We’re down to the last week of regular season baseball. Savor it, while it’s still here. Below are five games that are the best baseball games to bet on today.
It’s safe to say that the Oakland Athletics are choking right now. But at least they still have a few games left to prevent a full-blown choke-job from happening. Will the A’s create a little bit more breathing space with a win tonight against the Los Angeles Angels? Or will the Halos dominate the Athletics anew? Read on for more about this game below, together with the other four contests that comprise our list of the best five games to bet on today.
If you’re looking for a little grid iron action tonight to go with your diamond surfing, check out our preview of tonight’s Bears vs. Jets game here.
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MLB Picks and Predictions for Monday, September 22, 2014
Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Kansas City Royals (+105) at Cleveland Indians (-115); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]Cleveland look to keep its hopes up for a wild card ticket in the American League when Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 2.65 ERA) starts later in the opener of a three-game series versus the Royals. The Indians are 3-0 in Carrasco’s last three starts at Kauffman Stadium. Carrasco will pitch opposite Danny Duffy (8-11, 2.42 ERA), who’ll be making his first mound appearance since September 6, when he hurt his shoulder while pitching against the New York Yankees. The Royals are 4-0 in Duffy’s last four home starts.
Writer’s prediction: Cleveland wins.
Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Baltimore Orioles (+108) at New York Yankees (-118); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The Yankees are 4-1 in their last five games and are now headed home following a 5-2 win at Toronto for Derek Jeter’s final series at home. Starting for them tonight is Michael Pineda (3-5, 2.15 ERA), who despite going 0-3 over his last four starts, has a respectable 2.45 ERA during that span.
The onus tonight should be on the Yankees’ offense, which has given Pineda just a combined one run of support in all those outings. The Orioles, meanwhile, are 4-0 in their last four road games, and will give the ball later to Wei-Yin-Chen (16-4, 3.58 ERA). They are 5-1 in the Taiwanese starter’s last six starts overall.
Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7:07 PM ET)
Line: Seattle Mariners (-130) at Toronto Blue Jays (+120); total: 8.0 – see all MLB lines
A series against the reeling Blue Jays could jumpstart Seattle’s final push for a wild card ticket after being dealt with back-to-back losses in the its previous series with the Houston Astros. It lifts the Mariners’ confidence to know that James Paxton (6-3, 2.06 ERA) will take the mound later, as the lefty owns the lowest ERA among rookies with at least 10 starts. The Mariners are also 4-0 in their last four games versus Toronto. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, will start J.A. Happ (9-11, 4.35 ERA). Happ owns a decent 2.40 ERA over his last seven home starts.
Writer’s prediction: Seattle wins.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics (10:05 PM ET)
Line: Los Angeles Angels (+135) at Oakland Athletics (-150); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The A’s are clinging to a precarious 1.5-game lead atop the wild card race in the AL, and if they are to increase that cushion, they’ll have to hurdle Los Angeles. The Halos, though, are 5-0 in their last five games against Oakland. Jeff Samardzija (4-5, 3.13 ERA), who keeps a 1.50 ERA over his last four starts, will try to hold off the Angels. As for the Angels, they’ll have C.J. Wilson (13-9, 4.42 ERA) on the mound tonight. Wilson has a 5-0 record to go along with a 2.79 ERA in his last eight starts.
Writer’s prediction: Oakland wins.
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM ET)
Line: San Francisco Giants (+112) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-122); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
Los Angeles can reduce its magic number down to two with a win tonight against Giants, whom the Dodgers have defeated in five of their last six meetings. San Francisco won’t be an easy assignment tonight for the Dodgers, though, as the Giants will give the ball to Jake Peavy (6-4, 2.16 ERA), who’s in the zone right now. Peavy is 6-1 with a 1.13 ERA in his last seven starts. The Dodgers, meanwhile, will have Dan Haren (13-11, 4.14 ERA) on the mound in the series opener. They are 3-0 in Haren’s last three starts.
