MLB Best Bets for Every Game Today (October 15)
All four playoff series take place today, giving us a beautiful slate of baseball to take us through the end of the night.
This is going to be a big day, as three of the four series could end tonight. Tonight could potentially be the last time we have more than two baseball games in a day for a long time.
Let’s make it count.
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies Prediction and Best Bet
PICK: OVER 8.5
The Braves are going with Charlie Morton in the all-important Game 4, and I think that will be to their detriment. Morton has given up 10 runs and four home runs over his last three starts. He’s also walked seven batters in that time. He hasn’t been able to keep it together, putting a lot of pressure on the offense and the bullpen.
However, the Braves have won four of the last five games he started, which ultimately cancels out his performance.
Noah Syndergaard hasn’t started a game in two weeks, and there will be a little rust on his end.
These are two pitchers who haven’t been the definition of Cy Young winners over the last two weeks, so I’m going to fade them and back the OVER. – Donnavan Smoot
Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners Prediction and Best Bet
PICK: Astros -105
The Seattle Mariners are certainly the feel-good story of the MLB postseason and the Astros are the ultimate bad guy and have been for a few years now. They’re the cheaters who just keep winning and building an even scarier team each year. It would just be the most perfect, villain storyline to take out the Mariners in their first home playoff game and never even give the Seattle fans a moment to celebrate during a home game.
Lance McCullers Jr. is exactly the guy that Houston would want on the mound to close the game out. Everyone remembers him closing out the 2017 World Series and while it has been a bit tumultuous for him since then, he has battled injuries and worked to a 2.27 ERA this year and a 2.83 postseason ERA for his career. The Astros have an embarrassment of riches in the starting rotation and it is such a luxury to turn to McCullers in this spot when Seattle has to give the ball to a rookie.
George Kirby will have a good career, but this moment is going to be too big for him. He has to navigate pitching to Yordan Alvarez or else it will end up in the outfield seats and that means Alex Bregman hitting with a man on constantly. This lineup is too deep and the pitching staff is even deeper. Houston is the death star right now and sadly for Seattle, Julio Rodriguez isn’t quite Luke Skywalker. – Josh Yourish
Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Best Bet
PICK: Under 6.5 (+100)
The last time we saw Luis Severino was on October 3, when he pitched seven no-hit innings against the Texas Rangers. Obviously that was his best start in his three back from injury in September and October, but a 12-day layoff is a long time for a starting pitcher and we’ve seen some great pitchers struggle in the postseason after some time off. For example, Justin Verlander gave up six earned runs over four innings.
I’m not sure if Severino will have that same type of struggle, but it is something to monitor. For Cleveland, Triston McKenzie is rolling right now. He went six scoreless innings in the Wild Card round against Tampa Bay and only allowed two hits while striking out eight.
The Cleveland Guardians are still 10th in postseason OPS and eighth in runs scored, still behind the Toronto Blue Jays who were eliminated in two games. Their offense just doesn’t have much firepower, but they get timely hits and string together just enough to keep winning games.
The Yankees offense is much more concerning. While they’ve only played two games in the postseason, it’s clear that Aaron Judge is pressing and potentially at the start of a bad slump. He went 0-5 yesterday and struck out five times. If Judge isn’t going, this Yankee lineup suddenly looks much less fierce. I think I like the Guardians today, but instead I’ll back the Guardians main team philosophy, run prevention. – Josh Yourish
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Best Bet
PICK UNDER 7.5
The Dodgers are facing elimination, in a scenario not many people saw coming. Los Angeles dominated the Padres all regular season, winning and covering at a substantial rate. With Tyler Anderson on the mound, I’m backing the Dodgers in this one.
I’ve taken the Dodgers all series long, and I’m going down with the ship. Anderson has been great against the Padres this year. He’s 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA. If he can be on his game, then there will surely be a Game 5.
However, the Dodgers’ offense will need a major spark. They’ve scored 4 runs in the past two games. I think they can win, but it will be a close one where the pitching is at the forefront.
Even on the Padres’ side, Joe Musgrove hasn’t allowed a run in four of his last five starts. He’s on top of his game and will certainly make the Dodgers work for runs tonight. – Donnavan Smoot
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.