Three bets worth considering when the weekend kicks off

Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets
Citi Field – Flushing, NY
7:10 PM ET
SuperBook Line: Los Angeles -125

The Los Angeles Dodgers (51-38) are first in the NL West and are looking to hold on to that title. Meanwhile, the New York Mets (43-48) are in need of a post-All-Star break rally to get into the playoffs, as they are currently 7.0 games back of a wild-card spot. The Dodgers are slightly favored in this one, entering the road tilt at -125.

Reasons to like the Mets:

• Since July 1, they are 6-2
• They are the home team, where they are 20-19 this season
• Justin Verlander will be on the mound; he is 3-4 with a 3.60 ERA

Reasons to like the Dodgers

• They are the far better team with a 51-38 record
• They won their last four games before the All-Star break by a combined score of 32-15
• They have a more talented roster with players such as Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman

Richard DeMala’s pick: Los Angeles M/L (-125)

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Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds
Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati, OH
7:10 PM ET
SuperBook Line: Milwaukee -120

The Milwaukee Brewers (49-42) and Cincinnati Reds (50-41) are both sneakily good teams that are likely to make the playoffs. This three-game series will likely have massive playoff implications, as they are currently first and second in the NL Central. The teams also played in a three-game series before the All-Star break in which the Brewers won two out of three to gain ground on the Reds. This series will be held in Milwaukee.

Reasons to like the Reds

• Although it isn’t by much, they do have the better record at 50-41
• They’ve have won 21 of their last 27 games thanks in large part to players such as Elly De la Cruz, Spencer Steer and Matt McLain
• They are the home team which gives them an advantage due to their recent sell-out crowds

Reasons to like the Brewers

• They have gotten the better of the Reds this season, as they have won five of the seven previous meetings
• All-Star pitcher Corbin Burnes will be on the mound; Burnes is 7-5 with a 3.94 ERA
• They won 2 out of 3 games against the Reds in the three-game series before the All-Star Break

Richard DeMala’s pick: Milwaukee M/L (-120)

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Tampa Bay Rays at Kansas City Royals
Ewing M Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, MO
8:10 PM ET
SuperBook Line: Tampa Bay -305

The Tampa Bay Rays were the best team in baseball for the better part of the first half of the season. In July, their season took a turn, however, as they lost seven out of eight and gave up the distinction of the MLB’s best team to the Atlanta Braves. Now, they are just 2.0 games up on the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. Luckily, they will open the second half of the season against the Kansas City Royals, who also struggled in July. The Royals are 3-6 in July and are just 26-65 on the season. The only team worse is the A’s at 26-67. They will be looking to bounce back to give their fans even a glimmer of hope for the future.

Reasons to like the Royals

• They are the home team
• They headed into the All-Star break with a win over the Guardians
• They play a struggling Rays team that may not be ready

Reasons to like the Rays

• They are the far better team as they have over 30 more wins
• Their only win in July was a 10-4 win over the Braves on July 9, the last game before

the break

• They have the better pitcher in Tyler Glasnow who is 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA

Richard DeMala’s pick: Tampa Bay -1.5 (-170)