MLB picks: Rays vs. White Sox, Angels vs. A's

It’s a busy Monday for baseball with 12 games on the docket. We’ll highlight two matchups featuring our favorite wagers of the evening!

Let’s lead off with a look at the series opener between a pair of division leaders in the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. Then we’ll preview an AL West showdown between the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland A’s.

Tampa Bay Rays (42-24) at Chicago White Sox (41-24), 8:10 p.m. ET

Under bettors should not hesitate to pull the trigger in Monday’s series opener at Guaranteed Rate Field between the Rays and the White Sox.

Tyler Glasnow takes the hill for Tampa, and he’s allowed just four earned runs in his last three starts, pitching at least seven innings each time. His WHIP in that span is 0.82.

Once Glasnow departs, he’ll hand things over to an outstanding Rays bullpen that’s second in the majors by ERA over the last two weeks at 1.13.

Lance Lynn counters for Chicago, and he’s been ruthlessly efficient in 2021, going 7-1 with a 1.23 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Opponents are batting just .161 when they visit the White Sox with Lynn on the mound.

The South Siders' bullpen has excelled over the last two weeks, pitching to a 2.84 ERA, good for fifth in baseball in that stretch.

Bettors should note that the Under is 13-3-1 in Chicago’s last 17 home games.

MLB pick: Under

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Los Angeles Angels (33-32) at Oakland A’s (40-27), 9:40 p.m. ET

The A’s Sean Manaea’s hot streak should continue against the Angels on Monday night.

Manaea pitched very well in consecutive starts against L.A. to close out May, producing a 1.54 ERA over 11 2/3 combined innings. He subsequently tossed 15 shutout innings over his first two starts of June, authoring a 0.67 WHIP. Behind Manaea is an excellent Oakland bullpen that’s sixth by ERA over the last 14 days (3.32).

Dylan Bundy responds for the Angels, and his lone start against the A’s this year was just one of a series of awful May outings (9.70 ERA). He lasted only 2 1/3 innings while allowing four earned runs on five hits and a walk. Matt Olson homered against Bundy that day, and he’s a threat to do it again as he sports a 1.389 OPS in June.

Trend bettors have plenty to go on in this divisional matchup, and most of the trends favor Oakland. The A’s have won 17 of their last 25 meetings with L.A., including 10 of their last 14 at home. Oakland has also won five of their last six home games overall, and are 14-4 in their last 18 series openers.

The Angels have won six straight heading into this matchup, but are 4-10 in their last 14 road games against left-handed starters.

MLB pick: A’s -157