MLB Betting: Friday Best Bets

Juan Carlos Blanco takes on the Friday MLB slate with a look at the Crosstown Showdown between the White Sox and Cubs, where the Northsiders may be positioned to inflict some damage on Dallas Keuchel.
MLB Betting: Friday Best Bets
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Previous article (8/25): 4-0, 3.32 RW Bucks         
Season: 61-63-5, -6.04 RW Bucks

After a much-needed unblemished Wednesday in my last article, I'm looking to keep the momentum going and get back over .500 for the season with two games where I see offense going in contrasting directions.

Cincinnati Reds at Miami Marlins 7:10 PM ET

Starting Pitchers: Wade Miley vs. Zach Thompson    

The Pick: Under 5.5 – first 7 innings (+110 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck

Secondary Pick: Under 8.0 runs (-115 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck

Miley boasts a 2.88 ERA and has a modest 0.8 HR/9 on the road, while the Marlins own a massive 30.1 percent strikeout rate, .207 average and .287 wOBA against visiting southpaws during the second half of the season. Thompson counters with a 2.27 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 0.6 HR/9 across 31.2 home innings, and he's coming off having held the Reds to two runs on three hits over five innings in their hitter-friendly home park last time out.

Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox 8:10 PM ET

Starting Pitchers: Keegan Thompson vs. Dallas Keuchel

The Pick: Cubs Over 1.5 runs – first 5 innings (-125 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck

Secondary Pick: Cubs Over 3.5 runs (-120 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck

Keuchel has been on a slippery slope of late with a 1-4 record, 6.21 ERA and 2.2 HR/9 across his last six starts, and he has a higher HR/9 at home (1.6) than on the road (1.3). The Cubs may look like easy pickings these days, but they've averaged 7.0 runs per contest over the last three and have hit lefties on the road for a .270 average and .341 wOBA in August, while these two run thresholds are very manageable, especially against a hurler like Keuchel that pitches to plenty of contact (5.9 K/9 at home).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
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