MLB Wild Card Game 2 best bets: Tigers-Astros, Royals-Orioles, Braves-Padres
The 2024 MLB Wild Card round is off to quite a start, with three underdogs winning Game 1 on the road. San Diego was the only favorite to take care of business at home, with a 4-0 shutout over the Braves.With each team back in action Wednesday, we’ve put together our best bets for three games on the card.There was no doubt that Tigers ace Tarik Skubal would get the ball in Game 1.The only question is what will Detroit do for the remainder of the series.Instead of pitching a traditional starter, Tigers manager A.J.
Hinch is opting to hand the ball to Tyler Holton, a reliever, who went 7-2 on the year with eight saves and a 2.19 ERA.This is a fascinating decision by Hinch that’s just wacky enough that it might work against the Astros.Holton came on in relief Tuesday, retiring the only batter he faced.He’s struck out 77 hitters in 94 1/3 innings pitched and has yet to surrender a run in 4 ⅓ innings against the Astros this season.The Tigers have one of the best bullpens in baseball, ranking fifth in ERA (3.55).
To counter Holton, the Astros will start Hunter Brown, who went 11-9 with a 3.49 ERA and a solid 3.58 FIP. Runs are always at a premium during the postseason, and given the quality of pitchers both teams can send to the mound, there’s a ton of value in this game staying under 7.5 runs.Best bet: Tigers-Astros under 7.5 runs (-110, FanDuel)The Baltimore Orioles knew they needed to bolster their pitching staff before the trade deadline, so they went out and got Zach Eflin from the Rays. Eflin was just 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA with Tampa Bay, but since joining the Orioles he’s 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA. The right-hander could be one of those late bloomers because it wasn’t until his eighth year (2023) in the majors that he had his best season (16-8, 3.50 ERA).As good as Eflin has been recently, the Royals should have the better pitcher on the mound with Seth Lugo. Lugo went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA and is in the discussion for the Cy Young Award.His 3.25 FIP p...