The MLB slate on Friday, June 7, features 14 games. Notably, the Dodgers vs Yankees series opener on Friday is one of the most anticipated regular-season games to date.
Appropriately, starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto headlines our Friday MLB Best Bets, but we also have picks for Cubs vs Reds and Rockies vs Cardinals. Check out our MLB Best Bets: Picks & Predictions below.
MLB Best Bets: 3 Prop Picks & Predictions for Friday, June 7
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:05 p.m. | |
  | 7:10 p.m. | |
  | 8:15 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Dodgers vs. Yankees
By Tony Sartori
Los Angeles hands the ball to right-handed rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who should be a good candidate to back on Friday.
Through the first 12 starts of his debut campaign, Yamamoto is 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. His underlying metrics suggest that regression is unlikely, given that the right-hander also sports a 3.35 xERA.
Specifically, we are going to back Yamamoto in the strikeout market, where I am targeting his alternate line of 7+ strikeouts on FanDuel at +130.
He has recorded seven or more punchouts in each of his past three starts and now ranks in the 77th percentile in chase rate, 64th percentile in whiff rate and 83rd percentile in strikeout rate. That success is likely to continue against New York, a team that has never faced him before.
It will also help Yamamoto's cause that Juan Soto could miss today's game following a forearm injury.
Pick: Yoshinobu Yamamoto 7+ Strikeouts (+130)
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Cubs vs. Reds
By D.J. James
The Chicago Cubs will throw Justin Steele on Friday night.
Steele has been worse than his peripherals probably indicate. His Average Exit Velocity is 89 MPH, which has increased since 2023. The same can be said about his Hard-Hit Rate. Adding on, his strikeout rate is slightly down, and his walk rate is up. Since he has predominantly been a groundball pitcher and has not been this year, these woes are concerning.
The Cincinnati Reds are the Cubs’ opponent Friday and will throw a southpaw of their own, Nick Lodolo. He has been great with a 3.11 ERA and 2.95 xERA. His Hard-Hit Rate and Average Exit Velocity are above average. His strikeout rate and walk rate are much better than Steele’s too.
The major gap here is that Cincy is crushing lefties in the last month. Yes, Steel held them to one run in his last outing against them, but the Reds have posted a 130 wRC+, 17% strikeout rate and 11.6% walk rate since May 7 — all elite metrics.
The Cubs have been awful against lefties. They have a 66 wRC+, 20% strikeout rate, and 4.7% walk rate.
Since the Cubs and Reds both tout sub-3.75 xFIPs out of the bullpen, there is not going to be much of a difference in relief.
Look for the Reds to jump on Steele after just seeing him last week. Bet the Reds from -106 to -130. The line suggests that Steele is not facing one of the best lineups against lefties at the moment.
Pick: Reds ML (-112)
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Rockies vs. Cardinals
By John Feltman
The Cardinals fell to 29-32 on the season after losing 3-2 in the first game of a four-game set against the Rockies. Their offense looked lifeless, and they really need to turn it around quickly before they fall too far in the standings.
They'll have a chance to turn things around against Rockies southpaw Austin Gomber, who is also a former Cardinal. Gomber has put up respectable numbers thus far, but his xERA and xFIP are both 1.5 points or higher than his current 3.06 ERA.
Not only is Gomber due for negative regression, but so is Lance Lynn. Lynn's whiff and chase rate are down from last season, hence his less impressive strikeout numbers.
However, given that the Rockies have the worst bullpen ERA in baseball, I like the Cards' chances to add runs late even if Gomber continues his success.
I am a little worried about Lynn, but the Rockies' offense is bad enough that he can continue the trend of limiting hard contact. As long as he keeps the ball in the park, he should hold steady enough to give the Cards' offense a chance to break out.
Pick: Cardinals -1.5 (+114)
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