Best MLB Bets This Weekend | MLB Picks, August 5-6

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers

• Time: Saturday, August 5 at 7:10 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Bailey Falter vs Corbin Burnes
• Moneyline: Pirates (+205) | Brewers (+250)
• Runline: Pirates +1.5 (+105) | Brewers -1.5 (-105)
• Total: Over 8 (-120) | Under 8 (EVEN)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Brewers -1.5 (-105)

Our first MLB best bet for this weekend comes from the NL Central matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers. On Saturday, Corbin Burnes is on the hill for the Brewers, as they look to stay at the top of the NL Central this season. Expect the Brewers to cover as runline favorites on Saturday, keeping them ahead of the Reds in the standings for at least one more day.

Burnes comes into this game with a 9-6 record and an ERA of 3.44, while averaging just over a strikeout per inning in 2023. He was electric in the month of July, going 4-1 in his six starts for the month while allowing two or fewer runs in all of his July starts. Here, the Brewers ace will aim to stay hot, and should do just that against a Pirates team that has fallen apart offensively over the last month.

The Brewers have a huge pitching edge in this matchup, as they face a Pirates team that sends Bailey Falter to the mound. Falter enters Saturday without a win to his name for this season, as he has gone 0-7 with a 5.13 ERA. Look for Falter to give the Brewers and their below average offense a lifeline in this contest to help Milwaukee keep the pressure on the Reds to continue winning games.

Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians

• Time: Saturday, August 5 at 7:10 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers: Michael Kopech vs Noah Syndergaard
• Moneyline: White Sox (+124) | Guardians (-146)
• Run Line: White Sox +1.5 (-162) | Guardians -1.5 (+134)
• Total: Over 8.5 (-120) | Under 8.5 (-102)

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

My Pick: White Sox Moneyline (+124)

The Chicago White Sox have not been good at winning games this season, as they enter this contest a robust 25 games below .500 for the season. But they are a decent value to win this particular game on Saturday night, as they face the Cleveland Guardians in AL Central action. With Cleveland sending one of their worst arms to the mound for this contest, the White Sox should be able to compete for a victory.

Noah Syndergaard is going to take the mound for the Guardians in this game, who was recently brought in from the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Syndergaard did pitch well in his first game for the Guardians, holding the Astros to one run and two hits in 5.1 innings of work. But he still has a 1-4 record and a 6.68 ERA after that start, and the White Sox will have some scoring chances as a result.

Meanwhile, the White Sox are sending a respectable arm to the mound to start this game in Michael Kopech. Kopech has a 4-10 record on the season, but his 4.49 ERA is likely good for a few more wins than that on any other team. Look for Kopech to win the starting pitching battle against one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, en route to a win for the White Sox on Saturday night.

Houston Astros vs New York Yankees

• Time: Sunday, August 6 at 1:35 PM ET
• Starting Pitchers:  Jose Urquidy vs Carlos Rodon
• Moneyline: Astros (-108) | Yankees (-112)
• Runline: Astros -1.5 (+142) | Yankees +1.5 (-170)
• Total: Over 9.5 (-115) | Under 9.5 (-105)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Yankees Moneyline (-112)

Closing out our MLB best bets for the weekend, look for the New York Yankees to pick up a win at home over the Houston Astros. The Astros have owned the Yankees in the recent past, beating them routinely in both the regular season and postseason. But the Yankees should get this game, as Carlos Rodon takes the mound for them in an advantageous position.

Rodon is just 1-4 this season with a 6.29 ERA, but he is working his way back into a rhythm after having to start this season late due to injury. Here, he takes on a pitcher in Jose Urquidy who is 2-2 with a 5.20 ERA, who has not pitched since April due to a shoulder injury. Look for the Yankees to provide a rude welcome back to Urquidy to help Rodon get into a position to win this game.