Free MLB Picks (Expert Predictions, Tips, Parlays)

Baseball Picks: Cubs at Pirates Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 9/12/2013

The Chicago Cubs will try and put a kink into the Pittsburgh Pirates NL Central title plans when the two division foes clash this Thursday night in Game 1 of a four-game weekend series at PNC Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Baseball Picks: Brewers at Cardinals Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 9/10/2013

The Milwaukee Brewers will try and put a crimp into the St. Louis Cardinals’ division title plans when the two NL Central foes kick off a three-game series at Busch Stadium this Tuesday night. Game 1 is set to get underway at 8:15 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Baseball Picks: Rangers at Angels Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 9/7/2013

It seems the Texas Rangers are putting the cart before the horse a little bit. You see, the altered their rotation this week, essentially to assure that ace Yu Darvish would be available for any playoff opener. The postseason schedule was announced this week with the NL wild-card game on Oct. 1 and the AL on Oct. 2. Will Texas play in that for the second year in a row?

Baseball Picks: Red Sox at Yankees Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 9/5/2013

The Boston Red Sox continue their quest to lock up the AL East Division title this Thursday night in the first of a four-game series against their bitter rival, the New York Yankees, at Yankee Stadium. The first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network.

Baseball Picks: Rangers at Athletics Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 9/3/2013

The Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics continue a crucial three-game series this Tuesday night at the Oakland County Coliseum in a showdown that will have a major impact on a tight AL West title race. Game 2 of this divisional clash is set to get underway at 10:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Baseball Picks: Cardinals at Pirates Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/31/2013

The Pittsburgh Pirates are clearly going all-in, and kudos to them for making a trade with the Mets earlier this week for outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck. Byrd will vastly upgrade Pittsburgh's right-field production. Before Byrd arrived, the Pirates' nine different right fielders used combined to produce a .232 average this season (last in NL) with 12 homers (13th in NL) and 44 RBI. Byrd promptly hit a three-run homer in his debut against Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Baseball Picks: Orioles at Red Sox Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/29/2013

The Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox will battle it out one more time on Thursday night at Fenway Park in Game 3 of this AL East clash. This contest is set to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network.

Baseball Picks: Orioles at Red Sox Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/27/2013

The Baltimore Orioles will look to make up some ground in the AL East title race this week when they square off against the first-place Boston Red Sox in a crucial three-game series at Fenway Park. Tuesday night’s series opener is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Baseball Picks: Yankees at Rays Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/24/2013

I really wish that Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster hadn't plunked the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez on Sunday night. I guarantee you that many in baseball were happy that Dempster plunked the cheating A-Rod, but teammate David Ortiz had this to say: "That pitch woke up a monster in the Yankees' team at that moment. You saw how the game ended up. CC (Sabathia) was throwing 91 (mph) and started throwing 96. Alex later hit one way out there. You're talking about a good team that you can't wake up."

Baseball Picks: Athletics at Orioles MLB Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/23/2013

It's now late August, so I think it's fair to call a series "huge" if it deserves that moniker, and Oakland's visit to Baltimore this weekend for three games definitely is huge in the wild-card race. I have given up on the A's winning the AL West over the Rangers. They currently hold down the second wild-card spot behind Tampa Bay. The Orioles are three games behind the A's, so we could have a deadlock by Sunday afternoon should Baltimore sweep.

MLB Picks: Braves at Cardinals Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/22/2013

For the next four days starting with Thursday’s nights clash, the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals will battle it out at Busch Stadium in a showdown between two of the best teams in the National League. Game 1 is set to get underway at 8:15 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network.

MLB Picks: Indians at Angels Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/21/2013

Major League Baseball's addition of a second wild-card spot in each league has definitely kept more teams in the playoff hunt deeper into the season -- the Washington Nationals, for example, just traded for Cubs outfielder David DeJesus despite the fact they are nine games out of a wild-card spot. Unfortunately, the addition of that second wild-card spot has also taken much of the suspense out of the trade deadline because teams are now hanging onto players because they think they can earn that second spot.

MLB Picks: White Sox at Royals Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/20/2013

The Chicago White Sox will try and play the role of spoiler when they face the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night in the first of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. This Game 1 clash slated to get underway at 8:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Dodgers at Marlins Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/19/2013

Monday's series opener between the Dodgers and Marlins is a total mismatch, at least on paper. Los Angeles Is unbelievably hot right now. The Dodgers entered Sunday's series finale in Philadelphia having won 19 of their past 20 road games and winners of 42 of their past 50 games overall. It's the best 50-game stretch in the majors since the 1942 Cardinals had the same record (and won the World Series).

MLB Picks: Reds at Brewers Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/17/2013

I am starting to have second thoughts about mostly dismissing the Cincinnati Reds of winning the NL Central. They have won five straight entering Friday night's Game 2 of a four-game series in Milwaukee to climb with 2.5 games of division-leading Pittsburgh and just a half-game behind St. Louis. Cincy is +200 on Sportsbook.ag to win the division.

MLB Picks: Indians at Athletics Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/16/2013

I wouldn't call it likely -- but certainly possible -- that Friday's series opener in Oakland between the Indians and A's could be a preview of the American League's one-game wild-card playoff. The A's entered their series finale Thursday against Houston holding down the final wild-card spot and with a 2.5-game lead over the next closest team, Baltimore. The Tribe, who were off Thursday, are three games behind Oakland.

MLB Picks: Royals at Tigers Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/15/2013

The upstart Kansas City Royals will look to close the gap in the AL Central race against the division-leading Detroit Tigers this Thursday night in the first of an extended five-game weekend showdown at Kauffman Stadium that includes a Friday doubleheader. This Game 1 clash is slated to get underway at 7:08 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Mariners at Rays Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/14/2013

Why does Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik still have a job? He was hired away from the Milwaukee Brewers in October 2008, a season after the Mariners were 61-101. Seattle showed some improvement the next year, going 85-77, but it was back to 101 losses in 2010 and the team is on track for a fourth straight losing season.

MLB Picks: Mariners at Rays Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/13/2013

The Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays clash this week at Tropicana Field in a three-game series starting this Tuesday night. Game 1 is set to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Reds at Cubs Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/12/2013

Want to know why the Cincinnati Reds didn't make a move for a bat before the July 31 trade deadline? Because of outfielder Ryan Ludwick. He was lost on Opening Day to a shoulder injury but appears set to return Monday when the Reds open a series in Wrigley Field against the Cubs. It's a potentially huge addition -- certainly no hitter that was traded, including Chicago's Alex Rios to Texas over the weekend, is better than Ludwick.