MLB Bets Today: Same-Game Parlays and Props for Friday, August 15
2025 Betting Record: 30-31-2 (-2.17 units)
2025 Player Props Betting Record: 17-14 (+0.90 units)
We have plenty to choose from on Friday's typically robust evening slate, and I'm looking at a matchup in each circuit where there should be offense aplenty.
Baltimore Orioles at Houston Astros Best Bets
The pitching matchup for this series opener between two teams going in opposite directions looks like a pretty sizable mismatch on paper, as Brandon Young (0-6, 6.70 ERA) goes up against Framber Valdez (11-5, 2.97 ERA). Houston is unsurprisingly carrying a moneyline price north of -200, but the run line of -1.5 doesn't carry anywhere near as much juice and the projected total is curiously just 7.5 runs.
Nevertheless, the Astros are still carrying a 4.7-run projected total as of midday Friday, and given Young's struggles overall and Jeremy Pena's outstanding offensive profile, it's worth banking on him coming across the plate at least once. Young also has a 1.74 WHIP, and although he's actually been better on the road than at Camden Yards, he's still allowed a .275 average and .347 wOBA when traveling.
Pena is the quintessential leadoff hitter, checking off every statistical category and making contact at an outstanding 82.3 percent rate. The 27-year-old has been at his absolute best at home, where he boasts a .359 average and .959 OPS, including a .367 average, .972 OPS, .418 wOBA and 13.8 wRAA against right-handed pitching. He's also averaging 2.3 hits + runs + RBI per game, making an SGP that banks on a Houston win and that prop for Pena at plus money an attractive one.
Then, while Valdez has been excellent at home, he's had his fair share of trouble against current Orioles hitters in the past, allowing them a collective .380 average and 1.004 OPS in 52 career plate appearances, a sample that includes five extra-base hits. He's also recorded 18 outs or fewer in six of his last seven starts, including three straight. With it getting late in the season and Houston headed to yet another postseason, the likelihood of another six-inning-or-fewer outing is certainly the cards.
MLB Picks for Orioles vs Astros
- SGP: Astros moneyline and Jeremy Pena Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (+100 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Framber Valdez Under 18.5 Outs Recorded (-154 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies Best Bets
Thursday night's series opener between these two NL West rivals didn't live up to its massive 12.5-run projected total, but Arizona bats particularly looked ready to roll in the friendly confines of Coors Field. Virtually any starter the Rockies have rolled out this season has proven ineffective more often than not, especially in Colorado's home park.
With young Tanner Gordon on the bump Friday, there's no tangible reason to expect any different. Gordon holds a 2-5 record, 8.37 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 1.4 HR/9 overall. He's actually experienced more trouble on the road than at Coors, but he's allowing a .362 average and .962 OPS with runners in scoring position overall. Additionally, he'll enter Friday's start very likely lacking for confidence, considering he's generated a 20.03 ERA and 3.19 WHIP across the 10.1 innings he's logged in his last three starts.
To make matters worse, his most recent time on the mound saw these same Diamondbacks torment him to the tune of 10 earned runs over 4.2 innings. Following that performance, current Arizona hitters boast a collective .467 average and 1.100 OPS against him in 32 total plate appearances.
Gordon has especially had trouble with righty bats at Coors, a split in which he's allowed a .444 average, 1.201 OPS and .507 wOBA over a 49-batter sample. Eight of the 20 hits Gordon has allowed in that sample have gone for extra bases, with right-handed hitters owning a 31.6 percent line-drive rate and 44.7 percent hard-contact rate against him at Coors as well.
That puts Lourdes Gurriel, who's already gotten two hits off Gordon in three career encounters and has 32 extra-base hits (out of 72 total) against right-handed pitching this season, into play as part of an SGP that also banks on the D-Backs getting to at least five runs for the fourth time in five games at Coors this season.
Additionally, the Rockies' Brenton Doyle has a .313 average and .873 OPS at Coors this season and boasts a .500 average and 1.167 OPS against D-Backs starter Brandon Pfaadt in 12 career plate appearances. Pfaadt is fortunate to not have a considerably worse record than his 12-7 mark, considering his .304 xBA, .540 xSLG, .380 xwOBA and 5.95 xERA. Considering he's vulnerable as well, another SGP that banks on at least five total runs in the first five frames and Doyle rapping out at least one hit is also under consideration.
MLB Picks for Diamondbacks vs Rockies
- Diamondbacks Over Alt. Total 4.5 runs and Lourdes Gurriel 2+ Total Bases (-135 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Over Alt. Total 4.5 runs- F5 and Brenton Doyle To Record a Hit (-116 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
MLB Best Bets Today Recap
- SGP: Astros moneyline and Jeremy Pena Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (+100 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Framber Valdez Under 18.5 Outs Recorded (-154 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Diamondbacks Over Alt. Total 4.5 runs and Lourdes Gurriel 2+ Total Bases (-135 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Diamondbacks-Rockies Over Alt. Total 4.5 runs- F5 and Brenton Doyle To Record a Hit (-116 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
