The Houston Astros attempt to take a step closer to first place in the AL West when they host the division-leading Texas Rangers in the opener of their three-game series on Monday (8:10 p.m. ET) at Minute Maid Park. Houston (56-44) edged Oakland 3-2 on Sunday to remain three games behind Texas (59-41), which is coming off an 8-4 triumph over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros are 4-3 in the season series but lost two of three to the Rangers at home in April. On Monday, Houston's Brandon Bielak (5-5, 3.46 ERA) takes the mound opposite Texas' Jon Gray (6-5, 3.31).
The Rangers are listed as -115 favorites (risk $115 to win $100) in the latest MLB odds from Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under for total runs scored is 9, and the game is one of nine on the MLB schedule for Monday evening. Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Brewers (-115) look to maintain their lead in the NL Central when they host the second-place Cincinnati Reds, who are one-half game back, and the Dodgers (-120) take on the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Before you lock in your MLB picks or parlays for Monday's games, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It entered Week 18 of the 2023 MLB season 48-36 (+192) on all top-rated MLB picks this season and has excelled on top-rated run-line picks, going 11-2 (+604). Anybody following has seen big returns.
For Monday, the model has locked in three confident MLB best bets for games that begin at 7:10 p.m. ET or later. If you successfully parlay the picks, you'd be looking at a payout of almost 8-1. You can only see the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.
Top MLB picks today
After simulating every game on Monday 10,000 times, the model is picking the Dodgers (-120) to defeat the Blue Jays. Los Angeles has won nine of its last 10 meetings with Toronto dating back to 2007, including a three-game sweep when the teams last squared off in 2019. The Dodgers own the second-best home record in the major leagues at 29-16 and have won seven of their last nine at Dodger Stadium.
Freddie Freeman is third in MLB with a .331 batting average and has recorded multi-hit performances in five of his last six contests, going 14-for-24 with three home runs and seven RBI in that span. The 33-year-old is 1-for-3 lifetime against Toronto starter Jose Berrios, but that hit was a homer, and several other Dodgers have performed well at the plate against the RHP. Mookie Betts, who is second in the NL with 27 blasts, is hitting .438 with two homers and four RBI versus Berrios, while J.D. Martinez has recorded nine hits off the 29-year-old in 26 at-bats and driven in five runs. See the model's top MLB picks here.
How to make Monday MLB parlays
The model has locked in two other best bets for Monday. You can see the model's MLB best bets and parlay only at SportsLine.
What MLB picks should you target for a payout of almost 8-1? Visit SportsLine now to see the MLB best bets from an advanced model that is on an 11-2 roll on top-rated run-line picks, and find out.
