Wild Card Wednesday

Today’s matchups shift our focus away from the division races and toward Wild Card seeding.

  • The Minnesota Twins are more than 10 games back in the AL Central but only 4 games out of a Wild Card spot.
  • The Boston Red Sox currently hold a Wild Card position—but by just ½ game over the Tampa Bay Rays.
  • The Philadelphia Phillies have a slim ½-game lead in the NL East, though they’d still be in great shape if they fall back into the Wild Card.
  • The only team with a real cushion? The Los Angeles Dodgers, but even they are just 3–7 in their last 10.

📺 Today's TV Games

  • ⚾ Minnesota Twins @ Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB Network
  • ⚾ Boston Red Sox @ Philadelphia Phillies – ESPN

🎯 Pick'em 10 (4:10pm ET/1:10pm PT)

⚾ Minnesota @ LA Dodgers

On paper, this feels like an open-and-shut win for the Dodgers—if their bullpen can hold a lead. They’ve averaged 6 runs per game over their last four, and Tyler Glasnow has looked sharp in his two starts since returning to the rotation.

A 7-inning outing from Glasnow would be a season-best and a big help for the pen.

Meanwhile, Chris Paddack might be the ideal matchup for LA:

  • Season ERA: 5.14
  • Last 7 starts: 8.55 ERA
  • Mookie Betts has hit .667 against him in 9 ABs
  • Shohei Ohtani is 1-for-2 with a walk

With sunny day-game conditions at Dodger Stadium, power bats could thrive.

  1. Chris Paddack – Over/Under 3.5 strikeouts
  2. Byron Buxton – Over/Under 1.5 hits+runs+RBIs
  3. Tyler Glasnow – Over/Under 6.5 strikeouts
  4. Shohei Ohtani – Over/Under 2.5 hits+runs+RBIs
  5. Mookie Betts – Over/Under  0.5 strikeouts

⚾ Boston @ Philadelphia

The Red Sox have stumbled out of the All-Star break, dropping two games each to the Cubs and Phillies, after entering the break on a 10-game win streak.

Lucas Giolito looks to reverse Boston’s slide, bringing a 1.43 ERA and 5–1 record over his last 7 starts. He doesn’t rack up strikeouts but has done well limiting damage. He’s been effective against Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto, but Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber remain dangerous (but isn’t that the case for every starting pitcher in MLB…).

On the mound for the Phillies is Jesús Luzardo, who brings stronger strikeout numbers than Giolito but struggles with run prevention:

  • Season ERA: 4.29
  • Last 7 starts: 3.96 ERA

Alex Bregman has 2 HRs off Luzardo in 9 ABs—his only 2 hits.

  1. Lucas Giolito – Over/Under 5.5 strikeouts
  2. Wilyer Abreu – Over/Under 0.5 hits
  3. Jesús Luzardo – Over/Under 6.5 strikeouts
  4. J.T. Realmuto – Over/Under 1.5 hits+runs+RBIs
  5. Nick Castellanos – Over/Under 1.5 hits+runs+RBIs

🏆 Pick 5 Margin (7:05pm ET/4:05pm PT)

⚾ Boston @ Philadelphia

(See full game breakdown above)

  1. Alex Bregman – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  2. Jarren Duran – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  3. Bryce Harper – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  4. Kyle Schwarber – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  5. Wilyer Abreu – Hits+Runs+RBIs