The playoffs are here, and they already practically started yesterday! If you missed the Braves and Mets doubleheader yesterday, you quite possibly missed the best baseball game of all 162 games either team played this season.
That is exactly what we needed to get our playoff juices flowing rolling into today! We have 4 games on the slate, and I have one of my best bets below.
Can the Cinderella Season Continue?
Considering the Royals finished last place in the Central last year, going 56-106, this is one of the best stories in baseball. To lose 100 games, then turn around, win 86, and make it to the postseason is special. Now they get to go behind arguably one of the best pitchers statistically over the last 2 months.
Cole Ragans gets the ball in game 1, and he has not disappointed this season. He has been especially good in September and on the road this season. In August he registered a .192 batting average against, and in 25 innings through September he allowed a 1.08 ERA and a .169 batting average against.
His road splits were also very good, compared to home. On the road, he has a 2.87 ERA (3.40 home), while allowing a .198 batting average against (.227 home) and 16 fewer hits on the road. He has fairly good numbers against the hitters in the lineup, and I believe he gives us another good start today!
Neither Offense Has Been Spectacular, But Royals Have Just Enough
The Orioles have been hitting the ball much better than the Royals over the last 60, 30, and 14 days, but when you dig deeper, you see that the Orioles have struggled vs LHP. Over the last 60 and 30 days, the Orioles rank 27th in average (.187) to LHP at home!
Kansas City bats have struggled mightily during the most pressure packed time of year, but I believe they can find enough hits on Burnes to get some things going. There are a couple of Royals that see him well and I think with Witt and Salvador Perez, they can make some things happen.
Witt was much better at home this season, but he hits RHP .336 on the season, and he and Perez just have those clutch genes you need for this time of year! The Orioles were very inconsistent in the 2nd half of the season, and I think it can continue in this series.
My Best Bet:
Royals ML (+136) DraftKings
