The Sunday, July 21, MLB slate features 15 games as all 30 teams are in action. As a result, our MLB betting experts had plenty to choose from as they sifted through the MLB odds in search of today's MLB best bets.
Our analysts are targeting a pair of moneyline bets in Rays vs Yankees and Astros vs Mariners.
Our experts came up with multiple MLB predictions for Sunday, so be sure to keep reading for the MLB best bets today.
MLB Best Bets: Sunday MLB Betting Predictions (July 21)
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 4:10 p.m. | |
  | 1:35 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. | ||
Rays vs. Yankees
By Nick Parsons
New York won the opener 6-1, then Tampa bounced back Saturday. Well, I expect the Yankees to win the rubber match and feel this line should be much bigger.
The Yankees are 4-1 in their past five when trying to avenge a home loss as a favorite. New York also has the starting pitching edge in this matchup as Shane Baz (0-1, 5.23) will start for the Rays. Baz gave up three runs over four innings against the same Yankees in his most recent outing.
New York will counter with Marcus Stroman (7-4, 3.51), who allowed one run over five innings in his most recent start against the Rays.
Stroman looked shaky over the final few weeks of the first half, so the break really couldn't have come at a better time for the veteran. I think he'll come out sharp here to start the second half, so I'm backing the Yankees on Sunday.
Pick: Yankees Moneyline (-150)
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Astros vs. Mariners
By William Boor
The Astros have been on an absolute tear since getting off to an uncharacteristically slow start and do have the better offense in this game. However, Seattle is at home, has the better starting pitcher and knows it needs to win this game to keep pace in the AL West.
It's still late July, but these games are starting to carry added significance and I think that pressure will help Bryan Woo and the Mariners here.
Speaking of Woo, it's hard to bet against the 24-year-old right-hander. So, I won't.
Woo has pitched to a 2.46 ERA and his 2.56 xERA shows there's nothing fluky about it. His strikeout rate (14th percentile) and whiff rate (1oth percentile) concern me a bit, but his .224 xBA (74th percentile) and 34.1% hard-hit rate (77th percentile) show that he limits hard contact and knows how to get batters out.
Woo has made nine starts this season and has surrendered one or fewer runs six times. That stat gives me the confidence to bet on the Mariners. They haven't been scoring a ton lately, but Woo is more than capable of stringing together scoreless innings, so Seattle won't necessarily need to rack up a bunch of runs (though we'd certainly take that).
Opposite Woo, Houston will start Ronel Blanco, who has pitched to a 2.56 ERA with a 3.56 xERA. The 30-year-old has given up exactly two runs in each of his past three starts and ranks in the 83rd percentile when it comes to xBA (.214).
Like Woo, Blanco has shown an ability to limit hard contact (83rd percentile with a 33.5% hard-hit rate). However, Blanco ranks in just the 27th percentile in walk rate (9.8%).
Stringing together multiple hits to scratch across runs will be tough, but if the Mariners can work a few free passes, that task will become a bit easier.
This game should be close, but I like backing the Mariners in Seattle.
Pick: Mariners Moneyline (-110)
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