SportTuesday August 20 Best Sports Betting Picks, Predictions for MLB & WNBA

An exciting autumn is brewing in New York. 

The Liberty have already clinched a spot in the WNBA playoffs and are closing in on securing the league’s best record, while the Yankees are creeping toward a return to the major league baseball postseason after missing out last year. 

Playoff pursuits are also intensifying out West, particularly in San Diego, where the Padres host the Twins in what should be a pitcher’s duel between the interleague foes.

Here’s a deeper dive into Tuesday’s best bets:

WNBA: Dallas Wings at New York Liberty (7 p.m. ET)

The Liberty (23-4) are the league’s only team so far to have clinched a playoff spot, and their elite offense is a big reason why.

New York leads the league in field goal percentage (45.4 percent), is tied for first in made field goals per game (31.1), and ranks second in scoring average (86.2). The Wings’ defense, meanwhile, ranks last in all three of those categories.

The Liberty showed little rust during a 103-68 win at the Los Angeles Sparks last Thursday in New York’s first game following the month-long Olympic break.

Of course, it helped having two Olympians in guard Sabrina Ionescu (19.9 points per game) and forward Breanna Stewart (19.6), who were fresh off helping Team USA capture its eighth straight gold at the Paris Games.

Despite 23 points from Ionescu, the Liberty were less proficient than usual during their 79-67 win at the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday.

We’re expecting a more explosive game from New York on Tuesday against a porous Dallas (6-20) defense that surrendered 109 points in an 18-point home loss to the Connecticut Sun last Friday.

If you’re all-in on the Liberty’s offense, feel free to hammer the over on their 94.5-point total (-115, DraftKings), but there’s nothing wrong with playing it a little safer. 

The pick: Over 175.5 combined points, Liberty moneyline (+104, DraftKings)

MLB: Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees (7:05 p.m. ET)

Matthew Boyd struck out six last Tuesday in his strong season debut for the Cleveland Guardians, but we’re counting on fewer punchouts from the left-hander when he takes the mound in New York. 

Boyd is set to face a Yankees lineup that just dealt with Detroit Tigers star lefty Tarik Skubal on Sunday night. New York fanned just five times against the Tigers’ hard-throwing ace over six innings. 

Skubal fired 34 pitches at 94 mph or faster on Sunday, a velocity Boyd never touched during his 80-pitch outing against the Chicago Cubs in his return from Tommy John surgery. If nothing else, the Yankees’ hitters should be able to at least see the ball a little better against Boyd.

New York has generally held its own against lefties this season, striking out in 21.4 percent of all plate appearances, the majors’ 12th-lowest rate. 

Even if the Yankees don’t tee off against Boyd, we don’t expect them to look overwhelmed against the southpaw in his first road start since June 26, 2023.

The pick: Matthew Boyd under 5.5 strikeouts (-155, DraftKings)

MLB: Minnesota Twins at San Diego Padres (9:40 p.m. ET)

Bailey Ober has been steady and stingy for the Twins over the past few months. 

The Minnesota right-hander has stitched together 10 straight (!) quality starts entering Tuesday’s showdown against Padres lefty Martin Perez, who is also enjoying a midsummer surge.

Perez has allowed just four total runs over 24 1/3 innings in his four most recent outings, the last three coming with San Diego after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Aside from Jose Miranda, who has homered twice in six career at-bats against Perez, none of the Twins’ hitters have teed off against the 13th-year pro. 

Ober, meanwhile, has had few encounters with the Padres’ lineup; second baseman Xander Bogaerts (2-for-8) has faced him the most among San Diego’s current batters. 

We like Ober’s limited experience against the Padres to play in his favor, and we trust Perez’s veteran poise will contribute to a low-scoring affair between two playoff hopefuls. 

The pick: under 7.5 total runs (-102, DraftKings)