MLB Best Bets Today, 6/15: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Sunday

Welcome back to another round of MLB Best Bets Today as the 2025 baseball season rolls on.
Sunday’s baseball slate is loaded up with 15 games on the MLB schedule and every team in action. There are many ways to go for our top MLB picks and predictions, with games going on all day. Let’s focus on two games for our MLB best bets today before dishing out a few baseball player props and other picks to consider.
Keep in mind, some of these odds or lines could move before first pitch. All bets below are for one unit unless otherwise noted. Without further ado, let’s dive into our MLB Best Bets Today.
MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 6/15
Our MLB Best Bets Today start with an NL West matchup as the Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Diego Padres. Can the D-backs finish off the weekend sweep of their divisional rivals? We’ll also dive into the NL Central clash between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon. Check out these MLB predictions to make as you enjoy Sunday’s baseball action.
San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Predictions: Sunday, June 15th
Our top MLB picks today take us to an NL West clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. The Diamondbacks won the first two games of this weekend series, including a dramatic 9th inning comeback last night. Let’s see if they can go for the sweep on Sunday.
Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly owns a 3.18 ERA and 3.22 FIP entering today’s game. After a couple of shaky starts at the end of May, he has two straight scoreless outings to begin June. The right-hander now boasts a 2.13 ERA and 2.05 FIP over his last six starts with 46 strikeouts over 38 innings in this stretch. He owns a 2.34 ERA over his last 12 starts as well.
Kelly’s current 17.9% K-BB% is his best since 2020 and his .199 batting average allowed is a career-low mark. He’s been very productive with a 2.34 ERA over his last 12 starts as well. The veteran is on the positive end of his home/road splits today with a 2.59 ERA and .179 BA allowed at home this year.
Kelly can keep it going against a Padres offense that’s struggling mightily against right-handed pitching lately. Over the past two weeks vs. righties, San Diego has a .276 wOBA (30th in MLB), 77 wRC+ (28th), .292 SLG (30th), and .224 BA (28th). It’s also a subpar offense on the road this season with a .296 wOBA (24th) and 87 wRC+ (25th).
Besides an 11-run explosion on Tuesday, the Padres enter today averaging just 2.7 runs over their last 10 games. Kelly should limit the lineup, especially with how well he’s pitching. The longtime Diamondback also has a solid 3.36 ERA in his career against San Diego.
On the other side, Padres starter Nick Pivetta could run into trouble. After starting the season hot, Pivetta has cooled off over the past month. He has a 5.34 ERA over his past six starts with 5 runs allowed in both of his last two outings (vs. SF and LAD). In this third straight divisional matchup, another shaky performance may be coming.
The Diamondbacks lead the MLB in wOBA, wRC+, OPS, and ISO against right-handed pitching this season. Over the past two weeks vs. righties, they have a .382 wOBA, 144 wRC+, .283 BA, and .241 ISO in the split. Plus, the Arizona offense is elite at home this year (.352 wOBA, 123 wRC+).
The D-backs’ bats come in hot, averaging 5.9 runs per game over the past nine contests. Meanwhile, Pivetta has been notably worse on the road this year. He has a 4.94 ERA, 4.66 FIP, and .339 wOBA allowed in away starts compared to a 2.40 ERA, 2.18 FIP, and .227 wOBA at home. Take the Diamondbacks for the full game and first five innings.
- Expert Padres vs. Diamondbacks Picks:
- Diamondbacks Moneyline (-134 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Diamondbacks 1st 5 Innings ML (-142 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers Predictions: Sunday, June 15th
Let’s now turn our attention to an NL Central showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. A starting pitching matchup of Miles Mikolas vs. Quinn Priester doesn’t exactly scream low-scoring. Yet, that’s the angle we’re going with today for our MLB predictions.
Priester has been very effectively lately for Milwaukee. He owns a 2.35 ERA over his last 7 outings, with exactly one earned run allowed in 5 of those. The Brewers are using him as both a traditional starter and bulk reliever, but he’s been productive in any role. Priester is expected to get the regular start today, though that could change.
For what it’s worth, the right-hander boasts a 2.63 ERA across his eight starts this year. Priester doesn’t throw hard or strike out many batters, but he does two things very well. He keeps the ball on the ground, as evidenced by a top-tier 57.7% ground-ball rate (95th percentile). Plus, he’s allowing just a 5.8% barrel rate (81st percentile).
Priester can continue to pitch well in a favorable home matchup today. The Cardinals have poor numbers vs. righties over the past two weeks with a .283 wOBA (28th), 80 wRC+ (27th), and .228 BA (27th). They also have a below-average road offense this year (.298 wOBA, 88 wRC+).
On the other side, Mikolas will be looking to bounce back after allowing 6 runs to Toronto last time out. Before that rough outing, though, the St. Louis right-hander had a 2.47 ERA over his previous 8 starts. His season-long 4.48 ERA is very underwhelming, but it’s skewed by only a couple of bad games.
Mikolas has been better on the road with a 3.08 FIP, compared to a 4.50 FIP at home. He boasts a 1.69 ERA over his last five road starts as well. In 11 career outings in Milwaukee, the veteran has a solid 3.08 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Brewers have struggled against right-handed pitching over the past week with a .284 wOBA (29th), 79 wRC+ (29th), and .212 BA (26th). They also have one of the league’s worst home offenses, ranking last in wOBA, BA, OPS, and slugging at home this year.
As risky as it may seem, we’re targeting some unders in this divisional matchup. Take the under for the full game and first five innings as both Priester and Mikolas limit the scoring overall.
- Expert Cardinals vs. Brewers Picks:
- Under 8.5 Total Runs (-118 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
- 1st 5 Innings Under 4.5 Runs (-105 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 6/15
- Cincinnati Reds vs. Detroit Tigers – No Runs First Inning (+100 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles – Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI (-125 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- New York Mets -1.5 Runline (+135 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
- Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals – Under 5.5 Hits Allowed (-125 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Player News
Nick Pivetta struck out 10 over seven innings in the Padres’ 1-0 win over the Nationals on Wednesday.
Pivetta gave up just three singles and walked none while throwing 90 pitches today. It’s his 19th career 10-strikeout game and second of this season. He’s pitched seven scoreless innings four times this year, though the other three came in his first five starts in April. He’s now 8-2 with a 3.36 ERA, and he’s in line to face the Phillies next week.
With Robert Suarez serving a two-game suspension, Adrian Morejon pitched a perfect ninth for his second save Wednesday against the Nationals.
The Padres declined to use Jason Adam today after he threw 27 pitches Tuesday, so Morejon, who threw two innings yesterday but needed just 13 pitches to do so, got the ninth after Jonathan Estrada worked a perfect eighth. Morejon has been used aggressively of late, pitching 13 times in the Padres’ 24 games this month, but he’s still thriving. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 17, and his ERA is down to 2.04.
MacKenzie Gore took a tough loss after working six innings in a 1-0 game against the Padres on Wednesday.
The lone rally against him in the second was produced by a two-out walk and then consecutive groundball singles, both more well placed than well hit. Gore gave up just two hard-hit balls and struck out six. He’s now 3-8 in spite of a fine 3.09 ERA. He’s allowed one or no runs six times yet gone just 1-1 in those games. Gore will likely make his next start on six days’ rest against the Tigers.
Luis Arraez went 3-for-4 and drove in the only run in the Padres’ 1-0 victory Wednesday.
Arraez’s main problem this year is that his BABIP is 60 points lower than his career mark of .339, but he had some good luck in that department today, delivering three singles that left the bat at 54, 84 and 84 mph. He’s raised his average from .273 to .288 during his current 12-game hitting streak.
Ronald Acuña Jr. will compete in next month’s Home Run Derby during All-Star Week at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Acuña made it official on Wednesday that he’ll compete in the star-studded event for the third time in his career, this time on his home turf at Truist Park, after expressing interest earlier this month. The 27-year-old franchise cornerstone has been exceptional since making his season debut back on May 23, hitting .385/.496/.692 with nine homers through 29 games. Amazingly, no Atlanta hitter has ever won the event.
Luis Robert Jr. is day-to-day with left hamstring soreness.
White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters that Robert is still undergoing further evaluation, but feels like he’s in an OK spot. The 27-year-old center fielder should benefit from Thursday’s off-day. There should be an update on his status ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Giants.