The Padres host the Diamondbacks on Saturday. ...

Here are the early bets I made after the NFL schedule release ...

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez walked twice Thursday and did not get a hit. But over the previous eight games, Alvarez ripped three homers and five doubles with three multi-hit games. Even against a tough starter in Pablo Lopez, I like Alvarez to record at least two total bases Friday at plus money.

It’s Patrick Corbin Day. Corbin owns a 5.67 home ERA, however, he's allowed four runs, or less, in three out of his last four starts. St. Louis has been struggling against lefties on the road over the last month, hitting .195 with a .489 OPS. Sonny Gray owns a 4.54 road ERA, but has allowed four runs, or less, in five of his six starts in June. The Nationals have also been struggling against righties at home over the last month, hitting .223 with a .639 OPS.

This is a tough spot for Cole Ragans on the road and pitching at Coors Field for the first time. While the Rockies certainly aren't a good team they still hit lefties well and can certainly swing the bats well at home. Considering the price point, I believe this is worth a speculative play.

Every once in a while we take notice of the A's, who opened a few eyes with their midweek sweep of the Angels at the Coliseum, blanking the Halos the last two days. Mark Kotsay's bullpen is humming again, and Friday starter Hogan Harris (3.18 ERA), save his past few starts, has been mostly serviceable. Meanwhile the Baltimore offense has been a bit sluggish on the current road trip. Oakland's offense, however, remains a bit hit-and-miss, so O's pleasant surprise Albert Suarez (2.43 ERA) likely hands over limited damage to his bullpen. Clearing 8.5 runs looks a chore. I'm on the Under.

This doesn't always have to be a complicated exercise, as sometimes the best angles are staring us right in the face. Not many arguments can be more compelling than simply going against the Tigers when Reese Olson is on the mound, as Detroit has lost in 13 of Olson's last 15 starts. And while he has had bad luck at times this season, he didn't help himself in June when posting a 5.73 ERA across six starts, all part of the Tigers' current 8-18 skid since early June. Meanwhile, the Reds didn't need to take a plane back from LaGuardia after sweeping the Yankees, and Carson Spiers has a 2.70 ERA since mid-May.

The Cincinnati Reds have a record of 19-9 in the first game of a series, while Detroit's record is 12-16. The Tigers are on a long road trip, and Reese Olson will be their starting pitcher. Olson has never pitched at Great American Ballpark and has allowed a .955 OPS against the Reds' lineup, albeit in a small sample size. His hard-hit rate is 45.8%, whereas Carson Spiers, who has a 35% hard-hit rate, will pitch for the Reds. The Tigers have never faced Spiers. Olson threw a season-high 295 pitches in his last three-game stretch. Based on these factors, the Reds have the advantage in this matchup.

Despite the Yankees' recent starters not getting deep into the games and them needing innings from pitchers right now, I still think at this price it's worth a fade on Nestor Cortes. The Red Sox have been brutal with strikeouts vs. lefties so maybe Cortes could use the swing and miss to get out of any jams he's facing, but he also has a chance to be pounded by these hitters, as Boston ranks top-10 in OPS vs. lefties since June 1st, and have improved even more over the last couple of weeks. At this price to not finish six innings, it's worth a shot for a half unit play.

Drew Thorpe has gone six innings in his last two starts and nine of 11 starts at AA this year. Capable of pitching into the 6th inning, especially if he's going well, Thorpe gets a Marlins lineup that is seeing the least amount of pitches per plate appearance in MLB, by swinging early and often. He features a changeup that keeps hitters off balance, while inducing weak contact and whiffs but he's struggled with command, walking 12 batters in just 20 MLB innings. To help him out, Miami has been MLB's worst team at working walks, with a 5% rate on the year and even worse in June! This should be at 16.5 in my opinion so I'll take the over.

The Nats remain limited but very pesky. Still I like the Cardinals, who have been one of the best teams in baseball the last six weeks. Sonny Gray is a quality starter for St. Louis, and Patrick Corbin continues to get shelled for Washington. The Nats are 5-12 when he starts with 11 of those losses by multiple runs. The Cardinals are a winning team against lefties.

The Red Sox bats have been trending against lefties and Nestor Cortes hasn't looked great as of late. Tanner Houck has had his issues as well, particularly in his last start versus the Padres, but he's the better pitcher in this matchup and faces a Yankees lineup which has underperformed.

This feels like a very big total considering Justin Steele is on the mound for the Cubs. He will be opposed by Griffin Canning who hasn't been great, however the Cubs offense ranks in the bottom 10 in nearly every offensive category.

The bottom is falling out for the Angels, again. It was bad enough being without Mike Trout, but losing their best remaining hitter - Luis Rengifo (wrist) - this week really hurts the lineup. Los Angeles is 0-6 in Griffin Canning's road starts, including five losses by two or more runs. The club looked short on talent and energy in its series at Oakland and now faces a Cubs team that is solid enough at home. Left-hander Justin Steele gives Chicago a big advantage on the mound, although the Angels have been good against lefties. This could prove to be a very bad ballpark for Canning, who has allowed nine homers in his last eight starts and 16 on the season.

The Red Sox did a number on the Yankees a few weeks ago, when New York was healthier and playing far better, and I bet they do again. The Yankees’ lineup stinks outside of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, as it has no leadoff hitter and very limited power. Boston has a superior bullpen and the better starter in this contest. New York’s Nestor Cortes is a mid-rotation guy whose deceptive delivery isn't jarring anymore. Boston’s Tanner Houck has handled Judge in eight career at-bats and has a stellar 1.85 ERA away from Fenway Park (.185 opponents’ batting average). The Red Sox are the better overall team right now and also are better against the AL East.