MLB Picks June 17: Phillies host Padres in featured game

As summer approaches, the MLB season is starting to heat up. There are eight games scheduled for June 17. We will examine five of the games closely with the NL-leading Philadelphia Phillies hosting the San Diego Padres in the headlined matchup.

San Diego Padres versus Philadelphia Phillies

The Padres are second in the NL West and the Phillies have the best record in the NL. San Diego is “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator after a recent 5-1 stretch while the Phillies are “average down” and “average down” after dropping three of the last four games. The Padres are +24 to +18 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending in games “over” the line but the score prediction is 3-2 in favor of San Diego with 53 percent confidence. The Phillies are 27-10 at home and the Padres are 19-14 on the road. Philadelphia has the best run differential in the NL at +103. I like the Phillies to continue their winning ways at home but pass on the “over/under” bet.

Boston Red Sox versus Toronto Blue Jays

In this AL East clash the Red Sox are “burning hot” after winning three of the last four and the Blue Jays are “average down” after dropping two of three. Both teams are hovering around .500, far back in the division. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a score prediction of 9-0 in favor of Boston but with only 43 percent confidence. The Red Sox have a +27 to +9 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator and a slightly more stable team at +8 to +7 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. The Red Sox are above .500 at home and the Blue Jays are 16-15 at home. This is the first meeting between the teams this season. I like Boston on the road in a game “over” the line.

New York Mets versus Texas Rangers

Despite a sub-.500 record, the Rangers are second in the AL West. Both teams are “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator and the Rangers are +29 to +21 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have been involved in games “under” the line in four of the last six and the score prediction is 5-4 in favor of the Mets but with only 48 percent confidence. New York is 15-14 on the road and Texas is below .500 at home. Neither team has been very consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status. Texas has a +3 to -28 run differential edge. I like Texas at home in a game “under” the line.

San Francisco Giants versus Chicago Cubs

Both teams are hovering a few games under .500 and heading in opposite directions. The Giants are “average up” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +25 to +1 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a 50 percent confidence in a 7-2 win for the Giants.  Chicago is 18-13 at home and San Francisco is five games below .500 on the road. Both teams have a negative run differential. The teams have not yet met this season. I like the Cubs at home but pass on the “over/under” bet.

Los Angeles Dodgers versus Colorado Rockies

First place meets last place in this NL West contest. The Dodgers are “average down” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +19 to +4 on the Power Ranks Indicator. They hold a six-game lead in the division and have a +102 to -114 run differential edge over Colorado. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line in seven of the last 12 and the score prediction is 9-3 in favor of the Dodgers. Los Angeles won two of three games between the teams earlier in the season at home in low-scoring games. I like the trend to continue and will go with the Dodgers in a game “under” the line.