MLB Best Bets for Saturday August thirtieth: Top Baseball Betting Picks, Predictions

Several games in another sport are taking place today that will get plenty of attention. But bettors would be wise not to overlook Major League Baseball. There are several intriguing games on the docket, some of which made our MLB Best Bets list for Saturday, Aug. 30.

No promises, of course. But if you are looking for a few markets to focus your research on before you bet, we suggest the following wagers (odds via FanDuel).

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros

This is not an exciting matchup. We’ve got the best team in the AL West (Houston) facing the worst (Angels). Both are sending pitchers to the mound with losing records: Kyle Hendricks (6-9) for Houston and Spencer Arrighetti (1-5) for Los Angeles. Both also carry high ERAs (Hendricks, 5.04; Arrighetti, 6.21).

Surely, with such pitchers, we are in for a high-scoring game, right? Not necessarily. The Angels are hitting just .176 over the last week, while Houston is batting .256. However, Arrighetti has actually been lights out when pitching at home (1-1, 2.45 ERA, .059 opponent batting average).

Our Pick: UNDER 9 at -110

I like Houston to win this one straight up (moneyline: -162) or against the run line (-1.5 at +116). But the Angels’ lineup can’t be trusted to contribute, and Houston’s hitters have struggled at times in recent weeks. Houston will win, but the UNDER is the best bet.

Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies

The struggle continues for the Rockies, who have lost three in a row and seven of their last eight. They are struggling at the plate (.210 over the last week), and it’s hard to have confidence in a rookie pitcher. McCade Brown owns a 9.82 ERA and has just one brief start under his belt.

Javier Assad showed some rust coming off the 60-day injured list, but after being optioned down and recalled, he looked sharp in his latest outing. On Aug. 22 against the Angels, he pitched six innings, allowing two hits and one earned run.

Our Pick: Cubs -1.5 at -132

Chicago has been hitting well (.278 over the last week) and should be able to beat up on Brown. When Colorado pulls him, the beating will continue against one of the worst bullpens in baseball.

Assad is pitching well enough to keep the Rockies’ lineup quiet with help from a solid bullpen.

Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics

Merrill Kelly has been steady for the Rangers since they acquired him from Arizona. He’s averaging two earned runs allowed per game and carries a 3.10 ERA in a Texas uniform.

The A’s are calling up highly touted prospect Mason Barnett. But his 6.13 ERA across 119 innings at the Triple-A level does not inspire confidence as he makes his MLB debut.

Our Pick: Rangers ML at -132

Kelly has been sharp and should continue that trend against a lackluster Oakland lineup. While Barnett’s track record in Triple-A is unimpressive, that doesn’t mean he can’t get it done in the majors. Still, with how Texas has been swinging the bat lately, the Rangers are the safe pick.