We’re feeling great after hitting on two of three picks last week, MLBbro.com Fam. We’re feeling as good as the big boss, Rob Parker, after finding a “Louie” jacket marked down 50% off at his local Ross Dress for Less. Let’s lock in on this week’s three winners, and hopefully we’re all cashing out on extra drip after they hit!
1. The New York Yankees (-155) have absolutely dominated the month of June. Behind Bro Bomber and current American League Player of the Week, Aaron Judge (.305 AVG, 25 HRs, 62 RBIs), the Yankees have dropped just three games this month. We don’t see their rival Boston Red Sox (+130) having any luck in derailing the Yankees momentum, especially with their rookie sensation Luis Gil (8 wins – 1 loss, 2.04 ERA) looking to add to his 90 strikeouts.
Brooklyn Bombs Away. Yankees -1.5 (+100)
2. Both the Philadelphia Phillies (+110) and Baltimore Orioles (-130) are currently ranked in the top 10 of nearly all offensive categories in the MLB. Those offenses will be put to the test as the Phillies’ starter Ranger Suarez (10 wins – 1 loss, 1.81 ERA) and Orioles’ starter Kyle Bradish (2 wins – 0 losses, 2.62 ERA) have been lights out for their respective squads. Look for a quick game, as the pitchers will shine in this battle of big bats.
Filthy pitch. Orioles/Phillies UNDER 8.5 total runs (-110)
3. In a battle of huge payrolls and middling returns, the San Diego Padres (-115) head to Queens to take on the New York Mets (-105). Although the Padres are chasing the division leading Dodgers in the NL West, their offense hasn’t been an issue against the rest of the league. With the Padres’ currently ranking first in batting average and hits, it could be over before the Mets get their first pitcher out of the bullpen.
Welcome back, MLBbro.com Fam! We were cooking with fire last week, as we hit on two of the three picks last Friday. We roll with that same energy this week as we pick three winners for your last Friday in April!
1. We start our Friday in Motown, as the Detroit Tigers (-115) host the Kansas City Royals. Royals’ righty Seth Lugo (3 wins – 1 loss, 2.03 ERA) hopes to keep his outstanding season going against the winless Reese Olson (0 wins – 3 losses, 3.8 ERA) of the Tigers. Powered by the bat of Salvador Perez (.348 AVG, 6 HRs, 23 RBIs), the Royals should easily keep the Tigers at bay.
Motown Menace. Royals ML (-105)
2. The Oakland A’s (+222) have had a better start than expected to 2024, but the Baltimore Orioles (-278) are chasing the top of their division and are looking to make up ground on Friday. They won’t see much resistance with the A’s Ross Stripling (0 wins – 5 losses, 5.34 ERA), so take the home team to win huge.
Easy as crab cakes. Orioles -1.5 RL (-120)
3. Don’t look now but the New York Mets (-130) are over .500 and have a favorable matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals (+110). Favorable because the Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas (1 win – 3 losses, 6.49 ERA) has struggled out of the gate, but the Mets’ Jose Butto (0 wins – 0 losses, 1.65 ERA) has been smoking hot behind 21 strikeouts in limited playing time. Look for Jose to notch his first win and for the Mets to stay on fire.
Sure, the regular season has a few more days left, but I’m hoping to keep loyal readers rolling in the dough with a few future picks to end the 2023 postseason. Who wins the NL? How many contenders are there in the AL? I got you, and I’m calling my shot on a bro-filled World Series winner…
NLCS Winner: As much as I’d love to see the Phillies (and MLBbro Fly Tai Walker) make it back to the World Series, this year it’s been all about the Atlanta Braves (+150) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (+200). The NLCS should see these two teams matched up, and what a show the Braves offense should put on. Their two MVP candidates in Matt Olson (53 HRs, 134 RBIs) and Ronald Acuna Jr (41 HRs, 70 SBs) are providing outstanding run support to the deepest stable of starting pitchers in the league.
The Dodgers may not have as potent an offense, but they have a couple of MVPs of their own in Mookie Betts (39 HRs, 106 RBIs) and former Brave Freddie Freeman (.333 Batting Average, 101 RBIs). The biggest question mark will be their thin pitching roster. How much will they miss Julio Urias? Will their relievers and closer hold up under postseason pressure? I can’t answer those questions, but I bet their skipper Dave Roberts can.
With his experience guiding his team through multiple postseason runs and winning a title in the bubble, he should put them in position to make it to the World Series. AGAIN.
National League Leaders. Dodgers +200 to win the NL.
ALCS Winner: The AL is as wide open as the Pacific Ocean. The Rays have come back to earth after a scorching start, and the upstart Orioles are the best team in the AL by the numbers. But neither will be in the ALCS. Mark my words, Dusty Baker will not only make the wild card, but he will take the Houston Astros (+600) to the ALCS. There they will lockhorns with MLBbro Marcus Semien and their division rival Texas Rangers (+350). The battle of Texas will be wild, but I’m leaning on the Astros to pull it off. Just like the Dodgers and Dave Roberts, Paw Paw Dusty has made all the right moves since helping the Astros win their first (in some people’s eyes) legitimate World Series title in their history. Texas has a bright future, but their inexperience will ultimately be their demise.
Dusty will clean up. Astros +600 to win the ALCS.
2023 World Series Champion: Once you pick your jaw up from my AL pick, let’s savor the flavor of the ultimate revenge World Series between the LA Dodgers (+450) and Houston Astros (+1200). Sure, the Astros have all but cleaned house with the last remaining player from “Trash Can Gate” being Jose Altuve (.316 Batting Average, 17 HRs). Yeah, they now have one of the most beloved managers in Dusty Baker. But the Dodgers and their fans have been seeking vengeance every since they pulled out the 2017 championship in controversial fashion. The look on Clayton Kershaw’s (13 wins – 4 losses, 2.42 ERA) face after giving up back-to-back bombs will forever haunt the Dodger faithful. Now is their chance to deliver some of their own poetic justice.
The Astros, however, are still defending champions. That’s without trash cans and with the institution of the electronic sign delivery system. That’s with home grown talent such as “Air” Yordan Alvarez (31 HRs, 97 RBIs) and Framber “La Grasa” Valdez (3.45 ERA, 200 Ks). That’s without any love from the national media and with the immense pressure of proving they can win without any illegal edge. With all that, there’s also one of the best managers in MLB history in Dusty Baker. It will be a great matchup, but ultimately karma will come back to bight the ‘Stros.
Come uppins. Los Angeles Dodgers (+450) World Series Champions
The second half of the season is upon us, MLBbro.com Fam! Hopefully you enjoyed our amazing coverage of the Midsummer Classic as much as the big boss, Rob Parker.
Between the All Star Game, eating glizzies all over the map, and leaving unused undergarments in his hotel rooms, this man has been having a summer to remember.
ANYWHO…let’s get to the picks!
The battle for mediocrity is what both the San Diego Padres (-115) and Philadelphia Phillies (-105) were hoping to avoid this season. And yet, here we are. With both teams sending out pitchers who haven’t shown a glimmer of hope this season (combined record of 5 wins – 8 losses), this should be a barn burner.
Bombs away. Padres/Phillies OVER 9.5 total runs (-115)
In the “Barry Bonds Game,” the San Francisco Giants (-130) take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (+110). Even with the Giants climbing the ranks as the Pirates continue nosediving out of the playoffs, this could be a good spot for the underdog Pirates. Giants’ pitcher Ross Stripling (0 wins – 2 losses, 6.37 ERA) is still chasing his first win and it likely won’t come against the Pirates’ Rich Hill (7 wins – 9 losses, 4.78 ERA).
Bet on the Buckos. Pirates +1.5 RL (-155).
The senior special should be in effect for the final game of the day between the Los Angeles Dodgers (-125) and New York Mets (-105). The Mets’ will march out the 17-year veteran Justin Verlander (3 wins – 4 losses, 3.6 ERA) out to start the game. He iis hoping to finally get himself into gear and snap the slumping Mets out of their first half of the season daze.
For the Dodgers, Julio Urias (6 wins – 5 losses, 4.76 ERA) will make the start and should be fully locked in after making his return from injury just before the all star break. The Dodgers have been known to heat up in the second half of July, so we’re banking on them keeping to trend.
Happy Juneteenth weekend, MLBbro.com Family! As we celebrate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, let us also recognize the impact Black and Brown baseball players have on our sport’s culture. Jackie Robinson not only integrated the MLB but also paved the way for integration in all American sports. Curt Flood sacrificed his MLB career by suing the league in protest of the “reserve clause” in 1970.
Although he lost the suit in 1972, he ignited the fire within the baseball player’s union who eventually struck down the clause and ushered in free agency in 1976. It’s not lost on me how the game of baseball has grown because of these two outstanding great Black players, and many others before (Negro League) and after. Without them, this site wouldn’t exist. Let’s honor them all weekend as we make a little profit with these three winners!
1. The AL East is starting to separate the top from the bottom of the division, and the New York Yankees (-115) currently sit right in the middle of the pack. They hope to keep the Boston Red Sox (-105) in the division’s basement, and there are a couple of MLBbros in the Bronx to help make that happen.
Willie Calhoun (.238 batting average, 5 home runs, 16 RBIs) has seen a resurgence since making the Yankee’s active roster in April. The Vallejo native made the best of his departure from his home team Giants, and he helped fill the hole at DH created when fellow MLBbro Giancarlo Stanton (.222 batting average, 6 home runs, 13 RBIs) went down in mid April. Now that both are in the lineup, we should see the Yankees continue to climb the ranks while Aaron Judge recovers from his own injuries.
Cold Summer in Boston. I’m taking the MLBbros and the Yankees ML (-115).
2. Why fix what’s not broken? Such is the question the St. Louis Cardinals (-110) have to answer after trying to “fix” MLBbro Jordan Walker’s (.293 batting average, 4 home runs, 17 RBIs) swing early in the season. The young rookie has impressed despite the hurdles of overmanagement by his team and inconsistent pitching. Case in point is starter Miles Mikolas (4 wins – 3 losses, 4.02 ERA), who will look to get the Cards back on track after one of the worst start of the franchise’s history.
Standing in their way are the equally disappointing New York Mets (-110). After losing slugger Pete Alonso (22 home runs, 49 RBIs), there has been little to cheer about in Queens. They hope starter Tylor Megill (5 wins – 4 losses, 5.14 ERA) can stifle the jeers from the home crowd.
Cards on the comeback. Take the Cardinals ML (-110).
3. I’ve been dogging them all year, but the Oakland A’s (+130) are suddenly winning games! With their rich history, I’m happy to see it even if it’s on the way out. After their performances against the league’s best Rays, it’s not too hard to see them keeping the game close against the Philadelphia Phillies (-150).
Let’s keep it going Oakland!! Bro’s best bet is the A’s +1.5 (-35)
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