The new playoff format kicks off with a full day of playoff baseball. These are the best-out-of-three series, with all of the games played at the highest seed’s field. Let’s look at who will kick it off with a win.
- Top 3 MLB Wild Card Odds, Picks & Predictions
- MLB Wild Card No Runs First Inning (NRFI) Odds, Picks & Predictions
- Top 4 MLB Wild Card Prop Bets Odds, Picks & Predictions
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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians
- Leg 1: Guardians ML (-118)
- Leg 2: Jose Ramirez to record 2+ total bases (+145)
- Leg 3: Shane McClanahan under 4.5 strikeouts (-104)
The Guardians are coming into this series as one of the hottest teams in baseball, as they finished 21-8 in September and broke away from the pack to claim the American League Central.
One of the key reasons has been the pitching staff, including Shane Bieber, who had a fantastic second half going 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA. In two starts this season against Tampa Bay, he allowed five earned in 13 innings with one win.
The Rays trended in the opposite direction and finished the season 14-19, going from the first Wild Card spot down to the third.
Shane McClanahan was considered an American League Cy Young front-runner earlier in the year but struggled towards the end and finished 2-5 with a 4.44 ERA. His last start against the Guardians was a disaster and went 4.1 innings and allowed five earned.
The Rays have a tough hill to climb, possibly playing three road games, and after a poor end to the season, it looks bleak. Take the hot team grabbing the first game.
Parlay Odds: +571 via FanDuel
San Diego Padres vs. New York Mets
- Leg 1: Padres +1.5 (-184)
- Leg 2: Yu Darvish Under 5.5 strikeouts (-132)
- Leg 3: Max Scherzer over 5.5 strikeouts (-136)
- Leg 4: Under 6 (-104)
The Mets weren’t Wild Card-bound during the season at all, but they played in the same division as the Braves, who got hot and never let up. Their unfortunate punishment is playing in the first round against the Padres.
They'll call their $40 million investment Max Scherzer to get an early lead in the series. He pitched well in the last month of the season with a 2.12 ERA, but the Mets didn't come through with the run support in a couple of those tarts, and the team went 2-3.
Yu Darvish's second season in San Diego was phenomenal, and he finished the season strong going 8-4 with a 2.71 ERA.
Darvish has two incredible starts allowing one earned in 14 innings against the Mets this season, and Max allowed just earned in this one start. Expect an exciting pitcher’s duel in Game 1.
Parlay Odds: +832 via FanDuel
Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays
The Mariners are one of the better stories this season. This young squad slowly got out of the gate but turned it around and earned the second Wild Spot.
They made some moves at the trade deadline, including Luis Castillo, who has become part of an impressive rotation. He did see the Blue Jays earlier in the year when he was with the Reds and pitched well, going six innings and allowing two earned.
Alek Manoah will get the start coming off a breakout sophomore season. He also had an impressive outing in his one start against the Mariners, allowing two earned and striking out seven.
Both pitchers were involved in 2-1 no decisions, but do not look for a low-scoring game. Both teams ended the season outstanding offensively and have been in the top 5 in wRC+ since September 7.
Parlay Odds: +582 via FanDuel
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