For what it’s worth, last night ended up being one of my best ever.  Unlike Thursday when I only had 3 games (4 sides) on my parlay card, last night I had a boatload, 6 games and 10 sides on my parlay card, the Cubs, Guardians, Mariners and Giants  1^st 5 and full games as well as the Astros 1^st 5 and Mets full game.  I also had 3 side bets as well, the Red Sox 1^st 5 and full game MLs and the Orioles full game ML and I didn’t lose a single one.

I won 9 of the 10 sides on my parlay card and all 3 of my side bets.  The Giants pushed their 1st 5.  It was 0-0 after 5.   It was damned near a clean sweep and I picked up just shy of a whopping 119 units.  Over the last couple of days, I’ve picked up just shy of 137 units. 

Sometime this weekend, I’m going to have to sit down and calculate exactly where I now stand.  I didn’t think that I had any chance of turning a profit this season, but suddenly, I think that I might yet pull it off.  I’ll post that update as soon as I figure it out.      

Today, on the last day of August, we now have one MLB team that is playing exactly .600 ball, the Dodgers.    

We have a full slate of games, but not that many that I really like so let’s get right to it as I try not to give it all back today.  Here is my smaller Saturday card.

It’s a holiday weekend and the unofficial end of summer.  The NFK gets started this week.  We have a weekend of family activities planned, including dinner with our niece and here husband, who drove from Ohio and a family outing tomorrow, so there isn’t much time for game breakdowns.   This is the best I could do.

CHI C @ WASH

The Cubs beat the Nats 7-6 lasnight, jumping out to a bog lead and hanging on for dear lief late.  I still think that the Cubs are better than the Nats.  They are clearly the better hitting team and also have the better bullpen, but that’s closer.  The Cubs are also still in contention for an NL wild card spot, 5 games behind the Braves.  The starting pitching looks to close bo bet a 1^st 5, bit I’m willing to bet on the better team that actually needs the game and that’s the Cubs.

Pick – CHI C ML in a side bet

BOS @ DET

The Red Sox beat the Tigers 7-5 in 10 inning last night and are probably better than the Tigers.  That said Nick Pivetta v Tarik Skubal looks like a mismatch to me.  Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, while Pivetta is far from it.

I’ve been betting on Skubal all season long and ‘m not about to change that today.  I just hope the Tigers give him a fe runs to work with.

Pick – DET 1^st 5 ML in a series of parlays

ATL @ PHIL

The Braves beat the Phils 7-2 last night to pick up a game on them in the NL East.  The Phils now lead the Braves by 5 games.  The Phils are the better hitting team, or at least that’s what the stats tell me, but the Braves have the better bullpen.  For me this bet Is all about the two starting pitchers.  Max Fried is having a good season for the Braves, but Zack Wheeler is having an even better one for the Phils. 

It hasn’t always worked out, but for five innings, I’ll take Wheeler over Fried.

Pick – PHIL 1^st 5 ML in a series of parlays

NYM @ CHI WS

To no one’s surprise, the Mets beat the White Sox 5-1 last night.  The White Sox are the worst team in baseball an it’s not close.  The White Sox have the worst offense in baseball, while the Mets have a top 10 offense.  The Mets bullpen isn’t very good, but the White Sox pen is even worse.  I’m not all that impressed with Tylor Megill, but Jonathan Cannon hasn’t been any better.  Jose Quintana has performed about as expected for the Mets,  He’s a usually solid but unspectacular lefty who has been mediocre.  However, Davis Martin, who has given up 10 runs (9 earned) on 26 hits and 13 walks over 27.1 innings hasn’t been any better and might be worse.  41 baserunners in just over 27 innings is a lot.  Matthews has given up 5 runs on 13  hits, but 5 HRs and 2 walks   

 I’m betting against the White Sox again, just like I have all season.

TOR @ MINN

The Twins beat the Jays 2-0 behind a stellar outing from Pablo Lopez last night.  The Twins are the better team and they currently hold the 3^rd and final AL wild card spot, 3.5 games ahead of the Red Sox.  The problem is that I have confidence in Zebby Matthews.  He’s only started 3 games and given up10 runs (9 earned) on 13 hits and 2over 15 innings with 13 Ks.  That’s not awful, but it’s not exactly good either.  As for Jose Berrios, he seems to have turned his season around.  In his last start at the Red Sox, Berrios picked up his 4^th straight win and delivered his longest start of the season. During that four-game stretch, he produced a stellar 1.88 ERA with a 26/4 K/BB ratio over 28.2 innings, after posting a 6.02 ERA in the 10 starts prior to that win streak.

I much prefer Berrios to Sebby Matthews for five innings.

Pick – TOR 1^st 5 ML in a side bet

SEA @ LAA

The Mariners beat the Angels 9-5 last night.  They still struggle to score runs too often and when they lose that’s usually the reason why.  Bryan Woo is having a great season, while in his last start at the Blue Jays, Tyler Anderson absorber his 4^th loss in his last 6 outings, giving up 21 runs (20 earned) over that 34.2 inning span.  That’s not good.   

I don’t trust the Blue Jays, but for five innings I take Berrios over Anderson.

Pick – TOR 1st 5 ML in a side bet.