MLB Predictions Monday, Best Bets, Prop Picks Today

There are 13 games, including a doubleheader, on the MLB schedule for Monday, August 18.

Our systems and MLB betting experts have scoured the latest MLB odds and identified the best picks and betting value on the board today. We have MLB player prop picks, moneyline predictions and over/under plays, so continue reading for today’s MLB best bets.

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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=”Milwaukee Brewers” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mil.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup]	2:20 p.m.	Today’s +257 Same-Game Parlay
[teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”Houston Astros” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/hou.png” secondfullname=”Detroit Tigers” secondlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png”][/teammatchup]	6:40 p.m.	Zerillo’s Biggest Projection Edge
[teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Houston Astros” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/hou.png” secondfullname=”Detroit Tigers” secondlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png”][/teammatchup]	6:40 p.m.	Monday’s Featured PRO System
[teammatchup link=”#4″ firstfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Boston Red Sox” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png”][/teammatchup]	7:10 p.m.	Sean Paul’s Moneyline Play
[teammatchup link=”#5″ firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup]	9:38 p.m.	Derek Carty’s Player Prop Pick
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.

[anchor name=”1″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Chilly Bets’ Brewers vs Cubs Parlay”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Freddy Peralta Over 17.5 Outs, Cubs Moneyline (+257)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mil.png” awayname=”Milwaukee Brewers” awayslug=”milwaukee-brewers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png” homename=”Chicago Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Monday, August 18″ time=”2:20 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”Fanatics Sportsbook” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/542724_Fanatics-banner-logo.png” bookreviewslug=”fanatics-sportsbook”][/gameheader]

By Chilly Bets

Freddy Peralta has been pretty solid this season, posting a 14-5 record with a 2.90 ERA. His outs total has been somewhat inconsistent, but today looks like a prime spot for him to work deep.

I’m also backing the Cubs to grab a win in today’s midday Monday matchup. Milwaukee’s long winning streak was snapped yesterday, and this feels like a good opportunity for Chicago to take advantage.

Pick: Freddy Peralta Over 17.5 Outs, Cubs Moneyline (+257)

[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Milwaukee Brewers” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mil.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=”Houston Astros” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/hou.png” secondfullname=”Detroit Tigers” secondlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Houston Astros” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/hou.png” secondfullname=”Detroit Tigers” secondlogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Boston Red Sox” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#5″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Cincinnati Reds” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup]

[anchor name=”2″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Sean Zerillo’s Astros vs Tigers Best Bet: Back Houston as a ‘Dog”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Astros Moneyline (+135)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/hou.png” awayname=”Houston Astros” awayslug=”houston-astros” homelogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” homename=”Detroit Tigers” homeslug=”detroit-tigers” date=”Monday, August 18″ time=”6:40 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”Caesars Sportsbook” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/256064_caesars_800x200.png” bookreviewslug=”caesars-sportsbook”][/gameheader]

By Sean Zerillo

Jack Flaherty (4.14 xERA) remains a fade target, and you can live bet against him if he faces Houston’s lineup a third time. When he’s facing a hitter for the first time, he allows a .661 OPS, that number jumps to .701 in a second plate appearance and skyrockets to a .880 OPS against in his third trip through the order.

Meanwhile, Spencer Arrighetti’s pitch modeling looks fine post thumb injury. His command is down (93 Location+ vs. 98 career), but his stuff is intact (101 Stuff+, 3.80 botERA).

Both offenses are struggling as they rank 22nd (Houston) and 24th (Detroit) in wRC+ over the past 30 days, and I prefer Houston’s bullpen, even without Josh Hader, to Detroit’s. I also prefer Houston defensively and project the Astros at +107 in this matchup.

With Houston priced at +135, I’m showing a 5.8% edge. I’d bet the Astros to +116.

Pick: Astros Moneyline (+135)

[expertwidget username=”Zerillo”][/expertwidget]

[quickslipbasic bookname=”Fanatics” booklogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/573837_FanaticsSportsbook20ALT.png” image=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-7.04.22%E2%80%AFAM.png” buttontext=”Parlay These Picks Instantly!” buttonlink=”https://www.scoresandodds.com/all/parlay?quickslip=1&onelink=/5kut/t0sqq2yh?sharedBy=QS_0105&ref=10001″][/quickslipbasic]

[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bet Labs’ Astros vs Tigers Best Bet: Under Showing Value”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 8.5 (-110)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/hou.png” awayname=”Houston Astros” awayslug=”houston-astros” homelogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/461059_det_n.png” homename=”Detroit Tigers” homeslug=”detroit-tigers” date=”Monday, August 18″ time=”6:40 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]

By Bet Labs

This MLB betting system — “Steam Unders with Low OU Support” — is built on the premise that sharp money moving totals downward, paired with weak public support on the under, creates an exploitable edge in the betting market.

The strategy focuses on regular-season games from 2019 to 2025 in which the closing total lands between 8 and 10 — sweet spots for scoring volatility. It isolates games where the over/under has dropped significantly from open to close, signaling smart money on the under, yet public sentiment heavily favors the over, with only a small share of bets backing the under. This mismatch between money and ticket count indicates potential value, especially when the difference between those two figures is meaningful, but not extreme. To reduce noise, the system excludes games played in extreme heat or cold, only including those where temperatures range from mild to warm. It also requires both teams to have a recent record of games that hover around the total, suggesting no extreme streaks skewing expectations. These filters ensure that neither team is riding unsustainable over or under trends.

Overall, this system is 547-376-47 (59%) and has generated a 14% ROI. This season, the system has generated a 13% ROI and has cashed 59% of its picks (129-88-9).

[betlabsembed systemid=”1486199″ systemname=”Evan Abrams / Bet Labs – Steam Unders with Low OU Support” leaguename=”mlb” filters=”%7B%22list%22%3A%5B%22the%20game%20was%20played%20during%20the%202025%20or%202024%20or%202023%20or%202022%20or%202021%20or%202020%20or%202019%20season%22%2C%22the%20visitor%20team’s%203%20Games%20OU%20Margin%20is%20between%20-2.3%20and%205.25%22%2C%22the%20home%20team’s%203%20Games%20OU%20Margin%20is%20between%20-3.33%20and%203.19%22%2C%22the%20temperature%20is%20between%201%20and%2087%20degrees%22%2C%22the%20o%2Fu%20change%20from%20open%20to%20close%20is%20between%20-1.5%20and%200%22%2C%22the%20closing%20total%20is%20between%208%20and%2010%22%2C%22the%20difference%20between%20money%20%25%20and%20ticket%20%25%20is%20between%201%20and%2087%22%2C%22the%20over%2Funder%20%25%20is%20between%201%25%20and%2029%25%22%2C%22betting%20on%20the%20Under%22%2C%22the%20game%20is%20played%20during%20the%20Regular%20season%22%5D%7D” amountwon=”$13,790″ record=”547-376-47″ winpct=”59%”][/betlabsembed]

Pick: Under 8.5 (-110)

[anchor name=”4″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Sean Paul’s Orioles vs Red Sox Best Bet: Bet Baltimore”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Orioles Moneyline (+105)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” awayname=”Baltimore Orioles” awayslug=”baltimore-orioles” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-boston-red-sox.png” homename=”Boston Red Sox” homeslug=”boston-red-sox” date=”Monday, August 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 Sean Paul

The line is slightly closer than I expected, but I would take the Orioles up to +105.

Rogers is a legitimate stud and May is a pitcher worth fading. He’s had plenty of chances to prove he’s a consistent MLB starter and regularly comes up short. That leads me to feel comfortable with taking the better pitcher in this matchup.

Pick: Orioles Moneyline (+105)

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[anchor name=”5″][/anchor]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Derek Carty’s Reds vs Angels Pick: Schanuel Showing Value”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Nolan Schanuel Over 0.5 Hitter Walks (+200)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-cincinnati-reds.png” awayname=”Cincinnati Reds” awayslug=”cincinnati-reds” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” homename=”Los Angeles Angels” homeslug=”los-angeles-angels” date=”Monday, August 18″ time=”9:38 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”bet365″ bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/859377_Bet365@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gameheader]

By Derek Carty

THE BAT X is forecasting 0.59 walks for Nolan Schanuel. Oddsmakers are implying 0.38 walks, so I believe there is value here. If you take the over, you’d be projected to win 45% of the time, resulting in a 41% ROI with an expected value of $40.68 (based on a $100 wager).

Love THE BAT X? Get all of Carty’s sports betting projections at EV Analytics!

Pick: Nolan Schanuel Over 0.5 Hitter Walks (+200)

[bettingtrends title=”” gameid=”259166″ date=”20250818″][/bettingtrends]

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MLB Predictions Monday, Best Bets, Prop Picks Today — August 18