Best MLB Bets Today: AL East Showdown Takes Center Stage Friday

We have bets on two very different matchups tonight. The first is a game between two of the league’s worst teams, the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago Cubs. The other is a matchup between NL East powerhouses, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. 

We will share our favorite two bets below. Our odds are taken from FanDuel Sportsbook, which offers a welcome bonus of $150 in Bonus Bets to new players who sign up and make an initial winning wager of $5+.

Best MLB Bets Today: Angels vs. Cubs (2:20 PM EST)

Cubs ML (-184) at FanDuel Sportsbook

While the Angels enter as the hotter team of the two, we are rolling with the Cubs to take home a win today. One reason is Justin Steele (0-3, 3.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP), who will start for the Cubs tonight. The ace hasn’t been able to pick up a win this season despite his impressive numbers. The Cubs' poor bullpen, offense, and defense means Steele and the other Cubs’ starters must be near perfect to secure a win.

The good news is that Steele was incredible in June, finishing with an ERA of 2.13. That number would have been lower if the lefty wasn’t stuck with one of the worst defenses in the league. Steele made a scene in the dugout after an inning with three bone-headed plays from fielders. The blowout woke the team up, ultimately earning them a victory over the Brewers.

LA has been scoring runs during its recent hot streak, but that came against the A’s and Tigers. The team won six straight games against those opponents but dropped one to the Tigers and two to the A’s. While the Angels bats can be dangerous, most damage has come against poor pitching. Given Steele’s edge and the team's need for a win, we expect him to dominate the Angels for 7+ innings. 

The Angels will have Griffin Canning (3-8, 4.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) starting opposite Steele. The 28-year-old has not enjoyed the same success in 2024, and he’s coming off a rough June campaign. Canning has allowed at least four earned runs in three of his previous four starts. 

Look for Canning to add another disappointing outing tonight, especially with his 5.21 ERA on the road this season.

Bet on Cubs ML (-184) at FanDuel

Best MLB Bets Today: Phillies vs. Braves (7:20 PM EST)

Phillies ML (+120) at FanDuel Sportsbook

You have to take it when you can get the Phillies at this price. The team lacks superstar Bryce Harper, but that hasn’t slowed them down. The team is 8-4 over their previous 12 games, keeping a significant lead on the Braves despite their recent hot streak. 

One reason for Philadelphia’s success is veteran starter Aaron Nola (9-4, 3.43 ERA, 1.04 WHIP). The long-time Philly has looked far better than he did in 2023 and has been especially great since April. He owns a 3.06 ERA since April 1, allowing more than three runs just two times. 

The Braves will see Nola for the second time this season after shelling him on March 30. However, a lot has changed since then. The Braves are no longer the power they once were, losing Ronald Acuna Jr. for the remainder of the season. Nola has been one of the most reliable pitchers in the league since that ugly start, playing especially well on the road, where he is 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

The Braves will also have one of their top arms on the mound in Max Fried (7-3, 2.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP), but he’ll be facing a team that lit him up in the playoffs as well as the first series of the 2024 season. Betting against Fried is always a bold move, but the Phillies are in the top five of the league in batting average and runs scored.

We expect a great game tonight, but the better team will ultimately come out on top.

Bet on Phillies ML (+120) at FanDuel

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