MLB Odds & Picks: ‘Payoff Pitch’ Best Bets (Monday, August 19)

MLB Odds & Picks: ‘Payoff Pitch’ Best Bets (Monday, August 19) article feature image
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Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

We have 10 games on deck for Monday, there's plenty of betting value across the MLB odds board.

With that said, we have MLB odds and picks, including our "Payoff Pitch" podcast best bets for Monday, August 19.

Dive in on the picks below now!


GameTime (ET)Pick
Boston Red Sox LogoHouston Astros Logo
8:10 p.m.Astros ML (-135)
Seattle Mariners LogoLos Angeles Dodgers Logo
10:10 p.m.Mariners ML (+115)
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Astros ML (-135) vs. Red Sox

8:10 p.m. ET ⋅ MLB.TV

By Mike Ianniello

Yusei Kikuchi has always been a guy who's stuff is better than his results.

While he has a 27.4% strikeout rate, his ERA is up to 4.49 but expected is about a half-run lower than that. He has looked good since coming over from Toronto with a 2.7 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 17 innings. Houston is starting to get into that playoff-mode and are 7th in WRC+ over the last two weeks. Both Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman are crushing the ball, Jeremy Pena is heating up and they still don't have Kyle Tucker back.

For the Red Sox, I think Tanner Hauck is just running out of gas over his last five starts. He has a 4.58 ERA and is allowing a .354 weighted on-base average during that stretch. His velocity is down and his strikeout rate has plummeted. Boston's bats have been great this year but they have far worse splits against left-handed pitching so I like this matchup for Kikuchi and the Astros.



Header First Logo

Mariners ML (+115) at Dodgers

10:10 p.m. ET ⋅ MLB.TV

By BJ Cunningham

Bryan Woo may be one of the most underrated pitchers in major league baseball.

He has a 2.23 xERA which is the lowest of anyone (both starters and relievers) with at least 50 innings pitched. He mainly throws a fastball and a sinker but his arm angle is so low, he is able to get on top of so many hitters with that fastball. He is very deceptive and has great run on both of those pitches which makes him difficult to hit. He is a guy I will look to bet on next year for the Cy Young and while he faces a good lineup in the Dodgers, I think he has a good chance here.

Gavin Stone takes the bump for LA and he has just been a very average pitcher. I give Woo the pitching matchup and the Dodgers the offensive matchup, so it comes down to the bullpen. The Mariners have a significant advantage in that department so I love the value here with Woo and the Mariners at plus-money.



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