MLB Friday -- Frank on Mets v Diamondbacks, Phillies v Dodgers, Tigers v Braves, Twins v Rays

Favorite of the Day:
Mets (-114) over Diamondbacks

Underdog Pick of the Day:
Phillies (+146) over Dodgers

Over of the Day:
Tigers at Braves (9)

Under of the Day:
Twins at Rays (First Five, 4)

The Skinny:
We’ve cashed a couple tickets this week fading the Diamondbacks so why stop now? As we detailed during their series against the Rockies, Arizona was a prime regression candidate after staying above .500 for the majority of the first two months of the season. The Diamondbacks were promptly swept at Coors Field in a four-game series. While the NL East looks like a two-team race so far, the Mets were a couple plays away from winning three out of four at Chavez Ravine. Instead, New York lost three out of four against the Dodgers, but that probably has allowed them to be a little cheaper on the moneyline tonight in the desert. Jon Duplantier is making his first big-league start for Arizona on Friday and while the highly-regarded prospect has been good in five relief outings this year, we’d expect him to struggle the second and third times through the order. Zack Wheeler has allowed three runs or less in four of five starts in May and if he can churn out a similar outing tonight, the Mets should take the series opener . . . The Phillies are hot and aren’t priced like a team that’s 7-1-2 in its last 10 series. Jake Arrieta has pitched well of late and has great splits against the Dodgers hitters. In 109 at-bats against Arrieta, Los Angeles hitters are slashing .211/.259/.321 and have struck out 27 times versus walking just four times. Throw in Phillies hitters slashing .312/.346/.675 with eight homers in 77 at-bats against Kenta Maeda and Philadelphia has all the makings of a live underdog tonight . . . The wind will be blowing out at 12 miles per hour to left at SunTrust Park tonight in Atlanta and Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz has regressed so far in 2019 after a very strong season last year. Atlanta has enough young talent in its starting lineup to assume that it will score its own fair share of runs in optimal hitting conditions with temperatures in the 80s by game time in Georgia . . . It doesn’t seem to matter who the Rays send to the mound this year, because all their pitchers are getting the job done. Tampa’s 2.92 team ERA is first in the majors by a considerable margin. The next closest team is Houston with a 3.44 ERA. The Rays trot out “opener” Ryne Stanek to the bump tonight for at least the first inning. After 14 runs last night, expect Tampa’s bats to cool off at least a little bit, especially considering the Twins have their ace going tonight in Jose Berrios. Under four runs in the first five innings makes a lot of sense in Tampa Bay on Friday night.