MLB Picks August 6: Braves host Brewers in featured game

The division leaders have returned to the pack as the league races have tightened. With just under two months remaining in the season, teams are looking to gain momentum for a final playoff push. There is a full schedule of games for August 6. We’ll examine five contests with Atlanta and Milwaukee in the headlined matchup.

Milwaukee Brewers versus Atlanta Braves

Atlanta is within five games of the Phillies in the NL East and 5-1 over the last six games. Milwaukee remains in first in the NL Central despite a mediocre 3-3 over the last six. The Braves have a +28 to +16 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator and 2-1 over the Brewers in head-to-head play this season. The teams are trending in games “over” the line with a score prediction of 8-2 in favor of Milwaukee but with only 34 percent confidence.  Atlanta is more consistently performing regarding their favorite/underdog status. Atlanta is 37-26 at home and Milwaukee is 31-26 on the road. Milwaukee has a slight scoring differential edge of +82 to +63. I like the Braves at home but pass on the over/under bet.

Arizona Diamondbacks versus Cleveland Guardians

Both teams come in “burning hot” after winning five of the last six. The Diamondbacks are four games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and the Guardians have the best record in the league. Arizona has a +29 to +25 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator while Cleveand has a +92 to +46 scoring differential edge. The teams are trending in games “over” the line with a score prediction of 6-5 in favor of Cleveland with 81 percent confidence. Arizona is 28-26 on the road, but Cleveland is an astounding 35-15 at home. I like the Guardians in a game “over” the line.

Houston Astros versus Texas Rangers

In this AL West clash, the Astros come in tied for first with the Mariners with the Rangers 5.5 games back. Texas is just 1-5 over the laste six and Houston is 3-3 during the same stretch. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line in 11 of the last 12 and the score prediction is 7-6 in favor of Houston but with only 25 percent confidence. The teams have split the previous 10 games this season. Both teams are showing high stability on the Team Volatility Oscillator. Texas is five games over .500 at home and Houston is a rather mediocre three-games under .500 on the road. I like the Rangers in a game “over” the line.

Minnesota Twins versus Chicago Cubs 

Minnesota enters the contest third in the AL Central and Chicago is fourth in the NL Central. The Cubs are 4-2 over their last six and the Twins are 3-3 during the same span. The Cubs have a +26 to +19 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator but the Twins have a +49 to -3 scoring differential edge. Minnesota is much more stable, at +23 to +2 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line in nine of the last 12 games. Minnesota is three-games over .500 on the road and Chicago is four-games north of .500 at home. I like the Cubs but pass on the “over/under” bet.

Philadelphia Phillies versus Los Angeles Dodgers

Although both teams are still on top in their respective divisions, both have come back to the back. Both teams have lost two straight and the Dodgers are “average” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The teams are trending in games “over” the line and the score prediction is a 10-2 blowout for the Dodgers but with only 37 percent confidence. The Phillies won the previous three games between the teams this season at home. The Phillies have a narrow +94 to +85 scoring differential edge. Both teams have been consistently performing over the course of the season regarding their favorite/underdog status. I like the Dodgers at home in a game “over” the line.