The Yankees went 1-2 behind Cole vs. Rays...

We've got Game 3 in the National League best-of-three wild-card series, and it's expected to be 82° with winds blowing in at 7 mph and no chance of rain. The total is 7.5, and it's moving closer to 7, but my only problem with the number is that Aaron Nola is the starter for the Phillies, who have lost four of his last five starts. No Zack Wheeler, who pitched Sunday. Nola's faced the Braves three times this year, and the Braves won all three games with all three going over the total. I think Nola will give up three to four runs, and the Phillies bats make a run for it against the opener and likely Grant Holmes in the middle innings. Over.

The Cubs got a brutal taste of reality in Game 1 as the Padres thumped them 8-0 to make them 42-18 since July 24th. The Padres look like they have the complete team that can make the World Series, while the Cubs know they're a couple of pitchers short of a championship team. The Cubs had won five straight against the Padres until last night's massacre that got started with long home runs by their two biggest stars in the first inning. The Cubs have lost Kevin Gausman’s last three starts, and that's who the Cubs hope rests with today. The Padres finish off this series tonight.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three wild card series with a 9-0 victory against the Red Sox, and that's what Boston manager Chad Tracy predicted. He saved his best starter, Sonny Gray, for Game 2, who’s fresh and hasn't pitched since September 23rd. Tracy is acting like Game 2 was going to be a gimme with left-hander Max Fried as the Yankees starter. Fried has allowed one run or less in seven of his last eight starts. In two starts against the Red Sox this season, the Yankees won them both. I like Sonny Gray, but I don't like the position Tracy put him in: defeatist mode before he even starts. I think the Yankees win game two.

Hunter Brown hasn't been his same dominant self from the past three seasons. He's been ordinary and very beatable, as the Astros have lost seven of his last 10 starts. He only had 20 starts in the regular season, and his strikeout ratio was the lowest of his career. The Astros have as a whole, have struggled all season but survived the AL West at 81-81, the worst record of any postseason team in MLB history. Wednesday is about the White Sox.

The Cubs went 5-1 against the Padres, winning the last five, scoring 55 runs. But those meetings were in April and early July, when the Padres pitching staff and hitters hadn't reached their full potential. Since July 24th, the Padres are 41-18, and in the last month the Padres had an MLB-best .280 batting average. I think for the Cubs to win this series, they have to jump out early on the starters and avoid pressure closeout situations with the Padres excellent bullpen. If the Cubs don't get up early on the starter, they're in trouble. Padres starter Michael King lost his last start against the Dodgers, but he won his previous four starts. I like the Padres to win Game 1 and series.

The Yankees went 7-6 against the Red Sox this season, and for Game 1 in the best-of-three wild-card series, they're sending their best pitcher out there, Cam Schlittler. The Red Sox are sending rookie Payton Tolle to start Game 1 rather than their best pitcher, Sonny Gray, who hasn't pitched since September 23rd when he beat Cleveland 1-0. Boston manager Chad Tracy is playing silly games in a three-game series. He thinks he can do better with Gray in Game 2 than in Game 1, going against the Yankees' best. Tracy is conceding Game 1 because he has a plan for a three-game series. For that alone, I'm on the Yankees in Game 1 and the series.

The Astros have won seven of their last nine meetings against the White Sox, including three or four to start September. But both teams are in different places right now from September 3rd. The White Sox have won six of their last eight, getting their hitting practice against the Rockies and the Royals. Confidence should be high compared to the Astros, who finished the year limping in at 81-81. I don't think there's ever been a team to make the postseason with a .500 or worse record. The Astros beat the White Sox 5 games to 2 this season, but right now I think the White Sox are playing better baseball. White Sox to win Game 1 and the series.

The Braves went 9-4 against the Phillies this season, and the Phillies needed all 162 games to prove they were a playoff team. The Phillies come stumbling in, but they get a big boost on Tuesday when Jesus Luzardo starts his first game since September 7th, beating the Braves 1-0. The Phillies have won his last seven starts while allowing only one run between his last three starts. Luzardo hasn't started a game since September 7th due to inflammation in his left shoulder, but pitched one inning of relief in Sunday's clinching win against Tampa Bay. The Braves won three times this season against Philly with Chris Sale starting the game. I like the Phillies to win, but I like the under a little better.

The Pirates have won nine of their last 11 games, including the last four, to move within 4.5 games of the last NL wild card spot. The Cubs have lost four in a row but sit safe in the NL wild card race at +2.5. The Pirates are an interesting look right now because they're playing like they were supposed to back in April with the high hopes for 2026. Are they alive? I don't know, but I do know the bats have all aligned together, and they get key hits when they have to. Shota Imanaga hasn't won back-to-back starts since July 25th. The Pirates will try to win with the bullpen opening the game. Pirates to win.

The Cubs have won two straight while the Marlins have lost two straight as they sit 71-71 on the season, 3.5 games out of the final NL wild card. The Cubs have a +138 run differential against their opponents. They're 39-31 on the road. The Cubs know they're making the playoffs, and they've won the last three against the Marlins; this is just about tuning themselves up for October. The Cubs have no pressure at all, which is why they win.

The Rays have the best record in the AL (83-56) and begin a four-game series in Texas, playing the Rangers who they beat five out of the last six meetings. The Rays have won five of their last seven, including a sweep of the Padres that started a downward spiral in a critical part of their season. The Rangers are also at a crossroads in their season, losing five of their last eight and sit 69-71, tied with two other teams, 1.5 games out of the last AL wild card. The Rays are in good hands with Shane McClanahan, who they’ve won six of his last eight starts. Rays to win.

The Rockies have lost five games in a row, including their last three by one run. They've also lost 10 straight at home and appear to be headed for another 100-loss season. On the other side, we have the Orioles, who have won four straight and are fighting hard for an AL wild card spot. They're only half a game out of the last wild card slot. The Orioles are full of energy and optimism right now. They get the win.

It's going to be 89° at Wrigley Field tonight with the wind blowing out at 9 mph and a 9% chance of precipitation. Brewers lefty Robert Gasser has allowed three runs or more in his last three starts. Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd has allowed 13 runs over his last three starts, which were all Cubs losses. Just the over.

The Rays have the best home record in baseball, but on a recent home stand they lost five of their seven games. Baltimore and Toronto roughed them up, and they get the Orioles today in Baltimore. In the series last week, the Orioles scored 26 runs in four games, winning three. Freddy Peralta gets a chance again today for the Rays, and last week the Orioles beat him 10-2. That game was Peralta's best performance since being traded to Tampa, and he has allowed 12 runs in his last three games. I think there will be a lot of runs in this game, and his last five starts have all gone over the total. Over is the play.