Saturday’s Best MLB Betting Picks & Expert Previews

We’re just two days away from the start of the 2017 MLB All-Star break, but we still have some good matchups and some quality chances for you to pick up some money from MLB betting this Saturday. The Los Angeles Angels visit the Texas Rangers in a matchup of two teams that are underperforming in the American League West. The New York Mets are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals, and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet the Chicago Cubs in the Windy City. Take a look at our thoughts on all three of these tilts.

Saturday’s Best MLB Betting Picks & Expert Previews

Showdown in St. Louis. ➡️ @SNYtv ➡️ @WOR710, WAXQ-104.3 HD 2 ➡️ https://t.co/gH3eFCnMH2 pic.twitter.com/XKW8XxWeNb

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 7, 2017

N.Y. Mets at St. Louis Cardinals

When: 4:10pm ET Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri TV: SNY (NY) / FS-M (St.Louis) Radio: 710 WOR (NY) / KMOX 1120 (St.Louis) Live Stream: MLB.tv Pitching Matchup: Rafael Montero (1-5, 5.63 ERA) (NY) vs Adam Wainwright (9-5, 5.48 ERA) (STL) Rafael Montero may get the spot start here, but don’t be surprised if Terry Collins uses someone else. That ERA is pretty large, but his WHIP of 1.88 is even more troubling. His last time out, Montero did go 6 ⅓ innings, but he also gave up eight hits and four earned runs in a 7- 1 loss to the lowly Phillies. The Mets could use him to fill that fifth spot in the rotation, but he has not quite earned it yet. The Mets have now dropped three games in a row after a four-game winning streak, giving up 21 runs in those three setbacks.

Will Wainwright Be Tough Competition?

Adam Wainwright is also laboring a bit heading into the break. He permitted six runs in five innings against Miami his last time out — with all six runs coming in that fifth inning. He did fan eight Marlins, though, which means that when he’s not leaving pitches out over the plate he is able to get batters to swing and miss. I like Wainwright to outduel Montero (or whoever else the Mets slip into that spot).

Latest MLB Betting Trends

• Mets are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games
• Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games
• Mets are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 games on the road
• Cardinals are 6-3 SU in the last 9 games

Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs

When: 7:15pm ET Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois TV: Fox Radio: KDKA-FM 93.7 (Pittsburgh) / 670 The Score (Chicago) Live Stream: MLB.tv Pitching Matchup: Ivan Nova (8-6, 3-24 ERA) (PIT) vs Jake Arrieta (8-6, 4.33 ERA) (CHI) Two teams that won over 90 games just a couple of years ago now both find themselves below .500 and in real danger of missing the postseason — and the Cubs are the defending World Series champions, but they are also the first champs ever to have none of their All-Stars from their title year make the Midsummer Classic the next season. Jake Arrieta does seem to be returning from his season-long slump, though. His last outing featured seven shutout innings in which he permitted just one hit against Cincinnati. On the year, Arrieta has a 3-0 record and a 3.86 ERA at home.

The Pirates Select Nova for Saturday Night

Pittsburgh sends Ivan Nova to the mound for his third appearance ever against the Cubs. He has posted a 2.92 ERA in 12 ⅓ combined innings. Most recently, he permitted three runs over seven innings against the Cubs back on June 17. Nova has done most of his work in the American League, which means that Ben Zobrist (.208 career average in 24 at-bats with 1 RBI) is the only one with extended experience against the righty. I like Arrieta to continue his hot streak and lead the Cubs to a win at home on Saturday.

Latest MLB Betting Trends

• Pirates are 14-5 ATS in the last 19 games on the road
• Cubs are2-4 ATS in the last 6 games
• Pirates are  5-2 SU in the last 7 games on the road
• Cubs are 2-4 SU in the last 6 games
• The total went UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games
• The total went UNDER in 14 of Chicago’s last 19 games

Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers

When: 9:05pm ET Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas TV: FS-W (LA) / FSSW (Texas) Radio: KWKW 1330 (LA) / 105.3 The Fan (Texas) Live Stream: MLB.tv Pitching Matchup: Jesse Chavez (5-9, 4.97 ERA) (LA) vs Tyson Ross (1-1, 6.41 ERA) (TEX) Tyson Ross is limiting opponents to a .214 batting average in his four starts since returning from the disabled list. However, he is giving away free passes at an alarming rate — 11 in just 19 ⅔ innings. Against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, he gave up four runs in five innings in a losing effort. There aren’t a lot of Angels who have good career averages against Ross — Albert Pujos is hitting just .100 against him lifetime, for example — so if Ross decides to find the plate, he could have some success.

And the Angels Choose to Start With…

The Angels start Jesse Chavez on Saturday night. He permitted a pair of runs on four hits in five innings in his last start, a loss to the Seattle Mariners. He has allowed 11 runs in his last 21 ⅓ innings, losing three of his last four starts, so if the Rangers can get some decent pitching out of Ross, they should be able to win this. I see the Rangers winning in a slugfest.

Latest MLB Betting Trends

• Angels are 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
• The total went UNDER in 4 of LA Angels’s last 5 games
• Angels are 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
• Rangers are 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
• The total went OVER in 5 of Texas’s last 6 games