Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. Munaf Manji and Dave Essler open the Thursday, August 20, 2026 edition of Cash That Ticket on the Straight Outta Vegas AM feed by looking back at a one and one showing from the previous best bets episode, then work through a full night of MLB action before closing out their season long NFL win total series with the Los Angeles Rams. The headline matchup is Yankees at Orioles in Baltimore, where Gerrit Cole opposes Kyle Bradish with Baltimore sitting as a home underdog near plus 111 and the total at seven and a half. Dave, at 2:36, explains why he nearly stuck with the Orioles again after their bullpen coughed up a competitive game the night before, praising Bradish for three straight starts with two or fewer earned runs allowed. Munaf, at 4:39, backs the pitching duel theory with hard numbers, noting Cole has gone to the under in all eight of his road starts this season and that the Yankees are 5-2 to the under in the first five innings on the road, leading both hosts to the first five under at four and a half. The conversation then shifts to Nationals at Rangers in Arlington, Andrew Alvarez against Jacob deGrom, where Dave, at 6:08, points out how rarely Washington has faced deGrom this year despite his strong overall track record, while Munaf, at 8:28, lays out deGrom's split of a 2.93 road ERA against a bloated 5.01 mark at home. With Washington's bullpen a season long weakness, both hosts land on the first five under, which Dave later calls his best bet of the day. The night's finale is Angels at Astros in Houston, Grayson Rodriguez against Peter Lambert, with Houston a heavy home favorite and the total at eight and a half. Dave, at 10:11, walks through Lambert's turnaround from early season struggles to five straight starts allowing exactly two earned runs, while Munaf, at 12:27, adds that Rodriguez has been especially rough pitching in Anaheim, pushing both hosts toward the Astros run line in the first five innings. Dave also runs through several early getaway day games at 14:30, leaning toward the Royals over the Athletics, staying cautious on Guardians at Giants despite liking Cleveland starter Gavin Williams, and singling out Mariners at Brewers as his favorite look behind Brewers starter Robert Gasser. Munaf, at 16:20, flags a surprising trend for Mariners starter George Kirby, who has struggled on the road all season even as Seattle keeps winning those first five innings anyway. The back half of the show turns to the Los Angeles Rams, who open the 2026 season with an 11.5 win total after finishing 12-5 a year ago. The Rams enter this season after acquiring reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns and adding cornerback Trent McDuffie, with persistent rumors surrounding a possible Aaron Donald return. Dave, at 18:45 and 19:29, breaks down a demanding schedule that opens with a trip to Australia against the 49ers, continues with a Monday night home opener against the Giants, and includes road trips to Denver and Philadelphia before Buffalo visits, ultimately landing on the over given the talent around Matthew Stafford. Munaf, at 21:17, goes a step further, projecting 13 wins and a division title behind the continued production of Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams on offense, paired with a defense that could feature both Myles Garrett and a returning Aaron Donald. The show wraps with the day's best bets, Dave riding the Nationals-Rangers first five under four and a half while Munaf backs the Yankees-Orioles first five under, both hosts tying the picks back to bullpen concerns and starting pitching form across the card. Before signing off, the two point listeners toward a busy day of action that includes golf playoff coverage, a full baseball schedule, and NFL preseason football in the evening, with the next episode of Cash That Ticket set for Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
