We're back to doing what we do best: hammering some MLB openers for the following day! Join us in this betting guide as we provide some odds, predictions, and best bets for Tuesday, August 27.
Quick Note: As always, we highly recommend choosing Listed Pitchers when playing opening lines in Major League Baseball. This will protect you when a manager decides to make a last-minute to the starter. It happens a whole lot more than many folks realize.
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ATL at MIN - 7:40 PM EDT
I was able to snag this beautiful number right at the open, but I still like Atlanta at anything under -130 or so. I've been riding Spencer Schwellenbach pretty frequently this season and it's paid off handsomely for us. The rookie right-hander has grown by leaps and bounds during his 14 MLB starts this year.
Schwellenbach hits 96 with his fastball but it's his devastating mix of breaking pitches (cutter, slider, curve, and splitter) that makes him quite dangerous. Minnesota has some serious pop in its lineup, but none of the Twins hitters has seen Schwellenbach's stuff.
Simeon Woods Richarson (The Law Firm) has made us a few units this year, but he's nowhere near the caliber of Schwellenbach. Even with yet another devastating injury to Austin Riley, Atlanta's bats have sprung to life (8th in WRC+ since July 27th). Both teams have good bullpens, but I give Atlanta a slight edge there as well. Let's play the Bravos!
SD at STL - 7:45 PM EDT
Man, this line looks way too cheap for a stud like Dylan Cease. The 28-year-old righty continues to be among the league leaders in K-rate, whiff rate, and fastball velocity. Saint Louis has been playing better of late, but Cease is the kind of guy that can silence their bats.
Miles Mikolas pitched a gem against the Brew Crew during his last start, but I think that was an anomaly. Mikolas is just 8-10 this year with a bloated ERA of 5.19. He has good control, but his stuff is anything but dominant. It wouldn't surprise me if these Padre bats knocked Mikolas out of this one early.
San Diego also has a huge edge with how its bullpen has been performing of late. The Padres added some nice arms at the trade deadline and that's already started to pay dividends. I was shocked that this price wasn't in the -160 range, so let's ride the Padres to the pay window once again!