MLB Bets Today: MLB Bets and Props for Wednesday, August 13
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2025 Betting Record: 29-30-2 (-1.88 units)
2025 Player Props Betting Record: 17-12 (+2.90 units)
A pair of evening interleague matchups are on my radar for Wednesday's all-day slate as I look to take advantage of elevated offensive expectations for both favorites.
Chicago Cubs at Toronto Blue Jays Best Bets
The second installment of this interleague clash of postseason contenders is particularly interesting from a betting perspective, as it pits a blistering hot rookie in Cade Horton against a grizzled veteran in Kevin Gausman in terms of the starting pitcher matchup.
Despite the fact Horton has tossed four consecutive shutouts – an eye-opening 22.2-inning sample where he's gone 3-0 and also generated an 0.75 WHIP – there is a projected total of 8.5 runs and Toronto is the favorite. That serves as the foundation for my game-based bet here, one that's partly based on the fact there are more potential dings in Horton's armor than his recent body of work would suggest.
The young righty also sports a 4.09 xFIP during his aforementioned four straight blankings, compared to a 3.02 FIP. Pairing that disparity with the fact he's also seen balls put in play against him during that stretch generate just a .227 average, and there's enough evidence there to declare he's been on the right side of luck a bit, especially when considering he's also averaged just under three walks per nine innings.
Horton also has allowed a .269 average and .778 OPS with runners in scoring position on the season, so if he works himself into a bit of trouble against a Blue Jays squad that owns a .297 average, .795 OPS and .348 wOBA at home against righties in the second half, the dam could burst to a degree. That's been borne out for Horton in the first inning in particular a few times already, as he's pitched to a 5.14 ERA, .309 BAA and .824 OPS in 14 opening frames while allowing 23 total bases in the sample.
The Blue Jays are also averaging the seventh-most runs per first five innings per home game (2.91), and while the Cubs are putting up the sixth most per road contest (2.66), Gausman has held opponents to .205 and .213 averages his first and second time through their order this season. He also checks in with a 2.54 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 and 0.9 HR/9 across the 49.2 innings covering his last eight starts despite having faced the Yankees twice, the Tigers on the road and the Rockies at Coors Field during that stretch.
Horton also has a 5.19 ERA and 1.34 WHIP on the road and has allowed a .297 average to left-handed hitters outside Wrigley, putting me in the camp of Addison Barger, who's hit safely in 58 of 96 games and has a .282 average and .911 OPS against righties at home, to get at least one single on the board.
MLB Picks for Cubs vs Blue Jays
- Blue Jays -0.5 - F5 (+100 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Addison Barger Over 0.5 singles (+120 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels Best Bets
Shohei Ohtani takes the hill against Kyle Hendricks and his old squad in this City of Angels clash, one that has the favored visitors projected for a healthy 5.4 runs as of midday Wednesday.
Ohtani is being built up as a pitcher very deliberately, and thus far, his progress has been linear in what's been a very smooth ride for him. The right-hander has yet to qualify for a decision since he's topped out at four innings, but he's been able to pitch to a 2.37 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 11.8 K/9 and 0.5 HR/9. He's also either matched or exceeded his innings pitched from the prior start on each occasion and has upped his pitch count in each trip to the mound.
This could certainly be the night Ohtani finally makes it to five innings, having hit four frames (54 pitches) last time out against the Cardinals. The Dodgers, including Ohtani himself in his capacity as a hitter, are likely to provide some run support as well, considering Los Angeles' current players' collective .338 average and .972 OPS across 91 plate appearances against Hendricks. That includes Ohtani's .600 average over five PAs, a sample that includes a double and a homer.
Hendricks has also surrendered a .264 average and .843 OPS with runners in scoring position, including respective figures of .293 and 1.014 in those categories when it's been RISP and two outs. Opponents have especially gotten the better of him the second time they seem him in games, a split where he's allowed 21 of the 44 hits against him to go for extra bases on his way to a .762 OPS surrendered.
With the Blue Crew sporting that aforementioned healthy projected run total, a Freddie Freeman hits + runs + RBI prop is also worth considering as a secondary bet. Freeman checks in running hot since the ASB, having put together a .333 average, .938 OPS and average of 2.5 hits + runs + RBI in that stretch. Freeman also has a career .400 average and 1.238 OPS against Hendricks in 21 career plate appearances, a sample where he's only struck out twice and walked six times.
MLB Picks for Dodgers vs Angels
- Dodgers -0.5- F5 (-140 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Freddie Freeman Over 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (+115 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
MLB Best Bets Today Recap
- Blue Jays -0.5 - F5 (+100 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Addison Barger Over 0.5 singles (+120 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Dodgers -0.5- F5 (-140 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Freddie Freeman Over 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (+115 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit