MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (8/14)
Here are our top MLB picks & bets for Thursday, August 14th.
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Thursday's Best MLB Picks & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Detroit Tigers (-210) at Minnesota Twins (+170) | O/U 7.5 (-101/-120) MLB Picks
The Tigers have been average recently, going 5-5 in their last 10 games. Luckily, no one else in the American League Central has been able to take advantage, and they still hold a sizable lead. They've been riding this success thanks to being one of the more balanced teams in the league, as they are eighth in runs scored per game (4.79) and 11th in earned runs allowed per game (3.80).
It also helps when they have starter Tarik Skubal on the mound. He is favored to win his second straight Cy Young award with a 2.35 ERA. He's coming off a tough outing where he allowed four earned runs to the Angels, but the good news is that the Tigers still won. Skubal has done well with regrouping after a bad start; in the last three outings where he's allowed four or more earned runs, he's allowed one fewer run in the next start. He should be able to rebound against a Twins lineup that is hitting only .150 against him.
Pick: Tigers -1.5 (-126)
Atlanta Braves (+162) at New York Mets (-199) | O/U 7.5 (-101/-120) MLB Picks
It has been brutal lately for the Mets as they've moved down in the playoff standings. At one time, they were a National League East contender, but they are 27-34 since June 1st, and now they hold the last Wild Card spot.
Much of that has had to do with their pitching. Coming into June, they led the league with a 2.88 ERA; since then, they rank 26th with a 4.65 ERA. Even Kodai Senga has felt the impact. At one point, he was a Cy Young candidate by going 7-3 with a 1.39 ERA in his first 14 starts, but over his last four starts, he's been roughed up with a 6.61 ERA. Luckily, the Mets have won three of those starts.
This has the potential to be a rebound game for Senga against the Braves, who are batting .111 with a 45.5% strikeout rate. What will help New York is their success against Braves starter Bryce Elder, whom they are hitting .292 against.
Pick: Mets -1.5 (+108)