Best MLB Bets This Weekend | MLB Picks, June 24-25

Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals

Time: 1:10 PM E.T. - Saturday

• Starting Pitchers: Justin Stele (Cubs) vs Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
• Moneyline: Cubs (-135) | Cardinals (-115)
• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 (+110) | Cardinals +1.5 (-130)
• Total: Over 14 (+100) | Under 14 (-120

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Chicago Cubs (CHI)

 The Chicago Cubs (36-38) and the St. Louis Cardinals (31-44) are two teams that are among the most forgotten about this 2023 MLB Season. They are not good enough to compete consistently for an NL Central Divisional title, but not bad enough to be tracked and laughed at like the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics.

On Saturday, the Cubs and the Cardinals will start their two-game series in London in a rare overseas series. The Cardinals will go into the series with a much more efficient performance at the plate, while the Cubs are relying on their capable and sound pitching team.

The Cardinals rank sixth in the NL in runs accounted for this season (346), ninth in hits accounted for (640), third in home runs accounted for (105), seventh in fewest strikeouts encountered (622), ninth in batting average (.250), seventh in on-base percentage (.324) and fourth in slugging percentage (.425). Most of the praise can go to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (48 runs, 82 hits, a .287 BA, .377 OBP and .493 slugging percentage).

The Cubs are coming this game with an underrated pitching unit that ranks fourth in the NL in ERA allowed (3.95), second in fewest hits allowed (587), third in fewest runs allowed (312), and first in fewest home runs allowed (72).

Chicago will have Justin Steele (2.71 ERA in 73 innings pitched) starting at the mound, while St. Louis will have Adam Wainwright (5.56 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched) starting. The Cubs, who already have the edge in team pitching, will also have the edge in the pitching matchup.

Oakland Athletics @ Toronto Blue Jays

Time: 4:07 PM E.T. - Saturday

• Starting Pitchers: Hogan Harris (Athletics) vs Jose Berrios (Blue Jays)
• Moneyline: Athletics (+235) | Blue Jays (-280)
• Run Line: Athletics +1.5 (+115) | Blue Jays -1.5 (-135)
• Total: Over 9 (+100) | Under 9 (-120)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Toronto Blue Jays (TOR)

The Toronto Blue Jays (41-36) cannot afford more slips while competing in a loaded AL East Division. Friday’s 5-4 loss at home to the Oakland Athletics (20-58) is the slip that can make contending for the top team in the AL much more difficult to believe. As a result, the odds for the Blue Jays to defeat the Athletics in Saturday’s matchup and a good opportunity to earn more earnings than usual.

The Blue Jays rank sixth in the AL in runs accounted for (342), third in hits accounted for (696), third in stolen bases (60), second in fewest strikeouts encountered (604), third in batting average (.262) and fourth in on-base percentage (.328). That is why it’s unusual for a talented Blue Jays team to be held to seven hits and encounter 11 strikeouts to the bad pitching team of Oakland.

The Athletics rank last (15th) in the AL in runs allowed (276), last in hits allowed (570), 12th in home runs (72), 14th in strikeouts (725), last in batting average (.221), 11th in on-base percentage (.302) and last in slugging percentage (.350). Oakland is also nowhere near capable of keeping up with the talented batting of Toronto.

Toronto will go with Jose Berrios (3.64 ERA in 89 innings pitched) to start at the mound on Saturday while Oakland is starting Hogan Harris (4.45 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched). The Blue Jays are coming into the game with a determined mindset after Friday’s shocking loss to the Athletics. Another loss might put the Blue Jays as one of the most disappointing AL teams in the first half of the season.

Kansas City Royals @ Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 4:10 PM E.T. - Saturday

• Starting Pitchers: Jordan Lyles (Royals) vs Yonny Chirinos (Rays)
• Moneyline: Royals (+230) | Rays (-275)
• Run Line: Royals +1.5 (+115) | Rays -1.5 (-135)
• Total: Over 9 (+100) | Under 9 (-120)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Tampa Bay Rays (TB)

Another game set to give bettors a surprising set of high earnings will be the Tampa Bay Rays (53-26) hosting the Kansas City Royals (21-55). Much like the game between the Athletics and the Blue Jays, the Rays are clearly the better team over the Royals but have a high number and earnings to defeat the terrible Royals. The Rays lost the first game of the series 6-5 on Thursday but rebounded with an 11-3 win the following day.

Tampa Bay ranks second in the AL in runs accounted this season (444), second in hits (708), first in home runs (121), first in walks (265), second in batting average (.266), second in on-base percentage (.340) and first in slugging percentage (.466). The Royals are not so lucky when it comes to attempting to account for the same production. Kansas City ranks 13th in runs accounted for (285), 11th in hits accounted for (596), 13th in home runs (70), 12th in strikeouts encountered (681), ninth in batting average (.234), and 13th in on-base percentage (.298).

Saturday’s game will also feature a mismatch in the pitching game. The Rays will have Yonny Chirinos (2.72 ERA in 43 innings pitched) starting at the mound, while the Royals will have Jordan Lyles (6.72 ERA in 85.2 innings pitched). 

This game has all of the keys for the Rays to have a dominating matchup versus the Royals. Bettors have a great chance to win the extra earnings on a game that would have low earnings for the favorites.