Saturday’s MLB best bets & parlay picks – July 16, 2022

The Major League Baseball (MLB) stars of Saturday’s schedule include Miles Mikolas of the Cardinals who host Cincinnati, Max Fried and the Braves travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Nationals, and Cal Quantrill and the Guardians host Michael Pineda and the Tigers. Here are the best bets on MLB games scheduled for Saturday, July 16th, starting at 2:10 p.m. Eastern.

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Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Guardians

Cal Quantrill has been a top-50 pitcher in MLB this season despite his 5-5 record. His 3.99 ERA is ranked 43rd and his 1.31 WHIP is ranked 49th. While he doesn’t miss many bats, he’s successfully navigated the Tigers’ lineup in the past. In 75 plate appearances, the Tigers have managed just 20 hits and four walks, and just five of those hits have gone for extra bases. It all adds up to a .602 OPS and .225 batting average against Quantrill.

Michael Pineda is expected to start for Detroit, and he’s been rather reliable despite his 2-4 record. His 3.58 ERA and 1.19 WHIP are quite good, but Pineda has only pitched 37.2 innings this season. The Guardians have the same number of extra-base hits against him in just 49 plate appearances, however. With 13 hits and five walks, the Guardians have managed to post a .760 OPS and .287 batting average against Pineda. Jose Ramirez has two of the extra-base hits and is three-for-10 against Pineda. Consider placing a player prop bet on him to have multiple total bases on Saturday.

Bet on Cleveland in the first five innings and on the moneyline. The Tigers might have a great bullpen, but their offense is the second-worst in baseball (.621 OPS) overall and the absolute worst beyond the sixth inning (.601 OPS). Parlay those bets with…

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Cincinnati Reds @ St. Louis Cardinals

Miles Mikolas has been outstanding but doesn’t have the wins to show for it. He’s 6-7 despite an excellent 2.62 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He should be able to push his record to .500 with the Reds in town. In 51 plate appearances, the Reds have 10 hits, two walks, and five extra-base hits for a .601 OPS against Mikolas. Joey Votto has four of the hits and three of the extra-base hits, so consider taking him to have multiple total bases on Saturday.

Cincinnati counters with Nick Lodolo, who is 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. He’s held the Cardinals to a .595 OPS in a small sample size (18 plate appearances), but even if he leaves with a lead, the Reds have the second-worst WHIP amongst relievers in MLB (1.47).

Take St. Louis on the moneyline. Parlaying the Cardinals with the Guardians pays +155. Consider turning your parlay into a trifecta by including…

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Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals

Max Fried has been a top-20 pitcher in every means of measurement. His 9-3 record, 2.56 ERA, 105 strikeouts, and 1.07 WHIP are all top-20 in MLB. He’s also been outstanding against the Nationals over a very large sample size. In 145 at-bats, the Nationals have just 38 hits and five extra-base hits – all doubles. That’s a paltry .484 OPS and .253 on-base percentage against Fried.

Paolo Espino is expected to start for Washington. It would be just his seventh start of the season. He has made 26 appearances, however, posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. It would be surprising if he completes five innings. He’s only done so twice this season, and against the Braves he’s struggled to a .762 OPS against. Austin Riley is five-for-11 with a double and a dinger against him, so place a player prop bet on Riley to have multiple hits or multiple total bases or both. Marcell Ozuna is also three-for-seven with two homers, and Adam Duvall is three-for-nine with two homers, so consider placing prop bets on either or both of them to have multiple total bases.

Behind Espino is the 24th-ranked ERA amongst relievers in MLB, so don’t expect it to get better for the Nats in the later innings. Take Atlanta in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and to win by two or more runs. Parlaying the Braves on the moneyline with the Cardinals and Guaridans pays +309.

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There are the best MLB bets for Saturday, July 16th. Get your bets in before first pitch at 2:10 p.m. Eastern and please gamble responsibly.

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