The struggling Chicago Cubs look to snap a three-game losing streak Friday when they visit the upstart Detroit Tigers to kick off a three-game weekend series. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET from Comerica Park. The Cubs (17-19) are mired in another downswing in what has been an inconsistent start to the season. They countered a five-game winning streak with a three-game skid that has seen them score just eight combined runs. Conversely, the Tigers (14-12) have won four straight while seeing their lineup break out for 23 runs during that span. Veteran right-hander Jake Arrieta, who has lost his last two road outings, is set to take the mound for Chicago. He will be opposed by Tigers left-handed starter Tarik Skubal, who seeks his first victory of the season.
Chicago is a -130 favorite (risk $130 to win $100), while Detroit is priced at +120 in the latest William Hill Sportsbook MLB odds for Cubs vs. Tigers. This interleague battle is just one of 16 total games on a jam-packed Friday MLB slate. Before making any MLB picks or predictions on that game or others, you need to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model, which simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line MLB picks. It is off to a fast start in 2021, going 44-31 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through six weeks, returning more than $700. Anyone following it has seen huge rewards.
Now, the model has evaluated the latest MLB lines for Friday and posted its best bets for the evening games. Parlaying these four MLB picks would pay 10-1. Head to SportsLine to see the picks.
Top MLB picks for Friday, May 14
The model likes the Dodgers (-213) behind ace Clayton Kershaw against the visiting Miami Marlins (+196), with first pitch set for 10:10 p.m. ET from Dodgers Stadium. The Dodgers have been mired in an early-season slump that recently saw them drop 10 of 13 games, but they are showing signs of getting back on track. They have won three of their last four and their once-dormant offense has picked up the pace with 27 runs combined in those three victories.
Kershaw (5-3, 2.62 ERA) has also struggled by his usual Hall of Fame-level standards, but the iconic left-hander appears to be rounding into form. He had one of the worst performances of his career in a road loss against the Cubs, allowing four earned runs while lasting just one inning. But he bounced back with five scoreless innings while yielding just two hits in a 14-11 win over the Angels on Saturday. In his last home outing, Kershaw gave up just four hits in seven scoreless innings of an 8-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
How to make MLB predictions, parlays for Friday, May 14
The model has locked in three other MLB best bets, including one on a big underdog. You can see the best bets only at SportsLine.
So which MLB picks should you make on Friday for a shot at a big return of 10-1? And which surprising underdog do you need to be all over? Visit SportsLine now to see Friday's top MLB picks, all from the projection model off to a fast start in 2021, and find out.
