The 2026 MLB season is officially back in full swing this Friday, fresh off that Mets vs. Phillies appetizer on Thursday night after the All-Star break. We’ve got a jam-packed schedule with 15 games, including a Rays vs. Red Sox doubleheader that’s going to keep those East Coast fans busy. But the real fireworks? They’re kicking off with a potential 2026 World Series preview as the Dodgers and Yankees get ready to rumble.
This isn’t just any series opener either, it’s a rematch of the 2024 Fall Classic! The first game of their three-game set starts at 7:05 p.m. ET, and honestly, it’s pretty much a coin flip. The Dodgers are sitting at -110 on the money line, with New York right there at -109. The Over/Under for total runs is set at 9. Beyond that blockbuster, don’t sleep on the interleague showdown featuring two first-place teams as the Braves host the Guardians. Talk about an action-packed Friday to jump back into the season!
Now, for those of us who love digging into the numbers, SportsLine expert Adam Thompson has been pouring over all 15 matchups, and he’s got some insights that are seriously worth a look. This guy’s a beast, specializing in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, with a killer track record: he’s up over 70 units in MLB and over 60 units in the NBA in the last two seasons alone. Thompson’s best bets for Friday include the Rockies ML (-116), the Tigers ML (-110), and the Nationals ML (-136). That Rockies pick, listed again at -112, is based on some wild stats. The Reds are struggling, going 4-10 over the past two-plus weeks, and they’re trotting out Brady Singer at Coors Field. Singer’s got a sub-3 ERA since June but he’s 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA in nine road starts. Plus, the guy has issues with lefty-heavy lineups, and Colorado’s got six left-handers, including three of their top four hitters.
While the Rockies’ offense has been hitting the ball but not quite converting those into runs due to a lack of clutch hits, Thompson’s analytics say this is the spot to turn it around. In July, their home OPS is a ridiculous .998 and their OPS versus right-handers is .845. Those splits are way higher than anything the Reds are putting up. On the mound, touted prospect Gabriel Hughes looked legit, throwing six quality innings against the Dodgers in his first start. That’s after a three-inning, zero-run relief appearance versus the Giants. And get this: their bullpen is actually delivering, posting a 2.13 ERA in July. Don’t forget the Tigers either. They might have laid a couple of eggs against the Phillies to end the first half, but before that, they’d ripped off nine wins in ten games.
Friday is going to be an absolute marathon of baseball, and these games are setting the tone for the second half of the season. With big matchups and expert picks dropping, you know it’s going to be a fun one to watch and see how these teams come out of the break!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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