Expert MLB Betting Picks: Top MLB Predictions for August 3

Betting Expert Daniel E. Dobish peruses the full MLB slate, offering up a 4-leg parlay, including two wagers from the Sunday night Tigers-Phillies battle.

Updated on August 4, 2025 4:06PM EST

Expert MLB Betting Picks: Top MLB Predictions for August 3

By:

Daniel Dobish

Updated on August 4, 2025 4:06PM EST

MLB Picks

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MLB Picks Today: Expert MLB Picks for
Sunday, August 3

Another weekend of Major League Baseball wraps up Sunday with a full slate, and like most Sundays, nearly all of the games are during the day. Things get underway with the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox meeting at 11:35 a.m. ET on Roku, while Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET features the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies.

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Cardinals vs Padres: Expert Betting Tips and Analysis

The Cardinals (56-56) and Padres (61-50) wrap up a three-game series at Petco Park in San Diego, and the teams are playing to secure the series win, too.

On Friday, the Padres picked up the 4-1 win as heavy favorites (-175) as the Under (7.5) cashed behind RHP Nick Pivetta. The Cardinals exacted revenge with an 8-5 win as slight underdogs (+130), while the Over (9) easily cashed.

In Saturday's game, the Padres built a 4-0 lead through three innings, but the Cardinals flipped the script with eight unanswered runs, including six combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Cardinals C Pedro Pages went 1-for-3 with a 3-run homer in the fourth inning, while DH Ivan Herrera went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while SS Masyn Wynn ended up 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and two RBI.

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For the Padres, OF Jackson Merrill went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, while SS Xander Bogaerts ended up 2-for-4 with a run scored. It wasn't all good, as Bogaerts also grounded into a double play. C Freddy Fermin ended up 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI, and 1B Luis Arraez was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

The Cards snapped a three-game losing streak, and they're just 2-5 in the past seven outings. The Under is 8-3-2 in the past 13 games, too. The Padres saw their six-game win streak snapped on Saturday. The Under is 3-1 in the past four outings, and 8-4 across the previous 12 contests.

St. Louis turns to RHP Andre Pallante (6-7, 4.62 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) for his 22nd start. He is 2-4 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in the past seven starts across 40 2/3 IP. On the road, he is also 2-4 with a 4.82 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with eight homers allowed in 61 2/3 IP in 11 starts.

San Diego rolls with RHP Dylan Cease (3-10, 4.79 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) across his 22 outings. He is just 1-4 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 37 2/3 IP in the past seven outings, too. However, he has been pretty sound at home, going 3-3 with a 3.99 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 56 1/3 IP in 10 starts.

Siding with the Padres straight up is just way too expensive, and we can't trust them on the run line. Let's take a little insurance, siding with the Cardinals +1.5 runs, and we'll take the Over based on the splits of both Pallante and Cease.

MLB Best Bets for Cardinals vs Padres:

Cardinals +1.5 (-130 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Over 8 Runs (-115 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Tigers vs Phillies: Sunday Night Baseball Insights

On Sunday night, the Tigers and Phillies meet to determine an interleague series winner.

On Friday, Philadelphia posted a 5-4 win as moderate favorites (-145) as the Over (7.5) hit. On Saturday, behind All-Star LHP Tarik Skubal, the Tigers exacted a little revenge with a 7-5 win as short 'dogs (+110) as the Over (6) easily connected.

Detroit has posted five wins in the past six games, with the Over going 3-0-1 in the past four outings. However, on the road, despite Saturday's win, the Tigers are just 2-6 in the past eight games away from home.

Philadelphia has managed a 2-4 mark in the past six games, while the Over has cashed in three in a row. The total has gone high at a 6-1-2 clip in the past nine outings, too.

Journeyman RHP Charlie Morton (7-8, 5.42 ERA, 1.56 WHIP) makes his Tigers debut following his trade from the Baltimore Orioles at the deadline. He had started to piece things together after a dreadful start to the season. After opening 0-7 with a 7.68 ERA across his first six starts and six relief appearances, Morton is 7-1 in his past 11 starts since May 26, while chopping his ERA down more than two runs.

LHP Cristopher Sanchez starts for the home side. He is 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 130 2/3 IP in 21 starts. He is 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 51 IP in his past seven starts, too, while going 4-0 with a 2.65 ERA with a complete game across 57 2/3 IP in nine home starts.

The Tigers are 19-11 vs. LHP this season, while going 21-17 in interleague play. The Phillies are 50-29 vs. RHP, while posting an 18-14 mark in interleague play.

The body of work for Sanchez is much better, and despite the win streak for Morton, the southpaw has been more consistent. Take Philadelphia at home, and let's go low on the total.