MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (8/5)
Here are our top MLB picks & bets for Tuesday, August 5th.
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Tuesday’s Best MLB Picks & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Athletics (+112) at Washington Nationals (-136) | O/U 8.5 (-107/-114) MLB Picks
It doesn't matter what part of California the Athletics play in; they are going to underperform. The team has struggled, as they have the second-worst record in the American League, and their -120 run differential is the third-worst in Major League Baseball. Complaints about its ballpark make it an overall terrible experience. If you examine some home and away splits with the players, the sharp contrast reveals that there is no real home-field advantage for this team.
Luis Severino is a prime example of someone who would rather pitch on the road. In away games, he is a respectable 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA, but at home, he's 1-9 with a 6.34 ERA. He and the A's head to Washington to face the Nationals. Although the Nationals’ lineup has 48 plate appearances against Severino, they are only hitting .148 against him.
Pick: Athletics Moneyline (+112)
Kansas City Royals (+197) at Boston Red Sox (-246) | O/U 8.0 (-105/-115) MLB Picks
The Red Sox are one of the hottest teams in the league, having won seven of their last eight games. They have moved up to second place in the American League East. Some might say the exodus of Rafael Devers is a big reason why, as the Red Sox are 26-15 since he was traded, which is one of the best records in the league in that span.
It's been both the offense and pitching as they have the fourth-best wOBA (.354) and lead the league in ERA (3.14) since the Devers trade. That pitching is led by big offseason acquisition Garrett Crochet, who's looking like a Cy Young candidate. He's been consistent all season and is third in ERA (2.23) and strikeouts (175) while his 12 wins are tied for the league lead. It's the swing and miss ability with a 29.5% whiff rate, but the weak contact makes him handle it.
He faces an underachieving Kansas City squad. Their 4.2% weak contact rate is the ninth-worst in the league. Crochet has a stunning 36% strikeout rate against this lineup.
Pick: Red Sox -1.5 (-119)