Best MLB Bets Today: Targeting Teams Fighting For the Playoffs

We have a pair of bets for you today that involve teams battling for playoff positioning. The first comes from a game between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. The other comes from an AL West battle as the Houston Astros host the Seattle Mariners.

Below, we will share the bet we love from both games, sharing odds taken from FanDuel Sportsbook. If you want to try FanDuel, use our custom link to earn $200 in Bonus Bets if your initial wager of $5+ wins!

Best MLB Bets Today: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays (7:07 PM EST)

Red Sox ML (-108) at FanDuel Sportsbook

This is a fairly even matchup today, but Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt (10-13, 4.16 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) will be in for a rough outing. The veteran was having a fantastic season for the Jays heading into July, but he has posted an ERA of 5.47 since then. Things have been improving in September, but he still has one glaring issue in play tonight.

Bassitt has been bad at home this season. The righty is 7-7 with a 4.58 ERA over 17 starts on the season. Those home struggles have not improved as the season has passed, with Bassitt getting hammered by the Angels and A’s at home this month. 

The Red Sox have quietly been one of the league’s top offenses this season. They rank tenth in runs scored and sixth in batting average in 2024. While Boston struggled to do much against him earlier this season, most of that came when the Jays starter was playing far better.

Once Bassitt exits the game, he will turn things over to one of the worst bullpens in baseball, with the tthird-highestERA in the league at 4.74. That puts them in company with the White Sox and Rockies, which should tell you how bad the team’s bullpen has been.

Boston will start Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) against Toronto tonight. The 28-year-old has had a fantastic season for the Red Sox and has been incredibly sharp on the road. While he’ll be facing an improved Toronto lineup, the team has cooled off in September, a trend that will continue tonight.

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Best MLB Bets Today: Mariners vs. Astros (8:10 PM EST)

Mariners ML (+136) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Mariners’ AL West hopes are all but over, but the team is still fighting for a Wild Card spot as we enter the season's final stretch. They have responded to the pressure well, thanks primarily to a significant uptick in their offensive production. While they are batting just .223 on the season, that is up to .271 in September.

Seattle’s offense will be well supported with Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) on the mound. The 26-year-old has become one of the best starters in the league and has been dealing over the last three months. Since July 1, the young star is 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA over 13 starts.

If there is a weakness for Miller, it has been his play on the road. However, he has been far better in the second half of the season, allowing five runs over his last four road starts.

The Astros will have Hunter Brown (11-8, 3.57 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) starting tonight. The young starter has been fantastic over the last few months, though his hot streak cooled against the A’s a couple of weeks ago. As impressive as he has been, the Astros have still lost three of his previous five starts. 

As much as we like Brown, we are riding with the streaking Mariners offense and one of the best young pitchers in baseball.

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