Yes, the NFL has started, but that doesn't mean baseball is going away. There are still 15 games — and plenty of betting opportunities — on the schedule today.
Our MLB betting systems and experts have looked over the board and found some of the best value, including in today's Nationals vs. Cubs matinee. So, continue reading as today's MLB best bets are below.
MLB Best Bets Today
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 2:20 p.m. | |
  | 6:40 p.m. | |
  | 9:40 p.m. | |
| 9:40 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Sean Paul's Nationals vs Cubs Best Bet
By Sean Paul
The wind is on our side.
With it being a day game, the wind appears to be gusting out to right field, which could lead to some pull-side homers for the long list of left-handed batters on both sides.
Of course, I'd prefer the Nationals to rank better than last in home runs over their past 18 games. However, I don't have faith in either pitcher, and the Cubs' offense is on the verge of breaking out.
That makes me feel good about this going over the lofty 10.5 run total. The Cubs should be able to expose Jake Irvin's homer woes, particularly if the wind is in a favorable spot for left-handed hitters.
I foresee a classic Wrigley day game slugfest with many wind-aided homers.
Pick: Over 10.5 (-105)
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Bet Labs' Brewers vs Pirates Best Bet
By Bet Labs
The "Steam Unders with Low O/U Support" betting system is built on the premise that sharp money moving totals downward, paired with weak public support on the under, creates an exploitable edge in the betting market.
The strategy focuses on regular-season games from 2019 to 2025 where the closing total lands between 8 and 10 — sweet spots for scoring volatility. It isolates games where the over/under line has dropped significantly from open to close, signaling smart money on the under, yet public sentiment heavily favors the over, with only a small share of bets backing the under. This mismatch between money and ticket count indicates potential value, especially when the difference between those two figures is meaningful, but not extreme. To reduce noise, the system excludes games played in extreme heat or cold, only including those where temperatures range from mild to warm. It also requires both teams to have a recent record of games that hover around the total, suggesting no extreme streaks skewing expectations. These filters ensure that neither team is riding unsustainable over or under trends.
Ultimately, this system looks for low-confidence unders that have been steamed down by sharp bettors, where public interest is light and the number still sits within a realistic scoring range. The result is a consistent edge, backed by a high sample size and strong return on investment. Overall, this system has produced a 14% ROI as it has cashed 59% of its picks (561-389-47). This season, the ROI has remained strong (12%) as the system has gone 143-101-9 (59%).
Pick: Under 8.5 (-108)
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PRO Projection's Red Sox vs Diamondbacks Best Bet
PRO Projections are showing value in targeting Payton Tolle's strikeouts prop tonight. Tolle's over/under for strikeouts is set at 4.5 at most books, but PRO is projecting his for just 3.88 strikeouts tonight, which gives bettors a 19.4% edge when targeting the under.
Pick: Payton Tolle Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+118)
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Bet Labs' Red Sox vs Diamondbacks Best Bet
By Bet Labs
The "Road Flip Bet" system targets regular-season MLB matchups where a team shifts from playing at home to playing on the road in a non-division game and becomes a slight road favorite.
It looks for teams that were at home in their last game, but now travel while still holding market respect, indicated by a short favorite price between -140 and -120. By focusing on non-division matchups, the system removes familiarity edges and isolates travel spots where the market's confidence in the team's quality outweighs any concerns about the venue change
These situations often highlight teams in rhythm, carrying momentum from a homestand into a new series, while catching the opponent off guard without the added tension of a division rivalry. By backing these mild road favorites during the regular season, the system leverages travel transitions where team quality and market pricing align, capitalizing on the confidence that the team can handle the shift in environment without a drop in performance.
Overall, this system has produced a 12% ROI with a 95-56 (63%) record. This season, the system has cashed 59% of its picks (13-9) and has produced a 5% ROI.
Pick: Red Sox Moneyline (-130)
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