Wednesday wasn’t our best work – we can be better…we need to be better. We’re aiming for perfection with our best MLB bets for September 21st.
The final few weeks of the season have produced some abnormal results lately – the season-long trends aren’t holding as true as they were in July and August. But, there are still matchups to take advantage of and trends to follow.
Ready to cash in Thursday’s MLB action with our best MLB bets for September 21st? Here you go – our favorite picks of the day…
Los Angeles Angels (+210) at Tampa Bay Rays (-250) – 1:10 PM EST
The Angels stunned the Rays on Wednesday with an impressive win at the Trop. Will the Angels repeat Wednesday’s success on Thursday?
Well, LA’s starting pitcher, Griffin Canning, is 0-3 in September with a 4.67 ERA and .282 OBA and on the road Canning has failed to limit home runs, allowing 13 when the away pitcher.
The Angels have a losing record on the road, a losing record after winning the previous game, and a losing record as a road underdog. Notice the pattern?
The Rays are putting Zach Eflin on the mound. He had one of his best starts of the season against the Angels earlier this year, earning the win with a 6-inning, 1 run performance in which he only allowed four hits.
Eflin is 2-0 in September, 11-4 at home this season, and 8-5 in day games. The Angels might be able to keep the bats hot against Eflin, but the Rays should bounce back from Wednesday’s “L” with a “W” on Thursday. Pick the Rays to win as one of your best MLB bets for September 21st.
Best MLB Bets for September 21st: Rays ML (-250)
Detroit Tigers (-185) at Oakland Athletics (+155) – 9:40 PM EST
The Tigers haven’t had much to be excited about in 2023, but Tarik Skubal is one of the few bright spots for this season and on this roster. Detroit’s southpaw has lowered his ERA each month he’s been in the big leagues and shows promise as a top of the rotation option in 2024.
If we are just looking at the month of September, Skubal has been among the best pitchers in all of baseball. He’s 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA and .145 OBA with 3 walks to 25 strikeouts. Incredibly impressive for a young pitcher to control the strike zone so well.
Another notable stat for Skubal – left-handed hitters are hitting just .125 against him while right-handed hitters have a .226 batting average against him. The kid has talent and a nice collection of pitches that are confusing hitters frequently.
The A’s are starting Luis Medina, who has a losing record at home this year, 2-3, his season-long ERA is 5.56, and in September Medina is 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA.
He has been better at home than on the road, but he hasn’t had a quality start since May. The A’s are fighters, but the Tigers have the better starting pitcher on the mound Thursday.
One last note – Detroit is a surprising 11-3 on the moneyline as a road favorite, which is a 78.6 cover percentage (2nd best in MLB). That’s another trend that is worth following with conviction.
Best MLB Bets for September 21st: Tigers ML (-185)
San Francisco Giants (+150) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-175) -10:10 PM EST
Not only are the Dodgers still battling for a shot to get the #1 seed in the NL over the Braves, both teams that feature MVP candidates, but LA is also hosting their hated rival from up north on Thursday. Giants-Dodgers never disappoints, no matter the time of year or who is in or not in the playoff picture.
The underdog Giants are starting Kyle Harrison, who has been lit up in his last few starts. Over the past month, Harrison is 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA over 5 starts with almost as many home runs allowed (7) as walks allowed (8).
Harrison has never faced the Dodgers lineup before. He’s in for a rude first encounter with that loaded lineup.
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan may not be a stud ace, but he’s been solid at home with a 3.14 ERA in 5 starts and 28.2 innings pitched. Plus, he had the best outing of his young career against the Giants earlier this year, earning the win in a 6-inning start in which he didn’t allow a run or a hit.
Sheehan’s success against San Francisco’s hitters has us optimistic about LA’s advantage, but Harrison’s struggles lock-in the play for us. We are taking the Dodgers to earn the win against their rivals on Thursday.
Best MLB Bets for September 21st: Dodgers ML (-175)
Best MLB Bets for September 21st Recap
- Tampa Bay Rays ML (-250)
- Detroit Tigers ML (-185)
- Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-175)