Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Take the Rays Plus Lots of Unders)
It's a full slate of Sunday afternoon baseball on the board for June 12!
The BetSided squad has previews and betting predictions for all the action on a busy day of baseball.
Here are our team's favorite picks and predictions, with all odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.
Athletics vs. Guardians Prediction and Pick
PICK: UNDER 8.5 (-120)
We're likely looking at a pitcher's duel in the first game of Sunday's slate at 11:35 AM EST. The Guardians have struggled against left handed pitching this season -- bottom 10 in OPS -- and have a formidable starter up against them in Cole Irvin.
Irvin has a 3.00 ERA, and while his FIP hints that regression can be on the way (4.35), the Indians lefty woes should likely continue. The team is not making hard contact at all vs. lefties, averaging only 29 extra base hits this season -- the lowest mark in baseball. That plays into Irvin's strengths as a pitcher who doesn't strike a ton of batters of out (6 per 9 innings) but has pinpoint control.
The A's likely won't take advantage given their struggles at the dish (last in on-base percentage and 29th in wRC+) which is a normalized rate of run scoring chances for ball park factors. Oakland is rarely a threat to put runs on the board.
With both offenses likely set to struggle, I'll take this under down to 8. -- Reed Wallach
You can find all of Reed's bets HERE!
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins Prediction and Pick
Pick: Rays -105
There's a major pitching mismatch between Rays LHP Jeffrey Springs and Twins RHP Cole Sands. The former makes his eighth start of the year for Tampa Bay while the latter suits up for the fifth time as a Twin.
In four appearances, including two starts, the rookie Sands is 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. It’s a small sample size, but enough that I don’t have much faith in this kid holding onto this roster spot for too much longer. He faced the Rays already this year and gave up two earned runs in two innings of relief. It took him 30 pitches to get through nine batters and pretty much set the tone for his season up until now. The current Rays lineup is hitting .286 against him with an OPS of .714.
Springs, meanwhile, has been phenomenal this season in 15 appearances, including seven starts. After posting a 0.93 ERA in April out of the bullpen, Springs was stretched out and earned himself a spot in this rotation. He’s been rolling since moving into the rotation and has an ERA around 1.80 in seven starts. His only real weak spot is home runs and the only runs Springs has given up all year have come off of long balls.
With such a solid starter on the mound, I think the Rays are a strong bet at solid odds on the road. -- Matt De Saro
Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE
Dodgers vs. Giants Prediction and Pick
The Dodgers are only 4-8 over their last dozen contests and searching for answers. Their much-maligned lineup struggles in key moments, like Saturday night in the 7th inning when they had the bases loaded with nobody out. Freddie Freeman struck out before Trea Turner grounded into a double play. Moments like those have defined their recent poor stretch.
I fully believe they'll turn things around sooner than later, but I worry about their lineup against a strong pitcher like Rodón.
San Francisco has lost five straight games Rodón has started. He's been pretty unlucky on the season with a 3.51 ERA. However, his 2.65 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) implies he's pitched better than his surface-level numbers indicate.
Urías, on the other hand, has been fortunate to amass only a 2.78 ERA, as his 4.61 FIP is representative of a back-end rotation type of starter as opposed to an ace.
I don't trust either team in this spot. Los Angeles' clutch hitting has been a disaster in the last two weeks, and the Giants have been inconsistent. Rather than take a side, I'll look to the total for value.
The Under is 8-1-1 in Urias' last 10 starts, plus it's 5-0 in his last five on the road. It's also 6-1-1 in the Dodgers' last eight as a road favorite and 7-3-1 in the Giants' last 11 as a home underdog.
The ball shouldn't be flying off the bat for either team and I expect a strong performance from each pitcher. At the very least, a strong performance from one should be enough to get the job done for the under.
PICK: UNDER 8 (-105)
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.