With a loaded 15-game slate ahead for Tuesday, there's nothing short of best bets across the MLB odds board.
So we're not even going hold you off any longer with the MLB odds and picks, including our "Payoff Pitch" podcast best bets for Tuesday, August 20.
Get in on the picks below now!
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:05 p.m. | Guardians ML (+140) |
  | 9:40 p.m. | Twins F5 ML (-120) |
Guardians +ML (+140) at Yankees
7:05 p.m. ET ⋅ MLB.TV
I was very encouraged by Matthew Boyd in his return from Tommy John surgery last week.
Sometimes pitchers coming back from an injury as severe as that don't come back with command but Boyd was the opposite. He flashed elite precision in five innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts. He posted a near 40% strike plus whiff rate. He managed contact very well and although his velocity is still low, he has George Kirby-esque command. I hope his stuff will play against the Yankees who dominate right-handed pitching and more league average against southpaws.
While the Guardians haven't been as good in the batters' box in the second half, they are still a contact-based pesky lineup. I think they will succeed against Luis Gil who is overrated in my opinion. He has posted an ERA north of 5.5 across his last 10 starts and a big reason why is because he has command issues. He is walking 12% of batters and his changeup just doesn't get it done for me. He has allowed a perfect 100% hard-hit rate on three changeups that have been hit in his last nine innings.
The Guardians also have the best bullpen in baseball against a mediocre bullpen that is average at best in New York. I love the Guardians in this spot behind Boyd and Co.
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Twins F5 ML (-120) at Padres
9:40 p.m. ET ⋅ MLB.TV
I think this is the perfect time to fade Martin Perez.
If you give me Perez against Bailey Ober at -120, I am going to take that every time. The Padres are getting lucky with how well Perez has played over his last four starts only allowing four runs because his underlying metrics were horrible. The Twins are generally better against right-handed pitching but are still strong against lefties and a soft-tossing lefty in Perez should be able to take advantage.
Bailey Ober, for the Twins, doesn't great stuff+ numbers but boy has he been incredible. His fastball doesn't get a lot of love but it's very solid as a riser and his 3.3 xERA for a five-ball pitcher ultimately leads me to the Twins in the first five.
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