It’s time to get back to the MLB Best Bets and Betting Picks for Thursday, August 17. I know I’ve been absent from these pages for the last couple of weeks as the fantasy football world ramps up its activity, but with our good friend Josh Wagner taking the old marriage plunge this weekend, I am here to help. Obviously, I’ve stayed on top of the baseball betting as many of you have reached out about picks I’ve made on the Bettor Sports Betting Show with Dan Servodidio, so let’s crush it for today. It’s a pretty short slate with an early start to a couple of games, so let’s see what looks good.

 

MLB Best Bets for August 17

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres

I don’t normally like betting on a starting pitcher in the second game of a back-to-back against the same team, but how do you not love what Zac Gallen is doing this season? The strikeout rate is solid, the walks are down significantly this year and everything about his peripherals shows us that we can continue to expect strong performances. The Padres have been swinging the sticks well in recent action, but Gallen blanked them for six innings his last time out and he’s still making that push for the NL Cy Young. On the other side, the Padres are throwing lefthander Rich Hill who hasn’t lasted more than 3.1 innings over his last two starts. The Diamondbacks are still in the hunt for a wild card spot and are fending off the Padres in a close race, so a win tonight is important.

Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks Money Line (-108 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers

It would appear that the move to Los Angeles has really agreed with Lance Lynn and the veteran righthander has been dominant here in August with just four earned runs allowed over his last three starts (18 innings). In addition to that, he’s posted a 22:4 K:BB so facing a Brewers team that has a .256 wOBA over the past week and a 23.3-percent strikeout rate against righties gives us more than just a little hope. Corbin Burnes had leveled off before getting beaten up by the White Sox his last time out and while the Dodgers can be a daunting lineup to face, I don’t see him getting blown up for a second start in a row.  The money line points to the Dodgers to win this one, but it’s not by an overwhelming margin which means Vegas is fine backing Burnes to a certain extent. To me, that says the score is going to stay down and be close.

Pick: Brewers/Dodgers under 8.5 runs (-115 on BetMGM) 

**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.