We’re treated to a full Saturday of Major League Baseball featuring all 30 teams including a double-header between the Rockies and Tigers, with games starting throughout day from 1:05pm Eastern time until later this evening. With no evident threats to weather conditions we’re provided a catalog of betting lines to select our expert MLB picks and predictions. By taking advantage of the full arsenal of Awesemo tools and data we’ll couple the ability to rapidly filter and sort the updated betting lines at OddsShopper, narrowing down our selections to delegate the best MLB bets today in this article.
This article will seek out the best expert MLB bets today based on the potentially most profitable, according to xROI%. Utilizing the groundbreaking tools at OddsShopper to identify outstanding value with optimal returns on investment, parsing and prioritizing daily wagers is easy to filter, sort and bet. OddsShopper not only provides up-to-date odds featured across all major stateside sportsbooks, but also the creation of a Prop Party Parlay, combining your choice of top picks to maximize returns.
Best MLB Bets Today: Free MLB Picks & Predictions
Blue Jays vs. Astros Over 8.5 Total Runs (-105)
The Toronto Blue Jays head into Game 2 of their three-game road series with the Houston Astros following a 4-3 win on Friday, as today they send righty ace Alek Manoah to the mound to square off against southpaw Jose Urquidy. With a scheduled first pitch of 4:10 pm Eastern time the elements won’t be a factor played within the Minute Maid Field dome structure. Taking a look into OddsShopper we find the Blue Jays as -118 favorites on the moneyline with a Vegas runs total of 8.2 while Awesemo data projects an 8.9 expected run total including a 17.2% return on investment for the over. Manoah (9-2, 2021) has had a hot start to the season with two wins in two starts achieving a combined 13 strikeouts, five hits against, six batters walked, and two runs earned against in 12 innings pitched against the Athletics and Yankees. Manoah found success in his first season in the Majors in 2021 with a 93.4 mph fastball that remains at same velocity, 27.7% strikeout rate, .191 average against, 1.05 WHIP, 0.97 home runs per nine innings, 3.22 earned run average, and 8.7% walk rate. Manoah’s in line to face five righties, three lefties, and one switch-hitter in the Houston batting order. Facing right-handed opposition in 2021 Manoah demonstrated a 26.2% strikeout rate, .156 average against, 0.75 WHIP, 5.3% walk rate, 0.63 HR/9, and 3.27 FIP. The Astros offensive output in 2021 against right-handed pitching was fearsome with a .266 batting average, .781 OPS, 20% strikeout rate, .176 ISO, 13.5% home run to fly ball rate, and league-leading 116 wRC+. Toronto’s bullpen relief from last season produced a .228 average against, 24.6% strikeout rate, 9.7% walk rate, 1.28 WHIP, 4.08 ERA, and 14.8% HR/FB rate.
Urquidy (8-3, 2021) is off to a moderate stride of success despite strikeouts being down in one win and a no decision outcome notching a combined four strikeouts, 12 hits against, seven earned runs against, and one walked batter over nine innings pitched against the Mariners and Angels. Last season Urquidy was true to form with a 21.3% strikeout rate, 4.5% walk rate, .216 average against, 0.99 WHIP, 1.43 HR/9, and 4.14 FIP. Urquidy is due to face a Blue Jays hitting order consisting of seven righties and two left-handed hitters. Facing right-handed opposition last season Urquidy managed a .238 average against, 21% strikeout rate, 3.7% walk rate, 1.08 WHIP, 4.68 xFIP, 1.82 HR/9, and stranded 83.3% of batters reaching bases. Toronto’s offensive onslaught against left-handed pitching has exemplified a .270 batting average, 20.8% strikeout rate, .805 OPS, .197 ISO, 15.9% HR/FB rate, and 116 wRC+. The Astros bullpen relief work of 2021 managed a 25.7% strikeout rate, .227 average against, 1.18 HR/9, 1.30 WHIP, 4.06 ERA, and 13.7% HR/FB rate. Despite Manoah’s solid start to the season both Toronto and Houston have firepower to crest the over in later innings against bullpen work and Awesemo data lends to the highest projected return on investment for a run total over in Blue Jays vs. Astros that cements one of our best MLB bets today.
Use OddsShopper to find the best betting odds and check out the MLB betting page for the rest of our free MLB betting picks today.
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Dodgers vs. Padres Over 8 Total Runs (-106)
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their National League West divisional weekend series with the San Diego Padres as they assign lefty Tyler Alexander to the start against one time Dodger Yu Darvish. Provided an 8:40 pm Eastern time of first pitch the weather at Petco Park forecasts a cool 64 degrees with 8 mph northwestern winds and 60% humidity and no chance of rain. Turning back to OddsShopper we discover the Dodgers as -118 moneyline favorites beside a 7.6 Vegas run total while Awesemo data projects an 8.1 expected run total and 5.2% return on investment for the over. Anderson (7-11, 2021) comes up for his first Dodger start from the bullpen where he earned a win in two games played earning eight strikeouts, four hits against, two earned runs against, and no walked batters in eight innings of relief work against the Reds and Rockies. Last season with Pittsburgh and Seattle Anderson manufactured a 19.1% strikeout rate, .256 average against, 1.25 WHIP, 1.46 HR/9, 4.53 ERA, and 12.2% HR/FB rate. Anderson is projected to square off with a Padres order of five righties, three lefties, and one switch-hitter. Anderson facing opposite-handed hitting last season managed a 20.4% strikeout rate, .261 average against, 1.23 WHIP, 1.71 HR/9, 4.64 FIP, 14% HR/FB rate, and 28.3% hard contact. The Padres offense when facing southpaws of last year delivered a .241 batting average, 21.4% strikeout rate, .704 OPS, 1.39 ISO, 10.7% HR/FB rate ,and 94 wRC+. The Dodgers bullpen has a different look in some areas this season though demonstrated a 25.5% strikeout rate, .202 average against, 0.89 HR/9, 3.16 ERA, 11.4% HR/FB rate, and 4.07 xFIP.
Darvish (8-11, 2021) has had a tumultuous start to the new season with a win, a loss, and a no decision in three starts earning a combined 13 strikeouts, 12 hits against, 10 runs earned against, and six walked batters in 14 1/3 innings pitched against the Braves, Giants, and Diamondbacks. Darvish’s 2021 resume was fair by the numbers with a .219 average against, 29.2% strikeout rate, 1.09 WHIP, 1.52 HR/9, 6.5% walk rate, and a 94.5 mph fastball now up this season. Darvish is slated to face a Dodgers batting order of five righties and four left-handed hitters. Darvish’s plate splits were fairly mutual last season, while facing fellow righties he produced a 32.7% strikeout rate, .221 average against, 1.10 WHIP, 1.5 HR/9, 3.57 FIP, and 33.8% hard contact. The Dodgers offensive prowess of last season engineered a .245 batting average, 22.7% strikeout rate, .759 OPS, .180 ISO, 107 wRC+, and 13.8% HR/FB rate against right-handed pitching. The San Diego bullpen efforts fared well last season by earning a 24.6% strikeout rate, .228 average against, 1.16 HR/9, 1.24 WHIP, 9% walk rate, 3.62 ERA, and 13.2% HR/FB rate. Despite admirable pitching on the mound the offenses in play have each managed output of a 103 wRC+ and above this season thus far and Awesemo data projects another positive return on an expected run total over that sets up as another of Saturday’s best MLB bets today.
Use OddsShopper to find the best betting odds and check out the MLB betting page for the rest of our free MLB betting picks today.
More Quick MLB Picks & Predictions Today
- Red Sox vs. Rays Over (+100), 14.6% xROI
- Mets vs. Diamondbacks Over (-104), 6.8% xROI
- Pirates vs. Cubs Under (-110), 10% xROI
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