MLB Best Bets For Tuesday, June 28

Major League Baseball’s schedule for Tuesday, June 28th, features all 30 teams seeing action with 16 games on the docket, including a double-header in Cleveland. MLB Odds favor the home teams in most of these games. 

If yesterday’s contests were any indicator, runs will continue to be up on Tuesday. All but one of Monday’s nine games saw at least one of the teams plate four runs. Seven of the nine games featured run differentials of at least four runs, including. Some of the top pitchers in MLB are expected to take the mound on Tuesday, but offenses continue to warm up as the summer progresses. 

Only seven of Tuesday’s 16 games stand as divisional matchups, and that includes Cleveland’s twin bill. Today’s bets back a pair of underdogs on the road, as well as one of the best pitchers in baseball looking to lock down a light-hitting offense. Here’s a look at three MLB Best Bets for Tuesday, June 28th. 

Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals

MLB Best Bet: Pirates Moneyline +105 (DraftKings)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (29-44) took their fourth straight loss with the 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Nationals on Monday. The Pirates dropped to 12-24 on the road this season and posted a 4-6 record over their last 10 games. In that stretch, Pittsburgh posted a .227 batting average and 4.85 ERA, but outscored opponents by three runs. 

The Washington Nationals (28-48) registered a second straight win with the victory over Pittsburgh on Monday. The Nationals managed a 5-5 record over their last 10 games, hitting .245, with a 2.86 team ERA. They outscored opponents by one run over that stretch. 

The pitching matchup for Tuesday stands as Pittsburgh’s Jose Quintana (1-4, 3.34 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) versus Washington’s Patrick Corbin (3-10, 6.60 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 63 strikeouts).

Quintana’s looking to snap a four-game losing streak, though he pitched well in his last outing (two runs over six innings with six strikeouts and one walk). Corbin, meanwhile, has struggled since helping the Nationals win the World Series in 2019, posting a 5.76 ERA over his last 57 starts. Corbin’s ERA has fluctuated between 6.06 and 6.96 over his last nine starts this season, so there’s value in fading him when his team is favored.

Corbin’s recent run could help the Pirates here, who enter 18-6 in games when they scored at least five runs. Pittsburgh’s won five of the last seven meetings between these clubs. The Nationals have struggled to win consistently at home, going 19-46 over their last 65 games in Washington. The Nats are just 5-21 in games following a contest in which they allowing two runs or less.

Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays

MLB Best Bet: Red Sox Moneyline +123 (UniBet)

The Boston Red Sox (42-32) hope to continue their climb up the AL standings with this series starting in Toronto, although the Blue Jays have had their number so far this season. Boston enters with a 22-16 record on the road and with a lineup that’s posted a .417 slugging percentage to rank fifth in MLB.

The Toronto Blue Jays (41-32) come to this one scuffling a bit, having gone just 4-6 over their last 10 games. During that stretch, Toronto hitters managed a .237 batting average, while the pitching staff posted a 6.07 ERA. The Blue Jays beat Boston on Monday, 7-2, pulling them within 0.5 games of the Red Sox in the AL East standings. 

Tuesday’s pitching matchup sees Boston’s Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 48 strikeouts) face off against Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling (4-2, 3.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 43 strikeouts). 

Wacha enters 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in five career outings (four starts) against Toronto, including a win on April 27 when he held the Blue Jays to four hits and one run in six innings. Stripling is 2-3 with a 6.62 ERA in seven career starts against the Red Sox.

In addition to having the better pitcher on the mound, Boston’s been locked in coming off losses of late. The Red Sox come to this contest 12-1 in their last 13 games following a loss. Boston’s 6-1 in their last seven against a right-handed starter, and 12-3 in their last 15 road games. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are just 2-5 in their last seven against a team with a winning record, and 0-5 in their last five game 2 matchups of a series. 

Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants

MLB Best Bet: Giants Runline -1.5/+120 (Caesars)

The Detroit Tigers (28-44) come to this contest just 11-22 on the road this season, but managed a 4-6 record over their last 10 games overall. In that stretch, the Tigers posted a .267 batting average with a 5.13 team ERA. Thy were outscored by three runs over that span. 

The San Francisco Giants (39-33) hope to reverse their fortunes following a 1-4 stretch. The Giants managed just a 4-6 record over their last 10 games, with a .248 batting average, a 4.66 ERA, and an even run differential. Recent struggles have seen San Francisco slip in the NL West standings. 

Tuesday’s pitching matchup heavily favors the home team in this one. San Francisco sends Carlos Rodon (6-4, 2.70 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 101 strikeouts) to the mound, who’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball. With Rodon, Giants pitchers have a collective 4.02 ERA, which ranks ninth in the NL. Rodon has nine career starts versus Detroit, all coming while he was pitching for the Chicago White Sox. 

The Tigers expect to counter with Tarik Skubal (5-5, 3.40 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 84 strikeouts), who has struggled mightily of late. In June, Skubal’s allowed 18 runs, posting a 5.86 ERA, which is a dramatic reversal from his 1.45 ERA in May. Over his last three starts, Skubal surrendered 15 earned runs over 13.2 innings pitched. 

The Giants have won each of their last four home games against left-handed starters, and have won six of the last eight against the Tigers in San Francisco. The Giants are 7-3 in their last 10 games following a loss, and 23-9 in their last 32 games following an off day. Detroit enters 1-5 in their last seven road starts versus a left-handed pitcher, and 1-6 in their last seven games against a starter with a sub-1.15 WHIP.