Our free MLB Picks are out for Monday, August 16th, 2021! Make sure you check our MLB Picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Los Angeles Angels @ New York Yankees – 7.05PM ET
The New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels in a one-off game to start the week, making up for a game that was lost at the beginning of July. Both sides are coming off a victory over a division leader, the White Sox and Astros respectively, and will want to continue their winning ways in this one.
Tim Newton
I’m taking the Yankees in this one. They get back home and that is a massive difference, considering their 32-25 record at Yankee Stadium and LA’s 26-30 record on the road this season. However, the even more telling stat is the fact that the Angels are 30-48 against teams above 0.500 this season and it doesn’t get any easier given they have to start off the game by facing Gerrit Cole. With a 3.11 ERA and 10-6 record, Cole is one of the best pitchers in the league and should give this inconsistent LA batting lineup fits. That lineup is actually quite good, rating higher than New York’s so far this season, however when looking just at the last 30 days, New York has scored 31 more runs than the Angels, who have the second worst OPS in baseball over that stretch. That is a pretty damning stat and I don’t think they can overcome that tonight, especially against Cole.
Tim’s MLB Pick: New York Yankees (-260)
Mike Su
After a surprise win against the Astros, led by Reid Detmers who earned his first career win, the Angels now travel to New York to play the storied Yankees. The Angels just held the league’s best offense to one run, but I doubt that will continue against the Yankees. Although the Yankees batting lineup isn’t as good as the Astros, the Yankees have averaged 7.33 runs per game against the Angels this season. As the Angels are clearly out of the playoff running, as shown by their start of Reid Detmers last time out, and the Yankees are only 2.5 games back from the Wild Card spot, the Yankees clearly have a lot more to play for. The Angels are focused on developing young talent and despite my never bet against Shohei Ohtani mantra, the Angels don’t seem like they’re in a position to win. The Yankees have been playing well down the stretch, going 7-3 in their last 10 and beating the 68-win White Sox two games in a row. So I have to take the Yankees to win here, likely in a high scoring game.
Mike’s MLB Pick: New York Yankees (-260)
Chi-Town Takeover.#SquadUp pic.twitter.com/r7fc0LnXkd
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 15, 2021
Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays – 7.10PM ET
The top of the AL East hosts the bottom of the AL East in a four game series, starting tonight. The Baltimore Orioles have now lost 11 straight games, which already includes three to the Tampa Bay Rays and it is hard to see where their next win will come from…
Tim Newton
These sides met just over a week ago and Tampa Bay came away with three wins from three games, outscoring the Orioles 31-15 over the series. Those three losses have been part of an 11 game losing streak for Baltimore and they now face their AL East rivals on the road this time. This contest is a mismatch no matter which way you look at it, even with the Rays falling victim to the in-form Twins, but given the Orioles have selected Matt Harvey to start with the ball, it almost seems as if they are throwing the opener. Harvey is just 6-11 from 23 starts this season, with a 6.10 ERA. That is terrible against one of the best teams in baseball and I think this will get ugly.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 / Over 8.5 (+230)
Mike Su
There isn’t much to say about this game. The league’s worst team is playing last year’s champions, who also hold the best record in the American League. The Orioles have been worse than horrible, given they have lost the last 11 in a row. They possess the worst run differential in the league and possess the worst defense in the league allowing 674 runs. The Tampa Bay Rays will decimate them based on every statistic and metric available. To make matters worse for the Orioles, the Rays are starting Collin McHugh who has a 1.41 ERA in limited playing time. That’s right, a 1.41 ERA. He has allowed just 10 runs in 44.1 innings. On the other side the Orioles are starting Matt Harvey at pitcher, who is 6-11 this season and has an atrocious 6.10 ERA. The Orioles have no chance. I’m taking the Rays by a wide margin.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (-137)
Oakland Athletics @ Chicago White Sox – 8.10PM ET
The AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox have only won one of their last four series but may have some luck against an Oakland Athletics side that just lost two of three games to the Rangers. While Chicago essentially has their postseason ticket locked up, by virtue of being first in a very weak division, the A’s have to fight hard to hold on to the last wild card slot, and wins are paramount.
Tim Newton
This American League showdown is very hard to pick, given neither team seems to be in good form at the moment. However, Oakland’s is better than Chicago’s, but is that enough to give them the edge? The White Sox are just 5-5 from their last 10 games, not playing well on either side of the ball. Meanwhile the A’s are 8-2 from their last 10, however the two losses have come in their last three games, against the lowly Texas Rangers. But who comes out on top tonight? Both teams are starting adequate pitchers, so it will come down to who can hit the ball better. Over the last 30 days, Oakland has a better OPS, has more hits and has more runs, indicating they may be in better form in that area. Based on that, I think they have the edge tonight and should sneak over the line.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Oakland Athletics (-108)
Mike Su
This is a heavyweight matchup between two teams who both have 68 wins. This game means especially more for the Athletics, who are in the midst of a battle for a Wild Card Playoff spot, while also being just 2.5 games back from the division lead. The Athletics are also in slightly better form winning 8 of their last 10 while the White Sox have won just half of their last 10, with 2 losses in a row to the Yankees most recently. The White Sox are also starting Dallas Keuchel, who hasn’t been great this year sporting a 7-6 record and a below average 4.51 ERA. The White Sox are also 0-4 in Keuchel’s last 4 starts highlighting Keuchel’s lack of form lately. The Athletics are going to Frankie Montas who hasn’t been amazing either with a 3.98 ERA and 9-8 record. The Athletics have the slight edge pitching statistically but it isn’t much. Despite the lack of a clear edge, I’m going to lean toward betting on form and the Athletics are in decent form while the White Sox as well as Keuchel are not in form.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Oakland Athletics (-108)
Fernando Tatis Jr. came back like yeah that MVP is mine hope you guys didn’t forget pic.twitter.com/Lcex5PMOCw
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 15, 2021
San Diego Padres @ Colorado Rockies – 8.40PM ET
A pair of out-of-form NL West teams face off tonight in the first of a three game series as the Colorado Rockies host the San Diego Padres. Colorado have dropped five of their last six while San Diego have lost four of their last five, with both sides struggling right now. Find out below who we have breaking out of their slump tonight?
Tim Newton
While neither side deserves to win this based on their current form, the Padres need it more and that should show tonight. While they just lost three of their last four games, against the team with the worst record in baseball, the Diamondbacks, San Diego is a class outfit and now have their spark back, Fernando Tatis Jr. In his return to action, Tatis Jr had five at bats, recording four hits and three runs, helping the Padres win 8-2. That is a massive positive for a team that needs to win to stay ahead in a hotly contested Wild Card race, especially against a pitcher that is 2-9 this season with a 4.71 ERA. Antonio Senzatela has been woeful this season and should allow San Diego to get ahead, and I think they’ll stay ahead.
Tim’s MLB Pick: San Diego Padres (-134)
Mike Su
In this inter-division matchup, the Padres play the Rockies in a relatively necessary win. The Padres are in the final Wild Card spot but need to keep winning to ensure they keep it. The Padres have a lot to lose if they drop this game while the Rockies have nothing to lose. Despite this the Padres have had some shocking losses lately dropping 3 games against the MLB worst Arizona Diamondbacks. Neither team is particularly in form with both going 5-5 in their last 10. Both teams are starting pitchers with virtually identical season averages, so pitching shouldn’t provide an edge for either team. I’ll have to hope both teams revert to their season averages, and hope the Padres, who are top 10 in every key team statistic except home runs, can make it work. Padres in a tight one.
Mike’s MLB Pick: San Diego Padres (-134)
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants – 9.45PM ET
After getting swept by the Dodgers, who sit 2nd in the NL West, the New York Mets now have to travel across the country to take on the top of the NL West, the San Francisco Giants. Given this is the first time these sides have met all season, there is plenty of anticipation surrounding the matchup but the big question is whether New York is good enough, on the road, to steal one from the Giants.
Tim Newton
I simply don’t know how the Mets win this. After dropping three straight to the Dodgers, including a 4-14 loss last night, and having to travel across the country, this Mets team may simply throw in the towel early in this one, hoping to recover for the next few games in the series. While their starting pitcher, Rich Hill, is serviceable, with a 6-4 record and 4.05 ERA for the season, he is no Kevin Gausman. While he may have better stats on the road this season, Gausman is 11-5 overall, 5-3 at home, with a 2.20 ERA, 3.21 at home. Those are some very impressive numbers and should give his team, that has a top 10 offense, enough of a head start to win this comfortably.
Tim’s MLB Pick: San Francisco Giants -1.5 (+106)
Mike Su
The league-best Giants take on the below-average Mets in San Francisco. The Mets have only won three of their last 10 games while the Giants have won eight of their last 10. This game should be a breeze for the best team in the league, who are starting Kevin Gausman, who has the 6th best ERA in the league. Gausman should have a field day against the 2nd worst batting team in the league. Playing opposite of Gausman for the Mets is Rich Hill who has a below average 4.05 ERA. The Giants frankly have the advantage in every facet of this game and are looking to maintain the best record in the league. I’m looking for the Giants to win this game by a large margin and show us why they deserve to be the favourite to win it all this year.
Mike’s MLB Pick:San Francisco Giants -1.5 (+106)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
