The dog days of August are finally here. As the weather gets even hotter, so are pennant races across Major League Baseball. This afternoon, fans will be treated to a potential World Series preview when the Tigers visit the Phillies. Later, Alex Bregman faces his old team when the Red Sox host the Astros. As a nightcap, tune in to the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol between the Braves and Reds.
With so many games on tap, there’s plenty of enticing wagers on the board. Before the start of Saturday’s matchups, here are three MLB bets to consider on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Brewers -1.5 (-112)
It’s not often where I back a favorite to cover the spread at -112. However, it’s impossible not to back the Brewers this afternoon. Milwaukee enters Saturday at 65-44, having won 16 of its last 20 games. To make things even more enticing, the team will hand the ball to Brandon Woodruff. In four starts since returning from injury, the former All-Star owns a 2.01 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 ratio. He’ll face a Washington lineup averaging 4.06 runs per game at home, the ninth-worst mark in baseball.
It’s not as if the Nationals have an ace on the mound to counter Woodruff. Jake Irvin isn’t a scrub, but his season-long numbers leave much to be desired (4.69 ERA, 1.30 WHIP). Over five career appearances vs. Milwaukee, the right-hander has recorded a lackluster 5.84 ERA. It’s difficult to envision an improved performance today against an absolutely loaded Brewers lineup.
Tigers vs. Phillies over 6.5 total runs (-103)
Citizens Bank Park is the sight of a marquee pitching matchup. Phillies ace Zack Wheeler will get the nod, hoping to continue his superb season. Through 133.2 innings of work, the right-hander has accounted for a 2.56 ERA along with a league-leading 0.89 WHIP and 172 strikeouts. On the other side, it’ll be reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Through 21 starts for Detroit this season, the left-hander owns a 2.09 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 171 strikeouts.
With two arms such as these, the over feels like a bold choice. However, it doesn’t take much to go past 6.5 runs, even when two workhorses take the mound. Both of these clubs rank inside the top ten in runs scored per game. It helps that Wheeler has surrendered four runs in two of his last three outings. The Tigers have had significant bullpen troubles, as seen during Friday’s 5-4 loss. If the Phillies can make Skubal work, there could be more late-game scoring tonight.
Braves ML (-121)
As previously mentioned, the MLB Speedway Classic is upon us. While the locale is unique, this isn’t the juiciest matchup on tonight’s slate. The Braves are out of playoff contention, despite their star-studded roster. Among the big names in Atlanta, Spencer Strider stands out. Despite missing time with injuries, the right-hander remains an effective starter. Through 77.2 innings pitched, he’s notched a 3.71 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10.7 K/9.
In many ways, Chase Burns is a similar pitcher to Strider. The rookie is a true fireballer, posting a whopping 14.8 K/9 through six starts. Unfortunately, he’s also on the hook for a 6.26 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. Saturday’s game is not ideal for a pitcher that lacks command. Atlanta’s offense ranks third in baseball with 3.61 walks per game. In addition, the 22-year-old will be facing an intense environment under the bright lights of Bristol. I’ll gladly back the more experienced Strider and his Braves in this one.
