MLB Best Bets, Predictions & Expert Picks Saturday, June 27, 2026

Analysis

The books are giving us a total of four and a half runs here, which feels like a number from a different era of baseball. My model is projecting this game to land around six and a half runs. That is a massive discrepancy. Andre Pallante takes the mound for the Cardinals, and while he is serviceable, he is not exactly a lockdown ace who should command such a low total. On the other side, the Marlins are starting Ryan Gusto. Miami has actually been playing some decent baseball lately. They have won seven of their last ten games and come into this one on a two game winning streak. They have also owned the head to head matchup this season, winning three of the four games played between these two clubs. In those games, the average margin has been nearly two runs in favor of Miami. St. Louis scores about four point six runs per game on their own. Miami chips in with four point three. Even if one of these offenses has an off night, the bar to clear four and a half is incredibly low. The Cardinals offense ranks thirteenth in the league and the Marlins sit at nineteenth. These are not bottom tier units. We are looking at two average offenses against two middle of the road pitchers. This is a clear spot where the model sees a major pricing error by the market.

Public Fade

The public sees a low total and assumes a pitcher's duel is incoming. They are also likely backing the Cardinals at home despite Miami winning three of four against them this season.

Analysis

This is another total that feels a bit light given the pitching matchup. Jared Jones is starting for Pittsburgh and he carries a five point seven five ERA into this contest. While he has talent, he has been giving up plenty of runs lately. Cincinnati is countering with Chase Burns, who has been excellent with a two point zero zero ERA. However, the model thinks Burns is due for some regression, and the Pirates offense is actually ranked fourth in the entire league for scoring. Pittsburgh has dominated this season series so far. They have won five of the seven meetings and have done so by an average margin of nearly three runs. Their ability to put up runs against this Cincinnati defense, which ranks twenty second in the league, is the key factor here. The Pirates are scoring five runs per game on average. Even with Burns on the mound, the Reds defense behind him is a liability. Cincinnati is also scoring over four runs a game themselves. When you combine a high powered Pittsburgh offense with a struggling Pirates starter in Jones, seven and a half runs starts to look very reachable. We only need a four to four game to cash this. Given that Pittsburgh averages five runs alone, I love our chances of seeing some fireworks at the plate today.

Public Fade

Bettors are likely looking at Chase Burns and his shiny ERA and thinking this will stay under. They are ignoring the fact that Pittsburgh has a top five offense and has consistently crushed the Reds this year.

Analysis

The Brewers are the heavy favorites here for a reason. They have played the Cubs four times this season and they have won all four of those games. The dominance has not been subtle either. They are winning those games by an average margin of four and a half runs. Milwaukee is simply a better baseball team right now. Their offense ranks third in the league and their defense is an elite second overall. Kyle Harrison gets the start for the Brewers and he has been fantastic with a two point five zero ERA. He gives Milwaukee a massive edge on the mound against David Peterson and the Cubs. Milwaukee is especially tough at home where they cover the spread fifty seven percent of the time. Chicago has struggled on the road, covering only forty five percent of their games away from Wrigley Field. The model is projecting a two run win for the Brewers, which gives us a nice edge on the run line. Milwaukee scores over five runs per game while allowing only three point three. That is a championship caliber run differential. The Cubs have a decent offense, but they are running into a buzzsaw tonight. Everything from the season series history to the pitching matchup points toward a comfortable Milwaukee victory. Do not overthink this one. The Brewers are the superior team in every facet.

Public Fade

The public often likes to take the plus money on a divisional dog like the Cubs. But the data shows Milwaukee has their number this year and the pitching advantage is too large to ignore.