A select five-game slate is on tap for Thursday across Major League Baseball. The action gets going this afternoon with the first of a two-game doubleheader between the rival Phillies and Braves. Another matchup to watch takes place later tonight, when the surging Rays visit Houston to face the Astros.
Before the start of today’s contests, here are two MLB bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Rays ML (-105)
Don’t look now, but the Rays have won seven of their last eight games. With a record of 28-27, the team is now second in the American League East. During this recent hot stretch, Tampa Bay managed to take two of three from the Astros. These clubs will meet once again on Thursday, kicking off a four-game series this weekend. Tonight, Houston will send rookie Ryan Gusto to the mound. It’s been a mediocre start for the 26-year-old, owner of a 4.58 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 38 strikeouts over 35.1 innings. This matchup shouldn’t be too difficult for the visitors, who own the sport’s eighth-highest batting average vs. right-handed pitchers (.256).
For the Rays, Shane Baz will get the nod on Thursday. The fourth-year pro has gotten off to a rocky start, recording a 4.94 ERA through 54.2 innings of work. However, the righty allowed just one run over 5.2 frames during his last time out on Saturday vs. Toronto. In addition, he’s delivered a respectable 3.65 ERA during two career starts against the Astros. Given the 25-year-old’s pedigree, it’s likely just a matter of time until he gets back on track. Both clubs enter tonight’s contest with plenty of momentum. Still, given the names taking the hill, I’d feel far more comfortable backing Tampa Bay.
Nationals ML (+102)
Thursday’s nightcap is an inter-league rubber match between the Nationals and Mariners. The two sides have traded blowout wins in this series, giving added importance to tonight’s showdown. Washington will hand the ball to their ace, MacKenzie Gore. The southpaw possesses elite strikeout stuff, having whiffed 93 batters over 62.1 innings this season. Right now, Gore’s K/9 rate of 13.4 leads all of baseball. That should play well at Safeco Field, where Seattle has posted the fifth-most strikeouts per game at home this season (8.47).
The Mariners will counter Gore with a high-upside arm of their own, Emerson Hancock. With that being said, the 26-year-old has looked awful in 2025, logging a 5.95 ERA over eight starts. Despite playing in the sport’s premier pitcher’s park, Hancock has been abysmal at home. Over three starts in Seattle this season, the right-hander has allowed 16 earned runs (12.34 ERA). There’s a chance those struggles continue against a Nationals offense that owns the 11th-highest slugging percentage against righties (.407). At this point, it’s impossible to put any faith in Hancock, especially against a solid lineup. Back the Nats as a promising road underdog.
