Tuesday’s MLB American League best bets – July 5, 2022

Another full schedule in Major League Baseball (MLB) on July 5 has the Yankees visiting Pittsburgh in an interleague matchup, Houston’s Luis Garcia hosting Zack Greinke and the Royals, and Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi taking on the Athletics. Here are the best bets on games featuring American League teams scheduled for Tuesday, starting at 4:10pm ET.

New York Yankees (-215) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (+185)

Jameson Taillon is expected to start for New York in Pittsburgh. He’s tied for the third-best record in baseball at 9-1 despite his ERA (3.32) and WHIP (1.15) only ranking in the top-32. The Yankees, in short, can score plenty, making Taillon competitive despite striking out just 69 batters in 84 innings pitched. Only three Pirates are familiar with Taillon, so he should be better than his season averages against the third-worst offense in MLB in Pittsburgh (.662 OPS).

Jose Quintana is expected to go for the Pirates, and his numbers are better than his 1-4 record. His 3.43 ERA isn’t much worse than Taillon’s, but run support has been lacking. He might need more than usual, too. Due to Quintana’s time in the American League, the Yankees are quite familiar, and some would say comfortable, with Quintana on the mound. New York is 21-for-98 with six doubles and two dingers against Quintana. Josh Donaldson is six-for-15 with one of the doubles and one of the dingers. Bet on him to have multiple total bases on Tuesday. Anthony Rizzo is also three-for-12 with two doubles against Quintana, so multiple total bases make sense for him, too.

Take New York in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and to win by at least two.

Kansas City Royals (+180) @ Houston Astros (-210)

Luis Garcia is expected to start for the Astros against the Royals, who have the seventh-worst team OPS in MLB. Houston has posted the fifth-best team OPS, so Garcia should like his odds. He’s 6-5 with a 3.54 ERA and excellent 1.06 WHIP. He also enjoys pitching against the Royals, as they’re 11-for-51 with just two extra-base hits. Nicky Lopez and Whit Merrifield have done almost all of the damage, combining for six hits in 11 at-bats, with Lopez knocking one of the homeruns. Consider betting on either or both to collect multiple total bases on Tuesday, but don’t count on the rest of the Royals to provide much additional support.

Zack Greinke is scheduled to start for Kansas City, and he’s done what you’d expect a 38-year-old starter who goes home to finish his career. He’s 2-4 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He’s allowed some hits to his former team, but has limited the damage, except when it comes to Jose Altuve, who is 10-for-26 with a double, triple, and homer. Bet on Altuve to collect multiple total bases (maybe even three).

As for the game, take Houston in the first five, on the moneyline, and to win by at least two. Parlaying Houston and New York on the moneyline pays +116 with Bovada.

Toronto Blue Jays (-170) @ Oakland Athletics (+145)

Yusei Kikuchi shall start for Toronto, and while he hasn’t been very effective, with a 4.74 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, he has kept Toronto in games, going 3-4. He’s also been outstanding against the offensively challenged Athletics. The Athletics have scored the second-fewest runs in MLB and the worst team OPS in baseball. It’s even worse against Kikuchi. Oakland has managed just a .397 OPS against Kikuchi despite getting 72 at-bats against him. That’s 15 hits with just two doubles. Nine of those hits have been allowed to Ramon Laureano (5) and Stephen Piscotty (4). You might consider a player prop bet on either or both to have multiple total bases in the game.

Oakland is expected to have Adrian Martinez make his third start of the season on Tuesday. He’s allowed seven runs in 10 innings pitched, striking out six. The only thing he’ll have going for him is unfamiliarity. Toronto hasn’t seen him, but that shouldn’t stop the fifth-best offense in MLB (380 runs scored).

Take Toronto in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and to win by two or more. Parlaying the Blue Jays with the Astros and Yankees pays +243.

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