MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (8/21)
Here are our top MLB picks & bets for Thursday, August 21.
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Thursday’s Best MLB Picks & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
St. Louis Cardinals (-123) at Tampa Bay Rays (+170) | O/U 8.5 (-109/-112)
The Cardinals are in the midst of a rough patch as they've dropped six of their last eight. However, the chance of a playoff spot is not out of the realm of possibility. They are five games out of the last Wild Card spot and two teams ahead of them are their National League Central rivals, the Cubs and Reds, whom they do play again.
Sonny Gray is coming off a rare bad start at home by allowing six earned runs in five innings against the Yankees. Now he heads on the road, where he has struggled all season with a 5.23 ERA.
However, the Cardinals’ offense has been solid, scoring five runs or more in five of the last seven games, and they face Tampa Bay’s Joe Boyle, who has only made 25 appearances in three seasons. Boyle has been roughed up recently by allowing ten earned runs in his last 5.1 innings.
Both pitchers are in unfavorable situations, which could lead to a higher-scoring game.
Pick: Over 8.5 Total Runs (-109)
Boston Red Sox (-123) at New York Yankees (-144) | O/U 8.5 (-102/-119)
The Yankees need consistency because they are going to be in a fight for the American League East for the rest of the season. They are still four games behind the Blue Jays, and if this weekend doesn't go well, they could drop down to third. The Red Sox are right on their heels at only two games behind them in the loss column as they begin a four-game series.
Luis Gil has three starts after a lat strain kept him out for the first four months of the season. His first start was brutal, allowing five earned runs in 3.1 innings. However, the next two starts have been great and he's allowed a total of three runs in 10.2 innings. All things point to an excellent outing for Gil against Boston; he feels more confident at home with a 3.43 ERA at Yankee Stadium compared to 3.96 on the road, the Red Sox only have a lifetime .163 wOBA against Gil, and their last six games have a .264 wOBA (27th).
Pick: Yankees Moneyline (-144)