Ricky Dimon
The final week of the 2025 Major League Baseball regular season continues with a full 15-game slate on Friday. It includes Tigers vs Red Sox, Rangers vs Guardians, Reds vs Brewers, Diamondbacks vs Padres and Dodgers vs Mariners. The Pickswise team is on an 43-27 run in this MLB best bets series. Let’s build on that momentum and hopefully deliver some more winners today!
Make sure you also check out our MLB picks for every game on Friday, September 26.
MLB best bet: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Over 8.5 (-114)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
It’s way too little and way too late for the Braves, but they have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into Friday’s series opener against the Pirates. During this stretch they have scored 8, 11, 6, 5, 9, 10, 6, 6, 11 and 3 runs in their 10 victories. Drake Baldwin is capping off his NL Rookie of the Year bid with a current 8-game hitting streak, which includes 4 multi-hit performances, 3 home runs and 11 RBIs. Michael Harris II’s torrid second half has continued with 8 hits in the last 4 contests, which includes 2 homers and 6 RBIs.
Atlanta should continue to rake at the expense of Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller. The right-hander compiled a 6.52 ERA in August and has pitched to a 4.32 ERA so far in September. Harris is 3-for-10 lifetime against Keller; Matt Olson is 5-for-10; Ronald Acuna Jr. is 7-for-18 with 3 homers. The Pirates will likely contribute to the total, as well, because the Braves are countering with Joey Wentz. Although he started hot for his new club after being acquired in July, it has all fallen apart for Wentz. The 27-year-old’s September ERA through 4 outings is 8.22.
MLB best bet: Texas Rangers vs Cleveland Guardians Under 8 (-125)
Odds available at Bet365 Sportsbook at time of publishing
The Guardians gave back their brief AL Central lead with a loss to Detroit on Thursday, but they are still in good shape with the tiebreaker in hand going into the last 3 games of the regular season. Cleveland is simply playing great baseball. It is 17-3 in its last 20 contests; during this stretch it has given up a grand total of 36 runs. Yes, that is a mere 1.8 runs per game. More of the same should continue with Slade Cecconi on the mound. In his last 3 starts he has allowed 2 earned runs in 20.2 innings of work. Cecconi faced Texas on August 22 and surrendered 2 earned runs in 6.0 innings of a 4-3 loss.
Texas is handing the ball to Jack Leiter, who has compiled a solid 3.92 ERA this year. The 25-year-old southpaw may not be in his best form at the moment, but he should feel extremely confident in this particular matchup. Leiter went up against Cleveland on August 23 and fired 7.0 innings of 2-hit, shutout baseball with 10 strikeouts and zero walks. All signs point to a low-scoring affair in this crucial contest for the Guardians.
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