win streak, but they also have a losing road record, which I think the Jays can use to their advantage on Sunday.

Weekend ATS Picks: We are now far enough into the MLB season to begin to have a clear idea as to which teams are living up to expectations and which are falling well short.

That said, there is still more than enough time remaining for all of our current perceptions to change, as injuries, slumps, streaks, and other factors are all going to play a role in how things eventually play out when all is said and done.

My Analysis

That is all a conversation for another day, as our full focus is on the games that are coming our way over the next few days. We have scoured the weekend schedule and picked out 4 games where I think we will have a clear winner, so let’s dive right in and take a look at those matchups.

Atlanta Braves over New York Mets

Friday, May 10, 7:10 PM | It is perhaps something of a surprise to see the Atlanta Braves sitting a couple of games out of the lead in the NL East, losing their top spot after a nightmare weekend against the Dodgers a few days back. They are turning things around and getting on the right track, winning 2 in a row ahead of their weekend series with the Mets. It is the New York club that has actually been the best in this regular season series, taking 2 of 3 from the Braves already. I think that changes on Friday when the Braves send Charlie Morton (2-0, 3.50 ERA) to the mound.

Milwaukee Brewers over St. Louis Cardinals

Friday, May 10, 8:10 PM | We have a Central Division matchup coming our way this weekend, with the Brewers looking to extend their lead at the top. This series actually started on Thursday night, with Milwaukee breezing past the Cardinals with a 7-1 win. St. Louis is dead last in a division that a lot of people had them winning this season, and they need to start getting some wins before that hole becomes too deep. I just don’t see them getting a win tonight, as I think the Brewers cruise to another comfortable win.

Philadelphia Phillies over Miami Marlins

Saturday, May 11, 4:10 PM | We already mentioned that the current NL East standings are a bit of a surprise, but are they really? After all, the Phillies, who are 2 games up on the Braves, have been in the postseason and knocked out the Braves in each of the last 2 years. They will look to stay on top this weekend when they face the struggling Miami Marlins in what has the potential to be a sweep for the Phillies. You really could take your pick of any of the games in this series, but we are going with the Phillies to cover on Saturday.

Minnesota Twins over Toronto Blue Jays

Sunday, May 12, 1:37 PM | The Twins, who are currently sitting 2nd in the Central Division, are on a run that is seeing them close the gap at the top, winning 8 of their last 10 games. They will face the Blue Jays, this weekend, a team sitting last in the East and winners of just 4 of their last 10 games. It is the pitching matchup here that makes this one a game worth betting on. The Jays will be sending Alex Manoah to the mound, who has an ERA of over 13 in just 4 innings pitched. If the Twins can jump on him early, this one might get ugly real quick.

Weekend ATS Picks: The MLB season is moving along nicely, and we are now preparing for another big weekend of exciting matchups.

So now you know, take a quick look at the Week 5 and games that will win you this weekend’s MLB ATS Picks: Blue Jays vs Nationals, Padres vs D-Backs, Angels vs Guardians and Yankees vs Tigers.

My Analysis

There is nothing better than spending the weekend flipping between games and trying to win some money, but with so many matchups to choose from, it can be tough to narrow down the games you want to play. We are here to try and help, so we are selecting 4 games from the weekend that we believe might well be worth playing. Of course, we don’t yet know the MLB odds for these matchups, and the pitchers may change, so be sure to keep an eye on those things before wagering. Without further ado, let’s see if we can make some winning ATS picks for this weekend.

Toronto Blue Jays over Washington Nationals

Friday, May 3, 6:45 PM, Apple TV+ | It has been a strange sort of start to the season for the Blue Jays, who have been rather up and down. They are on a downswing right now, winning just 3 of their last 10 games, but I think they have a shot at pulling out of it on Friday night on the road in Washinton. The Nationals have perhaps been better than expected, playing .500 ball through their opening 30 games. It is the pitching that swings things in the favor of the Jays for me here. The Nats will have Patrick Corbin on the mound, who is 0-3 with a 6.82 ERA. I think the Jays can jump on him early.

San Diego Padres over Arizona Diamondbacks

Friday, May 3, 9:40 PM | There really isn’t much difference between these teams at the moment, with the Padres ahead of the Diamondbacks in the West by just a single game. Both teams have very similar records, but the Padres are showing some signs of life with back-to-back wins as of Thursday morning. They have been surrendering runs at an alarming rate, but they tend to do better with Dylan Cease on the mound. He is coming off a rough start last time out, but I like him to bounce back here.

LA Angels over Cleveland Guardians

Saturday, May 4, 6:10 PM | You can’t do a preview like this without having an underdog on there, and this is likely to be a big one. The Angels are having a miserable season, and have now lost Mike Trout to injury, while the Guardians are out to a great start and sitting atop the AL Central. Still, I think this one has the potential to be close, although I am not suggesting that the Angels will win straight up. If they are -1 ½ ATS in this one, I would be tempted to take a shot, especially if Reid Detmers gets the start as expected.

New York Yankees over Detroit Tigers

Sunday, May 5, 7:05 PM | This is another matchup where the teams are not that far apart in terms of wins and losses. The Yankees came out hot, but they have cooled off of late, going 5-5 in the last 10 to fall to 20-12 overall. The Tigers are 18-13 and playing good ball right now, winning 7 of their last 10 games. On the face of it, this has all the makings of a close series, but I think the Yankees have the pitching edge on Sunday. Tarik Skubal has been money this season, going 4-0 with an ERA of 1.72. Look for him to pick up yet another win on Sunday.

While Thursdays tend to be a little quiet in the MLB, it really is just the calm before the storm, as we have a full to bursting schedule set to go over the weekend

MyBookie MLB Weekend ATS Picks | MLB Daily Lines at Week 4

There are plenty of very good matchups to pay attention to, but with so many games going on, it can be hard to decide which ones to wager on. Of course, the MLB odds for each game do not go up until the day of the action, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t use some guesswork to pick out the ones that might be worth betting on, specifically in playing against the spread. We are going to look at pitching matchups and a few other things to try and pick out some games that might be worth wagering on against the spread.

Baltimore Orioles over Oakland A’s

Friday, April 26, 7:05 PM
Pitchers: Ross Stripling vs Corbin Burnes

The only surprising thing about the Oakland A’s to this point is that they are not dead last in their division, although it still feels as though it is only a matter of time before they sink to the bottom. The Orioles are once again battling for the top spot in the East, and you have to say that this series looks like a mismatch. Friday will see Colin Burnes take the mound for the Orioles, coming in at 3-0 on the season, while Stripling is 0-5 for Oakland and surrendering a ton of runs. I have a feeling this one might set the tone for the weekend, with the Orioles winning comfortably.

Find all Orioles @ A’s betting odds to Win
Major League Baseball Betting Lines Week 4

Tampa Bay Rays over Chicago White Sox

Friday, April 26, 7:40 PM at Apple TV+
Pitchers: Zach Eflin vs Chris Flexen

The Chicago White Sox are easily the worst team in the league right now, picking up just 3 wins this season, which is almost hard to believe. They are currently on a 6-game losing skid and leaking runs at an alarming rate. The Tampa Bay Rays are last in the AL East, but they are also sitting at 13-13, so it is not total doom and gloom. They too have been surrendering a lot of runs, but they have also scored 50 more runs than the White Sox. This should be an easy win for the Rays.

Find all Rays @ White Sox betting odds to Win
Major League Baseball Betting Lines Week 4

St. Louis Cardinals over New York Mets

Saturday, April 27, 4:05 PM at FOX
Pitchers: Sonny Gray vs Adrian Houser

The Cardinals are not living up to preseason expectations at the moment, as they are 11-14 and dead last in the Central. They have had problems getting runs home this season, but that might change on Saturday when they face the Mets, who will have Adrian Houser and his 7.45 ERA on the mound. He will be up against Sonny Gray, who is 2-1 and has a sparkling ERA of 1.04. I know those numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they are convincing enough to have me picking the Cards in this one.

Find all Cardinals @ Mets betting odds to Win
Major League Baseball Betting Lines Week 4

New York Yankees over Milwaukee Brewers

Sunday, April 28, 2:10 PM
Pitchers: Marcus Stroman vs Undecided

In the grand scheme of things, there seems to be very little separating these two teams at the moment. Both have very similar records and stats, but I believe there are a couple of things that edge things in favor of the Yankees on Sunday, in what may end up being the deciding game of the series. I think they have the best of the pitching matchup her, plus you cannot dispute the fact that they have been great away from home, going 9-4 in road games, while the Brewers are playing .500 ball at home.

Find all Yankees @ Brewers betting odds to Win
Major League Baseball Betting Lines Week 4

When betting on baseball, it’s all about the starting pitchers. That’s probably not news to you. Here are three nationally televised games this weekend and my top against the spread picks. Don’t forget to check out for more sports betting lines.

Thanks to the trio of expert MLB ATS picks that you’re about to get, you’re going to have a great chance to cash in not once or twice, but a whopping three times.

A Quick Look at the Top ATS MLB Picks for the Weekend

Mets at Rockies, Saturday

New York starts Logan Verrett. Steven Matz (elbow) has been experiencing elbow soreness since his start on Monday, so the Mets decided to left him rest and give the ball to Verrett instead. The right-hander pitched very well in two starts earlier this season while filling in for Jacob deGrom, as he went 1-0 with 10 strikeouts and no runs allowed in 12 innings of work. Verrett’s qualifications include eight innings of one-run ball in place of Matt Harvey last August at Coors Field; overall, Verrett owns a 2.36 ERA in six career starts. Colorado goes with Eddie Butler (1-1, 3.86). Butler was sharp in last Sunday’s win over the Giants, tossing six innings of shutout ball with six strikeouts and two walks. The right-hander outdueled Jeff Samardzija, notching a season-high in punchouts and completing six innings for the first time in 2016. Go Mets here.

White Sox at Yankees, Sunday

Chicago starts inconsistent Miguel Gonzalez (0-0, 4.91). The newly minted fifth starter earned the job in his last outing at Texas, going 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision in which he threw strikes and attacked the Rangers’ hitters. General manager Rick Hahn said Gonzalez has “earned the right” to make a few more starts as the team’s fifth starter. New York goes with ace right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 3.11). Tanaka allowed six runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision Tuesday against the Royals. Tanaka was done in by three home runs, two by Lorenzo Cain and one by Cheslor Cuthbert. He has now given up five home runs this season, all five coming at Yankee Stadium. Tanaka has been otherwise very good this year, as Tuesday was the first time he has allowed more than two earned runs in seven starts. This will be a Yankees win.

Cardinals at Dodgers, Sunday

This is the Sunday night game, also available streaming on WatchESPN. The Cardinals start right-hander Mike Leake (1-3, 5.10). Leake earned his first win of the season Tuesday versus the Angels, allowing just one run with five strikeouts and one walk across eight strong innings. Leake entered the game with an unsightly 6.03 ERA, but he lowered that figure nearly a full run to 5.10 by making it through eight frames and allowing fewer than three runs for the first time in 2016. His ERA is still bloated due to the fact that he has allowed three-plus runs in an inning four different times. It’s lefty Alex Wood (1-3, 4.58) for the Dodgers. Wood didn’t factor into the decision in Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Mets despite recording nine strikeouts and surrendering just four hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks over 6.1 innings. Wood induced 14 swinging strikes and threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 24 hitters he faced. Wood has notched at least seven strikeouts in three straight starts since making a small mechanical tweak. He has so far enjoyed pitching at Dodger Stadium, registering a 1.33 ERA at home compared to 8.05 on the road. Go Los Angeles here.

ATS MLB Picks | MLB Lines for Torday Baseball Betting Lines for the Games

Previous Betting News

If you’re enjoying the 2016 MLB regular season and you’re looking to strike pay dirt on some weekend online baseball betting odds, then you’ve come to the right place!

Thanks to the trio of expert MLB ATS picks that you’re about to get, you’re going to have a great chance to cash in not once or twice, but a whopping three times.

With all of that said, let’s get started.

Top MLB ATS Picks for the Weekend – Cash in on MLB Online Betting Odds

Los Angeles Angels at Pittsburgh Pirates

Saturday, June 4, 4:05 PM EDT, PNC Park

Probable Starters

L.A. – Nick Tropeano – R (3-2, 3.25 ERA)
Pittsburgh – Jeff Locke – L (4-3, 4.33 ERA)

Heading into Friday night, the Los Angeles Angels (24-29) had lost three of tier last five games including a humbling 3-0 shutout against Detroit on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (29-24) have lost three straight and four of their last five including a narrow 4-3 loss against Miami on Thursday.

L.A. right-hander Nick Tropeano struggled the last time out while matching a season high with five walks while giving up four runs in five innings. Tropeano had gone 6.2 innings or more in each of his two previous outings.

Pittsburgh southpaw starter Jeff Locke is coming off the best outing of his career, by tossing a 105-pitch three-hitter against the Marlins on Monday. Locke has pitched at least six innings in seven of his 10 starts and is 2-1 with 3.96 ERA in four home starts this year.

The Pick: Pirates 5 Angels 3

Sunday, June 5, 2016

New York Mets at Miami Marlins

Sunday, June 5, 1:10 PM EDT, Marlins Park

Probable Starters

New York –Matt Harvey R (4-7, 5.37 ERA)
Miami – Jose Hernandez – R (8-2, 2.53 ERA)

Heading into Friday night, the Mets (29-23) had lost two straight and four of five overall including a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against the ChiSox on Wednesday. Veteran right-hander Matt Harvey tossed seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the White Sox on Monday to shake off a dismal start to the 2016 campaign.

Jose Fernandez has been on fire recently and finished the month of May with a perfect 6-0 record to match a Marlins (29-25) franchise record for wins in a month. In his last seven starts, the right-hander is 7-0 with a 1.60 ERA.

The Pick: Miami 3 New York 2

Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds

Sunday, June 5, 1:10 PM EDT, Great American Ball Park

Probable Starters

Washington – Tanner Roark – R (3-4, 3.00 ERA)
Cincinnati – Jon Moscot – R (0-3, 7.13 ERA)

Heading into Friday night, Washington (33-21) had won four straight including their convincing 7-2 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

More importantly, right-hander Tanner Roark has been very solid in limiting the opposition to two earned runs or fewer in each of his last three outings while averaging 6.1 innings per start this season.

Cincinnati (19-35) has won two straight and three of four overall including their convincing 11-4 beat-down of Colorado on Thursday.

Right-hander Jon Moscot came back from a stint on the DL to get smacked around for seven earned runs on eight hits including four homers in a 17-4 loss at Colorado.

Keep it simple ad back the streaking Nationals t cash in against the online MLB betting odds for this contest.

The Pick: Washington 7 Cincinnati 3

Previous Betting News

This is the first sports weekend in many months where there is no NBA or NHL betting action. We are in the dog days of summer, folks! That means plenty of baseball betting and here are my top three picks for the weekend against the projected spread. Find the latest MLB odds here.

ATS MLB Betting Picks for the Coming Weekend

Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins, Sunday: This will feature live betting as it’s televised nationally by the MLB Network. The Cubs will be rare underdogs and I’d have to bet against them because the Marlins start ace Jose Fernandez, who almost never loses at home. Fernandez (9-3, 2.36) allowed just one hit and two walks over seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts but took a no-decision in Tuesday’s game against Atlanta. He now has an absurd 125 strikeouts in just 87.2 innings, and his 12.8 K/9 is a full strikeout better than the next best qualified pitcher, Stephen Strasburg (11.4 K/9). Fernandez’s record at Marlins Park is an amazing 23-1 with a 1.48 ERA. He has never faced the Cubs. Chicago goes with Jason Hammel (7-3, 2.55). Hammel pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs, six hits and a walk while striking out three in Tuesday’s loss to the Cardinals. Entering the game, Hammel was 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA over 13.1 innings against the Cardinals in 2016. He is 2-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 10 career games against the Marlins. I not only like the Marlins here but love the under total, which likely will be 7.

Washington Nationals at Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday: We were supposed to be treated to an epic pitching matchup between Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg and Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on Monday, but Strasburg was scratched with an upper-back strain. Strasburg pitched just 127 innings last season due to various injuries but had been healthy this year. But he’s apparently fine and will start Sunday’s series finale in Milwaukee. Strasburg is 10-0 over his first 14 starts of the season with a 2.90 ERA, slightly under his career mark of 3.07. The Brewers counter with their best pitcher, Jimmy Nelson (5-6, 3.80). Nelson tossed five frames, allowing just one run on six hits while walking one and striking out two in a no-decision versus the A’s on Tuesday. Nelson had a chance to win his first game in nearly a month, but the bullpen immediately lost Nelson’s one-run lead. Nelson has done his best work this season at Miller Park, where he owns a 2.62 ERA, a .238 opponents’ average and a ratio of 2.44 strikeouts per walk. Go Nationals here if Strasburg starts and they will be favorites. Also go under the total.

Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White Sox, Sunday: It’s the AL Cy Young favorite on betting lines in Chicago’s Chris Sale here. Sale (12-2, 2.83) gave up just one run on four hits and a walk and struck out nine over seven innings in a win Tuesday over the Red Sox. Sale, the first pitcher in MLB to 12 wins, had struggled over his past five starts, in which he allowed 20 runs in 29.2 innings (6.07 ERA). Sale dominated the Blue Jays in Toronto on April 26, allowing one run and four hits over eight innings in a victory. It’s Marcus Stroman for Toronto. Stroman (6-3, 5.23) got chased early in last Sunday’s loss to the Orioles, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out four. Stroman is 1-2 with a 7.89 ERA in June. He has allowed six or more runs in four of his last seven starts. Go White Sox here and over the total.

Previous Betting News

This is the first sports weekend in many months where there is no NBA or NHL betting action. We are in the dog days of summer, folks! That means plenty of baseball betting and here are my top three picks for the weekend against the projected spread. Find the latest MLB odds here.

ATS MLB Betting Picks for the Coming Weekend

Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins, Sunday: This will feature live betting as it’s televised nationally by the MLB Network. The Cubs will be rare underdogs and I’d have to bet against them because the Marlins start ace Jose Fernandez, who almost never loses at home. Fernandez (9-3, 2.36) allowed just one hit and two walks over seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts but took a no-decision in Tuesday’s game against Atlanta. He now has an absurd 125 strikeouts in just 87.2 innings, and his 12.8 K/9 is a full strikeout better than the next best qualified pitcher, Stephen Strasburg (11.4 K/9). Fernandez’s record at Marlins Park is an amazing 23-1 with a 1.48 ERA. He has never faced the Cubs. Chicago goes with Jason Hammel (7-3, 2.55). Hammel pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs, six hits and a walk while striking out three in Tuesday’s loss to the Cardinals. Entering the game, Hammel was 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA over 13.1 innings against the Cardinals in 2016. He is 2-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 10 career games against the Marlins. I not only like the Marlins here but love the under total, which likely will be 7.

Washington Nationals at Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday: We were supposed to be treated to an epic pitching matchup between Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg and Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on Monday, but Strasburg was scratched with an upper-back strain. Strasburg pitched just 127 innings last season due to various injuries but had been healthy this year. But he’s apparently fine and will start Sunday’s series finale in Milwaukee. Strasburg is 10-0 over his first 14 starts of the season with a 2.90 ERA, slightly under his career mark of 3.07. The Brewers counter with their best pitcher, Jimmy Nelson (5-6, 3.80). Nelson tossed five frames, allowing just one run on six hits while walking one and striking out two in a no-decision versus the A’s on Tuesday. Nelson had a chance to win his first game in nearly a month, but the bullpen immediately lost Nelson’s one-run lead. Nelson has done his best work this season at Miller Park, where he owns a 2.62 ERA, a .238 opponents’ average and a ratio of 2.44 strikeouts per walk. Go Nationals here if Strasburg starts and they will be favorites. Also go under the total.

Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White Sox, Sunday: It’s the AL Cy Young favorite on betting lines in Chicago’s Chris Sale here. Sale (12-2, 2.83) gave up just one run on four hits and a walk and struck out nine over seven innings in a win Tuesday over the Red Sox. Sale, the first pitcher in MLB to 12 wins, had struggled over his past five starts, in which he allowed 20 runs in 29.2 innings (6.07 ERA). Sale dominated the Blue Jays in Toronto on April 26, allowing one run and four hits over eight innings in a victory. It’s Marcus Stroman for Toronto. Stroman (6-3, 5.23) got chased early in last Sunday’s loss to the Orioles, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out four. Stroman is 1-2 with a 7.89 ERA in June. He has allowed six or more runs in four of his last seven starts. Go White Sox here and over the total.

Previous Betting News

After a short detour at the MLB All-Star break, we are back for the second-half of the 2016 MLB betting season. Here are our top MLB SU and ATS picks for the weekend, running from Friday, July 15th to Sunday, July 17th.

A Closer Look At The Top 2016 MLB ATS & SU Picks Of The Weekend

Top SU MLB Picks for the Weekend

Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins, Friday, Jul. 15th

MLB SU Pick: Cleveland

Coming off the break, the Cleveland Indians will give the ball to right-hander Carlos Carrasco with the hope that he can lead them to a win. In his last game, Carrasco struggled as he gave up 5 runs over 3 2/3 innings against the NY Yankees. Even so, only one of those runs was earned, so there is hope that Carrasco and the AL Central division-topping Indians (52-36) can bounce back with a strong winning performance against the Twins, who are seated at the bottom of the AL Central with a 32-56 record despite winning 7 of their last 10 games.

Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, Jul. 16th

MLB SU Pick: Baltimore

The Orioles have been MLB betting’s surprise team of 2015, boasting of an AL East-leading record of 51-36, to go along with a 49-39 ATS mark. The fact that Mark Trumbo leads the league with 28 homers and is fourth in RBI with 68 has been a big reason behind their offensive explosion that has seen them top the majors with 137 home runs. With Baltimore’s best pitcher, Chris Tillman (12-2, 3.41 ERA), taking to the mound against the reeling Rays (34-54, 1-9 in last 10, 6-game losing streak entering the All-Star break); Baltimore should be a no-brainer pick for the SU, most probably with the ATS line as well.

Colorado Rockies at Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Jul. 17th

MLB SU Pick: Colorado

Gray has been the exact embodiment of the Rockies (40-48) this season in the MLB lines; talent, a decent number of solid performances with great upsides but also with a fair number of risks to go with all that. If the high-upside Gray shows up in this game as he has done recently, then the Rockies should be a solid pick in this road game against the improving—but still below average—Braves (31-58).

Top ATS MLB Picks for the Weekend

San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres, Friday, Jul. 15th

MLB ATS Pick: San Francisco

As arguably the best lock on Friday, the red-hot San Francisco Giants (57-33, best mark in the nation at the All-Star break) will be going against the Padres (38-51), a team the Giants have dominated this season. Making matters for the Padres, San Francisco will have one of its best pitchers on the mound in Madison Bumgarner, who brags of an absolutely stellar numbers—1.72 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and 20 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings this season—in his meetings against San Diego this season. Throw in the additional fact that the Giants entered the All-Star break on a solid 8-2 mark in their last 10 games (including a four-game winning streak) while the Padres were just 5-5 in their last 10 (including a three-game losing streak); I doubt if you will find a better run line option this Friday than Bumgarner (10-4, 1.94 ERA, 146K) and the Giants, who are likely to be favored highly in this clash.

San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres, Saturday, Jul. 16th

MLB ATS Pick: San Francisco

It’s nothing personal against San Diego, in case you are asking. It’s just that the Giants, as we’ve mentioned above, have been absolute beasts against San Diego. And guess who will be San Fran’s starter in this game? That’s right… His majesty Johnny Cueto (13-1, 2.47 ERA); a player who hasn’t tallied a loss since late April and impressively owns a 0.33 ERA in 27 innings against the Padres this year. Combine that with San Francisco offense (11th in MLB in batting average at .262) that has seemingly been getting hotter as the season progresses, you get a one-sided affair that should offer solid value for Giants supporters in the MLB ATS lines.

Previous Betting News

We are on the brink of another big weekend of baseball action, which means multiple opportunities to wager and win some money. We have already covered some potential parlay and SU picks for the coming weekend, so now it’s time to take a look at some big winners against the spread. Taking a look at the run differentials of each team, as well as their average runs for an against during the season should help us identify some winners this weekend. Rather than going with individual games, let’s instead take a look at some series that could provide some ATS betting winners this weekend. The good news is that there are a few that fit the bill. Take a look at the pitching match-ups throughout the weekend in order to narrow down those betting options. And don’t forget to check out for more MLB odds by clicking here.

Here’s a Closer Look At The Top MLB ATS Expert Picks of the Weekend

Chicago Cubs Vs Colorado Rockies

The ball has a habit of flying out of the park when games are played in Colorado, and at the moment, the Chicago Cubs are knocking the cover off the ball. There is a better than average chance that they are going to seriously light things up this weekend. It should also be noted that they have an average winning margin of 1.7 runs per game, whereas the Rockies, who are also in the positive, are at +0.1. Look for the Cubs to win big this weekend, with Friday perhaps the best bet.

Washington Nationals Vs Atlanta Braves

The Nationals and Braves have already played one game in this 4-game weekend series, and it was Washington who came away with a comfortable 8-2 win. This could very well be the trend for the entire weekend, especially if you take their averages into account. Washington are second only to the Cubs in average winning margin at +1.2. The Braves are sitting at the bottom of the pack with a -1.2 margin, and that could very well mean a long weekend for Atlanta.

St. Louis Cardinals Vs Philadelphia Phillies

These are two teams heading in very different directions at the moment, and they are as far apart in average winning margin as they are in total wins and losses. The cardinals are still very much in a battle for the Wild Card spot in the National League, while the Philadelphia Phillies are looking down the barrel of another miserable season. You could really pick any of their weekend games and come up with a win in favor of the Cards, although my money would be on Saturday.

LA Dodgers Vs Cincinnati Reds

After spending a large portion of the season chasing down the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers have finally taken the lead in the NL West, and they will be looking to cement that this weekend when they take on the struggling Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers have an average winning margin of +0.6, while the Reds are in the red at -1.0. This looks to be a mismatch of the highest order, and while I like the Dodgers to sweep, I would take those ATS on Friday.

Previous Betting News

You don’t get any extra points for winning big in sports, but blowing a team out can help build confidence, which is extremely important at this late stage of the season. Over the past couple of weekends, we have tried to pick out some series that might deliver those kinds of lopsided results, and we will have another crack at it this weekend. I am not going to point out individual games here, but rather series that have the potential to be heavily in favor of one team over another. You guys can take a look at the MLB betting pitching match-ups, as well as other factors that you may use to handicap games, to get a better idea of which games to play in those series.

Top MLB ATS Winning Predictions Of The Weekend

Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have a stacked offense that can hammer home runs like few others, although they are sporting a -3 run differential over their last 3 games. That is not like them, and you have to think that they can break out the bats again versus a Minnesota Twins team that has been bleeding runs all season long. In that same 3-game period, the Twins have a -13 run differential, which does not bode them well against this group.

LA Angels at Detroit Tigers

This series has all the makings of a shootout, and you might also be looking at the OVER with their 3 games this weekend. The Tigers are red hot at the moment, and have scored 36 runs in their last 4 games. To put that in perspective, they are a +13 in their last 3 games, and are only +22 on the season. This team might just be getting hot at the right time, which is bad news for an Angels team that gives up a ton of runs.

Atlanta Braves at San Francisco Giants

The Atlanta Braves lose a lot, and while they have made a habit of keeping games close recently, a lot of those games have come against fellow strugglers. I expect things to be a whole lot different when they go on the road to face a playoff contender in the San Francisco Giants. If I had to pick one game out of this series where the Giants would easily cover the spread, it would have to be the Sunday match-up when they have Madison Bumgarner on the mound.

Cleveland Indians at Texas Rangers

There are no two ways about it, the Cleveland Guardians are in a slump right now, and they are giving up runs while they lose. They lost 9-0 to the Rangers in the first game of this series, and are an MLB worst -21 in their last 3 games. The Rangers numbers may be a little skewed because of that win, but they are still sporting a +7 run differential over that same 3-game period. This is a series that is going to deliver some runs, and you have to feel that the Rangers are going to have the majority of them.