It may feel weird to look for the best MLB bets for September 8th after NFL kickoff last night. A little sleepy from the Lions’ comeback on Thursday Night Football? Need some high-quality best MLB bets to revive your energy and put some money in your pocket for this weekend’s mega sports schedule?
You’ve come to the right place! We have done our research, compared the pitching matchups, and found a few of the best bets for September 8th that we absolutely love.
Want to see them? Here you go – our best MLB bets for September 8th on this beautiful Friday for baseball…
Seattle Mariners (-115) at Tampa Bay Rays (-105) – 6:40 PM EST
Mariners-Rays could be an October preview featuring two teams that have battled in their divisions all season long and are nearly a spot in the postseason.
Both also put a solid pitcher on the mound on Friday, but with very different stats against the lineups they will be facing.
For the Mariners’ George Kirby takes the mound. He has faced the Rays hitters in 36 total at-bats and allowed just five hits (a .139 OBA), two runs, and has 10 strikeouts to only two walks.
Rays’ Taj Bradley has faced the M’s hitters in just 16 at-bats, but has allowed seven hits (a .438 batting average), four runs, and has just two strikeouts.
This season, the Mariners are 26-9 on the run line as an away underdog, the 4th best cover percentage in that situation across baseball and the 2nd best in the American League behind only their division rival, the Houston Astros.
While Tampa Bay started the season as one of the best home teams in the league, on the run line they are now just barely above .500 at 35-34. Still one of the better cover percentage in baseball, but also a reminder that the past few months haven’t been as good for Tampa Bay as April and May were to them.
Given the pitching matchup and high level of competition expected in this game, we predict a game that will be close – which means we like the Mariners to cover that 1.5-run line.
Best MLB Bets for September 8th: Mariners +1.5 (-200)
Miami Marlins (+125) at Philadelphia Phillies (-145) – 7:05 PM EST
The Miami Marlins are really in this Wild Card fight. Thanks largely to a rotation that keeps them in most games, the Marlins remain one of the most surprising and enjoyable stories of the 2023 season.
One of those great pitchers for Miami has been Eury Perez. Through 78.2 innings this season, Perez has a 2.86 ERA and a .207 OBA. Now he has been better at home than on the road, which gives us a slight pause about backing him on Friday, but given his consistency for quality starts, we still like Perez to pitch well against Philly on Friday.
As for Philadelphia’s starter, Christopher Sanchez has a losing record at home, has a higher ERA at home than on the road, and he’s coming off his worst month of the season statistically.
As home favorites, the Phillies are 22-35 on the run line this season – that’s just a 38.6 cover percentage. Meanwhile, Miami is 26-26 on the run line as a road underdog.
With these two teams desperately needing this game to inch closer to a Wild Card spot, the managers will be quick to make moves if a starter doesn’t perform well. We have greater faith in the Marlins covering than the Phillies winning.
Best MLB Bets for September 8th: Marlins +1.5 (-165)
Los Angeles Dodgers (-165) at Washington Nationals (+140) – 7:05 PM EST
The Washington Nationals have been one of the worst teams at home this season. 29-41 straight up, 22-39 as a home underdog, and 31-39 at home on the run line.
Expect those stats to get worse with the Los Angeles Dodgers coming to town.
LA has the third most wins in baseball, second most in the National League, and on the road this year the Dodgers are 37-30 straight up.
Now, the starting pitching matchup favors Washington with MacKenzie Gore having a better ERA and fewer home runs allowed at home than on the road and Dodgers starter Emmett Sheehan having brutally bad stats on the road – including an 8.83 ERA.
Do we care? Nope! We are betting on the Dodgers. The only way the starting pitching matchup impacts our pick is the kind of bet we are making on the Dodgers. Rather than risk a run line cover, we are keeping it simple and just going with a Dodgers win to complete our trifecta of bets for Friday’s action.
Best MLB Bets for September 8th: Dodgers ML (-165)
