Our free MLB Picks are out for Wednesday, August 25th, 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!
Kansas City Royals @ Houston Astros – 2.10PM ET
After the Kansas City Royals continued their good form against the Houston Astros in the series opener, the home side pegged one back last night, winning 4-0. They now face off in the rubber tonight, with this game meaning everything for the Astros and their postseason prospects.
.@TeamCJCorrea provided the offense.
Tonight’s @budweiserusa Player of the Game.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/mmbvxLm3XJ
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 25, 2021
Tim Newton
While the Royals have claimed four of the last six against the Astros, there is no surprise to see Houston open as -255 favourites for this clash. There is a 17.5 game difference between these two teams this season, Houston’s run differential is 275 runs better than the Royals and they bounced back with a 4-0 win last night. They are also starting Lance McCullers Jr in this clash, who is 10-4 with a 3.21 ERA from his 21 games this season. His opposing starter is 11-year veteran Mike Minors, who is 8-11 with an ERA of 5.34 from 25 starts. Despite pitching in four less games and having 21 innings less work this season, McCullars has more strikeouts than Minors. Given the Astros have a top level batting lineup and the superior starting pitcher, they should get this comfortably.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros -1.5 (-118)
Katherine Mouradian
After the Royals surprising win in the first game in this series, the Astros were able to bounce back and take this series to a final game decider. The Astros were good enough to keep the Royals scoreless last time out, and they will need another good performance this afternoon. The Astros have won 10 of their previous 14 games played on a Wednesday, but have only won one of their previous five when it comes to the third game of a series. The Royals have won only 43 of their previous 145 clashes when it comes to the third game of a series, but in their previous five meetings with the Astros, they have won four of them. The Royals pitcher, Minor, hasn’t really offered up anything special, but the Astros pitcher, McCullers, has been playing well. I’ll be on the Astros.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros (-255)
Mike Su
The Astros picked up a win against the Royals last game and look to do so again. After the Athletics’ loss to the Mariners the Astros have widened their lead for the division crown. The Royals are playing well down the stretch, but it is too late for them to make the playoffs. Kansas City are not interested in tanking and are still playing well against good teams, including a win against the Astros 2 games ago. Nonetheless, the Royals have nothing to play for while the Astros look to further pull away in this game and generate momentum going into the playoffs. The Astros are starting Lance McCullers Jr to do the job. McCullers Jr has been good this year with a 10-4 record and a solid 3.21 ERA. McCullers Jr has 5 more strikeouts than Royals starter Mike Minor despite playing 21 less innings. Overall, despite the Royals good form, it is hard to see the Astros losing another one to the Royals.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Houston Astros (-255)
Los Angeles Angels @ Baltimore Orioles – 7.05PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles played out a high-scoring affair last night that saw the former come out on top 14-8. The Angels will now try to add another loss to the Orioles 19-game losing streak and have Shohei Ohtani starting on the mound for them to do so.
Tim Newton
The Orioles are now just two games away from their franchise record for consecutive losses, meaning the pressure is continually building for them. While they have to break through for a win eventually, tonight is not that night. The Angels are starting Ohtani, who is clear favourite for the AL MVP, has scored the most home runs in the majors and still sports an 8-1 record with an ERA of 2.79, which ranks 8th amongst qualified pitchers. Without him in the lineup, there is no telling how bad this LA team would be, but they have him, the Orioles don’t and that is more than enough to swing things in favor of the road team.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (-113)
Katherine Mouradian
When will this misery end for the Orioles and their fans? Well unsurprisingly, the Orioles have lost the first game of this series to the Angels, and now have lost 19 games in a row. The Angels bounced back well after a 0-3 series loss to the Indians, by putting on a decent performance against the Orioles. The Angels have won five of their previous six games played on a Wednesday, but have won just two of their previous 11 when it comes to the second game of a series. Now looking at the Orioles, they have won 29 of their previous 92 when playing a team in the AL West, and have won only 13 of their previous 53 games on a Wednesday. Even the Orioles playing at home wasn’t enough for them to even get a sniff of a chance of winning the first game of this series, and I think it is going to be more of the same again tonight. Back the Angels for a convincing win!
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (-113)
Mike Su
The Angels look to follow up their 14-8 obliteration of the Orioles with another dominant performance. The Orioles have been embarrassing this season, especially down the stretch. They have now lost 19 in a row in a historically bad run. However, these losses aren’t as bad as they may seem as they have been against the very best teams in the MLB, with the losing streak consisting of games against the Rays, Red Sox, Braves, Tigers and Yankees. The Angels should play relatively well as highlighted by their 14 run batting performance, in a game where Ohtani had no home runs. In a game that saw Ohtani subdued via intentional walks by the tanking Orioles, I think Ohtani goes hard if given the opportunity. My prediction is the Orioles throw caution to the wind and either win in a tighter game or get blown out by 7 runs. I’m leaning towards the latter as I never bet against Shohei Ohtani.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (-113)
Chicago White Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays – 7.07PM ET
The Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have split the first two games of this series with another two games to go. Will the AL-Central leading White Sox stick their noses in front tonight or can the sliding Blue Jays rally in front of their fans in the Rogers Centre.
Tim Newton
The White Sox dominated last night’s proceedings. They recorded 18 hits to Toronto’s nine, winning 5-2. However, if you take out a three innings stint by José Barrios, who gave up nine hits and four runs across that span last night, the Blue Jays have been the better team through the first two games, after winning the opener 2-1. Looking at how that carries into tonight’s clash, the White Sox are starting Lucas Giolito who is 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA while the Blue Jays are starting Robbie Ray who is 9-5 with a 2.79 ERA. Looking deeper into this, Giolito’s ERA stays the same on the road while Ray’s ERA improves to 2.64 when pitching at home, where he has a 5-3 record from 12 starts. Those are some impressive numbers and given Toronto’s batting lineup has a better OPS whilst recording more runs and hits than the White Sox, I like them to take this one at home.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Toronto Blue Jays (-120)
Dylan Cease has allowed three earned runs or less in 22 of his 26 starts this season. pic.twitter.com/XJDfXM7DIg
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 25, 2021
Katherine Mouradian
This series is all leveled up after the White Sox fired back as a result of them losing the first game. The White Sox really needed that win as it helped them snap a three game losing streak. The Blue Jays recent form has been inconsistent, as it has been for pretty much the entire season. Looking now at some key stats for this clash, the Blue Jays have won 12 of their previous 16 games played on turf and have won eight of their previous 11 when playing a team in the AL Central. When it comes to the White Sox, they have won just one of their previous five games on a Wednesday, but they have won 37 of their previous 51 when playing a team that has a left handed starter. I think this is going to be a tight game, but I like the look of the Blue Jays batting line up more than the White Sox, so I’ll be on the Blue Jays for this one.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Toronto Blue Jays (-120)
Mike Su
The Blue Jays look to split the season series here and I think that they can do it. Although the White Sox have made the playoffs and the Blue Jays are for all intents and purposes, out of the playoffs, I think the Blue Jays can win by a wide margin. Although Toronto are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, they do have a good team. There is a reason they have 65 wins this season and they almost have a run differential as good as the White Sox despite having 8 fewer wins. There are two key players in this matchup, both of them being from the Blue Jays. If Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray can maintain his high level that he has shown throughout the season, the Blue Jays can hold the White Sox to less than 2 runs, which they have done in their two wins over Chicago earlier in the season. Ray should be up for the job for holding off the White Sox with an impressive 2.79 ERA and 178 strikeouts, which is 3rd in the MLB, this year. The other key player is Vladimir Guererro, who is 2nd in the MLB in home runs behind the king Shohei Ohtani. If Guererro can anchor this Blue Jays offense, look for the Blue Jays to win in a tight one. If these two can’t deliver it will be a blowout. I have faith in the Blue Jays though.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Toronto Blue Jays (-120)
Cincinnati Reds @ Milwaukee Brewers – 8.10PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers scored a come-from-behind win over the Cincinnati Reds in this NL Central showdown last night. The home team scored six runs across the 7th and 8th innings, winning 7-4. Can they keep it going tonight or will the Reds show that wins mean more to them at this stage of the season, considering their fight for the final Wild Card slot in the National League.
Tim Newton
While they left it very late, the Brewers pulled through for me last night. I was wary that the Reds would likely steal at least one game in this series, but I said it wouldn’t be last night and Milwaukee’s late surge helped that come to fruition. Now looking to tonight’s clash, the starting pitchers decision has me siding with the home team again. Luis Castillo is starting for the Reds and he has a 7-12 record with a 4.35 ERA from 26 starts. Meanwhile Milwaukee are turning to Brandon Woodruff, who may only have a 7-7 record but has an ERA of 2.48, which ranks fifth in the majors. Woodruff is a big reason why the Brewers have one of the best bullpens in baseball and should get his team off to a better start tonight, allowing them to play from the front and win yet again.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Milwaukee Brewers (-172)
Katherine Mouradian
It was always going to be a tough ask for the Reds against the NL Central leading Brewers, and the task proved all too much for the Reds, losing the first game 7-4. The Reds have, interestingly, won nine of their previous 13 games when they are the underdog on the road, they have won 25 of their previous 35 division games. Looking at the Brewers now, they have won 38 of their previous 56 division games and have won 36 of their previous 52 games in total. Both teams have some of the best offenses in the National League, so I’m going to be on the over for this game, as I think this has more value.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Over 8 (-104)
Mike Su
The Brewers have been cruising down the stretch winning 7 of their last 10 games while the Reds are a similar 6-4 in their last 10 games. This game certainly means more for the Reds who trail the Brewers by 8.5 games and look to sneak into the playoffs via a Wild Card playoff spot. The Reds will be facing Brandon Woodruff who has been great this year with a 2.48 ERA which is top 5 in the league and a 0.94 WHIP which is 4th in the league. However the Brewers, led by Woodruff, might have a tough time against the Reds, who have a top 5 batting lineup. This matchup is a top 5 defensive team versus a top 5 offensive team, and whoever blinks first will lose. The Brewers are one of the best teams in the league this year and despite formidable opponents in the Reds who are second in the NL Central, the Brewers should dispose of them but it will be close so I am going with the Reds line for some value.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-146)
Los Angeles Dodgers @ San Diego Padres – 10.10PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the first of this three game NL West showdown, beating the San Diego Padres 5-2 in Petco Park. There is now a 10.5 game difference between the 2nd placed Dodgers and 3rd placed Padres, with San Diego needing every win they can get to sneak back into the Wild Card race while LA are chasing the Giants, who sit on top of the NL West.
Tim Newton
Following their 5-2 win last night, I think the Dodgers will take this one comfortably yet again. They are starting Walker Buehler, who has a majors-best 2.11 ERA and an impressive 13-2 record from his 25 starts. Surprisingly, his numbers actually improve on the road, going 5-0 from 10 starts and pitching a 2.07 ERA. Those are some crazy numbers and I think he will restrict San Diego’s offense so much that the Dodgers do this comfortably. While Blake Snell, the Padres’ starter, has average numbers of 6-5 with a 4.82 ERA, when pitching at home those numbers improve to 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA. That means this will be a tight contest but LA’s class and power should prevail. The Dodgers have the best run differential in the majors and I think they will add to that in this one.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers / Under 7.5 (+280)
MANNY MACHADO GETS ROBBED BY AJ POLLOCK 😱 @BRWalkoff
(via @Dodgers)pic.twitter.com/q7DwmdMDlD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 25, 2021
Katherine Mouradian
The Dodgers were good enough to get the win over the Padres in the opening game of this series. The Padres are really struggling as of late and have only won two of their previous 12 games overall, whereas the Dodgers have won 10 of their previous 12 overall. The Dodgers have won all four of their previous Wednesday games and they have won 42 of their previous 56 when it comes to the second game of a series. While the Padres recent record is pretty poor, they have actually won 33 of their previous 49 games at home, but none of their previous four games played on a Wednesday. This should be an easy one, the Dodgers to win.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+118)
Mike Su
After disposing of the Padres in a 5-2 victory, the Dodgers look to continue their recent dominance. The Dodgers are 9-1 in their last 10 games and have been red-hot. They are top 5 in every team statistic and are one of my favourite teams going into the playoffs. The Dodgers are hot on the heels of the Giants, trailing by 2.5 games for the division lead. They are showing the league why they are the best and most complete team in the league. Despite having just 2 fewer wins than the Giants, the Dodgers’ run differential is 57 runs more than the Giants, highlighting how dominating they are. The Dodgers are starting their best pitcher, and the MLB’s best pitcher Walker Buehler, so I give the Padres 0 chance against the Dodgers here.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+118)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
