Here are our top MLB picks & bets for Thursday, September 4.
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Thursday’s Best MLB Picks & Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Los Angeles Dodgers (-126) at Pittsburgh Pirates (+104) | O/U 7.0 (-119/-102)
We have an exciting matchup to conclude this series; it pits a former Cy Young recipient against a future winner.
The Pirates have a chance to do the unthinkable and sweep the defending champions with three upset wins. They've got their best with Paul Skenes, who is a heavy favorite to win his first National League Cy Young. When on the mound, he will always give the Bucs a chance, and has allowed two or fewer runs in 23 of 28 starts this season. The problem is run support; he barely gets it with Pittsburgh, giving Skenes three or fewer runs of support in 16 of his starts.
Injuries have derailed Blake Snell's ability to stay on the field, but when he's healthy, he continues to prove why he has two Cy Young Awards. Snell missed four months with a left shoulder inflammation, but in the five starts in his return, he's posted a 2.54 ERA.
Skenes has already beaten the Dodgers in Los Angeles with six scoreless innings, and despite the run support issues, he can do it again to help the Pirates sweep the series.
Pick: Pirates Moneyline (+102)
New York Yankees (-144) at Houston Astros (+119) | O/U 7.0 (-119/-102)
The Yankees lost a tough one on Wednesday, as the bullpen blew a 4-1 lead, dropping the game 8-7. They luckily still hold a sizable lead for a Wild Card spot because they are just 41-39 since June 1.
Carlos Rodon is a great pitcher when everything clicks; the problem is that it hasn't always been the case. This has probably been his best season in New York; he's been able to stay healthy and continually puts together quality starts. He's coming into this start having allowed two or fewer runs in five straight starts, with the Yankees winning each.
It's complicated to predict how a pitcher will perform when returning from Tommy John Surgery. Sometimes they can look even better than before, or it takes them time to adjust. It was 15 months between starts for Cristian Javier, and the results have been mixed. The power of the Orioles got to him twice for four runs in five innings across two starts, but he's coming off his best outing, going six scoreless against the Angels.
Although the Yankees’ lineup is batting .180 against Javier, their power has been on display throughout this series, and they could take advantage of him and pull off the win in the rubber match.
Pick: Yankees Moneyline (-144)
