It's our first shot at MLB expert picks out of the All-Star Break, so let's start things off with some winners.
With these MLB expert picks today, I'm highlighting Jack Flaherty and the Tigers vs Blue Jays matchup and fading the Red Sox vs Dodgers. Here are my two MLB picks for July 19th:
MLB Expert Pick Today: Tigers (-102) vs Blue Jays
Tigers vs Blue Jays Odds - Game Time: 7:08 pm ET
Before the All-Star Break, the Blue Jays averaged just 4.06 runs per game with the fourth-fewest team home runs in baseball (86). It's hard to expect an offensive show coming out of the break for Toronto, especially when they face Jack Flaherty and the Tigers.
Flaherty is 6-5 with the Tigers with a 3.13 ERA this year, good for +1.44 units. While that record may not seem amazing, he's won five of his last six starts.
Flaherty is also dynamite against the Blue Jays. Against current Toronto hitters, he has allowed a career .150 batting average and .509 OPS in 60 career plate appearances. The righty has also allowed just four total earned runs in his last three starts against Toronto, combined. He's done that for three different teams, too — Baltimore, St. Louis, and now Detroit.
MLB Expert Pick Today: Dodgers (-144) vs Red Sox
Red Sox vs Dodgers Odds - Game Time: 10:11 pm ET
The Dodgers really needed the reset of the All-Star Break, sputtering into the pause with a 1-6 record in their final seven games.
Now, they have the perfect opportunity to set the right tone coming out of the All-Star Game, matching up against Boston's Nick Pivetta. The Red Sox righty has been fine overall this season, with a 4-6 record (+0.64 units) and 4.18 ERA. But, he just struggles against the Dodgers.
In 112 career plate appearances against Pivetta, current Dodger hitters have a .321 collective batting average and .971 OPS. The seven homers Los Angeles hitters have against Pivetta are the most by any lineup against a pitcher tonight.
Freddie Freeman, in particular, rakes against Pivetta. The first baseman has a .364 career average with five extra-base hits against the Boston starter. You can bet on Freeman to get over 1.5 total bases tonight at +100.
