MLB picks: Astros vs. Blue Jays, Dodgers vs. Braves

The first Friday of June features a fascinating slate of MLB games, and we have our top two sides selected!

First we’ll take a look at a matchup between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays. Then we’ll discuss the 2020 NLCS rematch between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves.

Houston Astros (31-25) at Toronto Blue Jays (29-25), 7:07 p.m. ET

Based on home and away splits, the Astros’ Zack Greinke and the Blue Jays’ Hyun-Jin Ryu should match zeroes on the scoreboard and help Under bettors cash.

Greinke’s most recent start against Toronto (four runs allowed in four innings) should not be judged too harshly; he was in the midst of a slump that he’s since exited. Greinke closed out the month of May with three quality starts in four chances, including two eight-inning gems.

The Florida native has been rock-solid on the road in 2021, pitching to a 1.64 ERA over 33 innings.

Ryu has had a very consistent season, but he’s shined most in his home starts, producing a 0.89 ERA over 20 1/3 innings. He’s backed by a Blue Jays bullpen that’s seventh in the majors by ERA in 2021 (3.45).

MLB pick: Under

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Los Angeles Dodgers (33-23) at Atlanta Braves (26-28), 7:20 p.m. ET

Julio Urias and the Dodgers should escape with a road win against Ian Anderson and the Braves on Friday night.

Urias’ most recent outing should be disregarded, as he faced the San Francisco Giants for the second time in less than a week and got shelled for six runs. Prior to that he had four quality starts in a five-game stretch, including six innings of two-run ball against those same Giants on May 23.

Urias has excelled at keeping traffic off the bases in road starts this season, authoring a 0.656 WHIP over 32 innings. He has yet to face Atlanta this season, but they’ll certainly remember how he held them to one run over eight innings in the NLCS, highlighted by three shutout frames to close out Game 7.

Anderson’s control issues reared their ugly head in May, as he produced a 1.423 WHIP in five starts. It was that same issue that limited him to seven innings of work against L.A. in the NLCS, where he authored 1.857 WHIP.

He’ll have to pitch carefully to Max Muncy, who boasts a 1.051 OPS over his last 15 games.

MLB pick: Dodgers -136