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We have a splendid baseball slate in store for Friday as we kick off the weekend, and it’s about time we get to some best bets. Here’s how I’m seeing the card.
Baltimore Orioles (-125) vs. Cincinnati Reds (+105) Total: 10
There’s certainly a chance that Kyle Bradish is a decent pitcher. He posted a 1.83 ERA in four starts down in Triple-A this season and threw eight scoreless in Double-A as well. Last season, he owned a 3.68 ERA between the two levels, and prior to that he pitched well enough at New Mexico State to get selected in the fourth round of the 2018 draft.
Now, would I trust Bradish right now against the New York Yankees? No! Would I trust him here against the Reds as pure speculation play? Yes!
Bradish has, at the very least, been right around league average in strikeouts and walks. He draws a Cincinnati team that’s below average over the last 14 days with a 7.4% walk rate and way, way below average with a 25.4% strikeout rate. The Reds have not hit, and the Orioles are rocking a 105 wRC+ during the same time. Mike Minor doesn’t stand a chance.
Edge: Orioles -125
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Chicago Cubs (+120) vs. San Francisco Giants (-140) Total: 7.5
Both Marcus Stroman and Alex Cobb don’t have the prettiest numbers, but the two of them should settle in quite nicely on Friday night in San Francisco.
Stroman has looked fantastic since coming off the IL a few starts ago, allowing just two earned runs over 14 1/3 innings against the Dodgers, Mets and Phillies with 14 strikeouts over that time. Cobb hasn’t been in the same form, but his .225 expected batting average and 22.8% strikeout rate always make him a thread in the right matchup.
This should be a good spot for Cobb. The Cubs have been relying on power with a high .274 ISO in the last week and have hardly struck out with just 15% of plate appearances ending in a punchout. Cobb is a master at pitching to contact and should be able to limit the hard stuff.
Stroman, on the other hand, draws a Giants team which has scored just eight runs in the last four games and which has struggled with strikeouts. This should be a very, very low-scoring affair.
Edge: Under 7.5