September 26, 2024 at 10:15 PM EDT
We have 9 MLB games today, and here are the MLB Picks for Thursday 9/26/2024.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Brewers at Pirates at 12:35 PM ET
Aaron Civale will take the mound for the Brewers, holding a record of 7-9 and an ERA of 4.53. In his most recent appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three hits and three runs.
Mitch Keller is set to take the mound for the Pirates, boasting an 11-11 record alongside an ERA of 4.21. In his last outing against the Reds, he completed 3.1 innings, during which he surrendered seven hits and eight runs.
The Pick:
This game presents an excellent opportunity for the Pirates to secure another victory. Keller, with an 11-11 record, is poised to deliver a strong performance. The Brewers’ batting lineup is expected to be ineffective, which will be a crucial factor in the outcome. The Brewers’ offense is likely to face significant challenges, allowing Pittsburgh to emerge victorious. It is advisable to back the Pirates on the money line for a successful wager.
Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Royals at Nationals at 1:05 PM ET
Michael Wacha is expected to take the mound as the starting pitcher for Kansas City. This season, he boasts a record of 13 wins and 8 losses, with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 161.2 innings pitched. Remarkably, Wacha has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts.
The starting pitcher projected for Washington is Patrick Corbin, who has a record of 6-13, with a 5.58 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP through 169.1 innings pitched this season. While Corbin has allowed five or more earned runs in two of his last three games, he has demonstrated remarkable performance in his last two home starts.
The Pick:
Washington enters this matchup aiming to prevent a sweep, as they seek to secure their first run in the past three games. Meanwhile, Kansas City has achieved two significant victories in succession, breaking their losing streak and maintaining their position in the second Wild Card spot. With Wacha taking the mound, the Royals possess a considerable advantage in pitching, and I anticipate they will win by a margin of at least two runs.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Rays at Tigers at 1:10 PM ET
Tyler Alexander will take the mound for the Rays as they begin their Thursday matchup. In the current season, he holds a record of 6 wins and 5 losses, with an ERA of 5.35 and a total of 84 strikeouts.
Reese Olson is scheduled to take the mound for Detroit on Thursday. To date, Olson has recorded a 4-8 win-loss record with a 3.49 ERA across 21 starts. In his career, which includes 42 appearances (39 of which were starts), Olson holds a record of 9-15 and an ERA of 3.74.
The Pick:
In his return on September 16, Olson faced difficulties against Kansas City, surrendering four earned runs on four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. However, in his most recent outing against the Orioles, he performed admirably, completing 3.0 innings with just one earned run allowed on one hit and a walk. The Tigers had a robust offensive performance on Wednesday, with contributions from nearly all players. They employed five pitchers from the bullpen, which led to a solid overall pitching display. If Olson can start strong in this matchup, the Tigers will be in a favorable position.
LA Angels vs Chicago White Sox Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Angels at White Sox at 2:10 PM ET
Tyler Anderson is set to take the mound as the starting pitcher for the Angels on Thursday. As of now, Anderson has a record of 10-14 and a 3.70 ERA in 30 starts. Throughout his career, he has recorded 60 wins and 63 losses, with a 4.25 ERA in a total of 204 games, 196 of which were starts.
On Thursday, Chris Flexen will be the starting pitcher for the Sox. In the current season, Flexen has achieved a 2-15 record with a 5.15 ERA across 32 games, including 29 starts. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated a total of 29 wins and 49 losses, with a career ERA of 5.00 in 152 games, 109 of which were as a starter.
The Pick:
Flexen’s recent performance shows a record of 0-1 in his last three games, during which he has allowed six earned runs over 16.0 innings, with 20 hits and five walks. On the other hand, Anderson has an 0-2 record in his last three outings, having given up eight earned runs on 16 hits and five walks. There may be early scoring opportunities for both offenses in this contest. The White Sox had a strong offensive showing on Wednesday, hitting two home runs. While it is challenging to foresee Chicago completing a sweep this year, this could be a prime opportunity for them to do so. Go with the White Sox.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Colorado Rockies Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Cardinals at Rockies at 3:10 PM ET
Taking the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals is Kyle Gibson, who has an 8-8 record this season, complemented by a 4.13 ERA and 146 strikeouts. In his last 18 innings pitched, he has surrendered 13 hits and 4 earned runs. Gibson’s performance on the road has been notable, with a 3.52 ERA and a .209 batting average against him over 84.1 innings. Against the Colorado Rockies, he has a perfect 2-0 record, with a 3.75 ERA and 16 strikeouts in his career.
Kyle Freeland is scheduled to pitch for the Colorado Rockies, where he has accumulated a record of 5-8 this season, alongside a 4.95 ERA and 81 strikeouts. In his most recent 24 innings, he has allowed 23 hits and 8 earned runs. His home statistics reflect a 3.75 ERA and a .246 batting average against him over 50.1 innings. In his career matchups against the St. Louis Cardinals, Freeland has not secured a win, holding a record of 0-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
The Pick:
The St. Louis Cardinals are clearly performing at a higher standard, making them the logical choice. While I would be interested in the potential returns from betting on the underdog in this contest between two teams that have little to gain, the Colorado Rockies are increasingly facing losses and appear to be a team that is merely waiting for the season to conclude. The Cardinals have won four games in a row and seven of their last nine. I am backing the Cardinals at this reasonable price.
Texas Rangers vs Oakland Athletics Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Rangers at Athletics at 3:37 PM ET
The Rangers will be starting Kumar Rocker, who has a record of 0-1 and an ERA of 2.57. In his last game for the Rangers, he completed three innings, during which he surrendered two hits and two runs.
J.T. Ginn is the designated starter for Oakland, possessing a 0-1 record alongside an ERA of 4.40. During his previous start against the Yankees, he managed to pitch five innings, during which he conceded four hits and one run.
The Pick:
Rocker will take the mound for the Rangers, presenting a significant challenge for the Athletics’ lineup. In his previous outing, Ginn allowed only one run, and he is expected to perform well in this matchup as well. Both the Rangers and the Athletics are likely to face difficulties at the plate, with neither team expected to exceed three runs. This contest is anticipated to be a pitchers’ duel, leading to a successful outcome for the Under bet.
Baltimore Orioles vs New York Yankees Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Orioles at Yankees at 7:05 PM ET
Corbin Burnes is set to be the starting pitcher for Baltimore, boasting a record of 15 wins and 8 losses, alongside a 2.95 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over the course of 189.1 innings pitched this year. He has successfully limited his opponents to two earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts.
The New York team is expected to start Gerrit Cole as their pitcher, who has achieved a 7-5 record with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP through 88.1 innings this season. Cole has successfully limited his opponents to one earned run or fewer in three of his last four games, despite having allowed seven earned runs in a recent encounter with Boston.
The Pick:
The Orioles are opting for Corbin Burnes as their starting pitcher, who has shown remarkable performance in his last four games. However, it is relevant to mention that he has faced the Tigers twice, along with the Rays and White Sox in his last three outings. Conversely, New York will feature Gerrit Cole, who has been predominantly effective over the past two months, although he did face some challenges in his most recent home start. This matchup is expected to be a captivating pitching duel; however, I believe the offensive prowess of both teams will provide an advantage, as their lineups are formidable. Therefore, I recommend taking the Over.
Miami Marlins vs Minnesota Twins Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Marlins at Twins at 7:40 PM ET
Valente Bellozo will take the mound for the Miami Marlins, boasting a season record of 3-4 and a 3.82 ERA, complemented by 42 strikeouts. This game will represent Bellozo’s first-ever start against the Twins.
David Festa will be the starting pitcher for the Twins, boasting a 2-6 record, a 4.80 ERA, and 72 strikeouts in the current season. This will be the first time Festa faces the Marlins in his career.
The Pick:
My confidence in these two starting pitchers is notably low; Bellozo frequently fails to achieve a clean start, and Festa has a tendency to surrender a substantial number of hits. The Twins demonstrated their offensive prowess on Wednesday, yet I expect the Marlins to respond with their own scoring opportunities in this game. I favor the Over in this duel.
San Diego Padres vs LA Dodgers Prediction MLB Picks 9/26/24
Padres at Dodgers at 10:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres are set to have Joe Musgrove take the mound for this game. Musgrove currently holds a record of 6-5, accompanied by a 3.95 ERA and 95 strikeouts for the season. In his previous five outings against the Dodgers, he has recorded a 0-2 record with a 4.94 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
Walker Buehler is set to take the mound for the Dodgers, with a current season record of 1-6, a 5.63 ERA, and a total of 63 strikeouts. Against the Padres in his last five starts, Buehler has secured a 2-1 record, along with a commendable 2.03 ERA and 29 strikeouts.
The Pick:
I have not been impressed with Walker Buehler’s performance to date, and I am of the opinion that the Padres can exploit this, given their recent exceptional form against right-handed pitching. Although the Dodgers have also shown proficiency against righties, I place more trust in Joe Musgrove in this context. Therefore, I predict that the Padres will emerge victorious in the series, making the concluding weekend of the season more compelling. I favor the Padres.