Tracking MLB betting action for Thursday, August 12th

We have a 14-game slate in the majors Thursday, beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET. There are a lot good matchups happening across the league that will feature a ton of betting implications.

We did not have a great day Wednesday as we went an unprecedented 0-2 in our best bets. Our first defeat happened in the afternoon with the Chicago White Sox -1.5 (-115) losing 1-0 to the Minnesota Twins. For some reason the sports books had Lance Lynn starting, but it was actually Reynaldo Lopez (opener). The White Sox’s bullpen did their job by holding the Twins’ offense at bay for the most part. However, the Sox’s offense went silent as they had 6 hits and were 0-4 with RISP.

Finally, our second tough loss was San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kevin Gausman over 6.5 strikeouts (-115). Gausman did not have his best stuff on the mound last night versus the Diamondbacks. The 30-year-old starting pitcher gave up 4 hits, 1 earned run, 4 walks, but only produced 5 strikeouts in 5.0 IP.

Here we’re going to be tracking all the best MLB picks base on the odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s baseball action.

MLB picks for Thursday, August 12th

Athletics -1.5 (-115) vs. Cleveland

As much as I want to play Chris Bassitt’s strikeout prop — which is currently listed at O/U 5.5 at -140 odds — I feel like the better play is the Athletics’ run like as they go for the sweep this afternoon. Oakland has won six consecutive games by an average of 3.3 runs per game. In their last 10 games, the A’s are outscoring their opponents by 19 runs.

Oakland will have their ace on the mound in Bassitt, who has been perfect on the road with a 7-0 record and 3.74 ERA. In those seven road wins, the A’s offense is averaging 5.1 runs per game. Oakland should not have any problems with Cleveland starter Eli Morgan, who is 1-3 with an ERA of 6.94 in five home starts. This will be Morgan’s second time facing the A’s in the span of a month. In his first start, the 25-year-old allowed 7 hits, 3 earned runs (1 HR), 1 walk, but had 6 strikeouts in 5.0 IP. The Indians went on to lose that game 5-4.

Tanner Houck over 6.5 strikeouts (+110) vs. Tampa Bay

Anytime I see a plus-money strikeout prop on the board, I am liable to play it. After falling flat on our faces with Kevin Gausman and Sean Manaea’s K props this week, I think this is a good play today. Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck is 0-2, but has an ERA of 2.45 through 7 games (5 starts). In his short time with the BoSox, Houck has amassed 36 strikeouts in only 25.2 IP.

The 25-year-old has gone over 6.5 strikeouts in 4 out of 6 appearances this season, which includes 2 out of his last 3 appearances. Both of the times he went over 6.5 strikeouts came coincidentally at home against the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. Even though he hasn’t thrown a ton of innings this season, Houck should have no problem with a Tampa Bay offense that ranks dead last in strikeouts per game with 10.02.

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