Ricky Dimon
The 2025 MLB postseason continues on Friday with Game 4 of the NLCS between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers and Game 5 of the ALCS between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. Los Angeles holds a commanding 2-0 lead over Milwaukee after taking both contests on the road. Seattle is up 2-1 on Toronto. The Pickswise team is on an 60-40-1 run in this MLB best bets series. Let’s build on that momentum and hopefully deliver some more winners!
Make sure you also check out our MLB picks for every game.
MLB best bet: Toronto Blue Jays vs Seattle Mariners Over 7 (-105)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
The Blue Jays are back! Since losing the first 2 games of the ALCS at home, their potent offense has returned. Toronto took Game 3 in Seattle 13-4 and then rolled again on Thursday night via an 8-2 decision. The bats that were on display in the ALDS against the Yankees are once again alive and well. This is a team that abused New York to the tune of 10, 13, 6 and 5 runs in those 4 contests. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is unconscious. He is batting .455 through 8 playoff games with 5 homers, 11 RBIs and 9 runs. He should find more success on Friday against Seattle’s Bryce Miller, who compiled a 5.68 ERA and 1.41 WHIP during the regular season.
Now is it Seattle’s turn to bounce back from its own 2-game losing streak? The offense has cooled off the last 2 games, but you know the bats have it in them to rebound. Cal Raleigh homered on Wednesday and Josh Naylor went 3-for-3 with a dinger in Game 4. These guys are capable of hitting Toronto’s Kevin Gausman. Raleigh absolutely owns Gausman. The Big Dumper is 8-for-17 lifetime in the matchup with 4 homers. This is simply too small of a number.
MLB best bet: Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Dodgers Under 8 (-109)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
To the surprise of no one, the playoff version of the Dodgers is an absolute wagon. But they have become a juggernaut thanks almost entirely to their pitching. In 4 games against Philadelphia in the NLDS, Los Angeles scored 5, 4, 2 and 2 runs. Manager Dave Roberts’ club has put up only 10 runs through 3 NLCS. How are the NL West champions up 3-0? Well, the Brewers have scored a grand total of 3 runs in 3 games.
More of the same should be in store for Friday. The Dodgers are handing the ball to Shohei Ohtani as they try to complete the sweep. Ohtani has been surprisingly inept at the plate over the past 8 games, but he has been awesome on the mound for several weeks now. In 1 playoff start against the Phillies, the righty gave up 3 runs in 6.0 innings while striking out 9 and walking just 1 during a 5-3 victory. Ohtani wrapped up the regular season by allowing only 1 run in his last 4 outings across 19.2 innings. Adding insult to injury – or vice versa – for Milwaukee, Jackson Chourio sustained a hamstring injury in Game 3 and is presumably out. The Brewers are probably going with another bullpen day, which is not necessarily a bad thing. They boast a 1.65 bullpen ERA so far in the playoffs. They were sixth in bullpen ERA during the regular season.
Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources and never miss a story
