After an impossibly fast wild card round, we push on into the MLB’s divisional series. Four teams will enter the action on Saturday, coming off some much-needed rest. The other four will ride into town as hot as you can be at this stage of the season. Will the layoffs and ability to set up the rotation pay off, or will momentum be the name of the game?
We’ve dug through all the noise out there to give you some divisional series best bets. Come check out what we have cooked up for MLB bets before the action gets started this weekend.
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MLB Divisional Series Betting Preview and Predictions
Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins
Saturday 10/7, 4:45 pm EST – Game 1
Sunday 10/8, 8 pm EST – Game 2
Tuesday 10/10, 4 pm EST – Game 3
Wednesday, 10/11, Time TBD – Game 4 (if necessary)
Friday 10/13, Time TBD – Game 5 (if necessary)
The Twins plowed through the Blue Jays and picked up their first series win in over two decades. The cost of the victory is that we stand without clear knowledge of what they’ll have for a rotation against the reigning World Series champion Astros. The Astros, on the other hand, have everything lined up just the way they like, with ol’ faithful Justin Verlander going Game 1.
All of that is well and good, but it may not matter. The Twins are 4-2 against the Astros this year, and they lost to the same pitcher in each of their losses – Brandon Bielak. Against the better Astros pitchers in the four wins, they averaged 6.75 runs per game. With the timely return of Royce Lewis, the Twins even have a bit more firepower. I’m unsure if any of this will be enough for them to win the series, but it should be enough to keep it close.
Divisional Series Best Bet: Twins +1.5 Games (-170)
Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers
Saturday 10/7, 1 pm EST – Game 1
Sunday 10/8, 4 pm EST – Game 2
Tuesday 10/10, 8 pm EST – Game 3
Wednesday, 10/11, Time TBD – Game 4 (if necessary)
Friday 10/13, Time TBD – Game 5 (if necessary)
This series is the closest line of the entire post-season, and it makes perfect sense. The Rangers were the consensus number-one team in the American League for the bulk of the season. When the West turned wild, they wound up slipping into the wild card round, but their pedigree is legit. Their pitching, with Dane Dunning, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jordan Montgomery, has been solid. And their offense scored more runs than everybody other than the Braves and the Dodgers this year.
As the Rangers trailed off as the clearcut number one team in the American League, the Orioles snatched up that spot on the mantle. They may not have quite the pitching staff or post-season experience, but the young talent could make them dangerous in October. Nobody quite knows what we’ll see from Jordan Westburg or Gunnar Henderson in this series, but they should be fun to watch, at the least.
The variable nature of the Orioles makes me hesitant to lay any MLB bets on either side, but I think this one goes deep. I’ll take it to make it to a deciding Game 5 here.
Divisional Series Best Bet: Over 4.5 Games (+155)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Saturday 10/7, 9:20 pm EST – Game 1
Monday 10/9, 9 pm EST – Game 2
Wednesday 10/11, Time TBD – Game 3
Thursday, 10/12, Time TBD – Game 4 (if necessary)
Saturday 10/14, Time TBD – Game 5 (if necessary)
The Diamondbacks are the feel-good story of this post-season. However, before you make any of your MLB bets on them, consider the situation. They started to fall apart as the season went on. They rode first place for a while, only to wind up nearly missing the playoffs. The results against the Dodgers were not there either – going just 5-8.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, ended the season looking like the Dodgers. They were one of three teams with 100 wins. Mookie Betts is hitting out of his mind. Freddie Freeman has been steady all season. While their pitching staff hasn’t been what it was in years past, it should easily take care of things here.
Divisional Series Best Bet: Dodgers to Win Series (-205)
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday 10/7, 6 pm EST – Game 1
Monday 10/9, 6 pm EST – Game 2
Wednesday 10/11, Time TBD – Game 3
Thursday, 10/12, Time TBD – Game 4 (if necessary)
Saturday 10/14, Time TBD – Game 5 (if necessary)
The last of the four matchups features a rematch from last year’s MLB divisional round. The Phillies shocked the baseball world last year, knocking off the Braves and eventually taking the pennant. While they had a lot of success last year, I think pundits and books alike are putting too much stock into last year’s results.
The Braves are quite obviously a different team this year. After acquiring Sean Murphy and getting a resurgent year from Marcel Ozuna, they put together one of the most potent offenses in history. They also had a lot of success against the Phillies this year, going 8-5 against them. That’s the best mark of any National League team against Philadelphia. Plus, even if you like the narrative side of things, the Braves turned the tide on the Dodgers, who had eliminated them the year prior en route to their 2021 World Series.
The Phillies are playing better baseball late in the season. Getting Bryce Harper back and going was a big part of that, as was Trea Turner’s late-season spark. However, I just have a tough time imagining that, and their starting rotation is going to be enough to top that Braves offense.
Divisional Series Best Bet: Braves -1.5 Games (+155)
You can also get even more information on the MLB divisional series by listening to the MLB Gambling Podcast. They’ve got daily episodes with MLB picks to make you the smartest guy (or gal) at the bar.
