Chicago’s run game has been effective. ...

Seattle’s defense looks to be the best in the NFL. ...

So far, so good for the Niners. ...

The Bengals have looked good, the Steelers have not. ...

Detroit has scored 31 points in both of its games. ...

Over his last seven starts, Tyler Mahle has posted a 1.45 ERA with a sub-1 WHIP. He’s ready for the postseason. He’ll face a Reds lineup that’s scored two runs or less in three of four. The Braves aren’t overwhelmingly raking, but they should have ample opportunities against poor Brady Singer (9.17 ERA over his last seven starts) and a tired bullpen, and motivation to win their final regular season home game before the playoffs.

This is about as high as I go with moneyline odds. Arizona has won four straight and scored 5-8 runs in all four. The D’backs are still in it so they’re not messing around, so expect them to produce against Rockies starter Tanner Gordon, who has an 8.02 Coors Field ERA all season and a 7.12 ERA in day games. Meanwhile, Eduardo Rodriguez is 7-1 with a 2.45 ERA on the road, giving up three runs over 12.1 IP vs. Colorado so far. The Arizona bullpen over the last two weeks has a 1.77 ERA.

The Royals have scored under four runs just one time over the last five games, and at least five runs in all those. Over the last two weeks, their home OPS stands at .906. And here they face White Sox RHP David Sandlin, who’s given up five-plus runs in two of his last three games. He did perform well vs. KC on June 26, but in the two starts since his mid-September callup has given up eight runs in 9.2 IP.

Skenes hasn’t showcased the dominance many expected in 2026. But he can finish strong here vs. a Cardinals lineup that, over the last two weeks, has a .561 OPS vs. right-handers and even-worse .471 OPS on the road. Skenes hasn’t thrown even 90 pitches in his last three starts. But this is Skenes’ last appearance this season, so if Pittsburgh can send the reigning NL Cy Young ace out on a high note, they should.

Going a half-unit on this low number. Over their last seven starts, Parker Messick has a 2.59 ERA, Payton Tolle has a 2.36 ERA. The bullpens over the last two weeks are at 2.22 and 2.03, respectively. The Red Sox aren’t hitting anyone lately and the Guardians aren’t known for their bats. The weather at Fenway calls for temps in the 50s with a 15 mph wind blowing straight in. Seven of Boston's last nine games have totaled six runs or less.

Nationals rookie LHP Jackson Kent has a 6.40 ERA through seven starts and the bullpen has a 5.26 ERA in the last two weeks. In that same span, the Tigers own a .944 OPS vs. left-handers and a .944 OPS at home. So Detroit should score. Meanwhile, the Nats looked uninterested on Monday. Drew Anderson, who has a 2.36 ERA since joining the rotation, can hold them.

The Rams were embarrassed in Australia by the 49ers. But this team remains the Super Bowl favorite. Expect an emphatic answer from Matthew Stafford and the defense, even without Myles Garrett. The Giants ran through a sloppy Cowboys defense; this will be a true test for the young Jaxson Dart.

The Nationals and Tigers each have starters making season debuts. For Washington, DJ Herz is coming off Tommy John and allowed nine runs over 18 minor league innings. The left-hander faces a Tigers order that has managed over one run just once in the last five games, but has an .897 OPS off left-handers since Sept. 7. Detroit’s River Ryan is coming off a three-month hamstring injury; he was a key part of the Tarik Skubal trade. Both are likely to be on a pitch count, which aids the Tigers and their better bullpen.

No Sam Darnold for the Seahawks, but Drew Lock is a decent No. 2 option. Seattle won’t take Arizona lightly after the Cardinals’ dominant win over the Chargers. But you never bet against Jacoby Brissett in his first game of a season. After that, have fun. Brissett had a couple INTs dropped by the Chargers, and a blocked punt that offered a free seven points isn’t likely here. Arizona may be better than advertised, but the Seahawks’ defense was great vs. Drake Maye (without star safety Nick Emmanwori, who is back). The Seahawks have a strong history of road success under Mike Macdonald.

Houston’s defense was gashed by Josh Allen and the Bills. Look for a renewed focus from that unit vs. Joe Burrow, who’s been limited in practice (back). I’m not sure the Texans’ offense is as good as it looked vs. Buffalo either, but it has a gameplan for production and I still see Houston as having the best overall defense in the league. Baker Mayfield gifted three fumbles and the Bengals nearly still lost at home.