The first week of July brings with it great MLB betting action. In the National League, a couple of intriguing Saturday games include the St. Louis Cardinals battling the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres throwing down against the Arizona D’Backs. On Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds battle the Chicago Cubs in what should be an excellent matchup while the Colorado Rockies head to Seattle to take on the Mariners in a fantastic MLB Interleague battle.
NL MLB Weekend Picks
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Saturday, July 7
St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants
The Cards had this horrible streak where every time Saturday starter Carlos Martinez stepped to the mound, they couldn’t give him the win. It didn’t matter if Carlos threw a great game or not. St. Louis couldn’t help him.
Those issues appear to be in the past. In Martinez’s last two starts, he’s been brilliant, and his mates have backed him up with runs. He held AL heavyweight Cleveland to 2 earned runs off 6 hits in 6 innings in an 11 to 2 St. Louis victory on June 26. In his next start on July 2, Martinez kept Arizona to 2 earned runs in 6 innings in a 6 to 3 St. Louis win.
San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner has been great. The Giants haven’t hit well enough for victories. That means Martinez and the Cardinals should beat the Giants, possibly by more than 1 run, on July 7.
MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks
The Padres aren’t sure who they’re sending to the mound on Saturday. Does it matter? It should. Arizona is one of the better teams in the National League while San Diego is one of the worst teams in MLB.
The Padres have a shot on Saturday, though. The reason is because AZ starter Robbie Ray is a much better pitcher on the road than he is at home. Ray’s home ERA this season is 7.88. Granted, that’s only in 16 innings.
But, Ray’s home ERA was also worse than his road ERA in 2017. San Diego could win at huge underdog odds.
MLB Betting Pick: San Diego Padres
Sunday, July 8
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs
Reds’ starter Luis Castillo has faced the Chicago Cubs twice since May 19. The Reds won both of those starts. In his last start versus the Cubs, Castillo secured the personal win even though he allowed 3 earned runs off 4 hits in 5.2 innings.
Castillo’s form has remained steady since that start against the Cubs. He dominated the Chicago White Sox with a 6 hit, 1 earned run performance in 6.2 innings on July 2.
The Cubs counter Castillo with ace Jon Lester. That means the Reds will offer great odds in this game. It makes sense to take the odds. Cincinnati is 3 and 0 in Luis Castillo’s last 3 starts.
MLB Betting Pick: Cincinnati Reds
Colorado Rockies vs Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are having such a great season that their odds to win the World Series have plummeted to +800. One of their top starters, Wade LeBlanc, heads to the mound on Sunday. LeBlanc just pitched on July 3. He threw 7 innings and yielded only 3 hits and a single run to the L.A. Angels.
LeBlanc should have his best stuff going. That means Colorado will be in some trouble on July 8. It’s not impossible for Seattle to beat Colorado by at least 3 runs on July 8.
MLB Betting Pick: Seattle Mariners
