Ricky Dimon
The week in Major League Baseball continues with a more than full 16-game slate on Tuesday (the Braves and Nationals are playing a double-header). It includes Padres vs Mets, Blue Jays vs Rays, Rangers vs Astros and Phillies vs Dodgers. The Pickswise team is on an 34-16 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 Tuesday, September 16.
MLB best bet: Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers Under 8 (-105)
Odds available at Bet365 Sportsbook at time of publishing
Neither Cleveland nor Detroit has been able to hit the baseball of late. The Guardians have scored 3 runs or fewer in 7 of their last 9 games. Within the first 9 innings, the Tigers have played 4 consecutive contests without crossing the plate more than 3 times. More of the same can be expected with Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo and Detroit’s Casey Mize on the mound. Cantillo (3.36 ERA) has allowed only 3 runs in 24.2 innings across his last 4 appearances; Mize (14-5, 3.83 ERA) has given up just 3 runs in 11.0 innings through 2 September outings.
It’s also worth noting that each team was off on Monday, so their relievers will be well rested and a full go for this contest. Detroit is in the top half of MLB in bullpen ERA, while Cleveland ranks fourth in that department. From start to finish in Tuesday’s game, runs will likely be difficult to come by.
MLB best bet: Atlanta Braves -1.5 over Washington Nationals (-105)
Odds available at DraftKings at time of publishing
The Braves should be in great shape to take the second game of Tuesday’s double-header, largely because Chris Sale is toeing the rubber. Sale won the NL Cy Young Award in 2024 and if not for an injury that sent him to the 60-day IL this summer, he might have been in contention again this season. The southpaw is sporting a 2.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 141-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 107.0 innings. Sale has been pretty much unhittable dating back to May. He compiled a 1.11 ER in May, a 0.83 ERA in June and a 2.62 ERA in his first 3 appearances since returning from his absence.
Atlanta will probably give its star pitcher plenty of run support, too. The visitors produced 11 runs in Monday’s blowout of the Nationals to begin this NL East series. That was preceded by an 8-run barrage in Sunday’s series finale against Houston. Washington is going with Mackenzie Gore, who is 5-14 with a 4.14 ERA. With a full 9 innings’ worth of at-bats guaranteed as the visiting team, Atlanta should be able to prevail by multiple runs in the nightcap of this twin bill.
