MLB Best Bets Today, 8/26: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Monday
Welcome into the MLB Best Bets and Props for today, everyone! Another brand-new week is upon us that will be sure to be loaded with MLB picks and MLB predictions as we look to continue to build upon our season long bankroll.
There are 11 games on the docket tonight around baseball, which is a bit lighter than normal, but don’t worry. I have plenty of angles to wager on for MLB best bets today!
MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 8/26
In this article you will find a wide array of choices from some money lines and team totals to plenty of player props for the MLB picks action today!
The data really liked some specific bets so make sure to double check your betting card before clicking submit for these ones tonight! Check out the rationale and if you agree with me make sure to tail and good luck! Now, let's dive into my expert MLB best bets today!
- Season Record: 130-99-4
- Bankroll: +14.2 units
*Follow me on X/Twitter @jwaggs10!
Astros vs. Phillies Prediction: Monday, August 26th
Kicking things off for my MLB best bets today will be a matchup between two of the best teams in their respective leagues as the Astros travel north to take on the Phillies! This series should be a fun one starting tonight as Zack Wheeler takes the hill against Ronel Blanco in what could be a pitchers’ duel.
Wheeler has kicked things into another gear this August with 4 starts totaling 26 innings pitched and just 5 earned runs allowed during that time. Numbers like that will have me looking at the under early and often and with the number sitting at 8, I think that’s a great wager to get us started with this week. The Phillies are also 8-5 to the under in the last 13 starts made by Wheeler since the start of June.
Some more selections from this game for MLB best bets today are looking at some player props, and while the pitchers are dominant, these teams do not strikeout often. At home this season, the Phillies strikeout at a rate of 20.5%, but during their last series, that number was down to 15.5%! I like Blanco as a pitcher but it seems he may struggle to hit 6 strikeouts tonight, so I will be fading that number and taking the under on 5.5 Ks for him. Blanco has gone under the 5.5 number in 5 of the last 9 starts as well.
Now it's time for some Wheeler love as the Astros offense on the road hasn’t been the best this season, averaging around 4.47 runs per game which is middle of the pack in the league. That has me thinking that Wheeler should be able to go get a quality start tonight which he has done in 4 straight starts. As his outs recorded prop sits at 17.5 outs, it is juiced a bit, but sometimes you should take the numbers that make sense and place the wager – over on Wheeler’s outs tonight.
- Expert Astros vs. Phillies Picks:
- Houston vs. Philadelphia Under 8 Runs (-115 on DraftKings)
- Ronel Blanco (HOU) Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-130 on DraftKings)
- Zack Wheeler (PHI) Over 17.5 Outs Recorded (-150 on DraftKings)
Padres vs. Cardinals Prediction: Monday, August 26th
The next chunk of game wagers for the MLB best bets today will pertain to MLB picks in the game between the Padres and the Cardinals as they start a fresh series. On the surface, it looks like a decent pitching matchup, but you would be deceived as Kyle Gibson has been awful in August so far with an ERA of 5.48 and 5 home runs over the last 23 innings pitched. That’s bad news for him as the Padres score 5 runs per game on the road this season, the 5th most in MLB.
On the other side, it's Randy Vasquez getting the start who has been better this month but hasn’t pitched in 18 days and may be rusty going on the road here. I do like the Padres overall though as they are 37-26 on the road and are carrying good value on the sportsbooks on the money line at +100. Considering they are 15-7 in the month of August as well gives me that push needed to take them to win this game tonight.
Following the money line section are some more MLB predictions in this contest and they will come as props. The first one is on the bat of Luis Arraez who is a hitting machine especially against righties this season. On the year, he has hit .322 against them as a Padre, and with Gibson allowing a .265 average to lefty hitters this year, the hits+runs+RBIs prop for Arraez looks locked and loaded. Give me the over on 2.5 prop of Arraez at plus money as he's topped this number in a plethora of games this season.
The final of my MLB predictions in this contest is another player prop, this time on Masyn Winn who has been lighting it up the past week hitting .346. That adds onto his already impressive play against right-handed pitching in which he is hitting .294 on the season. Not sure the extra base hits will come tonight, but I would wager he will be on base plenty, so let’s take Winn to go over hits+runs+RBIs at the base 1.5.
- Expert Padres vs. Cardinals Picks:
- San Diego Money Line (+100 on DraftKings)
- Luis Arraez (SD) Over 2.5 Hits+Runs+RBIs (+115 on DraftKings)
- Masyn Winn (STL) Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBIs (-150 on DraftKings)
Best MLB Player Props & Other Picks Today, 8/26
- Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians (Double Header Game 2) Over 8.5 Runs (-110 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Brenton Doyle (COL) Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBIs (-140 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Bailey Ober (MIN) Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-140 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Mitch Keller (PIT) Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-135 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.