After an afternoon slate featuring 10 games, we have five games in action Saturday evening.
In particular, our staff is targeting a battle between the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees in the Bronx and an NL West clash (one that doesn't feature Clayton Kershaw) between the Rockies and Padres.
Our best bets for Saturday's evening MLB slate are below.
MLB Odds & Picks
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Yankees
Collin Whitchurch: I have little doubt that the Yankees' behemoth of an offense can get to Matt Swarmer, despite the rookie's surprising success this season.
Swarmer has made two starts — both in doubleheaders — and in both games, he has gone six innings and allowed just one run. He missed bats well, too, with 11 strikeouts total against just three walks.
Swarmer wasn't a highly regarded prospect coming up and made his debut this year at the age of 28. He's essentially a rotational filler while the Cubs' pitching staff deals with a myriad of injuries. Particularly with two starts worth of tape at the major league level, the Yankees' offense should do its thing.
This bet hinges more on the success or failure of Chicago's offense against Jordan Montgomery. The lefty continues to be a steady, mid-rotation workhorse for the Yankees, but today faces a Cubs team that is surprisingly above-average against southpaws with a 105 wRC+.
Likewise, Friday night's game went 13 innings. The Cubs used a whopping eight relievers after Wade Miley went just three innings, while the Yankees used six and are still dealing with a few key injuries out of their bullpen.
Yankee Stadium remains a great hitters' park and everything here is adding up to an over. I would play over 9 at +100 but over 8.5 at -120 is fine, too, if you want to guard against the hedge.
Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres
Jules Posner: The San Diego Padres have been quietly playing great baseball this year. They haven't seemed to garner the attention they've had in recent years due to the injury to Fernando Tatis Jr. However, they are the third best team in the National League at the moment.
The Colorado Rockies are none of those things. After getting smoked in the opening game of their four-game set, the Rockies road struggles continue.
While the Padres' offense has struggled overall this season, one of their stronger splits is at home against LHP. With Kyle Freeland making the start for the Rockies in this game, this could be a good opportunity for the Padres to fluff up those numbers.
Freeland has been solid on the road this season — 3.00 ERA and 3.90 FIP over 21 innings.
The Rockies' bullpen has had trouble keeping offenses in check, though. Although they are performing better than they have over the past few weeks, they still are not a unit that can be trusted — especially in the second game of a doubleheader.
On the other side, MacKenzie Gore has been every bit as good as advertised. Over 22 and 1/3 home innings, he's posted a 2.01 ERA and a 2.69 FIP. He's been as solid as they come. He'll be taking on one of the worst road offenses against LHP, as well.
Additionally, the Padres' pen has stabilized after a surprisingly bad start to open the season. The Padres runline looks like a good play in game two of the doubleheader, especially if it stays in plus money. However, it should be considered up to -120.
