MLB Betting Tips: Take the over as Cubs and Yankees take centre stage

After Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers came through for us on Thursday, Friday’s Major League Baseball schedule gives us the opportunity to follow our selections more closely as the Chicago Cubs play their traditional matinee game.

My MLB Betting Tips for Friday include the Cubbies’ fixture against the Seattle Mariners live on TNT Sports 1, then it’s off to the Bronx to see the New York Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles.

Today’s MLB Odds

Cubs vs Mariners: Over 10.5 Total Runs @ 13/10

While a lot has changed within MLB in recent years, the continuation of the Cubs’ Friday afternoon home games remains a fabulous tradition.

And with a heatwave hitting Chicago, the weekend series with the Mariners looks set to see plenty of balls flying out of Wrigley Field.

Game one (13:20 local, 19:20 BST) should follow the trend of Thursday afternoon’s Brewers-Cubs clash at the Friendly Confines, which saw a total of 15 runs scored.

Eleven of those came off six home runs, and long balls should be the order of the day once more on Friday.

Matt Boyd goes for the Cubs, but even his excellent run of performances which have seen him go 6-3 with a 2.79 ERA should be no match for the hitter-friendly weather.

For the Mariners, George Kirby has improved greatly since a dreadful first couple of outings in May. His last three outings have seen him toss 17 innings and give up six Ernies.

But that’s a record which could take a blow as Wrigley Field’s reputation for being a hitter’s ballpark in the summer months doesn’t come from nowhere.

The 13/10 price implies a 43.5% probability, and I feel that’s very light given the conditions.

Yankees vs Orioles: 1st 5 Innings Double – Yankees and Over 5.5 @ 23/10

After the Cubs game, it will be off to MLB.TV to watch the Yankees host the Orioles at 19:05 local, 00:05 BST.

Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4, 3.38) goes for Baltimore, but the Yankees have the red-hot Max Fried on the mound.

The former Atlanta Brave is on course for his greatest ever season, having recorded a 9-2 record and 1.89 ERA through his first 15 starts.

In his three appearances so far in June, he has tossed a total of 20 innings for four earned runs off 13 hits with 20 strikeouts and just four walks for a 1.80 ERA.

I can well see Fried getting the edge on Sugano in this one, and expect the Yankees to have the lead after five innings.

In search of some value, I’m adding the over-5.5 pick to this one for a 23/10 bet.

There should be enough pop in the Yankees’ bats to chalk up a few runs against an inconsistent Sugano, and I’m happy to envisage Fried giving up at least one in the first five frames to help get us over the mark.

You can read all our latest MLB Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.