Best MLB Bets This Weekend | MLB Picks, June 17-18

This weekend will be a great opportunity for bettors to make solid picks on some of the most underrated matchups of the week. 

One matchup features the return of a historic rivalry. Another matchup features two of the most talented batting teams on paper. Finally, there is one matchup on Sunday that betters will have to get a hold of despite it being a potential blowout.

Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins

Time: 2:10 PM E.T. - Saturday

• Starting Pitchers: Joey Wentz (Tigers) vs Jose De Leon (Twins)
• Moneyline: Tigers (+155) | Twins (-180)
• Run Line: Tigers +1.5 (-130) | Twins -1.5 (+110)
• Total: Over 9 (-105) | Under 9 (-115)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

My Pick: Minnesota Twins (-180)

The battle for the AL Central Divisional title continues to be rough as the Minnesota Twins (35-35) are in danger of falling below .500% while the Detroit Tigers (29-39) have their way back into third place in the division. In a series that was expected to be an easy win for the Twins, the Tigers have won the first two games of the four-game series in Minnesota with the third playing on Saturday.

The Tigers defeated the Twins in game one 8-4 followed by a dominating 7-1 win the following day. The batting for the Twins has been inconsistent at best this season despite some talented players in the lineup. Minnesota ranks ninth in the AL in runs accounted for (304), 10th in hits accounted for (545), fifth in home runs (90), 15th (last) in fewest strikeouts encountered (717) and 11th in batting average.

The Twins are set to go with Jose De Leon (3.86 ERA in 14 innings pitched) to start at the mound while the Tigers are going with Joey Wentz (7.23 ERA in 56 innings pitched). This game gives the Twins the edge despite that Leon is not as experienced this season.

The moneyline for this game is unique. Minnesota is the favorite because they have the better batting team, the pitching matchup, their first position at the top of the division, and they have a better track record than Detroit. Its line isn’t as big as other favorites this Saturday, which should make betters consider this game. The moneyline is set to give betters who pick Detroit a big earning despite them winning the last two games.

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

Time: 5:11 PM E.T. - Saturday

• Starting Pitchers: Chase Schmidt (Yankees) vs Brayan Bello (Red Sox)
• Moneyline: Yankees (+105) | Red Sox (-125)
• Run Line: Yankees +1.5 (-180) | Rays -1.5 (+155)
• Total: Over 9 (-115) | Under 9 (-105)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Boston Red Sox (-125)

One of the most historic rivalries in the MLB gets back on the playing field as the New York Yankees (39-31) go on the road to take on the Boston Red Sox (35-35). The Red Sox and the Yankees previously faced each other last weekend in New York as the smoke from the Canadian wildfires hit the sky. 

This was also a series where the talented batting teams were not up to the same standards as they have been throughout the season. The two teams totaled up to seven runs each in the three-game series as the Red Sox won two of the three games in the series in New York.

The Red Sox are already off to a hot start to the series this weekend thanks to a big 15-5 win. New York has not been the same batting team since star rightfielder Aaron Judge has been out with an injury and remains out for an extended time.

This Saturday, the Red Sox are set to start Brayan Bello (3.78 ERA in 52.1 innings pitched) at the mound, while the Yankees are going with Chase Schmidt (4.70 ERA in 67 innings pitched). Schmidt is the less efficient pitching of the Yankees’ top three starting pitchers, while Bello has the second-highest ERA among the starting pitchers for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox are going into this game with a big edge in pitching and momentum as they will use their newfound success as motivation to defeat the Yankees.

Colorado Rockies @ Atlanta Braves

Time: 1:35 PM E.T. - Sunday

• Starting Pitchers: Chase Anderson (Rockies) vs Charlie Morton (Braves)
• Moneyline: Rockies (+235) | Braves (-280)
• Run Line: Rockies +1.5 (+110) | Braves -1.5 (-130)
• Total: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Atlanta Braves (-280)

This Sunday is a solid opportunity to earn some serious earnings if bettors jump fast on the game between the Colorado Rockies (29-43) going on the road to take on the Atlanta Braves (44-26). The moneyline for Sunday’s game is currently -280 for the Braves as the favorite and +235 for the Rockies as an underdog.
The Braves have dominated the Rockies in the first two games of the series against the Rockies. Atlanta defeated Colorado 8-3 on Thursday’s game, followed by another decisive victory for Atlanta on the following day 8-1.
Atlanta ranks second in the NL in runs accounted for (371), first in hits accounted for (630), first in home runs accounted for (118), seventh in strikeouts encountered (582), first in batting average (.265), first in on-base percentage (.335) and first in slugging percentage (.469). Colorado, on the other hand, isn’t as lucky at the plate. They rank sixth in the NL in runs accounted for (316), third in hits accounted for (625), 13th in strikeouts encountered (637) and 14th in on-base percentage (.316).
Charlie Morton (3.60 ERA in 75 innings pitched) will start at the mound for Atlanta, while Chase Anderson (3.16 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched) will start for the Rockies. This is a close pitching matchup, which might be another indication of why the moneyline might be high. In the end, the Braves have shown why they are easily one of the top teams in the NL and the MLB and why they could go to the World Series.