MLB picks: Angels vs. Yankees, Cubs vs. Brewers

Let’s highlight a pair of solid wagering opportunities on the diamond for Monday night!

First we’ll look at the matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees. Then we’ll discuss the NL Central clash between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Los Angeles Angels (37-40) at New York Yankees (40-37), 7:05 p.m. ET

Two struggling starters squaring off at one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly venues in Yankee Stadium should make for an offensive explosion on Monday night as the Angels visit the Yankees.

Dylan Bundy gets the ball for L.A., and he’s failed to go at least six innings in seven straight starts. His ERA is a horrifying 10.21 in that span.

Bundy will have to pitch carefully to Gary Sanchez, who’s been swinging a hot bat in June. “The Kraken” boasts a .296 average this month with seven homers and 16 RBI.

Michael King counters for New York, and he’s failed to give Yankee fans much to be excited about. King seldom pitches into the sixth inning, and he’s one mediocre start away from putting together back-to-back months with an ERA above 5.00.

Shohei Ohtani is still hitting at an MVP-like pace for the Halos, smacking six home runs in his last 10 games.

These bullpens likely won’t offer much relief, as the Yankees’ relievers are 13th by ERA over the last two weeks (3.57), while the Angels are 28th (6.14).

MLB pick: Over

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Chicago Cubs (42-36) at Milwaukee Brewers (45-33), 8:10 p.m. ET

Runs should be difficult to come by in Monday night’s series opener between the Cubs and the Brewers as Kyle Hendricks and Freddy Peralta take the hill for their respective clubs.

Hendricks has won an incredible eight straight starts, producing a 2.25 ERA with 40 strikeouts and only seven walks in that span. The Chicago ace recorded two quality starts against Milwaukee earlier this season.

Hendricks is backed by a Cubs relief corps that sports the seventh-best ERA in the majors over the last 14 days (3.08).

Peralta has been particularly stingy in June, pitching to a 1.48 ERA and 0.74 WHIP over four outings. He’s taken on Chicago three times in 2021, scattering three earned runs over 15 innings of work. Anthony Rizzo is 0-for-8 lifetime against Peralta, while Javier Baez and Kris Bryant are a modest 5-for-23 (.217) combined with only one home run.

The Brewers’ bullpen ranks just outside the Top 10 in ERA over the last two weeks (3.50), but the unit is fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.27) in that span.

MLB pick: Under