MLB postseason picks: Braves vs. Dodgers, Astros vs. Red Sox

The MLB postseason rolls on this Tuesday with a pair of important championship round games!

First, the Atlanta Braves will look to take a commanding 3-0 NLCS lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then the red-hot Boston Red Sox will look to keep their momentum going and grab a 3-1 ALCS advantage over the Houston Astros.

Below are our best bets for each contest.

Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers, 5:08 p.m. ET, TBS

Monday’s travel day for the NLCS gave both bullpens a chance to recuperate, and Dodger fans and extra day to brood about Dave Roberts’ decision to bring in potential Game 4 starter Julio Urias in a losing effort in the eighth inning of Game 2. As it stands, L.A. has a good chance at getting back into this series with the Braves on Tuesday night as they send Walker Buehler to the mound against Charlie Morton.

Buehler has had a full week to regather himself after pitching decently on short rest in the NLDS (4 1/3 innings, one earned run allowed in Game 4). The NL Cy Young candidate excelled when given extra time off this season, authoring a 2.11 ERA and 0.879 WHIP over 132 innings. Buehler had a 3.09 ERA and 1.123 WHIP on the standard four days’ rest this year (75 2/3 innings).

By contrast, Morton’s ERA and WHIP rose from 3.28 and 0.876 to 3.43 and 1.160, respectively, when given more than four days between starts.

The winner of this game will mostly likely be the team that scores first in a potential pitcher’s duel. The Under looks appealing, and so does parlaying the Dodgers to score first and win, lest they have their backs to the wall in Game 4.

MLB pick: Dodgers to score first and win (+148)

Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox, 8:08 p.m. ET, FS1

Expect the runs to keep on coming in bunches at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.

The Astros’ starters have been getting shelled this postseason, especially over the last two games of this series. Zack Greinke could add fuel to the fire as he makes his first start in a month based on his 12.46 ERA from his last three starts of 2021. The Red Sox rocked Greinke for four runs over three innings in his lone outing against them this year.

Look for outfielder Hunter Renfroe – 7-for-23 (.307) all-time against Greinke with three home runs – to make an impact at the plate here.

Nick Pivetta counters for Boston, and he’s pitched decently in long relief in two outings this postseason. But he’ll probably cede things to the Red Sox relief corps before the fifth inning, giving a shaky bullpen extra work. Ryan Brasier and Hansel Robles have hardly inspired confidence in these playoffs. But the same can be said for Houston’s relievers.

MLB pick: Over