Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Rangers, Blue Jays and One Total to Play)

Who's interested in betting on Major League Baseball on Thursday?

If you are, you have come to the right place, as the BetSided team of Peter Dewey, Ben Heisler and Donnavan Smoot has you covered with picks for a few of the games on today's slate.

All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:

Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction and Pick

Rather than take a side, I'm going with yet another under in the series. So far, the under has hit three consecutive times with the highest scoring game coming on Monday in a 5-1 Athletics win.

Blackburn has looked excellent in the early going for Oakland, limiting damage with runners on base and more importantly not walking anyone. His walk rate so far this year is 2.6%, while mixing in a strikeout percentage of over 26%. As for Wells, he appears to have fixed some of his issues from his first start; giving up four earned runs in 1.2 innings to the Rays. His final inning was his best one, striking out two Yankees with his fastball touching upwards of 96 mph. That's a good sign for a former reliever turned starter as he tries to stretch himself out.

Oakland's offense, while eighth in total runs, has really slowed down and started to show that it's a lot of smoke and mirrors. Both the A's and Orioles own a negative OFF (offensive runs above average) rating at Fangraphs, ranked 17th and 26th respectively.

Both teams are slumping offensively and have their starters pitching well, all while playing in a big ballpark with no fans in the stands.

I'll buy the under for the fourth straight game.

LEAN: UNDER 7.5 (-110) -- Ben Heisler

Follow all of Ben Heisler's betting plays in real-time HERE

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction and Pick

The Blue Jays are going to win this game and that’s because they have the advantage on the mound. Although Kevin Gausman has allowed 14 hits in two starts, he also has 14 strikeouts and has only allowed five runs in that span. 

Boston is putting Tanner Houck on the mound. He’s been clean in his starts as well, but he doesn’t have the strikeouts Gausman does. Houck had a short outing 10 days ago against the Yankees, only going three innings. If he has a similar performance against the Blue Jays and their bats, it will be another short outing. 

The Red Sox won the first matchup of the series 2-1. I don’t see the Blue Jays being held down like that again, so I’ll take the Jays to end the series on a high note. 

Lean: Blue Jays ML (-110) -- Donnavan Smoot

You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.

Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners Prediction and Pick

The Rangers have been horrible to start this season, as they have a minus-16 run differential and have lost five straight games heading into Thursday’s contest. 

Not only that, but the Rangers are the worst team in baseball on the run line so far in 2022, going just 3-8 through their first 11 games. Seattle, on the other hand, has been elite on the run line, going 8-4 through its first 12 games. 

The Mariners’ pitching staff has been impressive this season, allowing just 39 runs through 12 games, and I expect Gonzales to have another solid outing against a struggling Rangers lineup. 

Texas is just 19th in baseball in OPS this season, and it has scored three or fewer runs in four straight games. 

I’ll back Seattle to grab the win on Thursday. 

Lean: Mariners Moneyline (-125) -- Peter Dewey

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.