Monday’s doubleheader between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves decided the last two playoff teams in the National League. The Mets and Braves each won one game, knocking out the Arizona Diamondbacks. Considering Arizona’s 9-3 record in the National League playoffs last year, that’s a relief for their victims in 2023 – the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers
It’s been a great season for the Mets. They are no longer the owners of the worst record in baseball history, as that is now the property of the Chicago White Sox, and the Mets are back in the postseason. This is New York’s third trip to the playoffs since they played in the World Series in 2015, losing to the Kansas City Royals in five games.
The Mets are +108 to beat the Milwaukee Brewers and move on to the Division Series, while the Brewers, making their sixth trip to the postseason in the last seven years, are paying -130 to win the series.
The Brewers have lost five straight playoff series, last winning in the postseason in 2018, when they beat the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS. Since that 3-0 sweep, the Brewers have won just four of 16 games.
It is interesting to note that the home team is favored in all four Wild Card Series this year. But since MLB went to the 12-team playoff format in 2022, the home team has advanced in only three of the eight series.
In Tuesday’s Game 1, which begins at 5:32 p.m. ET, the Mets are -102 on the moneyline, and the Brewers are paying -118. Game 2 is Wednesday at 7:38 p.m. ET, and if necessary, Game 3 is scheduled for 8:38 p.m. ET for Thursday.
Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
The Braves played two games on Monday right after a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. They then immediately got on a plane to fly across the country to face the San Diego Padres.
It’s been a week of weather and busy baseball. But that’s nothing for a team that had to play almost the entire season without last season’s MVP, Ronald Acuña Jr., and this year’s early season Cy Young favorite, Spencer Strider.
Injuries, playing in the best division in the National League, and last week’s hurricane are not enough to keep Atlanta from its postseason destiny – a place where they have ended up in each of the last seven seasons. The last two seasons they were losers in the NLDS. But in 2021, Atlanta was the World Series champion.
The Padres are in the playoffs for the third time in five years after going 13 years without a single postseason appearance. In 2022, they made it all the way to the NLCS before losing to the Phillies, and they are favored to beat the Braves in this series, paying -122.
Game 1 is Tuesday at 8:38 p.m. ET. Game 2 has a first pitch scheduled for Wednesday at 8:38 p.m. ET, and if necessary, Game 3 is Thursday at 7:08 p.m. ET.
The Braves are paying +104 to pull off the series upset.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The top seed in the National League is the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they are the favorites to be the last team standing. The Dodgers are +175 favorites to win the National League pennant, and they are +360 to win the World Series.
L.A. last won a World Series following a full season back in 1988.
In the NLDS, the Dodgers will play the winner of the Braves/Padres series.
Philadelphia Phillies
The other first-round bye was won by the Phillies, as they play in the postseason for the third straight year. Last season, they were beaten in the NLCS by the Diamondbacks, 4-3. In 2022, they lost in the World Series to the Houston Astros, 4-2.
The Phillies are +230 to win the National League and +475 to win the World Series.
Philadelphia will host the winner of the Mets/Brewers series in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, October 5.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
