MLB Best Bets, Predictions & Expert Picks Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Analysis

Washington comes into this one with a 54 and 53 record, hosting a Toronto team that has struggled to stay above water. The real story here is the pitching matchup and how it clashes with these lineups. Zack Littell gets the ball for the Nationals, and his 5.17 ERA on the season doesn't inspire much confidence. He has been slightly better lately with a 4.50 mark over his recent starts, but that is still plenty of room for an opponent to do damage. On the other side, Trey Yesavage is going for the Blue Jays. While his season ERA sits at 3.92, he has been trending in the wrong direction lately with a 5.00 ERA in his most recent outings. The model is all over the over 9.5 in this spot. Washington boasts the top ranked offense in the league, scoring five and a half runs per game on average. That is a massive number. Even though Toronto's offense is ranked near the bottom at 29th, they are facing a Washington defense that ranks 28th. It is a perfect storm for runs. When you have the best offense in baseball facing a struggling pitcher, and a bad defense on the other side, 9.5 feels too low. The model projects 9.9 runs for this game. Both teams have shown they can give up runs in bunches, and with these starters on the mound, I expect the bats to stay hot throughout the evening.

Public Fade

Casual bettors see Toronto's 29th ranked offense and immediately think under. They are ignoring that Washington's defense is one of the worst in the league and the Nationals own offense is currently the best in baseball.

Analysis

Pittsburgh and Arizona are both sitting at 55 and 52, making this a pivotal mid season clash. The Pirates are sending Jared Jones to the hill, and he has been absolutely dealing lately. His season ERA is a solid 3.72, but his recent form is elite, posting a 2.14 ERA over his last few starts. That is the kind of production that keeps a team in every game. Arizona counters with Eduardo Rodriguez. His 2.64 season ERA looks great on paper, but he has been sliding recently. A 4.67 ERA in his recent starts suggests that hitters are starting to figure him out, or his command is slipping. The total is set at 8, but our model is projecting 8.8 runs. That is a significant 10 percent edge. Pittsburgh's offense is currently ranked third in the league, averaging 5.2 runs per game. They are aggressive and capitalize on mistakes, which Rodriguez has been making lately. While Arizona's defense is middle of the pack, they are facing a Pirates lineup that is firing on all cylinders. Arizona also puts up 4.5 runs per game, and even against a hot Jared Jones, they have enough talent to contribute to this total. The Pirates have won three of the five meetings between these two this year, and the games have been competitive. But the real play here is the over. The Pirates offense is too good to ignore.

Public Fade

The public is blinded by Eduardo Rodriguez and his 2.64 ERA. They don't see the recent 4.67 ERA or the fact that Pittsburgh's offense is ranked 3rd in the league and ready to explode.

Analysis

This matchup features two of the better young arms in the league right now. Tarik Skubal has been a force for Detroit, carrying a 2.70 season ERA. He has been even better lately, giving up almost nothing with a 1.50 ERA in his recent starts. Not to be outdone, Trevor Rogers for Baltimore has been equally impressive recently. While his season ERA is 4.17, he has matched Skubal with a 1.49 ERA over his last few outings. On the surface, this looks like a classic pitchers duel where runs will be hard to come by. But the model is leaning toward the over 7.5, even if it is a tighter edge than the other games. Baltimore's offense is ranked 12th and scores 4.6 runs per game. Detroit's offense is 19th, scoring 4.2. While the defenses are solid, particularly Detroit's fifth ranked unit, 7.5 is a very low bar in modern baseball. The model projects 7.7 runs. It only takes one mistake or one big inning from these lineups to push this over the total. Baltimore has won three of the five head to head meetings this season, and they have shown they can produce even against tough starters. Skubal is great, but the Orioles lineup is deep. And while Rogers is hot, Detroit has enough in the tank at home to scratch across a few runs. Don't let the low total scare you off. The value is on the over.

Public Fade

Everyone sees Skubal and Rogers with sub 1.50 recent ERAs and hammers the under. But both offenses are capable of scoring four runs on their own, and the total is low enough to sneak over even in a tight game.