Expert Baseball Picks

What a great pitching matchup in this Game 5, and both starters had great last outings in this series. This game will definitely be a pitcher's duel, but the downfall of the Nationals may be their bullpen. They have an ERA of 8.40 in the playoffs, and in the regular season, they ranked dead last in MLB in bullpen ERA. Strasburg and Walker will both have solid starts, and the Dodgers will get a few runs late, and that will be all they need to get the win and close out the series advancing to the NLCS.

The Braves are back at home where they won their last game with Foltynewicz pitching a gem in the shutout win. He will be opposing Flaherty in this big game, and the results will be the same. Foltynewicz will have a better outing, and Flaherty will be decent but give up some runs. The pitching will be the same as in Game 2, and the results will be the same as well, as the Braves will win a low scoring game and close out the series advancing to the NLCS.

Both games in this series played over the totals, and the way these teams hit the ball, perhaps with a little help from the bullpens, we expect more of the same Monday. We're going with the over for our free MLB pick here.

The Nationals have their backs against the wall down 2-1, but they have won their last five games following a loss. Scherzer was lights out in his one inning of relief in Game 2 but has given up 12 earned runs in his previous three starts lasting 17 2/3 innings. Hill will be making his first post-season start, and he has not gone past three innings in his last three starts since missing three months with an injury. He may have another short outing, and the Dodgers' bullpen has been solid in the series giving up three earned runs in the three games. The LA bats will get to Scherzer for q few runs while Hill and the Dodgers' bullpen will have a great outing. LA will get the win in a low scoring game and close out the series advancing to the NLCS.

Scherzer is scheduled to get the start in this game, and while he had a perfect inning of relief in Game 2, his last three starts have not been overly impressive. On the other side of the coin, Ryu has not allowed any earned runs in two of his previous three starts, including his last one. The pitching has been solid in the series, as in the two games, only 12 runs have been scored. The Nationals have lost their last four home games when Scherzer has gotten the start and look for that trend to continue. He will not get lit up but give up a few runs while Ryu will have another great start. In another low scoring game in this series, the Dodgers will win in the Nation's Capital and take a 2-1 series lead.

The Braves are the road favorite in this game and not surprising since Wainwright has been shelled giving up 11 earned runs in his last two starts. On top of that, he was not sharp against the Braves in his one appearance facing them this season, giving up five earned runs and failing to get out of the 5th inning in a Cardinals’ loss. Wainwright will struggle again in this playoff game, as Atlanta will get to him early and often. Add that to a strong start from Soroka, and you get a Braves win, as they will take a 2-1 series lead.

The Braves are hoping that the injuries to stars Ronald Acuna Jr., who missed the last four games of the regular season, and Freddie Freeman are healed, as they are key pieces to the lineup and on the season combined for 79 HR. Keuchel did not finish the season well in his last three starts but does have post-season success, which is why the Braves signed him in June. This start will be Mikolas' first career postseason appearance, and I predict that the Atlanta lineup will get to him. Keuchel will have a good outing and with reliable run support the Braves will take it.

The Braves have lost three of their last four games, but they have Foltynewicz on the hill in this game, and the team has won his previous 13 starts. He has been great in his last few starts and only gave up one earned run in his only starts against the Mets this season in an Atlanta win. Matz has pitched well against the Braves in his last two starts facing them, but New York lost both games. He was lit up in his previous two outings giving up 13 earned runs in nine innings. The Atlanta lineup will get to him in this game and Foltynewicz will have another good outing and put those things together, and you get a Braves to win.

The Indians head into their final series behind the eight-ball not only in terms of the standings but their lineup has struggled in the last two games, and their starter for this game has pitched well in three of his previous four starts. On the other side of the coin the Nats are surging, but they have had little success with Voth on the hill this season. Plesac will struggle once again in this must-win game while Voth will have another solid start as he did in his last one. However, this time around Voth will get some support from the lineup. The Nationals will take this game inching closer to hosting the NL Wild Card while the Indians playoff hopes may be eliminated if the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Indians cannot afford to lose this game, and it is a plus for them having a red-hot rookie on the mound. He and Cease have been pitching well as of late, and while Civale has been great since being called up from the minors, Cease struggled for a while before his last few starts. Cleveland has all the pressure on them needing to win and get help to make the playoffs. They will come through in this season finale getting to Cease for a few runs while Civale will have another good start. The Indians will take this game and keep their playoff hopes alive hoping to catch the Rays, who they trail by 1.5 games for the 2nd AL Wild Card.

The Rangers are reeling, and they face a hot hurler in Porcello who is coming off a great outing. The Red Sox have won five straight against the Rangers when Porcello has gotten the start. Allard is not coming off a bad outing, but he will get tagged up in this one at home where he has struggled on the season. The Red Sox lineup has been good on the season and especially as of late and with them solid at the dish in this game and a good start from Porcello it equals a Red Sox win.

The Jays swept the Orioles on the road last week, and in one of the games Buchholz was less than sharp giving up seven runs and failing to make it out of the 4th inning. I see him getting tagged up again in this game, but unlike the last one, he will not get a lot of run support. Sheppard will have a good outing in the 2nd one his career but not a great one. However, the Orioles will get it done at the dish facing a struggling Buchholz, and that is why they will take the first game of this division series.