MLB Tips & Odds: The Panel's Picks And Best Bets For Monday, August 19

Today's MLB Picks:

• Panel Pick 1: New York Mets Over 2.5 Runs In First Five Innings @ +120 With Draftkings
• Panel Pick 2: Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 Runs @-115 With Caesars
• Panel Pick 3: Seattle Mariners & Los Angeles Dodgers No-Run First Inning @ -125 With BetMGM

The Panel, featuring seasoned analysts from Gambling.com, call upon their extensive expertise to deliver today's top MLB picks. 

By focusing on key matchups and the most exciting games, they provide comprehensive coverage and insightful analysis. 

The Panel's experts meticulously research team form, player statistics and historical data to identify the best betting opportunities while their in-depth knowledge of the sport, combined with advanced analytical tools, allows them to offer well-informed predictions. 

Keep reading for The Panel's MLB picks from sports betting sites ahead of today's action.

Baltimore Orioles vs New York Mets (O/U 8.5, ML -130 Mets)

The New York Mets are knee-deep in the National League Wildcard race, while, Baltimore grapples with the New York Yankees for American League East supremacy.     

The Mets have been inconsistent at home this year, with a home mark of 33-32. 

The Orioles are a good road team with a 36-24 record. However, the Mets are early favorites to win this match-up.

New York's bullpen can implode at any time and Baltimore has had its moments, too, over the past month. 

There is something to be said about the first five innings in this contest. Runs could be scored here. 

The Over has been set at 8.5. Baltimore acquired Trevor Rogers from Miami at the trade deadline and he has been 0-2 in three very shaky starts.

Rogers has endured a long season, going 2-11 between the two teams. He averages just over five innings a start with an ERA of 4.89 in 2024.

Warmer weather lends hope to the Mets scoring three or more runs in the first five innings tonight on a pitcher who has not been at his best.          

The Panel Pick 1: New York Mets Over 2.5 Runs First Five Innings Draftkings +120

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Miami Marlins (O/U 8, ML -210, Diamondbacks) 

Arizona are in a fight for a playoff spot and potentially the National League West crown. 

The Diamondbacks are currently four games out of first place and one behind the San Diego Padres for second place.

Playing the Miami Marlins should be an easy victory for Arizona, who will have Brandon Pfaadt as their starting pitcher. Pfaddt is 4-0 in his last four starts.

The young pitcher keeps improving, which is partly why Arizona are on pace to win more than 95 games this year.

His home run rate has been halved, his control is better and he is averaging six innings per start. 

Arizona are on a three-game losing streak and needs to stop the rot. Miami is 24-39 at home and 11 of their last 12 losses have been by two or more runs.

Our pick here is to take Arizona, laying 1.5 runs on baseball betting sites in this series opener. 

The Panel Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 Runs – Caesars -115

Seattle Mariners vs Los Angeles Dodgers (O/U 8.5, ML -140, Dodgers)

The Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series in Los Angeles on Monday. 

Bryan Woo takes the mound for the Mariners, while Gavin Stone starts for the Dodgers. 

Picking between the Mariners and Dodgers is more of a toss-up than expected. 

Woo has been very good for the Mariners this season, even though he has five wins in 14 starts.                                                      

Gavin Stone has been no slouch early in starts either. Again, runs are likely to come in this game but both teams are expected to play a little tight.

Los Angeles have struggled to score runs lately and only plated four in the last two games of the St. Louis series.

The Panel are very interested in the first inning. Both teams may have to wait a little while to score runs on Monday night. 

It may not appear to be the most attractive wager, but a no-run first inning is a respectable -125 on betting apps.

The Panel Pick 3: Seattle And Los Angeles No-Run First Inning - BetMGM -125