Five Picks for the August 27th MLB Slate

Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers

Johnny Cueto (0-1) vs. Brant Hurter (1-1)

Tigers -1.5 

Detroit’s coming off of a great four game series against the White Sox, taking four convincing wins over the league’s worst team. They take on another one of the league’s weaker teams at home tonight, looking to extend their win streak to five. 

The Tigers have a team OPS the last seven days of .832, with production coming from everywhere it seems like. Especially young guys like Colt Keith, Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene all putting up great numbers across that stretch. Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry and Parker Meadows have also all been amazing in that stretch. The way the lineup is hitting right now makes the spread a confident pick tonight. 

Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Guardians

Michael Lorenzen (7-6) vs. Gavin Williams (2-6)

Royals ML + MJ Melendez Over 0.5 Home Runs

It seems odd that the moneyline for Kansas City is plus odds, but we’re going to stick with a ball club fresh off of a swept doubleheader. Gavin Williams has not been good at home this season, recording an 8.66 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched. 

His 2-6 record against a Royals lineup with some big threats doesn’t instill much confidence in the Guardians tonight, and Lorenzen has been strong on the mound for Kansas City. The 32-year old has been dealing lately, going seven innings in his last start against the Angels. Many hitters in the Guardians lineup struggled against Lorenzen, totalling out a .204 batting average against the Royals right hander.

MJ Melendez has seen the ball extremely well lately, hitting three home runs in the last seven days. A favorable matchup in Gavin Williams for Melendez makes sprinkling this player prop a solid pick. 

New York Yankees at Washington Nationals

Gerrit Cole (5-2) vs. Patrick Corbin (3-12)

Giancarlo Stanton Over 0.5 Home Runs

This pitching matchup seems to fit Giancarlo Stanton especially well tonight. Against Patrick Corbin in 24 at bats, Stanton has a .333 batting average with a pair of home runs. In the last seven days, Stanton’s seen the ball well hitting three home runs. With a lefty pitcher on the mound, Stanton has a great chance to hit one out tonight.

New York Mets at Arizona Diamondbacks

Sean Manaea (9-5) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (8-6)

Randall Grichuk Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI

The Mets are facing a very solid pitcher tonight in Sean Manaea, but Randall Grichuk has great numbers against the New York left hander. In 16 at bats against Manaea, Grichuk has six hits, four being extra base hits, for a .375 average and 1.382 OPS. He obviously sees Manaea well, and the hits, runs and RBI line seems like a solid play for this game between two Wildcard contenders.