We have a relatively light nine-game MLB slate on Monday, September 9. However, our MLB betting experts came through with a trio of bets for today's matchups, including two moneyline picks and one first five innings total prediction for Cubs vs Dodgers, Reds vs Braves and Marlins vs Pirates.
Read below for our top three MLB best bets and picks for Monday.
MLB Best Bets, Picks, Predictions for Monday (9/9)
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 10:10 p.m. | |
  | 6:40 p.m. | |
  | 6:40 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Kevin Rogers' Marlins vs Pirates MLB Best Bet: Take the Heavy Underdogs
By Kevin Rogers
Paul Skenes is listed at his highest favorite price of the season, as he is coming off a five-inning scoreless effort in a road win at Chicago.
The Pirates are 2-3 in Skenes' last five home starts as they face the Marlins, who are off consecutive victories over the Phillies.
Although it was five months ago, the Marlins look to avenge getting swept by the Pirates at home in the opening series of the season.
The Marlins are 5-1 in Valente Bellozo's last six starts, while allowing two or less earned runs four times during that span.
Pick: Marlins ML (+220)
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Tony Sartori's Reds vs Braves MLB Best Bet: Cincinnati Moneyline
By Tony Sartori
Whenever you have a team with the clear pitching advantage, it's worth taking a look at them when priced at +140. That is the case on Monday evening as the Cincinnati Reds hand the ball to Nick Martinez while the Atlanta Braves return with Charlie Morton.
Martinez outranks Morton in ERA, WHIP, xERA, average exit velocity, walk rate, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. The reason for the large payout on Cincinnati is because Atlanta is the superior hitting team.
With that said, the Reds are also capable of manufacturing runs as they rank in the top half of the league in runs scored per game, home runs and stolen bases. Furthermore, Morton possesses a fade-worthy 4.53 ERA across his past 11 starts against Cincinnati.
Pick: Reds ML (+140)
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Justin Perri's Cubs vs Dodgers MLB Best Bet: First Five Innings Total Pick
By Justin Perri
A high number set for a first half total between two struggling starters is the perfect spot to grab a contrarian under. Walker Buehler finally looks like he's serviceable, and has posted back to back starts with less than three earned runs allowed under his belt.
Kyle Hendricks has to face a formidable Dodgers lineup, but is Teoscar Hernandez going to be available? He's sat the last two games with an ankle injury and could very well miss today's contest too. Could that be enough to help Hendricks keep the LA lineup at bay?
Here's the thing; most know Hendricks as a weaker pitcher, someone who is always giving up runs, and while that's fair, he may actually give us a good chance at keeping the allowed runs to a reasonable number. He's coming off his best start by CSW% in over a month and it was against a team that had seen him in back to back appearances, which indicates that he's doing something a bit differently and maybe getting results that can carry over into tonight's game, or at least be competitive. All we're looking for is five or less runs allowed in five innings.
The Cubs lineup has cooled off recently, with just an 83 wRC+ in September so far. Pete Crow-Armstrong had 17 hits and 12 RBI in 44 at bats coming into September 1, leading the charge behind a big Chicago push. But since then, he has just four hits and three RBIs in his most recent 19 at bats, and Chicago has been shut out in three of their last five games. They've scored totals of 2 and 12 runs in the other two.
I tend to think the colder bats stay quiet for Chicago and Walker Buehler may surprise some people with a good start, Kyle Hendricks will give up a couple, but allowing 4+ seems unlikely to a Dodgers lineup that has been just above average of late and could be missing a key slugger. Grab the F5 Under at 5.5.
Pick: First Five Innings Under 5.5 (+105)
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