MLB Expert Picks Today: Best Bets & Predictions for Wild Card Series Game 3
It's elimination day, and we're sharing our MLB expert picks and best bets today for all three matchups as each remaining Wild Card Series game is headed to Game 3. Who will keep their season alive? Who will be sent home?
We're offering our best MLB picks and player props, with the first pitch between the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers flying at 3 p.m. ET to kick off the festivities. Let's dive into our MLB best bets today.
MLB expert picks: Wild Card Series Game 3 predictions
MLB expert picks for Game 3 of the Wild Card Series with pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale; see the latest MLB odds for the best available price.
- Best Tigers vs. Guardians player props: Chase DeLauter Under 0.5 hits (+119 via DraftKings)
- Best Padres vs. Cubs player props: Jackson Merrill Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs (-107 via DraftKings)
- Best Red Sox vs. Yankees player props: Cam Schlittler Under 4.5 strikeouts (+123 via DraftKings)
Wild Card Series Game 3 best bets
Track the latest MLB scores for line movement and matchup info.
Best Tigers vs. Guardians player prop pick
Here's what our MLB expert Shane Jackson wrote about why Chase DeLauter is in store for a bad Game 3 today.
⬇️ Chase DeLauter Under 0.5 hits (+119)
Chase DeLauter, the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect via MLB Pipeline, became the sixth player ever to make his MLB debut in a playoff game. He started in center field, finishing 0-for-2 with one walk.
DeLauter could get another start today, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Stephen Vogt is quick to make a substitution. This is a tough spot for the rookie, as he hadn’t played since July 11 before Wednesday’s showing.
I’ll take a plus-money price on Under 0.5 hits for DeLauter, profiting $11.90 on a winning $10 bet. The implied win probability of the +119 odds is 45.66%.
Jackson offers his full analysis in his Tigers vs. Guardians player props article.
Best Tigers vs. Guardians prediction
When it comes to sample size, Detroit's Game 3 starter Jack Flaherty has it in spades and has been quite dominant against these Guardians. Across 121 plate appearances, Cleveland owns just a .238 xBA against the right-hander, who is striking the Guards out at a 26% clip. I'll take those numbers. Tigers in three.
Best Padres vs. Cubs player prop pick
Here's why our MLB expert Josh Goldberg is backing Jackson Merrill to have a strong showing in Game 3 against the Cubs.
⬆️ Jackson Merrill Over 1.5 hits/runs/RBIs (-107)
Merrill crushed right-handed pitching during the regular season, posting an .844 OPS with 14 of his 16 home runs. He also had a higher batting average and on-base percentage on the road.
Merrill did major damage against both fastballs and offspeed pitches in 2025. That could be a recipe for success against Jameson Taillon’s cutter and sweeper, which allowed slugging percentages of .634 and .576, respectively, during the regular season.
A $10 wager on Merrill to hit the over on this prop would provide a profit of $9.35 and has an implied probability of 51.69%.
Goldberg offers his full analysis in his Cubs vs. P/adres player props article.
Best Padres vs. Cubs prediction
I wrote in my Wild Card series predictions that this series had the makings of an upset, and I'm not shying away. Turning to the veteran in Yu Darvish, the Padres are in a good spot to advance to the NLDS. On the other side, the Cubs are going with Jameson Taillon, who's only striking the Padres out at a 12.2% clip, with San Diego owning a .273 AVG against him. Padres in three.
Best Red Sox vs. Yankees player prop pick
Here's why our MLB expert Mike Spector is fading Cam Schlittler against the Red Sox today in Game 3.
⬇️ Cam Schlittler Under 4.5 strikeouts (+123)
Both Max Fried and Carlos Rodon pitched well enough for the Yankees that they should already be home resting to get ready for a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. But Boston held just an 85 wRC+ with the fourth-worst BB/K ratio over the last 30 days against left-handed pitchers, and I expect more success from its lineup against the righty Cam Schlittler.
The Red Sox had the ninth-lowest strikeout rate in road games against right-handed pitchers since the start of August. And while Schlittler averaged a 10.5 K/9 rate in eight home starts, his gaudy strikeout numbers are inflated by the fact that he made 10 of his final 12 starts against non-playoff teams.
Schlittler has an O/U of 11.5 outs recorded (down from 13.5 overnight), and he would stay Under this projected total even if he averages one strikeout per inning if oddsmakers are correct and he is out by the end of the fourth.
Spector offers his full analysis in his Red Sox vs. Yankees player props article.
Best Red Sox vs. Yankees prediction
Both teams are going with rookies on the mound to save their season, and I'm rocking with the one who has had more work this year, and that's Schlittler. The Yankees' offense, one of the best in baseball, might be too much for Connelly Early and the Red Sox to handle. New York in three.
💡Expert MLB predictions today
- Tigers vs. Guardians Game 3 prediction
- Padres vs. Cubs Game 3 prediction
- Red Sox vs. Yankees Game 3 prediction
- MLB home run predictions
📃 Affiliate disclosure
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Not intended for use in MA. Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
Related Articles
