MLB Playoffs expert picks, odds, schedule for Tuesday’s games: Tigers at Astros kicks off Wild Card Game 1s
With the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets splitting a doubleheader on Monday, the 2024 MLB Playoffs bracket is set and the odds are out for Tuesday's Wild Card Game 1s. The Houston Astros , Baltimore Orioles , Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are favored to advance.
In three of the last four seasons, a wild-card winner made it all the way to the World Series. These teams have our full attention.
Tuesday afternoon starts with a playoff regular against an upstart when the Astros, who have won the AL West in seven of the past eight years, host the Tigers , who are in their first postseason in a decade. The Astros (88-73) are favored to win the series and to take Game 1 behind the pitching of veteran ace Framber Valdez . The Tigers (86-76) are also coming out with guns blazing, putting AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal on the mound. The winner of this series will play the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
Next up, the Orioles (91-71) host the Royals (86-76) after closing September strong. The O's won seven of their last 10 games and swept the Minnesota Twins . While there are concerns around their ability to get their pitching through a long postseason run, the Orioles are looking to have a better start than last year, when they were swept in the ALDS. The Royals clinched their playoff spot under the wire (Game 160), but have a starting rotation that is top among playoff teams in ERA. They're starting with Cole Ragans (3.14 ERA, 2.87 away, fifth in strikeouts). The winner will face the New York Yankees in the next round.
In the series between the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets, the Brew Crew is favored in both Tuesday's Game 1 and in the series. Milwaukee got swept out of the playoffs at this round last year to the eventual World Series runner-up Arizona Diamondbacks .
The final game of the night sees the San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have a quick turnaround after celebrating a postseason berth on Monday at home. Now they're on the West Coast. Will that affect Atlanta?
Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros
Series odds: Tigers (+155), Astros (-185)
Game 1 pitching matchup: Tarik Skubal vs. Framber Valdez
How to watch Tigers at Astros
Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles
Series odds: Royals (+145), Orioles (-175)
Game 1 pitching matchup: Cole Ragans vs. Corbin Burnes
How to watch Royals at Orioles
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers odds
Series odds: Mets (+115), Brewers (-135)
Game 1 pitching matchup: Luis Severino vs. Freddy Peralta
How to watch Mets at Brewers
Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres odds
Series odds: Braves (+150), Padres (-175) Game 1 pitching matchup: TBD vs. Michael King
How to watch Braves at Padres
MLB game projections from THE BAT X
In the tables below, you'll see details for each MLB matchup, then a lot of numbers (which are updated all day):
The higher the value percentage, the better — which you can easily see from the color coding from red (bad pick) through to green (good pick).
Note: On mobile, you may have to scroll to see the color-coded "Value" column on the far right of the first set of tables.
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(Photo of Framber Valdez: Tim Warner / )
