Winning MLB SU Picks of the Weekend (July 9-10)

It’s hard to believe, but the first half of the Major League Baseball season will conclude on Sunday. The Chicago Cubs are struggling right now but they might just be tired as they haven’t had a day off since mid-June. They remain the World Series favorites on betting odds but the field is drawing closer. Here are three games this weekend I recommend.

Here’s a Closer Look at the Winning MLB SU Picks of the Weekend (July 9-10)

We gave it a ride against Chapman, but the Yankees ultimately take it, 5-4.Back tomorrow with $1 dogs and $2 beer! pic.twitter.com/Ap09NFKkRk

— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 8, 2016

New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians (Saturday, July 9th)

The Tribe will be solid favorites here and I’d take them on the runline as they are expected to start All-Star right-hander Danny Salazar. Cleveland has the best pitching staff in the American League and Salazar is a big reason why. He boasts a 10-3 record, 2.36 ERA (first in the AL) and .194 average against (second in the AL). Salazar has racked up 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He has fanned 28.3 percent of the batters he has faced, the best rate among qualified AL starters. He became the third pitcher in franchise history to amass 10 or more wins and 100 or more strikeouts in his first 15 starts of a season. Meanwhile, the Yankees start struggling left-hander CC Sabathia (5-6, 3.48), who won the Cy Young Award with Cleveland in 2007. Over his last three starts, Sabathia’s ERA is 8.31. Prior to that, his season ERA was 2.20. Expect Sabathia’s struggles to continue.

Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles (Sunday, July 10th)

The Halos start Tim Lincecum (1-2, 7.50). He has made four starts since signing with the Angels and the former two-time Cy Young winner with the Giants pretty clearly has very little left. He was shelled for five runs and 10 hits over 4.2 innings last time out against Tampa Bay. Lincecum has struggled mightily over his last three starts, getting charged with 14 earned runs in 12 innings, a stretch in which he has given up 25 hits and issued seven walks. And now he faces one of the best offensive teams in baseball in the Orioles. Baltimore starts ace Chris Tillman (11-2, 3.55). Tillman allowed one run on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts over seven innings in a win Tuesday over the Dodgers. He induced 10 groundouts Tuesday, a key to his success on a night in which he wasn’t able to miss Dodgers bats (six swinging strikes in 100 pitches). Tillman has been great at home, going 7-0 with a 3.45 ERA this season. Go Orioles here.

Arizona at San Francisco (Sunday, July 10th)

This is the final game of the first half, the Sunday night game on ESPN. The Giants start ace lefty Madison Bumgarner, meaning the All-Star will not be eligible to pitch in the game on Tuesday. Bumgarner (9-4, 2.09) allowed just four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six shutout innings but took a no-decision Tuesday against the Rockies. Bumgarner has allowed just 12 runs over his past eight starts and Tuesday marked the fifth time in that stretch he has thrown at least six innings and allowed one run or fewer. Bumgarner has been tough all season when it counts most. Opponents are batting .100 against him (3-for-30) with runners in scoring position and two outs. It’s young Archie Bradley (3-4, 4.81) for Arizona. Last time out, he matched a season high with five runs allowed in a loss to the Padres. He has a 5.73 ERA in two career starts against the Giants. San Francisco will be favored on betting lines and they are an easy call.