MLB Best Bets, Predictions & Expert Picks Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Analysis

This is one of those spots where you have to ignore the names on the jerseys and look at the actual production on the mound. Blake Snell is starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and to put it bluntly, he has been a disaster. He is carrying a 12.00 ERA into this game. You read that right. The Dodgers are giving up an average of 8.7 runs per game when he or the back end of this rotation is involved. That is an astronomical number for a team with a winning record. On the other side, the Kansas City Royals are sending Michael Wacha to the hill. He has been the model of consistency with a 3.44 ERA on the season. Even more impressive is his recent form where he has posted a 1.79 ERA. The model sees a massive discrepancy here. While Los Angeles has the fourth best offense in baseball, they are facing a pitcher who is currently locked in. Kansas City might be the road underdog, but they are only allowing 3.5 runs per game lately. The model puts the spread at 1.9 in favor of the Royals, yet we are getting 1.5 runs with them. It is a 31.8 percent edge that we rarely see in August baseball. Trust the pitching form and take the runs with Kansas City. They have already shown they can play the Dodgers tight, losing the only previous matchup this year by just one run.

Public Fade

The public is always going to hammer the Dodgers at home regardless of who is pitching. They see the 70 and 48 record and assume a blowout is coming. They are completely ignoring that Snell is currently a liability and Wacha is pitching like a Cy Young candidate.

Analysis

The Miami Marlins are home underdogs today and I honestly do not understand why. Eury Perez is starting for Miami and he has been fantastic lately, posting a 3.00 ERA over his recent starts. Compare that to Paul Skenes for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who has seen his ERA balloon to 5.50 in his recent outings. Skenes had all the hype early in the season, but he is clearly hitting a wall while Perez is finding his rhythm. Miami has already won two out of three against Pittsburgh this season with an average margin of two runs. The Pirates offense is ranked third in the league, but they are facing a Miami defense that ranks eleventh and is much better than people realize. The Marlins score 4.4 runs per game and only allow 3.5. That differential is winning baseball. The model actually has Miami as a 63.5 percent favorite to win this game outright. Getting them at plus 1.5 runs is incredible value. Pittsburgh has been struggling lately, going just 3 and 7 in their last ten games. Miami is the more stable team right now and they have the better pitcher on the mound tonight. Take the runs but do not be surprised if the Marlins win this one by two or three.

Public Fade

Casual bettors are still obsessed with the Paul Skenes hype train and will bet the Pirates just because he is on the mound. They are missing the fact that his recent form is poor and Eury Perez is statistically the better pitcher in this specific matchup.

Analysis

The Minnesota Twins are favorites at home today, but the numbers suggest this should be a pick'em game at best. Bailey Ober is starting for Minnesota and he has been shaky with a 4.45 ERA. He is backed by a defense that ranks 26th in the league, which is a dangerous combination against a disciplined Baltimore Orioles lineup. The Orioles are starting Brandon Young, who has been surprisingly effective with a 3.43 ERA. Baltimore is allowing only 3.8 runs per game, which is significantly better than the 4.4 runs Minnesota gives up. The model spread is sitting at minus 0.1, essentially calling this a coin flip. When the book gives you 1.5 runs in a coin flip game, you take them every single time. The Orioles are 5 and 5 in their last ten games while the Twins have slipped to 4 and 6. This matchup has been split 2 for 2 so far this season, and the average margin is only one run. Baltimore has the advantage in starting pitching and overall defensive efficiency. Minnesota might have the ninth ranked offense, but they have to overcome their own pitching staff to win. I expect a very close game that likely comes down to the final two innings. Baltimore is the side with the most breathing room here.

Public Fade

The public likes the Twins at home because of their top ten offense. However, they are ignoring that Minnesota has one of the worst defenses in the league and Bailey Ober is prone to giving up big innings.