Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – June 4th Edition

One sign that the Philadelphia Phillies think of themselves as contenders is the frustration that broke out in the clubhouse when they were swept by the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. The sweep isn’t good news — but the anger at losing is a good sign for a team that has been in a long rebuilding funk since winning the World Series in 2008 and getting back there but coming up short in 2009. That dropped the Phillies three games back in the National League East. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks and the Brewers are still leading in the NL West and Central, respectively, but the Cubs just returned from a 6-1 road trip and have won 8 of 10. In the American League, the Red Sox lead New York by a game, Cleveland leads the Central, and the surprising Seattle Mariners have passed the Houston Astros in the West despite losing star second baseman Robinson Cano to a substance-abuse suspension. Check out our MLB betting picks for three matchups in the week ahead.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – June 4th Edition

MLB power rankings: The Chicago #Cubs and Arizona #Dbacks make biggest climbs in rankings while Los Angeles #Dodgers continue climb toward top https://t.co/aNuTEEbozH via @usatoday

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 4, 2018

Tuesday, June 5

Tampa Bay at Washington (7:05pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) (TB) vs Max Scherzer (9-1, 1.92 ERA) (WAS) The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, and they will send Nathan Eovaldi to the hill for his second start of the season. His first start, in Oakland on May 30, was a gem, as he needed just 70 pitches to cruise for six shutout innings. He has missed significant time after elbow surgery but had a successful rehab assignment. With that said, Eovaldi has a career record of 39-46 with a 4.18 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.37. So he’s definitely due for some correction. Opposite Eovaldi will come Max Scherzer for the Nationals. In his last start, he threw eight shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles, scattering a pair of hits and fanning 12 batters. With the game taking place in Washington, there won’t be a designated hitter, which will allow Scherzer to be even more dominant. Eovaldi will be on a pitch count, which will give the Nats some cracks at the Rays’ bullpen. MLB Betting Prediction: Washington 5, Tampa Bay 1

Wednesday, June 6

Kansas City at L.A. Angels (10:07pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Ian Kennedy (1-6, 6.08 ERA) (KC) vs Shohei Otani (4-1, 3.18 ERA) (LA) As you can see from his record, Kansas City’s Ian Kennedy has had a rough season so far, with few outings rougher than the one he had on June 1, when he permitted eight earned runs on seven hits (including three home runs) in just three innings of a game that Oakland would go on to win by a 16-0 score. He has only permitted fewer than five earned runs once in his last five starts. He’ll face an Angels team that has two-way phenom Shohei Otani on the mound. He has permitted two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts; his last time out saw five innings of three-hit, one-run ball. His 1.08 WHIP is solid, especially for a rookie pitcher at this level. I don’t expect him to have much trouble with a Royals team that is currently 17 games below .500. MLB Betting Prediction: Los Angeles 6, Kansas City 2

Thursday, June 7

Colorado at Cincinnati (12:35pm ET)

Projected Pitching Matchup: Tyler Anderson (3-1, 5.07 ERA) (COL) vs Tyler Mahle (4-6, 4.38 ERA) (CIN) At 30-29, Colorado is right in the thick of the National League West race, chasing Arizona, and they’ll take on the Cincinnati Reds this week for their midweek series. They’ll send Tyler Anderson to the hill on Thursday afternoon, and he just saw the Reds on May 26. He held them to three earned runs on six hits (although two of them were home runs) in a game the bullpen would blow in a 6-5 loss. He has permitted three or more earned runs in each of his last five starts. He’ll face a Cincinnati team that is 18 games under .500 and that will start Tyler Mahle. He squared off against Anderson back on May 26 and permitted four earned runs over five innings. He threw five shutout innings against the Padres on June 1. He has struck out 61 batters over 63 ⅔ innings — but can he handle the Rockies better this time? MLB Betting Prediction: Colorado 5, Cincinnati 3