Top MLB Betting Odds & Picks for Tuesday, June 21st (2022)

Jun 21, 2022 - 12:54 PM

It is early into another week, and we had another “almost” no-hit bid, as Gerrit Cole took a no-hitter into the eighth inning for the Yankees against the Rays. The difference in this game was that the Rays immediately tied the game after breaking up the no-hitter, so New York had to fight for a 4-2 win. In addition, the game barely stayed under the projected 6.5 run total despite being just a 2-0 game entering the eighth inning. That is another example of how bettors could take advantage of live betting if they thought the game would end closer to its original projection.

Here are our best bets for Tuesday’s MLB action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet >>

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Team Total O/U

The Yankees and Rays have met eight times this year, and Tampa Bay has scored 15 runs total. None of their last seven meetings have totaled more than seven runs, and it seems we are resigned to pitcher’s duels every time the two division rivals meet. The under has cashed in six of the last seven meetings and is 6-2 in the previous eight in Tampa Bay.

Now the Rays will have to deal with Nestor Cortes (6-2, 1.94), who has allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in 13.1 innings over two combined starts against them. Tampa Bay has lost eight of ten games and has averaged 2.0 runs per game in those losses. With the Yankees being projected to be big moneyline favorites tonight, we do not expect Tampa Bay’s offense to explode in a game they do not figure to win, and would play this all the way down to 2.5 runs.

Bet: Tampa Bay Rays Team Total UNDER (OFF at DraftKings)  

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Texas Rangers ML

The big storyline of this Phillies-Rangers series opener is former Rangers starter Kyle Gibson’s return to Texas after being dealt to the Phillies last year. Before joining the Rangers, Gibson (4-2, 4.04) was 2-1 with a 3.08 in seven starts against them. Texas seems to have the pitching edge with Martin Perez (4-2, 2.10) on the mound, as he has the fourth-best ERA in the American League and sixth-best in baseball. However, against the one opponent he faced recently who mashes lefties, the Chicago White Sox, Perez allowed a season-high seven runs, six of which were earned.

Philadelphia ranks fifth in the majors in wOBA (.342) against left-handed pitchers, and its 118 wRC+ is tied for fifth. In addition, the Phillies are 14-3 under interim manager Rob Thomson, and we expect their prowess against lefties to help them get to Perez while Gibson shuts down his former teammates.

Bet: Philadelphia Phillies ML (-105 at DraftKings) 

Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics O/U

The Athletics have averaged less than two runs per game over their last six games, despite facing the Royals’ and Red Sox’ pitching staffs that rank 28th and 8th in team ERA, respectively. Meanwhile, the Mariners have been shut out three times in the last six games and scored just three total runs in the four losses of their recent five-game series against the Angels.

Seattle’s Marco Gonzales (3-7, 3.41) has pitched much better than his 3-7 record, with seven quality starts in 13 outings. He faces an Oakland lineup that ranks 29th in the league with 217 runs scored this season. The A’s also have a .209 batting average with 48 home runs (27th in the league), so the soft-tossing lefty should have their number. Conversely, Seattle’s lineup ranks 25th in slugging and batting average, and we do not expect them to take advantage of James Kaprielian’s (0-4, 6.31) shortcomings.

Bet: Mariners-Athletics UNDER 8 Runs (-110 at DraftKings)

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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.

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