June 24 MLB Series Prices: Division Leaders Clash as Braves Visit Cubs

• The Atlanta Braves take a 6.5-game lead atop the NL East standings into a four-game series with the slumping Chicago Cubs
• Losers of seven straight, the Phillies will be desperate for a win as they open a four-game series with the New York Mets
• The Toronto Blue Jays will be aiming to win three in a row for the first time in eight weeks when they open a three-game series with the New York Yankees

The red-hot Atlanta Braves visit the Chicago Cubs for a four-game series at Wrigley Field aiming to widen their lead atop the NL East, while the Philadelphia Phillies look to halt a seven-game slide as they host the New York Mets. Over in the AL, the Toronto Blue Jays hope to build on a gutsy series win in Boston as they visit the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

We have odds for each of these new series as well as every other series kicking off on Monday.

Atlanta Braves vs Chicago Cubs Series Price

Braves Look to Continue Winning Ways Against Slumping Cubs

After taking two of three in Washington over the weekend, the Braves continue a 10-game road trip in Chicago on Monday, when they kick of a four-game set with the Cubs as narrow -110 underdogs. Atlanta failed to provide hurler Dallas Keuchel with much run support in his debut with the Braves on Friday night, but rebounded to close out the series with a pair of victories to improve to 16-5 over the club’s past 21 outings.

.@kidkeuchy looked great in that Braves uni tonight! 😎 pic.twitter.com/YGcnlefH0W

— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) June 16, 2019

Strong play on the road has contributed to the Braves’ growing lead atop the NL East standings. The club has claimed wins in five of six road series while amassing a 14-6 record over their past 20 away from SunTrust Park, and now sit as massive -600 favorites to successfully defend their divisional crown. The Braves have also enjoyed steady success against the Cubs, winning seven of 10, including a three-game sweep on home turf in early April.

Braves vs Cubs Probable Starting Pitchers

While the Braves soar, the Cubs continue to stumble, but enter Monday night’s action listed as -130 favorites. The Cubs have yet to rebound after stumbling through a recent road trip with stops in Colorado and Los Angeles, and have tallied consecutive wins just once while going 5-8 over their past 13. Despite their recent swoon, the Cubs maintain the second-best home record in the NL.

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1141531358956797952

Generating offense has been a challenge at times for the Cubs, who have scored three or fewer runs seven times over their past 13 outings. However, the club has received some gutsy pitching performances of late. Friday’s starter Jon Lester threw 114 pitched in just 5.2 innings to earn the win in last week’s 7-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Sunday’s starter Yu Darvish has allowed just 18 hits over his past 30.1 innings of work but has failed to earn a decision in his past 10 starts.

Pick: Braves (+110)

New York Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies Series Price

Mets Take NL-Worst Road Record into Four-Game Series with Falling Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies hope to halt the free fall that leaves them 6.5 games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves as they host the New York Mets as -165 chalk. The Phillies are coming off a stunning sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins, and have now lost seven straight and 11 of 13.

Phillies: We were just swept by the Marlins at home, we’ve lost 16 of 22, Bryce Harper is batting lead off and hitting under .250, everyone in our bullpen is on the DL, Cutch is gone, our manager is at his wits end. Can’t we catch a break?

Mets: Hang tight, we’ll be there soon.

— Metsistentialism (@NYMpurgatory) June 24, 2019

Philadelphia batters mustered just eight total runs against the lowly Marlins, and have averaged just 2.14 runs per game during their seven-game slide. Overall, the club is batting a meager .225 in the month of June, while scoring just 76 total runs through 20 games, but has posted series wins in each of the Mets’ past two visits.

Mets vs Phillies Probable Starting Pitchers

The Mets have also endured a roller coaster month so far in June, going 9-12 through 21 contests, and arrive in Philadelphia pegged as +140 underdogs on the MLB series prices. However, the club is coming off a four-game series split in a weekend series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, but have failed to win a series on the road since sweeping the Marlins back in early April, and own an NL-worst 17-27 road record.

Mets SP Jason Vargas and Manager Mickey Callaway reportedly erupted on a clubhouse reporter after their game yesterday;
Vargas- “I’ll knock you the f*** out”
Callaway- “Get this motherf***er out of here”
Reporter asked Callaway why he used RP Seth Lugo instead of CP Edwin Diaz pic.twitter.com/V5F07HIgZJ

— JDF Media (@_jdfmedia) June 24, 2019

Complicating matters for the Mets were outbursts by manager Mickey Callaway and pitcher Jason Vargas following the team’s  5-3 loss to the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. In addition to Callaway cursing out a reporter and demanding his removal from the dressing room, Vargas vented his frustration by challenging the reporter to a fight, providing fans with a brief glimpse inside what has become an unhappy Mets clubhouse.

Pick: Phillies (-165)

Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees Series Price

Blue Jays Face Massive Test Against Surging Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays will try to build on an inspiring weekend series victory in Boston when they travel to New York on Monday to open a three-game set with the AL East-leading Yankees as lengthy +355 underdogs. The Blue Jays played some of their most inspired baseball of the season while taking two of three from the Red Sox.

A patient approach at the plate led to a series win for Toronto.

Here's how the @BlueJays – @RedSox series breaks down By the Numbers.

Presented by @WendysCanada pic.twitter.com/453fHviU7D

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 24, 2019

The club has averaged 6.5 runs per game while winning three of four, and will be aiming to win three in a row for the first time since late April in Monday’s series opener. The Blue Jays have also taken four of five from the Yankees, including two of three earlier this month at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays vs Yankees Probable Starting Pitchers

However, it will likely take more than huge heart for the Blue Jays to get past the red-hot Yankees, who enter Monday’s action as -460 favorites. New York is coming off a 9-4 loss to Houston on Sunday, but have otherwise been dominant of late, averaging 7.11 runs per game during an 8-1 tear that has given the club a 4.5-game cushion atop the AL East.

The @Yankees have homered in 26 straight games, breaking their franchise record that was set in 1941. pic.twitter.com/aGSY1Tb3ni

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 23, 2019

The Yankees have gone 25-8 while going undefeated in 11 straight home series, and lead the AL with 67 home runs through 42 home games, and limited the Blue Jays to just 3.7 runs per game while winning seven of 10 at Yankee Stadium in 2018.

Pick: Yankees (-460)

Additional MLB Series Odds