MLB Betting Picks of the Week – June 18th Edition

The Texas Rangers needed almost four hours to complete their comeback win over the Colorado Rockies on Father’s Day, but it was the newest father on the team, backup catcher Jose Trevino, who delivered (of all things) a Texas Leaguer over the Rockies’ shortstop to bring in two runs and clear the Rangers’ dugout with a 13-12 win. The win didn’t do a lot for Texas’ fortunes, as they are already 19 games behind Houston in the American League West, and the game basically mirrored a trend of inconsistency in the Texas and Colorado bullpens. Across the league, we have the Braves pulling a way a bit in the NL East, Milwaukee and the Cubs separated by a half-game atop the NL Central, and the Arizona Diamondbacks holding onto their slim lead over the Dodgers. In the AL East, the Yankees and Red Sox are tied; in the AL Central, Cleveland can’t seem to get on a winning streak and remains just four games over .500 (but still on top of the division). We have some MLB betting picks for you from the national pastime for the week ahead as you plan your wagers.

MLB Betting Picks of the Week – June 18th Edition

Cleveland Indians ranked No. 10 overall in ESPN power rankings https://t.co/MXyk2FLV2v pic.twitter.com/sxUSzIjknN

— Zesty MLB Indians (@zesty_indians) June 18, 2018

Monday, June 18

Arizona at Los Angeles Angels (10:00pm ET, ESPN)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Zack Greinke (5-5, 3.87 ERA) (ARI) vs Jaime Barria (5-2, 2.61 ERA) (LA) Zack Greinke has struggled to show ace-level consistency over his last five starts. At Colorado on June 8, he permitted a pair of home runs among eight hits, surrendering four runs (three earned) in 5 ⅔ innings. Against Pittsburgh on June 13, he didn’t make it out of the fifth inning, surrendering five earned runs on five hits (including a home run) in 4 ⅔ innings, throwing just 58 strikes in 101 pitches and walking four. The pitcher usually has an advantage in interleague play because opponents are not as familiar with his stuff, but if Greinke can’t find the plate, the Angels have the bats to make him pay. Los Angeles counters with Jaime Barria, who has been one of the Halos’ more consistent performers. His last start was a hard-luck loss, as he permitted two earned runs over five innings, but the start before that was impressive, as he threw six shutout innings against Texas on June 1. He has only permitted more than two earned runs in one start this season, and while the Diamondbacks can rake, I’m not sure they’ll have much like against Barria. MLB Betting Prediction: Los Angeles 4, Arizona 2

Tuesday, June 19

St. Louis at Philadelphia (7:05pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Luke Weaver (3-6, 4.52 ERA) (STL) vs Vince Velasquez (5-7, 4.74 ERA) (PHI) The St. Louis Cardinals just completed a home weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, and now they had to Philadelphia to try and continue the Phillies’ swoon while bolstering their own chances in the NL Central. They start Luke Weaver in this, who has not pitched particularly well lately, permitting 16 hits and eight earned runs in his last two starts combined, lasting just 10 ⅓ innings overall. His fastball has been finding the middle of the plate, and opposing hitters have been teeing off. Philadelphia sends their best starter this year to the mound on Tuesday in Vince Velasquez. His win-loss totals aren’t that great, and his ERA shows the damage of a 10-run barrage the Milwaukee Brewers dumped on him on June 8, but other than that, he had not permitted more than two runs in any start since May 17. Against Colorado on June 14, he got back on a winning groove, permitting just one hit and two walks, with two earned runs, in 6 ⅔ innings. He drew 13 swinging strikes, and if he has that kind of stuff on Tuesday, the Phillies should win. MLB Betting Prediction: Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 3

Wednesday, June 20

Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs (2:20pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Ross Stripling (6-1, 1.76 ERA) (LA) vs Jon Lester (8-2, 2.28 ERA) (CHI) One factor in the Dodgers’ recent resurgence has been the pitching of Ross Stripling, who has won six straight decisions, permitting no more than two earned runs in any of those starts and lasting into the seventh inning for four of them. Against San Francisco on June 15, he permitted a pair of earned runs on four hits over 6 ⅓ innings, striking out six. The Cubs start Jon Lester in this matinee, and he’s coming off a six-inning, five-hit, two-earned run performance in a win over the Cardinals on Friday. He has won four starts in a row, a streak that includes two seven-inning shutout performances against the Mets and the Pirates. Against the Cardinals, he threw 102 pitches (64 for strikes), with the only extra-base hits coming in the form of solo home runs. We should see a pitcher’s duel on Wednesday, and I like the Cubs to prevail on their home field. MLB Betting Prediction: Chicago 3, Los Angeles 1