MLB Playoff Races Who to Watch and Where the Betting Value Is
As of today, we have 10 days left in the baseball regular season. Who and what should you be looking at for betting baseball? Keep reading.
National League Divisions and Wild Card Races
Philadelphia has won the NL East, and Milwaukee is closing in on doing the same in the NL Central. The Phillies are playing very well, and while they want the #1 seed in the National League, it makes more sense to keep playing well, and set the pitching rotation you desire to prepare for the postseason.
Because the Brewers have earned the top spot in the majors, you know they want to keep it. They’ll have to secure it on the road
at St. Louis and San Diego. Look for Milwaukee to keep grinding until the NL Central is conquered, then evaluate its position in the NL.
The Dodgers have a big four-game homestand with the Giants. With the Padres facing the White Sox on the South Side, they have to keep winning to maintain their NL West lead.
If Los Angeles can go on their final road trip up at least three games, they should clinch the division.
As far as the NL Wild Card, the Chicago Cubs appear to have taken the top seed and are in the playoffs. Having home- field in the Wild Card recently has not meant much, yet any team would prefer to have it.
The Arizona Diamondbacks hold their fate, along with those of the Dodgers and Giants. The Snakes have three brutal series: home against the Phillies and Dodgers, and at San Diego next weekend. Arizona is two back of the Mets for the last Wild Card and would want to be no worse than one game behind them by next week, with New York having Washington this weekend before hitting the road to Wrigley and Miami. How the D-Backs perform will not only impact them, but also whom they are playing.
With the way the Mets have played for six weeks, they are less dependable than the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive line.
San Diego has to sweep the White Sox this weekend and hope Milwaukee does the same under The Arch in St. Louis. If the Pads and Brewers sweep, the Crew might win the division and likely take San Diego less seriously to begin next week.
American League Divisions and Wild Card Races
Since we last typed words for these baseball articles, EVERYTHING has changed in the AL Central. Detroit was floundering for a while, but it just seemed they could fix themselves by playoff time. After losing six of seven, the last three at home to white-hot Cleveland, the Tigers lead by just three games. The Guardians, they’ve gone on the warpath (Indians reference) at 12-1 and are three games back in the division and one behind for the last AL Wild Card.
If you think back to a year ago, the script completely flipped for these two squads. These two will meet three times in Cleveland starting Tuesday, and Detroit better hope their lead has not shrunk even more.
Toronto has maintained a three-game lead over New York in the AL East and could use a series win at Kansas City before one last homestand. If the Blue Jays head home with this same lead, they are 50-25 at home and would have an extra few days off as the AL top seed if they hold serve.
The Yankees want to win the division, but having the home Wild Card would be just as helpful. New York might sprint to the finish with a home-and-home with Baltimore and at Yankee Stadium against the White Sox. Boston is attempting to stave off the Tribe, sorry, Guardians.
Houston and Seattle are in a dead heat after 153 games played. The Astros have the advantage this weekend, hosting the Mariners. Whoever wins the series is in a seemingly good spot. If Houston wins, they travel to Sacramento and Anaheim, with picking up at least four victories possible. If the M’s have command, they are home against Colorado and likely facing the Dodgers, who might have clinched the NL West. The other aspect for these two squads, the loser of the division has to play well, because a faulty finish could mean their season ends next Sunday, without a wild card bid.
When betting the final days of the season, choose games that have meaning to both or at least one team. That doesn’t guarantee a win, but it places you in a better position for one.
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