Pick Summary
- Rays vs. Blue Jays: Rays ML (-105) at WynnBet
- Twins vs. Yankees: Yankees ML (-165) at Bet365
- Orioles vs. White Sox: Orioles ML (-110) at BetMGM
The Tampa Bay Rays can set a modern-era MLB record on Friday by winning their 14th straight game to open a season, but they are only very short favorites at the books. Where do our computer picks lean in that matchup and two others?
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Friday, April 14, 2023 – 07:07 PM EDT at Rogers Centre
The biggest storyline of a busy Friday night around the majors is from this game as the Tampa Bay Rays look to set the modern-era MLB record with their 14th straight win to open a season.
Teams Analysis
The Rays rallied for a 9-3 home victory over Boston on Thursday to join the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers as the only teams since 1900 to start 13-0. Technically, the overall record is 20-0 by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons.
Tampa Bay’s 13-game winning streak is the longest in team history at any point in a season and it is an incredible 12-1 on the run line. Their only victory by one run was 1-0 over Boston on Monday. The Rays have 32 homers and have allowed 30 runs. Their run differential of plus-71 is an MLB modern-day record through a team’s first 13 games.
The Pick
Needless to say, this isn’t sustainable much longer, but the computer does like the record to fall Friday as it has Tampa Bay prevailing 4.6-3.6 behind the excellent Drew Rasmussen, yet another guy who was a nobody with another team but has become a great pitcher with the Rays.
Rasmussen has a 2.33 ERA over eight career appearances against Toronto, including a 2.70 ERA in five last year.
The Blue Jays counter with the hugely struggling Jose Berrios (0-2, 11.17 ERA). Last year, he had a 6.08 ERA in three starts vs. Tampa Bay.
- Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series.
- Rays are 9-0 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
MLB Pick: Rays ML (-105) at WynnBet
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
Friday, April 14, 2023 – 07:05 PM EDT at Yankee Stadium
The Yankees probably can’t wait to take the field Friday for some payback after they were completely ambushed for nine runs in the top of the first inning by the Twins on Thursday and blown out.
NYY rookie pitcher Jhony Brito had been great in his first two starts but was tagged for seven of those runs before leaving with two outs. The Yankees were without usual leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu for a second straight game due to a quad issue, but he’s likely back Friday.
It was thought that Twins All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton would sit Thursday after he was involved in a collision on Wednesday vs. the White Sox, but he played. Shortstop Carlos Correa played in his first game this week after dealing with a back issue. More help could arrive Friday in outfielder Max Kepler. He is currently on the injured list with tendinitis in his right knee but is on the verge of activation.
Teams Analysis
While Brito was rattled early on Thursday, that won’t be an issue for Yanks’ veteran lefty Nestor Cortes (2-0, 2.61 ERA) on Friday. Dating to last season, he has eight consecutive starts of allowing two earned runs or fewer. Cortes was vastly better at Yankee Stadium in 2022 with a 1.95 ERA compared to 3.06 on the road and his first home start this year was better than his road outing.
Minnesota counters with Tyler Mahle (1-1, 4.09). He pitched well at a bad Miami team in his season debut but allowed four runs last time out vs. Houston. Mahle has never faced the Yankees as a long-time National Leaguer. Anthony Rizzo is 6-for-27 off him with two homers.
The Pick
The computer favors New York 4.4-2.4.
- Twins are 3-12 in their last 15 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Yankees are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
MLB Pick: Yankees ML (-165) at Bet365
Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White Sox
Friday, April 14, 2023 – 07:10 PM EDT at Guaranteed Rate Field
The White Sox have underachieved so far at 5-8 overall and 1-2 at home but yet again the injury bug has hit them as it seems too early every year: Currently out are All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson, DH Eloy Jimenez and third baseman Yoan Moncada.
Anderson is out at least a couple more weeks and that’s crushing because the team is well under .500 since 2020 when its leadoff hitter sits. The good news is those latter two may return Friday. Moncada is nursing a back injury that’s kept him out of games since Monday. Jimenez would have to be activated off the injured list.
Baltimore can hit with anyone but has a really questionable pitching staff as evidenced by the 23 runs the O’s allowed in the final three games of their home series vs. light-hitting Oakland to start this week. Outfielder Anthony Santander missed the final two games due to a back issue but might return Friday.
Teams Analysis
It’s Tyler Wells (0-1, 6.27 ERA) on the bump here. He was great in his season debut in Texas and average last time out vs. the Yankees. Wells has pitched two career innings vs. Chicago.
Mike Clevinger (2-0, 3.48) makes his first home start in a White Sox uniform after pitching in Pittsburgh and Houston his first two turns. He was signed as a free agent from San Diego this past winter. Only a few Orioles have faced him.
Perhaps consider a hitting prop on Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, who is slashing .458/.581/.875 (11-for-24) with one double, three homers, seven runs scored, five RBIs, and seven walks during his seven-game hitting streak.
The Pick
The computer has the Orioles winning 4.7-4.5.
- Orioles are 10-1 in their last 11 Friday games.
- White Sox are 3-10 in their last 13 home games.
MLB Pick: Orioles ML (-110) at BetMGM
