With October comes the MLB postseason, and we’re kicking off the wild-card action with a four-pack of games.
The latest: The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves advanced to the postseason by splitting a doubleheader yesterday, and they’re both underdogs in their respective NL matchups. In the AL, Cy-Young-in-waiting Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers face the Houston Astros, while Corbin Burnes and the Baltimore Orioles host the Kansas City Royals.
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Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros
Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles
New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres
Betting insights
- Skubal is in excellent form right now, with a 1.94 ERA over his past nine starts (the Tigers are 7-2 in those games). But Houston’s active lineup has hit him hard, posting a .522 SLG in 74 plate appearances. The Astros beat Skubal and the Tigers, 4-0, when they last met in Houston in June.
- For as well as Skubal has pitched recently, Houston starter Framber Valdez has been even better. He has a 1.65 ERA over his past nine starts (the Astros are 7-2 in those games). The Tigers’ active lineup has just a .308 SLG against Valdez, who led the Astros to victory in Detroit on May 10.
- Over the past month, the worst offence in the majors — not merely among playoff teams — belongs to the Royals. They’re batting .203 with a .579 OPS (61 wRC+) since the start of September. In the team’s first postseason action since 2015, will the bats wake up?
- Baltimore hit the over at the second-highest rate in the majors this season (58.2%), per Team Rankings. Among Corbin Burnes’ 32 starts, 23 of them finished with over 6.5 runs.
- The Brewers went 5-1 against the Mets this year, and they are 15-for-45 (.333) with five extra-base hits against New York starter Luis Severino.
- Atlanta’s reward after playing a doubleheader yesterday? Fly cross-country for a date against Michael King and the Padres. King has a 2.26 ERA and a 10.6 K/9 since the beginning of June.
Jordan enjoys writing data-driven game previews and analysis articles — especially for MLB markets or NFL/NBA props. And as a proud Ohio University grad, he’ll always have a soft spot for college sports (especially if the Bobcats are involved). Previous stops include mlb.com, Sportsnet and The Athletic.