MLB picks: Blue Jays vs. Red Sox, Angels vs. Diamondbacks

We’ll try to get the weekend started on the right foot with these Friday night MLB picks and plays!

Let’s lead off with a look at the series opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox before segueing to a showdown between the Los Angeles Angels and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Toronto Blue Jays (31-29) at Boston Red Sox (38-25), 7:10 p.m. ET

Fans of high-scoring baseball are in for a treat this Friday night as the Blue Jays visit the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Ross Stripling starts for Toronto, and while he’s managed to lower his ERA from 7.20 to 4.71 over his last three starts, he was clubbed by Boston when these teams met on May 19. Stripling allowed six runs on eight hits – including three home runs – in just 3 2/3 innings. Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez, and Enrique Hernandez all took him deep.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen is a mediocre 20th by ERA (4.91) over the last two weeks.

Garrett Richards responds for the Red Sox, and his first two starts of June have done little to lower his sky-high 1.52 WHIP. He’s allowed 18 baserunners in his last 11 innings of work. Richards could land himself in a lot of trouble against a Toronto lineup that’s second in OPS this year (.755). He’s made two starts against the Blue Jays thus far in 2021 and recorded a middling 4.76 ERA.

Richards is backed by a Boston bullpen that’s a modest 12th by ERA (3.27) over the last two weeks.

MLB pick: Over

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Los Angeles Angels (30-32) at Arizona Diamondbacks (20-43), 9:40 p.m. ET

Shohei Ohtani and the Angels should hand the Diamondbacks their staggering 22nd loss in a 24-game span at Chase Field on Friday night.

L.A. has won five of their last six, a run that started with Ohtani on the mound. He held the Seattle Mariners to two runs over six frames while striking out 10 on June 4. Ohtani has had plenty of time between starts in 2021, likely contributing to his fine 2.76 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

At the dish, Ohtani has a 1.373 OPS during the Halos’ hot streak.  

Merrill Kelly, who owns a 5.12 ERA on the year, counters for Arizona. He’ll likely have a hard time containing an L.A. offense that’s averaged seven runs per game over their last six contests.

MLB pick: Angels -141