Top ATS MLB Picks for the Weekend

Top ATS MLB Picks for the Weekend

Written by on May 13, 2016

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 by clicking here.

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

Mets at Rockies, Saturday (MLB Network): 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 (MLB Network): 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 (ESPN): 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.