#Division Series

For all the talk about how division races supposedly don't matter as much as they used to -- and I can think of a couple No. 1 and No. 2 seeds who would very much disagree with you -- it still means something to be able to call yourself a champion. I guarantee you there are Guardians fans who have 2022 AL Central champs shirts. It might not be the…

Rays officials couldn't have been much more pleased with how the 2019 season turned out. They made it to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons as the core of young players they cleared room for in previous roster reshaping developed into impact players, and they boasted openly about how well set up they were for the future. "There's so…

After a decade of unprecedented regular-season dominance, but all too familiar playoff disappointment that continued Saturday night with their elimination in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers find themselves in a familiar place entering this offseason. Trying to sustain the success that included winning a franchise-record 111 games…

The underdog San Diego Padres stormed out of the gates with major power Friday night, thumping the New York Mets with four home runs in an offensive barrage against Mets co-ace Max Scherzer. Now the Mets' backs are against the proverbial wall, as another Padres win would send the Mets home early for the winter. Game 2 of the Wild Card Series takes…

CLEVELAND - Think about how much has changed in a year. Last January, baseball stood still, and we were left to talk ourselves into Bradley Zimmer, ponder José Ramírez trades and evaluate commissioner Rob Manfred's negotiating tactics. It was bleak. But the lockout ended, Ramírez signed a long-term deal, Zimmer lasted one day of the regular season…

No matter who wins the upcoming American League Championship Series, the Toronto Blue Jays or Cleveland Indians will inject the World Series with fresh blood. After winning the title in 1993, the Blue Jays went 21 seasons without a playoff berth until last year. After falling short against the Kansas City Royals in 2015, they have another chance to…

After an All-Star break festooned with nostalgia, home runs, and bullpen dominance, the MLB schedule restarts Thursday, with some 70 games remaining for each team. So before the second half begins, let's dive into the top 10 story lines to monitor between now and October-because there's a whole lot of baseball left, and just as much drama on the…

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell's Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, . And to get it regularly in your inbox. Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year! 2022 was a roller coaster for the Padres. So what do they have in store next year? Here are 23 predictions for'23: 1. The Padres will win the West. I'm getting the…

Wednesday was an offday for American League Division Series action, so we only had the National League to watch. Both NLDS games at least made for compelling TV, and even better, both guaranteed at least one more playoff game in each series. The Dodgers and Phillies each had a chance to move up 2-0, but instead, the two NLDS sets are knotted up as…

Players can grab the best October sign-up bonus with the DraftKings Sportsbook promo code that locks in 40-1 odds for a $5 bet across the MLB playoffs, NFL Week 6, and college football Week 7 games. The DraftKings Sportsbook promo code for October slams down a $200 bonus when you win a $5 moneyline bet. There are many games this weekend, and if you…

All four division series are in action on a loaded Saturday MLB slate. We've highlighted the odds, movements, and our MLB best bets for Saturday. The Philadelphia Phillies satisfied their starving fans during the team's first home playoff game since 2011 on Friday, and the San Diego Padres did the same in their first home postseason contest in…

MLB odds series for our Dodgers Giants prediction and pick. Julio Urias goes to the mound for the Dodgers, while the Giants have not yet announced a starter as of 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, 9:30 a.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Julio Urias will almost certainly start for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. With Tony Gonsolin hurt…

NEW YORK - Christmas came early for the Yankees. Besides crossing off most of their shopping list before the holidays with free agent signings - especially the return of record-setting slugger Aaron Judge and addition of All-Star left-hander Carlos Rodon - the Yankees are getting a much-needed gift: Good fortune. With each passing day, it's looking…

SAN DIEGO - It was Saturday morning in Seattle, in the visitors' dugout of an empty ballpark that was ready to rock. James Click, the general manager of the Houston Astros, stood in the sunshine and considered a simple question: Who was lined up to start Game 4 on Sunday? The expectation, Click said, was that there would be no fourth game. The plan…

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping J.D. Martinez can add some pop to their lineup in 2023. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Martinez has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the reigning National League West champs. Despite being connected to many of the top free agents this offseason, the Dodgers have been fairly quiet when it comes to actually…

The Atlanta Braves will begin their quest for a second-straight World Series Championship Tuesday night when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS at Truist Park. The Phillies ended the St. Louis Cardinals' season in the Wild Card Series winning two straight while the Braves have enjoyed five straight off days. As we wait for…

The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-five divisional round series. While Atlanta had the luxury of a bye during the wild-card round, Philadelphia had to fight its way in with back-to-back road victories over the Cardinals. Thus, it might take a little while for the competitive juices of the Braves to start flowing after…

Article courtesy OddsShark ( @OddsShark) The Washington Nationals advanced to a National League Division Series for a matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers after edging the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Tuesday's Wild Card Game. The Nationals closed as home favorites against the Brewers at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com but find themselves listed…

It's that time of year where many people start creating wish lists and hoping a jolly person in a suit will bring them the gift they want most. I'm not talking about the holidays, I'm talking about the baseball off-season, where that jolly person is a baseball executive and the gift is a free agent signing or trade for a player that makes next…

Here's what you need to know about the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, which begins Saturday: (All times PDT; all games televised on TBS) Game 1: Saturday, 5 p.m. at Truist Park Game 2: Sunday, 4:30 p.m. at Truist Park Game 3: Tuesday, TBD at Dodger Stadium Game 4: Wednesday, TBD at Dodger…

The Rockies won 91 games last season. They're coming off consecutive appearances in the postseason for the first time in the team's 26-year history. While they are clearly on the rise, the Rockies, swept by the Brewers in the Division Series last year, are looking to go deeper into October this year and very well might - if the offense…

Even though the New York Mets are returning home for the World Series in a 2-0 hole against the Kansas City Royals, they have lost just one playoff game at Citi Field in 2015. Odds are not in New York's favor to win the World Series, as no team has won the Fall Classic after dropping the first two games since the 1996 New York Yankees. It also…

Two of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball are scheduled to go head-to-head Wednesday night, with a spot in the National League Division Series on the line. Adam Wainwright will head to the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium to face Max Scherzer and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Game. The longtime aces were two…

It is the line everyone remembers from the 2013 Tom Hanks movie "Captain Phillips." Well, I have one thing to say to Rob Manfred: I am the commissioner now. After rubbing the magic lamp, the genie granted me one wish and I choose to become the commissioner of Major League Baseball. Why? Because while I love baseball, I think there are some things…

The NHL betting action continues Friday, February 18, 2022, with the Central Division showdown at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, so we bring you the best Stars vs. Blackhawks betting pick along with the latest odds update on BetUS Sportsbook. Dallas and Chicago continue their three-game Central Division series. Back in December, the Stars…

By Ken Rosenthal, Fabian Ardaya and Matt Gelb Free-agent shortstop Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to an 11-year, $300 million deal with a full no-trade clause, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. ESPN first reported the news. Here's what you need to know: Turner ranks as No. 5 on The Athletic's Jim Bowden's…

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants met in the postseason last year for the first time in their storied history as the long-time rivals squared off in the National League Division Series. A native of San Francisco, California Gov. Gavin Newsom shared that he was cheering for the Giants, while U.S. Senator Alex Padilla - an L.A. native…

The 2020 Miami Marlins were easily Major League Baseball's surprise team. Now it's time to see how they follow it up. After losing 105 games and finishing last in the National League East in 2019, Miami turned the corner in Year Three of the rebuild in a shortened 60-game season by going 31-29. Extrapolated to a 162-game season, that translates to…

With Gerrit Cole and Shane McClanahan on the mound for this inner-division series-opener, MLB odds are showing a tiny 6.5-run total. However, we're still backing the Under - find out why in our MLB betting picks and predictions. The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will meet for a three-game series with both sides looking to rebound after losses…

A rematch of last year's American League Division Series between the Boston Red Sox (97-44) and defending World Series champion Houston Astros (87-53) will start up on Friday at Fenway Park, with sportsbooks listing the opener as a pick'em matchup. The Astros won four of five games with the Red Sox last October en route to winning it all and have…

The young, upstart Cleveland Guardians defied all odds and made it to the MLB American League Division Series against the veteran New York Yankees. The Yankees defeated Cleveland in the deciding Game 5, October 18, at Yankee Stadium. Scoring three runs in the first inning on a three-run homer by Giancarlo Stanton, the Guardians could never catch…

Like a lot of Yankees this time of the year, Nestor Cortes is sporting a beard for the holidays because managing partner Hal Steinbrenner's appearance policy can't be enforced in the offseason. By spring training, the All-Star left-hander will be clean shaved. And 100% healthy. He's getting there after a strained left groin forced him out of the…

Eight. In. A. Row. We have now won eight straight bets, including a 3-0 day yesterday. We had the Giants defeat Corbin Burnes at home at+175. You can't give me a Giants ML that high and expect me not to take it. We had the Blue Jays over the Red Sox, which I will speak on more today. We also took the Phillies, who trounced the Rockies. We have now…

The Philadelphia Phillies are set to play their 140th season in franchise history, and they've accomplished a lot in those first 139 years. They've called five ballparks home and won eleven division titles, seven pennants, and two World Series championships. Some of the greatest players in MLB history are enshrined in the Hall of Fame with a…

Mike Trout made his big-league debut as a 19-year-old on July 8, 2011. In the years since, he has won a Rookie of the Year award and three Most Valuable Player awards and established himself as the best player of his generation, one who stacks up against the all-time greats. Since Trout's debut, however, the Los Angeles Angels have gone 721-708…

The 2022 Major League Baseball regular season and playoffs have come to a close and that means it's time for the 2022 World Series. Let's dive into the 2022 postseason schedule and the latest MLB playoffs bracket. Bookmark this page for updates on predictions, the schedule and the bracket for the 2022 MLB playoffs. Our projected 2022 MLB postseason…

So much for Don Mattingly rejoining the Yankees as a YES Network broadcaster. Instead, Donnie Baseball will be looking to beat the Yankees as a rival coach. While reportedly on YES Network's radar, Mattingly joined the Toronto Blue Jays as bench coach for manager John Schneider, the club announced Wednesday morning. Mattingly, 61, has managed in…

The National League and American League Division Series' will be trading days until the Championship League Series' are set. Today, we'll get our two American League matchups. I have one best bet for each of Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians vs New York Yankees. Read about my betting angles below. Time: 3:37 p.m.…

After ousting the Indians in Game 1 by a score of 12-3, the Yankees will take on their Wild Card opponents again on Wednesday night. This Yankees vs. Indians betting preview will include odds, picks, and predictions for the Yankees' potential series-clinching Game 2 victory. Let's take a look at the odds for the Yankees-Indians Game 2 matchup,…

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti is the Major League Baseball Executive of the Year according to The Sporting News, which released its postseason awards Thursday. Antonetti was the overwhelming choice in a survey of 29 baseball executives, garnering more than twice as many votes as anyone else. Other top…

The fall classic begins tonight with the Philadelphia Phillies taking on the Houston Astros. This will be the Phillies for the time in the World Series since 2009, when they lost to the Yankees, but for the Astros, this is nothing new as they make their sixth appearance in the last ten years. Justin Verlander will go for Houston as Philadelphia…

It's here. The 2017 Major League Baseball postseason starts tonight (see the wild-card and division series broadcast schedule here). The 162 games that all 30 teams played in the regular season are behind them, and the teams that are in baseball's "second season" will all reset to match up in series play. The postseason is also a different animal…

In their 50th season in Texas, it's entirely possible the Rangers will flirt with 100 losses for the first time since 1973. The roster was thin to start with and a number of spring training injuries, particularly in the bullpen, put them in an extra perilous position. The schedule, studded with long stretches against contenders, works against them.…

It's finally here. After the grind of the 162 game season, 19 head-to-head matchup, and an epic Red Sox-Yankees upset in front of the home crowd at Fenway for the Wild Card, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox will meet for the American League Division Series, starting on Thursday. The series is a tale of two underdogs - the Rays lost their two…

The Tampa Bay Rays had a positive 2021 season in which they finished with a 100-62 record, which was the best in the AL East. They were knocked out of the playoffs in the AL Division Series to the Boston Red Sox, sending them home earlier than the team had hoped. The core of this unit has remained mostly intact and will be geared up for a run this…

Hot at the right time, Cleveland carries a 26-6 record over the past 32 games into the first game of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. The New York Yankees take on the Guardians in Game 1 (7:37 p.m. ET, TBS) to open their sixth postseason series all-time. CALL ON THE JUDGE Yankees ascended to an American League…

For those who haven't been keeping up or didn't particularly want to watch the World Series, perhaps because their team wasn't in it or maybe you're one of the people who are still rather salty about the whole Astros cheating fiasco from a couple of years back now, BUT! The 2022 MLB season finally came to a close at the beginning of November, with…

The San Francisco Giants meet the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday for Game 5 of their National League Division Series at Oracle Park. First pitch is scheduled for 9:07 p.m. ET. Let's analyze the lines around the Dodgers vs. Giants odds with MLB picks and predictions. The Dodgers worked over the Giants by a 7-2 count in Game 4 behind RHP Walker Buehler…

NEW YORK - Back on Opening Day, Aaron Judge wagered on his 2022 performance and rejected the Yankees' $213.5 million extension offer. Judge followed through with an all-time season in his free agent walk year. On Thursday night, official validation of an historic individual MLB season arrived as Judge captured the 2022 American League Most Valuable…

The Houston Astros just won the 2022 World Series in spectacular fashion, aided by a 450-ft home run by Yordan Alvarez in Game 6 that gave them a 3-1 advantage they never relinquished. That game finished with a 4-1 score and meant the Astros took the Fall Classic four games to two against the tough Philadelphia Phillies. The Astros were the best…