2017 MLB Picks and Expert Predictions for Friday, July 7

The final weekend of the first half of the MLB season is upon us, and there are a lot of very good battles going on across the 6 divisions. The Minnesota Twins are right in the thick of it in the AL Central, and will close out their first half with a home stand versus the Baltimore Orioles.

Find out more about the latest expert MLB picks here.

The Boston Red Sox are opening up a lead in the AL East, and will have the opportunity to put even more space between themselves and the chasing pack when they head to Tampa to face the Rays. The Kansas City Royals are creeping back into contention, and will get a chance to see where they stand when they head to LA to face a very good Dodgers team.

Analyzing The 2017 MLB Picks and Expert Predictions for Friday, July 7

   

Baltimore Orioles (40-44) at Minnesota Twins (43-41)

When: Friday, July 7 at 8:10 PM EST Where: Target Field, Minneapolis TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Kevin Gausman Vs Felix Jorge Analysis: The Orioles are sinking like a stone, and are coming into this series on the back of a sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Baltimore Orioles are struggling to get runs home on a consistent basis, which may explain why 8 of their last 9 games have gone the way of the UNDER. Baltimore are now 8.5 games back in the East, and are flirting with the cellar. Kevin Gausman (5-7, 5.61 ERA) will be looking for his 3rd straight win in this one. At just a game and a half off the pace, the Twins ae still very much in the hunt in the Central, but they are going the wrong way right now, with just 4 wins in their last 10 games. They have also failed to cover in 7 of those 10 games, so they are not a particularly good bet, although they may be able to break out again going against a struggling Baltimore team. Felix Jorge (1-0, 5.40 ERA) is set to start for the Twins.

Baltimore Orioles Last 5 Games

DATE	OPP	SU	LINE	TOTAL	STARTER
5-Jul-17	MIL	Lose	127	10.5	Jayson Aquino
4-Jul-17	MIL	Lose	165	9.5	U Jimenez
2-Jul-17	MIL	Lose	110	10.5	W Miley
1-Jul-17	TB	Win	-130	10.5	K Gausman
30-Jun-17	TB	Lose	-123	11	D Bundy

MLB Picks: Baltimore Orioles 1 Minnesota Twins 5

Boston Red Sox (49-36) at Tampa Bay Rays (44-42)

When: Friday, July 7 at 7:10 PM EST Where: Tropicana Field, Tampa TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Drew Pomeranz Vs Jake Odorizzi Analysis: The Red Sox had a 6-game win streak snapped in their last outing, but not before they had opened up a 4-game lead at the top of the AL East. That loss was the first time that the Red Sox had not covered in the last 7 games, which gives you an idea of their recent dominance. Boston had gone 4-3 versus the Rays this season, and will be looking to extend the lead that they have over the chasing pack. Drew Pomeranz (8-4, 3.64 ERA) will start. The Rays come into this one after splitting a 2-game interleague series with the Chicago Cubs, and are sitting 5.5-games off the pace being set by the Red So. Winning this 4-game series would help them edge a little closer, and may determine how they approach the trading deadline. The Rays are a solid 24-18 at home this season, so you need to like their chances. Jake Odorizzi (5-3, 4.08 ERA) is set to start.

Tampa Bay Rays Last 5 Games

DATE	OPP	SU	LINE	TOTAL	STARTER
5-Jul-17	CHC	Lose	158	9.5	Blake Snell
4-Jul-17	CHC	Win	126	7.5	C Archer
2-Jul-17	BAL	Lose	120	10.5	A Cobb
1-Jul-17	BAL	Win	113	11	J Odorizzi
30-Jun-17	BAL	Win	-126	11	Jacob Faria

  MLB Picks: Boston Red Sox 3 Tampa Bay Rays 4

Kansas City Royals at LA Dodgers

When: Friday, July 7 at 10:10 PM EST Where: Dodgers Stadium, LA TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Jason Hammel Vs Kenta Maeda Analysis: The Royals are coming off a huge series sweep of the Seattle Mariners, extending their unbeaten streak to 4 games in the process. KC are now just a half game back of the Indians for the division lead, and are starting to score for fun, with 7 of their last 9 games hitting the OVER. They have also covered in 6 of their last 7. Jason Hammel (4-7, 5.08 ERA) will get the start for the Royals. The Dodgers will have a chance to take a real stranglehold on the division if they can complete the sweep of the Diamondbacks on Thursday night. LA are going the opposite route from the Royals, winning low scoring games that they don’t cover. 7 of their last 9 games have been UNDER or a Push, while they are managing to cover in 4 of those 9 games. Kenta Maeda (6-4, 4.56 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Dodgers.

DATE	OPP	SU	LINE	TOTAL	STARTER
5-Jul-17	SEA	Win	122	9	J Vargas
4-Jul-17	SEA	Win	119	9	D Duffy
3-Jul-17	SEA	Win	135	9	I Kennedy
2-Jul-17	MIN	Win	-115	10.5	T Wood
1-Jul-17	MIN	Lose	-140	9.5	J Hammel

  MLB Picks: KC Royals 4 LA Dodgers 3