Handicapper Big Al McMordie Free Sports Picks

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Cleveland Indians over the New York Yankees.  Yesterday, the Yankees drew first blood with a 12-3 blowout win over Cleveland.  Still, New York is a wallet-busting 13-18 (minus 13 games on the moneyline) on the road this season.  And it also has won just three of its previous nine games, while the Indians have won seven of their previous nine.  I love Cleveland to bounce back this evening against the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka.  Tanaka has made four starts on the road this season, and the Yankees lost each of those four games -- by a combined score of 22-3!  Yet, the Yankees have been installed as a road favorite in this game.  I'm not buying it.  Take the Indians as a home underdog.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 12:10 pm, our selection is on the Atlanta Braves over the Cincinnati Reds.  The Reds are in the playoffs.  As strange as that sounds, it's true -- even if their 2020 post-season is a short-lived one.  The first round is after all a best-of-three series and nobody would be surprised if the Braves move on in two games.  But being here is still something for the Reds and their fans to be proud of.  Game 1 features a couple of strikeout artists in RH Trevor Bauer (CIN) and LH Max Fried.  The Braves would probably be smart to go with lefty starters in Games 1 and 2, if possible.  The Reds simply could not hit southpaw pitching this season, batting a paltry .200 against them with a .291 OBP (worst in the NL).  Only the Cubs' .196 BA vs. LHP kept Cincy out of the cellar in that category.  And Fried isn't just any southpaw -- he's one of the best in the game.  In 11 starts this season, the 26-year-old went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 56 innings.  The Braves are 16-2 (+14 games on the moneyline) in their last 18 immediately after scoring two runs or less in their previous game.  Take Atlanta.

At 3:10 pm, our selection is on the Oakland Athletics over the Chicago White Sox.  The White Sox drew first blood Tuesday, taking a 4-1 decision from the A's to go one win away from advancing in the AL playoffs.  Tonight it will be on 31-year-old RH Chris Bassitt to keep the series alive for the A's and force a deciding third game.  Bassitt just might be the least-known starter with ace-like numbers in the league.  In 11 starts this season, Bassitt is 5-2 and his 2.29 ERA puts him third in the AL in that category.   Bassitt has never pitched in the playoffs before but he should be up to the task.  Through his career Bassitt has done his best work here at home.  In 38 games (32 starts) at the Coliseum, Bassitt has a 2.63 ERA, a number that is two runs better than when he's pitching elsewhere.  And in four previous starts vs. the Sox, Bassitt is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 23 2/3 innings.  This is a good month for Bassitt as the A's are 6-0 in his last six September outings and they are also 6-0 in his last six starts after he allowed one run or less in his last.  Take Oakland.

At 1:10 pm, our selection is on the Minnesota Twins over the Houston Astros. We played on the Astros yesterday as a huge underdog, and they surprised the Twins in Game 1 of this series by scoring three runs in the 9th, and are now sitting in the catbird seat, needing only one more victory to advance. The Twins could have something to say about that this afternoon as they send veteran RH Jose Berrios to the mound. Berrios had some pedestrian numbers on the regular season (5-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 12 starts) but he has a way of stepping up in big situations and none is bigger than facing elimination. Incredibly, with the defeat on Tuesday, the Twins have now lost 17 post-season games in a row and if that doesn't motivate a team then nothing will. These two teams didn't play in the 2020 regular season, but prior to Tuesday's game, their last meeting was on May 2, 2019 -- a game won by Berrios after he pitched seven stellar innings, allowing two runs with five K's and no walks. This game will be played at Target Field and the Twins are 23-8 (+11 games on the moneyline) in their last 31 home contests. And unlike yesterday's game, where manager Dusty Baker could hand the ball to a gamer like Zack Greinke, his starting pitcher options today are not nearly as good.  Notwithstanding yesterday's win, the Astros are 4-12 this season in the underdog role (minus 7 games on the moneyline),   Take Minnesota. As always, good luck...Al McMordie.