After a perfect 3-0 sweep on Friday, we're looking to build on our 114-87 record. The Rays, Braves, and Rangers all got home for us to end the week in style. After a couple of days off, we're ready to get back in the saddle.
Here are 2 MLB Best Bets for Monday, August 14. Good luck tonight, folks!
Best Bet: Braves F5 -0.5 (-135)
I picked this up at -130 at Fanatics, but if you don't have access to them, -140 is just fine at Caesars. I know Max Fried had kind of a rough outing against the Pirates. However, his stuff was good, but he just ran into some bad luck in the 4th inning.
Even with Fried's shaky outing and injury-riddled season, I still think he's a Top 10 pitcher in MLB. Clark Schmidt has been pitching brilliantly lately for the Yanks, but he's still nowhere near the class of Fried. Schmidt's also likely to be shell shocked by this Atlanta lineup, which has 7 hitters with an XSLG of over .456.
Just how good is this Bravos lineup? Matt Olson leads the majors with 43 homers, while fellow sluggers Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies both have 28 homers apiece. Ronald Acuna Jr. leads baseball in stolen bases and he's also clubbed 26 bombs. Let's play the Braves on the run line in the First 5.
Best Bet: Orioles (+122)
So, let me get this straight! We're getting one of the best teams in baseball as an underdog against one of the most underachieving teams in baseball. It may seem too good to be true, but I'll bite.
Baltimore has won 7 of 10 and they just took 2 of 3 from a very hot Seattle team. San Diego, on the other hand, has only won 1 out of their last 6 and just dropped 2 of 3 to an ice-cold Arizona squad.
I know Grayson Rodriguez's yearly numbers aren't that great, but he's been a different guy since the All-Star break. The 23-year-old's ERA is just 2.20 over his last 5 outings. Yu Darvish has been pitching well also, but you never know when his next blowup outing will happen (he allowed 7 ER vs PIT on 7/24).
The Orioles bullpen has also been much more reliable than the Padres. Baltimore relievers are only allowing 3.74 runs per 9 innings over their last 10 games. San Diego relievers are sitting at 6.31 during that same span. Give me the O's!
