MLB Best Bets for Thursday August 14th: Best Betting Picks

Thursday schedules for MLB tend to be a little light and daytime heavy.

But there are always a handful of games on the schedule, so we still have plenty of betting opportunities.

Which ones are the best MLB bets?

We like to think the following are attractive (odds via FanDuel).

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals

Philadelphia is hitting just .210 over the last week and scored only 21 runs across its last six games. The Nationals hit .259 over the last week, with 29 runs across seven games. Brad Lord (Nationals) is a solid pitcher (3.28 ERA) with a bad record (3-6) but is 0-3 at home with a 4.15 ERA.

Jesus Luzardo (Phillies) has done some of his best work on the road, going 6-3 with a 3.19 ERA.

Our pick: Nationals +1.5 at +114

This could be a breakout game for the Phillies — the one that gets them back on track and winning games. Or the Nationals could give a better Phillies team a run for its money and keep it close, if not win outright.

Washington is last in the division for a reason, so I can’t pick them to win. However, if they don’t, they keep it close and win against the spread.

Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets

Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder has struggled for most of the season, posting a 4-9 record with a 6.12 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and .290 opponent batting average.

He’ll be facing a Mets lineup that has been the best-hitting team in baseball over the last week (.297 BA with 14 home runs). However, while the Mets have hit a respectable but lower .265 over the last week, they’ve generated 45 runs (in seven games) to 31 runs for New York (in five games).

Our pick: Mets (-1.5) at +102

Kodai Senga will quiet the Braves’ bats today. Senga is 5-1 at home with a 2.42 ERA and .215 OBA. In 48 previous at-bats, the Mets lineup has hit .292 vs. Elder, including three home runs.

If Elder gets pulled early after getting beaten up by the Mets batters, the bullpen will not provide too much relief — if any.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies

D-backs starter Eduardo Rodriguez is 4-7 with a 5.68 ERA, and teams have been hitting .317 against him on the road.

Rockies starter Bradley Blalock has an 11.76 ERA at home, where teams have hit .387 against him. Arizona has hit .291 over the last week and scored 40 runs across its previous six games.

Colorado has hit .261, scoring 23 runs across its last six games.

Our pick: OVER 12 runs at -112

Colorado may not be good for a lot of runs, but with how Arizona is hitting and how poorly Blalock has pitched at home, the D-backs may cover the over on their own.