The 2020 MLB postseason has already completed one round, with the Division Series set to begin October 5 (for the American League) and October 6 (for the National League). The Miami Marlins have still never lost a postseason series in franchise history, winners of two World Series and now one NL wild card round. They take on the Atlanta Braves in one Division Series, while the San Diego Padres tangle with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the other. Notably absent are the four teams from the National League Central who made the wild card round and then lost to the qualifiers.
Check out our MLB betting thoughts for each of the two NLDS openers.
MLB News:
2020 NLDS Game 1 Previews
Miami Marlins at Atlanta Braves
Tuesday, October 6
2:08 pm ET, FS1
Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.00 ERA) (MIA)
Max Fried (7-0, 2.25 ERA) (ATL)
Sandy Alcantara has pitched extremely well down the stretch for the Marlins, permitting more than one earned run just once in his last four starts and lasting six or more innings in each one. He faced the Cubs in a wild card game and went 6 ⅔ innings, permitting just three hits and one run (on a solo shot), striking out four and walking three. The Marlins will need solid pitching against a Braves team that can rake.
Max Fried has only started two games since September 5, as the team had a scare because of a muscle spasm along his lumbar spine. In his two extended starts since then, he held the Mets to a run on three hits over five innings on September 18, and then he held the Cincinnati Reds scoreless for seven innings in their wild card game, striking out five, walking none and scattering six hits, in a game that the Braves would win, 1-0, in 13 innings. If Fried can hold the Miami bats at bay, the Braves should be able to get to Alcantara and the Miami bullpen.
Final Score Prediction:
Atlanta 4, Miami 2
San Diego at L.A. Dodgers
Tuesday, October 6
9:38 pm ET, FS1
Undecided () (SD)
Walker Buehler (1-0, 3.44 ERA) (LA)
An issue for Walker Buehler and the Dodgers has been durability, as far as lasting long enough into games. Since September 2, he has not pitched more than four innings in any game, although his numbers have been decent, as he has only allowed two earned runs on four hits over his last two starts, throwing eight combined innings against Oakland and Milwaukee. Facing the Brewers on Wednesday in the wild card round, he permitted two runs on three hits, including a home run, fanning eight and walking two. He will need to keep the ball down against a Padres team that has been walloping the ball. The Dodgers led MLB in home runs and runs scored, so this could be a high-scoring series.
In case you’re wondering why the Padres have yet to name a starter, they are still waiting to see about the health of Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet. Clevinger came in at the trade deadline from Cleveland and shut the Giants out for seven innings on September 13, but he has only thrown one inning since then, as he exited a game against the Angels on September 23 with a strained elbow. Lamet had bicep discomfort on September 25, leaving his last regular-season start. He had missed the 2018 season because of Tommy John surgery, but he had a 2.09 ERA in 12 starts this year. If neither can start, the Padres are in trouble. Zach Davies (7-4, 2.73 ERA) is the likeliest starter if neither of the top two can go. After that, none of the names (Chris Paddack, who gives up too many home runs; Garrett Richards, who was in the bullpen for much of the second half; or Adrian Morejon or even prospect MacKenzie Gore, who did not pitch in the regular season but could be called up for the NLDS) inspire much in the way of confidence. I’m not putting down a bet on this game until I see the starter, but if Davies gets the start, I like the Padres to bludgeon their way to a series-opening victory.
Final Score Prediction:
San Diego 8, Los Angeles 6
MLB Betting Odds
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