Cubs Clinch Playoff Berth with Win in Pittsburgh
The Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to October baseball for the first time since 2020, riding the bat of Ian Happ in an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Happ homered and drove in three runs, including a big swing in a four-run first inning where Moises Ballesteros also went deep. Chicago added insurance with three runs in the sixth, a frame where Pittsburgh’s bullpen unraveled. Aaron Civale earned his first victory as a Cub, throwing three scoreless innings of relief. The clinching moment came fittingly with Happ catching the final out in left field, setting off a celebration for a team that has been hot down the stretch. For bettors, Chicago’s recent surge has rewarded those riding their run line. Learn more about MLB run line betting here.
Yankees 10, Twins 5
Trent Grisham powered the Yankees with two home runs and four RBIs as New York took the rubber match from Minnesota. Cody Bellinger added a three-run shot as part of a multi-hit game, while Jasson Dominguez and Ryan McMahon chipped in with RBIs. The Yankees’ bullpen steadied things after starter Luis Gil gave up five runs, with Fernando Cruz providing 1 1/3 scoreless innings to notch the win. Minnesota got production from Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis, but starter Taj Bradley couldn’t keep New York in check, allowing seven runs in four innings.
Dodgers 5, Phillies 0
Blake Snell dominated with a season-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings, propelling Los Angeles to a series-saving shutout against Philadelphia. Snell allowed only two hits and two walks, keeping the NL West leaders two games up on San Diego. The Dodgers’ bullpen, shaky earlier in the series, locked things down with Alex Vesia and Tanner Scott closing it out. Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani each homered to provide the offense. Philadelphia still celebrated clinching the NL East earlier in the week, but their bats went quiet in the finale. For bettors, the Dodgers’ bounce-back highlighted the value of backing elite arms after rough bullpen outings. See more MLB playoff betting keys.
Astros 5, Rangers 2
Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña both went deep to carry Houston past Texas in a sweep that vaulted the Astros back into first place in the AL West. Cristian Javier delivered six innings of two-run ball, showing his postseason readiness. Houston struck early with two runs in the first and extended the lead as Altuve and Peña went yard in the middle innings. Jacob deGrom struggled for Texas, giving up five runs over five innings. The loss pushed the Rangers five games back in the division and further from the playoff cut line. Houston’s momentum underscores why divisional rivalries remain key betting spots late in the season. Guide to betting on MLB playoffs.
Guardians 4, Tigers 0
Cleveland’s Gavin Williams struck out nine across five innings and combined with the bullpen for a four-hit shutout over Detroit. Bo Naylor’s two-run single broke the game open as the Guardians stayed hot, winning 11 of their past 12 to climb closer in both the division and wild-card standings. Detroit starter Jack Flaherty battled through five innings but lacked run support. Cleveland’s surge has made them one of the most profitable teams in September for bettors.
Marlins 8, Rockies 4
Agustin Ramirez homered and Javier Sanoja collected three hits as Miami kept rolling in Denver with its second straight win. The Marlins got contributions throughout the lineup, with Troy Johnston and Connor Norby each adding two hits. Reliever Lake Bachar earned the win with two shutout innings. For Colorado, Hunter Goodman had three hits and Mickey Moniak homered, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their 21st loss in 25 games.
Reds 6, Cardinals 2
Spencer Steer drove in five runs, including a home run, as Cincinnati secured a series win in St. Louis. Starter Brady Singer held the Cardinals to two runs in nearly six innings, while Gavin Lux added three hits for Cincinnati. St. Louis managed just one homer from Alec Burleson as they continue to struggle with seven losses in their past nine.
Giants 5, Diamondbacks 1 (11 innings)
San Francisco finally snapped its skid with a five-run 11th inning in Arizona. Jerar Encarnacion broke the tie with an RBI single before Christian Koss delivered a two-run double. Grant McCray added a sacrifice fly and Rafael Devers capped the rally with another RBI knock. The late outburst wasted a brilliant effort by Brandon Pfaadt, who threw nine innings of one-hit ball for Arizona. Giants starter Justin Verlander matched him with seven strong innings.
Orioles 3, White Sox 1
Tyler Wells gave Baltimore six solid innings while Dylan Beavers provided the power with a two-run homer, securing a sweep of Chicago. Baltimore improved to 11-4 in September as it continues to chase the AL East crown. White Sox starter Martin Perez left early with shoulder soreness after allowing three runs, adding injury to a frustrating season.
Braves 9, Nationals 4
Matt Olson capped a huge series with three hits and another home run as Atlanta rallied from three runs down to finish a four-game sweep. Olson had three homers and nine RBIs across the series as the Braves outscored Washington 31-10. Atlanta has now won five straight and looks playoff-ready with both offense and pitching in sync.
Rays 2, Blue Jays 1
Rookie Ian Seymour turned in the best outing of his young career, going seven innings while allowing just one unearned run as Tampa Bay snapped Toronto’s six-game streak. Chandler Simpson made highlight plays both with the glove and bat, delivering a run-saving catch and the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh. The Blue Jays’ offense was held to just four hits despite a solid start from Kevin Gausman.
Padres 7, Mets 4
Manny Machado crushed a go-ahead grand slam in the fifth inning to spark San Diego past New York in a battle of wild-card contenders. Ramon Laureano added a late insurance homer as the Padres won for the fourth time in six games. The Mets got homers from Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Starling Marte, and Francisco Alvarez, but their bullpen faltered again after starter David Peterson gave up six runs in five innings.
Red Sox 5, Athletics 4 (10 innings)
Nick Sogard’s walk-off grounder gave Boston an extra-inning win, keeping them tied for the second AL wild-card spot with Seattle. The Red Sox got big nights from Jarren Duran (three hits) and Masataka Yoshida (two RBIs), while Rob Refsnyder added a home run. Oakland wasted three RBIs from Darell Hernaiz, failing to cash in with runners on in the 10th.
Royals 7, Mariners 5
Kansas City stunned red-hot Seattle with a late four-run rally in the eighth inning, snapping the Mariners’ 10-game winning streak. Adam Frazier provided the decisive swing with a two-run homer, while Salvador Perez set the tone earlier with a three-run blast. Seattle’s offense stayed hot with four-hit nights from Eugenio Suarez and homers from both Suarez and J.P. Crawford, but the bullpen let the game slip. For bettors, this result underscored the risks of streak chasing without considering bullpen fatigue. Read more about MLB betting strategies.
Brewers 9, Angels 2
Blake Perkins drove in five runs, including a bases-clearing triple, while Sal Frelick added a three-run homer as Milwaukee routed Los Angeles. Starter Brandon Woodruff struck out nine over five innings in his first start in nearly two weeks. The Angels, meanwhile, lost their sixth straight and saw starter Jose Soriano exit after being struck by a comebacker.
Handicapper Spotlight – MLB (Last 7 Days)
- Bill Blatt: 10-2 record, 83.3% win rate, +$792 net profit. The hottest capper in MLB right now.
- Kyle Buchman: 10-4 record, 71.4% win rate, +$657 net profit. Consistent across sides and totals.
- Jimmy Liu: 10-4 record, 71.4% win rate, +$566 net profit. Steady and reliable over the past week.
These handicappers have been dialed in during the final playoff push. To maximize your own edge, check out the latest baseball betting tips and strategies.
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