Friday June 28 Best Sports Betting Picks & Predictions For MLB & WNBA

With the NBA draft behind us and no Copa America matches with any intrigue, what’s on the sports betting docket to wrap up the week? We’ll take a double dose of Florida baseball, including a bet on one impressive individual run to continue.

Then comes a potentially lopsided matchup in the WNBA for our nightcap. On with the picks:

Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies

Maybe he’s not a household name, but Cristopher Sanchez (2.13 ERA since May) will be one of the best pitchers going Friday night, and the matchup against the offense-challenged Marlins (29th in MLB in runs) is a delectable one. The Phillies’ bullpen may have sprung a leak Thursday, but the NL’s best club is not about to drop a home series against one of the league’s worst.

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both picked up injuries late in Thursday’s series opener, so runs could be at a premium on both sides, but Philadelphia likely won’t even need them to beat Marlins starter Kyle Tyler, who’s pitched all of six innings this year. Just for good measure, we’ll bundle the under with a Phillies moneyline win for a better return on investment.

The pick: Phillies moneyline/Under 8.5 total runs, +150 (DraftKings)

Washington Nationals at Tampa Bay Rays

Yandy Diaz of the Rays not only has a 19-game hitting streak going, he’s also reached base successfully in 28 straight games dating back to Memorial Day weekend. The funny thing is, he hasn’t drawn a walk since June 15—he’s simply getting bat on ball, including six multi-hit games in the past eight. “I’ve had the same routine for the last few years,” Diaz told the Tampa Bay Times. “I’m not trying to do too much, and I think that’s been the key to it.”

The Nationals are starting Mitchell Parker, who’s one of their better pitchers right now but a rookie nonetheless. We like Diaz to keep his hot streak going with one hit off Parker and one later in the game off the Nationals’ bullpen, which ranks 24th in opponents’ batting average.

The pick: Yandy Diaz Over 1.5 hits, +150 (DraftKings)

Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury

 This WNBA matchup has a double-digit point spread, and it’s fully justified. The Mercury may be a .500 club, but they’re 6-2 at home this season. Their Western Conference opponents, meanwhile, are a miserable 1-9 away from home and 0-6 on a seven-game road trip that mercifully ends Friday. Think they’ll end their skid now? Fat chance.

The Sparks’ defense has been woeful this year, ranking 10th of 12 teams in scoring defense, dead last in field goal percentage allowed, and 11th in 3-point defense. Losing star rookie Cameron Brink to a torn ACL sure didn’t help. They’ll be hard-pressed to stop the high-scoring Phoenix trio of Kahleah Copper, Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. The Mercury prevailed by 19 the first time these teams met this year. Winning by 12 shouldn’t be a problem.

The pick: Mercury -11, -105 (DraftKings)