In what's likely to be the biggest slate of the MLB season, there are 18 games on Saturday, August 19. A trio of doubleheaders in southern California added three games — and even more betting opportunities — to today's schedule.
Our MLB betting experts have looked over the MLB odds and come up with their picks and best bets. Our experts have honed in on Yankees vs. Red Sox, Astros vs. Mariners and Giants vs. Braves, so continue reading as today's MLB best bets are below.
Today's MLB Best Bets
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 1:05 p.m. ET | |
  | 7:10 p.m. ET | |
  | 7:20 p.m. ET | |
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. | ||
Red Sox vs. Yankees
By D.J. James
The Red Sox will turn to Kutter Crawford, who has shown flashes of excellence this year, while New York will go with its ace, Gerrit Cole, on Saturday afternoon.
Neither team has hit well against right handers, meaning this could turn into a low-scoring affair. As a result, let's bet the under.
Crawford put together an average first half, but has had better results — a 3.14 ERA over 28 2/3 innings — since the All-Star break. Overall, Crawford has a 3.80 ERA against a 3.59 xERA with a 35.2% Hard-Hit Rate. He also also only walks 6% of batters and strikes out more than 24%.
Offensively, Boston has posted a 94 wRC+ with a .734 OPS this month. They also only have five bats with a xwOBA over .320, so Cole should feast on the bottom of the batting order.
Cole, of course, is one of MLB’s best starters with a 2.76 ERA against a 3.62 xERA. Regression looms, but it shouldn't hit too hard. Cole ranks around the middle of the pack in both Average Exit Velocity and Hard-Hit Rate. His walk rate is only 6.7% and his strikeout rate is 26.6%.
The Yankees have an 83 wRC+ with a .638 OPS off of righties in August and are striking out more than 25% of the time. That bodes well for Crawford.
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Mariners vs. Astros
By D.J. James
Shockingly, Framber Valdez has struggled in the second half, especially since his no-hitter. Despite avoiding regression over the past couple seasons, Valdez's ERA since the All-Star break sits at 5.59 over 38 2/3 innings.
Now, his Saturday opponent will be Logan Gilbert and the Seattle Mariners. Gilbert owns a 4.28 ERA over 33 2/3 innings in the second half. He also has an Average Exit Velocity over 90 mph.
Additionally, Houston has somewhat slumped this month. The Astros hold a 102 wRC+ with a .710 OPS, while Seattle has a 134 wRC+ and an .819 OPS off of lefties this month. Both teams also have walk rates over 10%.
Seattle has a stacked bullpen. The Mariners' relievers have a 3.54 xFIP with a 26.8% stirkeout rate and a walk rate under 8% this month. Conversely, Houston's bullpen has a 4.45 xFIP this month with a 26.4% strikeout rate and a 13.8% walk rate.
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Giants vs. Braves
By Kevin Rogers
The Braves have been a runaway train this season and picked up another win on Friday night in their series opener against the Giants.
San Francisco will send its ace, Logan Webb, to the mound Saturday opposite Atlanta’s Yonny Chirinos. The Braves’ right-hander has been lit up over his past two starts, allowing six runs each to the Pirates and Mets.
Webb has been solid recently, giving up a total of four earned runs in his past three starts and coming within an out of a complete game against Texas in his most recent outing.
Webb struggled early this season as a road underdog — surrendering four runs in each of his first three opportunities — but has yielded a total of five runs in his past three outings as an away ‘dog.
In his past three starts against the Braves since 2021, Webb has struck out 22 and walked only one. Additionally, the Giants are 2-1 in that span.
There’s no denying Atlanta’s success at home (9-1 in its past 10 in the first five innings), but this is a rare occurrence in which the Braves don’t have the advantage on the mound.
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