Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – August 20 Edition

It’s a good thing that the Cleveland Indians have such a big lead in the AL Central Division because they could be without excellent No. 2 starter Trevor Bauer the rest of the regular season. In fact, his postseason eligibility is in question, and that would seriously hamper Cleveland’s World Series efforts. Bauer suffered a stress fracture in his right fibula when he took a line drive off of his right ankle in a game last Saturday.  Bauer has been among the game’s best starters this season, owning a 2.22 ERA with a 214/56 K/BB ratio in 166 innings. Here’s a look at two intriguing matchups this week. Check back for Mybookie Sportsbook odds.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – August 20th Edition

IT’S HAPPENING: @MichaelKopech5 is coming to Chicago! Tuesday night vs. Minnesota, #NextSox becomes #WhiteSox. Get your 🎟 now: https://t.co/oZQDCOjWFz pic.twitter.com/JWTnilYuYQ

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) 19 de agosto de 2018

Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox

• When: Tuesday, 8:10 p.m. ET (MLB Extra Innings)

Frankly, this game means little in the grand scheme of things between two teams with losing records. However, it’s a potentially huge night for the Chicago White Sox as arguably the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, fire-balling right-hander Michael Kopech, will make his MLB debut for the Pale Hose. He and second baseman Yoan Moncada were the key pieces back from Boston a couple of years ago in the Chris Sale deal. Moncada has disappointed. Kopech, meanwhile, is given an 80 grade from scouts on his fastball – that’s the highest possible number. He once hit 105 mph on the radar gun. Kopech, 22, is 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 24 starts this season at Triple-A Charlotte. He has 170 strikeouts in 126 1/3 innings and has been outstanding over his past seven starts, going 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA over that stretch. Some thought Chicago would wait until about two weeks into next season to call up Kopech for service time reasons. By doing it now, the team at least should get a boost in attendance at home on days he pitches. Kopech’s arrival marks the most significant step in the White Sox rebuild since last July when Moncada made his Sox debut. It should breathe some life into the end of the season for a club on pace to lose 101 games.  Kopech should be in line to make seven starts in a five-man rotation and six if the White Sox go to a six-man rotation. Now the question is when Chicago calls up its other mega-prospect, slugging outfielder Eloy Jimenez. This was to be Ervin Santana’s turn in the rotation for Minnesota, but Santana was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday due to recurring discomfort related to the original injury he suffered to his right middle finger prior to spring training. The 35-year-old required surgery in early February to address the issue, resulting in him opening the season on the 60-day DL before he debuted July 25. Instead, it will be the young ace and All-Star right-hander Jose Berrios. Berrios (11-8, 3.75) didn’t factor into the decision last Wednesday against the Pirates after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks across 3.2 innings. He struck out four. It was his shortest outing since April 29 while failing to make it out of the fourth inning for just the second time all year. The 24-year-old might be tiring as he has lasted fewer than five innings in three of his previous four starts while posting a 5.59 ERA and 21:14 K: BB over that stretch. Berrios has already surpassed his major-league innings total from 2017. Berrios has mostly struggled in day games, so he should welcome pitching in his first night game since Aug. 4.

New York Yankees at Miami Marlins

• When: Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Extra Innings)

The Marlins have the worst attendance in the majors but should get a nice boost of fans early this week with the Yankees in town. If you’ve ever been to Miami, then you know about half that town is from New York. It’s also the return of one of the best Marlins ever in outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. He was acquired in December from the Marlins for second baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects, right-hander Jorge Guzman and shortstop Jose Devers. That wasn’t nearly enough for Stanton but it was largely a salary dump by new Marlins boss and former Yankee great Derek Jeter. The Yankees lose the DH for this series but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he’s “confident” that Stanton will be available to start in the outfield. Stanton has been dealing with hamstring tightness for a little over a week, resulting in the Yankees deploying him exclusively at designated hitter for the club’s past 11 games. After a slow start, Stanton is having a fine season in batting .285 with 32 homers and 80 RBIs. It’s new Yankee Lance Lynn (8-8, 4.68) on the mound. Lynn surrendered five runs on six hits and three walks while fanning five over four innings as he didn’t factor into the decision Friday against Toronto. Lynn was roughed up for four runs in the first inning, but New York would rally as he departed with the game tied 5-5. It was easily Lynn’s worst outing since joining the Yankees, as he’s allowed just one run across 16.2 innings while racking up 22 punchouts since being dealt from Toronto.  Lynn was nearly unhittable over his first three appearances (two starts) in pinstripes, carrying a 0.54 ERA into his start Friday. That number then ballooned to 2.61 ERA. After putting together his best stretch, Miami’s Trevor Richards (3-7, 4.28) struggled against the Braves last time, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander, who’ll face the Yankees for the first time, is 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA in eight outings at Marlins Park.

Expert Predictions

Recommend under the total in Twins-White Sox (probably 8) and go Yankees in Miami.