Best MLB Bets Today | MLB Picks, August 25

The value on Friday’s betting board is massive. Multiple mismatches are priced in favor of bettors, and there are also some tight games where we have found an edge. Let’s break it down!

Washington Nationals @ Miami Marlins

• Time: 6:40 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Joan Adon (WSH) vs Braxton Garrett (MIA)
• Moneyline: Nationals (+184) | Marlins (-220)
• Run Line: Nationals +1.5 (-122) | Marlins -1.5 (+102)
• Total:Over 8 (-110) | Under 8 (-110) 

Odds Courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Check out our MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities. 

My Pick: Marlins -1.5 (+102)

The Marlins have been very cold lately and are coming off a series loss to the Padres. However, the day off on Thursday after a rough West Coast road trip should help. What should also help Miami is that they’re facing a bad Washington Nationals team.

The Nationals beating up on the Yankees this week wasn’t a testament to Washington. It just showed how bad the New York Yankees have become this season. The Nationals have some momentum because of these wins, but I fully expect that to end in Miami. 

The Nationals can hit with the Marlins, but they don’t have the pitching staff to win throughout this series. Braxton Garrett will pitch for the Marlins, and he is 7-4 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. In the last month, he has a 2.57 ERA and just two homers allowed in 28 innings. 

He will face Joan Adon, who hasn’t found a groove in 18 innings. He also hasn’t pitched against a lot of good lineups. He is coming off a four-inning start against the Phillies, allowing six runs on six hits. Miami should get up early in this game, and I like their bullpen to shut the door. 

Houston Astros @ Detroit Tigers

• Time: 6:40 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Framber Valdez (HOU) vs Matt Manning (DET)
• Moneyline: Astros (-174) | Tigers (+146)
• Run Line: Astros -1.5 (-110) | Tigers +1.5 (-110)
• Total: Over 8.5 (-118) | Under 8.5 (-104)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

My Pick: Astros -1.5 (-110)

The Astros were demoralized by the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, losing 17-1. Houston is in a prime bounce-back spot against the Detroit Tigers. The only thing going against them is that they had to travel to Detroit for this matchup. Even though they’re facing a quality arm in Matt Manning, I still like them on the run line. 

Houston is on the road, so they’re guaranteed the nine at-bats with a massive offensive advantage. Manning is 5-4 with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He keeps the ball down in the zone but isn’t overpowering and has a 6.05 ERA at home this season.

Framber Valez will throw for Houston, and he has a 3.55 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. He has also recorded 153 strikeouts in 154.2 innings. He hasn’t been great in his past few starts but has faced some excellent offenses. This isn’t the case for the Tigers. 

New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays

• Time: 6:40 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs Zach Eflin (TB)
• Moneyline: Yankees (+116) | Rays (-136)
• Run Line: Yankees +1.5 (-200) | Rays -1.5 (+164)
• Total: Over 7.5 (+100) | Under 7.5 (-122) 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. 

My Pick: Rays ML (-136)

The Tampa Bay Rays are mispriced. It doesn’t matter that they have to face Gerrit Cole because even he cannot save the Yankees at this point. 

New York has only won one series since the All-Star break against the Royals. They have lost nine of their past ten games, and Cole hasn’t been lights out either.

The Cy Young leader has a 4.06 ERA in the past 30 days. He has still been good but hasn’t received any run support, and he won’t be against Zach Eflin and the Rays. 

Eflin has been fantastic at home this season, with a 10-3 record in 14 total starts. He has a .223 opponent batting average and a 3.05 ERA. 

The Rays are batting .261 as a team compared to the Yankees at .229. They have scored 154 more runs and have nearly 200 more hits this season. I will bet on any quality team that’s priced against the Yankees at -135. 

Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates 

• Time: 7:05 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Kyle Hendricks (CHI) vs Mitch Keller (PIT)
• Moneyline: Cubs (-122) | Pirates (+105)
• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 (+128) | Pirates +1.5 (-154)
• Total: Over 9 (-105) | Under 9 (-115) 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. 

My Pick: Cubs ML (-122)

The Chicago Cubs are coming off a 5-4 win over the Pirates on Thursday. The game went to extras, and Friday will also be tightly contested. However, it’s hard to go against Kyle Hendricks, especially on the road. 

Hendricks has continued to deliver this season, which is amazing, considering he has nothing overpowering in his arsenal. The pitcher is 3-2 on the road with a 2.86 ERA and an opponent batting average of .207. This is compared to a .286 opponent batting average at home. 

Hendricks will face a quality pitcher in Mitch Keller. Keller is 10-8 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has been very consistent this season, but in the past month, he has a 5.73 ERA. There are opportunities for the Cubs to take advantage of Keller in this spot. 

Chicago also has the better offense, with a team batting average that’s 20 points higher. They have also scored over 100 more runs than Pittsburgh behind Cody Bellinger and company.