Our MLB Wild Card Series predictions favour the home team in all four matchups, and three of the four price out between -125 and -170. The best value sits in Chicago, where the Cubs are a coin flip at +100 despite winning five of six from the Padres during the regular season.
All four series open Tuesday, Sept. 29, and run through a potential Game 3 on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Below, we break down the MLB odds, schedule, and highlight our best bet for each series from BET99.
Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees
Prediction: Yankees to win series (-170)
| Game 1 | Tuesday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m. ET |
| Game 2 | Wednesday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. ET |
| Game 3 (if necessary) | Thursday, Oct. 1, TBD |
It doesn’t get any better than Red Sox vs. Yankees in the postseason, and this shortened series should have plenty of intrigue.
Both teams have serious injury implications heading into this series. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Trent Grisham are all questionable to be included on New York’s roster, so bettors will want to monitor their respective statuses ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday. Obviously, the impact that Judge will or will not have on the series is the biggest question mark here.
As for Boston, Willson Contreras, Garrett Crochet, Mickey Gaspar, and Aroldis Chapman are all questionable ahead of Game 1. Contreras has been an absolute monster at the plate for the Red Sox this season, and Chapman has been elite late in games. The inclusion of Crochet in a bulk relief role could also be noteworthy, but how effective could he be after not pitching since April with a shoulder injury?
Hold off on locking in any series winner wagers on this series until the rosters are released, as there are too many noteworthy names here that could swing a series in either direction. However, if we have to make a call right here and right now, the Yankees have an experience and overall edge in the series, especially with all three games being played in the Bronx. This is obviously an easier call if Judge is included on the roster and is at least moderately productive.
Yankees to win series
Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros
Prediction: Astros to win series (-145)
| Game 1 | Tuesday, Sept. 29, 5 p.m. ET |
| Game 2 | Wednesday, Sept. 30, 5 p.m. ET |
| Game 3 (if necessary) | Thursday, Oct. 1, TBD |
This series will feature a classic clash between youth (Chicago) and experience (Houston).
Houston boasts several veteran players with a plethora of postseason experience, which should help the squad in this shortened series, especially with home advantage at Daikin Park. While Chicago is one of the most improved teams in the majors, there could be some major growing pains in this series as nerves might get the best of its young core.
The Astros took five of the seven regular-season meetings between these two clubs, including the final three games of their September series.
Astros to win series
Chicago Cubs @ San Diego Padres
Prediction: Cubs to win series (+100)
| Game 1 | Tuesday, Sept. 29, 10 p.m. ET |
| Game 2 | Wednesday, Sept. 30, 10 p.m. ET |
| Game 3 (if necessary) | Thursday, Oct. 1, TBD |
Expect this series to go the distance and right down to the wire in Game 3.
The Padres go into October having lost five straight games to the Cubs, but the rowdy crowd at Petco Park should inspire the home team to make this an extremely competitive best-of-three series. Ultimately, the Padres don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with the well-rounded Cubs, after San Diego finished 15th in runs scored and 14th in home runs during the regular season.
Chicago, meanwhile, exhibited a patient approach at the plate during the regular season, posting a .339 team on-base percentage despite only having a combined .251 batting average. With the Swiss Army Knife that is Pete Crow-Armstrong leading the charge, the Cubs should continue to manufacture enough runs to get the job done in this series behind its mediocre pitching staff.
Cubs to win series
Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves
Prediction: Braves to win series (-125)
| Game 1 | Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m. ET |
| Game 2 | Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2 p.m. ET |
| Game 3 (if necessary) | Thursday, Oct. 1, TBD |
The Phillies edged into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season but burned top starter Zach Wheeler in the process of clinching, which puts them at a disadvantage in this short series. Philadelphia went just 10-14 in September and lost four straight games from Sept. 23-26 to make the NL playoff race more interesting than it should’ve been. Being on the wrong side of momentum isn’t a positive sign this time of year, and now the Phillies will face a formidable and familiar foe in the Braves.
Atlanta, meanwhile, cruised to another NL East Division title and has its rotation set exactly how it wants with home advantage heading into this series. It’s actually surprising that the Braves are just -125 to win the series, as this number should really be closer to -150 given their dominance during the regular season and their impressive head-to-head record vs. Philadelphia.
