MLB picks: Yankees vs. White Sox, Blue Jays vs. Angels

Baseball fans and bettors are in for a treat this Thursday night, as the inaugural Field of Dreams Game will take place amidst the cornfields of Dyersville, IA (7:15 p.m. ET, FOX). We’ll preview that meeting between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox – as well as a late-night battle between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels – as we give out our best bets for the evening!

New York Yankees (63-51) at Chicago White Sox (67-48), 7:15 p.m. ET (neutral site)

The Field of Dreams Game could quickly turn into a nightmare for Andrew Heaney and the Yankees this Thursday night.

Heaney has allowed an alarming 21 homers through 104 innings this season, including the five he’s coughed up in just two starts with the Bombers (10 innings). This plays right into the hands of the White Sox, who are currently pacing the MLB in homers this month with 19.

Reigning AL MVP Jose Abreu and the comebacking Eloy Jimenez share the team lead at four longballs apiece, with shortstop Tim Anderson close behind with three taters under his belt.

Chicago ace Lance Lynn will toe the rubber in this one, and he hasn’t been hooked with the loss in seven straight starts. He’s 3-0 in that span with a 1.85 ERA.

This is not a true road game for the Yankees, but it’s worth noting that they’ve plated only four runs per contest away from the Bronx this year, good for just 22nd in the majors.

MLB pick: White Sox -1.5 runs (+114)

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Toronto Blue Jays (62-51) at Los Angeles Angels (57-58), 9:38 p.m. ET

Thursday’s series finale between the Blue Jays and Angels promises to be a pitchers duel as Jose Berrios battles Shohei Ohtani.

Berrios has been lights-out since joining the Jays at the deadline, producing a 0.75 ERA over 12 innings. He’s struck out 13 batters in that span while walking just one.

“La Makina” has faced L.A. twice in 2021, limiting their lineup to three earned runs over 12 frames. His opponent batting average is a scant .140 in that sample.

Ohtani’s last four starts have been nothing short of masterful, as he’s surrendered a mere four earned runs over 26 innings of work, good for a 1.38 ERA. He’s registered 23 strikeouts in that stretch, compared to only one walk.

Trend bettors should note that the Under is 9-3 in Toronto’s last 12 road games, and 6-1-1 in the Angels’ last eight games as a home underdog.

MLB pick: Under