MLB Best Bets For Tuesday, June 14

Major League Baseball sees every team take the field on Tuesday, including two teams set for a doubleheader in St. Louis. MLB Odds are split evenly among home and road favorites for these 16 games. 

The Atlanta Braves pushed their winning streak to 12 games on Monday with a 9-5 win over the Washington Nationals. They’re favorites once again in D.C., but lost a key player, Ozzie Albies, to injury. The New York Yankees, who sport the best odds to win the American League, take the field with an MLB-best plus-127 run differential. No other team in AL has a run differential greater than 44. 

Eight of Tuesday’s 16 games stand as divisional matchups, resuming several rivalries. Today’s bets back offense and a road underdog. Here’s a look at three MLB Best Bets for Tuesday, June 14th. 

Houston Astros at Texas Rangers

MLB Best Bet: Over 9.5 Runs +130 (UniBet)

The Houston Astros (37-24) led the AL West by a comfortable 7.5-game margin, despite losing last night. Houston ranks fifth in the AL with a .725 OPS and sixth in MLB with 77 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game. Over their last 10 games, the Astros posted a 4-6 record, with a .278 batting average and 4.19 ERA, being outscored by three runs over that span. 

The Texas Rangers (29-31) took the first game of this series on Monday by a score of 5-3. Texas has won three games in a row and are 5-5 over their last 10. During that stretch, the Rangers hit .249, with a 4.30 team ERA. They were outscored by four runs in those contests. 

While these two clubs normally hit the Under, the pitching matchup here signals there might be some serious value with the Over. Houston expects Jose Urquidy (5-3, 5.04 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 43 strikeouts) to take the mound versus Rangers starter Dane Dunning (1-4, 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 64 strikeouts). 

Urquidy has a 7.20 ERA in his last three starts, losing two of those three decisions while allowing 14 runs (12 earned) in 15 innings during those contests. Dunning, meanwhile, is 0-1 against the Astros with a 5.40 ERA in three career meetings, two of them starts. He’s dropped three straight decisions overall and has not won since April 30.

What’s more, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez continues to mash the ball this month. The Astros designated hitter has gone 19-for-38 (.500) in June, including three home runs and 13 RBI. He has 17 homers on the season. Michael Brantley is 14-for-35 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI over the last 10 games for Houston. And Marcus Semien is 16-for-43 with four home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games for the Rangers.

The Over is 5-1-1 in Texas’ last seven games versus a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. The Over is 4-1-1 in the Rangers’ last six games as an underdog.

Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks

MLB Best Bet: Reds Moneyline +105 (BetRivers)

The Cincinnati Reds (22-39) have quietly turned their season around following a 3-22 start to the year. Since May 6th, the Reds have an 18-17 record, posting a top-5 run-scoring offense in MLB over that span. Cincinnati rallied to grab a 5-4 win in the first game of this series. 

Over their last 10 games, Cincinnati’s gone 4-6, with a .292 batting average and 4.92 team ERA. They outscored opponents by one run during that stretch, and Matt Reynolds went 10-for-34 with two home runs and six RBI over those last 10 games.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (29-34) actually have a worse record than Cincinnati since May 6. The Diamondbacks have gone 16-20 since that date and continue to flounder when anyone other than Zac Gallen is on the mound. 

The pitching matchup in this one pits Reds starter Tyler Mahle (2-5, 5.07 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 74 strikeouts) against Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies (2-3, 4.21 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 50 strikeouts). This is a rematch of last Thursday’s contest where both starters pitched well. Mahle registered a season-high 10 strikeouts, allowing just one run in six innings against the Diamondbacks in that one.

The Reds expect to get a boost on the injury front for Tuesday’s game. Jonathan India worked out with the team prior to Monday’s win and was later activated from the injured list. He hit .269 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs in 2021 while winning National League Rookie of the Year.

The Reds are 4-1 in their last five road games versus a team with a losing record, while Arizona is 2-6 in their last eight home games. The Diamondbacks are 1-6 in their last 7 games versus a right-handed starter.

Kansas City Royals at San Francisco Giants

MLB Best Bet: Giants Run Line -1.5/-115 (Caesars)

The Kansas City Royals (20-40) enter Tuesday’s contest having lost three games in a row and five straight on the road overall. The Royals currently hold the worst record in all of baseball and the worst winning percentage on the road. Their eight wins away from home are tied for the fewest in MLB so far this season. 

The Royals are 4-6 over their last 10 games with a .257 batting average and a 5.16 team ERA, being outscored by eight runs over that span. One of the few glimmers of hope is the recent play of Bobby Witt Jr. The rookie shortstop has adjusted after his initial struggles and is 12-for-36 with a double, a triple, a home run and four RBI over the past 10 games.

The San Francisco Giants (34-26) come to this contest 18-13 at home and have won four games in a row. Over their last 10, the Giants posted a 7-3 record, hitting .220, but posting an impressive 2.60 team ERA. They outscored opponents by 21 runs over that stretch. 

The pitching matchup in this contest favors San Francisco considerably. The Giants expect Logan Webb (5-2, 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 59 strikeouts) to get the start, while Kansas City turns to Kris Bubic (0-3, 9.13 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, 18 strikeouts). Webb has pitched to a 3.28 ERA at home this season. Bubic, meanwhile, has been one of the worst starters in baseball this season, giving up 30 hits and 16 walks in just 22 2/3 innings over eight appearances (seven starts).

The Royals have lost each of their last four interleague games versus right-handed starters, while San Francisco is 6-1 in its last seven games against a left-handed starter. Kansas City is 3-7 in its last 10 interleague games versus a team with a winning record. The Giants are 4-1 in their last five interleague home games, and 23-8 in their last 31 interleague games as a favorite.