MLB Picks Today: Expert Predictions & Best Bets for Thursday, August 27, including Dodgers vs Braves
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a modest seven-game slate on Thursday, August 27. It is headlined by Dodgers vs Braves live on FS1 at 7:15 PM ET, and also features Astros vs Yankees, Brewers vs Mets, Royals vs Blue Jays, Rockies vs Nationals, Orioles vs Cardinals and Diamondbacks vs Giants. Here are my MLB best bets for today, while you can also check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the rest of the 2026 season.
MLB Best Bet: Baltimore Orioles ML over St. Louis Cardinals (-118)
The Cardinals will send Cooper Hjerpe to the hill for his MLB debut. Hjerpe was a first-round pick in 2022, and his minor-league performance this season has been solid, but a first-ever appearance in the bigs is always a daunting task. The lefty hasn’t even been able to throw strikes in the minors (29 walks in 38.0 innings). Can we really expect him to limit walks when the nerves will undoubtedly be amped up in this pressure-packed sutation? No.
Baltimore will counter with Trevor Rogers, whose 3.86 xERA is a respectable mark. Rogers has posted a 3.52 ERA through his first four August efforts, including back-to-back quality starts against Tampa Bay in his last two outings. The Cardinals are not any good at home (32-36), so I’ll happily roll with the O’s.
Get the full analysis for our Orioles vs Cardinals pick
MLB Best Bet: New York Yankees ML over Houston Astros (-154)
New York dropped the series opener 9-7 but hit back for a 9-3 victory on Wednesday. The home team should be in good shape to win the rubber match with Gerrit Cole on the mound. Cole has compiled a 1.82 ERA through four August appearances, this after pitching to a 2.97 ERA in July. Houston will counter with Hayden Wesneski, who was sidelined by Tommy John surgery until late last month. Early returns have been fine, but the only opponent against whom he has been especially impressive is the Athletics. The Yankees’ lineup may not be anything special with several key components injured, but they are certainly a lot better than the A’s. Count on Cole getting enough run support in this one.
Read our Astros vs Yankees prediction today
MLB Best Bet: Los Angeles Dodgers ML over Atlanta Braves (+100)
Whenever you can get the Dodgers as underdogs – however slight – with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound, it’s an opportunity you have to think long and hard about. Even with Chris Sale going for the Braves, it’s one I’m not going to pass up. Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, is 12-7 with a 2.61 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 145-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 151.2 innings of work. The right-hander has allowed just three runs in his last three outings across 18.0 innings. He now faces an Atlanta lineup that has struggled mightily in August. Case in point: the Braves are 0-3 in Sale’s last three starts even though the opposition scored a grand total of nine runs in those three games. There is no reason to think that the veteran southpaw is going to get any run support on Thursday, either.
Check out our full Dodgers vs Braves prediction for tonight's MLB game on FS1
