Best MLB Parlay Picks Today (Saturdays are for Seconds)

BOOM! We did it! Fridays are for the 'dogs, indeed, as we cashed a huge +1201 parlay yesterday thanks to the Guardians, Orioles, and Cardinals.

Now that we've got all this extra money in our pockets, I'm ready to keep the dollars flowing. Hey, I'm still hungry and it's lunchtime. If Fridays are for the 'dogs, then Saturdays are for seconds.

Using odds from WynnBET Sportsbook, here are my favorite MLB parlay picks of the day:

Guardians (-102) vs Blue Jays

Cleveland came through for us yesterday, and I'm even more confident in the Guardians today.

Triston McKenzie has become a legitimate ace, allowing precisely zero runs in four of his last seven starts. He's upped his curveball usage to fantastic results, as he's got a 48.1% whiff rate with the pitch this month. Pair that breaking ball with a fastball that opponents hit just .179 against in July and you're really cooking.

Mitch White gave up three runs in just 4.2 innings to the Twins in his Blue Jays debut, and he's got an expected FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) above 4.81 in three of his last four starts.

Back Cleveland to improve to 6-1 in its last seven as road underdogs while Toronto falls to 1-6 in its last seven as a favorite.

Reds First Five Innings (-120) vs Cubs

Graham Ashcraft is a pitcher I look to back every single time he starts. The Cincinnati Reds are 10-4 in his outings this year, including winning four of his last five. His cutter and slider are both deadly pitches, and he relies on generating weak contact to frustrate batters.

The youngster seems to be improving with each start, and he just took down 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in a win over the Brewers last week. Ashcraft has an expected FIP under 3.33 in three of his last four starts, a number that would rank 13th among all qualified pitchers on the season.

Chicago Cubs' starter Adrian Sampson, on the other hand, has an expected FIP above 4.38 in four of his last five starts. That number would be the eighth-worst among qualified pitchers, so these starters are going in opposite directions.

I don't believe in Cincinnati's bullpen. Thus, I'll back Ashcraft on the first five innings to maximize the advantage he presents over Sampson.

Diamondbacks First Five Innings (-145) vs Rockies

The Arizona Diamondbacks start Zac Gallen today, who is the fourth-most profitable first five innings pitcher in MLB. Arizona is 11-3-7 in the first five when Gallen pitches, returning a $100 moneyline bettor $765.94.

With Gallen's history of excellence at Coors Field, I'd favor the Diamondbacks even if Jose Urena weren't starting for the Colorado Rockies. Since he is, I'm only emboldened in this pick.

Urena is on the short-list of "Worst MLB Starters," with a disastrous 6.06 expected ERA. The Rockies are 1-7 in his last eight starts and his MLB Statcast Pitching Profile is one not even a mother could love:

Like Cincy's, Arizona's bullpen can't be trusted, but Gallen can. Thus, the first five innings moneyline is the play.

Giants -1.5 (-120) vs Pirates

Logan Webb pitches at home today, so we're rounding out this parlay by backing the San Francisco Giants against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Giants are 22-3 in Webb's last 25 home starts, as the 25-year-old righty has a 2.58 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) at AT&T Park this year. A 2.58 FIP would be the fourth-best among all qualified pitchers, just ahead of AL Cy Young contenders Shane McClanahan and Dylan Cease.

Tyler Beade starts for Pittsburgh against his former team (he officiated Webb's wedding!) but doesn't throw deep into games and ranks in the 17th percentile in expected batting average. The Pirates' bullpen is among the worst in MLB, so San Francisco will have plenty of scoring opportunities.

With Webb at home, the Giants become a different team. San Francisco is 8-1 in its last nine as a home favorite while the Pirates are 3-12 in their last 15 as road underdogs. The moneyline is the safer play, but I want that odds boost the run line gives us.

MLB Parlay for August 13, 2022

The "Saturdays are for Seconds" Parlay (+1025)

• Guardians (-102) vs Blue Jays

• Diamondbacks First Five Innings (-145) vs Rockies

• Reds First Five Innings (-120) vs Cubs

• Giants -1.5 (-120) vs Pirates

Let's run it back, shall we? Odds of +1025 pay out $256.17 on a $25 bet, and I think back-to-back days of huge parlays sounds mighty fine.

I love the value we're getting with each matchup, as the pitching battle is clearly in our favor. WynnBET Sportsbook won't know what hit 'em.

Best of luck as always - let's get after it!

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.