MLB Saturday Picks - August 3

It’s Saturday in the MLB, which means we have excellent league-wide matchups and special moments brewing. Tap into our predictions and picks below to gauge how the top of the American League will shake out today, how Aaron Judge can continue carrying the torch for a revitalized Yankees offense and how Jack Flaherty can make his dreams come true with his new squad. 

Predictions

Baltimore Orioles Money Line (-125) vs Cleveland Guardians

Aaron Judge to Hit a Home Run (+270) vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-115) over Oakland Athletics

Orioles vs. Guardians MLB Saturday Best Bet: Orioles ML (-125)

It’s no secret the Cleveland Guardians have been one of baseball’s most consistent teams in 2024, but have you taken a second to recognize this team holds the MLB’s best record? If you had any questions regarding the legitimacy of the Guardians, you can cast those aside, because it’s August 3rd and the Guardians already made a statement on Thursday, pummeling the Orioles and their new pitching acquisition, Trevor Rogers, 10-3.

As this massive four-game set between American League powerhouses continues Saturday night on FOX, we see the Orioles taking some control in this series. The Orioles send another new trade deadline addition to the mound, the reliable Zach Eflin, and he will face off against southpaw Joey Cantillo, who just made his MLB debut last time out, going 3.1 innings while surrendering three runs to the Philadelphia Phillies.

It’s not ideal to face the Phillies and the Orioles in your first two major league appearances, and we expect Cantillo to feel it against Baltimore. The Orioles, with their depth and platoon advantages, post a top-5 offensive against LHP. Meanwhile, the Guardians are a bottom-half offense against RHP, like Eflin, who you can pretty much pencil in for five solid innings. In a series that we expect a 2-2 split, tonight should be the Orioles’ night. Take Orioles ML (-125).

Blue Jays vs. Yankees MLB Saturday Best Bet: Aaron Judge Home Run (+270)

Here’s the situation: Aaron Judge has a prime opportunity to continue extending his MLB home run lead on Saturday. Yankees’ starting pitcher Carlos Rodon has struggled in both appearances against the Blue Jays this year, notably giving up eight earned runs last time out, failing to make it into the sixth inning in either appearance. This means the red-hot Yankee bats will feel the need to get going early and give Rodon some room to breathe.

In addition to Judge being locked in for that reason, he has fantastic career numbers against Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios. In 32 at-bats, Judge has collected 12 hits, clocking four home runs, and racking up a 1.260 OPS. All signs point to an Aaron Judge home run (+270).

Dodgers vs. A’s MLB Saturday Best Bet: Dodgers -1.5 (-115)

July 2024 – the Dodgers’ first losing month since April 2018. Yes, you read that right. Now, no Mookie Betts, no Yoshinobu Yamamoto, no Max Muncy, no Miguel Rojas, no Chris Taylor, no Walker Buehler, no Dustin May, no Bobby Miller, no Brusdar Graterol, no Clayton Kershaw until the last week of the month, and no Freddie Freeman in the last week of the month, due to a family emergency.

Still, it’s the Dodgers and there’s no excuse. As some big names start to work their way back and the Dodgers’ five trade deadline acquisitions get worked into the mix, we expect a turnaround month in August.

Today is special because one of the biggest trade deadline adds, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, makes his Dodger debut today. Flaherty grew up a Dodger fan in Southern California, and his strikeout-to-walk rate and ERA with the Detroit Tigers this season have helped reestablish himself as one of baseball’s top pitchers. With new life injected into this team and rotation, expect Flaherty and the Dodgers to shut down the fledgling A’s and get the bats rolling against Mitch Spence. Take Dodgers -1.5 Runs (-115).