Welcome back to another round of MLB Best Bets Today as the 2025 baseball season rolls on. 

Thursday’s MLB slate is a smaller one with just 5 games on the baseball schedule. Even so, there are plenty of ways to go for our top MLB picks and predictions. Let’s focus on two games for our MLB best bets today before dishing out a few baseball player props and other picks to consider. 

Keep in mind, some of these odds or lines could move before first pitch. All bets below are for one unit unless otherwise noted. Without further ado, let’s dive into our MLB Best Bets Today.

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 7/24

Our MLB Best Bets Today start with an entertaining showdown between two of the MLB’s best teams. Can the Toronto Blue Jays stay hot against the Detroit Tigers? Plus, the St. Louis Cardinals host the San Diego Padres in a matchup of NL Wild Card contenders. As always, don’t miss some top MLB player prop bets and other baseball picks below. Check out these MLB predictions to make as you enjoy Thursday’s baseball action. 

 

 

 

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers Predictions: Thursday, July 24th

The Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers are two teams going in opposite directions right now. After winning again yesterday, the Jays are now 16-4 over their last 20 games and 5-1 since the All-Star break. On the flip side, the Tigers have lost 9 of their last 10 and just got swept by Pittsburgh. 

Based on the above trends alone, Toronto shows some value in tonight’s series opener against Detroit. The starting pitching matchup and recent offensive splits point to the road underdogs as well. 

Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer is pitching well right now. He’s allowed 2 runs or fewer in 6 of his last 7 starts with a 2.92 FIP in this stretch. The left-hander owns a 2.80 ERA overall this season, including a 2.62 ERA over his past 10 outings. 

Lauer is having the best season of his career. His 27.1% strikeout rate (82nd percentile), 6.7% walk rate (75th), and .216 xBA (84th) are all career-best marks. Plus, Toronto is 6-1 in its past 7 starts and 10-3 in its last 13 appearances. 

The Blue Jays’ southpaw will face a dangerous offense on the road here, but Detroit is actually struggling in the split lately. Against lefties in July, the Tigers have a .276 wOBA (25th in MLB), .191 batting average (28th), and 76 wRC+ (25th). They’re also averaging just 1.5 runs per game since the All-Star break. 

Meanwhile, Reese Olson starts for Detroit. The righty has an impressive 2.71 ERA over 12 starts this year. However, we have an opportunity to sell high and fade him tonight. Olson’s 3.66 xERA and 3.76 xFIP are notably higher than that ERA. He’s also benefited from a lofty 80.2% left-on-base rate while facing some underperforming offenses in recent starts. 

Toronto presents a tough matchup for Olson. The Blue Jays boast the MLB’s top offense against right-handed pitching during July with a .371 wOBA, 139 wRC+, .311 BA, and 15.5% – all of which lead the league this month. The Jays are also averaging 5.7 runs per game since the break and 5.7 runs over the last 20 games.

Back the visiting Jays to lead after five innings and on the full-game moneyline. They have the slight starting pitching edge and the hotter offense coming in. Toronto also has the reliever advantage with a 2.73 bullpen ERA in July, compared to a 5.79 ERA for Detroit’s pen this month.

 

 

 

San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals Predictions: Thursday, July 24th

The second half of the season has not been kind to the St. Louis Cardinals thus far. They’re 1-5 since the All-Star break and just got shut out by the Rockies yesterday. Still, tonight presents an opportunity to back the Cards at home as they host the scuffling San Diego Padres. 

St. Louis returns home after playing their last six games on the road. This is notable, since the Cardinals are 6-2 in their opening game of a homestand this season. Meanwhile, the Padres will begin their third straight road series following the AS break. They just lost back-to-back games at Miami and are now 7-12 in their last 19 road contests. 

Sonny Gray starts for the Cardinals, which immediately gives them an edge. The veteran righty owns a 2.84 ERA and 2.45 FIP at home this year. That includes a dominant 1.64 ERA over his past 7 home starts. 

Gray just got rocked for 9 runs on the road at Arizona last weekend. Before that rough outing, though, he posted 2.64 ERA and 1.42 FIP over his previous 10 starts. Look for the Cards’ right-hander to bounce back at home here. 

The Padres are struggling against right-handed pitching this month. In July vs. righties, they have a .279 wOBA (29th in MLB), .211 batting average (29th), and 81 wRC+ (28th). San Diego is also a below-average offense on the road against righties overall this year (.302 wOBA, 92 wRC+). 

On the other side, Yu Darvish toes the rubber for the Padres. He’s been shaky through three starts so far with a 6.08 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. The righty has just an 8:7 K:BB ratio across 13.1 innings while still clearly working his way back after a late start to the season. 

St. Louis is a tough home offense against right-handers. In the split this season, the Cards have a .339 wOBA (7th in MLB), 121 wRC+ (4th), .276 BA (1st), and 17.8% K rate (4th). They’re also a top-10 lineup in July when facing righties at home (.346 wOBA, 125 wRC+). 

Let’s take the Cardinals to win on the moneyline and lead after five innings. This team should be hungry to rebound after a couple of rough losses in Colorado this week. Meanwhile, the Padres are simply untrustworthy right now – especially with Darvish not in great form yet. 

 

 


 

Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 7/24