MLB Best Bets Today, 6/19: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Thursday

Welcome back to another round of MLB Best Bets Today as the 2025 baseball season rolls on.
Thursday’s baseball slate is another loaded one with 16 games on the MLB schedule. We have a couple of doubleheaders and games going on all day and night. As always, there are plenty of ways to go for our top MLB picks and predictions. 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 the 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, 6/19
Our MLB Best Bets Today feature Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants hosting the Cleveland Guardians in an afternoon matchup. We’ll also dive into MLB picks for the divisional showdown between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. Plus, don’t miss some top MLB player prop bets below. Check out these MLB predictions to make as you enjoy Thursday’s baseball action.
Cleveland Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants Predictions: Thursday, June 19th
Today’s top MLB picks feature an afternoon matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the San Francisco Giants. This mid-week series wraps up after Cleveland won the first two games. Let’s see how to bet on Thursday’s contest as San Fran looks to avoid the sweep.
Giants starter Logan Webb has been one of the league’s best and most consistent pitchers this year. He owns a 2.58 ERA and 2.33 FIP so far with a quality start in 11 of 15 outings. The right-hander has a career-high 27.6% strikeout rate, with a 5.3% walk rate (88th MLB percentile) and 5.1% barrel rate (87th).
Webb is dealing lately. He’s posted a 2.38 ERA and 2.78 FIP over his past eight starts, with an impressive 55:9 K:BB ratio during this stretch. The San Francisco ace is also elite at home this season, with a 1.36 ERA and 2.07 FIP across seven home outings. Webb has a career 2.64 ERA at home as well.
Now Webb gets to face a Cleveland offense that’s struggled against right-handed pitching recently. Over the past week vs. righties, the Guardians have a .230 wOBA (30th in MLB), 44 wRC+ (29th), .167 BA (29th), and .511 OPS (29th). They’re also batting just .199 in the split over the past two weeks (last in majors).
Meanwhile, the Giants’ lineup should provide some run support. Cleveland starter Gavin Williams has a 3.89 ERA this year with a 4.60 FIP and 4.53 xERA, which are notably higher. He has a 4.40 ERA and 5.34 FIP on the road with a high .348 wOBA allowed in his away starts. The righty also has a 5.46 FIP over his last four outings.
Williams’ 12.9% walk rate (5th MLB percentile) and 9.9% barrel rate (27th) are concerning in the wrong matchups. The Giants qualify as that right now. Over the past week vs. right-handers, they have a .393 wOBA (1st in MLB), 155 wRC+ (1st), .898 OPS (1st), and .296 BA (2nd). The offense also has a league-best 16.2% walk rate against righties over the past week.
Plus, the San Fran offense just got upgraded by the Rafael Devers trade. His addition especially makes the Giants better against right-handed pitching. Devers boasts a .909 OPS, .391 wOBA, and .243 ISO vs. righties this year.
Finally, the Giants at home have been a profitable bet this season. They’re 22-13 at home, including 9-5 vs. AL teams at home this year. Meanwhile, the Guardians are 4-8 over the past 12 games, and just 7-10 in their last 17 road contests. It’s buy-low time on the Giants after losing four in a row.
- Expert Guardians vs. Giants Picks:
- Giants -1.5 Runline (+135 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
- Giants 1st 5 Innings -0.5 RL (-125 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
New York Mets at Atlanta Braves Predictions: Thursday, June 19th
Let’s now focus on an NL East matchup between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. This has been an entertaining series so far, and the teams will play each other four more times next week. The Mets will try to avoid the sweep after the Braves won on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Spencer Strider has struggled to a 4.35 ERA and 4.32 FIP this season. The Braves’ starter simply hasn’t been the same guy he was 2-3 years ago. Yes, he just threw six shutout innings with 13 strikeouts in his last outing. Yet, that came against the lowly Rockies offense. Before that, though, he allowed 9 runs over his previous two starts combined.
Today, Strider has to face a potent lineup that’s hitting righties well. Over the past two weeks in the split, the Mets have a .365 wOBA (2nd in MLB), 138 wRC+ (1st), 19.5% K rate (6th), and 10.9% walk rate (3rd). They’ll make it tough on Strider, who hasn’t proven he can be consistently effective start to start.
Strider also has a 5.58 ERA in his career against the Mets. This offense has had Strider’s number in the past and won’t back down from him today. New York is a top-five offense against right-handers overall this season (.333 wOBA, 116 wRC+).
Meanwhile, Clay Holmes is having an impressive first full season as a starter for the Mets. He has a 2.87 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with New York going 10-4 in his starts thus far. Holmes boasts a 2.43 ERA over his past five starts coming into this matchup. He also owns a 2.41 ERA on the road this year.
Holmes will take on an Atlanta offense with below-average numbers vs. righties over the past two weeks (.299 wOBA, 89 wRC+). The lineup has gotten a recent boost from Ronald Acuna’s return. Still, we can fade the Braves in the right spots with the rest of the offense underperforming.
There’s clear value in backing the Mets as road underdogs tonight. New York should’ve won on Tuesday, but the bullpen blew a late lead. The offense then got blanked by Chris Sale yesterday. It’s time for the Mets to break out of their losing streak.
- Expert Mets vs. Braves Picks:
- Mets Moneyline (+110 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Mets 1st 5 Innings ML (+106 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 6/19
- Tarik Skubal 8+ Strikeouts & Detroit Tigers To Win Parlay (-125 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Erick Fedde, Cardinals (Game 1) – Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+105 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Charlie Morton, Orioles – Under 5.5 Strikeouts (+100 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies – Over 1.5 Walks Allowed (+110 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Player News
Jacob Wilson (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
Wilson has been out for a little over two weeks, so assuming there are no setbacks, the 23-year-old has a very good chance of returning to the A’s lineup by the end of next week.
Mark Vientos is not in the starting lineup for Thursday’s game against Atlanta.
Vientos will sit again, and hasn’t played since Saturday. The 25-year-old begins another game on the bench with Brett Baty hitting eighth while playing third base, and Ronny Mauricio lined up as the designated hitter and hitting seventh.
Owen Caissie is the designated hitter and hitting fifth against the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Caissie will make his MLB debut against Toronto and hit in the middle of the order versus Max Scherzer. The 23-year-old will get a chance to show his offensive upside, and Seiya Suzuki will get a day off to begin Thursday’s tilt.
Nationals activated OF Dylan Crews off the 60-day injured list.
Crews is back after missing nearly three months with his oblique strain. The outfielder was shaky at best prior to that injury, but he’s a 23-year-old who offers enormous offensive upside. He’s worthy of taking a flyer on in most leagues, but be prepared for some bitter with the better.
Nationals designated 1B Nathaniel Lowe for assignment.
A little bit of a surprise, but not really. Lowe was likely to be designated for assignment after his disappointing 2025 season; one that has seen him slash .216/.292/.373. That being said, his previous success makes it likely that Lowe will be playing for a new organization by the end of the week. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll assuredly elect free agency.
Braves released RHP Jackson Stephens.
Stephens pitched well for Triple-A Gwinnett with a 2.57 ERA in his 49 innings, but Atlanta will move on from the 31-year-old. It won’t be a huge surprise if Stephens finds a new home before the end of 2025.