Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (August 29th, 2022)
The first days of September are upon us, as we get another weel closer to the postseason. We take a look at the top betting picks for this week, along with MLB odds and expert previews.
Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (August 29th, 2022)
MLB POWER RANKINGS OUT NOW!
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Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers
- When: Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 8:05 PM ET
- Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
- TV: ATT SportsNet-SW, Bally Sports Southwest
- Radio: KBME 790 AM (Astros) // KFLC 1270 (Rangers)
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Betting Odds: TBA
The Houston Astros are holding their collective breath today as the team awaits an MRI on the calf of AL Cy Young betting favorite Justin Verlander. The future Hall of Famer was pulled from Sunday’s game against the Orioles at Minute Maid Park after only three innings with right calf discomfort. He threw 60 pitches. Verlander probably will win the award even if he doesn’t pitch again this regular season but the Astros probably aren’t winning the AL pennant without him.
He entered Sunday’s game tied for the Major League lead with 16 wins while leading the Major Leagues in ERA (1.87) and opponents’ OPS (.510). And it could have been worse: It could have been an injury to Verlander’s arm or shoulder.
“That’s the best of bad news,” Manager Dusty Baker said. “We were glad it wasn’t anything to do with his elbow or arm or anything like that. We’ll just have to wait until he has the imaging [Monday].”
Houston is next in action Tuesday at Texas with Framber Valdez on the mound. Valdez (13-4, 2.65 ERA) picked up the win over Minnesota last Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over seven innings. Valdez was a bit wild with four walks, but he surrendered only two base hits and completed seven innings for the third straight outing. He finished with his 21st consecutive quality start, surpassing the franchise record set by Mike Scott in 1986. Valdez has earned a win in five of his past six appearances, and he’s already established a career-best mark with 13 victories on the campaign. If Verlander’s injury is serious, Valdez likely would start Game 1 of any playoff series.
Houston is looking to hold off the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League – the Astros are currently 3.5 games ahead. AL MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez was out of the lineup Sunday with a left hand issue.
That’s not the same hand that landed Alvarez on the injured list in July and kept him from playing in the All-Star Game. Baker hopes Alvarez is ready to play by Tuesday in Arlington against the Rangers, and another stint on the IL hasn’t been discussed. Alvarez has struggled in August with a .638 OPS. Alvarez has only four extra-base hits in August and isn’t driving the ball like he did in the first half of the season, when he was hitting tape-measure homers.
“I don’t feel pain,” Alvarez said after the Astros’ 3-1 loss on Saturday to Baltimore. “It’s just something that comes up sometimes and bothers me. Obviously, I continue to play. That doesn’t justify the results I’ve been having.”
MLB Betting Pick: Astros
LA Dodgers vs. New York Mets
- When: Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Citi Field, New York City, NY
- TV: SportsNet LA, TBS, SNY
- Radio: Dodgers Radio AM570 (Dodgers) // WCBS 880 (Mets)
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Betting Odds: TBA
The series of the week is clearly the Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets, which begins Tuesday. The Dodgers are going to finish most likely with the best record in the majors and the Mets with the second-best in the NL, meaning they wouldn’t play in the postseason until the NLCS if the both get there.
Terrific pitching matchup on Wednesday between LA’s Tyler Anderson and the Mets’ Jacob deGrom. Anderson (13-2, 2.69 ERA) didn’t factor into the decision in Friday’s extra-inning win over the Marlins, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four. The Dodgers committed three errors on the night, one of which contributed to a two-run sixth inning by Miami that chased Anderson from the game. The veteran southpaw has been sharp since the All-Star break, posting a 2.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB through 43.1 innings over seven outings with five quality starts.
DeGrom (3-1, 2.15 ERA) earned the win over Colorado on Thursday, pitching six innings and allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. DeGrom served up a sixth-inning solo home run to Ryan McMahon, but that was the extent of the damage against him. The right-hander racked up 17 swinging strikes and nine punchouts while notching his third straight quality start. Through five starts, he has three wins while posting a 2.15 ERA and minuscule 0.55 WHIP along with an incredible 46:2 K:BB over 29.1 innings.
Seven years ago, deGrom faced the Dodgers in a Division Series. That was when he beat them twice, pitching 13 innings with 20 strikeouts while limiting the Dodgers to just two runs. The Mets and Dodgers split four games in LA earlier this season.
MLB Betting Pick: Mets
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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.
READ MORE: Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (September 5th, 2022)
