3 MLB Best Bets for Sunday’s Regular-Season Stretch Run

Today is the second-to-last Sunday of the MLB regular season. Let’s appreciate the moment for what it is, enjoy some good baseball while playoff spots and division titles remain undecided, and place only the best MLB bets.

Okay, but what are the MLB Best Bets of the day? Let’s talk about some of the options.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets

Under 8 at -113 (DraftKings)

The Mets have long been eliminated from the postseason, but they can make it harder for a division rival to make it in with a third consecutive win today. However, getting that win will be easier said than done.

Yes, the Mets have won the last two (6-3 and 10-3), but over the last week, the Phillies have hit slightly better (.245 to .236 for the Mets). But the real advantage for Philly is on the mound, where Cristopher Sanchez (17-6, 2.93 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) faces off against Jonah Tong (2-1, 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP).

The last two games have finished over the listed total (8), but with these two pitchers on the mound against these lineups, I don’t expect to see a ton of scoring.

Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates ML at +103 (DraftKings)

With a 6-5 win over the Royals yesterday, the Pirates have won three in a row and will go for the series sweep of Kansas City today and should do just that. They come into the game with one of the hottest lineups in baseball at the moment, hitting .301 over the last week with 30 runs scored across five games.

It is not going to be easy to run up the score against Michael Wacha (3-6 on the road with a 3.70 ERA and a .239 OBA). But that’s okay because the Royals are struggling to make contact, hitting just .207 over the last week.

So Pittsburgh likely won’t need to score much to secure the win.

Miami Marlins vs. San Diego Padres

Padres -1.5 at +158

Sandy Alcantara has been a bright spot for the Marlins in an otherwise lackluster season, but he seems to be tired this month. After posting a 2.57 ERA in July and a 2.08 in August, he’s posted an 8.27 ERA so far in September—but recorded his first career save his last time out.

Against a San Diego lineup that is currently the hottest-hitting team in baseball (.323 BA over the last week), he could be in for a long day. Walker Buehler hasn’t been great this season, but he’s been solid the last two months (3.16 ERA in July and 3.75 so far in September).

Miami will make it interesting (like they did yesterday), but given how Alcantara has struggled and how well San Diego is hitting, the Padres will cover the run line today.