Top MLB Betting Games of the Weekend (Aug. 5-7)

Headlined by a blockbuster National League showdown in the nation’s capital between the Nationals and Giants, there is no shortage of must-watch MLB action this weekend. So, without further ado, let’s jump into the baseball betting lines and take a sweeping look at the MLB Top Games of the Weekend, complete with free MLB picks specially prepared for you.

Here’s a Look at the Top MLB Betting Games of the Weekend (Aug. 5-7)

#Shark and the #SFGiants open series against the Nationals. https://t.co/djJ5ugXa78 #WeAreGiant pic.twitter.com/UOnJhlZoV0

— #WeAreSF (@SFGiants) August 5, 2016

San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals (Aug. 5-7)

Every game in this three-game series will be NLCS-like, as both teams are enjoying good form and will have their best arms on the mound. The Giants have a slim lead over the Dodgers in the NL West and will want to get as many wins as possible this weekend in order to stay atop the division. To do so, they will send Jeff Samardzija (on Friday) and ace Madison Bumgarner (on Sunday) to the mound. The Nationals, who lead the NL East and are just a couple games behind the Cubs’ MLB-best 66-41 record, will also have everything to fight for in this clash. Washington’s ace Stephen Strasburg will take to the hill on Saturday in a game that is likely to see the Nats heavily favored. When these two teams met in a four-game set at the end of July, they split the series with 2 wins apiece. So, who will take this weekend’s series? From the basic outlook of things, I think San Francisco will win Friday’s opener and Sunday’s finale, sandwiching a win by Strasburg and the Nats on Saturday. Best Series Winning Picks: San Francisco (Friday), Washington (Saturday), San Francisco (Sunday).

Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 5

Pick: Blue Jays The Royals are in the murky waters of bad form and are hoping to turn things around in their bad-blood series against the Blue Jays this weekend. To get us started off, the defending World Series Champs will give the ball to Dillon Gee (3-5, 4.66 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Unfortunately for the Royals, the 30 year old right-hander is worryingly 0-3 in his last five starts, including nine runs allowed on 17 hits through his last 11 innings of work in over his past two starts. The guy opposing him on the opposite mound is Toronto’s trade signing Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.46 ERA), who hasn’t been any better recently, losing seven of his last eight starts as the moneyline favorite. That said, being in a new city may do the former Pittsburgh left-hander some good as he looks to make his debut for the Blue Jays. Not to mention, the Royals are pathetically 0-7 in their last seven games vs. a left-handed starter, offering Liriano a solid chance to prove his value. Saturday and Sunday will see Toronto start with a couple of trusty starters, led by Marcus Stroman, with KC countering with Yordano Ventura and gang. It’s hard to say with precision what will happen on Saturday and Saturday, but the Royals are just 3-10 in their last 13 overall games, while the Blue Jays bring with them a good form—8-3 in their last 11 games—into this game. With that, I believe the Blue Jays should be the smart play to win this series. Best Series Winning Pick: Toronto Wins the Three-game Series 2-1.

Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox (Aug. 5-7)

So, it turns out that Chris Sale is still a member of that Chicago team, in spite of cutting up their uniforms because he felt they lacked ambition in the winning department. And truth be told, Chicago has not been the greatest of teams this season. Even so, the White Sox have been a solid play when playing at home, which should make their series against the AL East-leading Orioles (22-29 on the road) an interesting one. I am not sure about what to expect from Sunday’s clash between Chicago’s struggling starter James Shields and Baltimore’s bullpen specialist Dylan Bundy. I can, however, tell you for free to expect a likely win by Chicago on Friday, followed by a Baltimore victory on Saturday. My reasons? Baltimore’s starter for Friday is Yovani Gallardo, a player who has really struggled on the road, going 1-3 with a 7.32 ERA and 1.805 WHIP in 8 road starts. Chicago Miguel Gonzalez, who will be opposing Gallardo on Friday, has been on a mind-blowing tear lately, posting a 2.50 ERA over 6 starts in July. Add to the motivation Gonzalez will have for facing the team that traded him in spring training, Friday’s value should be with Chicago. For Saturday, I only have two words for you; CHRIS TILLMAN! This Baltimore dude has been pure money, with a 14-3 record to go with a 3.46 ERA, with the Orioles winning 8 of his last 10 starts. Should he stick to his game, it doesn’t matter what Carlos Rodon and Chicago will do on Saturday, as the win will still end up with the Orioles. Best Series Winning Picks: Chicago (Friday), Baltimore (Saturday).

Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers (Aug. 5-7)

The Red Sox and the Dodgers both enter the weekend placed second in their respective divisions, with Boston sitting two games off the Orioles and Blue Jays who are tied atop the AL East, while the Los Angeles sits two games off San Francisco in the NL West. This three-game weekend series between the Dodgers and Red Sox therefore offers a perfect opportunity for either of these two teams to improve on their placements, especially if things go wrong for their respective divisional toppers. On paper, it looks like the Dodgers (60-48, 6-4 in last 10) will have a slight edge over the Red Sox (59-48, 4-6 in last 10). But then again, these two teams play contrasting baseball, with Los Angeles often relying on its stellar pitching for wins while Boston being an offense-first squad, meaning giving a blanket prediction based on numbers alone would be ill-advised. So, while I am leaning on the Dodgers because have been solid at home (as opposed to the road-shaky Red Sox), I’ll admit that Boston could easily upset this three-game set, particularly if the visitors are able to wake up from their recent offensive struggles. Best Series Winning Pick: Dodgers win the three-game Series 2-1