The Yankees are playing tough in elimination games...

So, Quinn Priester can be beaten! After winning in 19 straight games in which he started, the Brewers finally lost in Priester's final regular-season start vs. the Reds on September 26. In truth, Priester hasn't even been overly dominant on the hill, as his ERA since the start of August is a good, but not overwhelming, 3.42. Recent outings have been of the five-inning length. The bullpen will need to close this out today for Milwaukee. If, that is, the Brewers can, as the desperate Cubs need a win to stay afloat, as Jameson Taillon has pitched well enough in recent outings (1.42 ERA since being reactivated in mid-August) to give Chicago a puncher's chance.

Staying alive might be a chore for the Tigers in Game 4 as their offense is scoring only 3 runs pg in this series. We saw the Detroit propensity for low-scoring games in Games 1 & 2 if not in Tuesday's Game 3. Detroit's offense remains of the swing-and-miss variety and the Tigers so that 3 runs pg in this series is no surprise. Casey Mize, however, was generally up to the task on the mound down the stretch, not allowing more than three runs in any of his starts since the beginning of September. A bigger concern on the mound is Seattle's Bryce Miller, though if not sharper than his September work (5.61 ERA), the Mariners bullpen gets plenty of work. Play Mariners-Tigers Under

We've had flashbacks to the 1980 ALCS when the favored Yankees found themselves on the wrong end of a three-game sweep, including the clinching Game 3 for KC, when George Brett's 3-run homer off of Goose Gossage in the 7th inning put the Royals ahead to stay. After getting shelled in the first two games in Toronto, NY is on the ropes again. Shane Bieber, with a 2.60 ERA in his last three starts, is also a good option on the mound for Toronto in a close-out game. Aaron Boone has to worry that beyond the five or six innings Carlos Rodon can likely give him tonight with his bullpen mostly ineffective in this series. Play Blue Jays on the Money Line.

We can say this with some conviction about the Tigers in this series...if they're involved, it's likely going to be a low-scoring game. Detroit's hit-and-miss offense is partly responsible, but so is representative pitching, which we've seen in the first two games of this series that both ended with 3-2 scorelines. Though shoved to the back of the rotation, Jack Flaherty still remains capable of delivering five innings of serviceable work before turning things over to the bullpen. Meanwhile, Logan Gilbert, capped at six innings, it seems, is off of a good September on the Seattle side, posting a 2.30 ERA in five starts. Play Mariners-Tigers Under.

We suspect this is the series most likely to go the full five games in the Division Round after splitting a pair of 3-2 decisions at T-Mobile Park. The theme of this series was established in Seattle as underdog sides won Games 1 & 2. Detroit doesn't score much, but has shown the ability to bunch runs in a specific inning, and Jack Flaherty is capable of giving AJ Hinch five innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen. The offense hasn't been clicking yet for the Mariners in this series and there will be much pressure on Logan Gilbert to keep Seattle in the game before turning matters over to his bullpen in the later innings. Play Tigers on the Money Line.

A good place to start for the Cubs would be not allowing 6 runs in the first inning like Saturday. Recent efforts on the mound from Shota Imanaga, however, suggest that if Chicago gets back into this series tonight, it's not likely to be in a pitching duel, as Imanaga's recent numbers aren't especially encouraging, including his 6.51 ERA in September. He also lasted just four innings vs. the Padres in the wild card round round last Wednesday in Chicago's only loss of the series. The Cubs are hoping that they can do some business at the plate on Monday in what looms a bullpen game for the Brewers with Aaron Ashby getting the ball first from Pat Murphy. Play Cubs-Brewers Over.

Trouble looms for the Phils as they risk flying to LA down 2-0 in a best-of-five series. Complicating matters is going up against Blake Snell, who spun seven shutout innings of 2-hit ball the last time he faced the Phils on September 17. The Phillies did win 2 of 3 in that series, however, and still hold the season edge on the Dodgers, so confidence level should be sufficiently high. Jesus Luzardo got the loss that night three weeks ago at Chavez Ravine but was 8-2 at CBP this season and way back on April 2 did handcuff the Blue at CBP, allowing no runs and just two hits across 7 IP of a 3-2 Phils win. Play Phillies on the Money Line.

The Yankee's go-to option all season in their rotation has been Max Fried, and no reason that should change in the ALDS at Toronto. Fried was sharp in his playoff debut on Tuesday, allowing just four hits in 6 1/3 shutout innings vs. the Bosox, continuing a trend we saw in a near-flawless September, when the Yanks won in all five of Fried's starts as he posted a 1.89 ERA for the month. This is also a crucial spot for the Yanks to get back in this series after dropping the opener, and John Schneider is rolling the dice for the Blue Jays with rookie starter Trey Yesavage, whose MLB experiences counts three starts with a 3.21 ERA in September. Play Yankees on Run Line

Unlike the wild card vs. the Reds, the Dodgers are now facing a team unafraid of them. Remember, the Phils took both series this season from the Blue. Shohei Ohtani, who didn't allow a run in the September starts for the Blue, has been stretching out to 90 pitches in recent starts, raising the possibility he could pitch thru the sixth innings, perhaps a bit longer, in Game One...but that assumes he's not getting touched by the Phils, as he didn't face them this season. Season-long excellence from Christopher Sanchez, especially at home where he was 6-0 and spun a 1.94 ERA this season, bodes well for the Phils to get off to a quick start in this series. Play Phillies on Run Line

The Yankees wanted this matchup though at the moment they might like their chances against anyone on the AL side. It's been a big couple of weeks for the Bronx Bombers, having won 13 of 15, and polishing off the Bosox in the wild card. Moreover, the Yanks have won the last five starts made by Game One starter Luis Gil. Earlier this season, the Yanks lost 6 of 7 in Toronto, but Gil recently spun 6 innings of one-run, three-hit ball at the Jays in a 3-1 Yanks win on September 6 in the Bronx. Meanwhile, note that Toronto starter Kevin Gausman allowed four runs in each of his last two regular-season starts (vs. the Bosox and Rays). Play Yankees on Money Line

Time to roll the dice for Alex Cora n this wild card decider with rookie Connelly Early, a September call-up with just four and some encouraging results, though he hasn't pitched beyond five innings. Though Cora could pivot bullpen game if needed. The Yanks stayed alive last night with the 4-3 win, and Aaron Boone doesn't mind handing the ball to his own rookie, Cam Schlittler, who spun a 2.96 ERA in fourteen starts and enters off of a couple of strong outings vs. the Orioles, allowing just one run across 12 1/3 IP in two starts. The Yanks have also won in four of Schlittler's last five starts, as well as 12 of their last 14 overall. Play Yankees on Run Line

The Tigers might be wishing Tarik Skubal could pull a Madison Bumgarner 2014 and pitch again on short rest for today's do-or-die in Cleveland, Detroit has some other concerns into Game 3. Namely, the offense, held to just one run on Wednesday after scoring just 2 in the Game One win. Starter Jack Flaherty needs more help, especially as the Tigers have lost in eight of his last ten starts. Flaherty most definitely isn't Skubal. On the Cleveland side, Slade Cecconi isn't Skubal, either, though he did throw two gems in September, seven innings of two-hit, no-run ball vs. the Twins on September 20, and eight innings of one-hit, shutout work vs. the Royals on September 8. Play Guardians on Money Line

Hardly sure the Reds have the special mindset needed to cope with the Dodgers; unfortunately for Cincy, it looks intimidated by the Blue...and that won't work to keep this series alive beyond tonight. Terry Francona also crossing his fingers with starter Zack Littell, who could only spin a 4.91 ERA in September, though Cincy did win in his last four starts. If the Reds can force a Game 3 on Thursday it will be Andrew Abbott on the hill. Note that Yoshinobu Yamamoto is off of a stellar September for the Blue when spinning an 0.67 ERA in four starts. The Reds have their hands full to stay in this series. Play Dodgers on Run Line

Do-or-die for the Yanks...but might this be a bit of a price overlay? Bosox Wednesday Game 2 starter Brayan Bello recently spun seven shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits, at the Yanks on August 22 in the Bronx. That followed a similar seven shutout innings, also allowing three hits, on June 15 at Fenway Park vs. New York. Aaron Boone's bunch did avenge those defeats on Sept. 13 at Fenway but there is ample evidence that Bello can handle the Yankee offense. Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon didn't have an especially easy time vs. the Bosox this season, with a 5.74 ERA in three starts. Hardly sure the Yanks stay afloat in this series beyond tonight. Play Red Sox on Money Line