Free MLB Picks Today for Thursday, August 24th, 2023

Our free MLB picks are out for Thursday, August 24th, 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!

Washington Nationals @ New York Yankees – 1:10PM ET

Tony Battalio

It has been a rough season for the Washington Nationals, but they have shown progress in their rebuild this season. They will be looking to wrap up this series with the New York Yankees on a positive note and grab a victory here on Thursday afternoon in the Bronx. Patrick Corbin will get the start for the Washington Nationals in this game and he has had an up-and-down season and at times he has been one of the worst starting pitchers in all of Major League Baseball this year. They will be looking to bounce back in the finale of this series after they were blown out by the Yankees on Wednesday night. 

The New York Yankees jumped all over Washington early in their game last night. They will be looking to replicate that performance here on Thursday afternoon, as they look to wrap up this series with another victory. Aaron Judge went deep, and it sparked the New York Yankees lineup to put up a crooked number against Washington and now New York will be looking to close out the series and gain some much-needed momentum before heading into the weekend as they look to chase down one of the three wild card spots in the American League. That is exactly what I expect as I have the New York Yankees picking up the victory in this game on Thursday afternoon.

Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros – 2:10PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Boston Red Sox come into the finale of this series against the defending World Series champions looking to wrap up the series with a much-needed victory. Boston has been solid this season, but they still have some work to do if they want to get themselves into the postseason this year and wrapping up this series with a victory over Houston would be a major step in the right direction for the Red Sox. Boston comes into this game only a handful of games behind the third wildcard spot in the American League, which is currently occupied by Houston, which makes this series that much more important heading into late August. 

The defending World Series champions have some work to do themselves, as they are still trying to chase down the Texas Rangers in the American League West division. Houston had a sluggish start to the 2023 Major League Baseball season but they have picked it up as the months have gone on. Houston will be looking to wrap up this series with a victory over another contending team in the American League as they look to give themselves plenty of momentum heading into the weekend. I expect the Houston Astros to close out this series on Thursday afternoon with a victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Toronto Blue Jays @ Baltimore Orioles – 7:05PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to bounce back from their blowout loss to the Baltimore Orioles in their game on Wednesday night. It was not a great performance from Toronto as they looked absolutely lost at the plate and they will need to be a lot more productive here on Thursday evening if they want to pick up a victory over the first place team in the American League East division. Toronto is still well within striking distance of the top spot in the American League East division, and they will be looking to gain some ground with a victory here in this game, as well as increase their leading the American League wild-card race. 

It was a fantastic performance from Baltimore in the second game of the series against Toronto on Wednesday night. Now they will be looking to pick up another victory over the Blue Jays here on Thursday evening and further extend their lead within the American League East division. Baltimore also currently possesses the best record in the American League at the moment and they are on a collision course to get a free pass straight into the second round of the playoffs with the way they’ve been playing this season. I expect them to pick up yet another victory over Toronto in the finale of this series on Thursday night at home. 

Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins – 7:10PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Texas Rangers have the day off on Wednesday and they will be looking to open up the series on Thursday with a victory over a fellow first place team in the American League. It has been a fantastic season this far for the Texas Rangers as they currently find themselves sitting on top of the American League West division ahead of the Seattle Mariners and the defending World Series champions, the Houston Astros. It was a much needed day off for the Texas Rangers as they have struggled as of late, and they will be looking to rejuvenate themselves before they head to Minnesota for the opening game of the series on Thursday night. 

The Minnesota Twins currently sit in first place in the American League Central division. It is not so much that they have been a solid baseball team this season, it is more the fact that they have been the best of a bad bunch within the division. If Minnesota continues to rack up losses like they have been lately, Cleveland is going to wake up and surpass them for the top spot in the division much like they did last season as well. Minnesota dropped a tough game in extra innings to Milwaukee on Wednesday and they will be looking to bounce back in the opening game of the series here on Thursday. Unfortunately for Minnesota I don’t see that happening as I have Texas picking up the victory here in this one.

Cincinnati Reds @ Arizona Diamondbacks – 9:40PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Cincinnati Reds picked up a solid victory in the opening game of the doubleheader yesterday against the Los Angeles Angels. After starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani left the game and the second inning after hitting a home run at the plate in the first inning Cincinnati took advantage of the Angels bullpen and jumped on them for nine runs. Now Cincinnati will be looking to pick up another victory here on Thursday in the opening game of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks after sweeping Los Angeles in a doubleheader yesterday. Cincinnati is trending upward after a rough stretch and play, and they will be looking to regain the top spot in the National League Central division.

It was a solid start of the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but they have been trending downward since coming out of the All-Star break. They will be looking to get back on track with a victory in the opening game of this four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night. They will have one of the best starting pitchers getting the baseball for this one as Merrill Kelly takes the mound for Arizona here on Thursday night at home against Cincinnati. I expect him to pitch them to a much-needed victory to open up the series and give themselves some momentum heading into the weekend.

If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our MLB hub page for all your baseball needs!

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