F5 MLB Pick 8/12: Bet Imanaga, Cubs to Silence Guardians Early
- Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga is 9-2 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.05 WHIP
- The Cubs are 20-9-4 on the F5 inning ML in their last 33 games
- Check the latest MLB odds for the best F5 lines!
My Best First Five Innings Pick for 8/12
Shota Imanaga, the rookie lefty wonder, has been sensational for the Chicago Cubs. With a 9-2 record and a WHIP of 1.05, he’s making oddsmakers look silly because they keep napping on his prowess.

He’s also pretty good at Cornhole.
Shota Imanaga 🍪🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/k21RM0hLUE
— yu-1linda (@yu_1_linda99) August 8, 2024
Let’s talk about the first five innings (F5), where the Cubs have been money. Since July 3, they’ve posted a 20-9-4 record in the F5 innings. Imanaga is a beast in this department, boasting a 7-1-2 record in his past 10 starts, including four straight F5 wins on the road.
The Guardians? They’ve hit a rough patch, winning only three of their last 10 games. Their bats, usually reliable against lefties, have been quieter than a library at midnight. Imanaga should have no trouble putting them in their place.
The Cubs are heating up at just the right time. Fresh off a sweep of the White Sox and with a well-deserved day off, they’re 8-2 in their last 10 games. This surge has them three games out of the final wild-card spot and they’re looking to keep the momentum going against the Guardians.
For those who like to follow the numbers, the Cubs have hit the F5 Team Total Over in six of their last eight games, yielding a tasty +3.70 units. They’ve also won the moneyline in 20 of their previous 32 games, giving bettors a juicy +9.35 units. Betting the Cubs to shine early in the game on the MLB lines seems like a no-brainer.
Shōta Imanaga, Pause/Timing on 3 Fastballs from the Same AB.
He does vary his pause (Boog asked). pic.twitter.com/rvGsQBINSe
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 7, 2024
Join BetUS and bet now! Get a $450 MLB Bonus Available for $200 Bets on your first time deposit!
Best F5 Pick: Cubs vs Guardians Under 4½ Runs (-115)
With Imanaga on the mound, the Cubs are a formidable force. His recent seven-inning, two-hit performance against the Twins, which included 10 strikeouts, shows he’s in top form. As the Cubs return to Wrigley Field following their series in Cleveland, a bet online on them to win the F5 inning moneyline at -140 on BetUS is a winning move to start the week.
The Cubs are poised to take the Guardians to school, and you’ll want to be on the winning side of this MLB bet.
Bet on This Cubs vs Guardians F5 Pick!
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets
Take A Look At These Other 2 MLB Special Articles
- MLB Parlay Picks 8/12: Grab Value Odds on Gil, Gray.
- MLB Player Props 8/12: Gil, Guerrero Jr. Best Bets.
Question Of The Day
What pitcher has the WHIP in baseball?
Seattle’s Logan Gilbert has the best WHIP in baseball at 0.87.