MLB Predictions and Best Bets – October 12, 2020

The 2020 MLB playoffs have been narrowed down to two series, and instead of staggering them, baseball is trying to stave off any potential impact from COVID-19 and race through the season.

That has both games firing off on Tuesday. Check out the schedule and then dive in with my for Monday’s MLB predictions and top betting picks.

Houston and Tampa Bay got the ball rolling on Monday, so they’re headed into game two to start the new work week. The Braves and Dodgers face off in game one of the NLCS, officially setting us forth on a torrid pace to the 2020 World Series.

For betting insight for both of these contests, check out today’s MLB betting preview. If you like any of the MLB picks here, feel free to place some bets at the best MLB betting sites.

Tampa Bay took game one in a snoozer, 2-1. Houston had ample opportunities in a game where they racked up nine hits, but the Astros left 18 batters on base.

The Rays only had 6 hits and struck out 13 times.

Astros had 9 hits and only 6 strikeouts.

At the end of the day, didn't matter.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) October 12, 2020

The Rays did an excellent job managing tough spots, but their pitching only whiffed five Astro bats and honestly got a bit lucky. It won’t get easier for Houston, but now that they feel the pressure a bit, I’d expect their offense to bounce back and perform a little better in a crucial game two.

I love Houston to get the win and even this series up at 1-1, while there should be a lot more offense in this one. The Over feels like a solid secondary wager.

The Braves are hoping to go on a magical run to the World Series, while the Dodgers have some unfinished business. One way or another, something historical is coming from this series.

I tend to think it favors the Dodgers, who have superior pitching and just as much offense – if not more – than Atlanta does. We see the arms flex via Walker Buehler right away in game one, and that should be enough to largely keep the Braves at bay.

Both offenses are capable of teeing off in any setting, but this will be a very tense game. I like the Dodgers to win, but don’t count on a ton of runs in this one.

As usual, you can probably align your betting with my MLB predictions, but it’s often best to take a closer look at the actual wagers available to you; and which ones I prefer.

My MLB picks have done quite well throughout the 2020 MLB playoffs, and the hope is that continues and you can ride out the rest of the year in the green.

I think that happens on Monday, at least, if you go with the Astros and the Over in the Houston game. The Astros had so many missed chances on Sunday, and I think their bats end up being a lot more lively in game two.

For the other series, the Dodgers feel like the team to beat here. I will go the extra mile and pick them to win by two runs to get a sweet +135 price, but -144 is a fine moneyline if you want to just play it safe with the win.

Whether you’re up for betting on the Dodgers or not, this game isn’t the one to bank on a bunch of scoring. The offenses could make me look silly, but the pitching is ultimately just too stingy.