MLB 3-Game Parlay: Top Picks, Odds & Predictions for Friday, August 8

There is no stopping us now. The MLB season is headed for the stretch run, meaning there are betting opportunities every day between now and October. We’ve got you covered for today’s action, highlighting our top three picks in our Friday parlay!

Where to Watch Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees

• Ballpark: Yankee Stadium
• Location: Bronx, NY
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+
• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
• Spread: HOU -1.5 | Total: 7.5
• Moneyline: HOU -108 | NYY -108

Note: All odds are subject to change after article publication. Get the most up-to-date odds here.

The New York Yankees are at risk of falling completely out of the playoff picture, and the Houston Astros could deliver the latest blow. New York has been in a tailspin, recording just one win over its past six and an 8-13 record since the middle of July. We’re not expecting them to buck that trend in tonight’s series opener. 

When New York’s bats are working, its pitching falls apart. And when the pitchers start to figure things out, their bats go silent. Unfortunately, neither will thrive on Friday night. 

Hunter Brown takes to the mound for the visiting Astros, looking to build upon his wildly successful campaign. He ranks in the 87th percentile in several noteworthy categories, including hard-hit rate, strikeout percentage, and expected ERA. Cam Schlittler finds himself on the opposite end of the analytics spectrum. The young flamethrower gives up a 10.7% barrel rate and 41.1% hard-hit percentage, dropping him to the bottom of the league with a 5.01 expected ERA.

Schlittler’s stuff doesn’t play well at Yankee Stadium, and Brown has been a menace all season long. We’re betting the Astros run away with this one. 

Best Bet: Astros -1.5 +168

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Where to Watch Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Where to Watch: SNET, SportsNet LA
• Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
• Spread: LAD -1.5 | Total: 9
• Moneyline: LAD -142 | TOR +120

It was a historic week for the Toronto Blue Jays as they set an MLB record for hits in a series. They show no signs of slowing down in tonight’s interleague clash with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Simply, the Blue Jays are raking. Over the past week, the AL East leaders have a collective 1.028 OPS, swatting 15 long balls and driving in 56 runs across six games. While those numbers are unsustainable, they should persist against Clayton Kershaw. 

The Jays are one of the best teams in the MLB at getting to lefties. They rank sixth in OPS, with the best on-base percentage and eighth-highest slugging percentage. Predictably, that correlates with a surge in scoring, with Toronto recording the ninth-most RBI. 

The Jays have been unstoppable. There’s nothing Clayton Kershaw and his deteriorating metrics can do to knock them off their stride. We see immense value in backing the Blue Jays in this spot.

Best Bet: Blue Jays +120

Where to Watch Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins

• Ballpark: Target Field
• Location: Minneapolis, MN
• Where to Watch: FDSKC, MNNT
• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
• Spread: MIN -1.5 | Total: 8.5
• Moneyline: MIN -134 | KC +114

The Minnesota Twins have turned a corner with their most recent efforts. Winners of three of their previous four, the Twinkies head into their weekend set versus the Kansas City Royals with a full head of steam. We’re betting that momentum carries them to victory in the series opener. 

Twins pitchers have been at their best, and that position looks even more promising with Joe Ryan toeing the rubber. The young righty is one of the most deceptive pitchers in the league, producing a 26.9% whiff rate for a 28.3% strikeout percentage. Moreover, he allows just 0.93 walks and hits per inning pitched, putting him on a sustainable path moving forward. 

The opposite is true for Seth Lugo. The Royals’ probable starter is nearly two full runs below his expected ERA of 4.91, pointing to inevitable regression. That decline should start versus a Twins team that is slugging .488 over the past week, with the fifth-best OPS in the bigs. 

Minnesota’s chances of winning are far greater than the betting line implies. We’re loading up on the Twinkies, expecting them to continue their successful run in this intra-divisional clash.

Best Bet: Twins -134

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MLB Best Bets Friday’s Top Parlay Picks: +898 Odds

• Astros -1.5 +160
• Blue Jays +120
• Twins -134

Parlaying all three picks could yield bettors a healthy +898 return on their investment. We’re making a stand on the Astros -1.5, Blue Jays, and Twins.