MLB Best Bets for Sunday, September 12, 2021
Today we get to enjoy the getaway day for many, if not all, of the series that are going on in Major League Baseball. Even as football has the first full day there is still money to be made in baseball.
Padres vs. Dodgers
All Max Scherzer has done since he came over from the Nationals is deal. He’s been on a tear lately and even established himself as a potential Cy Young candidate. I don’t think any of that changes today even as he faces a talented Padres team. Scherzer is likely to go six or seven innings and give up less than three runs. The question to me comes in with the bullpen. Do they allow a couple of runs as they did last night for Walker Buehler? The opposite side has Blake Snell throwing, and while he has been much more consistently lately, he still has those road struggles this year that make me uncomfortable with betting the under. So what is the play? It is to take the Dodgers on the run line at +116. I can’t see them losing with Scherzer on the mound and they should be able to score off of Snell. Hopefully, the bullpen can hold the lead.
Reds vs. Cardinals
Sonny Gray has put together a stretch of four straight starts that have been very helpful for the Reds in their playoff hopes. Today, he looks to continue that against the Cardinals who are also trying to rally around and find their way into the second wild card spot. This is the rubber game of the series and could make a huge difference. Gray has faced the Cardinals three times this year and his most recent start against them, just two games ago, was by far his best. J.A. Happ is the opposite of Gray, he was strong and has recently started really suffering. Happ lasted just one inning against the Reds two starts ago and he allowed seven earned runs. His next start was better, but he still allowed four earned runs in five innings. Play the over 9 runs at -112.
Giants vs. Cubs
Logan Webb might be the best pitcher in baseball you’ve never heard of. Webb has put together a very strong campaign this season with a 2.64 ERA, but on the road is where some of his struggles appear. The guy is also an innings eater, you have to go back 10 starts to find one where he didn’t last six or more innings. For the Cubbies, Justin Steele comes to the mound off of back-to-back five inning starts. He is looking more and more like a solid addition to the rotation. Steele has never faced the Giants or any of the hitters. I think this bodes well for both starters and the game should go under the posted total of 9 at -104.
