MLB Picks Friday 6/15: Red Sox Cubs, Yankees Nats, Dbacks Angels

MLB Picks and Predictions, Friday 6/15: Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees at Washington Nationals, Arizona Dbacks at LA Angels, and all 6/15 baseball

The Boston Red Sox visit Wrigley Field for a Friday matinee against the lowly Chicago Cubs with fantastic odds, but are the AL East’s bottomfeeders capable of beating Chicago’s ace on the road? The New York Yankees, finally surging to the top of the division, are underdogs against the upstart Nats in DC. Is Washington for real? The night is filled with exciting games like Rockies Tigers, Dbacks Angels, and Astros Rangers (sarcasm), so it looks like a great day to start publishing daily baseball picks again.

We dabbled with publishing baseball picks and predictions at the beginning of the season and while we were fairly successful, it was too much to handle with hockey still going. Luckily, hockey is over (read my end of season rant about officiating here) and I can focus on MLB picks again. It’s been a fairly successful year so far, up about 58 units on the season utilizing a combination of selective large bets and progression systems, which I’ll outline in my picks below.

Boston Red Sox (-110) at Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies have a pitching advantage at home with Ryan Dempster on the mound against the Japanese-league disaster that the Red Sox invested in, but the Cubs are still the Cubs. This game is interesting given Theo Epstein’s curse-breaking GM move from Boston to Chicago, but the Cubs are still the Cubs. Motivated or not, the roster disparity between these two teams is incredible. The depth of the Red Sox lineup should be enough to account for the pitching difference between these two teams and I’m taking advantage of the line.

High-confidence bet on the Red Sox with a system progression, expecting that the Cubs won’t sweep Boston. If we lose Game One, we bet heavily on Game Two to make up for our losses.

Red Sox 6 – Cubs 3

Colorado Rockies at Detroit Tigers (-150)

Will the Rockies ever win again? Two bad pitchers go head-to-head, but the Tigers lineup is finally started to look like what they paid for. I like Detroit here in a slugfest.

Tigers for a system bet against the lowly Rockies, expecting it to be nearly impossible for them to be swept at home. Also taking the run line.

Tigers 8 – Rockies 5

New York Yankees (+120) at Washington Nationals

Vegas isn’t stupid. They know that if the Yankees are underdogs then all of Wall Street will bet them heavily against a formerly-disastrous NL East team. That said, the Nats are legit and fueled by their pitching. Gio Gonzalez is having a great year and he’s dangerous here against Phil Hughes. Still, I like the Yankees for the value in the line.

Yankees 5 – Nats 3

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cleveland Indians

As much as I like Justin Masterson, I can’t bet this game. Mcdonald is 5-2 and capable of a win on the road, and Masterson is coming off a loss that was one of his finest outings of the year.

No bet.

Philadelphia Phillies (+110) at Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays lineup scares me, but I think the Phils have a pitching advantage here and they’re starting to heat up.

Small bet, no system play or run line.

Phils 5 – Jays 3

Baltimore Orioles (+150) at Atlanta Braves

The Yankees just smacked the red-hot Braves around, so why can’t the O’s? Baltimore has capable pitching, a great bullpen, and four dynamic presences in their lineup. They are certainly capable of the upset here and I think all value on this game is on the Orioles.

Single bet with no system progression.

Orioles 5 – Braves 2

Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays (-140)

I like the Rays to get back on track after a bad series. They’re home against a “rival”, though Florida baseball rivalries are as intense as the shuffleboard battles at a retirement home.

System bet on the Rays with a run line bet.

Rays 4 – Marlins 2

Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals (-180)

For the money, I don’t think it’s worth it here. The Royals are heating up and at these odds the Cards are no sure thing. No bet for me.

No bet

Cincinnati Reds at New York Mets

The Mets are hot, but Gee isn’t one of their good pitchers. No bet for me.

No bet.

Houston Astros at Texas Rangers (-300)

I think the Rangers will win, but again, at these odds what’s the point?

No bet

Chicago White Sox at LA Dodgers (-140)

I love Clayton Kershaw. Sale is good for the White Sox but the Dodgers have been the more consistent team. Small bet here for me on Kershaw, no system bet.

Dodgers 4 – White Sox 3

Milwaukee Brewers at Minnesota Twins

After a blown save against the Royals, I’m off the Brewers train. No bet until they regain my trust.

No bet

Arizona Diamondbacks at LA Angels (-170)

The Angels seem back on track and the Diamondbacks are really struggling. I don’t like the moneyline by itself, but with a combination bet of the moneyline and run line, we break even if the Angels win by one. I’m happy with that.

Angels 5 – Dbacks 2

San Diego Padres at Oakland Athletics

Neither team hits and both teams are pretty terrible. No bet for me.

No bet.

San Francisco Giants (-120) at Seattle Mariners

I think the Giants are the better team here. For the odds, I like a system progression on the Giants, expecting them to not get swept by the Mariners.

Giants 4 – Mariners 3