MLB Best Bets Today: Tuesday’s Top 2 Betting Picks (August 19)

There is no stopping us now. The MLB season and summer are fully underway, meaning there are betting opportunities every day between now and October. We’ve got you covered for Tuesday’s baseball schedule!

Where to Watch Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

• Ballpark: PNC Park
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Where to Watch: SNP, Sportsnet
• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Spread: TOR -1.5 (+118) | Total: 8 (+100/-122)
• Moneyline: TOR -144 | PIT +122

After a bit of fireworks amongst the two dugouts on Monday, Game 2 between the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates should be quite entertaining. On the mound, look for pitchers Max Scherzer and Mitch Keller.

It will be a warm evening in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and the on-field action is expected to follow suit. The future Hall-of-Famer Scherzer has built a 3.83 ERA in 2025 while striking out 8.67 batters per nine innings. Across the way, Keller has been so-so behind a 4.14 xERA, but his 2.87 K-BB ratio is especially poor (and second-worst of Keller’s MLB tenure).

Offensively, there is not much to compare here. Toronto has been one of the top lineups in baseball, displaying a .766 team OPS (second in the American League). Meanwhile, the Pirates are tagged with a .648 OPS, which is the very worst clip in the Majors. In terms of scoring, the Jays have plated 4.9 runs per game; the Buccos are only at 3.52 runs per game (again, lowest in MLB).

Considering Toronto’s prowess against the run line this year, I am encouraged to see how their offense does in favorable hitting conditions on the banks of the Allegheny River. Specifically, the Blue Jays are 73-53 (57.9%) ATS right now—that’s the AL’s best rate.

Best Bet: Blue Jays -1.5 (+118)

Where to Watch Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs (Game 2)

• Ballpark: Wrigley Field
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Where to Watch: FDSNWI, MARQ, MLBN
• Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
• Spread: MIL -1.5 (+158) | Total: 7 (-105/-115)
• Moneyline: MIL -110 | CHC -106

Thanks to winning 15 of their past 16 contests, the Milwaukee Brewers have created a bit of breathing room between themselves and the Chicago Cubs. Currently, nine games separate the two sides in the NL Central standings. For better or worse, Tuesday offers a doubleheader between these I-94 rivals.

The projected starters for tonight’s second game (8:05 p.m. ET approx. first pitch) are Brandon Woodruff and Jameson Taillon. In seven appearances (39.1 IP) since returning from injury, Woodruff boasts a 0.74 WHIP. Across the way, Taillon shows a 4.34 skill-interactive ERA across 17 starts, but he’s allowing 2.08 home runs per game.

Given Chicago’s recent woes at the plate, I am enticed to take the under in Brewers-Cubs Game 2. Throughout the Cubbies’ last seven games, they displayed a miserable slash line of .181/.266/.260. They’ve not scored more than four runs since August 9. Additionally, the under has cashed in eight straight contests for the Cubs (pending Game 1 of Tuesday’s double header).

This is a streak to ride until proven otherwise, give me the under seven runs in the nightcap at Wrigley Field (with a possibility of sluggish weather on the horizon).

Best Bet: Under 7 (-115)

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks.

MLB Best Bets Tuesday’s Top Picks

• Blue Jays -1.5 (+118)
• Brewers-Cubs Under 7 (-115)

Tuesday brings numerous opportunities to set a profitable tone on the baseball diamond: play ball!

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