MLB Picks July 18: Red Sox and Yankees Battle in AL East

The second half of the MLB season is underway and there are some great matchups in store for July 18. Divisional races are heating up and the Red Sox and Yankees headline the action.

Boston Red Sox versus New York Yankees

In this longtime rivalry, the Red Sox take their 1st place record into New York to face the 4th place Yankees. The Yankees are “average” status and +25 on the Power Ranking Indicator. The Red Sox haven’t been playing their best ball lately, “ice cold down” and +9. Nick Pivetta is scheduled to pitch for the Red Sox and the Yankees have yet to name their starter. Pivetta is 7-4 with a 4.30 ERA and +586 dollars on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. The Totals Predictor shows the teams are trending on opposite sides of the line, while the Scores Predictor picks the Yankees by a 10-2 score but with only 28 percent confidence. I look for the Yankees to take care of business at home, winning and covering the line.

Tampa Bay Rays versus Atlanta Braves

The Rays are 2nd in the AL East and the Braves are 3rd in the NL East. Tampa Bay is “burning hot down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +29 on the Power Ranking Indicator. Atlanta is “average down” and +24. Rich Hill is set to pitch for the Rays and the Braves haven’t named their starter. Hill is 6-4 with a 3.74 ERA and +68 on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. Betting “under” is a wise play, according to the Totals Predictor. The Scores Predictor is also in line with that, predicting a 4-3 Rays win with 45 percent confidence. Look for the Rays to edge the Braves in a low-scoring game.

San Francisco Giants versus St. Louis Cardinals

The Giants are entering hot, winning four straight and seven of their last 10. They are +21 on the Power Ranking Indicator and 1st in the NL West. The Cardinals are “average”, +4 on the Power Ranking Indicator, and 4th in the NL Central. Johnny Cueto is set to pitch for the Giants. He is 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA and a solid positive bet on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. The Cardinals have yet to name their starter. The Totals Predictor shows the teams trending on opposite sides of the line. The Scores Predictor has the Giants by a 9-2 score, but with only 31 percent confidence. I believe the Giants will continue their winning ways, but by a less margin than the Scores Predictor.

Chicago Cubs versus Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona is struggling mightily, sitting last in the NL West. The Cubs enter with the 3rd best mark in the NL Central. Zach Davies is scheduled to pitch for the Cubs. He is 5-6 with a 4.37 ERA and +372 on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. Neither team is playing well lately. The Cubs are “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and the Diamondbacks are “average down”. The Cubs have a narrow +11 to +10 edge on the Power Ranking Indicator. The Totals Predictor shows the teams trending “over”. The Scores Predictor is only 35 percent confident in a 6-2 win for the Diamondbacks. I think Arizona will come away with a home win, but bet the “under”.

San Diego Padres versus Washington Nationals

The Padres are 3rd in the NL West and the Nationals are 4th in the NL East. Joe Musgrove is scheduled to pitch for the Padres. He enters 5-7 with a 2.93 ERA, but a very poor bet at -1145 dollars on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. The Padres have a +!5 to +3 advantage on the Power Ranking Indicator and “average down” versus “dead” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Expect a high-scoring game with the Scores Predictor giving the game to the Padres by an 8-4 score. I am in agreement and feel betting “over” and the Padres is the way to go.

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