MLB Picks Today:
Expert baseball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top MLB picks today for Saturday, August 9.
Check out Greg’s Daily MLB Lines and his Baseball Betting Show Podcast. Also, check out our MLB Betting Splits and our new tools from Ballpark Pal, including Strikeout Prop Projections and the MLB YRFI Report.
4:05 PM Eastern
Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants
Giants starting pitcher Carson Whisenhunt is making his third career start, having given up two home runs and five total runs across 10 1/3 innings in his first two outings. Nationals starting pitcher Brad Lord has a 3.42 ERA despite recording just seven strikeouts per nine innings. Only nine of his 38 appearances have been starts, and he’s backed by an offense that ranks 10th in road scoring with 4.6 runs per game, but last in bullpen ERA at 5.92.
Pick: Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants Over 8 Runs (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 8.6)
7:05 PM Eastern
Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles
Orioles starting pitcher Brandon Young owns a rough 0-5 record and 5.88 ERA in nine starts this season, but appears to be finding some consistency with three runs or fewer allowed in recent outings. Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins has a 3.97 ERA, but eight of his nine appearances have come from the bullpen. In his lone start, he allowed four runs in three innings and is supported by a bullpen that ranks 28th in ERA at 5.24.
Picks: Orioles Moneyline -115 and Under 10 Runs (Greg’s Handicap: Orioles -112, Total 9.7)
7:15 PM Eastern
Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves (Game 2)
Braves starting pitcher Erick Fedde has struggled, allowing at least three runs in seven straight starts, with a 5.32 ERA, 5.3 strikeouts, and 4.1 walks per nine innings. Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara has an even higher ERA at 6.44, allowing at least four runs in three of his past five starts, but is backed by a lineup that ranks fifth in road scoring at 4.8 runs per game.
Pick: Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves Over 8.5 Runs (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 9.2)
7:15 PM Eastern
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante has a 4.57 ERA with only 5.9 strikeouts and three walks per nine innings, supported by a lineup that ranks 29th in runs per game since the start of July with fewer than 3.5 per contest. Cubs starting pitcher Colin Rea also pitches to a lot of contact, with just 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He owns a 4.23 ERA with 1.4 home runs per nine innings, a number that drops to one home run per nine innings allowed away from home. He’s supported by a Cubs lineup that leads the league in scoring at nearly 5.2 runs per game.
Pick: Cubs Moneyline -110 (Greg’s Handicap: Cubs -137)
