Ricky Dimon
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a full 15-game slate on Saturday. It includes Mariners vs Braves, Astros vs Rangers, Mets vs Reds and Giant vs Cardinals. The Pickswise team is on an 23-8 run in this MLB best bets series. Let’s build on that momentum and hopefully deliver some more winners today!
Make sure you also check out our MLB picks for every game on Saturday, September 6.
MLB best bet: Atlanta Braves ML over Seattle Mariners (-124)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
The Mariners, Rangers and several other clubs are locked in a fascinating battle for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League. A struggling Seattle squad still has a half-game lead in the #3 position, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves on the outside by the end of the night.
Seattle has lost 4 in a row after dropping its series opener in Atlanta via a 4-1 decision on Friday. A once proud offense is now sputtering, and things may get worse before they get better since Hurston Waldrep is on the mound for Atlanta. Waldrep is 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, electrifying an otherwise mediocre Braves team throughout the second half of the season. Atlanta has long since been eliminated from realistic playoff contention, but it has been playing the spoiler role pretty well. It should be able to do it again tonight at the expense of an opponent that is 9 games under .500 on the road this year.
Read our full Mariners vs Braves prediction
MLB best bet: Texas Rangers ML over Houston Astros (-120)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
Don’t look now, but the Rangers are in contention for the AL West crown; if that doesn’t come to fruition, they also have a chance to steal a wild card from Seattle. This Texas team is 10-3 in its last 13 contests, while Houston is 2-5 in its last 7 after falling in the series opener 4-3 in 12 innings on Friday.
Count on the Rangers maintaining momentum. They are playing at home, where a 43-27 record far outweighs a 30-42 road mark. Similarly, the Astros are 11 games over .500 at home but just 1 game over .500 on the road. As if that isn’t enough, Texas also has Jacob deGrom toeing the rubber. Houston is going with a formidable starter of its own in Hunter Brown, but he gave up 4 runs in 5.0 innings the last time he faced Texas. As for deGrom, he is 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. The right-hander is sporting a 2.20 ERA at home and a 1.29 ERA in 2 starts against the ‘Stros.
Read our full Astros vs Rangers prediction
