The second half of the baseball season continues with an eight-game slate on Thursday, July 25. Our MLB betting experts have looked over theMLB odds and compiled their MLB best bets today. If you're looking for the best MLB bets, our experts have you covered today.
Those best bets are below, so be sure to keep reading for our Thursday MLB picks and predictions.
MLB Best Bets Today
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article as our expert analysis will help you identify the best MLB bets today.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12:05 p.m. | |
  | 4:10 p.m. | |
  | 7:10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Padres vs. Nationals
By Tony Sartori
I usually hate laying runs for a best bet, but hey, it's fade-Patrick-Corbin day!
Dylan Cease outranks Corbin in ERA, WHIP, xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. Furthermore, San Diego clearly possess the superior lineup.
This season, the Padres outrank the Nationals in runs scored per game, hits per game, BA, OBP, SLG, OPS and home runs. So, is it worth backing the favorites at -1.5?
Considering that Corbin is on the mound and San Diego has won 11 of its past 12 games by at least two-runs, I would argue yes.
Pick: Padres -1.5 (-115)
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Giants vs. Dodgers
By William Boor
Yes, it's scary to fade the Dodgers. However, after looking over the MLB odds, I think this matchup sets up well as a nice spot to back the underdog.
Not only are the Giants facing a pitcher (Clayton Kershaw) making his first start back from the Injured List, but they're also sending their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound.
Webb, who has pitched to a 3.59 ERA this season, was shaky in his first start of the second half, but I expect him to bounce back here. In his two most recent outings against the Dodgers, Webb has yielded just two runs over 13 innings.
A similar performance is just what San Francisco needs to snap out of its funk and Webb is the type of pitcher likely to deliver.
Across the diamond, the Dodgers will send Kershaw to the mound for his first start of the season. If Kershaw is 100% healthy and looks like vintage Kershaw, this will admittedly be a tough bet. However, I'm betting on the uncertainty surrounding the veteran.
The 36-year-old lefty underwent surgery on his left shoulder following the 2023 season and has been working his way back since.
In his final rehab start (July 19), Kershaw gave up three runs on six hits over four innings. Now, I'm not going to take too much from four innings of a Triple-A rehab start, but he wasn't exactly dominant in that outing either.
It's perfectly reasonable to expect Kershaw to have some rust, and if that's the case, this'll be a good spot for the Giants to take advantage.
Pick: Giants Moneyline (+122)
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Braves vs. Mets
By D.J. James
Luis Severino has been a great addition to the New York Mets’ rotation. After dealing with injuries while with the Yankees, Severino appears to have regained his rhythm on the mound. His average exit velocity is below 87 mph and he's keeping the ball on the ground and limiting barrels. His strikeout rate is relatively low, but he's maintained an ERA and xERA under 4.00, which is always solid.
His opponent will be Charlie Morton and the Atlanta Braves. Morton is fine. He has a sub-4.00 ERA. but an xERA a touch above, which means he could see some regression in the coming weeks. He keeps the ball on the ground at an above-average rate, but allows hard contact on occasion. His strikeout rate is better than Severino’s, but the Mets’ starter should have the edge.
Both bullpens are good, but the kicker is the discrepancy between the lineups.
The Braves have been decimated by injuries and have an 84 wRC+ in the past month off of right-handers. Meanwhile, the Mets are crushing righties and should fare well against Morton as they boast a 127 wRC+ off of right handers since June 25.
Expect both of those offensive trends to continue and bet the Mets down to -120.
Pick: Mets Moneyline (+105)
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