We split a pair of baseball selections yesterday to bring us to 119-89 this season. The Mariners got the job done for us, thanks to some timely hitting and gritty pitching from Luis Castillo.
Unfortunately, the Pirates reminded us that they're still the Pirates, as they were blown out by the Mets on the road. Here are 3 MLB Best Bets for Thursday, August 17. Let's go 2-1 or better!
Best Bet: Mariners F5 -0.5 (-135)
This is currently -135 at DraftKings, which is a bargain in my book. George Kirby is quietly becoming one of the top pitchers in the American League. This kid's walk rate is one of the best in baseball at only 2.5%!
Kirby's not a big strikeout guy but his fastball still averages around 96, which is nothing to complain about. What I love about Kirby (besides his BB rate) is his devastating slider that comes in at around 86 mph.
The Royals hitters have been hot, but they'll have their work cut out for them in this one. Let's continue to ride the bats of Julio Rodriguez, Eugenio Suarez, and Cal Raleigh.
Best Bet: Mets F5 (-130)
I found this beauty over at Betly and think it's a good price. I feel sorry for Adam Wainwright. The wily old veteran just doesn't have it anymore, which is kind of depressing to witness.
As bad as I feel for Waino, we have a terrific opportunity to bet against him. He's allowed 15 runs over his last 2 starts and every single pitch seems to be left out over the plate. The former ace only lasted 1 inning in his last outing against the Royals.
The Mets have surprisingly won 3 of 4 and have been swinging the bats much better. I don't trust New York's bullpen, so I'll gladly roll with the first 5 innings option. Am I really about to bet on Jose Quintana? WOW!
Best Bet: Diamondbacks F5 (-110)
Here's another price that just doesn't make sense. How are we getting a legitimate Cy Young candidate at only -110 odds against 43-year-old Rich Hill? Maybe it's a sucker bet but sign me up!
Gallen has struggled some on the road this year, but his fastball has a ton of movement, and his cutter can be filthy at times as well. He's been lights out against San Diego this season, as he's only allowed 4 earned runs in 3 starts.
The Pads impressed me by taking 2 of 3 from the Orioles, but I'm still not trusting them. Arizona has averaged 6.1 runs per game over their last 5 outings, while San Diego has only averaged 4.2. Give me the snakes in the first five!
