Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – September 24th Edition

We’re getting into the final week of the 2018 regular season in Major League Baseball. Several of the division races are over, although the American League West, the National League Central and the National League West are still in play. The NL West has been particularly intriguing as the Diamondbacks have cratered, dropping two of ten, while the Dodgers have won eight of ten and have vaulted past Arizona and Colorado to take the division lead. If that holds, the Rockies and Diamondbacks would miss out on the postseason altogether after leading the division for much of the season. The managerial carousel has begun to turn as well, with Texas firing Jeff Banister after just four seasons — including two division titles, in 2015 and 2016. What can you expect in your sports betting in baseball in this final week? Check out our three primo MLB betting picks.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – September 24th Edition

MLB power rankings – teams that stunned us in 2018 https://t.co/7tbZY3dSCa

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Monday, September 24

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (8:05pm ET)

• Projected Pitching Matchup: Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.24 ERA) (PIT) vs Cole Hamels (9-10, 3.90 ERA) (CHI)

The Cubs only lead Milwaukee by 2 ½ games, so they still are sailing full steam ahead toward winning the division. They will start Cole Hamels, who is starting to show some cracks in that dominant facade that appeared when he first showed up via trade from Texas. After allowing just three earned runs in six starts, he has allowed 16 in his last four, including seven earned runs over six innings at Arizona on September 19. He allowed a three-run shot in the first inning in that game, a trend that had plagued him in Texas and appears to have caught up with him again. Unless he can find what he was doing in August, the Cubs may regret this acquisition. The Pirates send Jameson Taillon to the hill on Monday night, and he has been one of their better hurlers throughout the season. In his last start, against Kansas City, he threw seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and fanning 11, enroute to a 2-1 win. The Pirates have won his last six starts, and he has picked up the win in four of them; over that stretch, he has permitted more than one earned run on just one occasion. He has wins in his last two outings against the Cubs, throwing 12 ⅔ combined innings and allowing four earned runs, striking out 10, on July 31 and August 19. MLB Betting Prediction: Pittsburgh 5, Chicago 3

Tuesday, September 25

Milwaukee at St. Louis (8:00pm ET, ESPN+)

• Projected Pitching Matchup: Gio Gonzalez (9-11, 4.28 ERA) (MIL) vs Austin Gomber (6-1, 3.63 ERA) (STL)

Moving from Washington to Milwaukee has rejuvenated Gio Gonzalez, who had permitted 15 earned runs in his last three starts for the Nationals but has just allowed three earned runs in 16 ⅓ innings with Milwaukee, as he came over just in time for eligibility for the postseason. Two of those starts, wins against San Francisco and Cincinnati, have been scoreless. He has fanned 18 batters in those three starts and now looks to bring the Brewers closer to the Cubs as the season ticks down. The Cardinals also have an outside shot at the Central crown, just 4 ½ back of the Cubs and two back of the Brewers. Austin Gomber has been a factor in the team’s resurgence as he has lost just one decision in his last nine starts, a three-inning disaster against the Dodgers on September 13. In his last start, he held the Braves to one earned run on a solo shot over five innings, and while his strikeout totals aren’t dazzling, his location has kept hitters off balance. MLB Betting Prediction: St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 2

Wednesday, September 26

Baltimore at Boston (7:10pm ET)

• Projected Pitching Matchup: Yefry Ramirez (1-7, 6.07 ERA) (BAL) vs Chris Sale (12-4, 2.00 ERA) (BOS)

The Baltimore Orioles look to bring an historically dreadful season to a conclusion this week, already having lost 110 games. Yefry Ramirez has struggled and has served as an opener as well as a starter and long reliever this season. In his last two outings, both starts, he has done well — 5 ⅔ one-run innings against the White Sox in a tough 2-0 loss — and awfully — 3 ⅔ innings permitting six earned runs and walking three, giving up two long balls, against the Yankees. He held Boston to two earned runs over five innings on August 11, but then the Red Sox battered the O’s bullpen to win, 6-4. Chris Sale will start for the Red Sox on Wednesday. He remains on a limited pitch count in his fourth start after his return from the disabled list. He threw 73 pitches on Friday, allowing two earned runs on five hits against the Cleveland Indians. It’s likely that his pitch count will increase on Wednesday against the Orioles. He last saw them on August 12, striking out 12 in just five innings and allowing just a single hit in a scoreless outing. MLB Betting Prediction: Boston 5, Baltimore 1