MLB Best Bets Today, 9/19: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Thursday
Welcome into the MLB Best Bets Today on this Thursday, September 19th! It was back in the money for me yesterday as we cruised to a 5-3-1 finish on the slate, damn Orioles couldn’t score one more run!
Either way happy to make the money back from early in the week and now we move into today’s 12-game slate! I don’t have an array of MLB predictions today as quite frankly I didn’t like most of the matchups but I did find a few for betting on tonight!
MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 9/19
In this MLB Best Bets Today article you will find a wide array of choices from some Money Lines and Team totals to plenty of player props for the action today in MLB Picks!
Remember to double-check that betting card for the MLB best bets today as well, don’t want to put down the wrong wager! Check out the rationale and if you agree with me make sure to tail and good luck!
Now, let's dive into my expert MLB Best Bets today!
- Season Record: 196-160-1
- Bankroll: +19.6 units
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Nationals vs. Cubs Prediction: Thursday, September 19th
Anytime you get Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Nationals there’s a bet coming from me against him, you can believe that! The Cubs offense has been on a tear lately as well with 26 runs in the past 5 games.
Corbin is an awful pitcher overall but he’s even worse on the road where his ERA balloons to 6.58 for the season and the OBA is .347! He’s going to get shelled tonight so give me the Cubs to go over their run total of 4.5 as my first wager.
The other wager on this game will come on a Cubs bat as Corbin is vulnerable to right-handed hitting. Against the righties this season he has allowed an average of .313 and an OPS of .877, plus 21 of his 23 homers given up this season have been to righties.
That means Isaac Paredes should have a big day hitting as he’s gone for a .324 average against lefties this season and will hit 5th in the middle of this great lineup. He should have no trouble going over his hits/runs/RBIs prop tonight.
- Expert Nationals vs. Cubs Picks:
- Cubs Team Total Over 4.5 Runs (-110 on DraftKings)
- Isaac Paredes (CHC) Over 1.5 Hits/Runs/RBIs (-130 on DraftKings)
Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 9/19
- Pirates vs. Cardinals Under 8 Runs (-105 on DraftKings)
- Braves Run Line -1.5 (-135 on DraftKings)
- Mets Team Total 1st 5 Innings Over 2.5 (-105 on DraftKings)
- Kyle Tucker (HOU) Over 1.5 Total Bases (+130 on DraftKings)
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.