Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Monday, August 15th (2022)
Monday’s MLB slate is a larger than usual 14 games, with nine of the 14 matchups between division rivals. That should give bettors plenty of data with which to make informed wagers.
We finished last week with four cashes in our previous five bets and look to pick up right where we left off and start another profitable week.
Here are our best bets for Monday’s MLB action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>
Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays O/U
All season long, there has been a vast divide between Toronto’s top two pitchers, Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman, versus Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi. Entering last week, Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats on Twitter) broke down the divide in the Blue Jays rotation.
Kikuchi (4-6, 5.13) has thrown five innings or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts and pitched to a 9.00 ERA in two starts spanning nine innings against Baltimore this year. Conversely, Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish (1-4, 6.42) has been the Orioles’ worst starting pitcher of late. He has allowed a hard-hit percentage of 43.0% (ranks in the 14th percentile) and ranks in the 11th percentile or worse in xBA, xSLG, and barrel percentage.
The over is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings in Toronto between these teams, and is 18-5-3 in the last 26 meetings overall. We like those trends to continue with two struggling starting pitchers on the mound.
Bet: Orioles-Blue Jays OVER 9 Runs (-115 at DraftKings)
Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox ML
The White Sox are just 14-23 series openers, as they have consistently failed to generate momentum when facing new opponents. Houston is 8-5 in August, and has scored six-plus runs in all eight victories while being held to two or fewer runs in four of the five losses. The amazing thing about those offensive numbers is they are getting great production without much help from slugger Yordan Alvarez of late, as he ranked 99th (among qualified players) with a .107 average (3-for-28) against starting pitchers over the last 14 days entering Sunday.
Houston’s Jose Urquidy (11-4, 385) has been outstanding of late, with a 6-1 record and 2.81 ERA in ten starts since June 8. Nine of those ten have been quality starts, and we look for him to limit a White Sox offense that will take time to adjust to playing a winning team with an elite pitching staff, as their last 19 games have come against teams under .500.
Bet: Houston Astros ML (-125 at DraftKings)
Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels O/U
Seattle’s Luis Castillo (5-4, 2.71) has thoroughly enjoyed his time as a Mariner thus far. Castillo’s first two starts with the new team have come against the Yankees, and he held the Bronx Bombers to three earned runs on eight hits in 14.2 innings. Castillo is opposed by Shohei Ohtani (10-7, 2.68), who has pitched to a 2.32 ERA in his previous seven starts, and a 1.54 ERA in two August starts. In addition, opposing teams have scored more than three runs just once in Ohtani’s last ten starts.
The under is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings in Los Angeles between these teams, and is 6-2-2 in their last ten meetings overall. The under is also 5-0-1 in the Angels’ last six series openers, and we expect all of those trends to continue tonight.
Bet: Mariners-Angels UNDER 6.5 Runs (-105 at DraftKings)
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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.