Ricky Dimon
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a modest 8-game slate on Thursday. It includes Braves vs Phillies, Diamondbacks vs Brewers and Cubs vs Giants. The Pickswise team is on an 11-2 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 Thursday, August 28.
MLB best bet: Boston Red Sox -1.5 over Baltimore Orioles (-101)
Odds available at Bet365 Sportsbook at time of publishing
You have to like Boston’s chances of winning big on Thursday. The Red Sox have been the far superior outfit compared to the Orioles this season, plus they have the pitching advantage. Boston comes in at 74-60, while Baltimore has long since been unofficially eliminated from playoff contention at 60-73. Yes, the O’s are playing at home – but it’s not like they have been good even at Camden Yards this year. In fact, they are 31-36 in their home park. Adding insult to injury for the Orioles, it’s Cade Povich vs Garrett Crochet on Thursday.
Povich is 2-7 with a 5.13 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. The left-hander has not been any better than the norm this month, either. His August ERA is 5.03 and Baltimore has lost his last 4 starts in succession. Meanwhile, Crochet is 14-5 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 207 strikeouts compared to just 42 walks in 166.1 innings. In his only previous start against the O’s, he befuddled them to the tune of 8.0 shutout innings. All signs point to the Sox taking care of business, and they have an even better shot at covering the -1.5 run line since they are guaranteed a full 9 innings’ worth of at-bats as the visitors.
MLB best bet: San Francisco Giants ML over Chicago Cubs (-117)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
The Giants are suddenly playing stellar baseball. It’s way too little and way too late, but (as of Wednesday evening) they have won 3 in a row on the heels of a 4-game losing streak. After taking 2 of 3 from Milwaukee, San Francisco can continue playing its spoiler role against Chicago – a club it defeated 5-2 in the series opener on Tuesday.
Playing at home may not help the Giants a ton (after all, the Cubs are pretty good everywhere), but it certainly doesn’t hurt. The Cubs are 16 games over .500 at Wrigley Field compared to a more modest 4 over .500 as visitors. Now they have to go up against Logan Webb, who is 12-9 with a 3.13 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 180-to-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 166.2 innings of work. Chicago is countering with Shota Imanaga, so this is an all-around fantastic pitching matchup. But with Webb on the mound and being in San Fran, I will happily roll with the G-Men.
