This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Previous article (8/25): 4-0, 3.32 RW Bucks
Season: 61-63-5, -6.04 RW Bucks
After a much-needed unblemished Wednesday in my last article, I'm looking to keep the momentum going and get back over .500 for the season with two games where I see offense going in contrasting directions.
Cincinnati Reds 
at Miami Marlins 
7:10 PM ET
Starting Pitchers: Wade Miley vs. Zach Thompson
The Pick: Under 5.5 – first 7 innings (+110 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Secondary Pick: Under 8.0 runs (-115 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Miley boasts a 2.88 ERA and has a modest 0.8 HR/9 on the road, while the Marlins own a massive 30.1 percent strikeout rate, .207 average and .287 wOBA against visiting southpaws during the second half of the season. Thompson counters with a 2.27 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 0.6 HR/9 across 31.2 home innings, and he's coming off having held the Reds to two runs on three hits over five innings in their hitter-friendly home park last time out.
Chicago Cubs 
at Chicago White Sox 
8:10 PM ET
Starting Pitchers: Keegan Thompson vs. Dallas Keuchel
The Pick: Cubs Over 1.5 runs – first 5 innings (-125 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Secondary Pick: Cubs Over 3.5 runs (-120 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Keuchel has been on a slippery slope of late with a 1-4 record, 6.21 ERA and 2.2 HR/9 across his last six starts, and he has a higher HR/9 at home (1.6) than on the road (1.3). The Cubs may look like easy pickings these days, but they've averaged 7.0 runs per contest over the last three and have hit lefties on the road for a .270 average and .341 wOBA in August, while these two run thresholds are very manageable, especially against a hurler like Keuchel that pitches to plenty of contact (5.9 K/9 at home).
