Daily Fantasy picks, predictions, odds for Aug. 3

August 3rd, 2021

A version of this article originally appeared on DraftKings. For more betting insights, check out DraftKings.com.

Tuesday features a sizable MLB slate, with all 30 teams in action. All 15 games will start at 7:05 p.m. ET or later.

Let’s break down some of my favorite wagers to target on DraftKings Sportsbook.

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

Chicago Cubs at Colorado Rockies

Cubs ML (+120)

The Cubs are obviously not the same team that won the title back in 2016, shipping away guys like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Craig Kimbrel.

They’re going to be at a major talent disadvantage for the rest of the season, but this series vs. the Rockies is an exception. The Rockies rank last in wRC+ this season by a significant margin, and they don’t exactly have a ton of pitching depth, either.

They’ll send Kyle Freeland to the mound on Tuesday, and he’s struggled to a 5.34 FIP at Coors Field this season. Zach Davies will get the ball for the Cubs, and while he hasn’t been a world-beater, his 4.66 FIP gives them an edge on the mound. The Cubs are undervalued at plus-money.

Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees

Orioles ML (+220)

I’m rolling the dice on the Orioles as large underdogs on Tuesday. The Yankees were originally scheduled to have Gerrit Cole on the mound in this contest, but he’s been placed on the COVID IL. That means Nestor Cortes will take the mound instead, and Cortes has been brilliant for the Yankees this season. He’s pitched to a 1.93 ERA and 2.18 FIP over 32 2/3 innings, so they’ll still have a big edge in this contest.

However, there are reasons to believe in regression for Cortes moving forward. For starters, he’s never had this level of success in the majors before. He pitched to a 15.26 ERA with the Mariners in 2020 and a 5.67 ERA with the Yankees in 2019.

The Orioles have also quietly been fantastic against left-handed pitchers this season. They’ve posted a 110 wRC+ in that split, which is the sixth-highest mark in the league.

Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers -1.5 (+120)

The Dodgers are an absolute juggernaut. They entered the season with an abundance of talent, and they made a massive splash before the trade deadline. They acquired the best pitcher on the market in Max Scherzer and also added arguably the best hitter on the market in Trea Turner. Adding those two players to the Dodgers’ core is borderline unfair.

The Dodgers are facing a tough matchup in Lance McCullers Jr., but they’ll still have the advantage at pitcher. Walker Buehler will take the hill for the Dodgers, and he’s pitched to a sparkling 2.19 ERA this season. The Dodgers are 12-9 on the run line with Buehler on the mound in 2021, resulting in a return on investment of +12.8%. The Dodgers have been an even better investment with Buehler on the mound recently, posting a mark of 8-3 on the run line over his past 11 starts.

All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.

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