MLB Best Bet for August 3: Houser, Brewers good value to stroll against Pirates yet again

After a light Monday schedule to begin a new week of MLB betting, we have a heavy schedule to look forward to tonight.

The pick of the pack is the series opener between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. NL Cy Young favorite Walker Buehler takes the hill opposite Lance McCullers Jr. in what should be quite the atmosphere at Dodgers Stadium.

Will we see those two teams face off again in October? The latest MLB betting odds at BetOnline Sportsbook place these two teams ahead of the field. The Dodgers are +145 to win the National League, while the Astros are +200 to win the American League title.

That matchup is not the only mouthwatering one out west, as the Oakland A’s host the San Diego Padres for a three-game set. The A’s have the misfortune of having the Astros in their division, while the Padres have the misfortune of having the Giants and Dodgers in theirs. But both teams teams are on track to make the postseason, and this series should be an excellent one.

But what is the best MLB bet of the day? We cast our eyes on Milwaukee, where the Brewers look to stay hot in the second half.

August 3 MLB Best Bet of the Day: Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 RL

MLB Betting Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers

Pitching Matchup

• Pittsburgh Pirates: Max Kranick (1-2, 7.31 ERA)
• Milwaukee Brewers: Adrian Houser (7-5, 3.69 ERA)

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers August 3 MLB Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Pittsburgh Pirates +198
• Milwaukee Brewers -240

Total

• OVER 9 (-110)
• UNDER 9 (-110)

Run Line

• Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (-104)
• Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (-125)

Pirates vs Brewers odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Tuesday, August 3 at 5:25 pm ET.

Houser, Brewers to Continue Dominance Against Pirates?

Last week, the Brewers went to Pittsburgh and dominated the Pirates in three games. They shut out the Pirates twice and outscored them 28-3.

In last night’s series opener in Milwaukee, the Brewers were limited early by Bryse Wilson in his Pirates debut. But five runs across the sixth and seventh helped the Brewers notch a 6-2 win. They are now 6-1 in their last seven games and are 11-4 since the MLB All-Star break.

The Brewers also have 11 wins this season against the Pirates, against only three losses. Two of those three losses came in the first series of the season between these NL Central foes, when the Pirates took two of three in Milwaukee. Since then, Milwaukee has won 10 of 11 against Pittsburgh, going 4-0 at home and 6-1 on the road.

Houser was 3-5 with a 4.53 ERA after his first nine starts this season, but he has had a real turnaround since then. Over his last 11 appearances (nine starts), he is 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA. In July, he had a couple of colorful outings, but he finished 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in five appearances (four starts). That 2.05 ERA was his lowest for a month thus far this season.

Kranick, tonight’s starter for the Pirates, tossed five perfect innings in winning his MLB debut against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27. It has been a bit bumpy since then, however. Over his last three starts, he is 0-2 with a 10.64 ERA, having allowed 13 earned runs in 11 innings. Last time out, the Brewers roughed him up for six runs and ten hits in five innings in a 7-3 Brewers win last Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers August 3 MLB Betting Consensus

All 11 of the Brewers’ wins this season against the Pirates have been by multiple runs, and more of the same should be expected tonight. Tonight is Houser’s fifth start against the Pirates this season, and he is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in the first four starts. Three of the six runs he has allowed against the Pirates came in a loss on April 16. In the others, he is 2-0 with a 1.58 ERA. Look for him to have another strong outing against the NL Central’s cellar dwellers.

Our MLB picks don’t unanimously back up the numbers and optimism, but this just lines up as excellent value when the run line is still in the -120s.

Moneyline

• 25% Pittsburgh Pirates
• 75% Milwaukee Brewers

Total (at O/U 9)

• 25% OVER
• 75% UNDER

Run Line (at +/-1.5)

• 50% Pittsburgh Pirates
• 50% Milwaukee Brewers

For more on tonight’s Pirates vs Brewers matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers August 3 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More