MLB Picks Today: Expert Predictions & Best Bets for Thursday, August 6, inc. White Sox vs Red Sox
The trade deadline is in the rearview mirror as the 2026 Major League Baseball season continues on with a compelling slate of games on Thursday. The 11-game card features some intriguing matchups, including Twins vs Royals at 7:40 pm ET live on ESPN, along with Mets vs Guardians, Blue Jays vs Cubs, Tigers vs Mariners and White Sox vs Red Sox. The action gets underway at 12:35 pm ET with Angels vs Orioles and goes right the way through to Padres vs Diamondbacks at 9:40 pm ET. Let's break down my MLB best bets for Thursday, August 6, while you can also find out our expert MLB picks for EVERY GAME today and throughout the entire 2026 campaign!
MLB best bet: Baltimore Orioles -1.5 over Los Angeles Angels (+110)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to +100.
The Orioles needed to take advantage of a series against one of the worst teams in baseball, and that's exactly what they've done to this point. Following a couple of victories to start this series, Baltimore has pulled to within a half-game of the final American League Wild Card spot, and I'm confident that the O's will finish out this series on a high note against a listless Angels team. Los Angeles is struggling mightily on offense — averaging just 2.6 runs per game since the All-Star break — while Ryan Johnson (7.63 ERA, nearly 4 BB/9 IP) is in the midst of a horrendous season and has surrendered 13 runs over his last 7.2 innings pitched. Baltimore isn't a great team by any means, but this is a unit that should be able to beat up on the worst team in the American League.
Check out our full Angels vs Orioles prediction for today's MLB game
MLB best bet: Boston Red Sox -1.5 over Chicago White Sox (+120)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing. Playable to +110.
The Red Sox are in the midst of one of the most improbable in-season turnarounds in recent memory, with Boston now having won 30 of its last 35 games to pull within one game of the Yankees for the top Wild Card spot in the American League. This is a team that is firing on all cylinders, and that momentum should continue into Thursday's game against the White Sox — especially with Luis Castillo (5.06 ERA) making his first start for Chicago against a Boston lineup that has tallied 38 runs over its last 5 games.
As for the hosts, Ranger Suarez (3.15 ERA, 2.55 FIP) should turn in another solid outing against a White Sox offense that has been much better at home compared to its performance on the road this season. With that in mind, it's hard to ignore the value we're getting on Suarez and the excellent Red Sox bullpen to keep on turning the crank and grind out their 8th straight victory. I'll take the plus-money with Boston on the run line at home.
Read our full White Sox vs Red Sox prediction for today's MLB matchup
