Happy Friday, and welcome to another round of expert MLB Best Bets and Props! Yesterday had a lot of fun action for being a small slate; I know Gerrit Cole only getting 2 strikeouts was rough, but great performances out of Paul Skenes, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Dylan Cease made up for it! I'm excited that we are back to a full slate of games today!

 

 

 

There are no day games today, so we have all 30 teams playing this evening starting at 6:50 PM ET. We have all day to get dialed in and make sure we have our MLB predictions today set and ready to rock once games get underway. This also means endless options and great opportunities for us to make more winning picks! 

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 8/23

This article offers many betting options, including money lines, team totals, and various MLB player props for today's games. We've pinpointed bets that show promise but remember to carefully review your betting card before locking in your choices for tonight.

Check out the rationale behind the picks, and feel free to follow along! Wishing everyone the best of luck – let’s dive into my top MLB best bets today!

  • Season Record: 15-7-0
  • Bankroll: +6.6 units

*Get my favorite MLB predictions today, then follow me on X/Twitter @henry13wilson13!

 

 

 

Rockies vs. Yankees Prediction: Friday, August 23rd

I am all over the Yankees for my MLB best bets today. They have been crushing the ball and are going against one Kyle Freeland, who has been atrocious on the road this season. 

Kyle Freeland has an 8.23 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP on the road. All of our bets on this game are riding the fact that I think the Yankees will pummel Kyle Freeland in Yankee Stadium today. The first is Kyle Freeland over 5.5 hits allowed. Kyle Freeland has allowed at least 6 hits in every road start this season. Doubling up on that is taking the Yankees 1st 5 innings over 2.5 runs. I don’t see how they don’t also plate 3 runs through the first 5 innings of this game.

Juan Soto is pretty much just as good against lefties as he is against righties, and I see him contributing to this game very easily. The fact that you can get his over 1.5 bases for plus money is a steal in this matchup today.   

Aaron Judge is the best hitter on the planet right now. He is hitting a home run basically every single day. The problem with betting on him is it is hard to find good value right now because while I don’t think you are dumb if you want to bet on him to hit a homer at +135 or for over 1.5 total bases at -140, I feel like those odds aren’t giving you good value. I think there is good value at 1+ RBI at just -120. I believe that him driving a run-in with Soto ahead of him is just as likely as him getting 1.5 total bases, and there are many ways he can get that RBI even if he doesn’t hit a home run today.  

 

 

 

Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox Prediction: Friday, August 23rd

I think the books are overlooking both pitchers in this game, which our MLB picks today will take advantage of. They have both been dealing recently and have some excellent lines. 

Brayan Bello has been pitching excellently recently. Since July, he has had a 25.2% strikeout rate in 9 starts and 5 or more strikeouts in 7 of those starts, including each of his last 4. The Diamondbacks provide a tough matchup with an 18.5% strikeout rate and .895 OPS against right-handed pitching since the all-star break. I think Bello will have to fight in this one but will still get himself to that 5-strikeout mark again. 

Ryne Nelson has been even better than Bello. He has 6 or more strikeouts in 5 of his last 6 starts, including 9 in 3 of those games. The Red Sox can hit righties well with all those lefty bats, but they still strike out plenty. I don’t see how Ryne Nelson struggles to get to 5 strikeouts today, and I would even take a line at over 5.5. 

I considered the game total line at 10 for my MLB best bets today, which is pretty high with pitchers I like – still, being in Fenway and the fact that I don’t trust either of these bullpens much right now, I feel more comfortable continuing to trust the two starters and taking the first 5 innings under 5.5 runs. These two pitchers can keep things locked down to start this ballgame. 

 

 

 

Best MLB Player Props & Other Picks Today, 8/23