MLB best bets today: Picks, odds for Marlins-Braves, Twins-White Sox
It’s another busy Wednesday in MLB, with a full slate of 15 games.We have our sights set on two of them, with three best bets from around the league.It’s taken a few years for Lopez to put it together, but he finally seems to be figuring it out in Atlanta.Lopez spent the previous 10 years with for teams (seven of them with the White Sox) and had control problems and was hit hard.
But his latest stop appears to have brought out the best version of himself.Lopez was used as a reliever last season in Cleveland, where he posted solid numbers: 30% strikeout rate, 14% whiff rate.He still walks a fair share of lefties, but Miami isn’t a team that looks to draw walks.Although Lopez hadn’t started a game since 2022 (before Atlanta suddenly depended on him after Spencer Strider’s brutal injury), there hasn’t been too much of a drop-off from a swing-and-miss perspective.
He still has a 25% strikeout rate, and the good news is he should be clear to throw roughly 100 pitches now that he’s been stretched out across three very good outings.Miami has an average strikeout rate vs.right-handed pitching this season, but I think Lopez’s stuff is good enough to push his five-K projection at worst.
He cleared this number in each of his three starts, and that includes games against the Astros and Mets, who have better strikeout rates vs.right-handed pitchers than the Marlins do.While Atlanta suddenly has the more-than-formidable Lopez on the bump, the Marlins continue to be in a world of hurt.
Much like Lopez, it’s been a long time coming for Sixto Sanchez, who will (at minimum) open the game for the Braves.The former Phillies top prospect has dealt with numerous injuries, and also just hasn’t lived up to the high expectations over the years.Sanchez has been decent in relief this season, but he does not miss bats, striking out just 8% of hitters.Once upon a time, he was being groomed as a starting pitcher, but he has thrown no more than 34 pitches in any game this ...