Best MLB Bets for Every Game Today (September 22)
Not every Major League Baseball team is in action on Thursday, but that’s not stopping the BetSided team from delivering a pick and the odds for every game on the Sept. 22 slate.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew their league’s greatest rivalry again tonight, while the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers have key matchups for the NL playoff race.
Let’s jump into the picks for these games:
Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Rangers -1.5 (+122)
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: OVER 8 (-112)
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Giants ML (-116)
Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Mariners -1.5 (-137)
These two young starters are going in completely different directions, as George Kirby has been lights out since July 2, pitching to a 2.09 ERA over 12 appearances.
Meanwhile, Adrian Martinez is coming off a pair of rough outings, including one where he allowed 14 (!!) hits to the Chicago White Sox.
Even though Seattle has not played its best baseball as of late, I can’t trust Martinez and the A’s, who are about as far from competing for a playoff spot as you can be.
Kirby stays dominant and the Mariners win big. – Peter Dewey
St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Padres ML (-122)
The Padres are in a great spot to back today. San Diego is 35-25 straight up as a home favorite this season. Compare that to the Cardinals being 12-21 as a road underdog, and you have a recipe for another San Diego win.
Joe Musgrove is on the mound today, and he’s coming off one of his best starts of the season. He went six scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks, recording a win in the process. With the Cardinals struggling offensively – bottom third in OPS and and hits over the last two weeks – Musgrove is set up for another great performance.
The Cardinals will send Jack Flaherty out on the mound, and he needs to tighten up if the Cardinals want to get this one. He’s allowed eight runs in his last two starts, which makes me lean towards the Padres here. – Donnavan Smoot
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Cubs ML (-102)
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: OVER 7.5 (-114)
The Blue Jays also have the second best offense in baseball by OPS for the past seven days while the Rays slot in at 19th. The Rays have lost three straight, but lead the season series 8-7. The Rays are no stranger to a bullpen day and they’ll employ that strategy again today.
I like the Blue Jays offense right now, but worry about Berrios enough that I’m not going to take the Blue Jays on the road. Instead, I’ll play the over 7.5 because I could see this one turning high scoring. – Josh Yourish
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Brewers ML (-162)
Houston Astros vs. Baltimore Orioles Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: UNDER 7 (-110)
Justin Verlander picked up right where he left off in his last start, tossing five innings of shutout ball while striking out nine.
Verlander’s 25 starts have been near automatic wins for Houston, as the team is 19-6 in those games. A big reason why is that Houston has the best bullpen in MLB based on ERA this season, so Verlander has gotten a ton of help from the guys behind him as well.
That’s going to be problematic for the Orioles, but they are the best team on the run line this season, so I’m going to look to the total for my best bet.
Verlander has a 1.21 ERA since late June, and the Orioles actually have a lot to look forward to with Kyle Bradish, who hasn’t allowed more three earned runs in a game since returning to the rotation in late July. He has a 3.09 ERA over those 10 starts, with the O’s going 7-3 in those games. – Peter Dewey
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Braves ML (-148)
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: OVER 8 (-110)
Michael Wacha doesn't seem like the pitcher that he would get No. 61 off of with his 2.61 ERA and 11-1 record, but Wacha’s FIP is almost a run higher than his ERA and his expected ERA is over four. His expected slugging is in the 27th percentile of the league and could potentially be primed for a major step back in a hitter friendly park.
Tonight, Aaron Judge gets No. 61 and the Yankees roll, but the most value is on the over with the New York offense scoring 14, nine and 12 in their last three games. – Josh Yourish
Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: Guardians ML (-142)
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction and Best Bet
- Pick: First Five Innings UNDER 3.5 (-112)
Both of these starters have been terrific, so instead of backing a side in this one, I’m going to play a first five innings total.
Zac Gallen had his scoreless innings streak snapped earlier this month, but he still has posted 12 consecutive starts with two or fewer runs allowed, including seven starts with no runs allowed.
As for Julio Urias, he has been nearly as dominant, posting 11 straight starts with two or fewer runs allowed.
The Diamondbacks are also awful against lefties this season, ranking 26th in baseball in OPS. Given how well these two starters have pitched for multiple months, 3.5 runs should be tough for these offenses to clear early. – Peter Dewey