Sunday MLB Best Bets: Phillies and Astros Highlight Two Top Picks

The Sunday MLB card is full of interesting matchups all throughout the day.

The Yankees and Mets play the rubber game of their three-game set in the Bronx. AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler takes the mound for the Yankees this afternoon, looking to rebound from Saturday’s 12-2 defeat.

Elsewhere, the Braves seek the sweep of the Phillies at Truist Park after blowing out Philadelphia 12-2 on Saturday. Atlanta owns a six-game edge over Philadelphia atop the NL East standings with 13 games remaining.

We’ll break down two plays for the Sunday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the props, sides, and totals market are constantly changing.

Here are the free MLB picks for Sunday, September 13. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.

Best MLB plays today

• Phillies (+109) at Braves
• Astros (+117) at Rays

Phillies (+109) at Braves - 1:35 p.m. ET

The Phillies (82-67) sit in the second NL Wild Card position as they try to avoid their fourth consecutive loss. Philadelphia has been outscored 18-7 in the first two losses at Atlanta, while dropping seven of the past 10 games.

The Braves (88-61) wrap up a tough six-game homestand after losing the first two contests to Tampa Bay. Atlanta goes after its fourth straight win, sending out right-hander Grant Holmes to the mound.

Holmes tossed six scoreless innings against the Phillies in his last outing, but didn’t receive any run support in a 6-0 defeat. It marked only the second loss for Atlanta in his past 12 starts, while not allowing a run in his last two trips to the mound.

Andrew Painter has pitched better for Philadelphia of late with the Phillies going 4-2 in his previous six appearances. Although he yielded five runs in his last start against the Astros, the righty has allowed two or fewer earned runs in three of his past five road outings.

Since the All-Star break, the Phillies are 3-1 when trying to avoid a sweep and are worth a strong look here as an underdog.

Astros (+117) at Rays - 1:35 p.m. ET

Another team trying to avoid a sweep this afternoon is the AL West-leading Astros (75-74), who are coming off a pair of low-scoring defeats to the Rays (89-59).

Tampa Bay walked off past Houston on Friday, followed by a 3-1 victory on Saturday. The Astros send out Hunter Wesneski to the hill, as Houston is 7-1 in his eight starts this season. Wesneski is unbeaten in four road outings, including recent victories over the Phillies and Yankees.

Houston hasn’t been swept on the road since mid-April, when it dropped a pair of series at Colorado and Seattle. The Rays have lost three consecutive series finales as Freddy Peralta tries to stop that streak. The former Mets’ hurler has been solid of late, winning three straight starts and giving up a total of two runs.

This is a huge game to grab for Houston before facing three of four teams sitting below .500 to close the season.