“There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first time. I owe him my best.”
-Joe DiMaggio
1. Boston Red Sox (+115) @ New York Yankees (O/U 7.0)
Our model is showing a significant edge on the Under in this game projecting a total score of approximately 6 Runs. This is a fantastic pitching matchup featuring two of baseball’s best and we expect them to have their ‘A’ stuff in this rivalry riddled, post-season spot. Moreover, there are fairly strong in-blowing winds projected at Yankee Stadium which should add further run protection for two starters who frankly shouldn’t need it. This game has pitching duel written all over it.
Selection: Under 7.0 (-105) to Win 2 units.
2. Cincinnati Reds (+165) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (O/U 7.5)
Our model is showing a nice edge on the Reds in this spot projecting a fair ML closer to +130. They were able to backdoor their way into the wildcard spot with the help of the Miami Marlins (to the detriment of the Mets broadcast crew). The Reds feature some of the strongest pitching in all of baseball- both their starting rotation and their bullpen are rock solid. Hunter Greene has been elite and while projected Dodgers starter Blake Snell has been in fantastic form recently we do not give a pitching edge to the Dodgers in this matchup. The Dodgers offense is certainly more trustworthy than the Reds, but not to the extent that the market is pricing. Additionally, the Dodgers are 5-1 vs. the Reds this year and despite their World Series aspirations they might have a tendency to overlook the Reds- especially in this first game of the series. On the other hand, Tito Francona is a clubhouse guru and a bona fide master of player psychology and will have his club playing with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality which could provide key in igniting their offense. We think the Cincinnatus Red Stockings, America’s first professional baseball team, will be able to keep it within a run and possibly even pull off the upset in their much anticipated return to the playoffs.
Selection: Reds +1.5 (-130) to Win 1 unit and Reds ML (+165) to Win 1 unit.
