Best MLB Bets Today: Carlos Rodon, Kyle Schwarber Highlight Saturday's Picks

Primed to bet on today’s MLB slate? You’d be wise to rise and get a pulse early.

Just five games are set to begin at 7:15 p.m. ET or later, including three on the West Coast.

Another: the nightcap of a Red Sox-Yankees doubleheader, whose opener is the backdrop for our leadoff wager here.

Let’s go.

BOSTON RED SOX AT NEW YORK YANKEES, 1:05 p.m.

Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon fanned six Red Sox in five innings during a June 28 no-decision at Fenway Park. That aligned with his career output against Boston, against whom he has 81 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings over 13 starts while pitching to a 3.98 ERA.

That Rodon landed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation after his most recent appearance versus Boston doesn’t throw a wrench into a respectable K total here. Known as a stern self-critic, Rodon called himself “good enough” when he pitched four innings of two-run, two-strikeout ball against Toronto on Sunday in his second start since returning from the IL.

As he continues to ramp up, facing a familiar foe boosts Rodon to more progress in the opener of a doubleheader. Four of the first five Red Sox hitters struck out twice Friday night.

Carlos Rodon 5+ strikeouts (-215 via FanDuel)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, 2:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh managed just six hits, none for extra bases, in a 4-1 loss in the series opener. The Pirates have scored just five runs in their past five games and are facing Cardinals righty Kyle Leahy who is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA this month.

Still, Leahy is averaging less than five innings over four August starts, and St. Louis ranks 24th in the majors with a 4.47 bullpen ERA despite contributing 3 1/3 one-hit innings Friday.

Pittsburgh will use inconsistent reliever Lake Bachar, who faced the Cards twice while pitching with Miami earlier this season, as an opener. Look for a slugfest – by recent Pittsburgh standards, anyway – to develop.

Over 8 total runs (-118 with BetMGM)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES AT LOS ANGELES ANGELS, 10:07 p.m.

What are the odds? Edmundo Sosa belted a go-ahead, pinch-hit grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning Friday to lift Philadelphia to a 5-3 victory.

The heroics weren’t enough to put Sosa on the betting board to go deep again today, but they did bring the Phillies within one game of the Chicago Cubs for the National League’s top wild-card spot.

Kyle Schwarber is a mainstay there, of course, and with three homers in his last six games, is a threat to leave the yard again. Schwarber also has three multi-hit games over the same span.

Angels starter Ryan Johnson is coming off seven shutout innings against Texas on Aug. 22, but he’s one week between starts and yielded at least one home run in nine straight starts before that.

Kyle Schwarber 1+ home run (+176 via FanDuel)