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Preseason National League Central favorites will look to turn around their mid-season fortunes when the Chicago Cubs meet the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth and final game of their series on Thursday night. Both teams had visions of contending for the division crown but find themselves battling for third place, behind first-place Milwaukee and second-place Cincinnati. The Cubs already look like sellers after trading Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves with more deals possibly on the horizon. Following St. Louis' ninth-inning collapse on Tuesday in a 7-6 loss to Chicago, the Cardinals were 6-4 in their last 10 games, while the Cubs were 5-15 in their previous 20.

The latest MLB odds for Thursday from William Hill Sportsbook list the Cardinals at -130 (risk $130 to win $100) against the Cubs. Other MLB lines of note include the Atlanta Braves (-130) against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Minnesota Twins (-135) vs. the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers as money-line favorites (-172) versus the San Francisco Giants. Before making any MLB picks or predictions for Thursday night, 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 125-99 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through 16 weeks in the 2021 season, returning over $600. 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 huge returns.

Now, the model has crunched the numbers for the Thursday MLB schedule and posted its best bets. Successfully parlaying these four MLB picks today will pay over 22-1. Head to SportsLine now to see the picks. 

Top MLB picks for Thursday, July 22

The model likes the Philadelphia Phillies at +120 on the money line to defeat the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies have had a lot of recent success against the Braves, winning 10 of their last 16 meetings with them, including seven of nine at Philadelphia. 

Outfielder Bryce Harper is dealing with a foot injury, but the Phillies have several other big bats. Rhys Hoskins leads the way with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs. Andrew McCutchen has 17 home runs and 52 RBIs, while Jean Segura is batting .312. 

The Braves, meanwhile, lost their home run leader for the season in Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee). Atlanta has struggled to get to .500 all season and is just 5-6 since the All-Star break. Atlanta has been one of the worst bets in baseball this season, returning almost -$900 on the money line for $100 bettors. 

How to make MLB predictions, parlays for Thursday, July 22

The model has locked in three other Thursday MLB best bets, including must-see plays on two other underdogs. You can see its best bets only at SportsLine.

So which MLB picks should you make on Thursday for a shot at a return of over 22-1? And which underdogs do you need to be all over? Visit SportsLine now to see today's top MLB picks, all from the projection model that is off to a fast start in 2021, and find out.