Editor's note: Until our picks model goes live, only the marquee game carries a Vegas line. Every game below links to its tile on watch.uristocrat.com, where you can see where it's streaming and on what channel.
It's the last Friday of the MLB regular season and the playoff field is basically set. What's left is seeding, and that's what the big games are about tonight. A nor'easter is pushing into Boston, so the Cubs and Red Sox play two at Fenway starting at 1:05 p.m. The Padres, Cubs and Phillies are stacked within two games of each other for the NL wild card spots, and all three play today. The Wild Card Series starts Tuesday.
Marquee: Cubs at Red Sox, Game 1 and Game 2 of a Fenway doubleheader (1:05 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET, Marquee, NESN, ESPN Unlimited)
This wasn't supposed to be a doubleheader. MLB moved Sunday's game to Friday because of a big storm headed for Boston, rather than push it to Monday a day before the playoffs start. Both teams are in. The Red Sox (85-74) have clinched an AL wild card. The Cubs (88-71) are in too, but they're a game behind the Padres for the top NL wild card, and the top wild card gets to host its opening series. So Chicago has more to play for today. Game 1 is Clay Holmes (6-8, 3.25 ERA) against Alec Gamboa (1-0, 1.16) for Boston. Game 2 is David Peterson (9-8, 4.96) against Brayan Bello (6-7, 4.49). The Cubs are small favorites in both, and the total is 6.5 in both. Oddsmakers are expecting pitching, not a slugfest.
Vegas line (DraftKings, via ESPN): Game 1, Cubs -125 / Red Sox +104, total 6.5 (over -107, under -112), Cubs -1.5 at +146. Game 2, Cubs -115 / Red Sox -105, total 6.5 (over -108, under -112), Cubs -1.5 at +152.
Also tonight
- Rays at Phillies (6:40 p.m. ET). The Rays (96-63) have the best record in the American League. The Phillies (87-72) are the third team in that NL wild card pileup. Cristopher Sanchez (18-6, 2.92) takes the ball for Philadelphia against Freddy Peralta (9-11, 4.56).
- Diamondbacks at Padres (9:40 p.m. ET). San Diego (89-70) holds the top NL wild card spot and the Cubs are one game back, so every Padres win puts pressure on Chicago. Casey Mize starts for the Padres against Brandon Pfaadt.
- Dodgers at Giants (10:15 p.m. ET). The Dodgers (97-62) send Tarik Skubal (11-7, 2.85) to San Francisco. The Giants are 65-94. Stay up for Skubal, not the drama.
- Orioles at Yankees, Game 1 (4:05 p.m. ET) and Game 2 (7:05 p.m. ET). Another rescheduled doubleheader, this one in the Bronx. The Yankees (92-67) have already locked up the top AL wild card. Baltimore (78-81) is playing out the string.
- Cardinals at Brewers (7:40 p.m. ET). Milwaukee (100-59) has the best record in baseball. This is a chance to see the team everyone in the NL has to get through.
- Rangers at Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG). It's preseason, but it's still the Rangers and Islanders. Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin are both listed to start.
Here's the short version. The Cubs play twice, the Padres and Phillies play once each, and by midnight the NL wild card order could look different than it does this morning. Start at Fenway at 1:05 and finish with Skubal after 10.
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