TST Best Bets: August 23, 2026
Timothy Hessen
Host · Writer
Sunday’s MLB slate features a pair of National League series finales, including a special matchup in Williamsport.
The Braves and Brewers will meet in the MLB Little League Classic after Milwaukee held Atlanta to one run in each of the first two games of the series. The Brewers have won six of their last seven and own the best record in baseball, while the Braves will try to avoid a sweep in a matchup between two division leaders.
Later, the Dodgers will go for their sixth straight win and a sweep of the Pirates after rallying from an early three-run deficit Saturday. Los Angeles will turn to Blake Snell as it looks to keep rolling and complete a perfect homestand.
First Pick: Milwaukee Brewers ML (-113) over Atlanta Braves
Rundown: Milwaukee is playing like the best team in baseball right now, winning six of its last seven after outscoring Seattle 34-11 in a three-game sweep.
The Brewers’ pitching has been just as impressive as their lineup, holding three of their last five opponents to one run or fewer. Shane Drohan has also allowed no more than three earned runs in eight of his last 10 starts.
Atlanta is trending in the opposite direction with five losses in its last six games. The Braves have scored only 11 total runs during that stretch and have lost two of Tyler Mahle’s three starts since acquiring him.
The pitching matchup is relatively even, but everything else favors Milwaukee. With the Brewers available at nearly even money, I’ll back the hotter team to complete the sweep.
Second Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-130) over Pittsburgh Pirates
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Aug 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Alek Thomas (9) fields a single by Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jared Triolo (19) during the second inning at Dodger Stadium.
Rundown: The Dodgers have won five straight, but their first two victories in this series both came by a single run. I’m betting that changes in Sunday’s finale.
Pittsburgh will use Lake Bachar as an opener, and his numbers away from home are difficult to trust. He has a 5.20 road ERA this season and has surrendered eight earned runs across five career innings against Los Angeles.
Blake Snell has only made three starts this season, but he looked much sharper Monday, holding Colorado to one run across six innings. Another step forward should give the Dodgers a chance to create some separation against a Pirates team that scored all three of Saturday’s runs in the first inning.
Los Angeles has been unreliable on the run line at home, but this is the right matchup to look past that trend. With its lineup starting to heat up and a major advantage on the mound, I’ll back the Dodgers to finish the sweep with their first comfortable win of the series.
