MLB · 2 weeks ago

MLB Best Bets Today: Friday’s Top 2 Betting Picks (August 22)

Gabriel Santiago

Host · Writer

MLB Best Bets Today: Friday’s Top 2 Betting Picks (August 22)

There is no stopping us now. The MLB season and summer are fully underway, meaning there are betting opportunities every day between now and October. We’ve got you covered for Friday’s baseball schedule!

Where to Watch Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Ballpark: Yankee Stadium
Location: New York, NY
Where to Watch: FOX
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Spread: NYY -1.5 (+115) | Total: 8.5 (-115/-105)
Moneyline: BOS +152 | NYY -180

Let’s head back to the Bronx for an adversarial series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. For Friday, the projected starters are LHP Max Fried and RHP Brayan Bello.

Fried has been incredibly efficient in 2025 behind a 3.28 FIP while forcing ground balls at a 50.4% clip. Across the way, Bello shows a 4.44 skill-interactive ERA to go with an 18% strikeout rate.

On Thursday, the Yanks and BoSox produced a back-and-forth affair that ended with the visiting Red Sox stealing the win. However, I believe New York has a strong chance to flip the script on Boston tonight.

The Yankees may have fallen into second place, but their +108 run differential is still tops in the American League. They also have the best OPS (.785) in baseball. New York has not fared well against the Sox in 2025, but Fried will give them their best shot. He saw Boston two months ago and held them to only two runs over seven innings.

New York has revved up the offense over the past five games, sporting a 1.023 team OPS. I think they will give Fried enough support on Friday to win by two or more runs.

Best Bet: Yankees -1.5 (+115)

Where to Watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres

Ballpark: Petco Park
Location: San Diego, CA
Where to Watch: SNLA, SDPA
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Spread: LAD -1.5 (+146) | Total: 8 (-108/-112)
Moneyline: LAD -120 | SD +102

Out west, the Los Angeles Dodgers will meet the San Diego Padres for the second series in as many weeks. On the hill, expect to see starters LHP Blake Snell and RHP Yu Darvish.

Los Angeles has certainly gotten the better of their divisional rivals from down south in 2025, boasting an 8-2 record throughout ten head-to-head contests. On Friday, the Friars will face the former-Padre Snell for the first time as a Dodger. Since returning from injury, Snell has allowed just three earned runs over three starts (16 IP).

Conversely, Darvish has been rocked for a 5.97 ERA. Additionally, he is walking 3.11 hitters per game, which would be Darvish’s worst mark in that category since 2018.

The Dodgers still showcase the Senior Circuit’s best lineup (as exemplified by their .773 team OPS). They’ll receive plenty of support in San Diego, as Pantone 294 will likely be in the vicinity—give me Los Angeles to take Game 1 in the Gaslamp Quarter.