Thursday means getaway day across Major League Baseball. Still, fans have plenty to sink their teeth into with nine games on tap. That includes a potential postseason preview between the Astros and Blue Jays in Toronto. Later, the Yankees hope to salvage a game against the AL Central-leading Tigers. Elsewhere, the Phillies aim for a four-game sweep against the rival Mets.
Before the start of Thursday’s contests, here are two MLB bets to consider on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nationals vs. Marlins under eight total runs (-115)
As far as relevant games go, Nationals vs. Marlins ranks near the bottom of the list. With that being said, tonight’s pitching matchup has some intrigue. For Miami, it’ll be Ryan Weathers. The right-hander has been beleaguered by injuries throughout his professional career. However, when healthy, he’s proven to be a quality arm for Miami. Over 111.1 innings pitched since 2024, the 25-year-old owns a 3.56 ERA and 103 strikeouts. Tonight, he’ll take on a Nationals lineup that struggles mightily against southpaws. Washington owns a .645 OPS against left-handed pitching this season.
On the other side, it’ll be MacKenzie Gore on the bump. What started out as a terrific 2025 campaign has spiraled over the past two months. Since August 1st, the 26-year-old has recorded a lackluster 5.92 ERA. Still, this isn’t a difficult matchup. The Marlins average just 3.89 runs per game at home, third-lowest in baseball. In addition, Gore has notched a 2.97 ERA over six career meetings with Miami. Following a two-week hiatus, Washington’s ace will be well-rested heading into this one, as well. Runs should be at a premium tonight in South Beach.
Padres -1.5 (-122)
Typically, I try to stay away from ‘obvious’ bets. However, sometimes it’s worth it to ride with the public. The Padres have looked awful recently, dropping six of their last nine games. Fortunately for San Diego, the last-place Rockies are coming to town. Arguably the worst baseball team in recent memory, Colorado will hand the ball to McCade Brown on the mound. The rookie has gotten absolutely lit up this season, albeit in a brief sample size. Through 9.1 innings pitched, Brown has surrendered 13 earned runs (12.54 ERA) to go with a sky-high 2.36 WHIP. Even a middling Friars offense should find success at the plate tonight.
Stopping the Rockies shouldn’t be difficult; they’re averaging a league-worst 2.85 runs per game on the road. It’ll be up to Padres starter Randy Vasquez to keep things low-scoring. Through 117.1 innings of work this season, the Dominican hurler has recorded a 3.91 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Over 12.0 innings vs. Colorado in 2025, the right-hander has allowed only four earned runs (3.00 ERA). Both of those appearances came in Denver. At pitcher-friendly Petco Park, an even better performance is possible. It might seem too good to be true, but there’s no reason not to back San Diego on Thursday.
