MLB Weekend Picks

With the second weekend in June finally here, BetRivers.com is proud to provide a wide variety of MLB game lines, futures and our MLB weekend picks for June 11 to June 13. Longtime Poker broadcaster and sports bettor David Tuchman is here to preview the notable games and make his MLB Weekend picks for the second weekend in June. Follow the latest MLB tournament news and predictions with BetRivers, the best online sportsbook in the US.

Boom! We’re getting summer started on the right foot, opening June with a resounding 9-1 week including our Sunday parlay. Turns out the spicy bloody mary was the way to go. That brings the year-to-date record to 29-16. As we get out from under the uncertainty that April brings and the May swoon for pretenders that opened April strong, June brings with it a certain understanding that most of the teams are who they are at this point, and a radical turn around, while always possible, would be the exception.

Let’s get to it. Here are my MLB Weekend picks for June 11 to June 13.

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MLB WEEKEND PICKS: SATURDAY, JUNE 12

KANSAS CITY ROYALS at OAKLAND ATHLETICS, 4:07 p.m ET
PITCHERS:  Jackson Kowar (0-1, KC) vs. James Kaprielian (2-1, OAK)

Talk about two teams heading in opposite directions. The Royals have a -23 run differential on the year and are puttering around third place in the A.L. Central at 29-31. They’ve lost 5 straight, however as their hitting has been nonexistent and they’ve had some key injuries (SS Adalberto Mondesi for one). Meanwhile, the Oakland A’s, really to no one’s surprise, have staked their claim to the AL West title, moving into first place, at 37-26. The A’s have won 6 of their last 10 and are 9-1 against the AL Central this year. 

In case you weren’t keeping score,  The Royals play in the A.L. Central. 

Oakland will be sending former Yankee top prospect James Kaprielian to the hill. He’s 2-1, 3.08 ERA on the year, with 28K in 26 IP and a 1.22 WHIP. Meanwhile, the A’s offense will be led by Matt Olson (.276-15-41, .366-.571-.937) who is just mashing the baseball this year. But the A’s are fairly deep, as Jed Lowrie has 29 RBI, and Mark Canha and Ramon Laureano each have 11 HR.  The Royals just won’t be able to keep up. Mondesi, as I said, is hurt, so his .360 avg, while impressive, won’t help KC. Saturday’s starter, Jackson Kowar, pressed into action due to pitching injuries, is sporting a 54.00 ERA. (just 2 IP, but still, he’s not great.) 

The Pick: Oakland Athletics

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at TAMPA BAY RAYS, 4:10 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Jorge Lopez (2-6, BAL) vs. Rich Hill (5-2, TB)

This one is a bit of a shocker. You know I like low hanging fruit and I’m sure everyone is thinking to take the Rays here, as Tampa is 39-24, rolling along in first place, playing .619 ball, while the Orioles are a putrid 22-39 on the year, including 8-15 v. the AL East.  It’s a nightmare matchup for the Orioles, who do have some decent hitting.

However…the Rays will roll out Rich Hill…literally, he pitches from a wheelchair, as in, ‘my god Rich Hill is old, how can he possibly still pitch’ sort of deal there. But Hill, despite being 41, is sporting a 5-2, 3.05 ERA, 63 K in 62 IP and a 0.98 ERA. What am I thinking? Here’s what I’m thinking: The Orioles, hitting just .242 as a team, actually hit lefties very, very well. They’re batting .292-24-100, .345 OBP, .474 Slg., .819 OPS. 

I’m feeling pretty cocky after my 9-1 week, so I’m making a high-risk, high reward pick here, saying the Orioles hit Rich Hill and find a way to sneak out a win on Saturday over the Rays.

The Pick: Baltimore Orioles

PITTSBURGH PIRATES at MILWAUKEE BREWERS, 4:10 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Chad Kuhl (0-3, PIT) vs. Corbin Burnes (3-4, MIL)

After that, I need a little palette cleanser. Thank you, Pittsburgh, for always being there for me. Pittsburgh, the franchise whose top rookie missed first base on a would-be homerun and got called out and credited with a single, last week. They never disappoint.

Saturday, the not-so-plucky Pirates are in a horrific matchup against the Brewers, as Chad Kuhl, 0-3, 5.61 ERA faces Corbin Burnes, 3-4, 1.97 ERA, 94 K in 59 IP. That Corbin Burnes. I expect Burnes to roll with 8-10 K in this one and I don’t expect the Pirates to make much contact. Even if they do, you have a decent chance they’ll miss a base or two circling the base paths. Pittsburgh finds new ways to lose each and every week – it’s quite enjoyable (if you’re betting against them)

The Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

MLB WEEKEND PICKS: SUNDAY, JUNE 13

NEW YORK YANKEES at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, 1:05 p.m. ET
PITCHERS: Domingo German (4-3, NYY) vs. Aaron Nola (4-4, PHI)

I’m a sucker for the Yankees. But I’ve been avoiding them this year, mostly because they’ve been terrible. And even though they recently trounced the Twins, a few wins over the last-place Twins do not a season turn around make. And going into Philly this weekend, I really expect the Phillies to just stomp all over the Yankees…but…

Sunday, the Yankees will throw Domingo German out there, and check out this kid’s pitching log so far this year, since April 22:

6 IP, 2 ER; 7 IP 0 ER, 5 IP 3 ER, 6.1 IP 2 ER, 6 IP 1 ER, 7 IP 0 ER, 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 IP 3 ER, 5.2 IP 1 ER.

If you’re not sure, those are pretty impressive numbers. Someone might even say, this kid is on a roll. His ERA has gone from 9.00 to 3.12 over that span. Talk about consistent, he’s gone 5+ IP and given up 3 runs or less in every start since 4/22. Meanwhile, over that same stretch, Phillies starter, Aaron Nola (their Ace FYI), has allowed 4 runs or more 4x in 9 starts. He’s given up 3 runs in 3 more times. 

Take German and the Yankees to beat the Phillies on Sunday.

The Pick: New York Yankees 

SUNDAY QUICK PICKS:

  • Indians (Shane Bieber, 7-3, 2.96) over Mariners(Logan Gilbert, 1-2, 4.98)
  • White Sox (Carlos Rodon (5-2, 1.96) over Tigers (Logan Shore, 0-0, 0.00)
  • Astros (Framber Valdez, 2-0, 1.47) over Twins (Michael Pineda, 3-3, 3.46)
  • Dodgers (Walker Buehler, 5-0, 2.56) over Rangers (Dane Dunning, 2-4, 4.26)