2021 MLB odds, picks, best bets for August 13 from proven model: This four-way parlay pays almost 20-1

SportsLine's proven projection model has revealed its top MLB picks for Friday

By CBS Sports Staff

Aug 13, 2021 at 10:08 am ET • 2 min read

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler earned his first-ever All-Star nod last month in the midst of the best year of his seven-season career, and earlier this week he became the National League Cy Young Award betting favorite at Caesars Sportsbook. Wheeler takes the hill for the first time since on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. It's a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia in the series opener.

Every game the rest of the way is important to both these teams. Cincinnati isn't winning the NL Central Division but is in the wild-card chase, while Philadelphia is battling for the NL East crown and possibly a wild-card spot as a fallback. The Reds lead the season series 2-1 with each game very high scoring in the first half of the schedule. The MLB odds for Friday from Caesars Sportsbook list Philadelphia at -160 (risk $160 to win $100) on the money-line in the latest Reds vs. Phillies odds with Cincinnati at +150. Before making any MLB picks or predictions on those games or others, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

This model, which simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, is 150-122 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through 19 weeks in the 2021 season, returning almost $500. It also had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line MLB picks. Anyone following it has seen some huge returns.

Now, the model has crunched the numbers for the MLB schedule today and posted its best bets. Parlaying these four MLB picks today will pay nearly 20-1. Head to SportsLine now to see the model's MLB picks.

Top MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 13

The model likes the Philadelphia Phillies at -160 on the money line against the Cincinnati Reds. The Phillies' Wheeler is 10-6 with a 2.42 ERA (seventh among starters) and 181 strikeouts (first). Via FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement, he's tied for first on the season at 5.6 with Milwaukee's Corbin Burnes. Wheeler has been excellent at home with a 6-3 record and 2.02 ERA in 14 starts with three complete games. He hasn't faced the Reds this year but is 1-0 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against them. The Phillies are also 7-0 in their last seven games as favorites.

Cincinnati goes with Tyler Mahle. He's 9-3 with a 3.78 ERA and 148 strikeouts – the wins and strikeouts are career highs. Mahle doesn't like pitching at home (5.74 ERA) but does on the road (6-1, 2.06 ERA). This will be his third career start vs. the Phillies and first since 2019. He is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA against them.