MLB Bets: Expert MLB Picks for Friday, October 17

MLB Betting Expert Michael Rathburn dives into the two league championship games Friday, including run total plays for two teams and a run-line play.
MLB Bets: Expert MLB Picks for Friday, October 17
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MLB Bets: Expert MLB Picks for Friday, October 17

Previous article 0-3 (-3.00 units)  

Season 151-164-2 (-17.71 units)

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Key MLB Betting Trends and Matchups Analysis

Betting playoff baseball is a completely different animal as you have the best pitching, hitting, bullpens, etc. going against each other. Rotations are no longer lined up like they were in the last round, so we are seeing larger moneylines and totals.   

There will be more bullpen games, so it is important to try and piece together what you think each team will do in regards to pitching. This also means the benches will come into play a lot more in a seven-game series. 

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Brewers vs Dodgers Best Bets and Predictions

As much as I thought the Brewers would be able to hang with the Dodgers, it is clear that the L.A. pitching staff is on another plane right now. The stars have aligned with their health, and their bullpen issues are not a concern if the starters continue to go six-plus innings. 

This game has the Dodgers at -200 which will automatically put me on the run line. The total opened at 7.5, and it is already up to 8.

Brewers LHP Jose Quintana will start Game 4 for the Brewers, while RHP Shohei Ohtani will take the bump for the Dodgers. The gap in starting pitching has really showed out in these first three games, and that should continue Friday night.

The Dodgers have dominated in the postseason, going 9-1, and the last four in a row have gone Under the total. They have held the Brewers to just one run in each of the three games.  The Brewers have gone Under in five straight games.

The Dodgers close out the series Friday night in Game 4 in Los Angeles and move on to the World Series.

Best Bets: 

  • Dodgers -1.5 runs (+109 at DraftKings Sportsbook - 1 Unit)
  • Brewers Under 3.5 runs (-140 at DraftKings Sportsbook - 1 Unit)

Mariners vs Blue Jays Best Bets and Predictions

This series started off with the Mariners taking both games on the road for a commanding 2-0 lead, but we have seen the Blue Jays bats come alive in Game 3 and 4 allowing them to tie up the series at 2-2. Game 5 is critical for the Mariners, as Game 6 and 7 return to Toronto. 

This game opened around -110 on both sides, and I thought the Jays might be getting a little bit of plus-money. The total opened at 6.5, and has now moved to 7 based off the Jays' hot bats in the last two games. 

Mariners RHP Bryce Miller pitched a gem in Game 1, and it is easy to think he will repeat that performance, but he is pitching on short rest which is being overlooked. Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman also pitched solid in Game 1 which is why the total is so low. But, this will be the second time these teams have seen both pitchers in a very short window, and the Jays are hitting like crazy right now. 

The Mariners are 5-5 in the postseason, and the Over/Under is 5-5. The last three games have gone Over the total. The Jays are 5-5 in the postseason, and the Over/Under is 6-4. 

Best Bets: 

  •  Blue Jays Over 3.5 runs (-115 at DraftKings Sportsbook - 1 Unit)

Friday's Best Bets

  • Dodgers -1.5 runs (+109 at DraftKings - 1 Unit)
  • Brewers Under 3.5 runs (-140 at DraftKings - 1 unit)
  • Blue Jays Over 3.5 runs (-115 at DraftKings - 1 unit)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known as “Rath” in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) community, he has helped run operations for two prominent daily fantasy sports startups. Michael has taken his insider knowledge and expertise in daily fantasy sports to the content side. Rath won the 2016 FSWA "Baseball Article of the Year, Online" award and was a finalist for the FSWA Best Baseball Series in 2011.
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