Wednesday's MLB slate features 15 games, which means there's plenty of betting value to be found on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
There are two games in particular our analysts are eyeing: Rangers vs Blue Jays and Athletics vs Astros.
Here are today's MLB best bets and predictions.
Today's Best MLB Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:07 p.m. ET | |
  | 7:10 p.m. ET | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Rangers vs. Blue Jays
By Kevin Rogers
The Rangers have captured the first two games of their four-game set at Toronto as Texas seeks a fifth straight win tonight.
Jordan Montgomery has struggled recently for Texas after a hot start following his trade from St. Louis. The southpaw has given up 14 runs in his past three outings, while Texas is 0-4 in his last four trips to the mound.
However, in three of those starts, Montgomery closed as a favorite of -150 or higher and he is flipped to an underdog tonight. This will mark the first time since getting dealt to the Rangers that Montgomery is listed in the underdog role.
Toronto is in the midst of a 1-4-1 slump in the last six games in the first five innings, while scoring one run or less four times. Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for the Jays, as Toronto is 0-4-3 in his last seven starts in the first five innings.
Also, the Jays are 1-3-2 in their past six games against left-handed starting pitchers in the first five innings.
Texas hasn’t trailed through five innings in five straight games and is starting to turn it around after a shaky start to September.
Let’s back Texas at -102 in the first five innings and play it up to -110.
Pick: Rangers F5 (-102)
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Athletics vs. Astros
By D.J. James
The Oakland A’s have been shockingly good against right-handed pitching over the last month, and they will face one in Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Brown has a 4.78 ERA against a 4.04 xERA. His Barrel Rate is 9.9%, his Average Exit Velocity is 90.7 MPH, and his Hard Hit Rate is 44%. Yes, he induces a lot of ground balls (52.3%) and strikes out a lot of hitters (26.9%), but he walks 8.1%. He has allowed nine earned runs over 8 1/3 innings in this month, so the A’s are catching him at the right time.
His opponent will be Paul Blackburn, who has a 3.88 ERA against a 4.21 xERA. His Average Exit Velocity is 87 MPH. His Barrel Rate is only 5.4%, and His Hard Hit Rate is 32.5%. His groundball rate is only 41.2%. He has also increased his strikeout rate 4% to 23.1%. Yes, he walks 8.5% of hitters, but his numbers are impressive.
In the last two weeks off of righties, the A’s have a 132 wRC+, 6.8% walk rate, 25.8% strikeout rate, and an .846 OPS.
With those same parameters, Houston has done a little better at a 158 wRC+, 7.2% walk rate, 14% strikeout rate, and .943 OPS.
Houston clearly has the better bullpen, as Oakland has a 6.07 xFIP against Houston’s 4.60 xFIP over the last two weeks, but Houston has a few holes.
That said, Oakland’s line has value with somewhat comparable offensive output lately off of righties. They also are starting the better pitcher.
Take the A’s to +175.
Pick: A's Moneyline +230
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