Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Trust Dodgers, Astros as Big Favorites and One Total to Play on Monday)
The second half of the Major League Baseball season is underway, and the BetSided team is still sharing their favorite picks each day.
Here are three plays that we're looking at on Monday, July 25, with all odds via WynnBET:
Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, Odds Prediction and Pick
- Run Line: Nationals +1.5 (+120) | Dodgers -1.5 (-145)
- Moneyline: Nationals +255 | Dodgers -290
- Total: 8.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
On the surface, Paolo Espino’s numbers look solid, but he spent most of the season working out of the bullpen before moving to the rotation last month.
In seven starts, Espino has a 4.88 ERA and 5.65 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching). The Nationals are just 1-6 in those games and have three losses by three or more runs.
Tony Gonsolin has been Mr. Perfect for the Dodgers, winning every one of his decisions this season and he’s seen the team go 14-3 in his 17 starts. The Dodgers have also won nine straight starts by Gonsolin and have won by two-plus runs in seven of them.
The pitching matchup clearly favors Los Angeles, and the Nationals are reeling right now with the Soto trade rumors circulating.
Don’t overthink this one.
Lean: Dodgers -1.5 (-145) -- Peter Dewey
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics Odds, Prediction and Pick
- Run Line: Astros -1.5 (-130) | Athletics +1.5 (+110)
- Moneyline: Astros -220 | Athletics +200
- Total: 8 (Over -110/Under -110)
There's really not much more that can be said about the Athletics. They rank dead last in batting average (.213) and OPS (.611), and now they're trotting out Adam Oller, who has an ERA of 8.56, to start against one of the best teams in the American League.
Oller faced the Astros in his last start, and he gave up six hits and three earned runs in only 4.1 innings. A repeat performance tonight should give Houston a fairly easy win, especially if they get strong production from starter Jake Odorizzi (3.56 ERA).
Crazier things have happened, but if you're going to bet an underdog, you at least need some sort of justification, and I don't see any in this game.
Astros win big.
Pick: Astros -1.5 (-130) -- Iain MacMillan
You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.
San Diego Padres vs Detroit Tigers Odds, Prediction and Pick
- Run Line: Padres -1.5 (+105) | Tigers +1.5 (-125)
- Moneyline: Padres -153 | Tigers +143
- Total: 8.5 (Over -110/Under -110)
I'm conflicted with this game. On one hand, San Diego has been dreadful as a road favorite, losing seven of nine. The Tigers are 6-2 in their last eight as home underdogs and rank 14th in OPS against left-handed pitchers over the last three weeks, so they should be able to score against an underwhelming arm like Sean Manaea.
On the other hand, Drew Hutchison is a bit of a disaster. I'll admit, he did limit each opponent to three runs or fewer in his starts prior to giving up four to the Guardians last week. But his underlying metrics are concerning. Just look at Hutchison's MLB Statcast Pitching Profile:
As much as I'd love to pick Detroit, I don't have enough faith in Hutchison. Thus, I'll look to the over instead. Neither pitcher can be trusted and we've got favorable weather conditions in store. The over is 10-3-1 in Manaea's last 14 starts, 3-1 in Hutchison's last four, and 4-0 in the TIgers' last four as home underdogs.
Especially with each bullpen struggling, I think we've got great value with this number. Look for both lineups to enjoy success to kick off the week.
Pick: Over 8.5 (-110)
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.