MLB Bets Today: Best MLB Bets and Props for Wednesday, August 20
2025 Betting Record: 32-35-2 (-4.49 units)
2025 Player Props Betting Record: 17-15 (-0.10 units)
I'm looking at both an NL and interleague matchup on the evening portion of Wednesday's slate for a quartet of eye-catching betting opportunities.
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St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins Best Bets
Two struggling right-handers in Andre Pallante and Sandy Alcantara face off to start this game. The contest carries a projected total of between 8.5 and 9.0 runs at most sportsbooks as of midday Wednesday.
Pallante's recent body of work has been worrisome to say the least. He's pitched to a 7.60 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 1.3 HR/9 over his last seven starts, a 34.1-inning sample where he's generated an abysmal 1-6 record. Pallante has given up between four and seven runs in all but two of those outings. Although one of the exceptions was a seven-inning, one-hit blanking of the Marlins at Busch Stadium, he could be in for a much rougher landing on the road and with Miami now having had an opportunity to get a feel for what he brings to the table.
Pallante pitches to plenty of contact and is averaging just over three walks per nine innings, while the Marlins have a .271 average, .808 OPS, .347 wOBA and 10.6 wRAA against righties at home since the All-Star break. They've also drawn walks at a 9.7 percent clip over that timeframe while posting a respectable 20.2% K%.
Meanwhile, Alcantara just can't seem to find his previous form for very long before reverting back to being uncharacteristically hittable. The one-time Cy Young winner put together a gem of a six-inning, one-run effort last time out at Fenway, but that came on the heels of a pair of starts against Atlanta and the Astros where he surrendered 11 earned runs on 16 hits over 12 innings.
However, it's worth noting Alcantara has done a much better job of keeping the ball from clearing the fence at home (0.8 HR/9) than when traveling (1.4 HR/9). Four starts ago, he also shut the Cards out for five innings on three hits at Busch Stadium. Cardinals hitters haven't had too much luck against him in general, posting a collective .222 average and .333 slugging percentage in 42 career encounters.
St. Louis has a lowly .236/.295/.335 slash line, .280 wOBA and -12.0 wRAA against righties on the road since the All-Star break, and Alcantara has proven capable of producing the occasional quality start amid all his struggles this season. Therefore, I'm looking at a bet that backs the Marlins ahead at the end of five, as well as a pre-built SGP that backs Alcantara hitting a very manageable strikeout threshold and the favored Marlins emerging with an outright victory.
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MLB Picks for Cardinals vs Marlins
- Marlins moneyline- F5 (-138 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- SGP: Sandy Alcantara 4+ Strikeouts/Miami Marlins To Win (+125 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Cincinnati Reds at Los Angels Angels Best Bets
This interleague clash carries a total of 9 runs despite a pair of quality veterans in Nick Martinez and Yusei Kikuchi constituting the pitching matchup.
The host Angels are favored despite the disparity in the teams' records. Kikuchi's presence on the mound certainly plays a part. The veteran left-hander is offsetting his 6-8 record with a 3.52 ERA, and he owns a 5-2 record, 2.40 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 75 home innings.
Kikuchi also draws a particularly favorable matchup in this Wednesday night affair, considering the Reds check in with a 25.6% K%, .162 average, .208 wOBA and MLB-worst -11.1 wRAA against left-handers on the road since the All-Star break. Additionally, current Reds hitters have just a collective .224/.283/.489 slash line against Kikuchi in 53 career PAs.
Despite a rough outing against the Brewers last time out, Martinez is having a solid season overall that includes a 10-9 mark. He's been prone to the occasional blow-up, but he's allowed a respectable four runs or less in all but four of his 27 trips to the mound. He's also performed well in his limited exposure to current Angels bats, holding them to a collective .226 average in 35 career encounters.
Given the Angels have an MLB-high 28.6 percent strikeout rate and middling .225/.304/.361 slash line with a .295 wOBA against righties at home since the ASB, I'll roll with a relatively quiet first five innings and a reachable strikeout prop for Martinez, who's actually recorded at least 5 Ks in three of his last five starts.
MLB Picks for Reds vs Angels
- Under 6.5 runs- F5 and Nick Martinez Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+160 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Nick Martinez Over 4.5 strikeouts (+108 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
MLB Best Bets Today Recap
- Marlins moneyline- F5 (-138 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- SGP: Sandy Alcantara 4+ Strikeouts/Miami Marlins To Win (+125 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Reds-Angels Under 6.5 runs- F5 and Nick Martinez Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+160 on BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
- Nick Martinez Over 4.5 strikeouts (+108 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 Unit
