MLB Best Bets Today (Predictions for Yankees-Tigers, Cardinals-Cubs and One More Moneyline Pick)
By Peter Dewey
![New York Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery. New York Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4476,h_2517,x_0,y_142/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/426/01g4t0dvk3qg0071hpab.jpg)
It’s a beautiful day to bet some baseball before Game 2 of the NBA Finals kicks off (you know I’m always about my basketball), and I have three picks that I’m making for Sunday’s action.
I’m eyeing an easy sweep for the New York Yankees against the Detroit Tigers, and I have moneyline picks in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as the St, Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs game on Sunday Night Baseball.
Let’s get into today’s picks, with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:
MLB Best Bets Today
- New York Yankees -1.5 vs. Detroit Tigers (-140)
- Arizona Diamondbacks Moneyline vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-150)
- St. Louis Cardinals Moneyline vs. Chicago Cubs (-130)
Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees: Yankees -1.5 (-140)
The Yankees are absolutely on fire over the past month, and they’ve done it thanks to their elite pitching staff.
Over the last month, the Yankees' starting pitching, by the numbers:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 4, 2022
- Record: 15-2 (best in MLB)
- IP: 177.2 (best)
- ERA: 2.33 (best)
- K/9: 9.27 (3rd)
- BB/9: 1.52 (best)
- H/9: 6.03 (best)
- HR/9: 0.76 (2nd)
- FB velo: 95.3 (3rd)
- Runners stranded: 81.1% (2nd)
What a run.
New York blanked the Tigers’ league-worst offense on Saturday, and I wouldn’t be shocked if we see the Yankees run away with Sunday’s game as well. Jordan Montgomery will toe the rubber for New York against Rony Garcia, who has gotten hammered for the Tigers all season long.
Garcia gave up six runs in his last start against the Minnesota Twins, and he ranks in the first percentile in baseball in hard hit percentage, average exit velocity, barrel percentage and expected slugging percentage against.
That’s a tough look against a Yankees team that leads baseball with 79 home runs. Give me New York in an easy win.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Diamondbacks Moneyline (-150)
I’m attacking another pitching matchup that I like in the Pirates-Diamondbacks matchup, as D-Backs ace Zac Gallen faces Zach Thompson, who comes into this game with an ERA over 5.00.
Gallen has struggled a bit over his last two starts, allowing eight runs in 11 innings of work, but he’s still one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. His advanced numbers via Baseball Savant are elite.
I’m still not sold on the Pirates being the third-best team in the NL Central, as their negative-78 run differential is the worst in baseball (tied with the Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals). I’ll back Arizona on the road with Gallen starting.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs: Cardinals Moneyline (-130)
Speaking of NL Central teams that I’m not sold on, the Chicago Cubs certainly haven’t done enough to make any of us believe in them this season.
I’m really concerned about the Cubbies at home, where they are just 11-19 straight up this season.
St. Louis will have the always reliable Adam Wainwright on the mound in this game against Justin Steele who has a 5.40 ERA, but a 3.22 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) this season. Wainwright has been fantastic as of late, allowing just six earned runs over his last 32 innings of work.
The Cubs may hang around since they aren’t the bottom of the barrel in the NL, but this is a no-brainer to take St. Louis in my eyes.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.