It's getaway day with an abbreviated nine-game slate with plenty of afternoon action.
We're focusing on the evening schedule with our MLB same-game parlay predictions, including an offensive uptick in Kansas City, and an A's team that can take care of business against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Let's dive in with my MLB picks for Thursday, June 18
Today's best MLB SGP picks
| Game | SGP Odds |
|---|---|
 LAA vs  A's |
+600 |
 STL vs  KC |
+340 |
 NYM vs  PHI |
+440 |
Angels vs A's SGP: A's make the grade
I'm a Gage Jump believer. The 23-year-old A's rookie has looked very good through his first four MLB starts, boasting a 3.09 ERA and a 2.50 FIP. He hasn't allowed a home run in 23 innings despite starting a game at Las Vegas Stadium and another at Sutter Health Park. If he can navigate those confines without getting brutalized, the A's will be extremely happy.
He picked up six strikeouts in five innings in his last start, and the Las Angeles Angels have a 24.7% strikeout rate against left-handed hurlers this season (seventh-highest in MLB)
- Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: ABTV, NBC Sports California
See full analysis of this game in our Angels vs. A's predictions.
Cardinals vs Royals SGP: Lefty-mashers unite!
Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron and St. Louis Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore get knocked around the park. Cameron's 4.11 ERA isn't terrible, but he isn't missing bats. His one elite area of production is his 87th-percentile walk rate, which only further underlines that he's been too hittable for that decent ERA to be sustainable.
Liberatore's been worse. He gives up hard contact and issues free passes on top of it. I'm avoiding the moneyline on either side because I expect both teams to do enough damage to clear the total.
I'm going chalky with Jordan Walker and Bobby Witt Jr. to clear 1.5 total bases. Walker remains a bat-speed All-Star, which will make life miserable for Cameron, while Witt is simply relentless with his contact, and his .309 expected batting average ranks in the 99th percentile.
- Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, Royals.TV
Mets vs Phillies SGP: Veteran hurlers stumble
Similar to the above handicap, I like the offenses to tee off at Citizens Bank Park tonight against New York Mets lefty Sean Manaea and Philadelphia Phillies veteran Aaron Nola.
Juan Soto has the best matchup score on the night's slate, and Kyle Schwarber isn't far off, per Batter's Box. With wind blowing to right field on a humid night in Philadelphia, according to BallparkPal, both left-handed sluggers are poised to go off.
I'm focusing on total bases, but both hitters could easily clear the fences based on the matchup-weather combo. I don't love their odds to hit home runs at +203 for Schwarber and +253 for Soto (which makes this SGP +1100 for what it's worth), so I'm taking the safer route with their total bases.
- Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area, BravesVsn
See full analysis of this game in our Mets vs. Phillies predictions.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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