MLB: Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves
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American League West aces square off when Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros host Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels on Friday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Valdez (5-4, 2.38 ERA) ranks fifth in the majors in ERA. Meanwhile Ohtani (5-1, 2.91) is fourth in baseball in strikeouts (90). Houston is a -130 favorite (risk $130 to win $100) in the latest MLB odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Los Angeles is a +110 underdog. The over/under for runs scored is 7.5. 

The game is one of 15 on the MLB schedule for Friday. Elsewhere in the majors, Cardinals prospect Jordan Walker returns to St. Louis from a minor league stint, and the Yankees and Dodgers (-140) open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Before making any MLB picks or parlays, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It has opened the 2023 MLB season on a 29-20 roll on all-top rated MLB picks (+319). And on Memorial Day, the model hit a Giants-Yankees-Dodgers parlay that paid almost 4-1. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns. 

Now, the model has locked in three confident MLB best bets for Friday, all on games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET or later. If you successfully parlay the picks, you'd be looking at a payout of well over 4-1. You can only see the model's MLB picks at SportsLine

Top MLB picks today

After simulating every game on Friday 10,000 times, the model is calling for Houston (-130) to knock off the Los Angeles Angels. The Astros have had success against Ohtani. The Japanese star has started against Houston 11 times in his career and is just 3-4 in those starts. The Astros are just one of three major league teams (the Braves and Yankees are the other two) that have a winning record against Ohtani.

In addition, Houston's Yordan Alvarez is having a MVP-caliber season. The 25-year-old designated hitter and leftfielder ranks second in the majors in RBI (48), fifth in OPS (.959) and seventh in homers (14). He also leads the team in on-base percentage (.389). See who else to back here.

How to make MLB parlays for Friday, June 2

The model has locked in two other best bets for Friday, including one on an underdog that would return plus money. You can only see the model's MLB parlay picks and best bets at SportsLine

Which MLB picks should you target Friday for a shot at a return of well over 4-1? Visit SportsLine now to see the MLB best bets for Friday from the model that is 29-20 on top-rated MLB picks this season, and find out.