MLB picks: Yankees vs. Tigers, Padres vs. Astros

Memorial Day weekend kicks off with a full slate of Friday games! We crunched the numbers to come up with our two best bets on the diamond.

First we’ll take a look at a meeting between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Then we’ll highlight a matchup between the San Diego Padres and the Houston Astros.

New York Yankees (29-21) at Detroit Tigers (19-31), 7:10 p.m. ET

Bettors should expect few runs to cross the plate at Comerica Park on Friday night as the Yankees visit the Tigers.

Gerrit Cole gets the call for New York, and he silenced Detroit’s bats at Yankee Stadium on April 30, scattering four hits over six scoreless innings while striking out 12 batters. Miguel Cabrera, Niko Goodrum, and Nomar Mazara are a combined 4-for-41 (.098) all-time against Cole with no extra-base hits and 22 strikeouts.

The Bombers’ bullpen is a solid ninth by ERA (3.05) over the last two weeks, so they should keep the Tigers in check once Cole departs.

Casey Mize counters for Detroit, and he’s finally living up to the hype, as he’s pitched to a 1.73 ERA and 0.846 WHIP over his last four starts. Mize has never faced this lineup before, which gives him an edge.

Once Mize is finished, a much-improved Bengals bullpen (2.72 ERA last 14 days, fourth in baseball) will step in.

MLB pick: Under

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San Diego Padres (32-19) at Houston Astros (27-22), 8:10 p.m. ET

Bettors should anticipate plenty of work for both the Padres and Astros bullpens on Friday night, but one side is much better equipped for such a battle.

Dinelson Lamet has been thriving for San Diego in limited roles in 2021, whether he’s “opening” or pitching in long relief. He’s tossed just 11 innings in five appearances this year, but allowed only two runs. Lamet threw a season-high 41 pitches in last Saturday’s effort, so he’s trending the right way in that department as well.

Backing Lamet is a solid Padres bullpen that’s third in ERA (2.15) over the last two weeks.

Framber Valdez – making his first start of the season due to injury – responds for the Astros. The leash is likely to be short on the Dominican native who had a 1.88 postseason ERA in 2020 (four starts).

The Friars can afford to be patient and wait for their chance to pounce on the Houston bullpen, which owns a 5.86 ERA (26th) over the last two weeks. Fernando Tatis Jr. has been tearing the cover off the ball of late, batting .455 over the last seven days with three homers and 14 RBI, so look for him to generate offense throughout.

MLB pick: Padres -103