Leo daily card

MLB Picks | Wednesday, August 26, 2026

One authoritative page for every official pick, research setup, and pass. Each decision includes the model probability, matchup evidence, risk, and author.

GAMES
15
OFFICIAL PICKS
15
across all markets
VALUE WATCH
0
WATCHLIST
1
PASSES
10

Updated Aug 26, 8:58 PM EDT. Official picks are published before grading.

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Cleveland Guardians @ Los Angeles Angels

Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Moneyline: Cleveland Guardians -136
Pitcher Ks: Grayson Rodriguez Under 4.5 -156
Leo side
Cleveland Guardians Money Line
Lab Rating
8.0/10
Model probability
73.1%
Market probability
56.5%
Model vs market
+16.6%
Current price
-135
Pitcher edge
Cleveland Guardians by 22 points
Bullpen read
Both bullpens are heavily taxed. Cleveland Guardians is 9.9/10 and Los Angeles Angels is 8.2/10, so late-game volatility is elevated on both sides.
Why Leo made this decisionCleveland Guardians is an official moneyline pick because Leo gives it a 73.1% chance to win, compared with the market's 56.5% no-vig probability. The full setup earned a 8.0/10 Lab Rating. Cleveland Guardians has the stronger starting pitcher matchup by 22 rating points. Bullpen risk is elevated but not decisive. Cleveland Guardians is 9.1/10 and Los Angeles Angels is 7.6/10. Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 23.2 points from 96.3% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 73.1%. At -135, the price still offers enough value for the play to qualify as official.
Risk noteNo model can see every live lineup, injury, or late bullpen availability update. Recheck official news before first pitch.

Cincinnati Reds @ San Francisco Giants

3:45 PM ET · Nick Lodolo vs Logan Webb
Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Moneyline: San Francisco Giants -115
Leo side
San Francisco Giants Money Line
Lab Rating
7.2/10
Model probability
71.8%
Market probability
52.7%
Model vs market
+19.1%
Current price
-115
Pitcher edge
San Francisco Giants by 21 points
Bullpen read
San Francisco Giants carries the heavier bullpen workload, 10.0/10 versus 6.3/10, which adds late-game risk. San Francisco Giants has used 39.3 bullpen innings over the last 7 days with 6 back-to-back arms.
Why Leo made this decisionSan Francisco Giants is an official moneyline pick because Leo gives it a 71.8% chance to win, compared with the market's 52.7% no-vig probability. The full setup earned a 7.2/10 Lab Rating. San Francisco Giants has the stronger starting pitcher matchup by 21 rating points. San Francisco Giants carries the higher-risk bullpen, 9.0/10 versus 6.1/10. Recent context: 39.3 relief innings over the last 7 days, 6 back-to-back arms. San Francisco Giants's pen has been effective lately (7.0/10 efficiency). Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 22.3 points from 94.2% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 71.8%. At -115, the price still offers enough value for the play to qualify as official.
Risk notePrimary caution: bullpen fatigue adds late-game caution. Recheck official news before first pitch.

Texas Rangers @ Chicago White Sox

7:40 PM ET · MacKenzie Gore vs Sean Burke
Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Moneyline: Chicago White Sox -119
Leo side
Chicago White Sox Money Line
Lab Rating
7.2/10
Model probability
66.6%
Market probability
53.2%
Model vs market
+13.4%
Current price
-118
Pitcher edge
Chicago White Sox by 10 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Chicago White Sox is 8.7/10 and Texas Rangers is 7.4/10.
Why Leo made this decisionChicago White Sox is an official moneyline pick because Leo gives it a 66.6% chance to win, compared with the market's 53.2% no-vig probability. The full setup earned a 7.2/10 Lab Rating. Chicago White Sox has the stronger starting pitcher matchup by 10 rating points. Bullpen risk is elevated but not decisive. Chicago White Sox is 8.5/10 and Texas Rangers is 7.2/10. Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 17.2 points from 83.8% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 66.6%. At -118, the price still offers enough value for the play to qualify as official.
Risk noteNo model can see every live lineup, injury, or late bullpen availability update. Recheck official news before first pitch.

Tampa Bay Rays @ Detroit Tigers

1:10 PM ET · Freddy Peralta vs Troy Melton
Lynold Rivera
Watchlist
Leo side
Detroit Tigers Money Line
Lab Rating
6.5/10
Model probability
72.3%
Market probability
52.6%
Model vs market
+19.7%
Current price
-114
Pitcher edge
Detroit Tigers by 28 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Detroit Tigers is 7.1/10 and Tampa Bay Rays is 7.2/10.
Why Leo made this decisionDetroit Tigers is worth monitoring, but it does not clear every requirement for an official pick. Leo projects 72.3% win probability, the market is at 52.6%, and the setup carries a 6.5/10 Lab Rating. Detroit Tigers has the stronger starting pitcher matchup by 28 rating points. Bullpen risk is elevated but not decisive. Detroit Tigers is 7.6/10 and Tampa Bay Rays is 6.8/10. Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 22.4 points from 94.8% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 72.3%.
Risk noteNo model can see every live lineup, injury, or late bullpen availability update. Recheck official news before first pitch.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves

7:15 PM ET · Roki Sasaki vs AJ Smith-Shawver
Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers -122
Pitcher Ks: Roki Sasaki Over 4.5 -164
Leo side
Los Angeles Dodgers Money Line
Lab Rating
6.1/10
Model probability
72.1%
Market probability
48.4%
Model vs market
+23.6%
Current price
+101
Pitcher edge
Los Angeles Dodgers by 27 points
Bullpen read
No meaningful bullpen fatigue edge — both pens come in comparable (Los Angeles Dodgers 5.1/10, Atlanta Braves 5.3/10).
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Kansas City Royals @ Toronto Blue Jays

7:07 PM ET · Randy Dobnak vs Spencer Miles
Lynold Rivera
Pass
Leo side
Toronto Blue Jays Money Line
Lab Rating
6.0/10
Model probability
67.0%
Market probability
49.5%
Model vs market
+17.5%
Current price
-102
Pitcher edge
Toronto Blue Jays by 12 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Toronto Blue Jays is 5.6/10 and Kansas City Royals is 6.1/10.
Why Leo made this decisionBullpen game impact
Toronto Blue Jays is using a bullpen game. Spencer Miles is expected to cover about 3.0 innings, leaving roughly 6.0 innings to the bullpen. The pen carries 5.4/10 risk with 5.4/10 recent efficiency. Because this is Leo's side, bullpen quality is central to the pick. The bullpen efficiency comparison is 5.4/10 for Toronto Blue Jays versus 4.6/10 for Kansas City Royals.

This is a bullpen game -- no confirmed traditional starter, so Leo does not publish an official pick here.
Pass reasonThis is a bullpen game -- no confirmed traditional starter, so Leo does not publish an official pick here.

Houston Astros @ New York Yankees

Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Pitcher Ks: Elmer Rodríguez Under 3.5 +106
Leo side
Houston Astros Money Line
Lab Rating
5.8/10
Model probability
71.8%
Market probability
42.1%
Model vs market
+29.7%
Current price
+131
Pitcher edge
Houston Astros by 29 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Houston Astros is 7.2/10 and New York Yankees is 6.4/10.
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ San Diego Padres

Lynold Rivera
Pass
Leo side
San Diego Padres Money Line
Lab Rating
5.3/10
Model probability
57.2%
Market probability
55.5%
Model vs market
+1.7%
Current price
-128
Pitcher edge
No clear SP edge by 3 points
Bullpen read
San Diego Padres has the fresher bullpen, 7.7/10 versus 10.0/10. Pittsburgh Pirates has used 31.3 bullpen innings over the last 7 days with 6 back-to-back arms.
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Minnesota Twins @ Athletics

9:05 PM ET · Connor Prielipp vs J.T. Ginn
Lynold Rivera
Pass
Leo side
Athletics Money Line
Lab Rating
5.3/10
Model probability
66.7%
Market probability
44.3%
Model vs market
+22.4%
Current price
+123
Pitcher edge
Athletics by 15 points
Bullpen read
Athletics carries the heavier bullpen workload, 7.6/10 versus 3.9/10, which adds late-game risk. Athletics has used 28.3 bullpen innings over the last 7 days with 5 back-to-back arms.
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Seattle Mariners

4:10 PM ET · Jesús Luzardo vs Bryan Woo
Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Pitcher Ks: Jesús Luzardo Over 7.5 -103
Pitcher Ks: Bryan Woo Under 5.5 -153
Leo side
Philadelphia Phillies Money Line
Lab Rating
4.9/10
Model probability
58.2%
Market probability
54.8%
Model vs market
+3.4%
Current price
-125
Pitcher edge
Philadelphia Phillies by 5 points
Bullpen read
No meaningful bullpen fatigue edge — both pens come in comparable (Philadelphia Phillies 5.0/10, Seattle Mariners 5.7/10).
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Milwaukee Brewers @ New York Mets

7:10 PM ET · Dustin May vs Robert Stock
Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Pitcher Ks: Dustin May Over 4.5 -121
Leo side
Milwaukee Brewers Money Line
Lab Rating
4.5/10
Model probability
72.4%
Market probability
66.0%
Model vs market
+6.4%
Current price
-200
Pitcher edge
Milwaukee Brewers by 20 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Milwaukee Brewers is 6.9/10 and New York Mets is 6.0/10.
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Chicago Cubs @ Arizona Diamondbacks

Lynold Rivera
Pass
Leo side
Arizona Diamondbacks Money Line
Lab Rating
4.4/10
Model probability
67.2%
Market probability
49.6%
Model vs market
+17.5%
Current price
-102
Pitcher edge
Arizona Diamondbacks by 11 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Arizona Diamondbacks is 6.9/10 and Chicago Cubs is 6.4/10.
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Colorado Rockies @ Washington Nationals

6:45 PM ET · Tanner Gordon vs Matt Waldron
Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Pitcher Ks: Tanner Gordon Over 3.5 -118
Leo side
Colorado Rockies Money Line
Lab Rating
4.3/10
Model probability
70.9%
Market probability
48.6%
Model vs market
+22.3%
Current price
+100
Pitcher edge
Colorado Rockies by 14 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. Colorado Rockies is 6.9/10 and Washington Nationals is 6.7/10.
Why Leo made this decisionBullpen game impact
Washington Nationals is using a bullpen game. Matt Waldron is expected to cover about 3.0 innings, leaving roughly 6.0 innings to the bullpen. The pen carries 6.4/10 risk with 5.7/10 recent efficiency. That heavy bullpen exposure strengthens the case for Colorado Rockies. The bullpen efficiency comparison is 4.7/10 for Colorado Rockies versus 5.7/10 for Washington Nationals.

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Baltimore Orioles @ St. Louis Cardinals

Lynold Rivera
Official Pick
Official markets
Pitcher Ks: Kyle Bradish Over 4.5 -106
Pitcher Ks: Michael McGreevy Over 4.5 +120
Leo side
St. Louis Cardinals Money Line
Lab Rating
4.2/10
Model probability
55.4%
Market probability
48.1%
Model vs market
+7.3%
Current price
+100
Pitcher edge
St. Louis Cardinals by 5 points
Bullpen read
Bullpen workload is elevated but not decisive. St. Louis Cardinals is 6.4/10 and Baltimore Orioles is 5.3/10.
Why Leo made this decisionThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Pass reasonThe combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Model outputs, not promises. Leo provides analysis and education only, not betting advice. Every official pick is graded on the Results page.