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MLB Picks and Predictions: An In-depth Look at Yankees vs. Red Sox, Astros vs. Mariners and More (Saturday, August 19)

On the day expected to unfold as the largest of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season, we’ve got 18 games on our plate this Saturday, August 19. Giving us more room to place our bets, in sunny California, three doubleheaders balloon the usual schedule.

In this article, we deeply dive into the MLB odds and sift through the expert tips on today’s most anticipated games. Looking at Yankees vs. Red Sox, Astros vs. Mariners, and Giants vs. Braves, we lay the groundwork for the best bets of this jaw-dropping day of baseball. Are you ready? Let’s embark.

Breakdown of MLB Best Bets for Saturday’s Slate of Games

Our expert MLB betting team has pinpointed key matches for today’s action-packed schedule. Click on the team logos below to access specific betting advice extracted from our profound analysis for each game.

Red Sox vs. Yankees (1:05 p.m. ET)

Data-Driven Insights: Under 8 (-110)

With Kutter Crawford for the Red Sox bringing sparks of brilliance this year, and New York’s ace, Gerrit Cole, stepping up to the pitch on Saturday afternoon, we’re in for a thriller of a match. We foresee a battle of right-handers, producing a low-scoring affair. Consequently, it’s prudent to bet on the lower side.

Despite an average first half, Crawford’s performance post-All-Star break is commendable, boasting a 3.14 ERA over 28 2/3 innings. Let’s delve a little deeper. Crawford flaunts a 3.80 ERA against a 3.59 xERA, coupled with a Hard-Hit rate of 35.2%. Notably, he’s bulking only 6% of batters and knocking out over 24%. Quite impressive!

On the offensive front, Boston scores a 94 wRC+ with a .734 OPS this month. The Red Sox have only five bats exceeding a xwOBA over .320. Hence, we predict that Cole might put a damper on the lower part of the batting order.

It’s Mariners vs Astros (7:10 p.m. ET)

Probability-Backed Prediction: Mariners Moneyline (+136)

A surprising second half sees Framber Valdez struggle, especially after his no-hitter. Witnessing a staggering rise in ERA post the All-Star break (5.59 over 38 2/3 innings), we see an opportunity for the Seattle Mariners and Logan Gilbert to make a move.

Gilbert is holding his own with a noteworthy 4.28 ERA over 33 2/3 innings in the second half, although he is facing an Average Exit Velocity of over 90 mph. Furthermore, the fortunes of the Astros seem to be waning this month, sitting at a 102 wRC+ with a .710 OPS. On the flip side, Seattle flourishes, holding a 134 wRC+ and a .819 OPS off lefties this month.

The Seattle Mariners also capitalize on their solid bullpen line-up. Their relievers flaunt a 3.54 xFIP with a 26.8% strikeout rate and a walk rate under 8% this month. On the contrary, Houston’s bullpen suffers a 4.45 xFIP this month, yielding a 26.4% strikeout rate and a startling 13.8% walk rate.

With the current odds favoring Seattle, they make a promising bet. Banking on their red-hot form, they are inching closer to clinching an American League Wild Card spot. It’s an audacious move, but we’re counting on the Mariners rising to -115.

Giants vs. Braves (7:20 p.m. ET)

Best Bet: Giants 1st 5 Innings Moneyline (-104)

The Braves have been on a roll this season, clinching another win on their series opener against the Giants. Envisioning a drastic shift in fate in today’s game, San Francisco is banking on their ace, Logan Webb. On the other hand, the Braves right-hander Yonny Chirinos has had a less-than-stellar run recently, letting in six runs each against the Pirates and Mets.

Webb, displaying a solid form recently, has let in only four earned runs in his past three starts and even edged close to a complete game against Texas the last time he stepped up to the mound.

Backing the Giants, especially in the first five innings, seems wise with the Moneyline forecast at -104.

Conclusion

In the world of baseball, nothing is certain. Going into the season’s largest slate of games, however, we’re hopeful. We’ve formulated these predictions by leveraging analytics, data, and the unique insights drawn from years of watching countless baseball games. These are our best bets for the day. As always, the game might surprise us. That’s the beauty of baseball!

Written By

Dave Gallo is a leading sports bettor and handicapper since 1999, known for his impressive 10-0 winning streaks. A journalism, advertising, and media studies major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he combines his betting expertise with academic knowledge. Gallo's strong work ethic and passion for sports fuel his ongoing success and scholarly pursuits.

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