MLB American League betting picks & top odds – July 6, 2022

Headlining the Major League Baseball (MLB) schedule in the American League on July 6 is Shane Bieber and the Guardians visiting Detroit, while Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and the Angels fly to Miami, and the Astros continue to host Kansas City. Here are the best bets on Wednesday’s games featuring American League teams, starting at 1:10pm ET.

Kansas City Royals (+200) @ Houston Astros (-240)

Houston remains one of the biggest favorites on Wednesday, with Cristian Javier scheduled to start for the Astros. He’s 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. He’s also tied for 18th in MLB with 95 strikeouts, but the Royals don’t strike out much. They’ve got the third-fewest strikeouts in baseball, with 590. They’ve also had little experience with Javier. Whit Merrifield has the team’s only hit in six at-bats, but it was a homer.

Brad Keller is scheduled to start for Kansas City, and he’s 3-9 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Houston is a little more familiar with him than the Royals are with Javier. The Astros are three-of-14 but with no extra-base hits off Keller. Bet on the relievers in this one, and Houston has the best in baseball. It’s 2.62 ERA amongst relievers is tops in the league, and Kansas City’s 4.72 ERA is third-worst.

Take Houston in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and to win by two or more runs.

Cleveland Guardians (-165) @ Detroit Tigers (+140)

Cleveland’s horse, Shane Bieber, has gone six or more innings in each of his last four starts, but he has no wins and one loss to show for it. Cleveland has managed just four runs per game in support of Bieber over that span, but the Tigers are 20th in team ERA.

As for Bieber against the Tigers – he has dominated Detroit. The Tigers are just 29-for-152 with six doubles and three dingers off Bieber. And much of that damage has been done by Jonathan Schoop, who has seven of the hits, including two of the doubles and one of the homers. Bet on him to collect multiple total bases on Wednesday.

Michael Pineda counters for Detroit, and Cleveland won’t mind that. The Guardians are 13-of-41 with four doubles against Pineda, for a .715 OPS. Jose Ramirez has three of the hits and two of the doubles plus two walks, so do with that information what you will. But bet on Cleveland to win the first five innings and the game. Parlaying Cleveland and Houston together on the moneyline pays +127 with Bovada.

Los Angeles Angels (-150) @ Miami Marlins (+130)

Shohei Ohtani is projected to pitch in Miami on Wednesday, and he’s must-see TV even if you’re not betting on or against the Angels. Ohtani is 7-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. His 101 strikeouts are tied for ninth in all of MLB. He’s been the Angels’ best pitcher, and much of Miami’s roster is unfamiliar with him given the interleague aspect of this game. Both Marlins who have seen Ohtani have a hit against him in a combined nine plate appearances.

The problem is Miami starter Trevor Rogers has to face Ohtani, and Rogers has allowed a slightly higher OPS to lefties than righties (.818 vs. .810) in much fewer opportunities (59 at-bats vs. 211). He’s also 4-6 with a 5.56 ERA and 1.59 WHIP, so Mike Trout is probably salivating. The bullpen behind Rogers isn’t great, either. The Marlins have the 19th-ranked WHIP amongst relievers.

Take Los Angeles in the first five innings and on the moneyline. Parlaying the Angels, Astros, and Guardians on the moneyline pays +279.


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