Top 3 MLB Picks & Predictions: Saturday (8/29)
My MLB picks are 5-1 over the last two weeks, and I’ve reached a season-high in profits during the “dog days” of August.
Among today’s best bets, I make my top pick from the best rivalry in the sport in the second game of the Red Sox-Yankees doubleheader, and highlight an intriguing Interleague matchup between two potential division winners in the Rangers-Brewers tilt.
Here are the best MLB picks & predictions for Saturday, August 29th.
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Saturday’s Best MLB Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | This Season: 36-30 (+5.16 units)
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs
Prior to yesterday’s 10-8 loss in the series opener, the Cubs had won six out of seven games against the Reds, and seven of the last nine meetings at Wrigley Field. But let’s be honest, Chicago absolutely should’ve won a game where it scored eight runs, and I don’t expect the losing to spill over to today.
The amount of success several Cubs sluggers had enjoyed since the start of August entering yesterday was astounding. Pete Crow-Armstrong belted nine home runs this month while logging 20 RBI and a .962 OPS. Alex Bregman hit eight long balls and drove in 22 runs to go with a .910 OPS. Seiya Suzuki added 12 extra-base hits, 15 RBI and a .869 OPS. Michael Busch was getting on base at a .350 clip. Ian Happ added five home runs and a .455 slugging rate.
All of it added up to the team averaging 5.5 runs per game in August, tying the Phillies for the most in the National League.
I expect Chicago’s lineup depth to show out today, as Andrew Abbott is due for regression from a career 2.79 ERA against the Cubs because of his relatively high 1.303 WHIP in nine career starts.
Pick: Cubs -1.5 (+113)
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees (Game 2)
Anytime two teams meet in a twin bill, it puts an emphasis on the bullpen, an area where the Red Sox have a clear advantage.
Since July 1st, Boston's relievers lead the Majors in ERA and FIP, and lead all American League bullpens in HR/9 rate and WAR.
The Red Sox have also had their share of success against the Yankees, winning four of their last five and 13 of the last 21 at Yankee Stadium. They are an MLB-best 27-13 since the All-Star break, and Roman Anthony's return only strengthens a deep and powerful lineup.
If Boston wins the second game of the doubleheader, it would improve to 2-1 in such games, and would also be New York's first loss in that split (2-0 entering today).
Pick: Red Sox Moneyline (+116)
Texas Rangers vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Cal Quantrill has been Texas' best pitcher since the All-Star break. The righty has an MLB-best 1.35 second-half ERA, and he's on a heater with one run allowed over his last four appearances.
Quantrill has done an outstanding job of keeping traffic off the basepaths with a 0.74 WHIP in that 19-inning stretch, and looks for a third consecutive scoreless outing.
Shane Drohan should match zeros, as the Brewers as a whole were 9-4 in their last 13 games entering this series, while the starting rotation pitched to an ERA just north of 3.00.
While teammate Jacob Misiorowski's electric fastball gets all the publicity, Shane Drohan's four-seam fastball has induced the fourth-highest whiff rate (30.6%) among pitchers who have thrown a minimum of 450 four-seamers this season.
Pick: Under 8.0 Runs (-114)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.