I've got two MLB expert picks for Tuesday.
I'm focused on playoff teams (or at least playoff hopefuls) on Tuesday, putting my money behind the Phillies and Royals. These teams have Zack Wheeler and Cole Ragans on the mound on Tuesday, so I think they're both safe bets.
Here are my two MLB picks for September 17th:
MLB Expert Pick Today: Phillies (-142) vs Brewers
Phillies vs Brewers - Game Time: 7:41 pm ET
Zack Wheeler is a winning machine. The Phillies starter hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in an outing since July 29th, with the Phils winning six of his last eight starts. In his lone start against the Brewers this year, Wheeler pitched seven innings with one earned run in a 3-1 Philly win.
The Phillies also enter this contest on quite the hot streak, winning 11 of their last 15 games. The Phils' lineup is averaging 4.93 runs per game in that 15-game stretch, too.
If they give Wheeler that kind of run support, there's almost no chance the Phillies lose this one. Wheeler hasn't lost a start where the Phillies scored five or more runs since June 12th.
MLB Expert Pick Today: Royals (-166) vs Tigers
Tigers vs Royals Odds - Game Time: 7:41 pm ET
If the Tigers don't make the playoffs, Casey Mize might be a big reason why. The Tigers SP has a 4.47 ERA on the season, a 2-6 record, and Detroit has lost nine of his last 15 starts.
In two starts against the Royals this year, Mize has allowed nine runs in just 6.2 innings. Current KC hitters own a collective .439 average and 1.112 OPS against Mize.
With Cole Ragans going for the Royals, I don't see how the Tigers win this one. Ragans has a 1.50 ERA this month and the Royals have won five of his last eight outings. He's won both of his starts against the Tigers this season (and KC has covered the runline in both if you want to take KC -1.5 tonight).
Picks made as of September 17 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
