Daily Picks: Pirates To Plunder

We have a busy Saturday in the MLB as all 30 teams take to the mound. After a four game afternoon slate with limited value let’s see what we can dig up from the 11 game evening slate.

Here are Today’s MLB Picks:

St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates

I am going to go against Wainwright and the Cardinals on this one. The main reason is just how good Steven Brault has been this season. In his last 10 starts he has allowed more than three earned runs just once. In contrast, Adam wainwright has been up and down this season, allowing four or more earned runs in three of his last 10 starts. This game feels reasonably even to me and for that reason I will take the value with the Pirates as underdogs at home.

1u – Pittsburgh Pirates ML @ +120

Seattle Mariners @ Houston Astros

I tried to pick against the Mariners offense a few days back and it backfield spectacularly. However, this time they are going up against Justin Verlander, who is coming off the back of a no-hitter, as well as two straight shut out performances. In his last four starts he has gone nine innings twice, pitched a total of 31 1/3 innings allowing just four earned runs, 10 hits and striking out 40. I will back him to shut this Mariners offense down in this one.

1u – Seattle Mariners Under 2.5 Total Runs @ +110

Detroit Tigers @ Oakland Athletics

Backing Jordan Zimmerman to succeed makes me feel a little queasy, but he has been good recently. In his last four starts he has allowed zero earned runs in 22 innings. Today he faces Chris Bassitt who has a 3.22 ERA at home and has allowed over three earned runs just twice in his last 10. This could be a reasonably low scoring game in Oakland, and I am going to take the under on this one.

1u –Under 8.5 Total Runs @ +105

By Ben Rolfe