Monday June 30th MLB Best Odds, Matchups & Best Bets for Monday MLB Slate

A light schedule to start the holiday week includes the opener of a four-game set between the Blue Jays and Yankees, where fireworks are likely to be the norm.

Two late starts with the Royals at Seattle and the Giants in the desert to face Arizona also offer some nighttime investment options for those who prefer to be fully dialed in to have a feel for the games.

Yankees at Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m. ET

Moneyline: Yankees -154, Blue Jays +130
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+106), Blue Jays +1.5 (-128)
Total Runs (Over/Under): 8 runs — Over (-122), Under (+100)

Aaron Judge enters off a two-homer game Sunday and will oppose three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, with the Blue Jays three games behind the first-place Yankees in the American League East.

The 40-year-old right-hander — an eight-time All-Star — will make his third start of the season and his second since returning from an inflamed thumb that put him on the injured list.

He pitched only three innings on March 29, but returned Wednesday to go five innings against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing three runs, six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in a no-decision.

Scherzer is 4-5 with a 4.25 ERA in 12 career starts against the Yankees and will face Carlos Rodón. Rodón is going for his 10th win of the season but is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA against the Blue Jays in his career.

Neither bullpen is fresh, and the bats are alive on both sides. In addition to Judge, the Blue Jays have to tame Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had four RBIs with a triple and a three-run homer on Sunday and is red hot over the past 20 games.

Pick: Over 8 total runs (-112, FanDuel)

Royals at Mariners, 9:40 p.m. ET

Moneyline: Mariners -162, Royals +135
Spread: Mariners -1.5 (+125), Royals +1.5 (-135)
Total Runs (Over/Under): 7.5 runs — Over (+100), Under (-120)

June wraps up, and the Kansas City Royals couldn’t be happier to see it go. The Royals have lost seven of eight games and are fading from the playoff picture, now 4.5 games back of the Mariners for the third and final wild-card spot.

The Royals are hoping veteran right-hander Michael Wacha (4-7, 3.33 ERA) can course correct, while Seattle’s George Kirby (1-4, 5.40 ERA) threw well on Wednesday and is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 20 innings over three previous starts against Kansas City.

The Royals lost six consecutive games before a 9-5 win over the Dodgers on Saturday. But the offense fell flat again Sunday afternoon in a 5-1 setback that cleared the runway for this seven-game road trip through Seattle and Arizona.

After a day off Sunday, Mariners MVP candidate Cal Raleigh digs in against Wacha and should have opportunities to plate runs. He’s been consistent hitting with runners on base.

Bobby Witt Jr. has devoured Kirby’s pitching in his career. Kirby has allowed seven home runs in his seven starts this season, while Witt is 4-for-9 (.444) with two doubles and a 1.111 OPS against him.

Picks:

Cal Raleigh to record 2+ RBIs (+390 at FanDuel)

Bobby Witt Jr. over 1.5 total bases (-125 at Caesars)