Best MLB Bets This Weekend | MLB Picks, August 26-27

While the weekend might be the time where most people can relax and unwind after a long week of work, this weekend is anything but relaxing for the players in Major League Baseball fighting for playoff positioning. This weekend, there are several games worth betting on that feature massive playoff implications. That includes these three games where there is value in the betting markets surrounding postseason contenders.

Kansas City Royals vs Seattle Mariners

• Time: Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 4:10 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Jordan Lyles vs Logan Gilbert
• Moneyline: Royals (+195) | Mariners (-238)
• Runline: Royals +1.5 (-110) | Mariners  -1.5 (-110)
• Total: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out other MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities

My Pick: Mariners -1.5 (-110)

First up in our best MLB bets this weekend is an American League matchup between the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners. Seattle enters this weekend holding one of the three Wild Card sports in the American League. Here, they should be able to get the job done and cover the runline against a Kansas City Royals team that has struggled throughout the season.

Getting the start for the Mariners in this game is George Kirby, who has been excellent throughout this season for Seattle. He enters this game at 11-5 with a 3.77 ERA for the year over the course of 148 innings of work. Expect the AL Cy Young candidate to continue to pitch at an elite level in this game, as he should not have too much trouble with one of the worst teams in all of baseball.

Helping Kirby in this game is the fact that he is being opposed by Jordan Lyles of the Royals. Lyles has struggled all season long, entering this game at 3-14 on the season, with a 6.20 ERA to his name for the year. He has also allowed a whopping 30 home runs on the season thus far, and his struggles are likely to continue in this game, en route to the Mariners covering the runline.

Texas Rangers vs Minnesota Twins

• Time: Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 7:15 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Max Scherzer vs Joe Ryan
• Moneyline: Rangers (-116) | Twins (-102)
• Runline: Rangers -1.5 (+140) | Twins +1.5 (-170)
• Total: Over 8 (-106) | Under 8 (-114)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

My Pick: Twins Moneyline (-102)

Next up, there is a battle of elite arms set to take place on Saturday night, as the Texas Rangers face the Minnesota Twins. Max Scherzer and Joe Ryan are set to take the mound for their respective teams in this contest. Bettors should back the Twins in this matchup, as they are playing better baseball than the Rangers right now, which will make a huge difference.

Texas has lost eight straight games coming into Saturday evening, including the first two games of this series against the Twins. The Twins won Friday’s game by a margin of 12-2, and Minnesota should win again here even if they don’t score 12 runs again. A huge reason for the Twins having the edge on Saturday will be Joe Ryan, who has been solid throughout this season for the Twins.

Ryan comes into this contest with a 9-8 record and a 4.43 ERA, but his hit, strikeout, and home run numbers are all nearly identical to those of Rangers starter Max Scherzer. Look for Ryan to give his team the upper hand over the Rangers in this contest, to prolong the losing streak for Texas.

San Diego Padres vs Milwaukee Brewers

• Time: Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 2:10 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Michael Wacha vs Adrian Houser
• Moneyline: Padres (-118) | Brewers (-102)
• Runline: Padres -1.5 (+140) | Brewers +1.5 (-166)
• Total: Over 9.5 (EVEN) | Under 9.5 (-120)

My Pick: Padres Moneyline (-118)

Our final MLB best bet for this weekend is for the National League matchup between the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee is starting to distance themselves from the pack in the NL Central, while the Padres’ Wild Card hopes are faint. But the Padres should still have the upper hand in this particular game, thanks to the presence of Michael Wacha on the mound.

Wacha is 10-2 this season, posting a 2.63 ERA in his 96 innings of work during the 2023 regular season. Wacha could have easily been a contender for the NL Cy Young award this year had he been healthy for the entire season. But he will still make an impact here, even if he is not in consideration for the top award for a pitcher each season in the National League.