The week in Major League Baseball continues with a modest nine-game slate on Thursday. It is headlined by Brewers vs Pirates, Dodgers vs Reds, Phillies vs Mets and Red Sox vs Rangers.
Here are my best bets, and also make sure to check out our MLB picks for predictions throughout the 2026 season.
The Phillies are in the midst of a 2-4 stretch that has all but ended their National League East hopes and has kept them at risk of missing the playoffs altogether. In five games during this stretch, Philadelphia has scored three runs or fewer prior to extra innings. There is no reason to think the bats will suddenly get on track against New York’s Nolan McLean, who is sporting a 3.24 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 166.2 innings of work. McLean has allowed no more than two runs in five of his last six starts. The right-hander previously faced Philly on July 19, when he fired 6.0 innings of scoreless baseball en route to a 6-1 victory. Opposing McLean is Aaron Nola, who has caught fire for the Phillies. The veteran righty has lowered his ERA from 5.82 in late July to its current mark of 4.69. He has surrendered two runs or fewer in seven straight outings. Nola should be able to stymie a Mets lineup that has scored no more than one run in three of its last four games.
Back-to-back losses to Cleveland have Chicago a half-game out of first place in the American league Central and tied for the final wild-card spot. A 2-7 record in its last 9 contests can largely be attributed to an offensive power outage. The White Sox have scored three runs or fewer six times during the skid. Now they have to face Detroit’s Framber Valdez on Thursday. Valdez has heated up in a big way, with zero earned runs allowed through two September outings across 13.0 innings. The southpaw has delivered four consecutive quality starts. Chicago is countering with Erik Fedde, who has given up only four runs in 24.0 innings over his past five appearances. This has all the makings of a low-scoring affair.
The Twins are 2-5 in their last seven games. In those five losses they have scored a total of 10 runs. Even in the two wins they crossed the plate a combined six times prior to extra innings. L.A.’s Walbert Urena should be able to extend Minnesota’s woes. Urena has logged at least 7.0 innings without allowing more than one run in two of his last three starts. The right-hander comes in with a 2.88 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 137.1 innings of work. Taj Bradley is toeing the rubber for the Twins. He is coming off 6.0 shutout innings during a 5-2 loss to Cleveland last Friday. Bradley has given up no more than one run in three of his last five appearances. Let’s bank on today’s schedule wrapping up with yet another pitchers’ duel.
