Every team is in action Friday night, which features no weather concerns whatsoever. I’ll give you some of my favorite plays you can tail on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Follow me on Twitter for daily MLB picks and info @SBuchanan24.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago Cubs
The Pick: Royals run line -0.5 through first five innings -115
I’d really hope the Royals have the lead against Kyle Hendricks at the conclusion of five innings. The Cubs starter has some REALLY bad road numbers, posting a 7.08 ERA with a .364 wOBA and a 6.24 FIP. He doesn’t rack up strikeouts and you won’t see him throwing harder than 87 mph with any pitch. Hendricks mainly relies on a sinker and a changeup, throwing those 70% of the time. The Royals projected lineup hits both of those pitches well, especially the sinker, where they have a combined .399 wOBA against. With this being a home game for the Royals, they’ll also get the last crack at this should the game be tied or if they’re behind (which would be crazy if they are). With Brady Singer on the mound for the Royals, who has a 2.43 ERA and a .263 wOBA at home, I like the Royals to lead after five.
Baltimore Orioles vs. San Diego Padres
The Pick: Orioles team total over 4.5 runs -130
I think before the first pitch occurs, this total jumps up to 5.5 runs for the Orioles. They’re in a great spot tonight against Padres starter Adam Mazur, who has not seen much success in his rookie season. Through 31 innings, the 23-year-old sports a 7.84 ERA with an xERA of 5.23 with a 6.1 K/9 and a 5.5 BB/9. The walks have been a major issue and specifically against lefties, as 15 of his 19 walks have come to those hitters. That should be a major concern (well, at least not for people betting on this team total) against the Orioles, as they can load up on lefties. Tonight’s expected lineup features six lefties, including the top four hitters in this O’s lineup. I cannot imagine this will be an easy spot for Mazur, which has me taking the over on the Orioles 4.5 team total.
Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays
The Pick: Marcus Semien over 1.5 bases -110
Yusei Kikuchi for the Blue Jays has regressed dramatically lately. After starting off the season extremely well, he’s had an ERA hovering around 6 since June. He didn’t exactly show that the second-half would look better, as the Tigers tagged him for four runs on five hits through five innings of work. Tonight, he’ll be going against the Rangers, who have some good bats against lefties. One of them is Marcus Semien, who I like to go over 1.5 bases. Semien has a .498 wOBA and a .344 ISO against fastball from left-handed pitching this season, a pitch Kikuchi is throwing over 50% of the time. Getting -110 for the Rangers leadoff hitters is a play I’m looking to make.
Follow me on Twitter for daily MLB picks and info @SBuchanan24
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests. The contents contained in this article do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups.
