Hello and good Friday to you. I love good news, and Friday generally brings good vibes for many. Here, under the Matt Snyder byline on CBS Sports, Friday signifies it’s time for another set of picks, or what I like to refer to as Friday Night Lines.
It’s a full schedule of 15 games coming up this Friday night, giving plenty of time to place those bets. Today, all lines are sourced from FanDuel. We’ll outline two choices for the night, complemented by a home run prediction and a futures bet. Let’s dive in.
Tigers -1.5 (-118)
The Tigers have recently wrapped a 10-game road trip, finishing with a doubleheader on Thursday. Remarkably, they won seven of their last eight games and are currently at 25-13, boasting the best record in the AL. Upon returning home, they hold a 13-3 record with a +45 run differential this season. They’ll be facing the Rangers, who have suffered 11 losses in 15 outings and are struggling to generate offense.
The Tigers have managed to secure only three games by a single run, indicating a favorable position on the run line, assuming a victory for the Tigers.
Examining the pitching matchup, the Tigers are sending ace lefty Tarik Skubal to the mound. He has proven to be as formidable this season as he was last year. The Rangers last faced him on June 3 of the previous season, where he allowed only one run in six innings. This year, the Rangers have struggled against lefties, hitting just .229/.289/.333 when facing them.
On the other hand, the Rangers are pitching Patrick Corbin. While he hasn’t been disastrous this season, a deeper look suggests he may regress soon. The Tigers’ offense is firing on all cylinders, batting .279/.345/.472, a stark contrast to the Rangers.
If you’re considering hitter props, watch out for players like Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres, and Javier Báez.
Overall, I’m opting for the run line on this matchup. I have high hopes for the Tigers in this game.
Manny Machado to record 2+ hits (+100)
Machado enters Coors Field for the weekend series against the struggling Rockies with an impressive hitting streak of eight games. During this span, he boasts a batting average of .419, including four multi-hit games, and has secured at least two hits in three of his last four contests. He’s likely to extend this streak with Friday’s appearance. Coors Field tends to be the easiest ballpark for hitters due to its expansive outfield, a trait brought about by the high elevation in Denver.
Machado possesses a career average of .306 at Coors but has elevated that to .321 over the past three seasons. Last year, he hit 5 for 13 (.385).
Antonio Senzatela will be pitching for the Rockies and has garnered an alarming number of hits against him this season, with a batting average allowed of .380.
Over the past three games, Freeman has a batting average of .361/.438/.701 with eight home runs in just 97 at-bats.
Home Run Bet: Freddie Freeman +540
Chase Field in Arizona is renowned for bolstering hitters, and given the characteristics of the home park, I see potential for home run opportunities, especially with Eduardo Rodríguez pitching for the Diamondbacks against the Dodgers on Friday night. His ERA stands at 5.92, and he has allowed seven home runs over 38 innings. Count me in!
Freeman will face a lefty in Rodríguez, who has shown vulnerabilities to left-handed bats early this season. Despite the matchup, Freeman has the capacity to hit homers off lefties.
Freeman holds a staggering career slash line of .373/.434/.697 with 16 home runs in 228 at-bats at Chase Field. This season, his performance has remained stellar with a .361/.438/.701 and eight home runs over just 97 at-bats.
Against Rodríguez, Freeman’s record is 6 for 12, including a double and a home run.
Futures Play: Royals to win AL Central (+400)
Currently, the Tigers appear formidable, and I don’t anticipate them falling off soon. The Guardians present a strong challenge and will remain a part of the race, while the Twins are working towards re-entering contention.
However, I initially picked the Royals during spring training. I am particularly impressed by their pitching staff, with an outstanding collective ERA of 2.91. The offense could improve with a few more contributors to support Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino, who is beginning to find his form.
The best part is, I relish this betting line. The Royals had a rough start at 8-14, following a six-game skid, but they’ve bounced back impressively, going 15-2 over their last stretch. Despite early road struggles, their last road trip was solid, winning five of six.
I’m banking on the Royals in the AL Central and I absolutely love this bet at +400.
