MLB Betting Odds: Picks, trends, expert gambling advice for Friday, March 29

Bennett Bedford

MLB Betting Odds: Picks, trends, expert gambling advice for Friday, March 29 image

I hope everyone enjoyed opening day, and Friday brings another great slate of MLB action to handicap. As it often the case for the second day of the baseball season, there are a few nice pitching matchups, as well as some possible team run total spots that bettors can target (looking at you A’s vs. Matt Harvey). A couple of East Coast teams kick off the slate as Detroit travels north of the border to take on Toronto as +115 underdogs. Down south, the Rockies will look to start the season 2-0 as they continue their series in Miami as -165 road favorites.

The National League features a few interesting early-season divisional tilts that could lay down early markers. The Cardinals look to even up their series with the Brewers after a tough 5-4 loss on opening day, while the Diamondbacks will call on Robbie Ray to attempt to right the ship after they allowed a record eight home runs to the Dodgers yesterday afternoon. The final game of the night features the new look Padres looking to start the season 2-0 versus the Giants with talented young arm Joey Luchhesi on the mound.

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There's plenty of strategy that goes into putting together a winning ticket, and the best place to start is the BetQL Mobile App. Our Trending Picks and Public Betting tools are a massive advantage when you're making bets, regardless of bankroll size. For more gambling and MLB DFS advice, follow me on Twitter (@DFSBenj).

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MLB odds, picks, betting trends for Friday, March 29

*All screenshots are from the BetQL Trending Value Bets Page

** All lines are subject to change. The best way to stay up to date on the current lines is to become a BetQL subscriber.

Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays

Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (RHP) vs. Charlie Morton (RHP)
Money Line: HOU -135/TB +115
Run Line: HOU -1.5 (+130)
Total: O/U 7

Yesterday, the Astros touched up defending CY Young winner Blake Snell en route to a convincing 5-1 victory. Today, they will turn to Gerrit Cole on the mound as they face one of their former pitchers in Charlie Morton, who will make his first start for the Rays. Cole was significantly better at home than on the road last season, and he did not make it past the sixth inning in any of his final 12 road starts in 2018. This is going to be a game where you will want to lean on the BetQL sharp bettor reports as first pitch approaches. Currently sharp bettors are really looking to bet both the Astros as -135 road favorites, as well as UNDER seven runs. The BetQL models are looking to side with the books in this spot and are giving a slight edge to the Rays to bounce back and grab their first win of the season.

BetQL Pick: Tampa Bay Rays (+115)

 

St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers

Starting Pitchers: Jack Flaherty (RHP) vs. Freddy Peralta (RHP)
Money Line: STL -110/MIL -110
Run Line: MIL -1.5 (+180)
Total: O/U 8.5

The best game to watch on opening day was undoubtedly the NL Central matchup between the Cardinals and the Brewers that came right down to the final batter. The second game of the opening series features a great matchup between two of the NL's better young arms in Jack Flaherty and Freddy Peralta. Flaherty was inconsistent at times last season, but he pitched well against Milwaukee, allowing only five earned runs in 23.1 innings. Peralta was simply electric at times in 2018, which translated to a K-rate just a shade under 30 percent, but he also has struggled with his command after coughing up a pretty poor 12.5-percent walk rate. The books have this one as a virtual tossup at -110 ML for both teams, and you’ll have to pay some juice to bet the run line (STL +1.5 is -220). The BetQL models are giving the slightest of edges to the Brewers and see value in any line that is lower than -115 for Milwaukee.


BetQL Pick: Milwaukee Brewers ML (-110)

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland A’s

Starting Pitchers: Matt Harvey (RHP) vs. Marco Estrada (RHP)
Money Line: LAA -120/OAK +100
Run Line: OAK -1.5 (+185)
Total: O/U 8.5

My personal favorite game of the night from a betting perspective is the AL West matchup between the Angeles and the A’s. While this game may not be making any national headlines, but it's the first time this season we can look to target a team against Matt Harvey (don’t worry Homer Bailey, your time will come). Harvey will be making his first career start for Los Angeles after struggling mightily for the Mets and Reds over the past few years. The BetQL models are capping the A’s as the best money-line value bet of the entire slate and see anything less than -170 as a value you should target. This is going to be a spot where you can certainly look to take the ML, but the Oakland -1.5 run line at +185 is too much value for me too pass up on.

BetQL Pick: Oakland Run Line -1.5 (+185)

Check out BetQL Mobile App's Trending Picks and Public Betting tools before making all your bets, and follow me on Twitter (@DFSBenj) for even more NFL, NBA, MLB and PGA daily fantasy and sports betting content.

Bennett Bedford