Best MLB Bets Today | MLB Picks, August 21

The last full week of August in the 2023 MLB Season will bring matchups that could help playoff destinations as well as be potential playoff matchups. Several games will be one-sided, but there are other games that present solid opportunities for players to account for earnings. 

Chicago Cubs @ Detroit Tigers

• Time: 6:40 PM E.T. - Monday
• Starting Pitchers: Javier Assad (Cubs) vs Alex Faedo (Tigers)
• Moneyline: Cubs (-135) | Tigers (+114)
• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 (+124) | Tigers +1.5 (-148)
• Total: Over 9 (-105) | Under 9 (-115)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out other MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities.

My Pick: Chicago Cubs (CHI)

The first game of the Monday slate in the MLB is the start of a three-game series matchup between the Chicago Cubs (64-59) and the Detroit Tigers (57-67) in Detroit.

The Cubs have been one of the most quiet above .500% in the MLB this season, which might make them among the most dangerous. The Tigers are not surprisingly one of the worst teams in a loaded AL this season.

Chicago is 29-29 this season on the road, but it isn't like the Tigers are dominating at home. Detroit has accounted for a terrible 26-33 record at home this season. They are also highly inefficient at the plate and on the mound this season.

The Cubs are one of the most balanced teams in the MLB this season as they are efficient at the plate and on the mound. Chicago is ranked third in the NL in runs accounted for (617), seventh in hits accounted for (1059), sixth in home runs accounted for (151), third in stolen bases (105), fourth in walks accounted for (440), sixth in batting average (.254), fourth in on-base percentage (.331) and fifth in slugging percentage (.420).

They are also efficient at the mound as they rank sixth in ERA (4.15), fifth in hits allowed (1012), seventh in runs allowed (552), fourth in home runs allowed (136), and fourth in walks allowed (379).

The Cubs are going into this game with the better pitching matchup with Javier Assad (3.11 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched), while the Tigers are going with Alex Faedo (5.16 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched).  

Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros

• Time: 8:10 PM E.T. - Monday
• Starting Pitchers: James Pxton (Red Sox) vs Cristian Javier (Astros)
• Moneyline: Red Sox (+110) | Astros (-130)
• Run Line: Red Sox +1.5 (-185) | Astros -1.5 (+154)
• Total: Over 9 (-112) | Under 9 (-108)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

My Pick: Boston Red Sox (BOS)

The AL is full of great teams that have serious potential and talent to compete for a World Series title. There could be some solid teams left out of the AL Playoffs due to the tough nature of the conference.

The Boston Red Sox (66-58) have a long way to go to make a case for one of the AL Wildcard spots or the AL East Division. The defending champs in the Houston Astros (70-55) are not far from the Texas Rangers for the top spot in the AL West Division.

On Monday, the Astros and the Red Sox will meet in Houston for the beginning of a four-game series. This is a series that could potentially make or break the Red Sox for the rest of the season and impact their postseason goals.

Boston has some talented batters to rely on to help pull them ahead of tough competition. The Red Sox are ranked fifth in the AL in runs accounted for (607), second in hits accounted for (1109), third in strikeouts encountered (1011), second in batting average (.262) and fourth in on-base percentage (.327).

The Red Sox will have to take on one of their more experienced pitchers of the Astros this season in Cristian Javier (4.49 ERA in 122.1 innings pitched). They will have the edge in the pitching game as they will go with one of their reliable pitchers in James Paxton (3.34 ERA in 86.1 innings pitched).

With the Astros and the Red Sox having similar success at the plate, the key will come to the success of their pitching game. That edge might give Boston a surprising game-one victory over Houston.

Cincinnati Reds @ Los Angeles Angels

• Time: 9:38 PM E.T. - Monday
• Starting Pitchers: Graham Ashcraft (Reds) vs Lucas Giolito (Angels)
• Moneyline: Reds (+105) | Angels (-125)
• Run Line: Reds +1.5 (-192) | Angels -1.5 (+160)
• Total: Over 9 (-110) | Under 9 (-110)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

My Pick: Cincinnati Reds (CIN)

The Los Angeles Angels (61-64) and the Cincinnati Reds (64-61) are teams that are loaded full of high-caliber players at the plate. The Angels have elite veteran players, while the Reds have been one of the most surprising teams this 2023 MLB Season due to their young talent.

On Monday, the Angels and the Reds will meet at the beginning of a rare three-game series as they try to desperately fight their way back into wildcard contention. Both teams have started the second half of the 2023 MLB Season rough after showing promise in the first half.

The Reds rank fourth in the NL in runs accounted for this season (595), eighth in hits accounted (1054), eighth in home runs accounted for (144), first in stolen bases (141), 10th in batting average (.249), fifth in on-base percentage (.326) and seventh in slugging percentage (.414).

The Angels, on the other side, rank sixth in the AL in hits accounted for (597), first in home runs accounted for (184), seventh in batting average (.250), sixth in on-base percentage (.323) and third in slugging percentage (.436).

The key to this game will be in the pitching matchups, where both the Reds and the Angels have struggled this season outside of their ace pitchers. Cincinnati will be going with their ace pitcher in Graham Ashcraft (4.89 ERA in 127 innings pitched), while Los Angles will be going with Lucas Giolito (8.14 ERA in 21 innings pitched). Giolito has a season ERA of 4.44 but has struggled enormously since being traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Angels.