A 15-game, 30-team slate is set for Saturday across Major League Baseball. Among the must-watch matchups, the struggling Astros and Red Sox are both looking to gain some momentum at Fenway Park. Elsewhere, Roki Sasaki toes the slab for the Dodgers against a powerful Cardinals lineup. In Detroit, playoff hopefuls will meet when the Tigers host the Rangers.
With so many contests on deck, the options are endless for bettors. Before the start of Saturday’s action, here are three MLB bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cardinals ML (+113)
It’s early, but the Cardinals are looking competitive with a 19-13 record. The biggest reason for this group’s success has come at the plate. St. Louis is tied for eighth in runs scored (162) and tied for fourth in home runs (43) across all of baseball. Six regulars in this lineup have recorded a wRC+ above 100, including Jordan Walker. The former top prospect is slashing .308/.373/.583 with nine homers and 25 RBIs.
That’s bad news for most opposing pitchers, especially Roki Sasaki. Other than a brief stint out of the bullpen last October, the Japanese hurler has struggled in the majors. Through 22.2 innings this season, the right-hander has notched a 6.35 ERA (7.20 FIP) and a 1.80 WHIP. To make matters worse, Sasaki owns a dismal 2.8 HR/9 ratio. A propensity for giving up dingers should give Los Angeles fans plenty of concern going into this one.
Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy is in many ways the opposite of Sasaki. He’s not much of a fireballer, averaging out around 91 MPH on his fastball. However, what the 25-year-old lacks in speed, he makes up for in command. McGreevy has notched a 1.35 BB/9 ratio, fourth-best among all qualified pitchers. Plate discipline is a crucial piece of Los Angeles’ scoring attack. The Dodgers ranked second in baseball last season with 3.62 walks per game. If that’s neutralized, supporting a vulnerable Sasaki could prove difficult.
Mets vs. Angels under 8.5 runs (-143)
If there’s any reason for Mets fans to keep tuning in, it’s Nolan McLean. New York’s budding ace has certainly lived up to the hype so far. Over 35.1 innings of work, the rookie has posted a 2.55 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 45 strikeouts. It’s also worth mentioning that he’s given up just two home runs (0.5 HR/9). In comparison, the Angels are tied for fourth in baseball with 43 dingers. Los Angeles, despite its power, has had its struggles inside Angel Stadium. The Halos are averaging 3.38 runs per game at home, fourth-worst in the league.
It’ll be Reid Detmers toeing the slab for LA this evening. As has been the case throughout his career, the southpaw has struggled with consistency. Still, he’s currently on the hook for a respectable 4.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 36 strikeouts over six starts. It’s not as if you need to be Nolan Ryan in order to silence New York. The Mets are averaging 3.44 runs per game this season, second-fewest in baseball. In addition, they own MLB’s fourth-lowest OPS against left-handed pitching (.631). All signs are pointing to a low-scoring affair tonight in SoCal.
