There are 15 games on MLB's slate for Saturday, July 8, including a matchup between two of the league's most historic franchises, the Cubs and Yankees.
Action Network MLB betting analyst D.J James looked over the MLB odds and made picks for Saturday's games, including in the Cubs vs. Yankees and Phillies vs. Marlins matchups.
The best bets, which include both an under and an over, are below. So, continue reading for the best MLB best for Saturday, July 8.
Saturday's MLB Best Bets
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 the team logos for one the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
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| Specific bet 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. | ||
Cubs vs. Yankees
Saturday, July 8 1:05 p.m. ET Amazon Prime |
Under 8.5 (-110)  |
By D.J. James
Drew Smyly may be in a bit of a slump, but has been solid overall this season.
Smyly and the Cubs are set to face Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Cole has a tendency to yield hard contact at times, but he's the Yankees' ace for a reason. His expected numbers show some negative regression forthcoming, but he should still be able to hold the Cubs in check.
The under should be in play for Cubs vs. Yankees if both starters pitch to the level they've shown this season.
Smyly holds a 4.10 ERA against a 3.80 xERA. His 6.5% Barrel Rate is a career best and his 87 mph Average Exit Velocity ranks in the 82nd percentile.
The Cubs have a 100 wRC+ over the past month against right-handed pitching, but most of those hurlers weren't of Cole's caliber. Chicago also strike out over 22% of the time, something Cole can exploit.
Dansby Swanson is nursing a heel injury, so it's possible Cubs give him a day off. If he's out, that leaves five active starters with a .320+ xwOBA. Additionally, the bottom half of Chicago's lineup has really struggled against righties.
Meanwhile, Cole ranks in the 41st percentile in Average Exit Velocity and the 42nd percentile in Hard-Hit Rate. He is striking out 26.3% of the hitters he faces, which is a big reason why his ERA is 2.79 and his xERA is 3.99. However, the Cubs have a tendency to chase and Cole ranks in the 77th percentile in Chase Rate.
The Yankees are still missing Aaron Judge and haven't hit well in his absence. Smyly, especially against lefties, can take advantage of New York's weaknesses.
The Cubs aren't a great hitting team and the bottom half of the Yankees lineup has struggled against lefties. Each team also has a couple solid relievers, so betting the under is the right play here. Play this at 8, but don't go any lower.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-110) |
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Phillies vs. Marlins
Saturday, July 8 4:10 p.m. ET MLB.TV |
Over 8 (-105)  |
By D.J. James
Ranger Suárez has been a reliable arm for the Philadelphia Phillies upon his return from the Injured List. That said, he carries a 3.67 ERA and 4.45 xERA into this game and has a tendency to allow hard contact. He ranks in the 50th percentile in Average Exit Velocity, the 41st percentile in Hard-Hit Rate and the 29th percentile in Barrel Rate. He will regress in the second half, if not in this game.
His opponent will be Braxton Garrett and the Miami Marlins. Garrett has been serviceable for the Marlins, but his 3.61 ERA against a 4.19 xERA is relatively similar to Suárez’s. Garrett doesn't walk many hitters and ranks in the 11th percentile in Average Exit Velocity and Hard-Hit Rate. His Barrel Rate is in the 25th percentile.
The Phillies, off lefties in the past month, have a .817 OPS and a 117 wRC+. They rank fifth in MLB and have shown an ability to hit throughout the lineup. They have multiple bats with a xwOBA over .380 and should be able to get to Garrett.
The Marlins have a .833 OPS and a 133 wRC+ off of lefties since June 8. They also have multiple bats with a xwOBA over .380.
In relief, both teams have fared well. However, if the starters exit early, the managers will be forced to use some of their weaker options in an attempt to eat innings. With that being the case, bet this game to 9 (-115).
Pick: Over 8 | Play to 9 |
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QuickSlip is an Action Network feature that allows users to automatically pre-load their bet slip at FanDuel Sportsbook.
