Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Astros and Blue Jays Win Big, Total to Play in Yankees-A's)
We have a shorter slate in Major League Baseball on Thursday, Aug. 25, but the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays both in action, and the AL East race is heating up.
So, it's only natural that the BetSided team of Peter Dewey, Iain MacMillan and Donnavan Smoot made some picks that involved those games, right?
With odds from WynnBET, let's jump into the picks for Thursday's MLB action:
Minnesota Twins vs. Houston Astros Odds, Prediction and Odds
This pitching matchup is an interesting one because on one hand, Luis Garcia hasn’t been the ace that he needs to be. He’s given up 14 earned runs in his four August starts and has allowed at least six hits in each of his last four starts. With him pitching, you’d think this would be a good time to fade the Astros.
Nevertheless, I’m going to fade Chris Archer today and trust the Astros’ offense to get going. Minnesota has lost the last seven games Archer has started. Archer hasn’t recorded a win in two months and that’s not a great sign for an Astros team that has the third-best OPS when playing at home.
The Twins are on a five-game losing streak, don’t have a trustworthy starter and haven’t seemed to figure out Houston this go around, so I’ll back the Astros big on this one.
New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics Odds, Prediction and Pick
These two teams are both in the bottom 10 in the league in OPS over the last 15 days, and the Yankees have been a money UNDER team, hitting it in 10 of their last 12 games and five straight matchups.
Oakland’s offense has been bad all season long, and I think Kaprielian is actually a pitcher that can slow New York down given his recent performances.
As for Taillon, even though his ERA is high this month, he has a favorable matchup here and has given up three runs exactly in three straight starts. With New York’s bullpen starting to come around again, this is an advantageous spot to fade two struggling offenses.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds, Prediction and Pick
If you want to bet against the Blue Jays with how dominant they've been against the Red Sox this season, be my guest.
I, for one, will not be so reckless.
If the Jays were going to get got, it would have been last night with Jose Berrios on the mound. Tonight, they turn to Kevin Gausman who has been their ace all season.
Gausman sports a 2.99 ERA, and a 1.38 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox this season. Meanwhile, Boston will be trotting out Kutter Crawford, who has a 5.14 ERA and a 4.50 ERA against the Jays in 2022.
Even if Crawford survives his start, the Red Sox will have to turn to their bullpen that ranks dead last in bullpen ERA (5.55) since July 1st.
Jays win big and complete the series sweep.