BEGINNING MONDAY, AUGUST 25
Atlanta at Miami (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Braves avoided a sweep by the Mets, picking up a one run win in Sunday’s finale. They have prevailed in 7 of their last 10 (+$405) and now they’ll face a Miami team that has been losing ground steadily (3-7, -$325 last 10). Pitching has been a problem for Atlanta in 2025, but they’ve gotten a spectacular showing from Hurston Waldrep, who has posted an 0.47 ERA in three starts (+$305). He’ll take the mound on Tuesday vs. a Marlins’ club that is only 13-22 in night games at home (-$780). BEST BET: Waldrep.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
There are seven games remaining between these two teams, and the 69-61 Mets will need to win all of them to catch up with the Phillies in the NL East. It’s not going to happen. The Phillies check in with a 58-34 record vs. right-handers (+$1140) and their offense has averaged 6.1 runs per game in their last 10 games. Staff ace Cristopher Sanchez (+$805, 2.41 ERA in 25 outings) will be available at a relatively cheap price when he takes on New York’s Kodai Senga in Monday’s opener. BEST BET: C. Sanchez.
Arizona at Milwaukee (4) 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
The Brewers remain the dominant team in baseball at the moment (81-50, +$2960), but their lead in the NL Central is down to just five games, as the Cubs steadily narrow the gap with their division rival. Expect them to make a strong showing against the 64-67 Diamondbacks (-$1630 overall in 2025) and their mediocre mound corps (4.52 team ERA). Brandon Woodruff (+$600, 2.47 ERA in eight starts) and Quinn Priester (+$801, 3.01) and veteran lefty Jose Quintana (+$975, 3.33) are all set to take turns, giving the home team a huge edge. BEST BET: Woodruff/Priester/Quintana.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis (4) 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
The Pirates look like a good team when playing at PNC Park, but once they go on the road things fall apart rapidly (only 18-44, -$1880 overall as visitors). They are slated to send four right-handers to the mound at Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals own a 27-14 record vs. righties so far (+$1250). Sonny Gray has been the home team’s top money-maker (+$1205), with the club winning 13 of his 16 appearances in this ballpark. The rest of the St. Louis rotation is too risky at the moment. BEST BET: S. Gray.
Cincinnati at L.A. Dodgers (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Reds are just 1.5 games back in the NL wild-card hunt but they face a challenge here at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are in a dogfight with San Diego atop the NL West, but their pitching is sub-par (4.14 team ERA, 9th in the NL) and they’ve cost their backers a fortune in 2025 (-$2200). Cincinnati has two of their top arms in Hunter Greene (+$315, 2.63 ERA in 13 starts) and Nick Lodolo (+$200, 3.06) set to take the hill vs. LA. They’ll both catch generous underdog prices when they do. BEST BET: H. Greene/Lodolo.
Boston at Baltimore (4) 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
The Red Sox took 3 out of 4 in the Bronx over the weekend, but their road numbers are still pretty bad (30-35, -$300 overall). They’ve lost money vs. the Orioles in head to head competition (-$230) and Baltimore has won 6 of its last 10 (+$335), averaging 5.8 runs per game in those contests. Tomoyuko Sugano lad led the O’s to victories in 16 of his 24 starts (+$1170), and he’s posted an 0.87 ERA in his two most recent appearances. Hard to pass him up as an underdog at Camden Yards. BEST BET: Sugano.
Tampa Bay at Cleveland (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Guardians were riding high not long ago, but they’ve been dreadful lately (2-8, -$625 last 10 days, averaging jus 2.7 runs per game with a 5.30 ERA among starters in those contests), dropping below .500 and making themselves a long-shot for the post-season. Drew Rasmussen has had a great year (2.62 ERA in 25 starts) and he makes an appealing choice in Wednesday’s afternoon finale (Tampa Bay +$390 in road day games). BEST BET: Rasmussen.
Minnesota at Toronto (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Blue Jays continue to maintain a healthy lead in the AL East, rising 21 games above .500 (+$2095). They’ll be heavily favored over the under-achieving Twins, the top money-burner in the American League (-$2160). Minnesota is only 8-17 vs. left-handers in 2025, averaging a mere 3.0 runs per game in those contests. They’ll have their hands full with Eric Lauer (+$905, 3.25 ERA in 14 starts) in Wednesday’s finale. BEST BET: Lauer.
Kansas City at Chicago W. Sox (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Royals have dispatched the White Sox without difficulty in head to head play (8-2, +$520) and they come into Chicago having won 7 of their last 10 (+$410). They are within striking distance of a playoff slot, especially when you consider the quality of their pitching (3.65 team ERA), 2nd best in the AL. Noah Cameron (2.82 ERA in 26 starts) and Ryan Bergert (2.82 in four starts), and Michael Lorenzen (+$560 overall, 3.04 ERA last two) all look much too good to pass up. BEST BET: Cameron/Bergert/Lorenzen.
L.A. Angels at Texas (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Rangers are stuck at .500 (64-64), but their pitching is the best in baseball (3.43 team ERA), so a strong surge down the stretch remains a distinct possibility. However, they have fared poorly vs. left-handers in 2025 (only 12-22, -$975) and the Angels have been wildly profitable in night games (+$2025). LA will send a couple of money-making southpaws to the mound at Arlington, no doubt at hefty underdogs. BEST BET: Left-handers vs. the Rangers.
Detroit at Oakland (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Tigers have won 9 of their last 11 (+$630, 5.7 runs per game), fattening their lead in the AL Central to 10.5 games. They’ll he favored heavily, but with Tarik Skubal (+$790, 2.32 ERA), Casey Mize (+$910, 3.68) and Charlie Morton (3.63 in four starts for Detroit) set to take turns, things look grim for the pitching poor A’s (4.83 ERA, worst in the AL). BEST BET: Tigers in all games.
Washington at N.Y. Yankees (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Yankees have cost their backers a fortune in 2025 (-$2055 so far) and they make a ripe target in this inter-league match-up. Washington has turned a profit vs. AL teams (+$490) and they’ve also made money on the road vs. right-handers (+$640). They’ll catch massive underdog prices in the Bronx when Brad Lord (+$705, 3.90 ERA in 12 starts) takes the mound in Monday’s opener against rookie Cam Schlittler. BEST BET: Lord.
San Diego at Seattle (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
Very appealing match-up of post-season contenders squaring off at T-Mobile Park. The Padres are deadlocked with the Dodgers atop the NL West (74-57, +$1235) and their pitching remains the finest in the NL (3.53 team ERA). The Mariners are still in great shape, both in the wild-card and perhaps in the division race as well. They’ve been in a slump (3-7, -$510 last 10), but they’re tough to beat at home. We’ll keep an eye on these two. BEST BET: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
Chicago Cubs at San Francisco (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Giants have fallen on hard times, now five games below .500 and 11 games back in the NL West (-$1845 overall). The Cubs have moved to within five games of 1st place in the NL Central (8-2, +$465 last 10 days) and their lefties (Imanaga, 2.78 ERA ,& Boyd, 2.62) should make short work of a San Francisco team that averages 3.4 runs per game vs. southpaws. BEST BET: Imanaga/Boyd.
Colorado at Houston (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Astros have three strong starters set to appear, so they should manhandle the hapless Rockies, who are only 37-94 (-$1910) and own the worst pitching in the majors (6.00 team ERA). However, Houston has not looked sharp in recent days, losing 6 of their last 10 (-$330) while averaging just 3.5 runs per game with a 5.31 ERA among starters. Not worth taking a chance. BEST BET: None.
