The MLB playoffs start Tuesday, Sept 30. All four Wild Card Series are best-of-three at the higher seed’s park. The series winners move on to face the top two seeds in each league on Saturday, Oct 4.
Below are simple, fact-based previews using the schedules and odds listed. Want to run your own book this October? WagerHome lets you launch a PPH in minutes.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds
All games at Dodger Stadium. Series price: Dodgers -250, Reds +200. Game 1 Tuesday, 9:08 p.m. ET (Reds +150 / Dodgers -180, 7.5 total).
Season series: Dodgers won 5 of 6 and outscored Cincinnati 30-15. The only prior postseason meeting was the 1995 NLDS, won by the Reds in three.
DODGERS Preview – Power and pitching depth at home
Los Angeles led the NL in OPS (.768) and outscored the Reds by 100+ runs this year. Shohei Ohtani enters as a two-way factor and the lineup also features Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
The Dodgers’ bullpen had a rough September, so starters may be asked to cover more outs. Expect flexible usage with multiple starters available in relief if needed.
Home field matters in a short set. L.A. handled Cincinnati in six meetings and limited them to 15 total runs.
REDS Preview – Lean on the top two starters
Cincinnati’s path is starting pitching. Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott headline the first two games. If it reaches a third game, the plan depends on health and matchups.
The Reds’ offense lagged behind L.A. this season. They will need a few timely swings and clean defense to keep scores down.
Limiting damage from the top of the Dodgers’ order is key. Keeping traffic off the bases will decide long innings.
PPH Betting Prediction
The offensive gap is clear and the Dodgers owned the season set. With L.A. at home and a deeper lineup, the edge is on the favorite in both Game 1 and the series.
Predicted Game 1 score: Dodgers 4, Reds 2. Series call: Dodgers 2-0. If you run players, get sharp lines and props through WagerHome and manage exposure fast.
Pick: Dodgers -180 (G1) and Dodgers -250 (series)
Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres
All games at Wrigley Field. Series price: Cubs -120, Padres Even. Game 1 Tuesday, 3:08 p.m. ET (Padres Even / Cubs -120, 7.5 total).
Season series split 3-3 with 25 runs each; all meetings were in April. Padres have won 9 of their last 13 at Wrigley.
CUBS Preview – Lefty plan and key bats back
Chicago can roll two lefty starters (Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd). That matches well with a Padres lineup missing a right-handed bat due to injury.
Kyle Tucker returned late in the year and boosts the order. Michael Busch adds power at the top versus right-handed pitching.
The Cubs’ defense grades well and helps the staff. The bullpen needs clean eighth and ninth innings to close tight games.
PADRES Preview – Deep bullpen can shorten games
San Diego’s bullpen brings premium velocity and depth. That can turn games into five- or six-inning starts.
In the rotation, Nick Pivetta was steady, with Michael King and Dylan Cease bringing strikeout upside. Run support has been mid-pack, so conversion with men on base is vital.
Without Ramón Laureano, right-handed pop takes a hit. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. are the swing bats.
PPH Betting Prediction
Margins look small. The Cubs have two lefty starters ready and home field, while San Diego’s bullpen edge is real.
Predicted Game 1 score: Cubs 3, Padres 2. Series call: Cubs 2-1. Host your players with live betting and settle fast at WagerHome.
Pick: Cubs -120 (G1 ML) and Cubs -120 (series)
Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers
All games at Progressive Field. Series price: Guardians -110 / Tigers -110. Game 1 Tuesday, 1:08 p.m. ET (Tigers -175 / Guardians +145, 6.5 total).
Season series: Cleveland won 8 of 13. Both teams clinched late and lined up aces for Game 1.
GUARDIANS Preview – Hot pitching into October
Cleveland rode run prevention in September. Gavin Williams leads Game 1 and Tanner Bibee profiles for Game 2.
The offense improved late with Jose Ramirez driving production. Cleveland must keep games low scoring to tilt the math.
Winning tight, one-run spots will matter. The staff’s strike-throwing sets up well in their park.
TIGERS Preview – Skubal sets the tone
Tarik Skubal opens as the Game 1 favorite on the road. Detroit will look to grab the opener behind its ace.
Kerry Carpenter is the righty-masher to watch if Cleveland stacks right-handed starters. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson are key power sources.
Behind Skubal, Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty must give length. Detroit’s late-season slide makes first-inning leads even more valuable.
PPH Betting Prediction
Game 1 price signals trust in Skubal. Cleveland’s season edge and home field keep the series near a coin flip.
Predicted Game 1 score: Tigers 3, Guardians 2. Series call: Tigers 2-1 behind the ace and one timely homer.
Pick: Tigers -175 (G1 ML) and Tigers to win series (-110)
New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox
All games at Yankee Stadium. Series price: Yankees -185, Red Sox +150. Game 1 Tuesday, 6:08 p.m. ET (Red Sox +110 / Yankees -130, 7.5 total).
Season series: Boston went 9-4 vs New York and 5-2 at Yankee Stadium. Boston won the 2021 AL Wild Card Game.
YANKEES Preview – Home run path is clear
New York led MLB in home runs, with Aaron Judge the main threat. Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are set to carry innings in a short series.
The bullpen has big names and late-game upside. Clean leverage execution is the swing factor after the seventh.
Limiting Garrett Crochet early counts. Scoring first changes Boston’s bullpen plan.
RED SOX Preview – Crochet headlines Game 1
Garrett Crochet beat New York four times this year and is the Game 1 starter. He has handled the Yankees’ core well.
Aroldis Chapman has been near automatic in save spots. Roman Anthony is out, so lineup depth needs contact and gap hits.
Boston’s 9-4 mark vs New York is a real data point. Still, the Yankees won 3 of the last 4 and kept Boston’s bats quiet.
PPH Betting Prediction
Game 1 leans to Boston with Crochet, but the series price tilts to New York’s power. If the Yankees run a clean eighth and ninth, they move on.
Predicted Game 1 score: Red Sox 3, Yankees 2. Series call: Yankees 2-1 on home runs and depth. Need sharp player grading? Use WagerHome.
Pick: Red Sox +110 (G1 ML) and Yankees -185 (series)
Final Notes
ALDS seeds waiting: Blue Jays vs BOS/NYY and Mariners vs DET/CLE. NLDS seeds waiting: Phillies vs CIN/LAD and Brewers vs SD/CHC.
Set your board for series prices and Game 1 lines. For turnkey PPH and fast player setup, head to WagerHome.
