OddsShopper
ArticlesVideosExpert PicksPromotions
HomeFree ToolsPremium ToolsOffersAccount
Categories MLB

Monday MLB Picks & Parlays: Rays Moneyline Is a Winner Against Lance McCullers and the Astros (September 21)

With two weeks left in the MLB regular season, there are a few division races coming down to the wire. With games spread out this evening, make sure to monitor the start times, as some of these props are not on the main slate. The parlay that stood out the most is this four-leg Dog Days Parlay. Though it’s rare, underdogs eventually have their day, and when they do, the payouts are oh so nice. Here are the best bets for underdogs if you like to fade the favorites and cheer for the upset at high odds. This piece will use the OddsShopper MLB Parlay Builder paired with the Stokastic MLB projections to make the best MLB picks and parlays today.

 

MLB Picks and Parlays Today 9/21

Rangers vs. Angels O/U 8.5 Runs | RISK FREE BET

Leading off the Dog Days parlay is a total runs bet between the Rangers and Angels. They scored seven total runs last night, and the Angels won 5-2 on the road. The pitching options weren’t great in that game, and they are equally bad tonight, which goes to show how bad these offenses are playing right now. The Rangers will start Dane Dunning, who ranks second on the team in nearly every pitching statistic. This will be Dunning’s fifth start against the Angels this season, as he has allowed 11 earned runs through 22 innings, which is good for a 4.50 ERA. For what it’s worth, Dunning pitches much better at home, where he has a 3.59 ERA compared to a 5.62 ERA on the road.

The Angels will counter with Tucker Davidson, who will draw his seventh start with the Angels since being acquired by the Braves. Davidson has a 7.24 ERA with the Angels, but when diving deeper into the matchups, five of those six starts have come against American League playoff teams, and the other was against the Twins, who are just two games under .500. The Rangers matchup should serve Davidson well, and getting to nine runs is a lot for these two teams that rank in the top 10 in strikeout rate this season.

Best MLB Pick Today: Total UNDER 8.5 Runs (+100)

 

Marlins vs. Cubs O/U 6.5 Runs | RISK FREE BET

This game has much better pitching options than in the previous game, as the Marlins with start Jesus Luzardo and the Cubs will counter with Marcus Stroman. This is another spot where both teams are already eliminated from playoff contention, but both of these pitchers have done a very good job of limiting runs this season. In his first full season as a starter, Luzardo has allowed a career-low 3.75 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has paired that with a career-best 27.7% strikeout rate and a .196 opponent batting average.

On the flip side, Stroman has in his first season with the Cubs a 3.76 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. For the third straight season, Stroman has had a 20% strikeout rate or higher. This has the makings of a pitcher’s duel. Seven of the Marlin’s last eight games against NL Central opponents have gone under the run total. The run line may seem small, but it is reflective of how well Luzardo and Stroman have been pitching this season and how inept these offenses are.

Best MLB Pick Today: Total UNDER 6.5 Runs (+100)

Daniel Lynch O/U 4.5 Strikeouts | RISK FREE BET

The lone player prop for this parlay features Royals southpaw Daniel Lynch in a home matchup against the Twins. This may be a little surprising, but the Royals have the same number of wins since the All-Star Break as the Twins after their 5-4 victory last night. The collapse of the Twins places them eight games back for the division with exactly two weeks left in their season. Don’t be shocked if they start calling up more minor league players to finish this season out.

Through 24 starts, Lynch has a 21.2% strikeout rate, while the Twins rank right around the middle of the league in strikeout rate. Being in the same division, this is Lynch’s sixth start against the Twins. His last start against the Twins and in general was six days ago when he struck out eight Twins batters but still recorded a loss, as the Royals aren’t equipped to score many runs themselves. Reaching five or more strikeouts may seem like a big ask for this young pitcher, but he has proved to be capable. Stokastic projects Lynch for exactly 4.5 strikeouts, and this is the best prop available for value on the slate.

Best MLB Pick Today: Daniel Lynch OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (+120)

Rays vs. Astros Moneyline | RISK FREE BET

The last underdog prop to take in this parlay is the Rays moneyline against the Astros. There is no denying the Astros are the best team in the American League, as they have already clinched their division and are well ahead of the Yankees for the top seed in the playoffs. The Rays have been shut out 9-0 in back-to-back games entering the last matchup of this series.

However, this is a spot where they can get back on track against Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr., who has been greeted with very easy matchups since returning from injury. In his lone difficult matchup against the Braves, McCullers allowed three earned runs through only five innings. The Rays have a great lineup and need to rack up more wins to secure their Wild Card spot. They will counter with Corey Kluber, who has recorded a win in five of his last seven starts when pitching at home. He has also struck out six or more in five of his last six starts against the Astros. As a team, the Rays have won eight of their last nine games as home underdogs following a home loss. This game means more to them in terms of the playoff race, and they are in a great spot to deliver.

Best MLB Pick Today: Rays Moneyline (+110)

Featured Articles

Related Articles