There are three games on the MLB schedule for Thursday. But there are still a ton of avenues we can take in the MLB betting markets. Today, we focus our attention on an AL East matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees. That matchup will be the focus of our top pick on the diamond for the day. Here, we break down our MLB best bets for July 31, 2025.
MLB Best Bets for July 31, 2025
| Game | Best Bet |
|---|---|
| Rays vs Yankees | Rays ML (-108) |
Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees – 1:05 PM ET
Our MLB best bet on Thursday is for the Tampa Bay Rays to win on the road over the New York Yankees. The Rays have a decided advantage in starting pitching in this game, with Ryan Pepiot going against New York’s Marcus Stroman. After losing two in a row to the Yankees, I’ll back the Rays to win this game and even this four-game series at 2-2 before both teams move onto other opponents for the weekend.
Best Bet: Rays (-108) over Yankees
Game Notes
- Pepiot gives Tampa a huge starting pitching edge against Stroman of the Yankees.
- Aaron Judge is still out for New York, which should hurt them against a quality starting pitcher.
Today’s MLB Game Previews
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The MLB season is a marathon, not a sprint, with thousands of games played from Opening Day through the World Series. For baseball enthusiasts and savvy bettors, every game offers a chance to uncover value. Backed by years of experience and a passion for the sport, our experts provide in-depth analysis on everything from pitching matchups and batting trends to ballpark factors and weather conditions. Whether you’re a casual fan or a seasoned bettor, we aim to empower you with the knowledge and tools to make smarter MLB best bets.
As trusted voices in the sports betting community, we provide accuracy, transparency, and integrity in all our MLB predictions and picks. With the rapid growth of mobile betting and the evolving nature of the game, staying ahead requires expertise and a commitment to excellence. That’s why our recommendations are grounded in thorough research and a clear understanding of market dynamics, ensuring you have the edge needed to succeed this MLB season.
What Are Your Best MLB Bets For Today?
Our MLB best bets can be found above, as we provide free MLB picks today and every day throughout the MLB season. We do this from opening day of the regular season through the end of the MLB postseason. With so many games on the schedule throughout the year, our team of MLB experts narrow down the best bets each day of the MLB season so that all you have to do is come here and place your bets after reading our recommendations.
How Do You Decide On Your MLB Best Bets?
When it comes to determining our MLB best bets, our MLB handicappers look at each MLB game individually to determine which MLB games are worth wagering on. They compare their projections to the current MLB odds to decide where the most value is in the betting markets. Instead of relying on MLB consensus picks, our sports betting experts do their own work to determine the best approach for each contest.
The MLB best bets from our experts are more than just MLB computer picks. Each MLB bet that we recommend also factors in things like injuries, adjustments to batting orders, and other qualitative circumstances that could have an impact on the outcome of a game.
Best Sportsbooks For Baseball Betting
When it comes to the best sportsbooks for betting on our MLB picks, we recommend using the following sportsbooks. These sites have a wide availability of MLB betting lines in a number of different markets. There are also unique MLB sportsbook promos at each of these sites, to give bettors the best value when they tail our free picks on the diamond.
Types Of Free MLB Predictions
On this page, you will find multiple types of MLB best bets throughout the season, depending on where we spot value in the betting markets each day. Here, we will break down which types of MLB picks you will see here on a regular basis, and what each of those betting markets consists of.
Run Line Bets
One of the most common types of MLB picks you will see here is the run line bet. The runline in baseball betting is the equivalent to the point spread bet in sports like basketball and football. The key difference is that the runline amount is usually 1.5 runs for most games, where as point spread amounts will vary wildly in other sports.
For example, if the Atlanta Braves play against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Dodgers might be a 1.5-run favorite in that game. That would mean that the Dodgers would have 1.5 runs deducted from their final score, or the Braves would have 1.5 runs added to their score. The team with the higher score after that handicap is applied would win in this market.
Moneyline Bets
A moneyline pick in baseball requires bettors to correctly pick which of the two teams in a game will win the game outright. It does not matter how much the winning team wins the game by, or how many runs are scored. All that matters in this market is successfully picking the winner.
It is worth noting that the odds for this market are set up differently than they are in runline or over/under bets. The odds for favorites require them to risk more money than a bettor would need to risk when betting on the underdog. Because of that, the best MLB picks are often underdogs in a sport like baseball where either team could win any time teams take the field to play.
Over/Under Bets
Finally, our MLB best bets are often over/under bets. Also known as totals bets, these wagers require bettors to predict how many runs will be scored in each game. MLB Sportsbooks will set a run total for each matchup, and bettors can wager on whether they think the game will see a run total over or under that amount. Factors like starting pitchers and weather conditions can have huge impacts on the outcomes of these wagers.
MLB Betting Strategy Tips
When placing wagers on our best bets in baseball, there are several strategic items to consider each day. Continue reading for more insight into how we arrive at each best bet during baseball season.
Pitcher vs. Hitter Matchups
How a team matches up against an opposing pitcher is the first thing that we look at when evaluating baseball games. We look at the stats that each player in a lineup has against the opposing pitcher, along with what kind of lineup adjustments a manager makes depending on whether a pitcher is right or left-handed.
Don’t Forget the Bullpens
Along with looking at how a lineup performs against a starting pitcher, the effectiveness of a bullpen can be the difference between wins and losses. Both set-up men and closers can have massive impacts on a game, even if they are only out there for an inning or two.
It is also important to remember that bullpens can play more of a role early in the regular season, when starting pitchers are building their stamina back, and during the postseason. In the playoffs, from the Division Series to the World Series, starting pitchers are put on a shorter leash. That means more bullpen innings, which could change each game.
Find the Best Odds
Since our MLB picks today and every day are not strictly computer picks or MLB consensus picks, there is often the chance to find value when betting on them at different sportsbooks. It is vital to shop around for the best odds on each bet we recommend. By getting the best price for each game, bettors will increase their odds of turning a profit. Be sure to use multiple sportsbooks to compare odds to get the best price on as many games as possible.
Other MLB Best Bets
In addition to the MLB wagers that you see here for each day, our ATS MLB handicappers are here to give you best bets for even more betting markets throughout the year. Just click the links below to get our picks for prop bets, parlays, and futures on the diamond.
