Most Major League Baseball teams have gone well past the 100-game mark this season, and trades have already started to ramp up ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
The playoff race has also started to heat up, with 12 teams sitting between 55 and 61 wins. This weekend should be a fun one, and the results should be pivotal for the postseason picture.
Multiple high-profile series begin this weekend, including Dodgers-Red Sox, Yankees-Phillies, Giants-Mets and Tigers-Blue Jays.
Needless to say, the betting prospects will be plentiful, but we'll need to pick our spots wisely so we can set ourselves up for success.
Let's take a look at the full odds boards for this weekend's MLB slate, then reveal our best bets, top value wagers and favourite player props, courtesy of our U.S. betting expert Sloan Piva.
Best MLB moneyline bet for Friday night
Odds correct at start of tournament, click links below to bet.
Giants vs. Mets (8/11, AK Bets)
The Giants have lost seven of their past 10 games, so it's obviously a little difficult to trust them in a series-opener versus National League East-leading Mets. However, if anyone can get San Francisco a much-needed win, it's Logan Webb. The Giants ace just made his second-straight All-Star appearance, and he has registered wins in two of his past three starts. Meanwhile, Mets starter Clay Holmes has given up 12 runs over his past three starts, and New York has lost each of his past two. Enjoy the home cooking at Oracle Park, and take San Fran to take home the moneyline win.
Best MLB run-line bet for Friday night
Mariners -1.5 at Angels (27/20, Betfair)
The Mariners have been cranking this season, and they're currently in fifth place in the American League. Seattle turns to All-Star pitcher Bryan Woo this evening, and it should bag its 56th win of the season against an underwhelming Angels club. Woo has logged quality starts in 14 of his 19 appearances this season, and the M's have a +21 run differential over his past nine road starts. And when he pitches and the M's win, they win handily. Their average scoring margin in wins started by Woo: +5.1. This feels like as safe a run-line bet as you can find on the Friday night MLB market.
Top MLB hitter prop for Friday night
Aaron Judge (Yankees vs. Phillies): OVER 0.5 RBIs (4/6, Paddy Power)
The Yankees are at home, it's a Friday night game against a World Series contender, and Aaron Judge has a favourable. All rise! The reigning AL MVP has four home runs over 13 at-bats against Philadelphia's Taijuan Walker, and Walker gave up three earned runs on nine hits over four innings against the Angels in his last start. One RBI seems like the lock of the night, so disregard the short odds and just take the easy profit.
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Top MLB pitcher prop for Friday night
Freddy Peralta (Brewers vs. Marlins): OVER 4.5 hits (21/20, Bet365)
Many bettors will jump on Peralta and the Brewers to filet the Marlins, who typically lurk around the bottom of the NL standings. But Miami has been pretty good this season, with a record of 48-53 and the 12th-most hits in the majors. Clayton McCullough's club also has 40 runs over its past eight games, and Peralta has surrendered five hits in two of his past three starts. We still like Milwaukee to win this game, but Miami should reach five hits on the Brewers' starter.
Top MLB series bet for the weekend
Red Sox to win weekend series vs. Dodgers (10/11, Bet365)
The Red Sox have won 15 of their past 21 games, and they have averaged over six runs per game over that 21-game stretch. In that same timeframe (since June 28), the Dodgers have gone 8-12. Los Angeles has looked like it's not in a good place as a team, struggling at times to put up runs and often failing miserably to keep opponents from scoring barrages. This young Boston team has moxie, and it can absolutely win a Fenway series against the reigning World Series champions.
