As we roll into the weekend, we have some fantastic baseball matchups that could totally flip the script on the National League playoff race. We have a peek at a potential playoff series, a red hot team climbing up the ranks, and two contenders that could knock each other out in just a few days. We take a look at the odds once again thanks to Bovada.
The Chicago Cubs (-128 ML) play host to the Washington Nationals (+108 ML) for an afternoon game. The teams have identical records, but the Cubs are leading their division while Washington is trailing the Braves by 6 games, but either team could get hurt bad if this series ends up being a rout. Jon Lester (10-8, 4.23 ERA) gets the start for the Cubs against Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 3.99 ERA). The Cubs are coming off a great series against the Giants, while the Nats just beat up on the Pirates. I think the Cubs are in a bit better form at this point, so I pick them here to win. Apologies, runlines and totals aren’t available at the time of publication.
If the Cubs should win, that sets up the red hot Mets (-1.5 +110 RL, -180 ML) for a chance to be within a win of passing the Nats, should they overcome the division leading Braves (+1.5 -130 RL, +155 ML). That would have been unthinkable a couple of months ago, but a 27-10 record since the All-Star break has the Mets very much in the playoff race. Jacob deGrom (8-7, 2.61 ERA) is undefeated since that point with a 1.00 ERA, and he’ll face Mike Foltynewicz (4-5, 6.09 ERA), who’s been pretty bad since coming back from a stint in the minors, and also in his career against the Mets. Pick the Mets for everything here, and the over (O/U 7.5).
Finally, regardless of who wins in the Cubs and Nats game, that should be helpful to the Brewers (-1.5 +125 RL, -153 ML), who could stand to gain from the Cubs losing ground in the division, or the Nats in the Wild Card race. They face Arizona (+1.5 -145 RL, +133 ML), who will be sending Merrill Kelly (9-12, 4.63 ERA) to the mound, who’s currently on a two game win streak. The Brewers, on the other hand, start Jordan Lyles (7-8, 4.96 ERA), who’s been exceptional for the Brewers with the exception of one bad outing against the Nats. Pick the Brewers here and the under, and have a nice weekend everyone (O/U 10.0).
Tonin’s record yesterday: 2-7
Tonin’s record this season: 89-73
