With the Major League Baseball season in full pennant race mode, sports bettors should look to focus their bankrolls on the diamond. is here to highlight two key Friday matchup bettors should look to exploit.
Betting Breakdown for Friday, August 20
Atlanta Braves (-240) at Baltimore Orioles (+220)O/U: 10.5 (-115)ATL: 65-56 (1st NL East)BAL: 38-82 (Last AL East)PROBABLES: Max Fried (10-7; 3.78 ERA vs Keegan Akin (0-7; 8.13 ERA)
The Braves head into a weekend set looking to expand their NL East lead over the Phillies and Mets. The Braves will send out Max Fried, who has been stellar in August, surrendering just two earned runs in his last three starts. The Braves, one of the hottest clubs in baseball, are on a six-game winning streak – winners of 9 of its last 10. Thanks to the torrid play of late, Atlanta has opened up a four-game lead over the second-place Phillies and a five-game lead over the fading Mets. Meanwhile, Baltimore enters Friday night in the opposite direction, having lost 15 consecutive games. Bettors should easily look to back the Braves in this contest.
PITCHING TRENDS
M. Fried (L): LAST 3 starts: 3-0; 1.00; 1.00 WHIPK. Akin (R): LAST 3 starts: 0-3; 13.50 ERA; 2.80 WHIP
SI Betting LEAN: Atlanta Braves (-240)