MLB Picks Today: Expert Predictions & Best Bets for Friday, August 28, inc. Red Sox vs Yankees
With college football set to return tomorrow with Week 0, we have another strong 15-game MLB slate on Friday, August 28. The full card features some intriguing matchups, including Red Sox vs Yankees and Mariners vs Blue Jays at 7:15 pm ET, both live on Apple TV. Also on the docket today are Royals vs Guardians, Padres vs Rays, Rangers vs Brewers and Dodgers vs Tigers. The action gets underway at 2:20 pm ET with Reds vs Cubs and goes right the way through to Diamondbacks vs Giants at 10:15 pm ET.
Let's break down my MLB best bets for today, while you can also find out our expert MLB picks for EVERY GAME today and throughout the rest of the 2026 campaign!
MLB best bet: New York Yankees F5 -0.5 over Boston Red Sox (-130)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -145.
The oldest rivalry in baseball will write another chapter this weekend, and both teams could really use a series victory as they look to chase down the first place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. Fortunately for New York, the hosts will get to see Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler (2.16 ERA, top 10% strikeout rate and walk rate) take the mound in the Bronx against Boston's dangerous lineup.
The Red Sox don't have that same luxury, as they'll be sending out Patrick Sandoval (4.54 ERA, 4.91 xERA, bottom 10% expected batting average) — who has been pretty up-and-down in his eight starts this season. I don't want to trust the Yankees bullpen to close the door on a Red Sox team that has won a ton of games in the clutch since the All-Star break, so I'll target New York to get off to a hot start and win the starting pitching battle at home to open the series.
Check out our full Red Sox vs Yankees prediction for today's MLB game
MLB best bet: Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians Over 7.5 (-118)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to -125.
The two hottest teams in the American League reside in the AL Central, and this series has the chance to flip the Wild Card race on its head if the Royals are able to take a few games off the Guardians and aid the many teams in pursuit of Cleveland. Over the past month, both offenses have played their best baseball of the season, with each unit averaging nearly five runs per game in that span. Friday's matchup pits Royals starter Michael Wacha (4.11 xERA, bottom 15% whiff rate) against Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee 4.31 xERA, bottom 20% chase rate), with neither starter inspiring much confidence at the moment.
Furthermore, the Royals bullpen is among the worst in baseball -- and while Cleveland's bullpen is a top 10 unit in ERA, the Kansas City offense is averaging nearly 6.5 runs per game over this 11-game stretch and should challenge the Guardians into the late innings of this one. I'll take the over in Cleveland.
Read our full Royals vs Guardians prediction for tonight's MLB matchup
