Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Will Spencer Strider Keep NL Rookie of Year Hopes Alive vs. Cardinals?)

Several playoff driven series get going heading into the last weekend of August and we got you covered over at BetSided.

Below, we have bets from our BetSided staff that is focused on four Major League Baseball series with playoff implications, namely the NL Pennant race as the Atlanta Braves travel to face the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend.

Let's get to it with the plays!

MLB Best Bets Today

• Angles-Blue Jays UNDER 8.5 (-110)
• Braves ML (-140) vs. Cardinals
• Twins ML (-120) vs. Giants
• Orioles-Astros OVER 8 (-110)

Los Angeles Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds and Prediction

Before a start in which he allowed four earned runs to the Detroit Tigers, Reid Detmers had been on a hot streak, allowing only six earned runs in his prior six starts.

This will be Mitch White's third start since joining the Blue Jays, and he's also been playing well as of late, amassing a 3.38 ERA with Toronto.

So, despite the pitchers not exactly being household names, this could turn into a bit of a pitchers duel. Both teams bullpens also rank in the top half of the Majors in bullpen ERA since the start of August. The Angels come in at sixth (3.39), and the Blue Jays come in at 12th (3.56).

The pitching numbers, paired with the fact the Angels rank dead last in the Majors in OPS since July 1st (.597), I think the UNDER is the play in this one. -- Iain MacMillian

PICK: UNDER 8.5

Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds and Prediction

Strider has put up a couple clunkers over the last two months, but outside of that he’s been magnificent, posting a 2.87 ERA and 1.91 Fielding Independent Pitching over his last nine starts. The Braves are 6-3 in those games and 9-6 overall since he joined the rotation back in late May. 

Quintana has led the Cards to four straight wins, and they’ve covered the run line in all but one of those games. However, as good as St. Louis’ offense has been lately, it can’t expect to tee off on Strider, who pitched six innings of two-hit ball (recording 12 K’s in the process) in his lone start against the Cards this season. 

Even though Quintana’s record is squeaky clean in St. Louis, he was chased after just 2.2 innings in his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up four runs (two earned) in the process. 

These teams are No. 1 (Atlanta) and No. 2 (St. Louis) in runs scored over the last 15 days and No. 1 (St. Louis) and No. 4 (Atlanta) in OPS. 

With offense pretty much equal, I lean with the Braves here, as I think Strider gives them the pitching advantage. -- Peter Dewey

PICK: Braves -145

San Francisco Giants vs. Minnesota Twins Odds and Prediction

The Minnesota Twins are 5-1 in Joe Ryan's last six home starts, and I think they're a much better club than they've shown of late. Simply put, the Twins cannot afford to lose any more winnable games and Ryan needs to ensure his club has the upper hand here.

Luckily for Ryan and Minnesota, the Giants are terrible in this spot. They're just 1-6 in their last seven games as road underdogs and 3-6 in Alex Wood's last nine road starts.

Wood looked terrible in his last two outings, surrendering 10 runs over 10.2 innings, and ranks in only the 44th percentile in expected batting average. Ryan is in the 72nd percentile, and Minnesota's further advantages defensively and in the bullpen should help lead the Twins to victory.

At -120, we're getting great odds on Minnesota to snap its losing streak behind Ryan at home. The Giants are not a particularly formidable opponent, so I think the Twins get the job done today. -- Joe Summers

PICK: Twins (-120)

Baltimore Orioles vs. Houston Astros Odds and Prediction

Lance McCullers Jr. went six scoreless in his first start of the year, but last time out he surrendered three runs over five innings. While it looks like a promising return from injury, there are a few concerning signs you won’t see from a 1-1 record and 2.45 ERA. 

McCullers Jr. has issued seven walks over 11 innings and has only struck out 11. His strikeout rate is slightly above league average, but his walk rate is 15.2%, which would be by far the highest of his career and is nearly double the MLB average. 

While his ERA looks stellar, his expected ERA is 4.57 and his fielding independent pitching is 4.21. It is unclear if this regression will come now because it is a very small sample size, but he has not pitched as well as the numbers indicate. 

Kyle Bradish is still worse than the worst version of McCullers. Bradish has a 6.25 ERA in 15 starts, his FIP is 5.14 and he has allowed three runs in each of his last three starts. Yet, somehow Baltimore is 9-6 in his starts. The offense comes to play on those days. In nine of his starts the team has scored six or more runs. 

If regressions comes for McCullers and Bradish gives up his usual three, this game could go over by the fifth or sixth inning. -- Josh Yourish

PICK: Over 8.0 (-115)