Groggy from the weekend? We must be because on Sunday we only went 1-for-3 on our best bet picks. We will need to do better with our best MLB bets for August 20th.
Time to sober up, get into the research, and get the people some winners to start the week!
Here you go – our best MLB bets for August 20th!
San Francisco Giants (+140) at Philadelphia Phillies (-165) – 6:40 PM EST
The Phillies return to Philadelphia after their visit to Williamsport, PA and a bad Sunday Night loss to the Nationals. We say bad because the Phillies offense was quiet and Zack Wheeler gave up too many runs early. That could repeat itself on Monday.
Aaron Nola is on the bump, and normally that is a welcome sign given his “ace” status on the team. However, in August, Nola has struggled – 11 earned runs over 15.1 innings pitched.
The Giants will counter with left-handed pitcher Scott Alexander as the opener before mostly likely turning the game over to Sean Manaea.
Manaea has only pitched 10.1 innings in August, but he has only allowed one hit. The Phillies do have a couple hitters that have rocked Manaea. Bryce Harper is 1-for-2 with a double. Bryson Stott is 2-for-2 with a home run. Treat Turner is 5-for-12 with a home run. And Nick Castellanos owns Manaea going 5-for-7 with two homers, a double, and 3 RBIs
Castellanos and Turner might be a strong player prop bet plays. But the Phillies? We aren’t crazy about going with them.
The Phillies are the worst team at home on the run line, 21-37. And when the Phillies are a home favorite, they are 16-36. On the other side, the Giants are 20-12 as an away underdog.
We will take a couple Phillies on player props to hedge a little, but we like the Giants to cover on the run line.
Best MLB bets for August 20th: Giants +1.5 (-140)
Boston Red Sox (+110) at Houston Astros (-130) – 8:10 PM EST
In the American League Wild Card Race, the Astros are in – the Red Sox are out (by three games) making this series between Boston and Houston a critical one for both teams.
The Red Sox are red hot with seven wins in their last ten games, but more importantly a three game sweep of their rivals, the Yankees, in New York over the weekend. And Boston dominated in all three phases of the game. Should provide them with plenty of juice heading into their series with Houston.
Speaking of the Astros, they’ve won just four of their last ten and they are feeling the heat. They are in 2nd in the AL West behind the Rangers and the Seattle Mariners are hunting them down in 4th place with only a half-game separating the two teams.
So, it is a big series and the opening game provides a nice pitching matchup. James Paxton for the Red Sox and Cristian Javier for the Astros.
The Red Sox have had limited success against Javier, with only Rafael Devers having a home run against him. In fact, Boston;s current roster has just a .167 batting average against Javier.
But 2023 Cristian Javier is a different pitcher. In June, his ERA was 5.79. In July, it was 6.86. Now, in August, it is 5.65. He gives us a lot of hits, a lot of home runs, and a lot of walks. Bad combination against a hot lineup, no matter what stats there have been in the past.
James Paxton has been rock solid fr the Red Sox and that has continued in August with a 3.31 ERA, though opponents do have a .299 batting average against him this month with five dingers. The Blue Jays roughed him up three starts ago. But Paxton should have a good outing.
Only major danger for James Paxton? Jose Altuve. Lifetime against the southpaw, Altuve is 11-for-34 (.324 AVG) with two home runs, a double, three RBIs, six walks, and six strikeouts. Expect Altuve to have a day worthy of a player prop bet.
All notes, matchups, and trends considered – we will take the Red Sox to cover as a road underdog that’s on a hot streak.
Best MLB bets for August 20th: Red Sox +1.5 (-175)
Seattle Mariners (-185) at Chicago White Sox (+160) – 8:10 PM EST
We just told you the Mariners are cooking and they should be the team no one wants to face right now. They have seven of their last ten games. Julio Rodiguez is reminding everyone why we thought he was the American League’s answer to Ronald Acuna Jr. a year ago. And Seattle, just like last season, is making a last-season kick into the playoff picture.
Good luck, White Sox, trying to stop the Seattle Mariners.
The M’s will start Luis Castillo on Monday, who has struggled in August, but is still undefeated in the month and has opponents hitting just .231 over the last 30 days. Castillo isn’t worth panicking over.
As for Chicago’s starter, Touki Toussaint, he has been bad in his last three starts. 3 runs in 4 innings; 4 runs in 5 innings; 4 runs in 5.1 innings.
Plus, as a home underdog, the White Sox are 11-23, the 3rd worst winning percentage in MLB. We are believers in the Mariners – especially on Monday!
Best MLB bets for August 20th: Mariners ML (-185)