What’s going on, everybody? It’s Eric Lindquist back with my two favorite MLB betting spots for Friday’s jam-packed slate. We have 14 games on the board, and after sweeping the Thursday picks, I’m locked in and ready to roll into the weekend with confidence. Let’s jump into the top two best MLB bets today, including a Dodgers-Phillies pick for the game of the evening.
Best MLB Bets Today: Dodgers-Phillies Pick and More
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Cardinals vs. Red Sox
Let’s not overthink this one. Ivan Herrera is that dude. I’ve been hyping him up all week and even made a point to break down the difference between him and backup Pedro Pages. And what did Herrera do? He went out and became the first Cardinals catcher to hit three home runs in a single game.
Now, this isn’t about chasing Wednesday’s box score. It’s about identifying a legit breakout hitter in a good matchup. Herrera gets Walker Buehler, who is coming off a rough start and is down 2 full mph on his fastball compared to last season. That’s a big red flag and usually spells trouble, especially early in the year.
The Green Monster looms in left field at Fenway, and Herrera’s pull-side power plays well here. I don’t need another three-homer night — just give me a double or two singles and we’re home.
I’ll take the plus-money odds and roll with a hitter I’ve been bullish on since spring. I’m playing this straight, but if you’re a parlay builder, Herrera’s base props offer strong value.
Best Cardinals-Red Sox Bet Today: Ivan Herrera Over 1.5 Total Bases (LIKE)
Dodgers vs. Phillies
This is the most straightforward moneyline play on the board. The Dodgers are fully rested after a Thursday off day, while the Phillies had to grind through a game against Colorado. Rested bullpen? Check. Offensive firepower? Double Check. Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the bump? Triple check.
Yamamoto has been lights out with a 34.1% strikeout rate and elite stuff across the board. He’s making the jump from Japan look easy, and now he faces a Philadelphia squad that’s been up and down to start the year.
Jesus Luzardo is a good pitcher, but the Dodgers lineup is built to handle left-handed pitching. Even without Freddie Freeman, it has a loaded top half of the order featuring Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez — all capable of hitting lefties hard.
The books are giving you a reasonable number here because Luzardo’s on the mound, but with the Dodgers bullpen fully reset and Yamamoto dealing, I’m locking this one in.
Best Dodgers-Phillies Bet Today: Dodgers Moneyline (LIKE)
