After a four-day hiatus for the all-star break, MLB is back in action with a full slate of Friday games.
Today’s MLB narrative: The season’s second half begins with an afternoon showdown at Wrigley Field between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. In Toronto, the AL East-leading Blue Jays are favoured over the San Francisco Giants.
Check out the latest MLB odds for July 18 below.
MLB odds and betting insights
- Trading away Rafael Devers made Boston look like a potential soft seller, but a recent resurgence has quashed that thought. The Red Sox are 12-1 since June 30 to move within 3.0 games of the division lead. Chicago is no slouch, though, holding down the second-best record in the NL. The Cubs are 14-5 in Colin Rea’s starts this year, and he’ll be on the mound for the North Siders.
- San Diego’s Dylan Cease is looking to sharpen things up in the second half after going 1-4 with a 6.51 ERA in his past five outings. Cease has held Washington’s active lineup to a .186 BA and a .300 SLG in 70 at-bats.
- What will the second half bring for the Blue Jays, who’ve vastly exceeded expectations so far? Toronto has -500 playoff odds, so this is no longer an underdog story. San Francisco is having a nice season, too, driven by a pitching staff with the third-lowest ERA in the majors.
- Spencer Strider vs. the Yankees, anyone? Strider has had some bumps in the road this year, but he seemed to find himself in mid-June. Over his past six starts, Strider has a 2.95 ERA and a 12.3 K/9. The Yankees, meanwhile, have MLB’s highest wRC+ (120).
Today’s MLB schedule
Boston Red Sox (+100) vs. Chicago Cubs (-124)
Start time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Chicago White Sox (+140) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-177)
Start time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Angels (+195) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (-250)
Start time: 7:10 p.m. ET
San Diego Padres (-175) vs. Washington Nationals (+138)
Start time: 6:45 p.m. ET
San Francisco Giants (+114) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (-141)
Start time: 7:07 p.m. ET
Athletics (+118) vs. Cleveland Guardians (-148)
Start time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Reds (+140) vs. New York Mets (-177)
Start time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Kansas City Royals (-137) vs. Miami Marlins (+110)
Start time: 7:10 p.m. ET
New York Yankees (-120) vs. Atlanta Braves (-104)
Start time: 7:15 p.m. ET
More MLB betting odds
Baltimore Orioles (+108) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (-127)
Start time: 7:35 p.m. ET
Detroit Tigers (-127) vs. Texas Rangers (+104)
Start time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Minnesota Twins (-182) vs. Colorado Rockies (+145)
Start time: 8:40 p.m. ET
St. Louis Cardinals (-106) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (-118)
Start time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Houston Astros (-115) vs. Seattle Mariners (-108)
Start time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Milwaukee Brewers (+150) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-190)
Start time: 10:10 p.m. ET
MLB odds as of 9:55 a.m. ET on 07/17/2025.
Jordan enjoys writing data-driven game previews and analysis articles — especially for MLB markets or NFL/NBA props. And as a proud Ohio University grad, he’ll always have a soft spot for college sports (especially if the Bobcats are involved). Previous stops include mlb.com, Sportsnet and The Athletic.