Sports Betting This Weekend: Astros/Yankees, Wyndham Championship, D.C. Open

This week’s online sports betting calendar includes the 2023 Hall of Fame Game, which means the full start of the NFL preseason is right around the corner. Check back next week for preseason NFL odds!

In the meantime, there’s a typical buffet of baseball, golf, and tennis to get you through another summer weekend.

Major League Baseball

Houston Astros at New York Yankees

Friday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 6  |  Apple TV+ (Friday)

The Astros have played in six straight American League Championship Series, and half the time, their opponent has been the Yankees. That includes last year’s American League finale, when the Astros swept New York to advance to the World Series. 

On paper, that makes this weekend’s rematch series between Houston and New York quite the baseball spectacle. No doubt, tens of thousands of bettors will seek out baseball odds for each game. 

In truth, though, this series doesn’t quite carry the August weight that baseball fans might have expected back in March or April. Both Houston and New York have fallen behind red-hot teams in their divisions this season, and they’ll need a post-All-Star surge to secure a playoff spot.

The Yankees’ position in particular is grim. Baltimore has overtaken division rival Tampa Bay and now has the best record in the American League, while the Yankees (55-52) are struggling to keep pace in the best division in baseball. They’re 11 games back from first and 3.5 games back in the Wild Card standings.

With the Rangers looking at an easy August schedule, the Astros will need to win tough games to stay within striking distance. The Yankees, meanwhile, just need any wins they can manage. 

Golf

Wyndham Championship 

Thursday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 6  |  ESPN+

The PGA tour heads back to Carolina country this week for the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

Tom Kim won this tournament in 2022 but is not part of this year’s field of competitors. Instead, Hideki Matsyama and Sungjae Im opened at +2000 golf betting co-favorites.

At the BetMGM online sportsbook, the most popular bet has been Si Woo Kim, who has climbed the table from +3300 to +2000 after attracting more tickets (6.7%) and handle (11.1%) than any other Wyndham golfer. 

Kim has missed the cut at the last two tournaments he’s played. He finished fourth at the Memorial in June. 

Tennis 

Citi D.C. Open

Monday, July 31 through Sunday, Aug. 6  |  Tennis Channel

August is a big month in the tennis world, with major tournaments in Canada before the start of the U.S. Open main draw on Aug. 28.

This week, with ATP Toronto on the horizon next week, the focal point of the professional tour (and the tennis betting world) is the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., which is the only 500-level tournament for both the ATP and WTA.

Last year, Nick Kyrgios won this tournament after a hot run to the Wimbledon championship round. With Kyrgios taking some time off this summer, the title is undefended and up for grabs. 

American Taylor Fritz is the No. 1 seed in the draw and will be a heavy public favorite to win another crown after a successful campaign in Atlanta last week. No. 3 Felix Auger-Aliassime is also a name to watch. 

In the women’s draw, Liudmila Samsonova is the defending champion and playing as the No. 8 seed in this year’s draw. She may be the best hardcourt player in the bottom portion of the bracket; No. 2 seed Caroline Garcia is a skilled veteran but often prefers clay or grass. 

In the top half of the draw, Americans like Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula will be favored to win on home soil.