The stretch run of the Major League Baseball season continues on Tuesday, September 10, with all 30 teams in action.
Our baseball staff has come through with two MLB best bets, picks and predictions for Braves vs Nationals and Reds vs Cardinals. That NL East tilt is of particular importance as the Braves are one game out of the final NL wild-card spot entering Tuesday – can the Nationals play spoiler?
MLB Best Bets, Picks & Predictions for Tuesday — 9/10
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our MLB betting staff is targeting from the Tuesday slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific MLB best bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:45 p.m. | |
  | 7:45 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Tony Sartori's Braves-Nationals Best Bet: Pick The Home Underdog?
By Tony Sartori
I'm still waiting for the Reynaldo Lopez regression, which is coming. Subsequently, I want to sell high on a pitcher with an unsustainable 2.04 ERA and 1.15 WHIP.
These numbers are unsustainable compared to Lopez's 4.08 xERA and the fact that he ranks in the league's bottom half in xBA, average exit velocity, walk rate, barrel rate and hard-hit rate.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals hand the ball to left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Gore outranks Lopez in average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate.
Atlanta possesses the more powerful lineup, but the Nationals can score runs by reaching base. This season, Washington outranks the Braves in BA, OBP and stolen bases.
The runs scored per game disparity between these two teams is just 0.1, so I think it's worth taking a shot on the home 'dog.
Pick: Nationals ML (+120) | Playable at number
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D.J. James's Reds vs Cardinals Best Bet: Pitching To Reign Supreme
By D.J. James
Neither the St. Louis Cardinals nor the Cincinnati Reds have hit the ball well lately against righties, and both will throw some serviceable starters on Tuesday.
The Cards will start Andre Pallante, who excels by keeping the ball on the ground over 60% of the time. This is one of the best groundball rates in all of baseball. Pallante may give up some walks and won't strike out many hitters, but he forces soft, ground-ball contact. His 4.07 ERA and 3.62 xERA are more than solid, as well.
The Reds will throw Rhett Lowder, their No. 2 overall prospect. Lowder has been great in two starts and flew through their minor-league system for a reason. He has allowed some walks but kept the ball on the ground and limited barrels over his 10 1/3 MLB innings pitched.
At the dish, the Cards carry a 100 wRC+, 8.3% walk rate, and 21.4% strikeout rate in the last month against righties. The Reds have a 92 wRC+, 8% walk rate, and 25.6% strikeout rate against the side during that stretch.
In relief, each team should have enough arms to finish the job and keep this a low-scoring outing. Expect pitching to reign supreme here, given how weak these lineups have looked against righties.
Pick: Under 8 (-108) | Play to 7.5 (-110)
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