Not a great start to the new month. Despite going 3-3 with our picks, we are now down 1.51U. Today is the day we get back on track. Here are our baseball bets for July 2nd.
Baseball Bets for July 2nd
The Headliner: Rays @ Mariners
The series stands at 1-1. The Tampa Bay Rays took game one in commanding fashion. The Seattle Mariners took game two in a lower-scoring, albeit still high-scoring, matchup. Today, the Rays send rookie Taj Bradley to the mound. In 11 career starts, all this season, Taj carries a 4.58 ERA in 53 innings with 73 strikeouts and a 1.26 WHIP. Taj is coming off of a start in which he allowed six earned runs through four innings while only striking out two against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 22-year-old righty is looking to bounce back from what was the worst start of his career thus far.
The Mariners are sending a righty of their own, but one that is most definitely not a rookie. Luis Castillo will be making his 17th start of the season. Through the first 16, he carries a 2.86 ERA across 94.1 innings with 108 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP. Castillo is unflappable when pitching at Safeco. In 10 home starts, he carries a 2.09 ERA across 60.1 innings with 74 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP. This game will be a must-watch with stars aplenty. Might as well win some money while you enjoy it.
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The Play: Seattle ML – 1.5U
Bonus Total Prop: Rays First Five Under 1.5 – 0.5U
Sunday Double Bonus: Randy Arozarena Over 0.5 Hits – 0.5U
The Sweep: Marlins @ Braves
The Miami Marlins try one more time this weekend to get in the win column against their divisional opponent the Atlanta Braves. After dropping the first two games of the series by a combined run total of 23-4, the Fish will send their ace to the mound, Sandy Alcantara. Through 16 starts this season and 102.2 innings, Alcantara holds a 4.82 ERA with 83 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP. Alcantara came out of the gate sluggish after winning the NL Cy Young award last season. He has done better of late, though still not producing at the same levels that he did last season. Over his last seven starts, he carries a 4.53 ERA across 45.2 innings with 29 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. He has made two previous starts against the Braves this season. In those starts, he gave up a combined five earned runs over 10.2 innings while allowing 16 baserunners.
The Braves are countering with an ace of their own in Spencer Strider. After taking the League by storm last season, Strider has proven to be the best strikeout-accruing starting pitcher in baseball. Through 16 starts and 91.2 innings this season, he holds a 3.73 ERA with 146 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP. Over his last seven, he has a 4.73 ERA across 40 innings with 60 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP. Strider has only faced the Marlins once this season, countering Alcantara on April 24th, and in that start, Strider pitched eight innings of shutout baseball. He only allowed two hits while striking out 13 batters. Enjoy the second of our baseball bets for July 2nd.
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The Play: Braves ML – 1U
Bonus Player Prop: Strider Over 8.5 Strikeouts – 1U
Sunday Double Bonus: Ronald Acuna Jr. HR = Yes (Over 0.5) – 1U
The Rubber Match: Nationals @ Phillies
The Washington Nationals look to gain a smidgen of ground in a division that is already out of their reach as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies. On the mound for the Nationals will be righty Trevor Williams. Williams comes in today with a 4.28 ERA across 16 starts and 80 innings. He has struck out 62 batters and holds a WHIP of 1.41. Over his last seven starts, he has a 4.29 ERA across 35.2 innings with 30 strikeouts and a 1.60 WHIP. A WHIP that high does not bode well for a team that allowed 19 runs to this same lineup just yesterday. Williams has one start against the Phillies this season. In that start, he allowed four runs in 5.2 innings while striking out six.
The Phillies will be sending lefty Ranger Suarez to the mound today. Suarez started the season on the IL so he only has nine starts so far this season. Through those nine starts, he carries a 3.18 ERA across 51 innings with 50 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP. Over his last seven, he holds a 2.20 ERA across 45 innings with 42 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP. Suarez has faced the Nationals once already this season. In that start, he pitched seven innings while only allowing one run and striking out three.
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The Play: Phillies ML – 0.5U
Bonus Total Prop: Nationals First Five Under 2.5 – 1.5U
Sunday Double Bonus: Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 Total Bases – 1.5U
Main photo credits:
Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Taj Bradley, Luis Castillo, Randy Arozarena, Sandy Alcantara, Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuna Jr., Trevor Williams, Ranger Suarez, Kyle Schwarber
