We're back to kick off the week with some MLB expert picks.
I'm fading the heck out of Brady Singer in my first pick before backing two of baseball's hottest offenses for a Dodgers vs Cubs OVER.
Here are my two MLB picks for September 9th:
MLB Expert Pick Today: Yankees -1.5 (+116) vs Royals
Royals vs Yankees - Game Time: 7:06 pm ET
When Brady Singer starts, the Royals lose — I don't make the rules. The Royals are 1-5 in Singer's last six outings, losing by more than 1.5 runs in all five of those losses, too. Singer's also made one start against the Yankees this year, allowing seven runs in a 10-1 loss.
The Yankees with Carlos Rodon is kind of the opposite. New York is 5-3 in Rodon's last eight starts, covering a -1.5 runline in all five of those wins.
The one guy I'm afraid of ruining this bet is Salvador Perez, though. Perez is 10/23 against Rodon with a 1.197 career OPS. Maybe we hedge a bit with a +350 bet on Perez to homer.
MLB Expert Pick Today: Cubs/Dodgers OVER 9.5 (-120)
Cubs vs Dodgers Odds - Game Time: 10:11 pm ET
I smell an OVER in this one. For starters, the Cubs and Dodgers have two of the best offenses in baseball lately. Los Angeles has a team OPS of .781 over the last month (2nd-best in MLB) while the Cubs rank ninth with a .744 mark. Both LA and Chicago are averaging over 5.2 runs per game in the last 25 contests.
The OVER is 6-3-1 in LA's last 10 games. It's 6-4 in Chicago's last 10.
This starting pitching matchup is also set up for runs. Kyle Hendricks has an ERA over 5.5 in his last 10 starts, including four outings where he's allowed at least three earned runs. Walker Buehler has a 5.67 ERA on the season and has allowed four or more runs in five of his last 10 outings.
The OVER 9.5 runs has hit in three of Buehler's last seven outings and three of Hendricks' last six.
Picks made as of September 9 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
