MLB Best Bets for August 12th: Tuesday Top Sports Betting Picks

Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are the hottest team in the majors with a 10-game winning streak, and they are set for the second contest of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This isn’t a guaranteed win night, though, because All-Star Paul Skenes is starting for Pittsburgh. The Pirates can hang with any opponent for six innings when their ace is on the mound.

If Skenes’ leash weren’t so tight, he might work deep into the game like he did earlier this season, pitching eight innings in a loss to the Houston Astros on June 3 and 7 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies five days later. Instead, he has been held to six or fewer innings in 10 straight starts while the Pirates sit 24 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Skenes is 7-8 but remains the overwhelming favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, with a 1.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and .192 opponent batting average. He’s 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two outings against the Brewers this season, making this a tough matchup for the 23-year-old.

Milwaukee took the series opener 7-1 and is seeking to match its season-best 11 straight wins. The Brewers have scored 77 runs during the streak and will send All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta (13-5, 3.03 ERA) to the mound. Once Skenes exits, it’s advantage Brewers.

Pick: Brewers to win moneyline (-113, DraftKings)

Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani is right at home in the batter’s box at Angel Stadium. He hit his 42nd homer of the season in Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Angels, giving him four in his past five games and a 10-game hitting streak. Ohtani is also slated to start Wednesday’s series finale.

The Dodgers’ once-comfortable NL West lead is now just one game over the surging San Diego Padres. Even more surprising, the Angels are 4-0 in the Freeway Series this year and have outscored the Dodgers 30-19. The Angels are still headed for their 11th consecutive postseason miss.

Zach Neto hit two homers for the Angels on Monday and has four already this month. The Angels are going with a bullpen game Tuesday after left-hander Tyler Anderson (back) was scratched. With the teams combining for 49 runs in four meetings this season, the over looks enticing.

Pick: Over 10 runs (-121, DraftKings)

Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics

Junior Caminero is on the verge of stardom, with five homers in his past five games and 33 total this season. The 22-year-old is batting .412 (14-for-34) with six homers and 10 RBIs in his past nine games.

Oakland’s temporary home in West Sacramento, Calif., has proven to be homer-friendly. Caminero and Brandon Lowe — who has four homers in his past six games — are strong candidates to go deep Tuesday if A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez (5-6, 3.59 ERA) falters. Lopez has tossed 17 consecutive scoreless innings over his past three starts.

Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz hasn’t homered in 14 games since his 6-for-6, four-homer explosion against Houston, but he has reached base in 26 straight games. Oakland has won 11 of its past 17 despite Monday’s 7-4 loss, when Caminero and Lowe each went deep.

Pick: Rays to win moneyline (-109, DraftKings)