It seems hard to believe, but there are now only 4 full weekends of games left in the MLB series this season. What that means is that time is running out for teams who need to make a move if they have any chance of being involved in the postseason. This is the time of year when every game takes on a much higher level of importance, and not just for those teams scrambling for the limited playoff positions.
Teams that are totally out of it will be evaluating their talent over the next few weeks, while those who have a playoff spot locked up will look to continue playing well so that they can enter postseason play on a high. There are a lot of big games coming up this weekend, so let’s get things started by looking at some of the bigger match-ups and MLB betting lines that we can look forward to on Friday, September 8.
It took the World Champions some time to get rolling this season, but it is beginning to look as though they are heading to another NL Central title. The Cubs have a 4-game lead at the top, with the Cardinals and Brewers both giving chase.
Milwaukee Brewers have been one of the most surprising teams in the league this year, and while it looks as though they are going to come up a little short of the playoffs, they will be looking to finish strong and start building some more confidence ahead of next season. They are certainly not going to roll over and let the Cubs take the division crown without a fight.
MLB Series Pick: Chicago Cubs
Top MLB Series and Winning Favorites – September 8th
.@castrovince breaks down the possible #postseason tiebreaker scenarios. #TheDugout pic.twitter.com/1nDrolePSX
— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2017
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
It is beginning to look as though the Red Sox are going to hang on and win the AL East, simply because no-one else in the division is really doing enough to run them down. Boston are currently 9.5 games up on the Tampa Bay Rays in the division, but that doesn’t mean that this series is meaningless. Sure, Tampa have almost zero chance of running down the Red Sox for the division, but they are still just 3 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the AL. There are a number of teams ahead of them, and they need a lot to go their way, but they can certainly help their own cause by winning this series. MLB Series Pick: Boston Red SoxTAMPA BAY RAYS TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 4.35
- Offensive Hits 8.32
- Offensive Walks 3.41
- Average Score Against 4.35
- Defensive Hits 8.16
- Defensive strikeouts 8.16
BOSTON RED SOX TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 4.73
- Offensive Hits 8.96
- Offensive Walks 3.58
- Average Score Against 4.15
- Defensive Hits 8.59
- Defensive strikeout s9.59
MLB Betting Picks & Predictions for Thursday – September 7th
Baltimore Orioles vs. Cleveland Indians
There is no MLB team hotter than Cleveland right now, as the Indians are currently riding a 14-game winning streak. They have opened up a big lead in the Central Division, and may now be starting to think about the postseason and another trip back to the World Series, which they came so close to winning last year. Trying to halt their run this weekend will be the Baltimore Orioles, a team that is still very much in the hunt for the final WC spot in the American League, where they are currently just a game off the pace. This looks to be one of the more intriguing series this coming weekend. MLB Series Pick: Cleveland IndiansBALTIMORE ORIOLES TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 4.88
- Offensive Hits 9.37
- Offensive Walks 2.47
- Average Score Against 5.06
- Defensive Hits 9.27
- Defensive strikeouts 7.63
CLEVELAND INDIANS TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 5.03
- Offensive Hits 8.94
- Offensive Walks 3.80
- Average Score Against 3.66
- Defensive Hits 7.90
- Defensive strikeouts 9.87
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs
It took the World Champions some time to get rolling this season, but it is beginning to look as though they are heading to another NL Central title. The Cubs have a 4-game lead at the top, with the Cardinals and Brewers both giving chase.
Milwaukee Brewers have been one of the most surprising teams in the league this year, and while it looks as though they are going to come up a little short of the playoffs, they will be looking to finish strong and start building some more confidence ahead of next season. They are certainly not going to roll over and let the Cubs take the division crown without a fight.
MLB Series Pick: Chicago Cubs
MILWAUKEE BREWERS TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 4.49
- Offensive Hits 8.38
- Offensive Walks 3.21
- Average Score Against 4.44
- Defensive Hits 8.61
- Defensive strikeouts 8.28
CHICAGO CUBS TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 5.01
- Offensive Hits 8.60
- Offensive Walks 3.79
- Average Score Against 4.42
- Defensive Hits 7.99
- Defensive strikeouts 8.72
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals
With the Cleveland Indians currently in the midst of a 14-game winning streak, the Central Division has turned into a 1-horse race. The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals are in the dust, but they both still have a legitimate shot at landing the final Wild Card spot in the AL. It is the Twins who are clinging to that coveted postseason berth right now, but there are a number of teams breathing right down their necks. The Kansas City Royals are in that group, and are currently just a game and a half back of their division rivals. While this series will not decide who gets into the postseason, it will go a long way towards deciding which team might build the confidence needed for that final push. MLB Series Pick: Minnesota TwinsMINNESOTA TWINS TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 4.95
- Offensive Hits 8.79
- Offensive Walks 3.73
- Average Score Against 4.98
- Defensive Hits 9.22
- Defensive strikeouts 7.24
KANSAS CITY ROYALS TEAM STATISTICS
- Average Score For 4.37
- Offensive Hits 8.86
- Offensive Walks 2.43
- Average Score Against 4.88
- Defensive Hits 9.09
- Defensive strikeouts 7.53
