Wednesday’s MLB betting picks & value plays – August 24, 2022

George Kirby and the Mariners host the Nationals, Zac Gallen tries to continue his hot streak in Kansas City, and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan is visited by the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB) on August 24. Here are the best bets on MLB games scheduled for Wednesday, starting at 12:35pm ET.

Washington Nationals @ Seattle Mariners

Seattle is the biggest favorite of the day, playing at home against the Nationals to kick off a six-game homestand. George Kirby will have unfamiliarity on his side since none of the Nationals have seen him before. It’s an advantage he won’t likely need given his 3.47 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 90.2 innings pitched this season. Washington is the sixth-worst run-scoring offense in MLB, and Kirby will be backed up by one of the best bullpens in baseball. Mariners relievers have the second-best WHIP in the game (1.09).

Anibal Sanchez will start for Washington. He’s winless on the season (0-5) and has a 6.43 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Bet on Seattle in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and on the run line.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Kansas City Royals

Zac Gallen is on one of those streaks bettors ought to ride ’til the end. He’s completed seven or more innings in each of his last three starts, allowing a total of nine hits and three walks over 21.1 innings pitched. He hasn’t allowed a single run over that stretch. The Royals hit him hard the first time they saw him this season, collecting seven hits in 22 at-bats with three doubles and a dinger for a .318 batting average and .966 OPS, but that was way back in May. Gallen is considerably better now than he was then, as indicated by his 1.00 ERA, .167 opponent batting average, and 0.78 WHIP in August.

Kansas City will counter with Brady Singer, who is 6-4 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Singer has shown an ability to go deep in games this season, pitching seven or more innings five times in 17 starts. He also misses bats, collecting 114 strikeouts over 110 innings pitched. Singer could keep Kansas City in this game, but once he’s done for the day, the worst team WHIP amongst relievers takes over for the Royals.

Take Arizona on the moneyline. Parlaying the Diamondbacks with the Mariners on the moneyline pays +140 with Bovada.

Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays

All-Star Shane McClanahan has had a stellar season. He’s 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. The Rays beat the Angels in his one start against them, in which McClanahan completed seven shutout innings while striking out 11. In 35 at-bats, the Angels have just four hits with one extra-base hit against McClanahan. That’s a .114 batting average and .327 OPS against.

Mike Mayers is expected to start for Los Angeles, but don’t expect him to stay in the game long. The Rays have absolutely wholloped him, going seven-for-16 with three doubles and two dingers for a .438 batting average and 1.438 OPS. All five extra-base hits belong to five different Tampa Bay batters.

Take Tampa Bay in the first five innings and on the moneyline. A moneyline trifecta featuring Seattle, Arizona, and Tampa Bay pays +234.

Atlanta Braves @ Pittsburgh Pirates

Kyle Wright is scheduled to start for Atlanta, and his 15-5 record is tied for the best in baseball. The Braves have won nine of his last 10 starts, covering the 1.5-run spread in six of them. The Pirates are mostly unfamiliar with Wright, which is a problem they don’t need. Tucupita Marcano has found early success against Wright, however, going three-for-three with a double. You might want to place a player prop bet or two on him to have multiple hits and multiple total bases in this one. Wright is slightly worse during the day (3.92 ERA vs. 2.78 ERA in night games) and slightly worse on the road (3.27 ERA vs. 3.05 home ERA), but Pittsburgh has the third-worst run-scoring offense in MLB. Atlanta also has the fifth-ranked reliever ERA in MLB.

Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller has struggled at home (0-5 with a 4.80 ERA) and with the Braves. Atlanta batters are 13-for-30 with four extra-base hits for a .433 batting average and 1.100 OPS against Keller. Robbie Grossman is four-of-six, so consider betting on him to have multiple hits on Wednesday. Dansby Swanson is also three-for-five with two doubles, so consider placing a wager on him to have multiple total bases.

Take Atlanta in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and on the run line. Parlaying the Braves with the Rays, Diamondbacks, and Mariners on the moneyline pays +379.

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