Free MLB Picks Today for Monday, August 21st, 2023

Our free MLB picks are out for Monday, August 21st, 2023! 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!

Chicago Cubs @ Detroit Tigers – 6:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Chicago Cubs come into the opening game of this series with the Detroit Tigers on Monday looking to pick up a victory and keep their solid run of play alive. Just about a month ago Chicago looked dead in the water but they have gotten red hot at the right time and they now find themselves right in the middle of the division title race in the National League Central division. Chicago comes into the opening game of this series with a record of 64-59 through the first 123 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. They have moved into second place of the National League Central division, as they are only a couple of games behind Milwaukee for first at the moment. 

The Detroit Tigers are coming off of a successful weekend performance against Cleveland after taking three out of four games from the Guardians at Progressive Field. Now they will return home to Comerica Park and host the Chicago Cubs during this three game interleague series as they look to continue to gain ground on Minnesota for first place in the American League Central division. Despite having a losing record at the moment, they are still well within striking distance of the top spot within the division more so after their solid performance against Cleveland over the weekend. Unfortunately for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago has been playing a lot better than Cleveland has. That is why I look from Chicago to grab a victory here on Monday night.

San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies – 6:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

The San Francisco Giants have been playing solid baseball and they will be looking to keep it rolling in the opening game of the series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night in Philadelphia. They are currently in control of one of the three wild card spots in the National League, and they will be looking to continue holding onto that spot with a victory here in the opening game of this series. San Francisco comes into the opening game of this series with a record of 65-49 through the first 124 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

The Philadelphia Phillies had a sluggish start to the 2023 season but they have picked it up as of late and they have reinserted themselves into the National League wildcard race. This series will go a long way and potentially determine either one or two of the wild card spots in the National League as both of these teams are right in the mix as the season is quickly coming to an end. Philadelphia comes into this one after a rough weekend against the Washington Nationals where they lost two of three games and now they will be looking to bounce back here on Monday night. I do expect Philadelphia to bounce back and pick up a victory in this one on Monday night. 

New York Mets @ Atlanta Braves – 7:20PM ET

Tony Battalio

The New York Mets have had trouble picking up victories against the Atlanta Braves this season. Truthfully, the New York Mets had trouble picking up victories against a lot of teams as they come into this game with a losing record after coming into the season with a ton of expectations. As the New York Mets were expected to be one of the favorites to win the National League pennant, and potentially even the World Series but things have not gone how anybody would’ve expected them to go. The New York Mets come into the opening game of this series with a record of 58-67 through their first 125 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

The Atlanta Braves come into this game with one of the best records in all of Major League Baseball this season. They come into this game with a record of 80-43 through their first 123 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. They have picked up eight victories in their last ten games of the season but they are currently on a one game losing streak coming into this series. Atlanta has also picked up eight victories in ten games against the New York Mets this season and I look for them to continue overwhelming the New York Mets as I have Atlanta picking up a victory here on Monday night at home. 

Texas Rangers @ Arizona Diamondbacks – 9:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Texas Rangers are having a fantastic season this year, but they will be looking to pick up a victory to get back on track after a less than impressive weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers. They are currently in first place in the American League West division, and I will be looking to pick up another victory in the opening game of the series to put some more distance between themselves and the defending World Series champions, the Houston Astros. Texas comes into this game with a record of 72-52 through their first 124 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season and they will be looking to break their four game losing streak here on Monday night. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks come into this game looking to continue getting their season back on track after hitting a rough patch coming out of the All-Star break. After leading the National League West division for the majority of the first half of the season, they now find themselves on the outside looking in at the postseason coming down the final stretch of the year. Texas comes into this game with a record of 64-61 through their first 125 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. They are only one game back out of the third wildcard spot in the National League so they are well within striking distance, and they will be looking to keep the solid run of play rolling after winning seven out of their last ten on the year. Unfortunately for Arizona I do have Texas picking up the victory in this game on Monday night.

Miami Marlins @ San Diego Padres – 9:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Miami Marlins come into this game with a record of 64-61 through their first 125 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Miami was a bit of a surprise team during the early months of the season. However, they hit a rough patch and had a lengthy losing streak coming out of the All-Star break that has put them on the outside looking out of the National League wild card race at the moment. They currently sit in third place of the National League East division, and they will be looking to break their two game losing streak here in the opening game of this series on Monday night in San Diego.

The San Diego Padres come into this game with a record of 59-66 through their first 125 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. This is a team that had plenty of expectations coming into the 2023 season but they have not quite lived up to those expectations. During last year’s trade deadline, San Diego went all in to make a push to win a World Series championship but things went off the tracks when they were eliminated in the playoffs early. With the loads of talent that they possess on their roster, they were expected to be contenders this season as well, but things have not gone quite how anyone would’ve expected either. Luckily for San Diego I do expect them to bounce back and pick up a victory here on Monday night at home.

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.