MLB money line play in Twins at Cardinals, plus a run total parlay: Best Bets for August 1

Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.

Here are our best bets for Tuesday, August 1:

TOP PLAY

The play: Twins (money line) over Cardinals

The odds/bet: -130 ($39 to win $30)

The book: Caesars Sportsbook

Time/TV: 7:45 p.m. (MLB Extra Innings)

Our take: The Minnesota Twins haven’t been playing their best baseball lately, but they appear to be in a position to get back in the win column tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Twins lineup should have plenty of opportunities against inconsistent Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas, who’s struggled at home this season, and Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez has been strong on the road.

The Cardinals have essentially waved the white flag after trading several veterans and could ship off even more key players before today’s trade deadline, so we see value in the Twins bouncing back.

RUN TOTAL PARLAY

The play: Mets at Royals UNDER 9.5 runs, Red Sox at Mariners OVER 7.5 runs

The odds/bet: +267 ($10 to win $26.70)

The book: Caesars Sportsbook

Time/TV: Mets at Royals 8:10 p.m., Red Sox at Mariners 9:40 p.m. (MLB Extra Innings)

Our take: The Mets and Royals have been swinging the bats better lately, which could explain why the run total in their matchup is up to 9.5, but we’re going to bank on pitching prevailing tonight.

That’s because a pair of experienced starters will be taking the mound in Jose Quintana and Zack Greinke, and Greinke has pitched well enough at home to where he should be able to hang with Quintana, who’s been excellent since returning in July.

As for the Red Sox and Mariners, projected starting pitchers Brayan Bello and Bryce Miller are no slouches, but we feel confident enough in each lineup to take the over since it’s only set at 7.5 runs.

HOW WE’VE FARED

Brewers at Nationals UNDER nine runs (WON $30)

Angels (money line) over Braves (WON $20.50)

Monday's profit/loss: +$50.50 (2-0)

Total for the week: +$50.50 (2-0)

Final total for July: -$161.20 (26-31)

Total for 2023: -$550 (176-194)

 If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)

Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).