The week in Major League Baseball continues with a full 15-game slate on Saturday. It is headlined by a couple of regionally televised showdowns on FOX at 7:15 pm ET, with the Dodgers visiting the Cardinals and the Tigers hosting the Rangers. Other matchups include Orioles vs Yankees, Diamondbacks vs Cubs and Astros vs Red Sox.
Here are my best bets, and also make sure to check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the 2026 season.
Chicago Cubs ML over Arizona Diamondbacks (-170)
Like most of the National League Central, the Cubs are rolling these days. They are 20-12 overall and 12-5 at home. The Diamondbacks are 16-15 but under .500 on the road (8-9) after losing 6-5 at Wrigley Field on Friday. Based partly on the pitching matchup, the North Siders should be in line for more success this afternoon. Shota Imanaga has compiled a nice 3.15 ERA through 6 appearances in 2026. For the Snakes, Ryne Nelson is saddled with a 7.71 ERA through his 6 outings. He allowed an absurd 14 runs in his last 5.1 innings against the Padres and Blue Jays. All of that is especially bad news when Nelson is about to face a Chicago lineup that is among the most productive in baseball — ranking near the top of the league with a .777 OPS and averaging 5.5 runs per game. Let’s back the Cubbies with confidence.
Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox Under 9 (-108)
A total of 9 is too big for a pitching matchup between Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti and Boston’s Connelly Early. Through 3 starts in 2026, Arrighetti is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 18.0 innings. He most recently faced the Yankees last weekend, pitching 7.0 innings of 1-run baseball with 8 strikeouts and just 1 walk. Early has made 6 appearances and is sporting a 2-1 record with a 2.84 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. The lefty also impressed in his last start, working 6.2 innings against the Orioles while yielding only 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 free pass. Early has never faced Houston during his young career, and unfamiliarity generally favors the pitcher. Boston probably needs Early to be dominant again, because run support could be lacking. The Red Sox are second-to-last in the American League in runs scored, leading Texas by only 1 in that department. They have scored just 4 total runs in their last 3 games.
New York Mets vs Los Angeles Angels Under 8 (-112)
The combination of Nolan McLean on the mound and the Mets’ batters – basically all of them – at the plate points to a low-scoring affair. New York stinks, but Nolan McLean has been a bright spot. The right-hander comes in with a 2.55 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. He has picked up only 2 wins, however, because of scarce run support. McLean worked 5.0 innings in his last start, allowing 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 7 during a 3-1 loss to Colorado. The Angels are countering with Reid Detmers, who has been solid but unspectacular in 2026. “Solid” is normally more than good enough to handle the Mets. New York’s lineup has been bad against everyone so far this season, but it has been especially woeful against left-handed pitching (.212 batting average, 63 strikeouts). The Mets won 4-3 on Friday and another low-scoring contest is likely in the cards.
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