The 2022 MLB season really gets rolling on Friday, with 13 games on the schedule, including a star pitcher facing his old team for the first time since departing. Max Scherzer is scheduled to take the mound for the New York Mets when they face the Washington Nationals at 7:05 p.m. ET. Scherzer helped lead the Nationals to the World Series title in 2019 before being traded to the Dodgers last season. The defending national champs will try to rebound from a 6-3 loss in their opener when the Braves host the Reds again Friday at 7:20 p.m. ET. Charlie Morton is scheduled to make his first regular-season start for Atlanta since breaking his leg when he was hit by a line drive in the World Series.
Atlanta is a -185 money-line favorite (risk $185 to win $100) in the latest MLB odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the Mets are priced at -160 on the road against Washington. Before locking in any MLB picks or parlays, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, enters the 2022 MLB season coming off a 209-178 record on top-rated MLB moneyline picks in 2021, returning more than $700 to $100 players. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in four confident MLB best bets for Friday as the 2022 MLB season gets rolling. They all involve games after 4 p.m. ET, so there's still time to get these MLB picks in. If you successfully parlay the picks, you'd be looking at a payout of more than 8-1. You can see the model's MLB picks for Friday only at SportsLine.
Top MLB picks today
After simulating each of Friday's games 10,000 times, the model likes for Friday is over 8.5 runs (-120) in the Mets vs. Nationals matchup. The pitching could be an issue on both sides, with Scherzer's status up in the air until recently because of a hamstring injury. He tweaked it late in spring training, and when he would be able to make his first start was uncertain, so he might not be at 100 percent. Scherzer has allowed four runs in his initial start of the season the past two years.
On the other side, young Nationals starter Josiah Gray has been susceptible to the home run and had a 9.31 ERA in three spring starts. The 24-year-old has allowed 19 homers in 14 career starts, and he has a 5.48 career ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The Mets beat Washington 5-1 in Thursday's opener, but the Nationals averaged almost 4.5 runs per game last season. The model has the over hitting in 65 percent of simulations, showing a combined run total of 9.3.
How to make MLB parlays for Friday
The model also locked in three other best bets for Friday, including a home favorite that is winning in more than 70 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's MLB parlay picks and best bets for Friday at SportsLine.
What MLB picks should you target for a payout of more than 8-1? And what home favorite is the model strongly backing on Friday? Visit SportsLine now to see the MLB best bets for Friday from a model coming off a 209-178 record on top-rated MLB money-line picks in 2021, and find out.