Ricky Dimon
The 2025 MLB postseason gets underway on Tuesday with all 4 series-opening games in the wild-card round. It’s Tigers vs Guardians, Padres vs Cubs, Red Sox vs Yankees and Reds vs Dodgers. The Pickswise team is on an 46-30 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 30.
MLB best bet: Cleveland Guardians +1.5 over Detroit Tigers (-140)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
Detroit never could have imagined that it would be on the road (and at Cleveland, specifically) to begin the postseason – especially when it led the American League Central by 15.5 games. Even as recently as September 5, the Tigers were still up by 11 games. Nonetheless, they lost 13 of their last 16 games while watching the Guardians go 19-4 in their last 23 – including 5-1 in head-to-head matchups. Just like that, Cleveland completed the most remarkable division-winning comeback in MLB history.
Needless to say, the Guards have a ton of momentum heading into Game 1. Detroit has the benefit of sending Tarik Skubal to the mound, but Cleveland has gone 2-0 against him already this month while winning those 2 games by a combined 8-3. Even if the southpaw pitches well on Tuesday, the home team may not require a bunch of runs to prevail. After all, Skubal probably won’t get a lot of run support. The Tigers have scored no more than three runs in 12 of their last 16 outings. The Guardians have a great chance to win this one outright. Asking them to simply stay within 1 run of the Tigers should not be too much.
Read our full Mariners vs Braves prediction
MLB best bet: San Diego Padres vs Chicago Cubs Over 7 (-110)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
Although pitching often rules the day in the postseason, the Cubs may be able to bash their way to victory. Playing in what is generally a hitter’s park, Chicago crossed the plate 793 times in its 162 games. Only Los Angeles and Milwaukee scored more in the National League. The Cubs’ lineup features 2 World Series winners in Kyle Tucker and Dansby Swanson, while Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner and Michael Bush have contributed on a regular basis throughout the 2025 campaign.
San Diego’s Nick Pivetta compiled a 2.87 ERA, but he allowed 6 earned runs on 11 hits and 5 walks in his last 2 starts across 10.1 innings. Swanson is 10-for-34 lifetime against Pivetta with 2 home runs. Because NL Rookie of the Year favorite Cade Horton is on the injured list, Chicago is countering with Matthew Boyd. The 34-year-old was effective for much of the regular season, but he compiled a 5.31 ERA in 4 September outings. Manny Machado is 5-for-13 against Boyd with 2 doubles. A game total of 7 is too small, so let’s roll with the over.
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