It seems like the month of August was just building towards the final MLB playoff push. With September arriving, we’ve truly hit that final stretch. There are 11 games today, and the third Wild Card spot is opening opportunity, so we have some solid action today on the diamond. Using OddsShopper’s Underdog Optimizer, we can identify market value to play. Here are your top two Underdog pick’em predictions for this Labor Day Monday!
Join Eytan and the OddsShopper team in our NEW Insider Marketplace, where you can network with fellow sports bettors and industry experts!
And don’t miss out — sign up for Underdog with our Underdog Fantasy promo code to get your first deposit matched up to $1,000.
Underdog Fantasy MLB Pick’em Predictions Today
Looking for more MLB pick’em strategy? Dive into our other MLB articles and MLB +EV picks, and don’t forget to read our guide to Underdog Fantasy!
Corey Seager H/L Than 1.5 Total Bases
While not officially eliminated, the Texas Rangers are running out of time. Corey Seager is on an absolute tear as he helps will more Rangers wins. He comes off a two-hit game against the Athletics and a solid month of August. He will face the Yankees and Gerrit Cole — who’s been solid in one area while struggling mostly elsewhere. So long as Cole is pitching to Seager, there’s a legit chance for the latter to continue hitting. He’s tearing the cover off the ball while not striking out — only a 17.8% strikeout rate on the year. That’s important tonight because it’s the one area of success for Cole, at least a consistent area.
The Yankees are on the road, so it will be interesting to see how quickly they move away from Cole if he struggles. Meanwhile, the Rangers are looking to win their third straight, as they’ve won seven of their last 10. Seager has helped fuel these wins with his bat, including some timely power. That’s where Cole is suffering his biggest setbacks: A 90 mph exit velocity and 40.3 hard-hit rate adds up to just a .321 xwOBA. That is easily favoring Seager tonight.
Underdog Fantasy Pick’em Prediction: Corey Seager Higher Than 1.5 Total Bases
Gunnar Henderson H/L Than 1.5 Total Bases
The O’s may not win the AL East this year, but they are pretty much locked for a Wild Card spot. The team simply can’t mess around with this final stretch no matter who they play, including a Triple-A White Sox team. While Chicago is still playing games out on the schedule, its season has been over for months.
Baltimore is heading down this stretch by fine tuning its lineup. One thing is bringing back Gunnar Henderson atop the leadoff spot. The Orioles thrive with Henderson hitting safely atop their lineup, and they should benefit once again against this brutal Sox team. Henderson comes off a three-game series against Colorado where he had hits in two.
The good news for Henderson is, even if he was struggling, he gets to face Chris Flexen. The White Sox version of the slump buster is a fantastic micro version of the team he represents. With just a 15.8% strikeout rate and little to no run support over his White Sox starts, Flexen is a walking time bomb ready to implode.
Baltimore should cruise today against Chicago as Henderson leads the charge.
Underdog Fantasy Pick’em Prediction: Gunnar Henderson Higher Than 1.5 Total Bases
