Odds Set for MLB Wildcard Series

Posted on: September 29, 2025, 01:32h. 

Last updated on: September 29, 2025, 01:33h.

• Full MLB Wild Card schedule set for tomorrow
• Dodgers and Brewers are the most popular bets to win the World Series
• Tigers still Moneyline favourites against Guardians with Skubal starting

In Toronto, the moment the Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk launched his second home run of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, to deep centre, MLB’s post-season matchups started to fall into place. Oddsmakers followed in line.

Blue Jays Move On to ALDS

The Blue Jays catcher had two home runs, including a grand slam. Kirk blowing kisses to the Rogers Centre crowd of 42,083, tears in his eyes, was Toronto’s best sporting moment since the Jose Bautista bat flip in 2015. The Jays trounced the Rays 13-4 to win the American League East.

The Cleveland Guardians meanwhile finished off a comeback of historic proportions – winning the Central Division, with the Mariners already having wrapped up the AL West.

So, the AL best-of-three wildcard matchups are set – Red Sox and Yankees in New York on Tuesday (6:08 p.m.), with Detroit heading to Cleveland to play the Guardians (1:08 p.m.). Winner of Boston and New York will head to Toronto next Saturday to start the American League Division Series. Winner of Detroit versus Cleveland goes to Seattle in the ALDS.

Wild Card Games Get Going Tomorrow

In the National League, Cincinnati knew if they beat Milwaukee yesterday they would win the final wildcard NL spot. The Brewers won 4-2. To get in, the Mets had to lose against the Marlins. The Mets lost 4-0 – so the Mets are out. 

The Reds go to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers (9:08 p.m. on Tuesday), and the Padres head to Wrigley Field to play the Cubs (3:08 p.m.), while the Phillies and Brewers wait for the winners of those series in the National League Division Series.

The Tigers (Tarik Skubal) are -169 moneyline favourites at DraftKings for Tuesday’s game, the Guardians (Gavin Williams) are +138. In New York DraftKings has the Yankees (Max Fried) at -136, while the Red Sox (Garrett Crochet) are +112.

Injuries of Note for Tomorrow

At BetMGM, the Cubs (TBD) are moneyline favourites at -115, with the Padres (Nick Pivetta) at -105. The Dodgers (Blake Snell) are moneyline favorites at -200, the Reds (Hunter Greene) are +165.

Injuries of note: Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm, forearm, day-to-day, not in the lineup for yesterday’s 4-1 win over the Orioles; Red Sox SP Dustin May, elbow, 15-day DL, threw his second live bullpen session Friday, and RP Jordan Hicks, 15-day IL, shoulder, cleared to play catch, Guardians’ SP John Means, 60-day IL, elbow, pitched 5.1 innings for Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

For the Reds, LF Austin Hays, back, is day-to-day, as is Nick Lodolo, SP, groin, who is throwing pitches from a bullpen mound, according to MLB.com; Dodgers’ 3B Max Muncy, lower body, day-to-day, expected to be back for Tuesday; Cubs’ catcher Miguel Amaya, ankle, 10-day IL, rehab assignments in Triple A.

Dodgers and Brewers Popular Bet To Win World Series

Don’t forget – the Guardians don’t have relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase, out since an investigation began alleged connections to gambling. Clase had 47 saves last season and had 24 this season before the suspension, and had 42 and 44 saves in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

“The Dodgers and Brewers are two of the most popular bets to win the World Series. Surprisingly, the Yankees winning it all would be the best outcome for the sportsbook,” said Halvor Egeland, Senior Trader, BetMGM. “If the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox advance, this could be the most bet MLB Playoffs in BetMGM history.” 

In AL Pennant betting at BetMGM, the favorite is the Mariners at +200, highest ticket percentage is the Tigers at 18.2%, highest handle percentage is the Yankees at 23.3%. On the NL Pennant side, the Phillies are the favourite at +210, highest ticket percentage are the Phillies and Dodgers at 14.0%, and highest handle percentage is the Dodgers at 17.0%.

Great Value on Red Sox for Bettors

“Yankees-Red Sox certainly should be the most bet,” said Phill Gray, the former head of trading operations at Sports Interaction for more than 20 years, and an industry sports betting consultant. “Yankees are very short in my opinion, -165 to take the series outright. Always a heavily backed public favourite obviously, but that price to me seems to be getting out ahead of that action, so some great value on Boston at that inflated price for them coming back. Game 1 with ace Garret Crochet is paying right now +107 … again certainly some potential for a heavily bet moneyline I’m sure. Yankees are strong at home but Crochet has owned them (4-0) and notably struck out Judge 11 of 15.

“The other marquee series I’ll be watching is Reds versus Dodgers. We would have thought L.A. would skip the wildcard at the beginning of the season but here they are and rightly so price wise – a whopping -245 to take the series. L.A. has a much better offense for sure but the Reds match up decently in pitching. I expect to see heavy action on the Overs as the public thinks the Dodger bats will be pounding it at home.

“Ohtani going two-way this post season should produce an interesting mix of individual props on him. Uncertain what pitching role he plays but when he’s in there there will be I’m sure some interesting in-play markets available.”