MLB Betting Guide for September 2: NL Wild Card Chase Heats Up

September baseball is upon us, and after an epic weekend of action, we have an exciting slate of holiday games to look forward to today. Let’s dive into it all!

In the afternoon, we have a couple of intriguing divisional matchups: the Kansas City Royals will look to break out of their slump against the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, and the Arizona Diamondbacks will host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Plus, we have a very lop-sided matchup, and our model projects for the Baltimore Orioles to beat the Chicago White Sox by a staggering 5.8 runs today!

Shifting gears to tonight, the New York Mets will host the Boston Red Sox in a critical matchup. After the Philadelphia Phillies took three of four from the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, the Mets now sit just a single game back of the Braves for the NL’s final wild-card spot. Just two games behind them, the streaking Chicago Cubs will host the collapsing Pittsburgh Pirates in Wrigley.

Closing out the night, the Texas Rangers will host the New York Yankees in a fun AL battle, where we have you covered with a +1000 ultimate same-game parlay.

It should be a great night of baseball, so stay with SportsGrid to be covered on everything. Let’s ride! 

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks.

MLB Betting Guide for September 2

Tonight’s Best Bets: Today’s Top Props | +1000 Yankees-Rangers SGP

2:10 p.m ET: St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers

• Run Line: Brewers -1.5 | Moneyline: Brewers -166 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: American Family Field (Milwaukee, WI)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Andre Pallante (ERA: 3.80; K/9: 6.63) vs. Freddy Peralta (ERA: 3.70: 10.44)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 7.5 (5-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Brewers by 0.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Nolan Arenado OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +200) | William Contreras OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +125)

3:05 p.m ET: Chicago White Sox @ Baltimore Orioles

• Run Line: Orioles -1.5 | Moneyline: Orioles -405 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Camden Yards (Baltimore, MD)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from left

Starting Pitching Matchup: Chris Flexen (ERA: 5.29; K/9: 6.30) vs. Corbin Burnes (ERA: 3.23; K/9: 8.22)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Brewers ML (2-Stars) | UNDER 9.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Orioles by 5.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Andrew Benintendi OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +220) | Corbin Burnes UNDER 6.5 Ks (5-Stars)

4:10 p.m ET: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Arizona Diamondbacks

• Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 | Moneyline: Dodgers -144 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Chase Field (Phoenix, AZ)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jack Flaherty (ERA: 3.07; K/9: 11.13) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (ERA: 5.06; K/9: 6.75)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Diamondbacks +1.5 (4-Stars) | Diamondbacks ML (4-Stars, +122) | OVER 8.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Diamondbacks by 0.3 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Shohei Ohtani OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +100) | Eugenio Suarez OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +200)

4:10 p.m ET: Cleveland Guardians @ Kansas City Royals

• Run Line: Guardians -1.5 | Moneyline: Guardians -104 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO) 
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Gavin Williams (ERA: 4.99; K/9: 9.97) vs. Michael Wacha (ERA: 3.50; K/9: 7.77)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Royals +1.5 (4-Stars) | Royals ML (5-Stars) | OVER 8 (4-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Royals by 1.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Bobby Witt Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +130)

4:10 p.m ET: Houston Astros @ Cincinnati Reds

• Run Line: Astros -1.5 | Moneyline: Astros -162 | Total: 9.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, OH)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to the right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Justin Verlander (ERA: 4.16; K/9: 8.06) vs. Julian Aguiar (ERA: 6.43; K/9: 4.50) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Reds +1.5 (5-Stars) | Reds ML (5-Stars, +136) | OVER 9.5 (3-Stars) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Reds by 0.4 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Justin Verlander UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars, +116) | Julian Aguiar UNDER 3.5 Ks (5-Stars)

6:40 p.m ET: Detroit Tigers @ San Diego Padres

• Run Line: Padres -1.5 | Moneyline: Padres -196 | Total: 8
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Petco Park (San Diego, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from left to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Undecided vs. Joe Musgrove (ERA: 4.44; K/9: 7.99) 

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Awaiting Tigers’ Starter 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Awaiting Tigers’ Starter

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Awaiting Tigers’ Starter

6:50 p.m ET: Minnesota Twins @ Tampa Bay Rays

• Run Line: Twins -1.5 | Moneyline: Twins -108 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Simeon Woods Richardson (ERA: 3.85; K/9: 7.85) vs. Zack Littell (ERA: 3.89; K/9: 8.05)  

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Twins ML (3-Stars) | OVER 7.5 (1-Star) 

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Twins by 0.6 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Simeon Woods Richardson UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars)

7:07 p.m ET: Seattle Mariners @ Oakland Athletics 

• Run Line: Mariners -1.5 | Moneyline: Mariners -142 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing out to right-center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Logan Gilbert (ERA: 3.09; K/9: 9.02) vs. Osvaldo Bido (ERA: 3.21; K/9: 9.00)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Athletics +1.5 (4.5-Stars) | Athletics ML (4-Stars) | UNDER 7.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Athletics by 0.2 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Logan Gilbert UNDER 7.5 Ks (5-Stars) | Osvaldo Bido UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars)

7:10 p.m ET: Boston Red Sox @ New York Mets 

• Run Line: Mets -1.5 | Moneyline: Mets -126 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Citi Field (Queens, NY)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing across from left to right

Starting Pitching Matchup: Brayan Bello (ERA: 4.66; K/9: 8.61) vs. Luis Severino (ERA: 3.96; K/9: 7.74)

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 7.5 (1-Star)  

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Mets by 0.3 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Brayan Bello UNDER 5.5 Ks (5-Stars, +122) | Mark Vientos OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165)

7:40 p.m ET: Pittsburgh Pirates @ Chicago Cubs 

• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 | Moneyline: Cubs -142 | Total: 7.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
• Weather Notes: Clear, winds blowing in from center

Starting Pitching Matchup: Jared Jones (ERA: 3.88; K/9: 9.66) vs. Jameson Taillon (ERA: 3.85; K/9: 7.02)

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Pirates ML (1-Star) | OVER 7.5 (5-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Cubs by 0.1 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Andrew McCutchen OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165) | Dansby Swanson OVER RBIs (5-Stars, +180)

8:05 p.m ET: New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers

• Run Line: Yankees -1.5 | Moneyline: Yankees -184 | Total: 8.5
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV | Location: Globe Life Field (Arlington, TX)
• Weather Notes: Dome

Starting Pitching Matchup: Gerrit Cole (ERA: 3.86; K/9: 9.86) vs. Jack Leiter (ERA: 12.83; K/9: 7.43)  

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 8.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Predicted Game Outcome: Yankees by 1.8 Runs

SportsGrid’s Top Props: Jazz Chisholm Jr. OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +165) | Corey Seager OVER 0.5 RBIs (5-Stars, +145)

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