Our free MLB Picks are out for Saturday, August 28th, 2021! Make sure you check our MLB Picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
New York Yankees @ Oakland Athletics – 4.07PM ET
This Saturday afternoon clash between the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics will be the third of a four game series. The Yankees have won both games in this series so far, winning the first game 7-6, and winning the second game, 8-2.
Tim Newton
I am writing this prediction before the start of the second game of the series, played on Friday, but I am liking the Yankees regardless. They scraped over the line in the opener, for their 12th straight win, despite having everything go against them and they are proving to be a class team on both sides of the ball. They have scored the third most runs and allowed the third fewest runs over the last 15 days, while Oakland ranks 13th and 18th respectively.
Swinging things in New York’s favor even more is the selection to start Nestor Cortes Jr., who is 2-1 with a 2.56 ERA from 15 games, seven of which were starts. His 2-1 record comes exclusively from those seven starts, where he has allowed just 12 runs from 36.2 innings of work. Those are some incredible numbers and I like him to help the Yankees get the job done in this one.
Tim’s MLB Pick: New York Yankees (-116)
Lucky 13 🍀#SquadUp pic.twitter.com/86cYbGf3W7
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 28, 2021
Katherine Mouradian
It was a close one in the first game, but the Yankees put on a more dominant performance in the second game. The Yankees are now just four and a half games behind the AL East leading Rays, whereas the Athletics are six games behind the AL West leading Astros. The Yankees have won 70 of their previous 101 games on a Saturday, and they have won 35 of their previous 51 games in total.
The Athletics season seems to be falling apart at the seams, and they have won just one of their previous sevens games against a team in the AL East, and have lost all five of their previous games at home. I could make a case for each of these teams, but the Yankees have all the momentum both in this series and in the season at the moment. I think the Yankees will be able to get another win here this afternoon.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: New York Yankees (-116)
Kansas City Royals @ Seattle Mariners – 4.10PM ET
This Saturday afternoon clash between the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners will be the third of a four game series. Both the games in this series so far have been won by the Royals. The Royals won the first game, 6-4, and they won the second game, 8-7.
Tim Newton
I wasn’t too surprised that the Mariners dropped the opener, given the pitching choices made, and I am even more confused in this one. Kansas City has the edge on paper, with Carlos Hernandez putting up a 4-1 record with a 3.97 ERA from 19 games, seven of which were starts.
All four games in August have been starts and he has given up just seven runs across 24.2 innings of work and could give Seattle fits in this one. They have proven to be vulnerable and may cost themselves a spot in the postseason with their play in this series.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Kansas City Royals (+130)
Katherine Mouradian
The game that never ended! It took 12 innings for the Royals to eventually get the win against the mariners, winning 8-7. The first game in this series was also a fairly close win, with the Royals winning that one as well, 6-4. The Royals have won just 17 of their previous 52 games on the road, and they have won only 43 of their previous 146 when it comes to the third game of a series.
When looking at the Mariners, they have won five of their previous six games when they go in as the favorite, and they have won 10 of their previous 13 meetings with the Royals. The game ended so late last night, and there will be a lot of tired bodies and minds in the field tomorrow afternoon. Also with both pitchers in pretty good form, I’m going to take a punt on the under for this clash.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Under
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Philadelphia Phillies – 6.05PM ET
This Saturday evening game will be the third of a four game series between the Diamondbacks and the Phillies. The series is currently locked up at one game a piece, and both games have been very close. The first game was won by the Diamondbacks, 8-7, and the second game was won by the Phillies in 11 innings, 7-6.
Tim Newton
Given I am writing this before Friday’s game, it is hard to get a proper read, but these sides have played each other multiple times over the last two weeks and Arizona has taken the first four, including Thursday’s win in the opener. Philadelphia are playing for a playoff spot, sitting 5.5 games back from the Braves on top of the NL East, while the Diamondbacks are just playing home wreckers.
However, Arizona is starting Humberto Mejia who has had just one game this season where he started and gave up two runs from six hits over five innings. I think that the Phillies will be able to take better advantage of this, more so than the Pirates, and get on top and keep their postseason hopes alive.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Philadelphia Phillies (-220)
Found a way: https://t.co/dzC5fDc90N#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/UOLIuBaUcb
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 28, 2021
Katherine Mouradian
Similar narrow scorelines in the first two clashes make this game even more interesting on Saturday night, and to top it off, the series is currently level. The Diamondback are dead last in the NL West, by 40 games, and are now just playing for pride. Whereas the Phillies are in second, just five and a half games behind the NL East leading Braves, so they need to get all the wins they can, especially against the lower level teams.
When it comes to some recent stats, the Phillies have won just three of their previous 11 when playing a team in the NL West, and they have won five of their previous seven when it comes to the third game of a series. Looking at the Diamondbacks now, they have won just 13 of their previous 51 when it comes to the third game of a series, and they have won only 18 of their previous 63 when playing a team who has a right handed starter. The money is rightly with the Phillies, and I think you can’t go past this team when coming up against a team like the Diamondbacks.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Philadelphia Phillies (-220)
Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox – 7.10PM ET
This Saturday evening clash between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox will be the second of a three game series. The first game of this series was played on Friday and it was very high scoring, with the White Sox eventually getting the win 17-13.
Tim Newton
I’m going to go ahead and assume that the White Sox have taken the opener and I am backing them to take this clash as well. Lance Lynn is starting for the home team and he has been incredible this season.
A 10-3 record is paired with a 2.20 ERA and he has given up more than one run just twice since the start of July, which is nine games. Going up against a Cubs offense that ranks 18th for runs over the last two weeks, I like his chances to continue his good form and help the White Sox come up with the win.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Chicago White Sox (-300)
Katherine Mouradian
Wow, the first game was interesting to watch! The Cubs were off to a flying start and they scored six runs in the first innings, then the White Sox striked back in a major way in the third innings, scoring eight runs. The White Sox have won just one of their previous five games played on a Saturday, but they have won 57 of their previous 83 when playing a team that has a losing record.
Looking now at the Cubs, they have won 14 of their previous 54 games overall and have won just seven of their previous 28 games on the road. Even though the Cubs were able to put up a good fight (and a good show) last time out, I think they are no match for the class of a team like the White Sox. I’ll be on the White Sox to win the game on Saturday.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Chicago White Sox (-300)
San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta Braves – 7.20PM ET
This Saturday evening clash between the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves will be the second of a three game series. The first game was played on Friday and was won by the Braves, 6-5.
Tim Newton
I like the Giants in this one. They have the best record in baseball and are starting Logan Webb, who is 7-3 with an impressive 2.84 ERA. I think he will be able to get on top of the Braves offensive, which has shown signs of weakness lately.
Added incentive in this one is the fact that the Yankees just went 2/2 in Atlanta and New York are contesting San Francisco for one of the best teams in the majors right now. The Giants also have the Dodgers right on their heels and need to keep winning to stay on top of the division and get the easier crossover game in the postseason.
Tim’s MLB Pick: San Francisco Giants (+106)
Corner Pocket pic.twitter.com/Zl1o0V9AV4
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 27, 2021
Katherine Mouradian
The Giants are at the top of the NL West and the Braves are at the top of the NL East, but the Braves win percentage so far this season is .543, whereas the Giants are sitting at .648. The loss last time out for the Giants snapped a five game winning streak and the Braves have now won eight of their previous 10. The Giants have won all six of their previous clashes when it comes to the second game of a series, and they have won 35 of their previous 52 games on the road.
The Braves have won six of their previous seven games played on a Sunday, and they have won four of their previous five when it comes to the second game of a series. Despite the loss in the first game, I’m going to stick with the Giants. Webb, for the Giants, has been pitching well as of late, and I think the inconsistency with some of the Braves players makes me doubt if they can get another win against the best team in the league.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: San Francisco Giants +1.5 (-188)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
