Playoff Baseball is Here! Expert Picks in the MLB (9/29)

After the 162-game marathon we have made it to the best time of the year in the MLB. Even though it isn't quite October yet, we get postseason baseball in our lives starting today. A quadruple header featuring some terrific matchups. I will go through all 4 of the games we have and give out a pick for today in each of them. Let's have a day and happy playoff baseball to you all! Let's dive into my MLB best bets for Tuesday, September 29th.

Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves

 

First game of the day is an NL East showdown between the Phillies and the Braves. Atlanta dominated this matchup in the regular season going 9-4 against Philadelphia in 13 meetings. Atlanta had the luxury of knowing they were going to be in the playoffs for a couple weeks so they have been able to rest guys and order their pitching rotation how they want. The Phillies didn't have that luxury. They needed to play their way into the playoffs all the way down to the last day to edge out Arizona. Instead of Christopher Sanchez or Zach Wheeler starting this game they will turn to Jesus Luzardo.

Fortunate for the Phillies, Luzardo had one start against the Braves this year and it was a complete game shutout. He only gave up two hits, no earned runs, and 12 strikeouts. Chris Sale gets the start on the other side for the Braves after another terrific season. He was good against the Phillies in four matchups this year. 3-0 record, 26 IP, 15 hits allowed, and 6 earned runs given up (2.08 ERA).

This time of year all the teams in the playoffs have good starting pitching and likely good bullpens which is why the totals are usually so low. With this being a weird start time, 2pm ET on a Tuesday and two left handers that have had success vs the other teams lineup I'll be taking the F5 Under 3.5 (-122).

Bet: Phillies – Braves Under 3.5 (-122) Lucky Rebel 

Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros

What an incredible year it's been for the White Sox. They have lost 100 games for three straight years, but this year they finish 84-78 and punch their ticket to the wild card. Waiting for them, will be a playoff staple over the last decade, the Houston Astros who also just made it into the playoffs.

This series is your classic – youth vs experience. You have a young, fun White Sox team that surprised many by making the playoffs this year going against a team with Altuve, Alvarez and others who have 60+ games of postseason experience.

I absolutely do believe in experience playing a big factor, especially when the experienced team is at home. I think the White Sox are the better team, but could struggle to close out games in this series. That's why I don't feel great about backing them for the full game, but instead would just bet them in the first 5 innings.

Bet: White Sox F5 ML (+104) Lucky Rebel

 

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

This series and these two teams need no introduction. Red Sox – Yankees just sounds right, especially in the playoffs. Two iconic franchises will add their latest chapter against one other starting tonight in an electric Game 1.

AL Cy Young hopeful, Cam Schlittler gets the ball for the Yankees in Game 1. He burst on to the national scene last year during the AL Wild Card series against the Red Sox and hasn't looked back. He had an unbelievable season. 14-6 record, 1.95 ERA, 239 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP. He pitched in 4 games vs the Red Sox this season and they only scored 2 runs off of him in 24.1 innings pitched. Boston's offense has their hands full tonight.

Payton Tolle will get the ball for the Red Sox and the left hander has also been very good for Boston this year. He had a ton of success vs the Yankees. Two starts against New York and only one earned run given up. Also helps him Aaron Judge isn't on the Wild Card roster for the Yankees.

I think the big difference in tonight's game is Schlittler showed us last year that the playoffs aren't too big for him, in fact he thrives in these kinds of games. Haven't seen Tolle yet in these types of moments, but I would definitely lean with Schlittler. Feel good about the Yanks to win Game 1.

Bet: Yankees ML (-134) Lucky Rebel

 

Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres

If you're on the East Coast, Cubs and Padres is going to be worth staying up for. NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs head out to San Diego to take on the Padres who have been rolling heading into the postseason.

For much of the regular season it didn't look like the Padres were going to make the playoffs. This team was 48-50 on July 18th and a bunch of people were wondering if they were going to be sellers at the deadline. They turned it around and now they have been firing on all cylinders. They have won 17 of their last 20 games and their offense has been on fire. Whether it's the Bills or Ravens in the NFL, the Dallas Starts in the NHL, or the Sixers in the NBA. It seems like the Padres are that team in the MLB you just can't trust come the playoffs. All this top end talent, but they can never ever get to the World Series.

This season they are flying under the radar and I don't think people realize how good they have been in the month of September. Yes, the Cubs are very good and the have the NL MVP this season, but the Padres are built for October with some good front line starting pitching, a great bullpen, and some big boppers in the middle of their order. I expect San Diego to keep rolling and think they're a team to watch out for in the National League.

Bet: Padres ML (-132) Lucky Rebel

 

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