MLB Wild Card Picks for Wednesday (October 1, 2025)

Happy October. This means MLB Playoffs are in full force as the calendar turns a page, and Wild Card Series rounds are coming to a boil.

IN the American League both road teams won on Tuesday behind strong pitching performances from starters. The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox can win and advance today.

In the National League, both the Cubs and Dodgers won at home. The Dodgers slammed five home runs against the overmatched Cincinnati Reds. Now the Padres and Reds are staring at potentially the last day of their seasons.

Shohei Ohtani hits a home run in Game One of the 2025 NL Wild Card Series [GETTY IMAGES]

Odds used in today's article are from BetMGM and Caesars sportsbooks.

Wednesday, Oct. 1 MLB Playoff Schedule & TV Info

Here's Wednesday's MLB Wild Card schedule with broadcast times and networks:

• Detroit Tigers (1-0) at Cleveland Guardians, 1:08 PM ET, ESPN
• San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs (1-0), 3:08 PM ET, ABC
• Boston Red Sox (1-0) at New York Yankees, 6:08 PM ET, ESPN
• Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers (1-0), 9:08 PM ET, ESPN

Padres vs Cubs

I feel duly chastised after one day of the playoffs: I was thinking too much about offense on Day 1, and forgetting how strong pitching is in the postseason. I don't think I forgot: I simply got blinded a bit by the powerful Padres' lineup.

The Friars have to win at Wrigley Field this afternoon. They pin their hopes on Dylan Cease (4.55 ERA, 3.56 FIP). The Cubs send veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge to the hill. Yes folks, it's a bullpen game in the playoffs! Woohoo, aren't we lucky.

As much as I hate bullpen games as a fan, I see them as excellent opportunities for baseball betting. The pitching props and game props can be real wonky when a relief pitcher starts a game, and that can be advantageous for you, the sports bettor.

Kittredge has been on three teams in the last 12 months. Either he's really not wanted or he's really coveted. The tall 35-year old righty had career highs in K Rate, WHIP, and FIP in 2025. He's making his first start since 2021, when he made a few "opener" assignments for the always-oddball Rays.

In four of his last five bullpen appearances, Kittredge has 2+ K's in an inning of work. On the other side, Cease is the only pitcher in baseball with 200+ K's each of the last five seasons.

• BET: Top of First Inning 2+ Strikeouts (+280). I'm wagering $20 on this game prop, which is essentially a bet that Kittredge will grab multiple K's in the first. You win your bet regardless of who records the strikeouts for the Cubs in this afternoon game against the Padres.
• BET: Dylan Cease to Record 10+ Strikeouts (+950). I'm swinging for the ivy-covered walls at Wrigley with this player prop. If Cease is inspired by the performance of teammate Nick Pivetta (as I think he may be), we could see a big K game here. My $50 bet would return $450 in winnings if the SD pitcher comes through with double-digit K's.

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Red Sox vs Yankees

In one of the two wild card series that matched division rivals against each other, the Yankees had egg on their faces Tuesday night. The Red Sox chipped away at the Yankee bullpen and pushed across three runs late to snatch a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Wasted was a fine start by NY Yankee ace Max Fried. But on the other side, Garrett Crochet was the bigger man: firing 7 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts against zero walks. Crochet has the makings of a postseason stud who could lead his team deep into October baseball.

Tonight the Yanks have Ace #2, Carlos Rodón starting. It's an opportunity for Rodón to reverse his bad fortune in the postseason. He has a 6.64 ERA in six PS games. You can believe if the lefty struggles tonight in Game 2 against Boston, the Bronx fans will let him know about it.

• BET: First scoring play of the game is worth exactly two runs (+390). I'm wagering $20 to win $78.
• BET: So far in the best-of-three format era, 10 of the 12 Wild Card Series have been sweeps. I'm betting $20 on Red Sox to win on the moneyline at +144.

Reds at Dodgers

We're all just the audience in the play that is The World According to Shohei. Last night, Ohtani smacked a pair of home runs, both of them impressive. His teammate buddy Teoscar Hernández also hit a pair of home runs against the Reds.

• BET: Dodgers to Win First Five Innings (-182). You'll need to wager $182 to win $100. This is a no-brainer. If the Reds are competitive in this game, I'm an aardvark.
• BET: First Home Run Type (by Either Team): 3-Run HR (odds are +600). Wager $50 to win $300 if the first homer in this game is a three-run jack. Note: Dodger Stadium has been the site of the most HR in MLB the last three seasons.

Tigers vs Guardians

Detroit can win this series a year after losing to Cleveland in the Division Series. Casey Mize (3.87 ERA, 3.89 FIP) faces Tanner Bibee (4.24 ERA, 4.34 FIP).

I'm staying away from the game outcome. This one is a tossup. Oddsmakers price the Guardians as slight favorites.

By the way, I think I'm the only person trying to make the term G's popular. Or even using it. So, this is my obligatory mention of that nickname for the Cleveland Baseball Club.

• BET: José Ramírez To Record 2+ Hits (+220). Following his puzzling base running gaffe in Game One, José Ramírez is on the hot seat to perform here. I like the superstar to have at least a couple of hits. I'm so confident I will go with a $50 wager to win $110.
• BET: Javier Báez To Hit a Home Run (+750). I'll go for $20 on Javy to go deep. He had two hits on Tuesday in Game One. If he hits a HR, I win $150