[Sports]

Thursday’s schedule tends to be a little lighter than other weekdays, which is understandable since teams are gearing up for the weekend. So, for today, we have a nine-game schedule to work for our MLB Best Bets list.

After reviewing each one, the following are my best MLB bets for today.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Athletics

UNDER 10.5 at -113 (DraftKings)

The A’s lineup has been going off in recent games, and the Angels have been hitting the ball pretty well, too (.295 over the last week). But the A’s lineup has calmed down since leaving Vegas, and the Angels have scored three runs or less in three of their last five games.

So, I’m not so sure either lineup will go off today. Since both starting pitchers have been throwing well (Jose Soriano—2.79 ERA, 1,23 WHIP; Gage Jump—3.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP), I’d be surprised if this was a high-scoring game.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals

Total Runs—First Five Innings: Over 5.5 at +140 (DraftKings)

The Cardinals have pulled Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.71 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) in five innings or less in five of his last six games after he’s allowed 3+ runs in five of them. Kansas City is more likely to give Noah Cameron (3-4, 4.11 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) some rope, but he gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last start.

Kansas City has been hitting .303 over the last week. I can see them getting on top of Liberatore early and chasing him inside five innings after scoring 4+ runs. The Cardinals aren’t hitting as well (.269), but Cameron has allowed at least one run in six of his last seven starts with 2+ runs in four.

St. Louis will contribute enough to send the score after five innings over the total.

New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Mets ML at +100 (DraftKings)

Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.86 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) allowed 2-6 runs in each of his last six starts and was pulled before the fifth inning in four of them. The Mets are going with a bullpen day, starting with bulk reliever Sean Manea (1-2, 4.78 ERA, 1.36 WHIP), who has not given up more than two earned runs in his last six appearances.

Both bullpens have been pitching well this season, so I don’t see much scoring once the starters get pulled. However, while both lineups have generated 28 runs over the last week, the Mets have done a better job of making contact. I can see them getting ahead of NOLA early and maintaining that lead once the starters are pulled.

At +100, this is a solid value play.