Padres’ Soto Top MLB Today Prop Pick
There were three one-run affairs on Tuesday, all featuring teams headed to the playoffs. When looking at today’s MLB games there could be more late-game drama as the battles continue for the American League East and West Division titles and the four remaining wild-card spots.
There will be some individuals to watch as well as American League Cy Young Award front-runner Gerrit Cole is back on the mound for the New York Yankees to take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox are among the next group of players closing in on 100 RBIs.
When looking at the MLB news, Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers, Luis Arraez of the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay’s duo of Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz are among the big hitters dealing with injuries.
Keep in mind that the road favorites went 5-1 on Tuesday with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers combining for 26 runs. Arizona and the Los Angeles Dodgers are joined by Houston, Miami, San Diego, Tampa Bay and Texas as road favorites on Wednesday.
According to our MLB playoff odds, the Atlanta Braves (+275) have the best odds of winning the World Series followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers (+450) and the Baltimore Orioles (+650).
Wednesday’s Best Prop Bets
When looking at the MLB odds on Sept. 27, here are some to consider.
Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres has 23 runs scored in September, one off the MLB lead, so when the Padres wrap up the series with San Francisco, go with Soto at -115 to score a run. It might be worth taking a look at the +400 odds for Soto to hit his 11th home run in September.
Rookie Grayson Rodriguez has played a key role in the surge by the Baltimore Orioles during the second half of the season and he will be on the mound on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. Washington managed just three singles in Tuesday’s loss so take a chance on the +250 odds for Rodriguez to have at least seven strikeouts in a win by the Orioles.
The game means more to Cincinnati, but expect Cleveland to come out with plenty of motivation to give manager Terry Francona a win in his final home game. Take a chance on the +210 moneyline for Shane Bieber to have at least seven strikeouts in a win by the Guardians.
There’s not much to play for when the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers get together. There will still be plenty of attention paid to young hitters Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals and Spencer Torkelson of the Tigers. Roll with Witt at +115 to go over 1.5 total bases and go with the even-money odds on the same prop for Torkelson.
One Last Showdown for Astros vs Mariners
Not much has been settled in the series between American League West rivals Houston and Seattle.
After Houston took the series opener behind the pitching of Justin Verlander, Seattle’s George Kirby returned the favor by tossing six shutout innings in a 6-2 win on Tuesday.
The win pulled the Mariners back within a half-game of Houston for the final playoff spot in the American League. The Mariners also picked up a game on Toronto, which holds down the No. 2 wild-card spot, and the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.
Framber Valdez will pitch for Houston in the series finale with Seattle countering with Bryce Miller. The sportsbook lists visiting Houston with -117 odds to win the series finale.
A win by Seattle would push it ahead of Houston and into the third and final playoff spot while a Houston victory would give the defending World Series champion Astros a 1½-game lead on the Mariners.
Clinching Time
The first of the three wild-card spots in the National League belongs to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The reigning National League champions didn’t have a hit until the sixth inning before Brandon Marsh gave Philadelphia the lead with a home run.
The game against the Pittsburgh Pirates needed 10 innings to decide a winner, and No. 9 hitter Johan Rojas came through with the game-winning hit as the Phillies secured a playoff spot.
With the Milwaukee Brewers wrapping up the National League Central Division, the top four seeds in the National League playoffs are just about set.
The Atlanta Braves lead the Los Angeles Dodgers by 3½ games in the race for the No. 1 seed. Atlanta has six games left to play and the Dodgers have five games remaining.
Speaking of the Braves, they rallied from six runs down to beat the Chicago Cubs and that enabled the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds to inch a little bit closer to the Cubs.
Arizona is holding down the No. 2 wild-card spot at 83-74 followed by the Cubs at 82-75. The Marlins are 81-75 and Cincinnati 81-77.
In the American League, Tampa Bay has already clinched no worse than the top wild-card spot while Toronto has a two-game lead on Seattle.
In addition to the Houston-Seattle matchup, other games that will impact the wild-card standings include Arizona playing the Chicago White Sox, the Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland, Toronto playing host to the New York Yankees, the Cubs back for another game in Atlanta and the Miami Marlins playing a doubleheader versus the New York Mets.
Saying Goodbye to a Legend
Somehow it seemed fitting that Gunnar Henderson, who has started more games at third base as a rookie than at any other position, was responsible for the only run as the Baltimore Orioles topped the visiting Washington Nationals in the first game since the death of Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.
Robinson is considered to be the best defensive third baseman of all time. Robinson played his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He finished with 268 home runs and won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves.
Robinson won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1964 when he led the league with 118 RBIs.
After his retirement, he was a broadcaster with the Orioles and he also helped to start the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.
End of an Era
The last piece of the pennant-winning days of the St. Louis Cardinals is calling it a career.
Pitcher Adam Wainwright said he has thrown his last pitch. Wainwright spent his entire 18-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals and finished his career with 200 career victories.
Wainwright was a member of the 2006 World Series team, a two-time 20-game winner and also pitched in the postseason in nine of his 18 seasons.
Wainwright, who has hit 10 home runs in his career, has expressed an interest to get into the batter’s box one last time so perhaps the Cardinals will honor that request.
Wednesday will mark the final home game for retiring Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona.
Francona managed the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles and got Cleveland into the 2016 World Series.
After stints with Philadelphia and Boston, he has spent the last 11 seasons managing the Indians/Guardians franchise.
Francona is 919-755 with Cleveland and 1948-1670 in 23 seasons as an MLB manager.
He is going out with a bang as he is having 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber pitch against Cincinnati Reds rookie Andrew Abbott on Wednesday.
Injury Update
Here’s a look at some of the injuries that could impact Wednesday’s games.
Just when it looked like the Cincinnati Reds would be getting rookie infielder Matt McLain back for the final playoff push, he suffered a setback in his recovery from a strained oblique and won’t play for the remainder of the regular season.
Infielder Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers was hit by a pitch in Tuesday’s loss. X-rays were negative and his status is uncertain for Wednesday’s game with the Los Angeles Angels.
Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena missed the last two games with quad tightness and it is uncertain if he will face the Red Sox on Wednesday. Infielder Yandy Diaz, who is in contention for the American League batting title, is also questionable with a tender hamstring.
Miami infielder Luis Arraez, the MLB batting leader, missed the last game with a leg injury and he is questionable for Wednesday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets.
The Baltimore Orioles might have first baseman Ryan Mountcastle in the lineup against Washington on Wednesday after a shoulder issue resulted in a stint on the injured list.
San Francisco Giants infielder J.D. Davis left Tuesday’s game with a shoulder injury and he is questionable for the series finale with San Diego.
