MLB Division Series Best Bets Today: Expert Picks & Predictions – Fried tasked with keeping Yankees alive against Rays
All four matchups in the division series headline the MLB postseason schedule on Wednesday. It’s Dodgers vs Braves, Brewers vs Padres, Rays vs Yankees and Guardians vs White Sox.
Here are my best bets, and also make sure to check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the 2026 playoffs.
Chicago White Sox ML over Cleveland Guardians (-120)
It will be bullpen day for both teams. Each club was stellar in the ‘pen department throughout the regular season, and that has continued in the playoffs. But Chicago’s relievers have been even better of late. The White Sox are sporting a 1.04 bullpen ERA through four postseason contests. Because the Guardians’ earned a first-round bye, their sample size is smaller. Their bullpen ERA stands at 3.12 so far in this series. The bottom line is that Chicago has all of the momentum after taking both games in Cleveland and now returning home in an attempt to close out the best-of-three set. The Sox went 48-33 at Rate Field in the regular season compared to 36-45 on the road. I’ll back them to finish the deal in front of their home fans.
Los Angeles Dodgers ML over Atlanta Braves (-142)
The Dodgers’ threw away home-field advantage by losing Game 2, but momentum is back on their side following a 3-1 victory on Tuesday. They will try to wrap things up and punch a ticket to the NLCS with Tyler Glasnow on the mound. Glasnow’s regular season was abbreviated, but he was good when he was out there – pitching to a 3.53 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while going 5-2. Atlanta’s Tyler Mahle has been outstanding since being acquired at the trade deadline, but how will he handle what is by far the biggest start of his career? And in it he has to face arguably the best lineup in baseball. Los Angeles is extremely familiar with Mahle given that he was formerly with the NL West rival Giants. Freddie Freeman, who went deep again on Tuesday, is 8-for-19 lifetime against the righty with a homer and a double. Look for L.A. to advance.
New York Yankees ML over Tampa Bay Rays (-162)
Returning home should be just what the doctor ordered for the Yankees, who kicked off their postseason campaign with a pair of dominant wins over the Red Sox in the Bronx before losing two straight in Tampa Bay to begin this season. New York hammered Boston 9-0 and 9-2 in the wild-card round, the latter score with Max Fried on the mound. The pinstripes are turning to Fried again on Wednesday, tasked with keeping their season alive. Fried compiled a 2.80 ERA and 0.99 WHIP during the regular season before firing 6.0 innings of one-run baseball against the Sox. Although the left-hander's playoff history has been a mixed bag, he led Atlanta to the 2021 World Series title with a clinching performance in Game 6 against Houston (6.0 innings with zero runs allowed). This guy knows what he’s doing on the big stage and with pressure mounting. Nick Martinez is no slouch for the Rays, but he cooled off down the stretch following a dominant first half of the 2026 campaign. Give me the Yankees to stay alive.
