Friday, May 5 MLB Best Bets

We ended up 3-1 over at PointsBet Sportsbook with last Friday’s MLB Best Bets! The night started off with a tough loss on the Cubs who dropped the opener of their three-game set with the Fish in walk-off fashion and then proceeded to get swept right out of LoanDepot Park. That bothersome defeat was quickly forgotten after the Toronto Blue Jays logged the 3-2 win over Seattle with Alek Manoah outdueling Luis Castillo. We closed it out with a pair of ticket cashes after Max Fried smashed his disrespectful K prop and the Braves won a rain shortened game against the Mets. Here’s to raking in more profits with another Friday edition of Best Bets – SLAM YOUR MAN!!

YTD: 46-40-3 ($545)

LW: 12-10 ($213)

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Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

I’m digging what I’m seeing from the Nationals of late! In taking two of the first three games against the Cubs earlier in the week, Dave Martinez’s troops have now earned a split or won three of their last four series. The two series wins came at the Twins and Mets. They’ve been getting the job done with some timely hitting and some spectacular pitching holding the opposition to three or less runs in seven of their last 12 games. One of the main contributors to the pitching staff’s rebound has been none other than Josiah Gray.

We backed the right-hander in his most recent turn at home against Pittsburgh whom he held to just three hits and 1 ER while striking out six through six IP to log his first win of the MLB betting season. He’ll be catching an attractive payback running up against Merrill Kelly and the upstart Diamondbacks who’ve been one of the bigger surprises through the first month. Gray’s already thrown in Coors, Anaheim, and Citi Field and lived to tell about it in allowing 16 hits (1 HR) and only 3 ER while racking up 18 K and only walking four through 17.2 innings. The book on Kelly to date has been to back him on the road and fade him at home. We’ll do just that!

BET THE NATS

Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners

We faded Luis Castillo in his most recent start at Toronto where he took a no decision after tossing five innings of 2 ER ball at the Blue Jays. It marked the second straight blah showing from the right-hander after struggling with the weak-hitting St. Louis Cardinals his prior start. I think he comes to the ball yard looking to make a statement with the Houston Astros in town and earn his team the dub over the defending champs who are still lined the -135 chalk favorites to win a third straight AL West pennant at PointsBet.

The M’s staff ace has been nothing short of exceptional in his home digs where he stands 2-0 with a miniscule 1.14 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and .145 BAA. He gets the added advantage of the Astros only seeing his stuff once. The same can’t be said of Christian Javier who threw at Seattle twice last season to mixed results. Though he’ll be motivated to bounce back from his last turn after getting peppered by the Phillies at home, this will be the Mariners first home game since April 23 and T-Mobile Park will be rocking. With a top-5 ranked bullpen backing him up, I expect Castillo to be in line for the win after departing and for the relievers to seal the deal and earn him win No. 3 on the year.

BET THE MARINERS

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres

Good lord are the Dodgers’ bats smoking hot right now! Max Muncy and co. just made minced meat of the Phillies pitching staff earlier in the week, and will now set its sights on an underperforming Padres staff that’s been decent on the starting bump (No. 13 QS) but nothing short of a hot mess in the bullpen (No. 20). Love him or hate him, Clayton Kershaw simply just continues to get the job done. The lefty enters his seventh start 5-1 with a tidy 1.89 ERA and insane 41:5 K/BB ratio. I thought the southpaw was supposedly washed!

Opposing him will be Joe Musgrove who will be giddy to get back on the Petco Park bump after seeing his ERA take a mighty hit pitching in the opener of that two-game set against the Giants in Mexico City. Kershaw has made the Friars his biatch recently and owns a career 1.58 ERA and .167 BAA throwing at the Padres in their home ball park. The Friar’s righty was actually pretty darn good against LA last season throwing to a 3.63 ERA and .231 BAA even though he took the loss in two of three starts. But with this only his third start of the year, Kershaw back in Cy Young form, and the Dodgers bats scorching hot, I foresee the El Cajon native taking his first L of the year.

BET THE DODGERS

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