MLB Games Of The Day For Saturday, Aug. 27

A matchup between two powerhouse teams in the NL this season is sure to bring a huge audience into the picture when the Atlanta Braves take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams have been very good this season, as they were expected to be, with Atlanta holding a slight advantage record wise. However, St. Louis is winning their division right now, so they are actually ahead in the standings because of that. The Braves have to contend with the New York Mets in the NL East, who are currently winning the division, but not by much. Both of these teams have much to gain, and a lot to lose as well.

The outcome of this series could suggest who is more ready for the postseason, as it is right around the corner. It is a measuring stick type of matchup, where two good teams determine who is better at the moment. We all know that the team that gets hot down the stretch and into the playoffs is the most likely one to win the World Series, so if Atlanta or St. Louis do just that, they have a good chance when the games start to have higher stakes.

The Cardinals should have the advantage on the mound with Jordan Montgomery on the mound. He's been great for St. Louis since coming over from the New York Yankees, and I would expect him to continue that here. He has a 3.01 home ERA this season, so he is usually more comfortable pitching in his own ballpark. Charlie Morton gets the ball for Atlanta, and he hasn't been great on the road, with a 5.08 ERA away from his confines.

The San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins are two of the most average teams you can possibly think of this season. They both are within a few games of .500, and neither team has really impressed much this season. It is increasing unlikely that either of them make the postseason, although Minnesota still has an outside shot of winning their division. The AL Central is full of mediocre, average teams, so no one is a lock to take the crown. San Francisco has a much tougher hill to climb, and I seriously doubt they make it to the top, but they can at least try to make the season look a little better by ruining it all for the Twins. Playing spoiler is what bad teams love to do.

Another pretty average pitching matchup here between Alex Cobb and Sonny Gray. Cobb is 4-6 with a 3.99 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, while Gray is 7-4 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Like is said, very average stuff here, but neither offense is really equipped with the star talent to blow open a game against average starters.

This is only a game of the day because I really like the Mariners first five innings here. The Cleveland Guardians may be on top of that awful AL Central I mentioned earlier, but that really isn't hard. Minnesota is about as mid as it gets, and the White Sox are 2022's biggest disappointment. Usually the Guardians have some really solid pitching, but that will not be the case Saturday night in Seattle. Zach Plesac is on the bump for them, and he has been pretty awful this season. Just look at his record, which is sitting at a robust 2-11, and it gets even worse from there. Cleveland is just 1-7 in games on the road that Plesac starts, and his 4.93 road ERA is nothing to ride home about, either. He's a guy I have been targeting lately to bet against, and I will do just that here.

Seattle is a team that I have really liked going against a dude I really dont like. The Mariners can hit for power and average, and their pitching staff has been pretty great down the stretch. Luis Castillo gets the ball Saturday, a guy that the organization traded for in hopes of solidifying their staff ahead of a possible playoff run. He can do just that, as his 2.93 ERA and 1.08 WHIP have been phenomenal for Seattle since he came over from the Cincinnati Reds.