Betsided

MLB Best Bets for Every Game Today (October 20)

By Peter Dewey, Josh Yourish

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino. / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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We have just one game in MLB on Thursday night, as the New York Yankees and Houston Astros play Game 2 of the ALCS. 

Houston took Game 1 behind a strong pitching performance from Justin Verlander, and it now is looking to grab a 2-0 series lead with Framber Valdez on the mound against Luis Severino. 

Here are a few of the best bets from the BetSided team for Thursday’s action: 

New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros Predictions and Best Bets

  • Giancarlo Stanton OVER 0.5 Hits (-180)
  • Yankees-Astros NRFI (-115)

Giancarlo Stanton OVER 0.5 Hits 

I picked Giancarlo Stanton for today’s Daily Dinger between the BetSided team, and it’s mainly because of how locked in he’s been in the postseason for the Yankees. 

This postseason, Stanton has arguably been the Yankees most consistent player, hitting a pair of home runs and picking up a two-hit game in Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday night. 

Stanton just crushes home runs for New York in the playoffs in his career, hitting 10 homers in his last 16 postseason games while slashing .298/.354/.860. I don’t need him to go yard in this prop, but rather just to pick up one hit in this game. 

That seems pretty easy, especially given his career numbers against Valdez.

Stanton has four hits in eight at bats, including a double and a home run against Valdez, and he should continue that success in Game 2. -- Peter Dewey

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Yankees-Astros No Runs First Inning (-115)

The sportsbooks have finally settled the odds for NRFI and YRFI bets and have stopped putting far too much value on YRFI bets in the postseason. They were overvaluing the pitchers on the mound and forgetting that these teams also have the best offenses in the league. 

Tonight with Luis Severino and Framber Valdez, the YRFI side at PointsBet this morning offers the same odds as the NRFI of -115. 

Severino gave up a first inning run in his only postseason start, but that came in Game 3 of the ALDS after a long layoff. I previously faded pitchers with extended rest this postseason, but those opportunities are gone now. Severino had a 1.89 ERA in the first inning this season. 

Houston starts Valdez tonight which will be a change of pace for New York. So far this postseason, they only have 12 at bats against left-handed pitching. As a team they had a .768 OPS against lefties this season, slightly better than right-handers, but it should take the Yankees lineup a few innings to adjust.

Plus, Aaron Judge had another 0-4 last night and has a .617 OPS in the postseason. If his bat isn’t a true threat at the top of the order, then I like the value on the No Run First Inning tonight in Houston. 

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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