3 MLB Best Bets for Monday, August 21

After another nice 2-0 evening on Friday, we're sitting at 123-90 on the season. Both the Braves and the Rockies came through for us in relatively sweat free fashion.

It's been a fun year to say the least and we're focused on finishing it strong. Here are 3 MLB best bets for Monday, August 21. Let's rock and roll!

Best Bet: Mariners (-172)

I played this at -166 when the lines come out and still think it's worth playing at the current number. This Mariners team is hotter than a firecracker right now. They just swept a really good Houston team and have won six in a row.

On the other side, the White Sox look like they've given up on the season and understandably so. They've only won three out of their last 10, and they just don't have that many dangerous hitters in their lineup.

I'm pretty high on Luis Castillo. He's 4-1 over his last five starts with a 2.80 era. Seattle also has a huge bullpen edge in this one as well. Lay the big number!

Best Bet: Tigers F5 (+108)

This Tigers team has shown a lot of grit of late by winning 6 of 10. I think Detroit has the starting pitching edge in this one with Alex Faedo going against Javier Assad.

Faedo has only given up three earned runs over his last three starts. Assad isn't bad but his strikeout rate is very low in his walk rate is kind of high. Both of those are red flags.

Some of these Detroit hitters are finally starting to come around. Spencer Torkelson has been hitting bombs left and right and Riley Greene has done well also at the plate lately.

The Cubs have the better bullpen, so I'll play Detroit in the first five innings.

Best Bet: Red Sox F5 (+110)

Man, this Houston team is in a major funk. They were just swept by the Mariners, and they've only won two out of their last seven ball games. This seems like another good spot to fade them, even at home.

I have James Paxton rated quite a bit higher than Christian Javier in the starting pitcher department. Paxton's ERA is only 1.80 over his last five starts. Meanwhile, Javier has given up nine earned runs over his last three starts.

Boston has been much hotter at the plate, as they're scoring 7.3 runs per game against right-handers over there last five outings. Houston has some dangerous hitters, but they're only averaging 4.9 runs per game against lefties their last five games.