We are well into September, and with around 12 games left in the regular season, the picture for the MLB playoffs is beginning to come into view.
As the season draws to a close, we have some important series to watch involving the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, who make up two of my top three bets for the season.
Below are three bets we highly recommend you consider on Sunday, September 15. Let’s take a look.
Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees
The combined score between the Red Sox and Yankees is 8.5 runs. I would bet on the over here. The two pitchers on the mound in this game are Cutter Crawford of the Red Sox and Carlos Rodon of the Yankees.
Crawford is 8-14 with a 4.09 ERA this season, while Rodon is 14-9 with a 4.15 ERA, but the two are the top three pitchers in HR/9, with Crawford at 1.67 and Rodon at 1.59, both leading the majors.
Rodon allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings in his last game against Kansas City, but also gave up two home runs.
Crawford pitched 6 1/3 innings against Baltimore, allowing three runs, including two home runs.
Both players have allowed four home runs in their past five starts, and Yankee Stadium is not a particularly tough ballpark to hit in.
The Yankees are second in the league in runs allowed per game at 4.98, while the Red Sox are ninth at 4.75, meaning they have two offenses capable of scoring runs, both facing pitchers who allow extra base hits.
Yeah, it’s an easy overbet here.
Pick: Over 8.5 runs (-115) at FanDuel Sportsbook
Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees
Piggybacking off my summary of why I bet on the over, I’ll also project Aaron Judge’s odds of hitting a home run at +240.
Judge is batting .321/.453/.687 this season, and is leading the league with 52 home runs this season.
Judge has hit just one home run in his past five starts, but he’ll be facing Crawford, who is not only a weak pitcher against home runs, but also a man Judge has had a good record against.
Judge is batting .316 with three home runs in 19 at-bats against Crawford.
This will be another home run from Judge in the series, following his come-from-behind grand slam on Friday, and I think it will be the first time Judge has hit a home run against the sports leader for most home runs per nine innings.
Prediction: Aaron Judge hits a home run on FanDuel (+240)
Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies
Finally, my best bet is the under on games at Coors Field. It may be hard to believe considering the ballpark, but 11.5 points is too much to bet.
Neither pitcher on the mound is a Cy Young Award contender, and the Cubs and Rockies are averaging 12.5 runs per game in this series, but I think they’ll escape this one just short of the over.
Cal Quantrill On the hill for the home teamHe is 8-9 with a 4.63 ERA, but has allowed three runs or less in three of his four appearances in August. Quantrill has a 4.26 ERA in 12 home starts.
Quantrill’s opponent will be Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who has been pretty solid in his Coors career: 2-1 with a 3.64 ERA, 12 earned runs and just two home runs in 29 2/3 innings.
They could finish around nine or 10 runs, but with Hendricks’ solid performance and Quantrill’s recent run-limiting, I don’t think they’ll get 12.
Pick: Under 11.5 runs (-122) on FanDuel
