There will be plenty of pitching intrigue on Friday night with Clayton Kershaw, Stephen Strasburg and Julio Teheran all set to pitch. All three pitchers will be at home for their starts so it’s hard to overlook their potential to pick up wins. Here is a look at our MLB betting picks for Friday.
Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals
Friday, 4:05 PM ET
It doesn’t always make sense to bet on heavy home favorites. However, in this case it’s hard to ignore the Nationals – even if you simply add them to a parlay wager. Stephen Strasburg is coming off a loss in Philadelphia in which he actually held the Phillies to just three earned runs over seven innings of work. He should be even better against them in this meeting as he attempts to get back in the win column.
Meanwhile, the Nationals offense averaged 11 runs in their two wins over the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week and should also be looking for redemption after dropping two of three in Philadelphia. Aaron Nola had a lot of help in his lone win over Washington last week. However, he will have a much tougher time on the road with the Nationals seeing him for the second time in as many weeks.
It’s a big number to lay, so we’ll lay the run line with the Nats to knock down the juice.
MLB Betting Pick: Washington -1.5
San Diego Padres @ Atlanta Braves
Friday, 7:35 PM ET
The Braves won just two of their first eight games. However, there is reason to believe they could beat San Diego on Friday night. Julio Teheran has been absolutely lights out for Atlanta through two starts. The fact that he hasn’t picked up a win is an absolutely injustice. Teheran owns a 0.00 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and has thrown 10 strikeouts through his first 13 innings of work. The problem is that he hasn’t received enough run support. That will change when Jhoulys Chacin brings his 8.10 ERA to the mound against the Braves on Friday. Chacin gave up nine earned runs in just 3.1 innings of work in his first road start.
If Atlanta can give Teheran some support, they should record a win on Friday.
MLB Betting Pick: Atlanta
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Friday, 10:10 PM ET
We don’t see Clayton Kershaw roughed up very often. When it does happen it’s natural to expect him to bounce back. Kershaw gave up four earned runs on eight hits over six innings of work in a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies in his last start. He should bounce back with a much better effort against Arizona at home. Meanwhile, the Diamondback will counter with former Dodgers starter Zack Greinke. Arizona has won each of Greinke’s first two starts and he has been solid in both of them. However, this will be Greinke’s first road start and it will come against the toughest offense he will have faced so far this season. This could easily end up being another pitchers duel. The Dodgers deserve the edge based on the better pitcher, the better offense and home field advantage.
This is a big number to lay in this spot, so we’ll knock it down by playing another run line. That takes us from the -240 range to -105, which is much more palatable on the bankroll in case the Dodgers do in fact lose.
MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles -1.5
Colorado Rockies @ San Francisco Giants
Friday, 10:15 PM ET
The Giants are slowly clawing their way back to the .500 mark following a brutal start. They are 3-2 in their last five after starting the season 1-5.
Johnny Cueto should give them the edge again at home on Friday night. San Francisco has won each of Cueto’s first two starts and should have the edge again in his first home start of the season. The Giants offense has shown flashes of its potential and now they will get a chance to go to work against Tyler Anderson. Anderson has given up five earned runs in each of his first two starts for the Rockies. If he gives up five on Friday, then San Francisco should cruise to the win.
MLB Betting Pick: San Francisco
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