The rivalry is out west this weekend as the San Francisco Giants visit the hated Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine for a four-game set. Meanwhile, East Coast MLB sports betting fans will have plenty to wager on: the Yankees are in Baltimore; the Red Sox and Blue Jays have a series between two AL East playoff hopefuls; and the Mets are playing host to the Padres.
Here are five of my best bets for baseball bettors for this weekend.
MLB Best Bets for July 22-24
- Last week my parlay pick for “No Runs in First Inning” hit at +240 from Caesars. This week, I like the Chicago Cubs to win its series in Philly (+168 from FanDuel). The Cubs had a seven-game losing streak just before the All-Star break, but there are signs that the pitching is coming around. The Phils are in a dangerous stretch where they need to win to avoid being sellers at the trade deadline. I like the Cubs to be spoilers on the road and win two of three in the City of Brotherly Love.
- Sportsbooks like Caesars will make the Red Sox dogs at home this weekend because the Jays seem like the better team. But ignore that an take the odds-on Boston at Fenway. In Friday’s game, it’s not much (+105), but look for that to be bigger on Saturday when Toronto has Alek Manoah on the hill. The sterling second-year pitcher is due to get smacked around (he hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in a start this season). The law of averages is against him.
- Here’s a big odds flyer for you: DraftKings has a daily special on “Will There Be a No-Hitter?” The YES is at +2200. Sometimes coming out of the All-Star Game, hitters are rusty. We have several top pitchers on the hill this weekend (Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer, etc.). Even a modest $20 bet on the YES, would payoff for $440.
MLB Matchups to Watch This Weekend
Yankees at Orioles
Friday (7:05 p.m. ET), Saturday (7:05 p.m. ET), Sunday (1:35 p.m. ET)
- The Yanks have won eight of their last ten games vs. Baltimore.
- Baltimore is on an eight-game winning streak at home.
- Baltimore has scored more runs in July than any team in MLB.
Giants at Dodgers
Friday (10:10 p.m. ET), Saturday (7:15 p.m. ET), Sunday (4:10 p.m. ET)
- The Dodgers scored four runs in the eighth inning on Thursday to snatch victory away from the Giants, 9-6.
- The Giants and Dodgers have split six meetings in 2022, with LA outscoring SF, 25-20.
- The Dodgers have won eight straight at home, and 10 of 12.
- LA’s 14-2 record in July leads baseball.
Astros at Mariners
Friday (10:10 p.m. ET), Saturday (4:10 p.m. ET), Sunday (4:10 p.m. ET)
- The Astros are now just 2.5 games behind the Yankees for best record in the AL. The team that wins that gets homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
- Alex Bregman can be a streaky power hitter: he just went deep on Thursday against the Yankees. He’s a good option for more four-baggers this weekend in Seattle.
- Yordan Álvarez is back from the IL, and he’s already gone deep. The slugger has nine homers in only 34 games against the Mariners. Maybe his nickname should be “Mariner Killer.”
Padres at Mets
Friday (7:10 p.m. ET), Saturday (7:10 p.m. ET), Sunday (7:08 p.m. ET)
- This could be a preview of a divisional playoff series. The Padres are in second place and sit in the second slot in the NL Wild Card race.
- The Friday matchup is Yu Darvish vs. Max Scherzer. Expect lots of K’s that night.
- On Sunday, Carlos Carrasco seeks his 11th win for the Mets, but he’ll have a difficult opponent in Joe Musgrove, who is a sleeper Cy Young candidate (+1300 from FanDuel)
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Friday (7:10 p.m. ET), Saturday (4:10 p.m. ET), Sunday (1:35 p.m. ET)
- I like Boston to win at least two of three from the Blue Jays. The Sox need to put a streak together to avoid a tough decision at the trade deadline, which is coming Aug. 2.
- Rafael Devers is hitting just .205 against Toronto this year.
- Xander Bogaerts is .421 vs. Toronto in 2022, with 16 hits in 10 games.
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Check these too: All of today’s MLB betting lines | World Series odds
Betting FAQs for MLB
What are World Series Winner Odds?
The Yankees (+375) and Dodgers (+400) lead the way in odds to win the 2022 World Series, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Are There Alternate Lines for World Series Betting?
Over at DraftKings, you can bet on which division will produce the World Series champion. As it appears now, the American League East is baseball’s best division. Entering games on July 15, all five teams were above .500 and at least within a game of a playoff spot.
DraftKings Winning Division World Series Odds:
- AL East: +240
- NL West: +265
- NL East: +330
- AL West: +450
- AL Central: +1700
- NL Central: +1200
Which Sportsbooks Offer Odds on Individual Regular Season Series?
Both DraftKings and Caesars regularly offer series odds during the regular season. These odds are only offered for a series that’s three games (so one team could win two of three or all three). Check “Series Props” at both sportsbooks for these odds.
How Does the Moneyline Work in Baseball Betting?
MLB games are offered by sportsbooks on a moneyline. The odds are expressed in relation to $100 wagered. For example, +200 means you would win $200 if you bet $100 on that team. In contrast for -150, you’ll need to bet $150 to win $100.
Essentially, odds of +400 are the same as 4-to-1, and odds like -200 are the same as 1-to-2.
What are First-Half Odds and How Do I Bet Them in MLB?
Some sportsbooks, like FanDuel, offer First-Half betting odds for Major League Games. In this case, the odds refer to the first five innings of the game. For example: +250 on the Cubs for the First-Half would pay off if the Cubs lead their opponent after the completion of five innings. That means a $100 bet on the Cubs would pay $250 if the team was ahead after five frames.
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