MLB Betting Guide for July 2: Critical Week for Yankees

All 30 MLB teams are in action tonight, so let’s dive into action set for the night ahead.

Headlining the early slate, the New York Yankees will host the Cincinnati Reds, and for the Yankees, this week will be critical for them to break out of their slump. Luckily, they are in a three-way tie alongside the Cleveland Guardians and Baltimore Orioles, as neither of those clubs jumped on the Yankees’ struggles to surpass them in the standings. They’ve been inconsistent and unreliable for roughly the past two weeks, so they must stack wins against the Reds this week before they begin a three-series stretch against the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles. 

Additionally, in the early slate, the Houston Astros will look to continue their winning ways north of the border against the Toronto Blue Jays. At the same time, the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins will meet in an AL Central showdown as AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal will take the ball for the Tigers.

Later, we worked up a +1000 ultimate same-game parlay for the nationally televised matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in Wrigley. We’ll also have our eyes on an intriguing matchup in the Pacific Northwest, as the Seattle Mariners will host the Baltimore Orioles.

It should be a great night of baseball, so stay with SportsGrid to be covered on everything that will be thrown at us. Let’s ride! 

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks.

MLB Betting Guide for July 2

Tonight’s Headliners: +1000 Phillies-Cubs SGP | Jayson Tatum Reaching Shohei Ohtani Levels of Earnings | Exploring MLB Divisional Rivalries 

6:40 p.m ET: Boston Red Sox @ Miami Marlins

• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 | Moneyline: Red Sox -176 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: loanDepot Park (Miami, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Kutter Crawford (ERA: 3.59; K/9: 9.23) vs. Valente Bellozo (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 3.60)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 8 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Red Sox by 0.9 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Rafael Devers OVER 0.5 HRs (4-Stars, +370) | Valente Bellozo UNDER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars, +108)

6:40 p.m ET: St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates

• Run Line: Pirates -1.5 | Moneyline: Pirates -124 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Kyle Gibson (ERA: 3.70; K/9: 7.90) vs. Mitch Keller (ERA: 3.20; K/9: 8.33)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Pirates -1.5 (1.5-Stars) | Pirates ML (1.5-Stars) | UNDER 8.5 (1.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Pirates by 0.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Nolan Gorman OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +170) | Oneil Cruz OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +155)

6:40 p.m ET: Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland Guardians

• Run Line: Guardians -1.5 | Moneyline: Guardians -122 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
• Weather Notes: Warm, clear, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Chris Flexen (ERA: 5.13; K/9: 6.84) vs. Carlos Carrasco (ERA: 5.27; K/9: 6.94)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Guardians -1.5 (3-Stars) | Guardians ML (3-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Guardians by 2.06 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Paul DeJong OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +190) | Carlos Carrasco UNDER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

6:45 p.m ET: New York Mets @ Washington Nationals

• Run Line: Mets -1.5 | Moneyline: Mets -138 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Nationals Park (Washington, DC)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Sean Manaea (ERA: 3.89; K/9: 8.96) vs. DJ Herz (ERA: 5.48; K/9: 11.39)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Nationals +1.5 (2.5-Stars) | UNDER 9 (3.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mets by 0.3 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Francisco Alvarez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +155) | CJ Abrams OVER 0.5 RBIs (4-Stars, +170)

7:05 p.m ET: Cincinnati Reds @ New York Yankees

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -210 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Graham Ashcraft (ERA: 5.45; K/9: 6.92) vs. Luis Gil (ERA: 3.15; K/9: 10.40)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: OVER 8.5 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Yankees by 1.7 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jeimer Candelario OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +170) | Trent Grisham OVER 0.5 RBIs (4-Stars, +195)

7:07 p.m ET: Houston Astros @ Toronto Blue Jays

• Run Line: Astros -1.5 | Moneyline: Astros -102 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Spencer Arrighetti (ERA: 5.68; K/9: 10.38) vs. Jose Berrios (ERA: 3.38; K/9: 6.58)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Astros ML (2-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Astros by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jose Altuve OVER 0.5 RBIs (4.5-Stars, +175)

7:40 p.m ET: Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins

• Run Line: Tigers -1.5 | Moneyline: Tigers -112 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Target Field (Minneapolis, MN)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Tarik Skubal (ERA: 2.32; K/9: 10.39) vs. Simeon Woods Richardson (ERA: 3.41; K/9: 7.64) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Twins +1.5 (3.5-Stars) | Twins ML (4.5-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (4-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Twins by 0.8 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Tarik Skubal OVER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Carlos Correa OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +200)

8:05 p.m ET: Philadelphia Phillies @ Chicago Cubs

• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 | Moneyline: Cubs -126 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: TBS | Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Michael Mercado (ERA: 0.00; K/9: 9.00) vs. Hayden Wesneski (ERA: 3.60; K/9: 8.80)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Phillies ML (2-Stars, +108) | UNDER 9.5 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Phillies by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Alec Bohm OVER 1.5 Total Bases (5-Stars) | Ian Happ OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +145)

8:05 p.m ET: San Diego Padres @ Texas Rangers 

• Run Line: Padres -1.5 | Moneyline: Padres -106 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Globe Life Field (Arlington, TX)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Dylan Cease (ERA: 3.84; K/9: 11.44) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (ERA: 3.45; K/9: 9.12)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rangers +1.5 (5-Stars) | Rangers ML (5-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (2.5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rangers by 1.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Dylan Cease OVER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars, +102) | Nathan Eovaldi OVER 4.5 Ks (5-Stars)

8:10 p.m ET: Tampa Bay Rays @ Kansas City Royals

• Run Line: Royals +1.5 | Moneyline: Royals -124 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
• Weather Notes: Likelihood of storms late, postponement likely

Starting Pitching Matchup: Zack Littell (ERA: 4.17; K/9; 8.55) vs. Brady Singer (ERA: 3.12; K/9: 8.56)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Royals +1.5 (3.5-Stars) | Royals ML (3-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 1.2 runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Zack Littell OVER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars)

8:40 p.m ET: Milwaukee Brewers @ Colorado Rockies

• Run Line: Brewers -1.5 | Moneyline: Brewers -120 | Total: 11.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Coors Field (Denver, CO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Dallas Keuchel (ERA: 11.25; K/9: 9.00) vs. Ryan Feltner (ERA: 5.82; K/9: 7.79)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: UNDER 11.5 (2.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Brewers by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Brice Turang OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +135)

9:40 p.m ET: Los Angeles Angels @ Oakland Athletics

• Run Line: Angels -1.5 | Moneyline: Angels -108 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oakland Colesium (Oakland, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jose Soriano (ERA: 3.48; K/9: 7.47) vs. Mitch Spence (ERA: 4.35; K/9: 7.38)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Angels -1.5 (5-Stars) | Angels ML (5-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (4-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Angels by 1.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Mickey Moniak OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +195) | Shea Langeliers OVER 0.5 (4.5-Stars, +140)

9:40 p.m ET: Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners 

• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -112 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: T-Mobile Park (Seattle, WA)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Grayson Rodriguez (ERA: 3.72; K/9: 9.73) vs. George Kirby (ERA: 3.35; K/9: 8.70)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 7.5 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Orioles by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Gunnar Henderson OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +175) | Cal Raleigh OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +175)

10:10 p.m ET: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers

• Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -200 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Ryne Nelson (ERA: 5.69; K/9: 6.09) vs. Bobby Miller (ERA: 6.75; K/9: 9.45)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Dodgers -1.5 (4.5-Stars) | Dodgers ML (2-Stars) | OVER 8.5 (3.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Dodgers by 2.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Ryne Nelson UNDER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars)