MLB Saturday Picks - July 20
The second half of the 2024 MLB season officially got underway yesterday, which means we’re in the midst of the weekend series. These next two weeks are pivotal for teams as the trade deadline is at the end of the month, so how they perform will determine quite a bit when it comes to being buyers or sellers. With these important matchups, we’ve shared our best MLB Saturday picks for 7/20.
MLB Saturday predictions
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees Over 8.5 Runs (-108)
Philadelphia Phillies ML over Pittsburgh Pirates (-145)
Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners Under 7 Runs (-110)
Best MLB Saturday picks: Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees Over 8.5 Runs (-108)
The very first game of the day is an early afternoon matchup that has become a classic divisional rivalry. It may not be as recognizable as their one with the Boston Red Sox, but the New York Yankees hosting the Tampa Bay Rays has become notable for the AL East. They just faced off before the All-Star break, and we saw quite a few runs scored in that series.
Better yet, across their last five meetings before this weekend, they totaled less than eight runs just once. We’re expecting more of the same, given that both teams had their aces on the mound yesterday on the first day back. Rather than the Yankees having Gerrit Cole toeing the rubber, it will be Nestor Cortes, who has struggled far more than last season with just a 4-8 record. Tampa’s Taj Bradley has been more formidable, but with the Bronx Bombers being the second-highest-scoring team in the MLB, they can still do their part in a high-scoring game.
Best MLB Saturday picks: Philadelphia Phillies ML over Pittsburgh Pirates (-145)
Next up for our best MLB Saturday picks isn’t another divisional rivalry but an in-state rivalry. That would be the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. There’s no denying that the individual storyline of the first half of the season has been Pittsburgh rookie starter Paul Skenes, who even got the nod for the All-Star Game. However, we’re still backing the road team.
Skenes won't take the mound for a few days, and even if he was, the Phillies are more than just a one-man show. They entered the All-Star break with the best record in baseball and a commanding lead in the NL East over a World Series favorite, the Atlanta Braves.
We’d certainly prefer it if they had one of the top two NL Cy Young candidates on the mound, but even with Christopher Sanchez getting the start, we’re confident. He led Philly to win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing and threw a three-hit complete game two starts prior.
Best MLB Saturday picks: Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners Under 7 Runs (-110)
We’ll finish off our best MLB Saturday picks with what is also the last game of the night. Atop the AL West is a battle between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, and the two are going head-to-head to begin the second half of the season. It was a slow start for the Astros, but they’ve been the hottest team in baseball, and they’re going to have stud Framber Valdez taking the mound.
While that certainly provides them with a great chance at a win, Seattle starter George Kirby is one of the better young arms in the MLB. Don’t let his 7-7 record fool you - he’s a strikeout machine, and the last time he faced the Astros, the game ended in a 2-1 final score. On top of all that, the game being in Seattle also provides a reason for a low-scoring game. T-Mobile Park ranks as one of the best pitcher’s parks in baseball, so we aren’t anticipating many fireworks at the end of the night.
