My MLB picks are coming off the best day of the season last Saturday, going a perfect 3-0 and cashing two plays at plus-money odds.
Among today’s best bets, I make my top pick from the National League showdown between the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers, and highlight one of the most anticipated pitching debuts with Seattle Mariners youngster Kade Anderson.
Here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Saturday, August 22nd.
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Saturday’s Best MLB Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | This Season: 31-29 (+1.03 units)
Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers
There are several things Milwaukee has going for it entering this middle game of a three-game series. The Brewers haven’t lost back-to-back home games since June 27-28. And over its previous 23 home games entering yesterday’s series opener, Milwaukee went 17-6 while averaging 5.6 runs per game, logging a +49 run differential, belting 28 home runs, and collectively owning a .352 on-base percentage (OBP) and .451 slugging RATE.
The Brewers also seemingly always play well against elite teams. Since the start of 2023, the Brewers had the third-best record against teams over .500 in 2023, tied for the second-best such record in 2024 and had the third-best record in that split in 2025. This season, they are an MLB-best 21 games over .500 in that split.
Milwaukee is seemingly getting offense from everywhere of late. Garrett Mitchell, for example, was 7-for-10 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and four runs scored over the last two games.
Milwaukee has a five-game lead over the Braves for the best record in the National League. It just became the first team to 80 wins, and I expect it to take the season series lead after splitting the first four matchups.
Pick: Brewers Moneyline (-165)
San Francisco Giants vs. Boston Red Sox
Instead of speculating whether the Red Sox are the right side after a recent 4-8 stretch that followed a historic 32-5 span, I expect each offense to do enough to cash the over.
Patrick Sandoval is unbeaten in three home starts in a Red Sox uniform while pitching to a 3.68 ERA. But that is due for regression with a .333 opponents’ batting average, and he faces a Giants lineup ranked in the top 10 in batting average on balls in play (BABIP) against southpaws.
Meanwhile, in three games since being stretched out as a starting pitcher, the Giants have allowed eight runs per game in Blade Tidwell's three starts.
It’s also fair to wonder if another Interleague blow-up is coming for Sandoval. The lefty is coming off allowing a season-high seven runs in what was his only start against a National League opponent this season (the Pirates).
Pick: Over 8.0 Runs (-113)
Chicago Cubs vs. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners’ front office has seen the team struggle for long enough, as they finally called up MLB.com’s No. 5 prospect Kade Anderson for his MLB debut.
In 18 starts with Double-A Arkansas, Anderson went 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA in 93.1 innings. He also posted a 135:13 K:BB ratio, while pitching to a 0.64 WHIP and .147 opponents’ batting average.
The following post from ESPN’s Paul Hembekides says it all about why I believe in Anderson’s ability to limit Cubs bats early:
AA hitters vs Kade Anderson:
.147/.183/.216 (.399 OPS)That's the worst batting line any pitcher has permitted, at any level of the minors, across the last 10 seasons (min. 15 starts). https://t.co/2tWk48io3P
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) August 20, 2026
Chicago entered this series having cashed its team total over in the first five innings 19 times in its last 30 road games (+6.4 units/17% return on investment), but the rookie Anderson provides great value to buck that trend.
Pick: Cubs First Five Innings Team Total Under 1.5 Runs (+105)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.