Saturday, August 24, features a full 15-game slate with plenty of enticing matchups and MLB odds to sift through. Luckily, our staff of MLB betting experts has already dug through the odds and identified today's MLB best bets.
Our MLB predictions and picks for Saturday, August 24 are below.
MLB Best Bets Today
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 4:07 p.m. | |
  | 4:10 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. | ||
Tony Sartori's Brewers vs Athletics MLB Best Bet: Bet The Underdog
By Tony Sartori
At +115, it's worth taking a shot on the underdog in this spot, primarily due to the pitching matchup. Right-hander Colin Rea is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee, and he's a prime regression candidate.
Despite posting an 11-4 record with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP, Rea sports a 4.80 xERA and ranks in the 28th percentile or lower in xBA, average exit velocity, strikeout rate, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. Meanwhile, right-hander Joe Boyle gets the ball for Oakland.
Boyle outranks Rea in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, strikeout rate and barrel rate.
The Brewers clearly possess the stronger lineup, but it's not like the A's are incapable of putting up runs. They rank eighth in the league in home runs, which could play a massive role against Rea, who surrenders a 9.2% barrel rate and a 41.1% hard-hit rate.
Oakland's bullpen also outranks Milwaukee's in FIP.
Pick: Athletics Moneyline (+115)
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William Boor's Diamondbacks vs Red Sox MLB Best Bet: Can D'backs Stay Hot?
By William Boor
Two of the best offenses in baseball meet Saturday as the Red Sox host the Diamondbacks at Fenway Park.
Arizona is averaging 5.30 runs per game, which leads the league, but will be playing without Ketel Marte. Meanwhile, Boston averages 4.98 runs per game. Both offenses have been humming lately as Boston has scored four or more in three of its past four games, while Arizona has tallied seven or more runs in four of its past five contests. Even without Marte, I think the D'backs' offense is slighter better.
I also think the Arizona's starter, Zac Gallen, is slightly better than Boston's, Kuttker Crawford. The margins in this game are small, which is exactly why we're getting a -106 price.
Gallen isn't the dominant ace he was a season ago, but the flashes are still there. He's pitched to a 3.85 ERA with a 4.13 xERA, but I like backing him in this spot because of his ability to limit barrels and keep the ball on the ground. Gallen ranks in the 78th percentile in barrel rate and the 71st percentile in ground-ball rate, a key metric when pitching at Fenway Park.
That brings me to Crawford, who has pitched to a 4.25 ERA and a 4.02 xERA. The 28-year-old ranks in just the eighth percentile in barrel percentage and the ninth percentile in ground-ball rate. He does rank in the 92nd percentile in chase percentage, but when opponents make contact, they often hit in the air, which can be dangerous at Fenway. Crawford has given up nine runs over 10 innings across his past two home starts and his 4.30 ERA at home is a touch worse than his 4.19 mark on the road.
These teams and starters have similar stats and metrics, but I feel this park suits Gallen just a bit better. Take the Diamondbacks at -106 and play them to -120.
Pick: Diamondbacks Moneyline (-106)
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