Wednesday MLB Best Bets: Braves Moneyline Among Top Picks

The Atlanta Braves notched the all-important opening salvo in their crucial series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and now set their sights on making it two straight wins to start the three-game series. The Braves, Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are competing for the two first-round byes in the National League playoffs.

Making the 4-3 victory bigger is that Atlanta is 3-1 against the Dodgers with two games left in the season series. Win once more and the Braves will hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles in any postseason scenario.

The Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox have taken turns scoring 11 runs in a victory as they enter the finale of their three-game series. And who saw this coming? The Pittsburgh Pirates looking to complete a three-game road sweep of the previously red-hot San Diego Padres.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT ATLANTA BRAVES

The Dodgers had won six consecutive games before slipping up in Atlanta on Tuesday to see their lead over the Braves decrease to three games. Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies had the tiebreaking single in the eighth inning to give the Braves their second straight victory after losing seven of their previous nine games.

Atlanta has scored four runs or fewer in eight consecutive games and 10 of its past 11 contests, a stunning development for a team that ranks fourth in the majors in run differential (plus-111). Star Ronald Acuna Jr. is slumping at 3-for-28 over the past seven games and getting him on track is crucial.

Leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani is just 2-for-18 over the last five games for Los Angeles while Freddie Freeman had his second 0-for-5 over the last four contests on Tuesday. Those two guys hold the key for the Dodgers, but don’t be surprised to see Atlanta post another win.

Braves money line to win, -108 (DraftKings)

TEXAS RANGERS AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The Rangers rolled to an 11-2 victory in Monday’s series opener but the White Sox answered with six first-inning runs off Jacob deGrom on Tuesday while notching an 11-7 victory. The American League Central-leading White Sox were a stellar 8-for-18 with runners in scoring position while racking up 14 hits.

Tristan Peters was a one-man wrecking crew by going 3-for-3 with a homer, double and two walks and he has homered in four consecutive games. Miguel Vargas extended his team RBI leadership to 75 and few stats around baseball jump out more than Vargas having 60 extra-base hits (including 29 homers) before September arrives.

Texas had won four of five games prior to Tuesday’s setback and is in the mix for the American League West crown as well as a wild-card spot. Jake Burger has homered in each of the first two games and has four longballs over his past 10 appearances while Wyatt Langford has put together three straight two-hit outings.

Teams to score over 8 runs, -102 (DraftKings)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES AT SAN DIEGO PADRES

San Diego had won 21 of 28 games entering the series against sinking Pittsburgh but tallied just two runs in 21 innings while losing each of the first two games. The Padres popped up bunts in consecutive innings in Monday’s 12-inning loss – one for a double play – and are 1-for-20 with runners in scoring position in the series.

Paul Skenes and three relievers limited San Diego to three hits in Tuesday’s 1-0 run with Manny Machado (0-for-7 in the series) and Jackson Merrill (0-for-9, four strikeouts) among the struggling Padres. San Diego holds the NL’s third wild-card by one game over the Arizona Diamondbacks after failing to take care of business.

Oneil Cruz’s bullet line-drive homer in the ninth inning was the difference and it was the first homer allowed by Padres All-Star closer Mason Miller this season. The Pirates had lost 12 of 18 games before posting consecutive one-run wins to slow down the San Diego express.

Teams to score under 8 runs, -103 (DraftKings)