Monday MLB Betting Picks and NFL Preseason Bets for August 21 - Ride the Line Ep #46

A new episode of Ride the Line with Grant Mitchell and Tanner Kern is now live on all WSN platforms!

Monday MLB Betting Picks

Grant welcomed in the new week with his selection of the Atlanta Braves -1.5 against the New York Mets. The Braves dropped a close game at home to the San Francisco Giants yesterday, and he doesn’t see them losing two in a row, especially to the Mets. The Braves famously outscored the Mets 40-9 when they met in a four-game series recently and will try to hit those same heights again.

David Peterson has a 7.75 ERA on the road and will be on the mound for the Mets, where he’ll take on Bryce Elder, who has a 3.46 ERA and threw a seven-inning shutout in his last start. The Braves’ offense is nothing short of other-worldly, while the Mets have one of the least-productive offenses in the league. 

Tanner’s first pick is the under of nine runs in the Los Angeles Angels-Cincinnati Reds matchup. Lucas Giolito will take on Graham Ashcraft in a matchup that Tanner thinks is tailor-made for an under. Giolito is awesome at home (though he has only been with the Angels for four games), while Ashcraft has a 2.86 ERA this month and had a 1.84 ERA in July.

The Reds have been trending under as of late as both offenses have stagnated. Both rank in the bottom 10 of the league in scoring across the last month and have not scored many runs in their recent games. The concern is that the bullpens aren’t the best (with the Angels’ being especially bad), but Tanner like the under.

Grant likes the under in another game, one between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. The line is set at 9.5 for a Rangers team that has hit the under in 15 of its last 21 and a D’Backs crew that has gone under in 18 of its last 26.

The Rangers’ dominant offense has suddenly taken a massive leap backward, while the Diamondbacks have failed to replicate their performances in the first half of the season (they rank 14th and 17th in scoring over the last 15 days). Once again, these bullpens are terrible, but top closers Aroldis Chapman and Kevin Ginkel are fresh and should be available for action.

More MLB and NFL Preseason Picks

Tanner’s second pick is the Seattle Mariners runline (-1.5) against the Chicago White Sox. The Mariners have covered in five of their last six and 18 of their last 25 and are making a strong surge for a playoff spot, closing the gap on the Rangers to three games in the AL West.

The White Sox are 25th in scoring over the last month, while the Mariners are the fourth-highest-scoring team. The Mariners also have the best bullpen ERA (2.12) across the last 30 days, while the White Sox are 23rd with a 5.00.

Grant’s final pick is the Houston Astros moneyline against the Boston Red Sox. James Paxton will tangle with Crisitan Javier, and although Grant acknowledged Paxton as the better pitcher, he also noted that the Red Sox’s offense is night and day at home compared to on the road (Monday’s game is in Houston).

The Astros are also now only a half-game up on the red-hot Mariners and called a team meeting Sunday to get everyone on the same page. Grant is expecting them to come out with a renewed spirit and fight and to get a big win to stabilize their season.

Tanner led a turn to the NFL with the final pick of the show, which was the Washington Commanders’ moneyline against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have won 24 straight preseason games but will be starting Josh Johnson at quarterback, giving them an unfavorable matchup against Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett, and company.

The Commanders might not have much to play for in the regular season, but they’re only a point-and-a-half underdogs, and Tanner loves their chances. Grant (a resident Commanders fan) likes the under more but can see them winning as well.

Check back on Wednesday for a new episode of Ride the Line for MLB betting picks and more!