MLB Betting Guide for August 26: Both Teams, One Game?

After a fun weekend of baseball around the MLB, the final week of August is upon us and we have a 11-game slate to kick off the week. Let’s dive into all the action!

In reality, we have an 11.5-game slate as we have an afternoon content in Fenway where the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays will conclude a game suspended in June due to weather. However, the game’s story is that new Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen will be the first player in MLB history to play in the same game for both teams. Jansen started the June game behind the plate for the Blue Jays back in June before being traded to Boston at the deadline and now will get the nod to go behind the plate for the Red Sox. 

Elsewhere, we have a doubleheader in the AL Central as the Cleveland Guardians will host the Kansas City Royals, and the Guardians hold just a three-game lead over the Royals for the division lead. Additionally, we have a slate full of interesting inter-league contests, highlighted by the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, where we have you covered with an +900 ultimate same-game parlay. Plus, the New York Yankees will be on the road to face the Washington Nationals, and the Atlanta Braves will head north to match up with the Minnesota Twins.

It should be a great night of baseball, so stay with SportsGrid to be covered on everything. Let’s ride! 

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

MLB Betting Guide for August 26

Catch Up on Yesterday’s Action: D-Backs Sweep Red Sox | Phillies Finally Have an Offensive Explosion | Kikuchi Earns 5th Straight Astros Win | Padres Walk Off Mets 

Tonight’s Best Bets: +900 Astros-Phillies SGP | Today’s Top Props

Game 1- 1:10 p.m ET: Kansas City Royals @ Cleveland Guardians 

• Run Line: Royals -1.5 | Moneyline: Royals -120 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cole Ragans (ERA: 3.34; K/9: 10.90) vs. Nick Sandlin (ERA: 3.97; K/9: 10.52)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 8.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bobby Witt Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +120) | Jose Ramirez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +130)

Game 2- 6:40 p.m ET: Kansas City Royals @ Cleveland Guardians 

• Run Line: Royals -1.5 | Moneyline: Royals -108 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Progressive Field (Cleveland, OH)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Alec Marsh (ERA: 4.71; K/9: 8.26) vs. Logan Allen (ERA: 5.63; K/9: 7.06)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: UNDER 8.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 0.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Awaiting Game 2 Lineups

6:40 p.m ET: Houston Astros @ Philadelphia Phillies

• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 | Moneyline: Phillies -172 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: FS1 | Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)
• Weather Noliutes: Clear, winds blowing in from center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Ronel Blanco (ERA: 3.14; K/9: 8.89) vs. Zack Wheeler (ERA: 2.74; K/9: 9.89)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Astros +1.5 (3-Stars) | Astros ML (5-Stars, +144) | OVER 8 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Astros by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Yanier Diaz OVER 0.5 RBIs (4.5-Stars, +160) | JT Realmuto OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +170)

6:40 p.m ET: Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates

• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 | Moneyline: Cubs -108 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+ | Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to left-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jameson Taillon (ERA: 3.77; K/9: 7.18) vs. Mitch Keller (ERA: 3.76; K/9: 8.13)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Cubs ML (1-Star) | UNDER 8.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Cubs by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Awaiting Props

6:45 p.m ET: New York Yankees @ Washington Nationals 

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -184 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)
• Weather Notes: Chance of showers early, but should clear up in time for the scheduled start time.

Starting Pitching Matchup: Nestor Cortes (ERA: 4.11; K/9: 8.16) vs. Mitchell Parker (ERA: 4.26; K/9: 7.63)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 9 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Yankees by 1.5 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Juan Soto OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +145)

7:10 p.m ET: Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sox

• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 | Moneyline: Red Sox -154 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jose Berrios (ERA: 3.79; K/9: 7.07) vs. Nick Pivetta (ERA: 4.70; K/9: 10.68)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Blue Jays +1.5 (2-Stars) | Blue Jays ML (4-Stars, +130) | UNDER 9 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Blue Jays by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. OVER 1.5 Total Bases (5-Stars) | Nick Pivetta OVER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars, +112)

7:40 p.m ET: Atlanta Braves @ Minnesota Twins 

• Run Line: Twins +1.5 | Moneyline: Twins -120 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Target Field (Minneapolis, MN)
• Weather Noliutes: Warm, clear, winds blowing across from left to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Max Fried (ERA: 2.97; K/9: 8.37) vs. Bailey Ober (ERA: 3.54; K/9: 9.32)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Twins +1.5 (1.5-Stars) | Twins ML (2-Stars) | OVER 8 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Twins by 0.5 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Matt Olson OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +135) | Royce Lewis OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +170)

7:45 p.m ET: San Diego Padres @ St. Louis Cardinals

• Run Line: Padres -1.5 | Moneyline: Padres -108 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Busch Stadium (St. Louis, MO)
• Weather Notes: Hot, winds blowing out to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Randy Vasquez (ERA: 4.78; K/9: 5.62) vs. Kyle Gibson (ERA: 4.23; K/9: 8.32)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Padres -1.5 (2.5-Stars) | Padres ML (5-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (3.5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Padres by 1.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Manny Machado OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +100) | Kyle Gibson OVER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars)

8:10 p.m ET: Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox 

• Run Line: Tigers -1.5 | Moneyline: Tigers -158 | Total: 9
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Noliutes: Hot, winds blowing across from right to left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Ty Madden (MLB Debut) vs. Davis Martin (ERA: 3.22; K/9: 8.87)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Tigers -1.5 (5-Stars) | Tigers ML (5-Stars) | OVER 9 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Tigers by 4.3 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Kerry Carpenter OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +110) | Andrew Benintendi OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165)

8:40 p.m ET: Miami Marlins @ Colorado Rockies  

• Run Line: Marlins -1.5 | Moneyline: Marlins -108 | Total: 10.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Coors Field (Denver, CO)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from left to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Edward Cabrera (ERA: 5.65; K/9: 10.06) vs. Undecided

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Rockies +1.5 (2-Stars) | Rockies ML (2-Stars) | UNDER 10.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Rockies by 0.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Edward Cabrera UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars)

9:40 p.m ET: Tampa Bay Rays @ Seattle Mariners 

• Run Line: Mariners -1.5 | Moneyline: Mariners -124 | Total: 7
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: T-Mobile Park (Seattle, WA)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Ryan Pepiot (ERA: 3.65; K/9: 9.49) vs. Bryce Miller (ERA: 3.32; K/9: 8.33)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 7 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mariners by 0.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Ryan Pepiot UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Jorge Polanco OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +220)

 

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