Best MLB Bets Today – Free (Tuesday 9/19)

Welcome to the FTN’s free MLB Picks of the Day, featuring our favorite or best MLB bets. FTN will be posting a play or two from the MLB card — for free!

Today, MLBdream provides his picks. 

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Best MLB Bets and Picks Today

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays 

Angels +180 @ Rays -220 – Total 8 (Caesars)

With 11 games left to play, Tampa sits 2.5 games behind the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles, as they host the Angels for a three-game set at the Trop. The Angels are reeling without Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, having lost five straight as their front office and ownership gets dragged by media and fans.

Even without their own best hitter, Tampa bats have been great against southpaws. Their 123 wRC+ over the last 30 days against lefties ranks sixth best, their wOBA is a little worse but still sits in the top 10. Tampa’s ability to feature nine hitters batting from the right side of the dish poses a threat for lefties who struggle against right-handed hitters, and that’s exactly what we’ll see tonight when Patrick Sandoval toes the rubber for LAA.

Sandoval has struggled this season, posting his highest ERA and FIP since the shortened 2020 MLB season. The lefty’s 4.93 SIERA is the worst of his five-year career through 136.2 innings. The 26-year-old has posted a 5.82 ERA and 5.33 SIERA over his last eight starts, with a single-digit K-BB% at 7.1%. For the season, right-handed hitters have posted a 4.27 FIP against the southpaw but they’ve been raking since August 1st. Over those last eight starts, righties are hitting over 300 with an .867 OPS and .382 wOBA. That comes out to a 4.99 FIP and 5.41 xFIP – which bodes well for the Rays and their projected nine righties.

Things won’t get any better for the Angels when Sandoval departs, over the last 30 days their bullpen has the fourth-highest ERA at 5.64. Their 5.00 FIP isn’t much better, as it ranks fifth worst in the Show. 

The Rays should be able to put up some crooked numbers against Sandoval at the Trop. Be sure to check the FTN Prop Shop to ensure you’re betting the best number available.

Bet

Rays TT Over 4.5 (-110, Caesars)