MLB Picks Today: Expert Predictions & Best Bets for Tuesday, August 11, including Cubs vs Nationals
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a full 15-game slate on Tuesday, August 11. It is headlined by Mariners vs Yankees live on TBS at 7:05 pm ET, and also features Cubs vs Nationals, Phillies vs Cardinals, Brewers vs Padres, Guardians vs Tigers, Red Sox vs Blue Jays, Mets vs Braves and Royals vs Dodgers. Here are my MLB best bets today, and also make sure to check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the 2026 season.
MLB Best Bet: Chicago Cubs ML over Washington Nationals (-166)
Chicago is 6-1 in its last seven games and has not suffered back-to-back losses since before the all-star break. It should be able to maintain its fine form in the opening game of this series on Tuesday. Shota Imanaga is toeing the rubber, which is good news for the visitors. The southpaw comes in with a 3.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 125-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 132.2 innings. Imanaga compiled a 1.53 ERA in July and kicked off August by giving up only one run in 5.0 innings against the Dodgers last Wednesday.
Washington is countering with Jake Irvin, who is 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA. Irvin has not logged more than 5.2 innings in any start this entire year. That does not bode well for Washington given that it is saddled fourth-worst ERA in baseball (4.84). Moreover, playing at home is not necessarily an advantage for the Nats. They are a dreadful 26-34 in Washington this season compared to 33-27 on the road. The Cubs are a solid 34-26 on the road. Additionally, Irvin is even worse – way worse – at home (7.04 ERA) than he is on the road (4.38).
Get the full analysis on our Cubs vs Nationals prediction
MLB Best Bet: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Miami Marlins Under 7.5 (-124)
I still have faith in Paul Skenes. This may not be the Skenes of the past couple of seasons, but he is still a great pitcher with swing-and-miss stuff. The LSU product is averaging 7.8 strikeouts over his past 5 starts, including 1.49 strikeouts per inning during this stretch. In his previous start against the Marlins this season (June 14), Skenes allowed just two hits in 6.0 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking only one. Miami’s offense is streaky. It is capable of getting hot, but when things aren’t going well...they really don’t go well. In the Marlins’ last 10 losses, they have not scored more than 3 runs a single time.
Eury Perez is going for the home team. He is sporting a 3.21 ERA and 1.13 WHIP to go along with 121 Ks in 109.2 innings. Perez has made five quality starts in his last six outings. The righty faces a Pittsburgh lineup that is scuffling, scoring no more than four runs in eight of its last nine games. It has scored two runs or fewer in five of its last eight.
Read our Pirates vs Marlins prediction for need-to-know MLB stats, trends and more
MLB Best Bet: Milwaukee Brewers ML over San Diego Padres (-138)
The Brewers boast the best record in Major League Baseball (74-44) and they have been very good on the road (33-32). Milwaukee should be in line for more success on Tuesday with Kyle Harrison taking the mound. Harrison may not be Jacob Misiorowski, but he is certainly a great option for the Brew Crew. The left-hander is 9-2 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 111-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 88.2 innings. Harrison faced the Padres on May 14 and befuddled them to the tune of 5.0 innings of shutout baseball with seven K's and zero walks en route to a 7-1 victory. Walker Buehler is going for San Diego. The righty checks in with a 5.07 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Count on Harrison getting more than enough run support from an offense that is producing on a consistent basis.
Read our full Brewers vs Padres prediction
