Sports Betting Picks Today: NFL & MLB Matchups for Sunday, August 23, 2026
Sunday's ASA board combines one nationally televised NFL preseason matchup with three Major League Baseball games. That requires two very different handicapping approaches: preseason football revolves around personnel and playing time, while baseball demands close attention to pitching, bullpen availability, lineups and price.
Four Matchups on Sunday's ASA Radar
Today's featured board begins with three MLB games and closes with Seattle visiting Tennessee in NFL Preseason Week 2. Each matchup has its own variables, and the goal is not to force action simply because a game is available.
Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans
Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans
Seattle and Tennessee meet in Nashville after conducting a joint practice on Friday. That makes this more than a simple comparison of the two rosters. Coaches will already have received competitive first-team work against the opponent before the nationally televised game begins.
Seattle opened the preseason with a 17-7 loss to Dallas. The result itself deserves limited weight. What matters more is what Seattle learned about its younger players and how Mike Macdonald chooses to distribute the second game's snaps after another full week of evaluation.
Tennessee enters its first preseason home game under head coach Robert Saleh. The Titans beat San Francisco 19-13 in their opener and now get their second opportunity to evaluate the roster before the preseason finale against Chicago.
Check final starter announcements and quarterback rotations. In preseason football, a substantial playing-time change can matter more than almost any regular-season power-rating comparison.
Sunday MLB Matchups to Watch
Baseball requires a different process. Starting pitchers can establish the initial handicap, but bullpen usage, confirmed lineups, handedness, travel, ballpark conditions and the actual market price determine whether an apparent matchup advantage is worth betting.
Official Sunday pitching assignments were not reliably confirmed across all three featured games when this article was researched. ASA will not invent probable starters. Verify the final pitching matchups before betting a side, run line or total.
Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers
The Angels and Rangers meet in Arlington in a matchup where the starting-pitching confirmation should drive the first stage of the handicap. A major change in starter quality can alter not only the moneyline but also whether the run line or total deserves consideration.
Sunday baseball also requires looking backward before looking forward. Bullpen workload from Friday and Saturday can change the value of a starter matchup, particularly if one manager enters the finale with fewer trusted late-inning options available.
Confirm both starters, starting lineups and late-inning bullpen availability. Those three pieces should be established before evaluating the final price.
Chicago Cubs at Seattle Mariners
Chicago and Seattle close their weekend matchup at T-Mobile Park, where run prevention and pitching context deserve particular attention. The starting matchup is only the beginning; the quality and availability of both bullpens can become decisive if the game reaches the middle innings within one or two runs.
The offensive matchup also should be evaluated against the pitcher handedness actually confirmed for Sunday. Lineup construction, platoon advantages and any scheduled rest for regular position players can materially change the run-production outlook.
Check the confirmed starters, handedness-based lineup changes and bullpen usage from Saturday before deciding whether the side or total offers the better path.
Minnesota Twins at San Diego Padres
Minnesota and San Diego finish their series at Petco Park with another matchup where pitcher confirmation should come before opinion. Petco's environment can influence the total, but ballpark reputation alone is never enough to establish value.
San Diego entered this stretch firmly involved in the National League race, making every series increasingly important as August moves toward September. Minnesota's approach should still be judged on the actual pitching, lineup and bullpen matchup rather than broader season narratives.
Confirm the starters, Sunday lineups and bullpen availability. Then evaluate whether the market has already priced those advantages correctly.
Different Sports Require Different Information
NFL Preseason
Quarterback rotations, starter playing time, depth, roster battles and coaching intentions often carry more weight than regular-season team ratings.
MLB
Starting pitching, bullpen workload, confirmed lineups, splits, ballpark context and price form the core of the daily handicap.
Market Timing
Correct information does not automatically create value. A market can move far enough that the better decision is passing rather than chasing.
Selectivity
Four games on the board do not require four wagers. ASA's approach is to evaluate the available information and avoid forcing volume.
See What's on the ASA Board
The public analysis identifies the variables worth monitoring across Sunday's NFL and MLB matchups. ASA's premium selections remain protected for members when a matchup meets the required price, timing and handicapping criteria.
Continue Your Betting Research
Research Sources
Schedule and current matchup context were researched using official league and team sources available before publication.
Sports betting involves financial risk. Advanced Sports Advisors provides sports betting analysis, handicapping opinions and informational content. No pick, prediction or past result guarantees future performance. Always verify current pitching assignments, player availability and betting markets before making a wagering decision.