MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (9/18)
Here are our top MLB picks & predictions for Thursday, September 18.
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Thursday's Best MLB Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
San Francisco Giants (+140) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-172) | O/U 7.5 (-113/-108)
This series has meaning for both teams as the regular season is nearing its end. For the Dodgers, they are still in a tight race with the Padres for the National League West as they hold a two-game lead. The Giants have no chance at winning the division, but they are only two games out of the final Wild Card spot.
The Giants have not helped themselves as they dropped six of their last 10 games. The pitching has been brutal, specifically the bullpen, which had been strong all season with a 3.47 ERA (third). However, since September 13th, their 9.95 ERA is the second-worst in that span. Logan Webb will hit the mound for his fourth start against the Dodgers this year. He's been tormented by L.A. in his last two starts and has allowed six earned runs in each.
We could see it again with the red-hot Dodgers bats that tagged the Giants for 23 runs in the final two games of the series last week and are averaging an eye-popping 7.8 runs over their previous four games. San Francisco also has to face Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has allowed just one earned run in each of his last six starts.
Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (+129)
San Diego Padres (+118) at New York Mets (-144) | O/U 9.0 (-108/-112)
You can hear the echoes of 2007 in the Mets’ ears. That was the season where they held a seven-game lead in the Wild Card only to lose it on the last day. They've struggled most of the second half and are 9-13 in their previous 22 games. This run has cost them a chance at the National League East crown, and now they could lose a playoff spot entirely. The blame is heavily on the pitching and how badly it has collapsed. From March 30th to May 13th, they led the league in ERA (2.74); since July 1st, they are 23rd (4.72).
Now they have to send up Jonah Tong in an important game against the Padres, who are right above them for the second Wild Card spot. Tong is coming off the worst start of his young MLB career, in which he was knocked out of the game in the first inning against Texas after allowing six earned runs.
This doesn’t feel like an upset, but the odds are playing that way, and we’ll take it. San Diego should grab this win and all but lock up that Wild Card spot.
Pick: Padres Moneyline (+118)