✍️ Two Games, One MLB App, and Zero Patience for Blackouts

Only two games on the slate tonight—and I can’t watch either. One’s locked behind an Apple TV+ paywall, and the other is blacked out in Tucson thanks to the ever-annoying San Diego restrictions.
Still, that won’t stop me from tracking two big matchups on the MLB App.

Houston heads to the Bronx to face their October nemesis, while Boston travels cross-country to play the always-feisty Padres. With the playoff picture sharpening by the day, each game now feels like a must-win.

  • Houston is clinging to the top spot, trying to hold off the all-in Mariners
  • The Yankees are stumbling in 3rd and desperate for stability
  • Boston wants to hold onto 2nd
  • San Diego still hopes LA falters and the division opens up

📺 Today's TV Games

  • ⚾ Houston Astros @ New York Yankees – Apple TV+

🎯 Pick'em 10 (7:05pm ET/4:05pm PT)

⚾ Houston @ NY Yankees

  • The Astros haven’t had much regular-season success against the Yankees recently, but they’re handing the ball to their workhorse tonight: Hunter Brown. With a 2.47 ERA and 10.6 strikeouts per 9 innings, Brown has been dominant.
    He’s faced Aaron Judge a couple of times before—Judge is 2-for-3 with 2 walks and a homer. Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. haven’t seen Brown much and haven’t produced lately.

For the Yankees, it’s rookie Cam Schlittler on the mound. In four starts, he owns a 4.58 ERA with a solid 9.6 K/9. The problem? Walks. He’s averaging 5 per 9 innings, and against patient hitters like Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve, that could mean early damage.

🔹 Carlos Correa – Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔹 Jeremy Peña – Over/Under 0.5 Runs
🔹 Jose Altuve – Over/Under 0.5 Strikeouts
🔹 Cody Bellinger – Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔹 Aaron Judge – Over/Under 0.5 Runs
🔹 Jazz Chisholm Jr. – Over/Under 0.5 Hits

⚾ Boston @ San Diego

Walker Buehler returns to the NL West—but this time in a Red Sox uniform. Still easing back from injury, Buehler has struggled: below a strikeout per inning, 4.2 BB/9, and 10.1 H/9. And the Padres’ top bats have all hit him well:

  • Xander Bogaerts (.250)
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. & Manny Machado (~.300)
  • Jackson Merrill (.500, 2-for-4)

Nick Pivetta, meanwhile, is facing his former team and is in top form. He’s been lights out lately, posting a 1.01 ERA over his last 7 starts and season numbers of 2.73 ERA, 9.5 K/9, and just 6.2 H/9—his career best.
With Boston traveling cross-country and playing at what feels like 9:40 PM on their body clocks, we may see a quiet night from their bats despite averaging 8.7 runs over their last 7 games.

🔹 Connor Wong – Over/Under 0.5 Hits
🔹 Masataka Yoshida – Over/Under 0.5 Strikeouts
🔹 Jackson Merrill – Over/Under 0.5 Runs
🔹 Xander Bogaerts – Over/Under 0.5 Strikeouts

🏆 Pick’em 5 Margin (9:40pm ET/6:40pm PT)

⚾ Boston @ San Diego

(See full game breakdown above)

🔸 Alex Bregman – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Jarren Duran – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Fernando Tatis Jr. – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Manny Machado – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Ramón Laureano – Hits + Runs + RBI