MLB Best Bets | Picks and Predictions for Sunday (8/4)
(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) Pictured: Justin Steele
There's a full slate of 15 MLB games on Sunday, August 4. As a result, there are a couple of MLB best bets to sift through.
After looking over Sunday MLB odds, our betting experts have zeroed in on Sunday's top MLB moneyline picks and predictions for Mets vs Angels and Cardinals vs Cubs.
As the headline states, these are today's MLB best bets, so make sure you keep reading for our picks and don't miss out on some potential winners.
MLB Best Bets | Picks and Predictions for Sunday (8/4)
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from the Sunday slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific MLB best bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 4:07 p.m. | |
  | 7:10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Nick Parsons' Mets vs Angels Best Bet
Mets vs Angels Betting Preview & Prediction
By Nick Parsons
The Mets are locked in a tight battle for the final NL wild-card spot. As a result, they can't overlook these matchup mismatches.
I think backing Jose Quintana (6-6, 3.89 ERA) is the correct call in this matchup. Quintana continues to look stronger as the season progresses and is coming off a win over the Twins in which he struck out five and gave up just one run over six innings. In fact, he posted a tiny 2.05 ERA and a microscopic 0.98 WHIP in July.
The Angels will counter with Griffin Canning (3-10, 5.25 ERA), who was shelled for six runs over six innings in a fortunate no-decision vs. the Rockies in his most recent outing. Canning has allowed at least four runs in six of his past nine appearances and everything points to another tough night for the struggling right-hander in my opinion.
The Mets clearly have the pitching advantage, which is why I'm betting them Sunday.
Pick: Mets Moneyline (-148)
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William Boor's Cardinals vs Cubs Best Bet
Cardinals vs Cubs Betting Preview & Prediction
By William Boor
The Cubs have lost each of the past three games Justin Steele has started, but that streak will come to an end tonight as they host the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
Steele, a 29-year-old lefty, has given up 12 earned runs over 15 innings in his past three starts, but the advanced metrics remain strong. The results have been rough, but that's bound to happen over the course of a long baseball season. If we look at the season as a whole, Steele has a 3.38 ERA against a 3.07 xERA (85th percentile). He also ranks in the 71st percentile in xBA (.228), the 90th percentile in barrel rate and will be facing a St. Louis lineup that has underperformed for the bulk of the season.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who rallied Saturday, but have lost two of three in this series, will send 35-year-old right-hander Miles Mikolas to the mound.
Mikolas held the Cubs to one run over 6 1/3 innings in mid June, but also gave up six runs over 5 1/3 innings to the Cubs a couple of weeks ago. Mikolas has pitched to a 5.00 ERA and a 4.39 xERA (32nd percentile) this season. He also ranks in the 30th percentile or lower in xBA, strikeout percentage and hard-hit rate.
Not only has he never been a dominant, shutdown starter, but he'll also be facing a Cubs' lineup that has fared well of late. The Cubs have won of four and are averaging seven runs per game over that stretch.
Chicago not only has the starting pitching edge, but has also been playing better as a whole. Bet the Cubs to stay hot and fly the W on Sunday Night Baseball.
Pick: Cubs Moneyline (-148)
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