It's a battle of first-place teams on Friday night as the Atlanta Braves host the San Francisco Giants in the first game of a three-game National League series at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Giants finished off a sweep of the Mets with a 3-2 win on Thursday, while the Braves have been off since losing consecutive games to the Yankees on Monday and Tuesday. Atlanta had won nine straight before those setbacks, while the Giants have won five straight.

First pitch is set for 7:20 p.m. ET. The Braves are -115 money-line favorite in the latest Giants vs. Braves odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the Giants are +105 underdogs. 

The game is one of 15 on Friday's MLB schedule, with every team in action to start the weekend. (See up-to-date lines for every game on our MLB odds page.)

Before entering any MLB picks or parlays, you NEED to see the latest predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

This model, which simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, is 166-137 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through 21 weeks in the 2021 season, returning well over $400. It also had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line picks. Anyone following it has seen some huge returns.

Now, the model has zeroed in on Friday's MLB schedule. Using its top picks for the day, the model has generated a four-leg parlay that would pay nearly 11-1! The best part is that the first game of that parlay doesn't start until 7:05 p.m. ET, giving you plenty of time to make your MLB picks!

We can tell you that the model is saying the Rays (-216) will keep cruising against the Orioles in Baltimore (7:05 p.m. ET). But it also has three other strong picks, including an unheralded American League underdog pulling off a huge upset! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any MLB picks of your own.

So which underdog is a MUST-BACK? And what other teams do you need to include in your parlay for a payout of almost 11-1? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which picks you should be all over on Thursday, all from the model that is off to a fast start in 2021!