Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – July 30th Edition

Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is Tuesday and it’s likely we see a good amount of deals before then, although most of the contenders already have done something. Keep in mind that teams can still make trades through the end of August, it’s just that guys have to go through waivers first and that makes it tougher. Houston got Justin Verlander that way, though, last summer. Here’s a look at two intriguing matchups this week. Check back for MyBookie Sportsbook odds before placing your MLB betting ticket!

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – July 30th Edition

The Gold Glove campaign is alive and well. pic.twitter.com/LxdyP83gDd

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) 29 de julio de 2018

Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Red Sox

• When: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET (ESPN)

Potential World series preview? Could be as Boston almost surely will win the American League East Division and the Phillies are currently leading the NL East. The Red Sox could still make a deal by Tuesday but already added to their rotation with Rays pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi held the Twins to just four hits across seven shutout innings in his Red Sox debut Sunday as Boston won 3-0. All-Star Craig Kimbrel nailed down his 33rd save of the season in that one. It was a bounce-back outing for Kimbrel, who blew a save his last time out and had allowed three runs over his last two appearances. The Sox are without third baseman Rafael Devers as he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Devers just returned from a shoulder injury a week ago and is now back on the DL after tweaking his hamstring Saturday. The Red Sox will use Eduardo Nunez at third base and Brock Holt at second while Devers is out. The Phillies added some pop to their infield by trading for the Mets’ Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera split his time at second base, third base, and shortstop last year with the Mets. His offensive fit should be a good one in Philadelphia. In 24 career games at Citizens Bank Park, he has recorded at least one extra-base hit in 12 of them, and his 1.053 OPS there is his highest at any ballpark. His first start with the team was Saturday and he played shortstop and hit fifth. The 32-year-old Cabrera was a two-time All-Star shortstop for Cleveland earlier in his career. That’s probably where he’ll mostly play, although he did move to second on Sunday when Cesar Hernandez got the day off to rest. Cabrera should see plenty of RBI opportunities hitting in front of Odubel Herrera and Carlos Santana in the Phillies lineup. It didn’t cost the Phillies much because Cabrera is a free agent after the season. On the mound, it’s lefty Drew Pomeranz for Boston. Pomeranz (1-4, 6.91) took the loss last Tuesday, allowing four runs on six hits over 4.2 innings against the Orioles. He struck out four and walked two. Pomeranz threw 56 of 89 pitches for strikes and had a first-pitch strike to only 10 of 22 batters faced. He had been on the disabled list since late May. The Phils go with Jake Arrieta (8-6, 3.45). Arrieta picked up the win in Wednesday’s 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over six innings while striking out six. It was the right-hander’s third quality start in his last four outings and 11th of the season. Arrieta is looking to finish a solid July. He is 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts this month. This followed a great May (0.90 ERA) and a lousy June (6.66 ERA).

Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland A’s

• When: Wednesday, 3:35 PM ET (MLB Network)

The Jays are definitely sellers ahead of the deadline. They already traded pitcher J.A. Happ to the Yankees for infielder Brandon Drury and OF Billy McKinney. Toronto also reportedly is talking to Atlanta about potentially shipping starting pitcher Marcus Stroman there. Meanwhile, Toronto might be without second baseman Lourdes Gurriel for a while. Gurriel was removed from Sunday’s game against the White Sox in the ninth inning with an injury. Gurriel went down hard while sliding into second base in the top of the ninth and appeared to be in considerable pain as he was helped off the field by the Blue Jays’ training staff. Prior to departing, the hot-hitting infielder had been 3-for-5 with two RBI, logging his 11th consecutive multi-hit game. The A’s had been scorching hot but lost a third straight game Sunday to be swept in Colorado. Khris Davis and Matt Chapman homered for the A’s, who lost their first series in their last 12. Oakland had won six straight games before being swept in Colorado. Oakland is scheduled to start lefty Sean Manaea (9-7, 3.46). Manaea allowed three earned runs on nine hits over five innings in a loss to the Rockies on Friday. He struck out five. Manaea encouragingly refrained from issuing any free passes for the second straight start, and he was pulled after just 74 pitches. He did surrender a solo home run to Nolan Arenado in his final inning and also saw Charlie Blackmon tag him for a pair of doubles, but he limited the damage overall. Despite the defeat, Manaea has allowed three earned runs or less in 10 consecutive starts, a stretch that was initiated June 5. Toronto starts Stroman – if he’s still with the team. Stroman (4-7, 5.20) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk over 6.2 innings while striking out three in a 10-5 victory over the White Sox. The outcome was never in doubt thanks to a five-homer barrage by the Jays, but the right-hander still came through with his fourth quality start in his last six outings. Stroman now has a 2.98 ERA since coming off the disabled list in late June.

Expert MLB Betting Predictions

Take Philadelphia in a minor upset and Oakland at home.