Tuesday August 6 Best Sports Betting Picks for Olympics Men's Basketball & MLB Predictions

It’s almost medal time for Team USA, with the Olympic version of the final four and a location change from Lille to Paris ahead in the semifinals. 

Before they get to their next game and the medal round, will the White Sox have their first win since July 10? 

Maybe if they had a pitcher like, I don’t know, Padres ace Dylan Cease?

Let’s weigh in with Tuesday’s best bets.

Team USA men’s basketball vs. Brazil, 3:30 ET

Balance and depth are decided advantages for Team USA. Seemingly with little to play for, head coach Steve Kerr insists he will keep his foot on the gas to secure the No. 1 seed in the semifinals. But his penchant for flipping lineups and resting players for a full game during the continuing run gives us some pause. 

A blowout is likely in the cards in Lille, France, but the combinations Kerr might use to accomplish the mission aren’t as certain. 

His ride-or-die combo in the Olympics has been LeBron James and Steph Curry, and both are doing far more damage outside than attacking the rim. 

Over 184.5 points, James over 1.5 3s, Curry over 2.5 3s, +461 (FanDuel)

San Diego Padres at Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:40 p.m. ET

Don’t look now, but the Padres might be the team to beat in the National League West. 

It certainly has appeared that way since the All-Star break. The Friars are 11-3 since the break, and a big reason is right-hander Dylan Cease. Side note: He must be extremely excited not to be suiting up for the woebegone White Sox right about now. 

He tossed a no-hitter on July 25 and was 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA in July, winning four straight starts with one run and four total hits allowed in his last 27-plus innings.

The Pirates are unable to place Paul Skenes on the mound Tuesday for a dream matchup, and facing Cease has been more of a nightmare scenario for Pittsburgh. Cease is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two career starts.

Taking the shutout prop is tempting. Cease has an ERA of 0.33 with 36 strikeouts in his past four starts. But he’s not immune to the ace clunker.

However, the Pirates’ strikeout rate remains woeful, at over 25 percent. Pittsburgh strikes out more than nine times per game and is 26th in the MLB in contact rate. The Pirates have 1,019 strikeouts in 111 games. 

Dylan Cease, 9-plus strikeouts, +142 (FanDuel) 

Chicago White Sox at Oakland A’s, 9:41 p.m. ET

We are not against kicking a dead horse when it comes to MLB records for futility, and the White Sox are showing zero signs of life.

With another loss Monday, the White Sox carry a record losing streak of 21 games into Tuesday’s matchup and send another rookie pitcher to the mound. 

Jonathan Cannon gets the ball Tuesday, but like the White Sox, it’s been a while since he experienced victory. Since he posted a win and a save in his first six appearances (five starts), Cannon is 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA. 

Of course, a little run support might help. Chicago has 353 runs in 111 games and is the only MLB team without 100 total home runs this season. 

We’re riding with the A's—but more accurately, against the White Sox. 

A’s money line and under 8.5 total runs, +169 (DraftKings)