With the way this season is going, plenty of playoff spots could come down to the final days of September before being decided. Today we take a hard look at the NL Central’s contenders, and a couple of other teams that are still in the thick of the Wild Card race, with odds provided once again by Bovada.
The Cubs (-1.5 +145 RL, -111 ML) dropped game 1 of their series to the Cardinals (+1.5 -165 RL, -109 ML) in a close 2-1 affair (O/U 8.0). Kyle Hendricks (7-8, 3.26 ERA) will hope to take one back against Mike Mikolas (7-10, 4.19 ERA). Hendricks looks a bit more like the sure bet here, with just 10 hits allowed since the All Star game and a career 2.93 ERA against the Cards, so I’ll take the Cubs here for the moneyline, with the under (O/U 8.0).
Just 1 game back of the Cubs, and 2 games back of the Cards, the Brewers (+1.5 -165 RL, +108 ML) want to keep up in the race by fending off the Athletics (-1.5 +145 RL, -128 ML), who beat them on Monday. Jodan Lyles (5-7, 5.36 ERA) makes his first start for Milwaukee against lefty Brett Anderson (9-6, 4.05 ERA), and they’ll both have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders to keep their teams in the playoff race. After losing a nail-biter, I like the Brewers to win this one big, so I’ll take them and the over (O/U 9.0).
Finally, the Mets (-1.5 -105 RL, -170 ML) are only five games back from a playoff spot, but are rumored sellers for today’s trade deadline. They face the White Sox (+1.5 -115 RL, +154), who being 13 games back, are looking hopeless. Jacob deGrom (6-7, 2.86 ERA) has been a rock for New York, but has sometimes lacked the run support to win, while Lucas Giolito (11-5, 3.52 ERA) has picked up wins but hasn’t been as solid. Based on their general trajectories, I like the Mets in a big win here, with the over (O/U 8.0).
Tonin’s record this season: 21-14
