Welcome back to another Sunday of MLB picks as we take a closer look at all of today’s games. Let’s dive into MLB Best Bets and Props as you enjoy the weekend action!

Our top MLB predictions today feature the Diamondbacks vs. Rays and Giants vs. Athletics matchups. Plus, we wrap up our Sunday baseball betting card with some top MLB props. Enjoy the afternoon and night baseball as we cash our plays! 

 

 


 

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 8/18

As always, be sure to shop around for the best Vegas Odds and Lines at different sportsbooks. The odds in this article below are accurate as of this writing. 

Without further ado, let’s check out my MLB best bets and props for Sunday, August 18th.

 

 


 

Diamondbacks vs. Rays Prediction Today, August 18th

Our top MLB pick today takes us to an interleague matchup between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays. The Diamondbacks are on a roll lately, winning 18 of their last 23 games. The Rays, meanwhile, are scuffling with a 4-7 mark of their past 11 contests. Let’s see how to bet this Sunday afternoon game. 

Merrill Kelly starts for Arizona in his second outing back in the rotation. The right-hander was sidelined since mid-April with a shoulder injury but returned last week and held the Phillies in check with just 2 runs and 3 hits allowed over 5 solid innings. Kelly was been very effective in limited action this year with a 2.43 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 5 starts. 

Kelly will take on a Rays offense that’s arguably the league’s worst against right-handed pitching this month. Tampa has a .271 wOBA (30th in MLB), 79 wRC+ (29th), .616 OPS (30th), .223 batting average (26th), and .110 ISO (30th) against righties in August. Kelly should limit this lineup that has bottom-tier season-long splits vs. right-handers overall (.292 wOBA, 92 wRC+).

Meanwhile, the Rays will use right-hander Drew Rasmussen as the opener with left-hander Tyler Alexander as the bulk pitcher today. Alexander has a 5.20 ERA across 71 innings in the majors and now gets a tough matchup as he throws the majority of innings. Arizona is crushing left-handed pitching this month with a .361 wOBA, 132 wRC+, .296 BA, .840 OPS, and low 17.6% K rate. 

Even with an opener ahead of him, Alexander should have trouble keeping the Diamondbacks quiet today. Take Arizona on the moneyline. The Rays won the first two games of this series, which points us even more to the Dbacks – who haven’t been swept in a 3-game series since April. 

Expert Diamondbacks vs. Rays Picks

  • Diamondbacks Moneyline (-124 FanDuel Sportsbook)

 

 


 

Giants vs. Athletics Prediction Today, August 18th

For our second MLB pick today, let’s head out to the Bay Area for an interleague clash between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. The starting pitching matchup of Blake Snell vs. JP Sears points to a low-scoring contest and that’s what we’re targeting. 

In case you haven’t noticed, Snell has looked like the best pitcher in baseball since he returned from injury in July. The left-hander has a 0.99 ERA and .097 batting average against over his past 7 starts. He’s also struck out 8+ opposing batters in 5 of his last 6 outings. Snell has lowered his ERA to 3.91 and there’s likely even more positive regression coming, considering his 2.61 xERA and 2.93 FIP. 

Bank on Snell continuing his hot stretch of elite starts in this matchup against Oakland. Against left-handed pitching this month, the A’s have just a .305 wOBA and .217 BA. Though the offense has been feisty lately, Snell should do his thing with how well he’s throwing. 

On the other side, Sears can hold the the Giants hitters in check as well. The Oakland lefty has been much better recently with an impressive 2.91 ERA and .212 batting average allowed over his past 7 starts. If we take out his blowup outing against Houston in July, Sears has a 1.69 ERA in his 6 other recent starts. 

The San Francisco offense has just league-average numbers against left-handers in August (.318 wOBA, 107 wRC+). In this stretch, the Giants have a high 27.4% strikeout rate and low 6.3% walk rate vs. southpaws. That matters more here as Sears has increased his strikeouts recently with a 39:8 K:BB ratio since the start of July (43.1 innings). 

Grab the under for the full game and first five innings as Snell and Sears anchor a low-scoring matchup. 

Expert Giants vs. Athletics Picks

  • Under 7.5 Total Runs (-115 BetMGM)
  • 1st 5 Innings Under 4 Runs (-125 BetMGM)

 

 


 

Best MLB Player Props Today, 8/18