2017 MLB Betting Picks and Winning Favorites for Saturday, July 21

The second half of the MLB betting season is now under way, and we have already seen teams making trade moves that they hope will propel them into the postseason. The Houston Astros were the best team in baseball in the first half, and will look to keep things rolling all the way to the postseason, stating with a trip to Baltimore to face the Orioles.

Find out more about the updated MLB odds here.

On the other hand, the Minnesota Twins are very much in the division title fight, and are just a half game back of the Indians in the Central. They will try to close that gap with a series win over the Tigers. Two very good teams go head to head this weekend, with the Washington Nationals making the trip to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks.

2017 MLB Betting Picks and Winning Favorites for Saturday, July 21

   

Houston Astros (63-32) at Baltimore Orioles (45-49)

When: Friday, July 21 at 7:05 PM EST Where: Camden Yards, Baltimore TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Mike Fiers Vs Ubaldo Jimenez

Gametime Weather

Partly Cloudy 33°C/91°F Humidity: 44% Precipitation: 0% Cloud Cover: 39% Wind: 5 mph WNW Stadium Type: Open Analysis: With a 15.5-game lead in the division, it’s pretty safe to assume that the Astros will be making a playoff appearance this season. They do finally have some issues to deal with, though, as Carlos Correa is set to miss 6-8 weeks with an injury. The Astros, and their 33-11 road record, should not skip a beat, though, as everyone on this team has been delivering the goods this season. Mike Fiers (6-4, 3.75 ERA) will get the start. Furthermore, it’s been an odd start to the second half for the Orioles, as they stated thing by getting swept by the Cubs, only to bounce back and sweep the Texas Rangers. Baltimore have scored 22 runs in their last two games, and while they have slipped down the standings over the last couple of months, they are still very dangerous at home, going 28-19 at Camden Yards this season. They will send Ubaldo Jimenez (4-5, 7.01 ERA) to the mound. MLB Betting Pick: Houston Astros 6 Baltimore Orioles 3

Detroit Tigers (43-50) at Minnesota Twins (48-46)

When: Friday, July 21 at 8:10 PM EST Where: Target Field, Minneapolis TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Anibal Sanchez Vs Ervin Santana

Gametime Weather

Mostly Cloudy 26°C/78°F Humidity: 77% Precipitation: % 24% Cloud Cover: 69% Wind: 9 mph ESE Stadium Type: Open Analysis: The Central Division has not gone according to plan this season, which is why the Tigers are only 5 games out of first despite being 7 games under .500. They have won 4 of the 6 games they have played in the second half, and will have an opportunity to tighten the gap at the top with a weekend series versus Minnesota. This could be tough, though, as they are 2-4 versus the Twins this season. Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 6.08 ERA) will get the start. In addition, the Twins were something of a surprise package in the first half, and now find themselves just a half game back of the Cleveland Indians in the Central. If Minnesota are to make a serious playoff push, they will need to get better at home, where they are just 22-29 this season. This series looks like a good opportunity for them to improve that less than stellar home record. Ervin Santana (11-6, 2.99 ERA) will start. MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers 2 Minnesota Twins 5

Washington Nationals (57-37) at Arizona Diamondbacks (54-40)

When: Friday, July 21 at 9:40 PM EST Where: Chase Field, Phoenix TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Max Scherzer Vs Patrick Corbin

Gametime Weather

Clear 34°C/94°F Humidity: 38% Precipitation: 0% Cloud Cover: 22% Wind: 8 mph SW Stadium Type: Retractable Analysis: The Nationals are sitting in a very comfortable spot after building an 11.5-game lead in the NL East that does not look as though it can be touched. There are tougher tests to come for this team, and a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks is one of them. The Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and are a very good 31-18 on the road. Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.01 ERA) has been dominant this season, and he will get the ball on Friday night. Moreover, the Diamondbacks have been unable to keep the pace with the Dodgers in the West, and now find themselves 11.5 games back after going just 2-8 in their last 10 games. The good news is that this group has a 5-game lead in the Wild Card standings, but if they continue to falter as they have been of late, that position could disappear. Patrick Corbin (6-9, 4.66 ERA) is winless in his last 6 starts, and has received little in the way of run support in those games. MLB Betting Pick: Washington Nationals 6 Arizona Diamondbacks 1