Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – July 23rd Edition

The MLB trade deadline is a week from Tuesday and it looks to be a rather robust market with half the league not even trying to hide their intentions to tank the rest of the way to land as high a draft pick as possible. So it’s a good time to start fading those teams as they will sell off pieces and start playing young guys. Here’s a look at two interesting matchups this week for you all MLB betting enthusiasts. Check back for MyBookie Sportsbook Odds right before placing your ticket!

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – July 23rd Edition

This 9-game winning streak is our longest winning streak since a 9-gamer from June 20-30, 2013. #RaiseIt pic.twitter.com/ejJLaahVc9

— Pirates (@Pirates) 23 de julio de 2018

Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays

• When: Wednesday, 4:07 PM ET
• TV: MLB Network

The Blue Jays are definitely sellers ahead of the trade deadline and would like to deal former AL MVP and ex-All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson because he’s set to free agency this winter. The problem is that Donaldson isn’t having a great season and hasn’t played since May 28 due to a calf injury. So no team is going to give up much for Donaldson since he’s not likely back until after the deadline. The question the Jays have to ask themselves is whether they can get something in a trade more valuable than the supplemental first-round pick they would receive after the season should he reject the qualifying offer and sign elsewhere as a free agent. The team also doesn’t necessarily have trade Donaldson by July 31. They can wait until he’s healthy, plays in a few games to showcase himself, and then move him in an August waiver trade. The Houston Astros landed Justin Verlander after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline last year and that worked out rather well. Minnesota also is expected to be a seller ahead of the deadline. Second baseman Brian Dozier probably goes somewhere. The Milwaukee Brewers have been rumored to be looking at home. Starting pitcher Lance Lynn, a pending free agent, also could be moved. Perhaps the Twins would be in playoff contention if they had ace Ervin Santana all season but they haven’t. The right-hander will make his season debut for the Twins on Wednesday in Toronto. Santana had surgery on his right middle finger back in February and had to restart his rehab assignment following a setback back in May. He tossed six innings of one-run ball in his last rehab start. Santana went 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 33 starts last season, striking out 167 and walking 63 in 211 1/3 innings. Santana will be on a pitch limit here, probably 85. The Jays are expected to start Sam Gaviglio (2-3, 4.59). He hasn’t won since May 25 in Philadelphia when the right-hander allowed three runs over six innings. He comes off a no-decision vs. Baltimore. He pitched into the eighth innings and set a career high with eight strikeouts. Gaviglio doesn’t throw very hard but in 12 starts this season Gaviglio has allowed more than three earned runs just three times. “He’s a pitcher, he’s a great competitor, and he can get you out in different ways,” manager John Gibbons said. “Some guys have to overpower you, he doesn’t. He just pitches, dissects the plate a little bit, and he has shown us that he is pretty strong, too.”

New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates

• When: Thursday, 7:05 PM ET
• TV: MLB Extra Innings

Both of these teams are in the seller category. The Mets already have begun their potential fire sale, sending closer Jeurys Familia to Oakland for two prospects. Experts have been hammering the Mets for not really getting much back. New York got Triple-A right-hander Bobby Wahl and Class A third baseman Will Toffey, and $1 million in international signing bonus pool allotment. Wahl appeared in seven big league games for the A’s last year but neither is considered a sure-fire major leaguer. An All-Star in 2016, Familia was 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA and 17 saves in 21 chances with the Mets this season. The 28-year-old right-hander struck out 43 and walked 14 in 40 appearances covering 40⅔ innings. He was set to hit free agency this winter. Meanwhile, we might have seen the last of slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes this season. Cespedes will undergo an MRI and is set to see a foot specialist early this week for continuing heel issues. Cespedes returned to the Mets’ lineup Friday and homered, but the high was short-lived — he was back on the bench Saturday with foot issues, and now it sounds as though the issues are not to be taken lightly. Lower-body issues have become the norm for the slugger. Cespedes, who is hitting .262 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 38 games, said he is uncertain whether he can finish out the season. The Mets also are likely to deal second baseman, Asdrubal Cabrera. The Brewers, Indians, and Phillies are among the teams interested in him. The 32-year-old is set to hit free agency at season’s end and is almost certain to be flipped before the end of the month. He’s having a fine offensive season. Lefty Steven Matz (4-8, 3.65) is scheduled to start on the mound here. He lost Saturday at the Yankees, allowing five runs on nine hits. Matz didn’t get into any real trouble until the fourth inning, when he was knocked around for four runs on five hits, including three straight extra-base hits. He was pulled with no outs in the sixth inning after allowing another run on back-to-back hits. Pittsburgh counters with rookie Nick Kingham (5-4, 4.11). Kingham limited the Reds to two runs over 6 1/3 innings in a win Saturday. Kingham gave up four hits and two walks while striking out three, with only a Curt Casali two-run homer in the seventh inning marring his line. Kingham has now won three straight starts — all quality starts.

Expert MLB Betting Predictions

Take Minnesota and Pittsburgh.