MLB Best Bets for Saturday August 2nd: MLB Speedway Classic Picks & More

Welcome to another Saturday jam-packed with baseball games. 

We’ve got some great ones to watch today—and some even better ones to bet on. See what made our list of best MLB bets for Saturday, Aug. 2.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres

Randy Vásquez is the perfect pitcher for the Padres. He is often great in smaller doses—i.e., four innings or so—because he gets the team on track and then turns it over to one of the best bullpens in baseball. It worked the last time he pitched (July 26, again vs. the Cardinals) and it will work today. He gave up one run on one hit and one walk in 4 2/3 innings but didn’t get a decision in the 3-1 win.

The Padres have won six in a row against the Cardinals and New York Mets and have a 35-11 scoring edge. The good times should keep rolling for San Diego in this one. Definitely take the run line, but also give some serious thought to the alt run line (-2.5) at +285.

Our pick: Padres -1.5 (+186) via FanDuel

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Athletics

Arizona has lost six in a row and nine of the past 10. The Diamondbacks have scored six runs across the past six games and are hitting .186 (35-for-188) in that span. They’ll put Zac Gallen on the mound to start the day (7-12, 5.60 ERA).

The A’s have won seven of the past eight games, outscoring their opponents 49-16. They won the series opener 5-1 on Friday. They will start J.T. Ginn (2-2, 3.89), who started five games in July and posted a 2.25 ERA. The teams will meet in West Sacramento, Calif.

Our pick: A’s +1.5 (+162) via Caesars

Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds

Spencer Strider has performed well for the Braves this season despite his 5-8 record. Part of the problem has been a lack of run support. Now, Atlanta has recorded 36 runs over the past seven games, but 22 came in two games as the Braves have gone 2-8 over their past 10.

Cincinnati is 6-4 over its past 10. Chase Burns has yet to record a win, going 0-3 in six starts with a 1.54 WHIP and .265 OBA. On paper, it looks like this should be a win for the Braves, but Atlanta has been among the league’s best at finding ways to lose games this season.

Our pick: Cincinnati ML (+105) via BetMGM