It’s a packed Saturday for sports, featuring a full 15-game schedule in the MLB, the WNBA All-Star Game, and a grand UFC 318 lineup.
The Cubs triumphed over the Red Sox with a score of 4-1 on Friday, ending Boston’s ten-game winning streak. These two playoff hopefuls face off again at 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX, as Chicago aims to extend its own winning streak to four. While Caitlin Clark won’t participate, many leading stars from the WNBA will take the stage at the All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. In UFC, Dustin Poirier wraps up a legendary career with his final showdown against Max Holloway.
Below is a look at betting insights for today’s games at the top sportsbooks. All times are Eastern.
MLB Best Bets Today, Where to Watch
Red Sox at Cubs
Time: 7:15 p.m. | Location: Chicago | TV: FOX
SportsLine pick - Model: Cubs money line (-148)
The Cubs maintain a narrow one-game edge over the fiery Brewers in the NL Central, seeking to hold their lead in this crucial matchup against the Red Sox. Chicago will rely on Shota Imanaga, who boasts a commendable 6-3 record and a 2.65 ERA this season. His counterpart, Brayan Bello, shares the same win-loss record but carries a slightly higher ERA of 3.14.
Imanaga has permitted two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six outings. The FanDuel earned runs allowed prop is 2.5 (Over -118, Under -112), rated as a 4.5-star recommendation by the projection model. Furthermore, the Cubs’ money line (-148) has achieved an “A” grade with a hit rate of 67% in model simulations. Expert Matt Severance supports Imanaga to win at +165.
WNBA Best Bets Today, Where to Watch
WNBA All-Star Game
Time: 8:30 p.m. | Location: Indianapolis | TV: ABC
SportsLine expert pick: Angel Reese All-Star Game MVP +3000 (Max Meyer)
The WNBA All-Star Game will unfold at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, showcasing the league’s elite players in action. The game introduces new features, including four 4-point zones for shots from the logo. Although Caitlin Clark is sidelined due to a groin injury, her Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell will have strong fan support.
Max Meyer sees value in backing Angel Reese for the All-Star Game MVP at +3000. She has been performing exceptionally and is poised to make a significant impact in this exhibition with potentially more rebounds due to the shorter shot clock and 4-point zones.
UFC Best Bets Today, Where to Watch
UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3
Time: 10 p.m. (main card) | Location: New Orleans | TV: ESPN+
SportsLine expert pick: Francisco Prado (-130) over Nikolay Veretennikov (Daniel Vithlani)
Dustin Poirier will conclude his illustrious UFC journey in Saturday night’s bout against Max Holloway. Poirier has defeated Holloway twice before, including their title fight at UFC 236. Despite this, Poirier opens as a +110 underdog while Holloway is favored at -130.
UFC expert Daniel Vithlani is backing Francisco Prado as another -130 favorite to claim victory against Nikolay Veretennikov. Vithlani remarks that Prado brings power and toughness into this matchup despite a less-than-ideal record.
Looking Ahead: The Open Championship
Time: Sunday, 4 a.m. | Location: Northern Ireland | TV: USA Network (4 a.m. to 7 a.m.), NBC (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Scottie Scheffler aims for his first glory at The Open Championship, currently leading as the final round approaches. A win at Royal Portrush will bring Scheffler closer to a career Grand Slam, having already achieved triumphs at two Masters and a PGA Championship. Other contenders include Haotong Li, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Rory McIlroy, all in the mix to chase him down on Sunday.
