This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
MLB Picks Today: Expert MLB Bets for Friday, August 12
RotoWire.com's Michael Rathburn has dug into the best online sportsbooks across the country to identify his MLB bets and MLB player props to target today.
Last Article's Record: 2-2 -0.50 units
Season Record:145-129-3 +29.75 units
Sign up at WynnBet using RotoWire's WynnBet Promo Code for special offerings and bonuses.
Pittsburgh Pirates 
at San Francisco Giants 
Whenever I see a game in San Francisco, I look at the opponent and if their offense is bad it is a strong UNDER look. We have that here with the Carlos Rodon vs. Bryse Wilson and Rodon as a -265 favorite with a 7.5 total. Normally, I would expect a 6.5 or 7.0 total with a matchup like this (The line has moved to 7 in some spot).
Rodon pitched against the Pirates on the road on June 17th and went 8 scoreless innings (his 3rd best start of the season). His home/road splits are strong with a 1.76 ERA at home vs. 3.72 on the road. With both teams playing awful baseball at this point in the season, I will lean on the best pitcher vs. a bottom 5 offense in the extreme pitchers' park.
MLB Best Bets for Pirates at Giants
- Pirates/Giants UNDER 7.5 for 1.20 RW buck (DraftKings -120)
Rodon is still in the race for the NL Cy Young with the fourth-best odds at the DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out RotoWire's NL Cy Young odds page for more
Sign up at the DraftKings Sportsbook using RotoWire's DraftKings Promo Code for a deposit bonus.
New York Yankees 
at Boston Red Sox 
This total actually opened 10 and was bet down to 9 which is a significant move. Most of the time, bettors will follow the steam, but I am going against it here. Both starting pitchers are not great with Domingo German vs. Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi has a near 5.00 ERA in his last 7 starts. The total runs scored in the season series has gone over 10 in 7 out of 10 games.
I am going to just look at the Yankees side in this game, as I am more confident in the consistency of their lineup against the dreadful Red Sox pitching which has been bottom five in most categories over the last 2 months.
MLB Best Bets for Yankees at Red Sox
- Yankees OVER 4.5 runs for 1.14 RW buck (DraftKings -120)
- Yankees OVER 2.5 runs F5 for 1.10 RW buck (DraftKings -110)
The Yankees' recent slide has moved them to second behind the Astros in the AL Championship odds as the Bronx Bombers check in at +180 at the DraftKings Sportsbook while Houston checks in at +170.
Los Angeles Dodgers 
at Kansas City Royals 
The Dodgers are on a 32-5 run over their last 37 games. Yes 32-5 people; with a 5.97-3.06 average runs per game (almost a 3 run differential) and a 10 game winning streak.
That is just an insane run and while I did like the Braves in my World Series article, I am starting to wonder if the Dodgers are just that good. They still have to contend with the Braves, Mets, Cardinals, and Padres in the NL and anything can happen in a playoff series.
While it appears the Royals have been playing better baseball, they are beating up on the weak team and still getting destroyed by the better ones. (27-46 vs. >.500; 20-20 vs. <.500)
MLB Best Bets for Dodgers at Royals
- Dodgers -1.5 runs for 1.5 RW buck (DraftKings -150)
The Dodgers have now moved into the lead in the World Series odds with a +370 price at the DraftKings Sportsbook, edging out the Yankees at +425.
MLB Best Bets Today Recap
- Pirates/Giants UNDER 7.5 for 1.20 RW buck (DraftKings -120)
- Yankees OVER 4.5 runs for 1.14 RW buck (DraftKings -120)
- Yankees OVER 2.5 runs F5 for 1.10 RW buck (DraftKings -110)
- Dodgers -1.5 runs for 1.5 RW buck (DraftKings -150)
If you're not yet signed up at Caesar's Sportsbook in one of 13 eligible states, use RotoWire's Caesar's Sportsbook Promo Code for a risk-free bet.
Visit RotoWire all season long for exclusive sports betting picks from our group of handicappers with their expert MLB picks each day of the campaign. Remember that betting apps vary in terms of odds and available player props, so we have an easy-to-use odds page that allows you to shop for the best lines at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet.
Before you place your bets, be sure to use all of RotoWire's MLB resources, like our MLB Lineups page, MLB Weather page, and the best batter vs. pitcher stats.
