Welcome back to another weekend of MLB picks as we focus on Saturday’s all-day baseball slate. Let’s dive into MLB best bets and props as you enjoy the weekend action!

Our top MLB predictions today feature the AL East showdown between the Yankees and Blue Jays and an AL Central matchup of the Guardians vs. Royals. Plus, we wrap up our Saturday baseball betting card with some top MLB props. 

Enjoy the afternoon and night baseball as we cash our plays! 

 

 


 

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 6/29

As always, be sure to shop around for the best Vegas odds and lines at different sportsbooks. The odds in this article below are accurate as of this writing. 

Without further ado, let’s check out my MLB best bets and props for Saturday, June 29th!

 

 


 

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Prediction Today, June 29th

Saturday afternoon’s MLB schedule brings us an AL East matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. We have Nestor Cortes on the mound for New York and Chris Bassitt starting for Toronto. These starting pitchers, combined with two offenses in unfavorable splits, point to a lower-scoring game today.

Nestor Cortes has been solid this season with a 3.40 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Though he’s had a some rough outings here and there, the Yankees’ left-hander boasts a 3.07 ERA over his past 10 starts and is rocking a 3.04 xERA overall this year. Cortes’ career-low 4.5% walk rate has been especially elite (93rd MLB percentile). 

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are a bottom-tier offense against left-handed pitching this season (.282 wOBA, 83 wRC+). Since the start of June, the Jays have been even worse vs. lefties with a .233 wOBA (30th in MLB), 49 wRC+ (30th), .184 BA (29th), and .510 OPS (30th). This is a great spot for Cortes, despite his road struggles at times this year. The southpaw has a 2.39 ERA in five starts vs. Toronto since joining the Yanks’ rotation in 2021. 

As Cortes limits the Blue Jays’ hitters, Chris Bassitt can do the same to New York’s offense as well. Bassitt has a decent 3.45 ERA, but his overall numbers are hurt by a rough first month of the season. Lately, the Toronto right-hander has been very efficient and consistent with a 2.32 ERA over his past 5 starts and a 2.36 ERA over his past 10 starts. 

Although the Yankees do have some top-tier numbers vs. righties this season (.339 wOBA, 123 wRC+), it’s been a different story recently. Over the past two weeks, New York has been below-average in the split with a .298 wOBA (22nd), 95 wRC+ (22nd), .213 BA (25th), and .671 OPS (23rd). Bassitt faced the Yankees back in May and tossed 6.1 innings of one-run ball. He also had two scoreless outings against them last season for an impressive 0.43 ERA in his last three matchups vs. the division rivals. 

Let’s take the under for the full game and the first five innings. Bank on both Cortes and Bassitt to anchor a lower-scoring matchup. 

Expert Yankees vs. Blue Jays Picks

  • Under 8 Total Runs (-105 BetMGM)
  • 1st 5 Innings Under 4.5 Runs (-118 FanDuel Sportsbook)

 

 


 

Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction Today, June 29th

In case you haven’t noticed, the Cleveland Guardians are one of the hottest teams in the majors. They recently reeled off a 7-game win streak and have gone 27-12 since the middle of May. After losing two games in a row this week, the Guardians got back on track last night. Let’s bank on Cleveland to start another winning run with today’s picks. 

Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee is having a solid sophomore season with a 3.50 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and 1.12 WHIP. The right-hander has been much better lately, though, with a 2.30 ERA and 2.32 FIP over his past 8 starts. Bibee boasts some impressive advanced stats with a 29.3% strikeout rate (90th MLB percentile), 6.1% walk rate (75th), and 33.9% hard-hit rate (81st). 

Today presents a favorable matchup for Bibee to keep it going. The Royals have some terrible numbers against right-handed pitching lately. Over the past two weeks vs. righties, they have a .260 wOBA, 62 wRC+, .190 BA, and .586 OPS – dead last in the majors in each stat over this stretch. Bibee, meanwhile, has a 2.66 ERA on the road this season compared to a 4.36 ERA at home. 

On the other side, Cole Ragans starts for Kansas City but we should still have confidence in the Cleveland offense. Though Ragans is having a good season with a 3.03 ERA and advanced stats to back it up, he’s also benefited from some easier matchups. When Ragans has faced offenses that are tough on left-handed pitchers, he’s had some shaky results (3 runs on 6 hits allowed to Dodgers, 7 runs on 8 hits to Angels, 3 runs on 8 hits to Twins, 7 runs on 9 hits to Orioles). 

Ragans has yet to face the Guardians, who are hitting lefties well lately and have top-10 numbers in the split overall this season. Against southpaws over the past two weeks, Cleveland has a .352 wOBA (5th in MLB), 133 wRC+ (4th), .292 BA (5th), and .814 OPS (6th). This lineup can put up runs in a hurry as Steven Kwan (.403 BA vs. lefties) and Jose Ramirez (.351) lead the way.

There’s value on Cleveland today as the Royals may be overvalued a bit with Ragans on the mound. Plus, Bibee has been just as good at times recently and can have the upper hand here. Grab the Guardians on the moneyline and to lead after five innings. 

Expert Guardians vs. Royals Picks

  • Guardians Moneyline (-105 BetMGM)
  • Gaurdians 1st 5 Innings ML (+100 DraftKings Sportsbook)

 

 


 

Best MLB Player Props Today, 6/29