This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Previous: 1-2
Season: 5-8, -4.92 RWBucks
We'll use DraftKings sportsbook for our betting options Saturday. There's only one day game, so all of our attention will be turned to the night slate.
Particularly in the immediate days after trade deadline, it may be worth focusing on teams that lost key players.
A's vs. Angels
It's difficult to buy into what Irvin is doing this season based on his fit in the modern game. His strikeout rate is only 17.2 percent, but he has ability to place the ball where he wants in and around the strike zone. The result is a 4.3 percent walk rate and 0.8 HR/9. However, this bet is more about the opposite side of the matchup. While a limited sample, Barria has been an absolute disaster on the mound this season. With the recently bolstered Athletics lineup, the offense is in a strong position to score plenty of runs.
Bet: A's over 5.5 runs (-110)
Bet: A's -135
Phillies vs. Pirates
After being held quiet on Friday night, the Phillies' bats should be in a position to bounce back Saturday. Brubaker has been a disaster in July, posting an 8.20 ERA while also allowing 3.9 HR/9 in four starts. Meanwhile, the Phillies will be tossing out their ace — even if he hasn't necessarily consistently performed that way this season. He'll face a watered-down Pirates' lineup that wasn't very scary to begin with. Since dealing Adam Frazier on Sunday, the Pirates have scored a 10 runs in four games, seven of which came Friday.
Bet: Phillies first 5 innings (-170)
Bet: Nola win (+130)
Yankees vs. Marlins
Domingo German vs. TBA
German's strikeout rate has jumped in July. Most of that can be attributed to his work out of the bullpen rather than as a starter, though he also posted his second-highest swinging strike rate of the season in his last outing against Boston. Saturday, he faces a Marlins lineup that lost Starling Marte and Adam Duvall at the trade deadline. That leaves little to fear up and down the order, and even the dangerous bats such as Jazz Chisholm and Brian Anderson have strikeout rates in excess of 25 percent.
Bet: German over 5.5 strikeouts (-140)
