MLB Picks Today: Two Best Bets for Thursday, August 20

The Thursday MLB card is full of intriguing matchups from noon to night.

The Brewers look to bounce back this afternoon against the Mariners after falling to Seattle last night, 7-5. Milwaukee and Seattle finish off their series at 2:10 p.m. ET before the Brewers host the NL East-leading Braves on Friday.

Also, several division battles take place tonight including the Orioles hosting the Yankees and the Astros battling the Angels.

We’ll break down two plays for the Thursday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the props, sides, and totals market are constantly changing.

Here are the free MLB picks for Thursday, August 20. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.

Best MLB plays today

• Braves (-108) at White Sox
• Orioles (+116) at Yankees

Braves (-108) at White Sox - 2:10 p.m. ET

The Braves (74-53) travel to the South Side of Chicago this afternoon for a make-up contest with the White Sox (66-60).

Atlanta tries to rebound after getting swept at Minnesota, prior to its huge series at Milwaukee this weekend. Grant Holmes picked up a no-decision in his first start against the White Sox in early June, a 6-5 defeat in extra-innings. Atlanta squandered a 4-0 lead in that setback, the first of two one-run losses at Chicago.

The Sox avoided a sweep by the Cubs on Wednesday in a 3-0 shutout at Wrigley Field. Anthony Kay heads to the mound for Chicago today, as the Sox are 3-0 in his past three starts, all as an underdog of +115 or higher.

The Braves won Holmes’ previous seven starts before he was knocked around against Arizona in his last appearance. Atlanta is 8-2 in his 10 road outings with both losses coming by one run apiece. Look for a strong performance from the Braves to rebound today at Chicago.

Orioles (+116) at Yankees - 6:35 p.m. ET

New York (71-55) looks to improve on a 1-4 record since mid-June in their last five opportunities when trying to pull off a sweep. The Yankees grabbed the first two games in Baltimore, as the Orioles (61-66) try to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat.

Kyle Bradish takes the ball for the O’s tonight, who is responsible for one of Baltimore’s two wins against New York this season. After allowing five runs in a 9-4 defeat in the Bronx in early May, the right-hander yielded one hit in six scoreless innings of a 7-0 home shutout 11 days later.

Bradish’s OBP and WHIP are significantly better at home this season, as he opposes New York right-hander Gerrit Cole. The Yankees are 2-4 in Cole’s last six road starts, capped off by a loss at Toronto last Friday.

New York’s offense has scored nine runs in the last six series finales, while losing four of those games. Let’s look at the Orioles to avoid the broom tonight at home against their division rivals.