MLB Best Bets: 2 Moneyline Predictions for Saturday (6/15)

The Saturday, June 15, MLB slate features a whole lot of day baseball, and our staff has come through with two MLB Best Bets.

Our MLB experts are feeling bold, targeting two underdog moneyline picks for Athletics vs Twins and Rays vs Braves for Saturday.

MLB Best Bets: 2 Moneyline Predictions for Saturday (6/15)

The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from the Saturday slate. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific MLB best bet discussed in this article.

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Athletics vs. Twins”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Athletics Moneyline (+170)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” awayname=”Oakland Athletics” awayslug=”oakland-athletics” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png” homename=”Minnesota Twins” homeslug=”minnesota-twins” date=”Saturday, June 15″ time=”2:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Tony Sartori

Yes, I know the Athletics barely qualify as professional baseball team (they’re still better than the White Sox). With that said, they have still accumulated 26 wins this season, and in a matchup where they have the clear starting pitching advantage, I think it’s worth taking a flyer on them at +170.

The pitching matchup is Oakland’s Joey Estes against Minnesota’s Bailey Ober. Neither have been great by any means, but Estes clears Ober in many key categories.

This season, Estes ranks higher than Ober in ERA, WHIP, xERA, xBA and walk rate. The Athletics have won in three of Estes’ six starts this year, which obviously bodes well for a +170 payout on the moneyline.

Not only does Oakland boast the stronger starting pitcher, but its relief pitching also outranks Minnesota’s in ERA. Those are enough advantages to justify taking a chance on the underdog.

Pick: Athletics Moneyline (+170 | Bet to +155)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Rays vs. Braves”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Rays Moneyline (+135)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png” awayname=”Tampa Bay Rays” awayslug=”tampa-bay-rays” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/atl.png” homename=”Atlanta Braves” homeslug=”atlanta-braves” date=”Saturday, June 15″ time=”4:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By D.J. James

Ryan Pepiot has been good and should, eventually, be the beneficiary of some good fortune. The 26-year-old righty has allowed some hard contact and doesn’t induce many ground balls, but otherwise, he has been exceptional.

He has a 7% walk rate and 29.6% strikeout rate. His ERA is 4.17 against a 2.99 xERA, so he is primed for a good matchup with the Braves.

Pepiot will be facing Charlie Morton, who has a 4.12 ERA against a 4.18 xERA. Simply put, Morton is getting the same results, but unlike, Pepiot, Morton is not unlucky. He will not give up much hard contact and maintains an above average ground-ball rate, but he has a tendency to walk hitters.

The Braves and Rays have been pretty much neck-and-neck in wRC+ in the last month against right-handers. Atlanta enters this game with an 81 wRC+, while Tampa Bay has a higher walk rate and an 80 wRC+. This is pretty much a wash, but Pepiot could take advantage of how weak the Braves have been at the dish lately.

In relief, both teams have been subpar, too. Atlanta has a 4.17 xFIP; the Rays have a 4.19 xFIP. Both have comparable strikeout and walk rates.

With the better starting pitcher, Tampa Bay has a good chance to pull this one out on the road. Take Tampa Bay from +134 to +110.

Pick: Rays Moneyline (+135 | Bet to +110)

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