Best MLB Bets Today | MLB Picks, September 1

MLB season is coming to an end, but we still have another month plus playoffs to make money. We find the value every week at WSN so make sure to continue checking back every Friday for our best bets. 

We have some big matchups on Friday. Let’s get into the picks! 

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals  

• Time: 8:10 PM ET

• Starting Pitchers: James Paxton (BOS) vs Jordan Lyles (KC)

• Moneyline: Red Sox (-200) | Royals (+168)

• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 (-120) | Royals +1.5 (+100)

• Total: Over 9.5 (-110) | Under 9.5 (-110) 

Odds Courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Check out our MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities, and read our comprehensive FanDuel sportsbook review to learn more about the platform.

My Pick: Red Sox -1.5 (-120)

The Boston Red Sox have seemed to give up on the season, but they still can hit the ball. We saw this throughout the Houston series and they have a much better chance at sustained success over the weekend against a team like the Royals.

James Paxton will throw for Boston. He is 7-4 with a 3.99 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He has been Boston’s best pitcher this season, which isn’t saying much with how this staff has performed.

In his last start against the Royals, he went 5.1 innings and didn’t allow a run. If he does this again, Boston will cover with ease. 

Jordan Lyles will throw for Kansas City. He is 3-15 with a 6.51 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. His walk and home run rate is slightly too high for comfort to bet on the Royals.

The Red Sox are hitting 25 points higher as a team, and they have blasted 31 more homers. This is the series where they can get back on track and we expect to see it on Tuesday. 

New York Yankees @ Houston Astros

• Time: 8:10 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Carlos Rodon (NYY) vs Justin Verlander (HOU)
• Moneyline: Yankees (+172) | Astros (-205)
• Run Line: Yankees +1.5 (-125) | Astros -1.5 (+104)
• Total: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115) 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. 

My Pick: Astros -1.5 (+104)

The Houston Astros dismantled the Red Sox at Fenway Park all week, so they have a ton of momentum coming into their series against the Yankees.

Boston is bad, but New York is a lot worse. They’re especially bad with Carlos Rodon on the mound. Rodon is 1-4 with a 5.97 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He looks like he has no confidence on the mound and probably won’t be dominant until next season. 

Justin Verlander is 10-6 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He hasn’t been Cy Young Verlander, but he is pitching very well and should shut down the Yankees.

The offensive advantage for the Astros is massive. They are batting 30 points higher and have scored 120 more runs. The Yankees did sweep the Tigers so we need to give them credit, but Detroit isn’t Houston. This should be on full display throughout the entire series. 

Baltimore Orioles @ Arizona Diamondbacks

• Time: 6:40 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Cole Irvin (BAL) vs Zach Davies (ARI)
• Moneyline: Orioles (-118) | Diamondbacks (+100)
• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 (+130) | Diamondbacks +1.5 (-156)
• Total: Over 9.5 (-106) | Under 9.5 (-114) 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. 

My Pick: Orioles ML (-118)

Both teams have a lot to play for coming into this game. The Orioles are trying to secure their division title and the Diamondbacks are a half-game back in the National League Wild Card race. 

Arizona has been much more inconsistent compared to Baltimore. It’s amazing to see the Orioles results on the year because they continue to win games and their pitching staff isn’t very talented.

Cole Irvin, who is one of these average pitchers, will throw on Friday night. He is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Over 64 innings, he has allowed eight homers which isn’t ideal, but Baltimore will hit to make up for his mistakes.

Zach Davies will pitch for Arizona and he hasn’t been good. The pitcher is 1-5 with a 6.93 ERA and a 1.6 WHIP. He has walked 29 batters in 62 innings.

Baltimore will feast off Davies and Arizona hasn’t been on an offensive terror. They scored just five runs in three games against the Dodgers. 

Toronto Blue Jays @ Colorado Rockies

• Time: 8:40 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Hyun-jin Ryu (TOR) vs Chris Flexen (COL)
• Moneyline: Blue Jays (-188) | Rockies (+158)
• Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 (-125) | Rockies +1.5 (+104)
• Total: Over 12 (-110) | Under 12 (-110) 

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. 

My Pick: Blue Jays -1.5 (-125)

The Toronto Blue Jays should blast a lot of home runs on the road against Colorado. Chris Flexen will pitch for the Rockies and he is 1-6 with a 6.94 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. He has allowed 97 hits in 73 innings of work which is horrendous.

Flexen has pitched in Colorado for part of the season, but he has allowed 19 homers in his time on the mound, and Toronto can hit homers. 

Toronto has hit 23 more homers than Colorado and they scored 17 runs in three games against the Nationals this week.

Hyun-jin Ryu is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 24 innings. He should keep the Rockies off-balance all game. This is prime run line spot for the Blue Jays on the road in this game with the balls flying out of Colorado.