MLB Picks Today: Expert Predictions & Best Bets for Sunday, August 16, including Yankees vs Blue Jays

The week in Major League Baseball continues with a full 15-game slate on Sunday. It is headlined by Diamondbacks vs Braves, Yankees vs Blue Jays, Cardinals vs Cubs, Brewers vs Dodgers and a Mariners vs Astros nightcap on NBC. 

Here are my best bets, and also make sure to check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the 2026 season.  

Toronto Blue Jays ML over New York Yankees (-120) 

There are going to be some lulls from New York’s lineup when Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger are all sidelined – as they are at the moment. To say that the Yankees are currently in one of those funks would be a gross understatement. They have scored two runs in their last three games combined, including one in each of the first two against Toronto. Adding insult to injury, the Yankees have to go up against Dylan Cease on Sunday. The righty boasts a 2.40 ERA and 1.07 WHIP to go along with 191 strikeouts in 131.1 innings. Cease compiled a 1.00 ERA in five July appearance and has allowed only three runs through 12.0 innings in August. New York is countering with Ryan Weathers. In two head-to-head matchups this year, Weathers has yielded 11 earned runs on 12 hits across 9. 2 innings. The Blue Jays prevailed 3-1 in the series opener and 4-1 on Saturday. They are well positioned to finish off the sweep in front of their home fans. 

Houston Astros ML over Seattle Mariners (-130) 

The Astros should be in good shape to take the rubber match of this three-game series at home on Sunday. They are nothing special in their own park (31-30), but the Mariners are terrible on the road – 25-37 compared to 33-29 in Seattle. The visitors’ pitching situation is also far from ideal. Bryan Woo is saddled with a 6.22 ERA on the road compared to a 1.96 mark at home . The right-hander has gone more than 5.0 innings only twice in his last six starts, so the ‘pen could be featured heavily on Sunday. Seattle’s bullpen has been terrible of late and the visitors have already used six relievers for a total of 7.0 innings during this season. Christian Walker is 5-for-13 lifetime against Woo with a home run and two doubles; Yordan Alvarez is 2-for-4 with a homer. Houston is going with Hunter Brown (3-2, 3.68 ERA), who has made four straight starts without giving up more than three runs.

Texas Rangers ML over Athletics (-128)

The Rangers are hoping to pocket a series win and also keep pace or gain ground in the AL West, sitting only two games behind the Astros. Taking the mound for Texas is Cody Bradford, who is making his third start this season and is sporting a 2.38 ERA. The A's are countering with Jacob Lopez, who is saddled with a 5.38 ERA. Lopez is by no means terrible, but the Athletics' offense has not done enough to consistently support him. The A's are batting a modest .245 against left-handed pitching, plus their bullpen has been the worst in the league -- holding a 5.74 ERA. That could make things difficult late in the game. Texas is simply the better ballclub and Bradford has impressed so far in 2026, albeit in a limited sample size.