We’ve got an exciting slate in the MLB today. Here are three computer picks that the OddsTrader AI model suggested for tonight’s portion of the slate.
Picks Summary
- • Cubs (-139) at Unibet
- • Rangers-Twins Over 8 (-105) at Caesars Sportsbook
- • Reds-Diamondbacks Over 9 (-110) at BetRivers
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Saturday, August 26, 2023 – 07:15 PM EDT at PNC Park
Our AI Model believes the Cubs will earn a 5.8-4.6 win over the Pirates on Saturday. With the Cubs only at -142, there’s value in Chicago. They’re expected to win this game by more than one run.
The Chicago Cubs will give Javier Assad the start tonight. Assad has struck out just 18% of batters, but he’s held righties to a .151 ISO and wOBA of .290.
Assad will likely face six lefties in the lineup, where he’s been worse. However, the Pirates have struck out 24.7% of the time against righties in the last month. The bottom portion of the lineup hasn’t delivered much at all.
Pittsburgh’s been highly inconsistent against righties over the last month. They’ve got three batters hitting an ISO of .111 or worse in the last 30 days against other righties.
On the other hand, Colin Selby will get the start. Don’t expect him to go deep. Expect a bullpen game. He’s thrown just 22.14 pitches per appearance since getting the call-up. He’s also allowed a .462 ISO and wOBA of .604 against to 14 lefties this year.
Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, Jeimer Candelario, and Mike Tauchman should all have major success against Selby early on in this game.
Cody Bellinger has hit a .311 ISO and wOBA of .460. Ian Happ has smacked a .230 ISO and wOBA of .355.
Let’s take the Cubs on the moneyline tonight at -139 betting odds.
MLB Pick: Cubs (-139) at Unibet
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins
Saturday, August 26, 2023 – 07:15 PM EDT at Target Field
Our AI Model believes the Rangers and Twins will combine to score 9.2 runs in tonight’s matchup. The total is 8, giving the Over some value on tonight’s board.
Let’s fade Max Scherzer. Scherzer has allowed 32.7% of fly balls and has induced just 34.7% of ground balls throughout the season. He was initially with the Mets but was traded to the Rangers at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Texas is on an eight-game losing streak that derailed the season. Adding new pieces at the deadline was brilliant, but they’re not helping out much.
Scherzer always has one or two bad innings, allowing multiple home runs. The Twins have six batters in the projected lineup, hitting an above-average ISO number against righties. That includes Max Kepler, who has a .288 ISO, and Matt Wallner, who has a .304 ISO.
Scherzer will take on Joe Ryan, who has also collapsed in the second half of the season. Ryan allowed a .619 ISO and wOBA of .637 to 23 batters last month. He’s also watched 277 righties hit a .253 ISO and wOBA of .350.
The Rangers are elite at the top of the order, with Corey Seager hitting a .425 ISO and wOBA of .485 to pave the way. Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe, and Mitch Garver also hit righties well last month.
Therefore, the Over makes the most sense in this matchup. A 4-4 game will get us the win. And both teams could earn four runs or more in this one.
MLB Pick: Over 8 (-105) at Caesars Sportsbook
Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Saturday, August 26, 2023 – 08:10 PM EDT at Chase Field
The AI Model suggests that the Reds and Diamondbacks will score 12.5 runs tonight. With the Over only at 9, the Reds and Diamondbacks should provide a ton of offense in tonight’s game.
Brett Kennedy will get the bulk of tonight’s game for the Reds. He’s only struck out 11.1% of batters and has thrown an average of 64.67 pitches per game. He’s not going to last very long for the Reds. It’ll be a significant bullpen game the deeper we go.
Meanwhile, Arizona had a major offensive outburst last night.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas have hit righties exceptionally well recently, along with Tommy Pham. The Diamondbacks also have slumping hitters like Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. They haven’t hit righties well recently. But they’ve kept strikeouts down against righties. Therefore, those two should put the ball in play against the Reds tonight.
Conversely, Zach Davies will return to the mound for the Diamondbacks. He had been on the injured list but a while, but is back and ready to pitch. Before Davies’ injury, he had allowed a .167 ISO and wOBA of .356 to 260 batters.
That’s far from excellent.
Meanwhile, the Reds’ projected lineup has slugged a .180 ISO and wOBA of .303. They’ve struck out a lot, but Davies isn’t a high-strikeout pitcher.
Let’s back the Over in this one. I agree with the AI Model.
MLB Pick: Over 9 (-110) at BetRivers
