Baseball is back!
After taking a couple days off for the All-Star Break, Major League Baseball action resumes on Friday, July 18. All 30 teams are in action as there are 15 games on the schedule, which means our experts had plenty of MLB odds to analyze. After looking over those odds, they’ve made some MLB picks and predictions, so continue reading as today’s MLB best bets are below.
MLB Best Bets Today
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 |
|---|---|---|
| [teammatchup link=”#1″ firstfullname=”Boston Red Sox” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | 2:20 p.m. | |
| [teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”Oakland Athletics” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” secondfullname=”Cleveland Guardians” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cleveland-guardians.png”][/teammatchup] | 7:10 p.m. | |
| [teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Miami Marlins” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-miami-marlins.png”][/teammatchup] | 7:10 p.m. | |
| [teammatchup link=”#4″ firstfullname=”Detroit Tigers” firstlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] | 8:05 p.m. | |
|
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.
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[anchor name=”1″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bet Labs’ Red Sox vs Cubs Best Bet: System Play Suggests Under”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 8.5 (-115)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” awayname=”Boston Red Sox” awayslug=”boston-red-sox” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png” homename=”Chicago Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Friday, July 18″ time=”2:20 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]
By Bet Labs
Our “Wrigley Field Unders” system focuses exclusively on Cubs home games, where wind direction is a major scoring variable.
When wind blows in or across (in or from sides) and the total opens between 8-13, unders become highly valuable. Wrigley Field is uniquely sensitive to weather due to the field orientation and the fact that it doesn’t have a roof. As a result, it’s the premier ballpark for wind-based betting edges.
Overall, this system is 302-200-27 (60%) and has generated a 15% ROI. This season, the results have been even better. In the 2025 MLB season, this system has cashed 64% of its picks (7-4-1) and has produced a 20% ROI.
[betlabsembed systemid=”1471541″ systemname=”PRO: Wrigley Field Unders” leaguename=”mlb” filters=”%7B%22list%22%3A%5B%22betting%20on%20the%20Under%22%2C%22the%20home%20team%20is%20Chicago%20Cubs%22%2C%22the%20opening%20total%20is%20between%208%20and%2013%22%2C%22the%20game%20is%20played%20during%20the%20Regular%20season%22%2C%22the%20wind%20direction%20is%20In%20or%20From%20Left%20or%20Left%20to%20Right%20or%20From%20Right%20or%20Right%20To%20Left%22%2C%22the%20average%20wind%20speed%20is%20between%205%20and%2040%20mph%22%5D%7D” amountwon=”$7,917″ record=”294-195-24″ winpct=”60%”][/betlabsembed]
Pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
| [teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Boston Red Sox” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Oakland Athletics” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” secondfullname=”Cleveland Guardians” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cleveland-guardians.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Miami Marlins” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-miami-marlins.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Detroit Tigers” firstlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”2″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Kyle Murray’s Athletics vs Guardians Best Bet: Back Cecconi”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Slade Cecconi Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+100)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” awayname=”Oakland Athletics” awayslug=”oakland-athletics” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cleveland-guardians.png” homename=”Cleveland Guardians” homeslug=”cleveland-guardians” date=”Friday, July 18″ time=”7:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]
By Kyle Murray
Slade Cecconi entered the All-Star Break off of his best start of the season, as he struck out nine against the Astros. He now gets a very strikeout-friendly matchup against an A’s team that will open the second half of the season on the road — away from their hitting-friendly home park.
Cecconi has a 24% strikeout rate on the season to go along with a very strong 29.5% CSW%.
Pick: Slade Cecconi Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+100)
[quickslipbasic bookname=”DraftKings” booklogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/128508_Primary1.png” image=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-18-at-6.32.10%E2%80%AFAM.png” buttontext=”Parlay These Picks Instantly!” buttonlink=”https://switchboard.actionnetwork.com/v2/deeplink?deeplinkId[0]=ML1689668289&deeplinkId[1]=ML1689339836&deeplinkId[2]=ML1688381750&deeplinkId[3]=ML1688383304&context=qs-articles”][/quickslipbasic]
| [teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Boston Red Sox” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Oakland Athletics” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” secondfullname=”Cleveland Guardians” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cleveland-guardians.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Miami Marlins” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-miami-marlins.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Detroit Tigers” firstlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Brit Devine’s Royals vs Marlins Best Bet: Royals are Undervalued”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Royals Moneyline (-120)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” awayname=”Kansas City Royals” awayslug=”kansas-city-royals” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-miami-marlins.png” homename=”Miami Marlins” homeslug=”miami-marlins” date=”Friday, July 18″ time=”7:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]
By Brit Devine
We should be seeing Seth Lugo take the mound for the Royals, which gives us a starting pitching matchup heavily in favor of the Royals since Sandy Alcantara is scheduled to pitch for Miami. Alcantara started the season off horribly upon returning from Tommy John surgery, was able to put together a few decent starts about a month ago, but quickly reverted to his early season form over his past three starts, in which he gave up at least five runs in each game.
Lugo continues to outperform his underlying metrics as a fly-ball pitcher with a deep pitch mix that keeps batters guessing just enough. After three straight seasons of overperforming his advanced metrics, eventually we have to start to believe that the real-life results he gets are what we should expect. He has a WHIP under 1.00 on the road this season and gets to pitch in one of the best run-suppression parks today — loanDepot park in Miami. That hot Miami offense came down to earth before the break, and Lugo should have little issue controlling them while the Kansas City offense gets to Alcantara, who will be out there even if he is pitching bad, as the Marlins need him to figure it out for some trade value.
I have this game priced closer to -150, so with what I deem to be a big edge, I am betting to win two units.
Pick: Royals Moneyline (-120)
| [teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Boston Red Sox” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Oakland Athletics” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” secondfullname=”Cleveland Guardians” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cleveland-guardians.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Miami Marlins” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-miami-marlins.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Detroit Tigers” firstlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”4″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Kyle Murray’s Tigers vs Rangers Best Bet: Trust the Tigers”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Detroit Tigers Moneyline (-120)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” awayname=”Detroit Tigers” awayslug=”detroit-tigers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png” homename=”Texas Rangers” homeslug=”texas-rangers” date=”Friday, July 18″ time=”8:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]
By Kyle Murray
Patrick Corbin has been much better this season than I would like to give him credit for, but the Tigers have the best record in baseball and have dominated left-handed pitchers.
Reese Olson is on the bump for Detroit and has done a good job of limiting runs, so give me the Tigers as they look to start the second half much better than they ended the first half.
Pick: Detroit Tigers Moneyline (-120)
| [teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Boston Red Sox” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Oakland Athletics” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/oakd.png” secondfullname=”Cleveland Guardians” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cleveland-guardians.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Kansas City Royals” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-kansas-city-royals.png” secondfullname=”Miami Marlins” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-miami-marlins.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Detroit Tigers” firstlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” secondfullname=”Texas Rangers” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-texas-rangers.png”][/teammatchup] |
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