MLB · 3 weeks ago

MLB Best Bets Today: Tuesday’s Top 2 Betting Picks (August 12)

Gabriel Santiago

Host · Writer

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There is no stopping us now. The MLB season and summer are fully underway, meaning there are betting opportunities every day between now and October. We’ve got you covered for Tuesday’s baseball schedule!

Where to Watch Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Ballpark: Busch Stadium
Location: St. Louis, MO
Where to Watch: COLR, FDSNMW
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Spread: STL -1.5 (+108) | Total: 8.5 (-114/-106)
Moneyline: COL +158 | STL -188

Note: All odds are subject to change after article publication. Get the most up-to-date odds here.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies will prepare for their second meeting at Busch Stadium, which has been warm and humid this week. On the bump, we’ll see left-handed starters Matthew Liberatore and Kyle Freeland.

St. Louis got the better of Colorado on Monday by the score of 3-2, but they could be in line for further damage. Freeland is operating with a less-than-ideal 1.52 WHIP in 2025. Over his past five outings, he’s surrendered 16 earned runs.

Liberatore has been solid over 21 starts this season. He’s given up just 0.88 home runs per nine innings while inducing ground balls at a 40.9% clip. From there, the Rockies have struggled mightily versus southpaw pitching. Currently, Colorado’s lineup shows a .232 BA/.670 OPS in that split.

It has been quite profitable to fade the Rox this year. They are a Major League worst 30-88 right now. Additionally, Colorado is 48-70 (40.7%) against the run line. That gives me enough motivation to take the Cards by two or more runs on Tuesday.

Best Bet: Cardinals -1.5 (+108)

Where to Watch San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants

Ballpark: Oracle Park
Location: San Francisco, CA
Where to Watch: NBCSBA, SDPA
Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
Spread: SF -1.5 (+168) | Total: 7.5 (112/-108)
Moneyline: SF -118 | SD +100

Out in the Golden State, the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres are set for a pivotal NL West clash. Sticking with the theme of lefties, Robbie Ray and Nestor Cortes will get the start for their respective sides.

Here are a couple of facts headed into Tuesday’s divisional bid by the bay. Oracle Park is one of the toughest MLB venues to hit at (96 Park Factor score, per Baseball Savant), and the Giants’ lineup has been abysmal against southpaws. Presently, San Francisco is slashing .211/.276/.335 when facing LHP.

Cortes is making just his second start for the Friars (and second since returning from an elbow injury). Last Wednesday, he fared well in his Padres debut, allowing only three hits over 4.1 IP. Meanwhile, Ray has dazzled in 2025 behind a 2.85 ERA/3.69 FIP; he’s given up two or fewer runs in each of his last three outings.

Alarmingly, the Giants have scored just one run over the past two days. If not for Rafael Devers‘ solo homer on Monday, San Francisco would have been shut out for a second consecutive game.

Even with a short total of 7.5 runs in this contest, I love the under for Padres-Giants.