Free MLB Picks and Odds Today Including Angels vs Rangers, Phillies vs Nationals, Royals vs White Sox

• Thursday’s MLB schedule features a 12-game slate
• The Angels have scored three runs or less in six of their last seven games
• See the best bets for the day, below

As usual, Thursday is a lighter day around MLB, but there’s still 12 games to get action down on. The slate features half a dozen matinees, with the first pitch in Miami slated for 12:10 pm ET, while the final game of the night is scheduled at 8:15 pm ET in St. Louis.

One of the matinees to target from a betting perspective is in Texas, where both the Angels and Rangers are having a lot of trouble scoring runs lately.

MLB Picks for August 5th

All odds as of August 4th at DraftKings.

Angels vs Rangers Odds

Just two of Texas’ last 10 games have exceeded 9 runs total, while the Angles have scored three or fewer runs in six of seven. This will be the finale of a four-game set, and so far two of the three games have fallen way under the total.

LA is actually an above average offensive team on paper, but that doesn’t account for all the injuries they’re dealing with. The team announced Wednesday that Anthony Rendon will have season-ending surgery on his hip, while Mike Trout has been on the injured list since the middle of May. Earlier this week, LA placed Jared Walsh on the 10-day IL, meaning they’re arguably down three of their top five hitters.

The Rangers meanwhile, rank last in the AL in runs, slugging and OBP, and second worst in batting average.

You could argue that both teams have a favorable matchup against opposing pitchers Dylan Bundy (6.66 ERA) and Spencer Howard (5.72 ERA), but the way each club is swinging the bat, the under is the play.

Pick: Under 9.5 (-120)

Phillies vs Nationals Odds

That’s enough talk about low scoring affairs, now let’s focus on games with shootout potential. First up, the Phillies take on the Nationals in what has been an extremely high scoring series so far. Each of the first three games this week between these two teams have cleared 8.5 runs, with two of the outings producing at least 12 runs.

Yessir. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/7A4fMI3sI7

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 5, 2021

High scoring matchups between Philly and Washington are nothing new, as two of the games in their three-game set last week also produced double digit runs. The Phillies offense has been hot lately, scoring 36 times in their last four games, and will face Joe Ross, who’s fresh off surrendering four runs in 4.1 innings against the Cubs.

The Nats on the other hand, square off against Aaron Nola, which isn’t as daunting as it used to be. The 28-year-old has given up at least four runs in two of his past four starts, and currently owns the second worst ERA (4.30) of his career. He’s allowed the second highest hard hit percentage (32.8%) of his career as well, and his called + swinging strike rate (30.7%) is the lowest it’s been since his rookie campaign.

Pick: Over 8.5 (-105)

Royals vs White Sox Odds

The final game on our betting card also screams offense, as the Royals face the White Sox. Chicago is the sixth highest scoring team in baseball, and gets a juicy matchup versus KC lefty Daniel Lynch. The 24-year-old didn’t make it out of the first inning the last time he faced the White Sox, surrendering eight runs and seven hits.

https://youtu.be/WF0ZAMeilcA

Short starts are nothing new to Lynch as he’s failed to make it out of the 5th inning in three of his five outings. That doesn’t bode well for KC, as the Royals bullpen ranks bottom-three in ERA and WAR.

Chicago will give the ball to Dallas Keuchel, who’s been roughed up in two straight starts. He’s surrendered at least four runs in three of his past five outings, and four of his past five starts have produced totals north of 12.

Pick: Over 9.5 (-105)