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Top MLB Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (10/7)

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The MLB postseason returns from a brief two-day hiatus after all four Wild Card series ended in sweeps. There were two upsets, in which the Rangers (5) knocked off the Rays (4) and the Diamondbacks (6) rallied their way past the Brewers (3) in Milwaukee. 

Each of the eight remaining teams is in action today. Let's dive into the Saturday schedule and check out how I'm betting the board. Here are my three best bets for today's ALDS and NLDS slate.

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Today's Best MLB Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Minnesota Twins (+130) vs. Houston Astros (-155) | 7.5 (-110/-110)

The Twins are onto the Divisional Round after snapping their 18-game postseason losing streak. Their prize for advancing is taking on the reigning champion Houston Astros. The pitching matchup for the series opener sees Bailey Ober take the ball for the Twins while the Astros counter with Justin Verlander. First pitch is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. 

Houston enters this game as a sizable favorite, posting a -155 moneyline price. I'm going to lay the juice in this spot and ride with the champs. While the Twins may have momentum on their side, they're running into an Astros team that has postseason gumption. This battle-tested Houston franchise is coming off of a 2022 postseason which saw them go 11-2. At home, the 'Stros were 6-1. They also finished off the year winning four straight games and five of their final six. They're heating up at the right time.

Now, as for this specific matchup, it's all about the head-to-head numbers. Houston has owned Ober in the past, posting a slash line of .340/.392/.638 against him over 47 at-bats. On the flip side, Verlander has limited the current Twins' roster to a slash line of .149/.269/.299 over 67 at-bats. This is going to be a rowdy Houston crowd on Saturday and I think the Astros come out on fire. I'll lay the juice here. 

Bet: Houston Astros Moneyline (-155)

Philadelphia Phillies (+170) vs. Atlanta Braves (-205) | 8.5 (-115/-105)

In my opinion, the most exciting matchup in the Divisional Round is a divisional series between the Phillies and Braves. The Phillies will look to make a second straight run for the pennant from the wild card position, following a 2022 trip that included beating the Braves as well. Tonight's pitching matchup features a battle between Ranger Suarez and Spencer Strider. This one gets underway at 6:07 p.m. ET from Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. 

The atmosphere in Philadelphia was off the charts when the Phillies broke out the brooms against the Marlins in the Wild Card round. Well, now they'll travel to the hostile Truist Park, where they must deal with 41,000 Atlanta fans doing the tomahawk chop.

On the field of play, Philly will have Strider to worry about. The second-year man amassed a league-leading 281 strikeouts over the regular season while posting the ninth-lowest WHIP of 1.09. The right-hander limited opponents to a .206 batting average at home this season while seeing his K/9 rate rise to 14.8 at Truist! On top of all that, Strider has limited the current Phillies' lineup to a slash line of .171/.224/.281 over 146 at-bats. I think we're in for a Spencer Strider gem tonight.

With that being said, I'm riding with the under 8.5 runs. While these are two of the best offenses in baseball, I'm anticipating a vintage, low-scoring playoff game. Suarez should be able to post a decent outing considering Atlanta is just 27-113 (.239) against him throughout his career. Let's take a shot on the under with this inflated total.

Bet: Under 8.5 (-105)

Arizona Diamondbacks (+164) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-198) | 8.0 (-110/-110)

We have another divisional battle in the National League as the Diamondbacks take on the Dodgers out west. Arizona advanced after beating the Brewers in the two-game Wild Card series (5-2, 6-3). Merrill Kelly heads to the bump for the Snakes while the Dodgers counter with Clayton Kershaw. First pitch is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. 

The Diamondbacks are a well-built roster featuring a nice mix of players both young and old. Look no further than Corbin Carroll, who went 4-7 (.571) in the first round with two walks. That's a .667 OBP. Two of his hits were for extra bases, including a home run and a double (1.810 OPS). This guy is the real deal, and he's the perfect table-setter at the top of the lineup. He also has solid numbers against Kershaw, going 4-7 (.571) against him with a pair of home runs. Add in Christian Walker, who is 10-34 (.294) against the southpaw with five home runs, and I think this is a prime opportunity for an upset. 

I'm riding with Arizona in this spot. They have momentum and their best players have solid numbers against Los Angeles' starting pitcher. Let's take a shot with the Snakes to steal the opener. 

Bet: Arizona Diamondbacks Moneyline (+164)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:

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