At this point last season, the New York Yankees and New York Mets were the top two teams in MLB in terms of victories. Now, after slow starts, they are trying to seize momentum as they begin new series as part of the 15-game Friday MLB schedule. The Yankees took three of four games against the AL East-rival Toronto Blue Jays, while the Mets come off consecutive victories against the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays. The Mets remain at Citi Field to host the Cleveland Guardians in the first of a three-game interleague series. The Yankees will be in Cincinnati on Friday for the opener of a weekend series with the NL Central's Reds. The Rays, meanwhile, host the Milwaukee Brewers as they try to get back on a winning track.
The Yankees vs. Reds opener is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and first pitch of Mets vs. Guardians is at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Yankees are -160 favorites (risk $160 to win $100) in Cincinnati, and the Mets are favored at -155 against the Guardians in the latest MLB odds from Caesars Sportsbook. The 15-game Friday MLB schedule offers hundreds of opportunities for wagers. Before making any MLB picks for Friday, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It has opened the 2023 MLB season on a 20-15 roll on all-top rated MLB picks. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has locked in four confident MLB best bets for Friday. They all involve games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET or later, so there's plenty of time to get these MLB picks in. If you successfully parlay the picks, you'd be looking at a payout of nearly 8-1. You can only see the model's MLB picks for Friday at SportsLine.
Top MLB picks today
One of Friday's top MLB picks: The model is backing the Yankees at -160 on the money line. New York has been crushing it since Aaron Judge returned from injury, and they have won eight of their past 11 games. They are 7-3 in the past 10 meetings with the Reds. Judge has six homers over the past six games, and New York scored at least five runs in seven of the eight victories. Reds pitchers have a 5.07 ERA, fourth-worst in MLB.
Clarke Schmidt is expected to start for the Yankees against Cincinnati's Ben Lively. Schmidt was rocked by the Rays in his last start, allowing seven runs, but they have the best offense in baseball. He allowed two earned runs over his previous two starts and can strike out batters.
The right-hander is averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings this season, and the Reds strike out more than nine times per game. The Yankees are winning in 70% of the model's simulations. See who else to back here.
How to make MLB parlays for Friday
The model has locked in three other best bets for Friday, including a confident play on a plus-money underdog that is winning in almost 60% of its simulations. You can only see the model's MLB parlay picks and best bets for Friday night at SportsLine.
Which MLB picks should you target for Friday in a parlay offering a payout of nearly 8-1, and which underdog is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see the MLB best bets for Friday from the model that is 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks the past two seasons, and find out.
