MLB Pick: Rangers-Blue Jays Under 8½ (-113) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The race for the AL West title continues Tuesday night, and we’ve got computer picks for the games involving the Astros, Athletics, and Rangers, plus throwing in a fourth MLB best bet for good measure.
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 10:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
While we’re out West, we might as well stop in LA to catch the Dodgers and Padres. Michael Wacha (11-3, 2.99) and Lance Lynn (10-11, 6.09) are your starting pitchers, and this is an easy free pick on the ‘Under.’
‘Under’ Swept Previous Series in LA
Wacha somehow missed facing the Dodgers in the four previous series between the clubs and will be going up against them for the first time since he was bombed at Chavez Ravine in August 2019 when he was still with the Cardinals.
Lynn has been with the Dodgers for just over a month and is facing the Padres for the second time in an LA uniform. The burly righthander limited San Diego to just a run in 6 innings at PETCO Park in that outing.
Monday’s series opener was a back-and-forth slugfest that saw the Padres eventually prevail by an 11-8 count. There were 7 lead changes or ties during the 3+ hour affair. It will be much calmer on Tuesday with Jeremy Riggs in charge of the strike zone (8-12 O/U) and a pair of veteran hurlers on the mound.
MLB Pick: Under 9½ (-113) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 09:40 PM EDT at T-Mobile Park
Seattle has slipped into a bit of a slump with 4-straight losses, and we love to kick a team when it is down, especially when the MLB odds are paying Bryan Woo (2-3, 4.50) too much respect against Patrick Sandoval (7-12, 4.31) and the Halos.
M’s Bullpen Worn Out From 3-7 Road Trip
Sandoval and Woo faced off in Anaheim three months ago, and neither factored into the decision that went to the Mariners, 6-2. Seattle raked 10 hits and scored 5 runs against Sandoval, while Woo was unable to finish the fifth inning having surrendered a pair of runs.
Woo hasn’t gotten past the 83-pitch mark since July 23, and that has led to Seattle’s relief corps shouldering much of his assignments. Play the Halos in this one.
MLB Pick: Angels (+186) at BetOnline
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 08:10 PM EDT at Minute Maid Park
Houston bats went quiet in Monday’s opener against Oakland, leading to the A’s pulling off a 4-0 upset with the Astros on a -290 line. Can Oakland do it again as a big underdog on Tuesday when JP Sears (4-11, 4.51) goes up against Justin Verlander (11-7, 3.23)?
Altuve & Co. Bring the Lumber on Tuesday
The Astros won Sears’ two previous starts against them, those outings totaling 11.2 innings with 7 runs charged to the lefthander’s ledger. His ERA is a little lower on the road (4.30) than at home (4.76), but that hasn’t translated into wins with Oakland 4-11 in Sears’ away efforts.
Verlander bounced back from a beating at the hands of the Yankees by holding the Rangers to 1 earned run over 7 frames last week. He was 6-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 10 starts against the A’s from 2018-22.
Houston hitters were in a groove coming off the road trip, and they should get back to business in Game 2. Let’s trim some of that fat chalk on the MLB odds with a run-line play.
MLB Pick: Astros -1½ (-135) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 07:07 PM EDT at Rogers Centre
Texas gained a game on both the Astros and Mariners with Monday’s 10-4 win at Toronto, and a couple of stingy pitchers will be on the bump for Game 2 when Max Scherzer (12-6, 3.91) leads the Rangers against Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-2, 2.65) and the Blue Jays.
Plate Ump Leads to ‘Under’ Play
Houston hammered Scherzer last week in Arlington, swatting 3 HR and scoring 7 times in his 3 innings of work. This is his first start in Toronto since 2018 during his days with the Nationals, and Vlad Guerrero Jr. has taken Scherzer deep twice in 6 at-bats.
Ryu didn’t get much support from either his offense or his bullpen last week in Oakland where he took the loss (5 IP, 2 ER). The southpaw last faced the Rangers in April 2022 and was thrashed about in a loss (3.1 IP, 6 R).
The moneyline is tight and going off as a pick ‘em at several of the offshore sportsbooks. Tuesday’s total is 8½ and with Ryan Blakney (7-16-1 O/U/P) expected behind the plate, an ‘Under’ play is in order.
MLB Pick: Under 8½ (-113) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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