Free MLB Picks For Today, Saturday 8/31/2024

In the starter slot for the Cardinals on Saturday it’ll be Kyle Gibson. So far Gibson is 7-6 with a 4.54 ERA in 25 starts. Over 325 career games (319 starts) Gibson is 111-106 with a 4.54 ERA. 

The starting pitcher for New York on Saturday will be Will Warren. So far Warren is 0-2 with a 9.68 ERA in the first four starts of his MLB career.

The Pick:

On Friday the Cardinals had a couple of bad innings, giving up three runs in the third frame alone. St. Louis did have a pretty solid offensive night, but couldn’t cash in on many of their opportunities. The Cards should be competitive on Saturday, though. Take the Cards at +138.

Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Cubs at Nationals 4:05 PM ET

Getting the start for the Cubs will be Javier Assad, who sits with a 6-4 record and an ERA of 3.15. In his last start against the Miami Marlins, he went seven innings giving up six hits and three runs.

Getting the start for the Nationals will be DJ Herz, who sits with a 2-6 record and an ERA of 3.84. In his last start against the Atlanta Braves, he was good going five innings giving up one hit and zero runs. 

The Pick:

This game is going to be a low-scoring affair. Hertz in his last start gave up zero runs and although his record might only be 2-6 it’s been because of the lack of run support. Assad gets the start for the Cubs and he’s going to have a dominant start here. The Nationals and Cubs bats are both going to be ice cold all game and this game will end up staying under the total. This is one of the top plays on the board. Go Under 9.5 runs at -135.

San Diego Padres vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Padres at Rays 4:10 PM ET

The projected starting pitcher for San Diego is Randy Vasquez, who is 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP over 87.2 innings pitched this year. Vasquez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in two of his last three starts.

The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Shane Baz, who is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 44.0 innings pitched this season. Baz has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last five starts. 

The Pick:

Tampa Bay had some momentum a few series ago, but their offense is way too inconsistent for sustained success. Both of these starting pitchers have been pretty solid over the last few starts, but I can’t trust the Tampa Bay offense. Give me the Padres to get another win here at +108. 

Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Red Sox at Tigers 6:10 PM ET

The starter for Saturday will be Boston’s Nick Pivetta. This year in 21 games (20 starts) Pivetta is 5-9 with a 4.61 ERA. Over 217 career games (172 starts) Pivetta is 55-68 with a 4.83 ERA.

It’ll be Tarik Skubal in the starter role for the Tigers on Saturday. This season Skubal is 15-4 with a 2.58 ERA in 26 starts. Skubal is 38-31 with a 3.49 ERA in 101 career games (98 starts).

The Pick:

I’m leaning toward the Tigers. Skubal does need a bit of a bounce-back start, though. In the White Sox game, he gave up three earned on eight hits in 5.0 innings but still got the win. In the two starts prior Skubal went 1-0 with just two earned in 12.0 frames. As for Pivetta, he’s coming off five earned in 5.0 innings versus the Astros. Back the Tigers at -141.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Pirates at Guardians 6:10 PM ET

Getting the start for the Pirates will be Luis Ortiz who sits with a 5-4 record and an ERA 3.34. In his last start against the Cincinnati Reds, he went six innings giving up four hits and zero runs. 

Getting the start for the Guardians will be Matthew Boyd who sits with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 2.70. In his last start against the Texas Rangers, he went six innings giving up three hits and one run. 

The Pick:

The Pirates and Guardians are both going to really struggle to get the offense going here, and this will be a classic pitcher's duel. Boyd in his last start gave up only one run and he’s going to dominate here. Ortiz gave up zero runs in his last start and he’s going to dominate again here. Neither team is going to end up reaching three runs and this game is going to end up staying under the total. Go Under 8.5 runs at -110.

Oakland Athletics vs Texas Rangers Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Athletics at Rangers 7:05 PM ET

Joey Estes gets the ball for the Oakland Athletics, and he is 6-6 with a 4.37 ERA and 76 strikeouts this season. Estes has allowed 20 hits and 10 runs in his last 29.2 innings. Estes has a 7.17 ERA and .291 allowed batting average in 42.2 road innings. This will be Estes’ first career game against the Texas Rangers.

Cody Bradford gets the ball for the Texas Rangers, and he is 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 44 strikeouts this season. Bradford has allowed 23 hits and 10 earned runs in his last 27.2 innings. Bradford has a 2.75 ERA and a .188 allowed batting average in 36 home innings. Bradford is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 8 strikeouts in his career against the Oakland Athletics.

The Pick:

The Texas Rangers should be favored at home with the better pitcher Cody Bradford on the mound. However, neither the A's nor Rangers have anything to play for at this stage, so I kind of want a decent price if backing either side. Joey Estes has been a mess on the road through 42.2 innings, but the Oakland Athletics have been crushing the ball this week offensively. If that continues, the Athletics are going to give this plus money price a run for its money. I'll take a shot with the road dog at +118 in game 2.

Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Royals at Astros 7:10 PM ET

As a starter for Saturday, the Royals will send out Cole Ragans. This year in 27 starts Ragans is 10-8 with a 3.28 ERA. In 65 career games (48 starts) Ragans is 17-16 with a 3.57 ERA.

In the starter slot for the Astros on Saturday they’re going with Yusei Kikuchi. Over his 27 starts, Kikuchi is 6-9 with a 4.39 ERA. Kikuchi has a 4.65 career ERA and a 38-46 record in 161 career games (149 starts).

The Pick:

I’m going with Houston at -143. Kikuchi had a couple of spotty moments in his last start versus Baltimore, ending up with three earned in 5.2 innings for a no-decision. In his two starts prior, however, Kikuchi had two earned in a combined 11.1 innings. As for Ragans, he’s 1-1 in his last three with six earned (four in one start) over 16.0 innings total.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Minnesota Twins Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Blue Jays at Twins 7:10 PM ET

The projected starting pitcher for Toronto is Jose Berrios, who is 13-9 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 164.1 innings pitched this year. Berrios has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four straight starts.

The projected starting pitcher for Minnesota is Zebby Matthews, who is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over 15.0 innings pitched this season. Matthews has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three straight starts. 

The Pick:

Minnesota was able to pick up a much-needed win in game one of this series and they will look to make it two in a row here. The Twins are 38-29 at home this year, while the Blue Jays are just 32-38 on the road. Toronto is last in the AL East standings, but they have played decently well over the last two weeks. Toronto is playing the better baseball right now and I like how Berrios has looked in his last four starts, so give me the Blue Jays on the road here at +134. 

New York Mets vs Chicago White Sox Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Mets at White Sox 7:10 PM ET

The New York Mets will send out Jose Quintana for the start here and Quintana is 6-9 with a 4.36 ERA and 106 strikeouts this season. In his career, Quintana is 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA and 11 strikeouts against the White Sox.

Davis Martin will start for the White Sox here and Martin is 0-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 26 strikeouts this season. This will be Martin’s first career start against the Mets.

The Pick:

Martin has been one of the bright spots that the White Sox still have in this rotation, and while Quintana has had his share of struggles this season and in his career against the White Sox, this year’s edition of the White Sox has been brutal against lefties and have just been poor offensively for the better part of the season as it is. This to me just feels like a game with a lack of offense and as a result, an under that comes in the end. Give me the Under 9 runs at -110 here.

Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Braves at Phillies 7:15 PM ET

The projected starting pitcher for Atlanta is Max Fried, who is 8-7 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 133.2 innings pitched this year. Fried has allowed two earned runs or fewer in two straight starts, including a very solid start against the Phillies. 

The projected starting pitcher for Philadelphia is Zack Wheeler, who is 12-6 with a 2.74 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over 160.2 innings pitched this season. Wheeler has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts. 

The Pick:

The Braves are 38-33 on the road this year, while the Phillies are 45-25 at home. Philadelphia has one of the best home records in the MLB this season and they are starting Zack Wheeler, who has been fantastic over the last few weeks. The Braves are going with Max Fried, who has been a little inconsistent, but has had two very good starts in a row. I like how the Braves are playing right now, but I am not going against Wheeler. Take the Phillies here at -140. 

Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Brewers at Reds 7:15 PM ET

Getting the start for the Brewers will be Frankie Montas who sits with a 6-9 record and an ERA of 4.64. In his last start against the Oakland Athletics, he went six innings giving up five hits and four runs. 

Fernando Cruz is listed as a starter for the Reds in what should be a bullpen day. The 34-year-old reliever is 1-3 this season with an ERA of 5.17. In his last appearance against the A's, Cruz pitched for three innings and allowed one run on two hits, while striking out six.

The Pick:

The Brewers have the momentum heading into this game, but that is going to stop here. Frankie Montas is on the mound for the Brewers and I don’t trust him. The Reds offense struggled on Friday but that isn’t going to be the case here. The Brewers offense also used up most of their offense on Friday and they are going to struggle with the bats here. Back the Reds on the money line at -130 to cash. 

Baltimore Orioles vs Colorado Rockies Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Orioles at Rockies 8:10 PM ET

The Baltimore Orioles will send out Dean Kremer for the start here and Kremer is 6-9 with a 4.31 ERA and 96 strikeouts this season. This will be Kremer’s first career start against the Rockies. 

Ryan Feltner will get the start for Colorado here and is 1-10 with a 4.95 ERA and 109 strikeouts this season. This will be Feltner’s first career start against Baltimore.

The Pick:

Feltner’s stunk it up for much of the year for the Rockies, while Kremer was a money machine in terms of team record last year, but a lot of that was Baltimore’s offense backing him up as Kremer still had an ERA over four. This is also Kremer’s Coors debut which is never easy for any pitcher. Give me the Over 11 runs at -135 here.

LA Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Dodgers at Diamondbacks 8:10 PM ET

Gavin Stone gets the ball for the LA Dodgers, and he is 11-5 with a 3.33 ERA and 112 strikeouts this season. Stone has allowed 22 hits and 10 runs in his last 27.2 innings. Stone has a 3.59 ERA and a .250 allowed batting average in 62.2 road innings. Stone is 0-1 with an 8.00 ERA and 8 strikeouts in his career against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Merrill Kelly gets the ball for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he is 4-0 with a 3.98 ERA and 32 strikeouts this season. Kelly has allowed 18 hits and 12 runs in his last 16 innings. Kelly has a 2.28 ERA and a .171 allowed batting average in 23.2 home innings. Kelly is 0-11 with a 5.49 ERA and 69 strikeouts in his career against the LA Dodgers.

The Pick:

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the plus money at home is worth a look, considering they've been one of the best teams in the second half of the season. However, Merrill Kelly has been absolutely owned by the Dodgers in his career, which includes an 0-11 record in 16 appearances. We're also getting the Dodgers at a reasonably cheap price, which we don't see often. Give me the Dodgers at -133.

Miami Marlins vs San Francisco Giants Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Marlins at Giants 9:05 PM ET

The Miami Marlins will send out Edward Cabrera here and Cabrera is 2-6 with a 5.60 ERA and 81 strikeouts this season. In his career, Cabrera is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 18 strikeouts against San Francisco.

The San Francisco Giants did not have a starting pitcher announced at the time that this article was posted.

The Pick:

I just can’t get on board with Edward Cabrera as he still has a bloated ERA on the road this season and the Marlins offensively are back to struggling to produce run support for their starting pitchers. It would be nice to know who the Giants are sending out here, but whoever it is, the Giants are still the better team, the more trustworthy team, and the only team with anything of consequence to fight for in this weekend's series. I just can’t get there with Miami. Give me the Giants at -137 in this one.

Seattle Mariners vs LA Angels Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

Mariners at Angels 9:38 PM ET

Bryan Woo gets the ball for the Seattle Mariners, and he is 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 68 strikeouts this season. Woo has allowed 20 hits and 6 earned runs in his last 34 innings. Woo has a 2.56 ERA and a .213 allowed batting average in 45.2 road innings. Woo is 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 24 strikeouts in his career against the LA Angels.

Tyler Anderson gets the ball for the LA Angels, and he is 10-12 with a 3.41 ERA and 122 strikeouts this season. Anderson has allowed 32 hits and 17 earned runs in his last 27.2 innings. Anderson has a 4.46 ERA and a .249 allowed batting average in 82.2 home innings. Anderson is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA and 34 strikeouts in his career against the Seattle Mariners.

The Pick:

Bryan Woo has been one of the better pitchers in the AL this season, while Tyler Anderson doesn't get enough run support more times than not. There are no excuses for the Mariners. If the Mariners are going to make a push in the month of September, they need to take advantage of series like this. Give me the Mariners to cover -1.5 at +106.