MLB Picks and Best Bets Today: 3 MLB Predictions for Friday, August 28, 2026

MLB Betting Picks in Summary

• Padres at Rays NRFI (-113)
• Dean Kremer Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+108)
• Zack Gelof to Hit a Home Run (+390)

Baseball has you covered if you want a large inventory of options to bet.

From moneylines to player props to NRFI wagers, we have plenty of ways each day to bet the long, arduous MLB schedule.

Using the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, what are the best MLB bets for today?

This article includes some of the top bets from our other MLB content. All MLB odds via FanDuel, and they may change after this article is published.

MLB Predictions and Picks for Today

Padres at Rays NRFI (-113)

Shane McClanahan has returned to being a dependable option atop the Tampa Bay Rays‘ rotation.

The left-hander has worked 107.1 innings this season while producing a 3.10 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He has also allowed opponents relatively little power, which is particularly useful when betting a market where one mistake can immediately sink the wager.

Casey Mize has been solid, as well, entering Friday with a 3.44 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 104.2 innings. His 23% strikeout rate is also comfortably above his walk rate, resulting in a strong 16% strikeout-minus-walk percentage.

There are some dangerous hitters on both sides, but the pitching matchup is strong enough for me to trust a scoreless opening frame.

Dean Kremer Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+108)

White Sox vs. Twins, 8:11 p.m. ET

Dean Kremer has been sneaky good this season, and I think he can get to six-plus punchouts in a date with the Chicago White Sox.

Kremer owns a 24.3% K rate and 11.4% swinging-strike rate en route to a 3.89 SIERA. He’s fanned five, six and seven over his last three starts.

Chicago’s offense packs a punch, but they also have the sixth-highest strikeout rate (23.9%) this campaign. Their K rate has climbed to 24.9% over the last 30 days, so they’ve got plenty of swing and miss in their lineup.

Kremer got up to 101 pitches last time out. That’s a pretty nice leash, and him to go over 5.5 Ks is my favorite pitcher prop for Friday.

Home Run Prediction: Zack Gelof (+390)

Orioles at Athletics, 9:41 p.m. ET

Zack Gelof loves hitting at Sutter Health Park, and he’s at home today against Brandon Young.

Gelof has hit 14 long-balls this season, 11 of which have come in Sacramento. He’s got a .391 wOBA at home — miles better than his road wOBA of .267 wOBA. He’s also been more productive against RHPs (.343 wOBA) than LHPs (.319 wOBA).

That makes the right-handed Young a great matchup for him because Young is showing some reverse splits, with right-handed hitters tagging him for 1.48 jacks per nine and a .350 wOBA.

Gelof has homered in three of his last nine home games, and he can add to that tally tonight. It doesn’t hurt that the wind is blowing out at 5 MPH.

MLB Betting Frequently Asked Questions

What is the run line in baseball betting?

The run line is baseball's version of a point spread. The standard run line is typically 1.5 runs, meaning the favorite must win by at least two runs to cover a -1.5 bet, while an underdog at +1.5 can either win outright or lose by one run.

What does NRFI mean in MLB betting?

NRFI stands for No Run First Inning. An NRFI bet wins if neither team scores during the first inning.

What are MLB player prop bets?

MLB player prop bets are wagers on specific statistical outcomes tied to individual players during a game — not on which team wins or loses. You might bet on how many strikeouts a starting pitcher records, whether a shortstop gets a hit, or how many total bases an outfielder accumulates.

Because they are isolated to a single player's performance, props let you apply focused knowledge about matchups, recent form, and ballpark conditions rather than predicting the full game result.

What does "total bases" mean as a prop bet?

The total bases prop counts the bases a batter earns from hits in a single game:

• Single = 1 base
• Double = 2 bases
• Triple = 3 bases
• Home run = 4 bases

Walks, hit-by-pitches, and stolen bases do not count. A typical total bases line is set at 1.5 or 2.5. Betting over 1.5 means you need at least a double, or two singles.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.