Top MLB Betting Picks & Predictions for This Friday - August 11th

Top MLB Betting Picks & Predictions for This Friday – August 11th

Written by on August 10, 2017

Cleveland is likely to hold off Kansas City for the AL Central title, but it just got a bit tougher for the Tribe after they placed outfielder Michael Brantley on the DL. Brantley, the Indians’ left fielder, sprained his right ankle in the fifth inning Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies and was forced to leave the game. He’s one of the better outfielders in the AL when healthy. The latest betting odds for MLB aren’t out yet for these Friday matchups, but we chose out top three MLB betting picks for August 11th.

Top MLB Betting Picks & Predictions for This Friday – August 11th

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

When: 7:05 PM ET Where: Fenway Park TV: MLBN (out-of-market only) / NESN (Boston) / YES (NY) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: WEEI 93.7 (Boston) / WFAN 660 (NY) MLB Betting Odds: TBA Not sure if you knew this, but every Red Sox-Yankees game has to be on national TV. At least it sure feels that way – and this one is. The Yanks could activate outfielder Aaron Hicks for the series opener. Hicks has been sidelined since June 25 with an oblique injury. He recently shifted his rehab assignment to Double-A Trenton after completing five games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, so he’ll be closer to New York in order to be activated. It should come at some point this weekend. Hicks might have been an AL All-Star reserve if he didn’t get hurt.

Who Will Take the Mound for Each Team?

It’s a matchup of lefties on the mound. The Yanks go with new addition Jamie Garcia (5-8, 4.49). He allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on five hits and four walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings to take the loss last Friday against the Indians in his Yankee debut. He’s bounced around three teams over the past month, and he’s given up 35 earned runs over 47.1 innings covering eight starts. Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 4.08) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings, but received no decision last Friday against the White Sox. Rodriguez was solid the first time he faced the White Sox lineup, but gave up a pair of runs in the fourth inning, and although he left the game with a one-run deficit, the offense came up with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take him off the hook for a potential loss. His solid outing broke a string of four straight games in which he failed to post a quality start.

Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals

When: 8:15 PM ET Where: Busch Stadium TV: FSSO (Atlanta) / FS-M (St. Louis) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: 93.7 FM (Atlanta) / KMOX 1120 (St. Louis) MLB Betting Odds: TBA Atlanta has recalled shortstop Dansby Swanson, once the No. 1 prospect in ball of baseball, from Triple-A. Swanson hit only .237/.356/.342 at Gwinnett since being sent down a couple weeks ago, but he’s needed with Johan Camargo (knee) sidelined. He’ll see regular time at shortstop now. Swanson is still a huge part of the Braves’ future.

Who Will Take the Mound for the Braves?

Atlanta starts hard-throwing Mike Foltynewicz (10-6, 3.94) here. Foltynewicz won after giving up one run on four hits (one homer) and no walks with 11 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings Saturday against the Marlins. In notching a career-high 11 strikeouts, Foltynewicz was nearly perfect outside of a sixth-inning solo homer surrendered to Giancarlo Stanton. The 25-year- old bounced back from a loss against the Phillies in his previous start. He is 5-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 12 starts this season on the road. Are the Braves a safe MLB betting pick for this Friday?

Who Will Start Off for St. Louis this Friday?

The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright (11-5, 5.00) allowed three runs on four hits and five walks across three innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Reds. He struck out one. Making his first start since July 22 because of a back injury, Wainwright struggled to maintain his release point. He threw first-pitch strikes to 12 of 17 batters and threw a respectable 60 percent of his pitches for strikes, but the five free passes were his highest total since April 2016. But Wainwright has been his best at Busch Stadium, posting a 7-1 record and 3.19 ERA in 10 starts this season.

LA Angels at Seattle Mariners

When: 10:10 PM ET Where: Safeco Field TV: FS-W (LA) / ROOTNW (Seattle) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: KWKW 1330 (LA) / 710 ESPN (Seattle) MLB Betting Odds: TBA The Mariners lost reliever David Phelps to the DL recently so they made one of the more interesting “trades” in MLB history this week. Right-hander Ernesto Frieri was sold by the Texas Rangers to the Mariners on Tuesday for $1. Signed by the Rangers as a minor league free agent on June 15, the 32-year-old was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in six relief appearances for Texas. He was assigned outright to Round Rock on July 7 and went 0-1 with a 1.42 ERA in seven relief outings for the Triple-A club. Frieri did not play in 2016, when he was released by Philadelphia after spring training.

Who Will Be Sent to the Mound for Seattle?

The Mariners go with lefty Marco Gonzales here. Acquired from St. Louis on July 21, Gonzales steps in again for injured Felix Hernandez. Gonzales took a no-decision after allowing five runs on seven hits (one homer) and one walk with five strikeouts over four innings Sunday against the Royals. Gonzales had trouble with the top of the Royals lineup, but he showed promising skills by recording nine of his 12 outs via a strikeout or a ground ball and issuing only one free pass. The left-hander posted a 3.02 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and a 73-to- 22 K/BB ratio through 86 1/3 innings in the minors this season.

Who Will Take the Angels Mound on Friday?

LA counters with Ricky Nolasco (5-12, 5.09). Nolasco took a no-decision after allowing five runs on nine hits (one homer) and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings Sunday vs. the Athletics. Nolasco entered the contest with a .319 wOBA allowed at home (compared to .392 on the road), so this was an uncharacteristic performance for the right-hander. He has now surrendered more homers (28) than any other big leaguer, and he doesn’t strike out enough batters (7.4 K/9) to offset his 36.5 percent hard-hit rate against.

Expert MLB Betting Predictions for Friday

Garcia has been struggling so take Boston on the road. Wainwright is good at home so the Cards over the Braves. Nolasco is one of the AL’s worst pitchers so Seattle’s the pick over LA.