Free Pick | Friday | MLB | Aug. 16

Nelly’s has hit 67% in MLB top plays this season while on a 13-8 62% run in totals since the All-Star Break!

Get a TOTAL TOP PLAY FRIDAY – pay after you win!

#967 Toronto Blue Jays (Rodriguez) +110 over Chicago Cubs (Hendricks) 1:20 PM CT

Toronto is three games above .500 since July 6 despite being a great disappointment this season. While some players were moved at the trade deadline, the offense has been capable since the break, scoring 4.6 runs per game. Yariel Rodriguez hasn’t lived up to his contract yet, but he has pitched much better than his 1-5 record in 51 innings suggests. Rodriguez has big strikeout potential, and his ERA is just 3.53 with a 3.86 FIP in 13 starts. He has had issues with walks with 25 allowed but in three of his last four starts he has allowed only one walk for improvement with his command. Conditions at Wrigley could favor offense this afternoon with a wind blowing out to right center field and home runs have not been an issue for Rodriguez as hard contact has been rare against him. Kyle Hendricks doesn’t have swing-and-miss stuff and home runs have been a consistent issue in recent years including a 1.8 HR/9 this season. Hendricks has a 6.60 ERA with a 5.30 WHIP this season as he no longer resembles the pitcher that starred for the Cubs in the World Series run in 2016. Chicago has featured good bullpen results in recent weeks, but Toronto enters this series off an off day Thursday plus three consecutive seven-inning starting efforts in Anaheim in the last series to leave the bullpen in great shape this weekend. The Cubs enter this series off three straight losses in Cleveland, allowing 17 runs and seeing long shot playoff hopes that grew with a strong start to August again erased. In the past five games the Cubs are batting just .218 with 2.4 runs per nine vs. right-handers and the Blue Jays draw an attractive price Friday afternoon with a higher-ceiling starter on the mound.

BONUS FREE VIDEO PICK: