Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
Here are our best bets for Tuesday, Aug. 29:
TOP PLAY
The play: MLB, Mariners (-1.5 run line) over A’s
The odds: -132
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 9:40 p.m. (MLB Extra Innings)
Our take: The Mariners have been one of the hottest teams in MLB, and we’re going to ride that wave tonight in what appears to be an extremely favorable matchup against the cellar-dwelling A’s.
George Kirby will take the mound for the Mariners, and he’s been very strong at home this season with a 2.87 ERA, whereas A’s starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk has struggled to the tune of a 7.43 ERA on the road.
The Mariners money line was juiced to -305, so we’ll go ahead and take the value with the run line since we feel confident in the Mariners winning by multiple runs considering how lopsided the matchup appears.
RAYS AS UNDERDOGS
The play: Rays (money line) over Marlins
The odds: +102
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 6:40 p.m. (MLB Extra Innings)
Our take: The Rays have still managed to stay in the thick of the grueling AL playoff race despite dealing with several pitching injuries and the indefinite suspension of Wander Franco, so we’re always intrigued whenever they’re listed as underdogs.
The Rays are slight dogs tonight against a Marlins team that’s been struggling down the stretch but will have ace starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara taking the mound. Alcantara hasn’t been as sharp this season to where we feel like the Rays lineup will score enough runs to prevail.
Aaron Civale will be on the mound for the Rays, and his outstanding 1.86 road ERA makes us even more confident that they offer value in this spot.
HOW WE’VE FARED
- MLB, Rangers (money line) over Mets (WON)
- MLB, Padres (-1.5 run line) over Cardinals (WON)
Monday’s record: 2-0
Total for the week: 2-0
Total for August: 24-34
Total for 2023: 198-228
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
