MLB picks: A's vs. Yankees, Reds vs. Padres

It’s another busy Friday night on the diamond, but we’ve managed to narrow things down to our two favorite wagers of the evening!

We’ll lead off with a look at the series opener between the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees. Then we’ll look at a late-night matchup pitting the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres.

Oakland A’s (43-27) at New York Yankees (36-32), 7:05 p.m. ET

The A’s appear to be offering good value on the moneyline in their series opener with the Yankees on Friday night.

James Kaprielian gets the call for Oakland, and since being promoted he has dominated righties, allowing opponents to bat just .131 from that side. That spells trouble for the Bombers’ mostly right-handed lineup.

Kaprielian has proven he can pitch deep into games, so that should minimize the impact the A’s mediocre bullpen (17th by ERA last two weeks) will have on this game.

Jameson Taillon – countering for New York – lasted only one out against the Philadelphia Phillies last Saturday, allowing four runs before being sent to the showers. His ERA for the season is now an inflated 5.74.

Taillon faces an Oakland offense that’s sixth in runs per game on the road in 2021 (4.93). Once he departs, the Yankees’ leaky bullpen (.280 opponent batting average last 14 days, 29th in the majors) will take over.

MLB pick: A’s +123

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Cincinnati Reds (35-32) at San Diego Padres (39-32), 10:10 p.m. ET

Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres’ offense should tee off on Tony Santillan and the lowly Reds bullpen on Friday night.

Santillan caught the league-worst Colorado Rockies road offense for his pro debut last Sunday, and while he held them to one run through 4 2/3 innings, he pitched to a ghastly 1.93 WHIP. He should be terrified to face Tatis, who has been on a tear, amassing five homers in a six-game span with 10 RBI.

Things are unlikely to improve once the Cincinnati relief corps gets involved, as it sports a league-worst ERA this season at 5.64.

Chris Paddack will toe the rubber for San Diego, and he has delivered four quality starts in his last five chances. He should hold down the fort before turning things over to the Padres’ second-ranked bullpen by ERA this year (2.76).

MLB pick: Padres -1.5 runs (-103)