#Wild Card Series

For years, the NBA and NHL have set the top of their draft orders through a lottery system. And Major League Baseball is about to do the same. The new MLB collective bargaining agreement struck ahead of the 2022 campaign called for a draft lottery beginning in 2023. The change was made to discourage tanking, as finishing with one of the worst…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

The Toronto Blue Jays are betting big on themselves come 2023. Bringing in three new position players into their everyday lineup, Toronto opted for a fairly massive roster overhaul after a disappointing end to the 2022 season that saw them crash out of the playoffs with a Wild Card series sweep loss against the Seattle Mariners. While names like…

The Philadelphia Phillies are one win away from the World Series. They will try to win the pennant in front of their home fans on Sunday in NLCS Game 5 against the San Diego Padres. The Padres are unlikely to go without a fight, however. They've already knocked two 100-win teams from the playoffs and have shown resilience throughout their run. Just…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

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…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

What-if scenarios about the past aren't very useful exercises for baseball executives who need to deal with the here and now and know about 25 other potential moves that almost came to fruition for every one that slips out to the public. And they're the sort of thing we really dwell on only when the road that was taken proves to be very bumpy. A…

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…

With Mike Elias having proclaimed "liftoff" for the Orioles, Camden Chat writers are hoping for some impactful free agent additions to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we'll be looking through possible signings - some more realistic than others. In this, the fourth installment of "Orioles Hot Stove 2022: Go Big or Go Home," let's talk Jacob…

There are only 188 days in a Major League Baseball season - the White Sox spent 152 of them in first place last season. From May 7 through Oct. 3, Chicago led the AL Central and had a double-digit lead for all but two days from Aug. 7 on. The division is a bit better in 2022, as the Tigers and Twins have made some free-agent moves and smart…

The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five NLDS by virtue of a win in Game 1 on Tuesday night. They are two wins away from getting back to the NLCS for the third consecutive season. This time around, the Dodgers were one of the best teams regular-season teams in baseball history, winning 111 games. The San Diego Padres, as such,…

The Detroit Tigers take on the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Check out our MLB odds series for our Tigers Mariners prediction and pick. Will Vest goes to the mound in a bullpen game for the Tigers, while reliever Justus Sheffield takes the rubber in what will also be a bullpen game for the Mariners. With both teams playing a bullpen…

The Cubs are getting ready to play ball and take on St. Louis and Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The three teams have more time to enhance their rosters before the start of the 2023 season, but as it stands now the Cardinals are less likely to have an easy jog to the division title. And that's true even after their signing of…

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…

New York is coming off a 101-61 season and an appearance in a National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres. The Mets won 24 more regular-season games in 2022 under first-year manager Buck Showalter than they did the year before under former skipper Luis Rojas. That raised expectations for 2023, and Mets owner Steve Cohen and…

The year 1986 was an exemplary one for the New York Mets. Aside from bringing the World Series trophy home for the second time, some other great moments also took place that year for the Mets. It was said that, in the 1980s, the Mets were one of the most notorious MLB teams. And thus, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers, Mike Tyson, decided to…

After waiting until a month after the World Series for the winter meetings to get the ball rolling, Major League Baseball's free-agent spending spree has been something of a runaway freight train. There have already been 30 free agents who signed contracts with an average salary of at least $10 million. And, no, we're not just talking about the New…

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…

SAN DIEGO - By now, it's pretty clear how much Mets owner Steve Cohen cares about the "Steve Cohen tax." Because he's operating as if he doesn't. He's blowing by it. After the re-signing of Brandon Nimmo and the addition of veteran reliever David Robertson on Thursday, FanGraphs projects the Mets' payroll for $322 million. So, yeah, that final…

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…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

Three down, at least two to go. That's where the Mariners' offseason currently sits. They entered the hot stove season with one major goal: upgrade the offense without sacrificing the pitching or clubhouse magic that keyed their first postseason run in two decades. In order to accomplish that goal, they effectively had up to four open spots: three…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

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…

Playoff baseball is upon us! With 16 teams vying for the World Series crown it's sure to be a wild ride filled with upsets and surprising contenders. We're going to be looking at the Atlanta Braves chances against the field this year according to oddsmakers and see where we stand. *All Odds were pulled from Draftkings Sportsbook* Odds explained: If…

The ALDS-bound New York Yankees await an answer to a simple question: Cleveland or Tampa Bay? It's not just another tale of two cities, each with their respective teams. The Guardians and the Rays each have storied rivalries with the Yankees and are each fighting to advance in the playoffs. Their best-of-three AL Wild Card series kicks off Friday…

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…

Whether or not Jacob deGrom will be in New York Mets blue and orange next season will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason. Ahead of the 2022 season, the decorated righty made it clear that he planned to opt out of his five-year, $137.5M contract despite having another year remaining and a team option for 2024. And even though…

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…

Pickswise provides exclusive sports betting content to MLive.com, including picks, analysis, tools, games and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. The MLB playoffs are rolling along and Tuesday night marks the start of the NLCS between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Diego Padres. DraftKings is…

Earlier this fall, 10-year veteran starting pitcher Kyle Gibson got his first taste of Championship Series and World Series postseason baseball as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. While Gibson did not pitch in the Wild Card Series and NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, respectively, the right-hander did see NLCS and…

The Minnesota Twins will look to continue their home dominance from the regular season when they meet the Houston Astros in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card series on Tuesday. The Twins were nearly unbeatable at home in 2020, going 24-7 at home, the best mark in MLB. The Astros, meanwhile, struggled on the road, going 9-23, the worst…

This story was excerpted from Adam Berry's Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, . And to get it regularly in your inbox. ST. PETERSBURG -- We'll spend plenty of time this offseason looking at what the Rays can do to improve next season at first base, at the back of the rotation and, above all, at the plate. But during this…

The World Series is set to begin, and now the experts' picks are in. The 2020 Fall Classic between the Dodgers and Rays starts Tuesday with Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington (watch on FOX). It's a clash of the top team of each league -- the Dodgers were the No. 1 playoff seed in the National League and the Rays were the No. 1 in…

Get ready American League fans! The Cleveland Guardians will suit up for battle as they take on their AL Central rivals in the Minnesota Twins out on the diamond. It is time to check out our MLB odds series, where our Guardians-Twins prediction and pick will be made. The second-place Guardians may sit at 15-16, one game below the.50 threshold, but…

Nick Martinez bet on himself when he went to Japan in 2017. He became a better pitcher and returned to Major League Baseball in 2022, signing a contract with the Padres that was essentially another bet on himself. That four-year deal allowed him to opt out after every season if he chose, which is what Martinez did earlier this month before…

Now that the 2022 season is over for the New York Mets, we have been looking back at the year that was. After taking a more general view of the offense, pitching, and coaching staff, it's time to take a deeper dive into the Mets' players. This series will take a look at every player on the roster for the Mets at the end of the season from A (Pete…

The Philadelphia Phillies haven't hosted an NLCS game since being eliminated by the Giants in Game 6 on Oct. 23, 2010. Just about 12 years later on Friday, they'll finally get another one. Expect the ballpark to be rocking. They'll play host to the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series. The series is 1-1 heading to Philly. The…

The Philadelphia Phillies had a long playoff run, making it to the World Series. Unfortunately, they fell to defeat against the Houston Astros. The Philadelphia Phillies were on fire this postseason. They immediately knocked MLB legend Albert Pujols and the rest of the St. Louis Cardinals out of contention in the Wild Card series, then they went on…

This is the first time since 2016 that the Blue Jays will host a postseason game at Rogers Centre. They welcome to the north the Seattle Mariners in an intriguing AL Wild Card Series. The winner gets to face the Astros in the next round. Here we'll discuss our Toronto Blue Jays AL Wild Card Series predictions as they take on the Mariners. The old…

Welcome to my series of Report Card postings for individual members of the 2022 Cardinals. I strive to present a thorough profile for each player, and that takes time because I'm also writing about other topics. Today, this one is pretty simple and easy. Next Up: Paul Goldschmidt. I figured it was appropriate to highlight his 2022 season on Nov.…

The last time fans saw Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, he was hitting two homers in that painful 10-9 wild card series loss at Rogers Centre in October that ended their season. That was against the Seattle Mariners, who, ironically, just acquired the 30-year-old in a stunning trade announced earlier today. Hernandez goes to the…

Being a good manager is more than just knowing when to go to your bullpen in a tight spot or when to put on that hit-and-run play in the seventh inning. That is certainly part of the job, but it's also about building and maintaining relationships. It's about pulling the right strings when injuries inevitably strike. It's having the skills to take…

The New York Yankees (33-27 regular season) and Cleveland Indians (35-25) tangle in a best-of-three AL Wild Card Series opener at Progressive Field Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Yankees-Indians MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets. RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Shane Bieber Cole struggled at times during the season but…

LAS VEGAS - When the Phillies clawed back against the Padres to win Game 5 of the National League Championship Series and clinch a trip to the World Series, they sent a message to the rest of the majors. ''I think it shows you [that] if you get in and you play well, anything can happen,'' Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski…

After a totally forgettable first round of the playoffs, Wednesday was fruitful here at Best Bets Central. Virtual thank you notes to Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw and everyone who took part in hitting the under in the Phillies-Braves game. The result was a+225 day on four bets. That'll play! Let's keep the momentum rolling. We've only got one game…

Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer. Here is our best bet for Friday, Oct. 7: The play: MLB playoffs, Mets-Padres OVER 6 The odds/bet: -120 ($36 to win $30) Time/TV: 8:07…