Tuesday offers another full MLB slate on the diamond, with all 30 teams in action. Utilizing expert insights and advanced analytics is crucial for making the best MLB bets. These data-driven approaches can significantly enhance your winning potential.
Additionally, free MLB picks are available to help bettors make informed decisions. These picks cover various markets, including game-day matchups, player props, and total runs, providing valuable resources throughout the MLB season.
Our staff of betting experts has three MLB best bets for Tuesday, including an MLB total in Cardinals vs Reds, an MLB player prop in Astros vs Rays, and an MLB run line (spread) bet in Rangers vs Red Sox. Today's betting recommendations are backed by reliable MLB predictions.
Read on for our MLB Best Bets and picks and predictions for Tuesday, August 13.
MLB Best Bets & Tuesday Picks, Predictions
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:40 p.m. | |
  | 6:50 p.m. | |
  | 7:10 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. | ||
D.J. James' Cardinals vs Reds MLB Best Bet: Value On Over/Under
By D.J. James
Hunter Greene has been the prospect the Cincinnati Reds and their fans dreamed of.
The fire-balling righty has a 2.90 ERA and 2.98 xERA this year. His groundball rate is not too good, but his peripherals are encouraging otherwise. He has a below-average walk rate but a strikeout rate of over 27%, alongside an excellent batted-ball profile.
His opponent will be the St. Louis Cardinals and Erick Fedde. Fedde has a 3.28 ERA and 3.87 xERA. His bounce-back, after winning MVP in the KBO, has been phenomenal. His batted-ball profile is well above average, and he only walks around 6% of batters faced. He's an excellent addition to the St. Louis rotation.
The Reds own a 97 wRC+, 5.8% walk rate, and 22.6% strikeout rate against righties over the past month. Meanwhile, the Cards have a 104 wRC+, 6.6% walk rate, and 19.3% strikeout rate against righties over the last month.
In relief, the Reds have a 3.70 xFIP with a 26.9% strikeout rate and walk rate under 8% — pretty good numbers.
The Cards have a 4.22 xFIP in relief with a 19.4% strikeout rate and walk rate under 8%.
Yes, the Cards’ bullpen is lacking, and their lineup has been slightly above average against righties lately, but Greene can continue to throw deep into games.
Bet the under from 8.5 to 7.5.
Pick: Under 8.5 (+105, Caesars) | Play to 7.5 (-110)
Cody Goggin's MLB Astros vs Rays Prediction & Pick: Back Yusei Kikuchi
By Cody Goggin
Yusei Kikuchi has been on fire in his first two starts since joining the Astros. Kikuchi already had good Stuff+ numbers but has improved even more since coming to Houston. This MLB game against the Rays presents another opportunity to capitalize on his form.
Kikuchi’s strikeout rate over these two starts has jumped to 42.2% — from 26.2% with Toronto. His Stuff+ has been 110 at both stops, so it’s not as if his stuff has dramatically improved, but he has changed his pitch mix just a tad. Kikuchi is leveraging his slider more and his curveball less. His curveball usage has been trending down as the season has gone on, but the last two starts have been his two lowest usage rates of the curveball on the year. This makes logical sense as Kikuchi’s curveball is relatively average (99 Stuff+), while his slider is a much better pitch (111 Stuff+).
He will face off against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, who strike out at the eighth-highest rate in baseball. The Rays rank 15th in wRC+ and 23rd in wOBA this season, as they have been below average overall. They also rank 26th in SLG, 26th in ISO, and 18th in OBP.
The Rays don’t hit the ball exceptionally hard, either. They rank 25th in hard-hit rate, 17th in barrel rate, and 26th in average exit velocity.
Tampa Bay made a lot of moves at the trade deadline, selling off half their best hitters. As expected, Tampa ranks 29th in wRC+, 29th in wOBA, and 27th in strikeout rate during August.
Kikuchi’s first start of his Houston career was against this same Rays team just two weeks ago. While that may mean they have a better idea of what to expect, I’m instead going to bank on his repeatable results as he struck out 11 Rays in 5 2/3 IP.
There are several ways to approach this but I think Kikuchi’s strikeout prop is potentially my favorite.
Pick: Yusei Kikuchi Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-150, FanDuel) | Play to 6.5 (-155)
Pick: Yusei Kikuchi Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-150) |
What is QuickSlip?
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Tony Sartori's MLB Rangers vs Red Sox Best Bet: Sox Can Cover
Boston is the superior team in this matchup.
Let's begin with the starting pitchers in what is a duel between Jose Urena and Kutter Crawford. Crawford outranks Urena in WHIP, hard-hit rate, xwOBA, xBA, strikeout rate and walk rate.
Meanwhile, an even more significant gap exists between these two lineups.
The Red Sox pace Cleveland in runs scored per game, hits per game, BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, home runs and stolen bases. Furthermore, this current Boston lineup boasts a commanding .307 xBA, .550 xSLG and .264 xwOBA through 37 combined career plate appearances against Urena.
Add home-field advantage, and there is little reason to believe we won't see a commanding victory from the Red Sox on Tuesday.
MLB Run Line Predictions: Red Sox -1.5 (+135, bet365) | Play to -1.5 (+125)
The Rangers vs Red Sox game offers an exciting opportunity for bettors, especially when considering MLB moneyline picks. Moneyline wagers are straightforward, requiring bettors to simply select which team will win the game outright. This simplicity makes moneyline picks particularly appealing for both novice and experienced bettors.
In addition to moneyline wagers, understanding the MLB run line is crucial for making informed betting decisions. The run line functions similarly to point spreads in other sports, handicapping teams by 1.5 runs. This can significantly impact betting strategies and outcomes, providing additional layers of analysis for those looking to maximize their returns.
Analyzing the spread bet for this game, we see that the Rangers are favored by 1.5 runs. This means that for a bet on the Rangers to pay off, they must win by at least two runs. Conversely, a bet on the Red Sox would win if they either win the game outright or lose by just one run.
