There are just 9 games on the MLB schedule for Thursday, May 8, but that didn’t stop our MLB betting experts and systems from identifying the best MLB betting value on the board.
We’ve come across multiple favorable props and predictions for today’s slate, so continue reading as today’s MLB best bets are below.
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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=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Minnesota Twins” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png”][/teammatchup] | 1:10 p.m. | |
[teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”Philadelphia Phillies” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” secondfullname=”Tampa Bay Rays” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png”][/teammatchup] | 7:05 p.m. | |
[teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup] | 9:38 p.m. | |
[teammatchup link=”#4″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Arizona Diamondbacks” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/ari.png”][/teammatchup] | 9:40 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’ Orioles vs Twins Best Bet: Weather Suggests Play on Under”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 8.5 (-102)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” awayname=”Baltimore Orioles” awayslug=”baltimore-orioles” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png” homename=”Minnesota Twins” homeslug=”minnesota-twins” date=”Thursday, May 8″ time=”1:10 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]
By Bet Labs
Historically, the under is a good bet in this spot. With the wind blowing in between 5-35 mph and the closing total sitting between 6 and 11, the under has hit 54% of the time since 2005. That’s a large sample size over a long period of time, so let’s trust the data and go with the under in Minnesota.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-102)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Minnesota Twins” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Philadelphia Phillies” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” secondfullname=”Tampa Bay Rays” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Arizona Diamondbacks” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/ari.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”2″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Brit Devine’s Phillies vs Rays Best Bet: Back Philadelphia”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Philadelphia Phillies Moneyline (-134)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” awayname=”Philadelphia Phillies” awayslug=”philadelphia-phillies” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png” homename=”Tampa Bay Rays” homeslug=”tampa-bay-rays” date=”Thursday, May 8″ time=”7:05 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]
By Brit Devine
I’m jumping on this early as I am struggling to understand the line the books are giving us. The Phillies are starting the left-handed Jesus Luzardo, who is having a good start to the season with advanced metrics that back up his performances. Meanwhile, the Rays have been one of the worst teams in the league against left-handed pitching this season.
The Rays are rolling out the right-handed Ryan Pepiot, who had a solid 2024, but simply hasn’t been up to that level this season and has seen regression in almost every stat that matters. The Phillies have also been one of the best teams in the league against right-handed pitching this season.
This line just isn’t adding up to what has been happening in 2025 and should be AT LEAST -150 to me. I’m betting to win two units.
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies Moneyline (-134)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Minnesota Twins” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Philadelphia Phillies” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” secondfullname=”Tampa Bay Rays” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Arizona Diamondbacks” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/ari.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Justin Van Zuiden’s Blue Jays vs Angels Best Bet: Fade Both Offenses”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 8.5 (-110)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” awayname=”Toronto Blue Jays” awayslug=”toronto-blue-jays” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png” homename=”Los Angeles Angels” homeslug=”los-angeles-angels” date=”Thursday, May 8″ time=”9:38 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]
By Justin Van Zuiden
I just can’t see an offensive explosion happening in this game. The Blue Jays will likely be somewhat bothered by having a late night game on getaway day, and they also suffered a tough walk-off loss on Wednesday night. Chris Bassitt and Jose Soriano are both respectable right-handed starters, and these two teams rank 27th (TOR) and 23rd (LAA) in wOBA against right-handed pitching this season.
Expect a lower-scoring game with both teams struggling to string hits together. I’ll take the under.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-110)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Minnesota Twins” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Philadelphia Phillies” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” secondfullname=”Tampa Bay Rays” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Arizona Diamondbacks” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/ari.png”][/teammatchup] |
[anchor name=”4″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bet Labs’ Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Best Bet: Back the Bats”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 9 (+105)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” awayslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/ari.png” homename=”Arizona Diamondbacks” homeslug=”arizona-diamondbacks” date=”Thursday, May 8″ time=”9:40 p.m. ET” network=”MLB.TV” bookname=”ESPN BET” bookprimarylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/11/ESPNBET-rect-2colorway-e1700601975338.png” bookreviewslug=”espn-bet”][/gameheader]
By Bet Labs
Two of the best offenses in baseball face off as the Dodgers rank third and the Diamondbacks sixth when it comes to runs per game.
While that would seemingly suggest a play on the over, the data suggests something else. Both of these teams are over .500 and when winning teams meet, the under is the better bet as it has cashed 53% of the time over the past 20 years in this spot.
Pick: Under 9 (+105)
[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Baltimore Orioles” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/bal.png” secondfullname=”Minnesota Twins” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/mind.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Philadelphia Phillies” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-philadelphia-phillies.png” secondfullname=”Tampa Bay Rays” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-tampa-bay-rays.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Toronto Blue Jays” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/tor.png” secondfullname=”Los Angeles Angels” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/laa.png”][/teammatchup] | [teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Arizona Diamondbacks” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/ari.png”][/teammatchup] |
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