MLB Betting News and Trends For Sunday 10/7/18

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Colorado Rockies Preview and Predictions 10-07-2018 in MLB

The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of advancing to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2011 and all they have to do is win one of the next three games. The Brewers will try to take care of things quickly and earn a sweep of the best-of-five NL Division Series when they visit the Colorado Rockies for Game 3 on Sunday.

Milwaukee relied on the depth of its bullpen and its lineup to win the first two games of the series, with hitters in the bottom half of the order doing the offensive damage in a 4-0 victory in Game 2. "We've become a team with a lot of depth, and that's how we're going to have to win," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told reporters. "They're making an effort to be very, very cautious with (MVP candidate Christian) Yelich. It's pretty clear. So, guys behind him are going to have opportunities." The Rockies totaled two runs in the first two games of the series but went 47-34 at home during the regular season and will send their two best pitchers - German Marquez and Kyle Freeland - to the mound in the next two games. "I think playing at home can get us going. We still need to do what we have to do to win. We've got to pitch well and we have to swing the bats," Colorado manager Bud Black told reporters. "We have pitched well (in Milwaukee) but we haven't swung the bats. Again, day off (Saturday), get back on the horse on Sunday and see where we are."

TV: 4:37 p.m. ET, MLB Network

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Wade Miley (5-2, 2.57 ERA) vs. Rockies RH German Marquez (14-11, 3.77)

Miley last suffered a loss at St. Louis on Aug. 18 but slowed over the final few weeks of the regular season. The Louisiana native did not record an out in the sixth inning during any of his last four starts and was roughed up for a combined seven runs - six earned - across seven innings over his last two turns. Miley, who is making his postseason debut, went up against the Rockies on Aug. 5 and was reached for three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings without factoring in the decision.

Marquez is a strikeout machine and finished 2018 with a career-high 230 across 196 innings. The 23-year-old Venezuelan did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his last 13 starts and surrendered two or fewer in 11 of those turns. Marquez, who is also making his postseason debut, suffered through one of his worst outings at home against Milwaukee on May 10, when he yielded five runs on 12 hits and three walks while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers are winners of 10 straight games going back to the regular season.

2. Colorado SS Trevor Story is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in the series.

3. Brewers LHP Josh Hader did not allow a baserunner in a combined 1 2/3 innings over the first two games.

PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Brewers 2

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves Preview and Predictions 10-07-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 6th October 2018 by Gracenote

The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing their best baseball of the season at just the right time, as they are on the verge of reaching the National League Championship Series for the third consecutive year entering Game 3 of the NL Division Series Sunday against the host Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers have dominated in building a 2-0 series lead, hitting five homers and not allowing a run or a walk while receiving 15 innings from starters Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw to improve to 21-9 since Sept. 1.

Joc Pederson has sparked Los Angeles' offense, belting a leadoff homer in the series opener before beginning Game 2 with a double and scoring on Manny Machado's two-run blast later in the frame as the team took a first-inning lead in each contest. "We're just excited that we got the lead early on, and we're able to feed off that," Pederson told reporters regarding an offense that has scored nine runs despite registering only 10 hits - seven for extra bases. The Braves have scored fewer than two runs in six of their last seven contests and are 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the series, as rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte are the only two members of the team with more than one hit after two games. "You can't blame any one person," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker told reporters. "I mean, it's just our whole lineup is having a hard time."

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (8-5, 2.62 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (12-9, 3.90)

Buehler has been the one constant in a rotation hit hard by injuries this season, as the rookie has posted a 2.31 ERA in 23 starts (he allowed five runs in one relief appearance) while holding opposing hitters to a .185 batting average and a .531 OPS. The 24-year-old is 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 41 hits allowed over 75 1/3 innings in his last 12 starts, limiting Colorado to one hit over 6 2/3 frames in the NL West tiebreaker game on Monday. Buehler defeated Atlanta at home on June 8, surrendering one run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Braves planned to start Kevin Gausman, but after seeing the Dodgers succeed against right-handers in the first two games, they decided to turn to Newcomb, who came within one strike of tossing a no-hitter versus Los Angeles on July 29. The 25-year-old struggled after that outing, giving up five or more runs four times in his next eight starts, but finished the season with 5 2/3 scoreless frames. Newcomb worked two impressive innings of relief in Game 1, allowing one hit with two strikeouts while throwing 17 of his 25 pitches for strikes.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are the first team since the 1921 New York Yankees to open a postseason series with back-to-back shutouts.

2. Snitker told reporters during Saturday's off-day that he plans to move Inciarte into the No. 2 spot in the batting order, as 3B Johan Camargo has gone 0-for-8 in the series.

3. Los Angeles RHP Kenley Jansen gave up one hit with one strikeout during a scoreless ninth inning in Game 2.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Dodgers 2