MLB Daily Free Picks, Predictions, Odds

August 4, 2021

Michael Crosson
MLB Expert
VegasInsider.com

MLB Best Bets for Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021

Michael Crosson is locked and loaded with two selections for Wednesday, Aug. 4th.

American League

• Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees (MLB.TV, 7:05 p.m. ET)

National League

• San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB.TV, 9:40 p.m. ET)

Odds per BetMGM - Subject to Change

Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees

Best Bet: N.Y. Yankees F5 -1.5 RL (-105)

Probable Pitchers (2021 Records)

• Matt Harvey RHP (6-10, 6.20 ERA)
• Jameson Taillon RHP (7-4, 4.11 ERA)

For my first play, I’ll take a look at an AL East matchup between the Orioles and Yankees – with Matt Harvey set to take the mound for Baltimore against New York’s Jameson Taillon.

After heading into the All-Star Break 3-10 with a 7.70 ERA (18 GS), Harvey shocked baseball fans nation-wide by catapulting out of the gates to open the second half – considering the Orioles’ right-hander tossed 18 consecutive scoreless innings across his trio of starts against the Royals, Nationals, and Tigers immediately following the mid-season turn (0 ER, 10 H, 11 K, 2 BB).

Prior to his most recent run though, Harvey’s days in the league appeared to be numbered, considering the 32-year-old went 1-8 with a 9.01 ERA across the months of May and June – and while it’s been incredibly entertaining to witness the Dark Knight’s most recent resurgence, I expect to see Harvey return to mediocrity in the near future.

Taillon, on the other hand, was also a bit underwhelming to open the season for New York – as the Yankees’ starter for Wednesday’s affair finished up the first half 4-4 to accompany a career-worst 4.90 ERA across 83 innings of action (17 GS, 45 ER, 81 H, 29 BB).

Since the All-Star Break though, Taillon has been essentially lights out for the Yankees – considering the 6’ 5” right-hander boasts an impressive 3-0 record to go along with a 0.50 ERA across his first three starts of the second half (18 IP, 13 H, 1 ER).

I’ll take the Yankees’ first five innings run line here – as it seems like Harvey is due to get banged around a little bit.

The Yankees rebounded from a series opening loss by pounding the Orioles on Tuesday night. (AP)

San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks

Best Bet: San Francisco -1.5 RL (-105)

Probable Pitchers (2021 Records)

• Kevin Gausman RHP (9-5, 2.35 ERA)
• Zac Gallen RHP (1-5, 4.61 ERA)

For my second play, I’ll head out to a matchup between the first and last place teams in the NL West – as Kevin Gausman will take the mound for the division-leading Giants (67-39) against Zac Gallen and the last place Diamondbacks (33-74).

After eight up-and-down seasons with five different teams, Gausman looks like he’s finally found a home in San Francisco – considering the 30-year-old right-hander is currently 9-5 with a 2.35 ERA on the year, which follows up a 3-3, 3.62 ERA campaign last season (10 GS).

In his latest pair of starts though, Gausman got banged around a little bit – as the Pirates and Astros put up nine runs across 8.2 innings of action against him (0-2, 9.35 ERA).

On the other hand, Gallen was magnificent in his first two big-league seasons with the Diamondbacks – as the right-hander entered his current campaign boasting a 2.78 ERA across 27 starts (152 IP).

Throughout this season though, Gallen has struggled more than ever before, considering Arizona’s right-hander enters Wednesday’s contest 1-5 with a 4.61 ERA – which can primarily be attributed to his 5.99 ERA across the months of June and July (7 GS, 0-4).

I’ll take the Giants run line here, as Gausman boasts a 2-0 record to go with a 1.38 ERA in his pair of starts against Arizona this season (13 IP, 9 H, 2 ER) – while Gallen sits at 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA against San Francisco (4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 ER).

Best Bet Tracker

• N.Y. Yankees F5 -1.5 RL (-105)
• San Francisco -1.5 RL (-105)