Wednesday’s MLB schedule features games throughout the day with plenty of matchups under good weather conditions for home runs and strong offensive production. These are great conditions for making our best MLB bets for August 23rd.
We are excited about our best MLB bets for August 23rd so we won’t delay – here are the games we like today…
San Francisco Giants (+110) at Philadelphia Phillies (-130) – 4:05 PM EST
The Giants had a 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the 9th on Tuesday. And then, the Phillies (thanks to Trea Turner) scored two runs to steal a win at home against an NL Wild Card contender.
After such a heart-breaking loss, the Giants need a strong outing from starter Alex Cobb. The 2023 All-Star had strong numbers in the first half of the season, but the second half has had its low points. August has been especially challenging as Cobb has an 0-2 record, 7.59 ERA, and opponents have six home runs with a .326 batting average.
Plus, earlier this season, Cobb gave up two runs on five hits in just 3.1 innings against the Phillies. He allowed five walks in that game – and control will once against define his success against Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Philly’s starter Michael Lorenzen did get rocked by the Giants earlier this season – six earned runs on eight hits including two home runs. But, he has been pitching well over the last two months. And at home, Lorenzen has been better with a lower ERA and more strikeouts.
With momentum firmly on the side of the Phillies, starting pitchers matter and Philly appears to have the advantage there as well. We won’t overthink this one and will take the Phillies on the moneyline as one of our best MLB bets for August 23rd.
Best MLB bets for August 23rd: Phillies ML (-130)
Seattle Mariners (-220) at Chicago White Sox (+190) – 2:10 PM EST
Stop me if you’ve heard this before – we like the Seattle Mariners today.
With 8 wins in a row, the Mariners have been validating the faith and the starting pitching matchup on Wednesday offers even more reason for optimism.
George Kirby has a 2.05 ERA in August while keeping opposing hitters to just a .187 batting average, but that’s not even the most impressive stat from his three starts this month. Kirby has 14 strikeouts without walking a hitter yet in August. Impressive for a younger pitcher maturing into a true ace for the M’s.
White Sox starter Michael Kopech has had a miserable month of August with a 9.88 ERA and four home runs allowed. And, in the reverse of Kirby, Michael Kopech has allowed 13 walks to just 8 strikeouts in August.
Plus, Kopech is 1-6 at home this season and has allowed 17 home runs in Chicago. With how the Seattle bats have been hitting, expect more impressive offensive stats from the Mariners.
This isn’t a tricky one – we are riding the winning wave and hoping the Mariners on the moneyline continues to be a cashing ticket.
Best MLB bets for August 23rdt: Mariners ML (-190)
Washington Nationals (+120) at New York Yankees (-140) – 7:05 PM EST
The New York Yankees have a 9-game losing streak. To New York fans, this must seem like rock bottom for the 2023 team and the entire organization. How much worse could it get?
Well, it could get even worse with Luis Severino on the mound on Wednesday.
After having an 11.22 ERA through five starts in July, Severino’s ERA is 10.80 through three starts in August. His overall record this year is 2-8 and opponents have a .329 batting average against the Yankees righty. Oh, and he’s allowed 20 home runs this year.
And this guy was once thought of as a future top of the rotation starter – clearly those days are long gone.
MacKenzie Gore hasn’t been great of late, but he’s been better than Severino. Other than an ugly start of August 9th against the Phillies, Gore has been solid, allowing three earned runs or less in four of his last five starts.
Do we think the Yankees can bust out of the losing streak before it reaches double-digits? Yes, but we aren’t betting on it. The Nationals are 40-21 on the run line as an away underdog, that’s the most covers of any team in MLB.
So, we are taking Washington to cover on the run line.
Best MLB bets for August 23rd: Nationals +1.5 (-170)