MLB Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (6/17)

Saturday's here, which means it's a great day to kick back and watch some baseball! We have a full 15-game slate spanning from 2:10 p.m. ET, with the Tigers taking on the Twins to 10:10 when the Diamondbacks host the Guardians. I have bets on each of those games, so we'll have action to follow all day long! Let's dive into how I'm betting on each contest, along with a third play I'm locked in on.

MLB YTD: 45-82 (+2.89 Units)

Today's Best MLB Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Detroit Tigers (+155) vs. Minnesota Twins (-180) | 9.0 (-105/-115)

The Tigers took the first two games of their four-game set with the Twins, and they'll turn to Joey Wentz to keep things rolling this afternoon. The Twins counter with Jose De Leon in this divisional clash scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET from Target Field in Minneapolis, MN.

One of my favorite betting angles this season has been fading the Twins in some capacity when they're facing left-handed pitching. They're currently just 28th in both team batting average (.225) and OPS (.678) against LHP this year. While Wentz, who is just 1-6 with a 7.23 ERA, hasn't been very sharp, this is a great spot for him to turn in a decent start. The southpaw has also limited the Twins to a .167/.286/.333 slash line over 12 at-bats.

On the flip side, the Tigers have been one of the worst offenses in baseball this season. They're currently 27th in team batting average (.230) and 29th in OPS (.667). De Leon gets the nod for the Twins, and he'll be in an opening role. This may actually be a favorable matchup considering Minnesota is eighth in bullpen ERA (3.62) and 11th in WHIP (1.25). When factoring all things in, I simply think nine runs are too many in this matchup. Let's ride with the under.

Bet: Under 9.0 (-115)

Tampa Bay Rays (-115) vs. San Diego Padres (-105) | 8.0 (-120/+100)

The Rays took care of business in the opener last night, defeating the Padres 6-2 at Petco Park. Tampa will turn to Zach Eflin to handle the starting pitching responsibilities this evening, while San Diego counters with Blake Snell. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET from Petco Park in San Diego, CA.

Snell has been on a bit of a heater over his last four starts, allowing just two earned runs over 24.0 innings of work. However, he'll have his toughest test of the year tonight when he takes on the potent Tampa offense. They've excelled against lefties as they're third in team batting average (.289) and second in OPS (.867). Snell may be solid tonight, but I expect him to give up a few runs.

As for Eflin, he'll be tasked with handling a Padres team that's finally getting some offensive production. In the last 15 days, San Diego is eighth in team batting average (.261) and fourth in OPS (.797). They may finally be turning things around and living up to the preseason hype. In addition to the recent success, they've also caused problems for Eflin in the past. The current roster is slashing .275/.341/.438 against the right-hander with seven extra-base hits over 80 at-bats. Ultimately, these are two offenses with a ton of potential, and I think the over is the best bet in San Diego.

Bet: Over 8.0 (-120)

Cleveland Guardians (-130) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (+110) | 8.5 (-120/+100)

The Guardians dropped the opener last night in the valley in a 5-1 fashion. Their roster turns over, and they'll go with Shane Bieber as they attempt to get back in the win column. The Snakes counter with Tommy Henry in this interleague showdown set for 10:10 p.m. ET from Chase Field in Phoenix, Ari.

I'm locking in my third total play of the day, and I'm taking the under 8.5 runs. Henry is a left-hander who has been serviceable at Chase Field this season, posting a 3.60 ERA and limiting opponents to a .245 batting average. He'll take on a very underwhelming Cleveland offense tonight. They're just 19th in team batting average (.242) and 28th in OPS (.672). The Guardians have also hit the least amount of home runs this year with 45.

Bieber continues to be a force for Cleveland, and he remains the ace of the pitching staff. The right-hander is currently 5-3 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 14 starts. In two outings this month, he has posted a 0.71 ERA, giving up just one earned run over 12.2 innings. I'm not sure if he'll get moved at the deadline, but he's certainly keeping his trade value high. Bieber has solid head-to-head numbers against Arizona, as they're slashing just .200/.259/.240 against him over 25 at-bats. Look for Bieber to keep his great form while Henry turns in a respectable start - let's lock in the under.

Bet: Under 8.5 (+100)