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
MLB Power Rankings: Red Sox unseat Astros for No. 1 spot https://t.co/zDJuAsEsy3 << Info Here pic.twitter.com/aqtnO4ot0r
— MLB Now (@_MLBNow) July 4, 2018
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 CardinalsSan 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 PadresSunday, July 8
