The 2026 MLB postseason is finally here! Let’s dive into our MLB Best Bets Today for Tuesday, September 29th, with four Wild Card matchups to break down. We have a loaded day of baseball on tap and plenty of ways to go for our MLB picks. Enjoy these MLB predictions as you lock in your own bets ahead of today’s games. All odds and betting lines are accurate as of this writing, but are always subject to change. 

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 9/29

Our MLB best bets today start with the Braves hosting the Phillies in an NL Wild Card showdown. Plus, our MLB picks feature the Red Sox vs. Yankees in the AL Wild Card series. Check out even more MLB predictions below, including some player props and other game picks. Good luck! 

 

 

 

Phillies vs. Braves Prediction: Tuesday, September 29th

Let’s lead off our MLB best bets today with the Atlanta Braves hosting the Philadelphia Phillies in this NL Wild Card matchup. This should be an entertaining series between NL East rivals. In Tuesday’s Game 1, though, the scoring could be stifled early. 

Atlanta will start Chris Sale today. The left-hander has been excellent this season, with a 2.16 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He’s also pitching well lately, posting a 2.04 ERA over his past 6 starts and a 2.09 ERA since the All-Star break. 

Sale has favorable numbers against the Phillies this year, owning a 2.08 ERA with a 29:6 K:BB ratio in 4 starts. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has just a .295 wOBA and 81 wRC+ against left-handed pitching over the past two weeks. The offense also ranked 24th in the majors on the road vs. lefties during the regular season. 

The other side of this matchup will see Jesus Luzardo start for Philly. The southpaw will likely throw 3 innings or so in a pseudo-opener role, before Andrew Painter and other relievers take over. Luzardo recently returned from a multi-week absence and threw just one inning of relief this past weekend.

Though it’s unclear how long Luzardo will be out there, let’s at least count on a strong performance from the Phillies’ lefty for a few frames. He posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP this year, including a 1.76 ERA on the road. He also dominated Atlanta earlier this month, tossing a 12-strikeout shutout. More notably, the Braves have struggled against lefties recently, with a league-low .260 wOBA over the past month in the split. 

So, all in all, let’s target the under for the first 3 innings. It’s a unique bet, but it ensures we get action on when Sale and Luzardo will be out there. Expect a low-scoring game in the first handful of innings. 

Red Sox vs. Yankees Prediction: Tuesday, September 29th

One of the Wild Card series features a classic AL East rivalry. The New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox as we dive into our second round of MLB best bets today. The Yanks have a few key edges at home, so let’s back them to win and lead after 5 innings in this Game 1 matchup. 

Cam Schlitter gets the start for New York. The presumed AL Cy Young winner posted a 1.95 ERA and 0.92 WHIP this season, and his 239 strikeouts tied for third in the majors. The right-hander has also been pitching well lately, with a 1.17 ERA over his past 9 starts. 

Schlittler dominated the Red Sox across 4 regular-season meetings, posting a 0.74 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 21.1 innings. He also owned the division rivals in last year’s Wild Card series, striking out 12 over 8 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Boston has really struggled to hit right-handed pitching lately. Over the last two weeks, the Sox have a .265 wOBA and .193 batting average vs. righties, both ranking 29th in the league. 

On the other side, Boston will start Payton Tolle. The southpaw had an impressive season, with a 3.03 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He also pitched well against the Yankees in two regular-season starts. Still, this is a tough ask for the 23-year-old to show up on the road in a playoff atmosphere. 

New York also boasts strong offensive numbers against left-handed pitching. The Yanks were a top-10 offense in the split this year, with a .320 wOBA and 105 wRC+. Over the past month vs. lefties, they boast a .335 wOBA and 115 wRC+. 

There’s value in taking the Yankees to win Game 1 behind Schlittler. Plus, he should get enough early run support to hold a lead after 5 innings. 

 

 

 

Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 9/29