Category: Baseball

Game 1 of the NL Divisional Series between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves will have two aces opposing each other with southpaw Max Fried getting the nod for Atlanta and Sandy Alcántara for Miami. Alcántara, who throws heat on every pitch, was dominant against the Cubs in the first game of the NL Wild Card. He is 4-2, with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and allowed just 1 run on 3 hits over 6.2 innings of work, resulting is a 5-1 Marlins win. Fried, who has yet to lose with a mark of 7-0, a 2.00 ERA, and a 1.06 WHIP, was also throwing flames in his last turn against the Reds. He threw 7 scoreless innings with no walks resulting in a 1-0 win for Atlanta. The Braves won 4 of the last 5 meetings this year against the Marlins, outscoring them 56-22 during that span. Miami’s record against left-handed starters is not good, at 5-12 in their last 17, and with Fried on the hill…good luck.
TODAY’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The AL Divisional Playoffs will get underway today at Dodger Stadium with the Houston Astros facing the Oakland Athletics. Oakland will be considered the home team in the opener and is the superior team in this series. The Athletics finished 36-24 in the regular season and are expected to send Chris Bassitt to the hill. He has been exceptional. Bassitt is 6-2, with a 2.19 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and was lights out the last time he faced the Astros, pitching 7 scoreless innings resulting in a 6-0 Athletics win. The Astros were 29-31 in the regular season and as of now Lance McCullers, Jr. is slated to get the start, but don’t be surprised if Dusty Baker makes a switch to Zack Greinke. McCullers is 3-3 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Oakland owned Houston this year, going 7-3 overall, and down the stretch they won the last 3 meetings.
TODAY’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS

It’s do or die today for the Chicago Cubs and they will turn to Yu Darvish to throw strikes when they square off against the Miami Marlins in a matinée at Wrigley Field. Darvish has been on his mark, with a record of 8-3, a 2.01 ERA, and a WHIP of just 0.96. Miami will counter with the rookie Sixto Sánchez, who has pitched well at 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA and a WHIP of 1.21, but he had issues in his last 2 turns, surrendering 9 runs in 7 innings of work. The Marlins could be without Starling Marte, and despite Wednesday’s win, they are 2-9 in their last 11 against Chicago. Rizzo and company will come to play.
TODAY’S PICK: CHICAGO CUBS

The Milwaukee Brewers will have to click on every cylinder when they open their Wild Card matchup at Chavez Ravine against the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Brewers have no right being in the postseason with a record of 29-31. The Dodgers finished a League best 43-17 and have beaten the Brew Crew 4 out of the last 5 meetings. Walker Buehler is expected to get the nod for the Dodgers and when he is healthy (which he is) he delivers.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros will kick off the Wild Card today in an early one at Target Field. Today’s probable pitchers are Zack Greinke for the Astros and Kenta Maeda for the Twins. Father Time has caught up with the future Hall of Famer Greinke. He is 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. On the flip side, Maeda has been delivering. He is 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, a WHIP of just 0.75, and he has not forgotten the 2017 World Series when he was part of the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation. When Minnesota takes the field in Minneapolis, good things happen. They win. The Twins are 4-5 in their last 5 home games against the Astros and they will get it done today.
TODAY’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

With a win today at home against the Cincinnati Reds, the Minnesota Twins will clinch the AL Central title for the second straight season. They will have a formidable flamethrower to contend with, Cincinnati’s Sonny Gray. Gray has been getting it done, with a 5-3 record, a 3.73 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The Twins will turn to the crafty southpaw, Rich Hill, to throw strikes. Hill is 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Minnesota is 5-1 in their last 6 games and own a 24-6 record at Target Field. The Reds know where they are going in the postseason – Atlanta. Good luck. Minnesota needs this game and the Reds don’t.
TODAY’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The Cleveland Indians are surging and will go for their 7th straight victory when they play the middle game of a 3-game set against the worst team in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates, at Progressive Field. The probable starters for today’s matchup are Aaron Civale for the Indians and Joe Musgrove for the Bucs. Civale is 4-5 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP as opposed to Musgrove who is winless, at 0-5 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Edge Cleveland. The Indians sit just one game game back of the Minnesota Twins for the top spot in the AL Central so losing is not in the cards. Cleveland has won the last 5 meetings with Pittsburgh and are hot. Ride them ’til their not.
TODAY’S PICK: CLEVELAND INDIANS