Mike Lundin Sports Handicapper Review & Professional Sports Picks

Cubs vs Royals MLB Free Pick

The Angle(s): The Chicago Cubs hit the road to Kansas City riding a crisp four-game winning streak, and they draw a prime matchup to extend their run. Left-hander Daniel Lynch IV (4-2, 1.96 ERA) gets the nod for Kansas City, but despite his microscopic 1.96 ERA across 46 relief-heavy appearances, the Cubs represent a brutal test for him. Chicago has crushed southpaws all season long, posting a stellar 21-11 record and a +24% ROI when facing a left-handed starting pitcher or primary opener.

 The Cubs send recently acquired veteran righty Kevin Gausman (5-10, 4.38 ERA) to the hill. Gausman's win-loss record is largely a byproduct of poor run support during his time in Toronto, but his underlying metrics remain relatively sharp. 

 The Bet: Cubs -1½ (3%). 

MAGIC MIKE'S MLB MONEYLINE MONEYMAKER

The Angle(s): The Colorado Rockies hit the road following a brutal three-game sweep at home at the hands of the Rays. Road trips have been a nightmare for Colorado all season; sitting at a dismal 18-38 away from Coors Field, they scare virtually no one outside of Denver. To make matters worse, they face a red-hot St. Louis rotation on Friday night.

Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.44 ERA) enters this matchup locked into a dominant groove, posting a stellar 1.38 ERA over his past five starts. Colorado turns to righty Ryan Feltner (4-5, 5.75 ERA), who continues to search for answers during a miserable stretch. Feltner has surrendered 4, 8, 5, and 4 runs across his last four outings, struggling with control and home runs.

The Bet: Cardinals (3%). 

4% Astros vs Padres MLB Total TOP PLAY

The Angle(s): The Astros are 8-2 to the over in their last 10 games, and with seven wins they've clearly been productive. However, Houston's lineup cannot afford to coast, especially with right-hander Ronel Blanco (0-1, 7.36 ERA) struggling to maintain consistency. Blanco has allowed 3, 4, 5, and 3 runs over his recent outings, failing to work deep into games and leaving heavy responsibilities for the bullpen.

The Padres turn to veteran left-hander Robbie Ray (10-6, 3.08 ERA), and while Ray is coming off a solid couple of months that have dropped his season ERA down to a crisp 3.08, his underlying peripheral metrics suggest he's ripe for regression. Also, an elevated career ERA over 5.20 against Houston, makes this a treacherous matchup for the southpaw.

The Bet: Over (4%). 

Braves/Yankees MLB BOOKIE BU$TER

The Angle(s): The Yankees hand the ball to left-hander Max Fried (4-3, 3.12 ERA) who has posted a razor-thin 0.99 WHIP over 75.0 innings while demonstrating exceptional control. Facing his former club for the first time since joining the Bronx Bombers, Fried brings extra motivation to the bump and has been particularly tough on left-handed heavy lineups.

Atlanta counters with Tyler Mahle (3-9, 5.14 ERA) for his Braves debut since being acquired from the Giants. The veteran right-hander returned from the injured list on June 24 and posted a 3.06 ERA over his next six starts, but the Padres tagged him for five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings last time out. 

The Bet: Yankees (4%).