For what it’s worth, on Tuesday my streak of five straight winning days came to an abrupt end. Fortunately, my losing streak only lasted one day.   

Of the eight sides that I used on my parlay card yesterday, five won as the Tigers and Guardians won both their 1^st 5 and full games, and the Royals also won their full game.  The Twin were my one loser as they lost both their 1^st 5 and full game to the wretched Marlins and the Royals pushed their 1^st 5.  Of my three sie bets, the Padres won both their 1^st 5 and full game against the the Dodgers, and the Rangers pushed their 1^st 5. 

I finished the day +23.47 units, leaving me +300.15 units for the season.  That is an amazing turnround for someone who spent the first five month of the season struggling to get out of his own way. 2024 has been a truly strange season for me.  Close to three weeks ago, I got very sick with Covid.  I thought that I might actually die.  I am much better now, mayb not 100% yet, but getting there. 

The really strange thing is that when I was finally well enough to pick games again, my handicapping results suddenly and inexplicably improved dramatically.  I can’t explain it.  I didn’t have the time or inclination to do my usual detailed handicapping and I wasn’t doing anything differently, but I just started winning like crazy.  I suspect it was just one of those weird coincidences and didn’t mean anything, but  I also think that almost six months into the 2024 MLB season, I had a better handle on who or what these teams really are.

 With just a few days left in the regular season and a lot of meaningless games, while we have a full slate of games today, there are only two that I’m willing to put money on.  Here is my very small Wednesday card.

As mentioned above, while I am much better, but I’m still not completely recovered yet, so I will again be very brief in this final week of the regular season.  Here are my thought on the two games that I am on.

ATL @ NYM

The Braves beat the Mets 5-1 last night.  The Mets currently hold the second NL wild card spot, a half a game ahead of the Diamodbacks and one game ahead of the Braves.  This game obviously matters a hell of a lot. 

The Mets are the better hitting team, averaging a little less than half a run oer game more than the Braves, with a 7-point better wOBA and a 10-point better wRC+.  However, the Braves have the better bullpen with a lower WHIP and ERA.  That brings us to the two starting pitchers, and that is where the Braves should have the biggest edge.  Chris Sale was originally scheduled to pitch last night, which would have set him up for a two-start week to close out the sseason, but his average fastball velocity was down over two miles per hour in his last outing on Thursday against the Reds. As a result, the Braves opted to push Sale back a day and start rookie Spencer Schwellenbach.  Sale should be available to pitch the first game of the wild-card series, should the Braves make the playoffs.  Sale, who is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, is having a tremendous season.  Ge lead the NL the NL  with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA and 225 Ks.  Southpaw David Peterson failed to reach the 5^th for the first time this season in his last start v the Phils, as he gave up a run in every single inning during his 64-pitch outing. This is now the second time in three starts that Peterson has given up 4 earned runs after previously stringing together seven straight outings in which he gave up 2 or fewer runs. The 29-year-old's a 1.33 WHIP and 3.08  ERA have both  risen over 114  innings with a 93/43 K/BB ratio.

Pick – ATL 1^st 5 and full game MLs ib a few parlays

SF @ ARIZ

The Giants crushed the Diamondbacks 11-0 to take a 2-0 series lead.  The Diamondbacks are still clinging to the final NL wild card spot by just a half a game over the Braves for the final NL wild card spot.

They haven’t shown it in this series, but the Diamondbacks are the much better hitting team, averaging well over a full run more than the Giants with a 30-point better WOBA and a 17-point better WRC+.  However, while the Diamondbacks have been much better since the As break, the overall full season numbers give the Giants the bullen edge.  That brings us to the two starting pitchers.  Rookie Mason Black turned the besperformance of his young career with his first scoreless start at the Royals . Before that start, Black had been stuck in a cold spell  is contest, pitching to a 5.27 ERA over 13.2 innings since re-entering the rotation Aug. 31. He still carries and ugly 1.51 WHIP and 5.88 ERA with a 28/10 K/BB ratio over 33.2 innings.  Zac Gallen blanked the Brewers over 4 innings  before falling apart in the 5^th.   It should be noted that it was the first time than Gallen gave up multiple Hrs since April 26, and he's good down the stretch as the Diamondbacks push for a playoff spot, going 4-0 over his last six outings with a 1.19 WHIP and 3.38 ERA, with a 43/15 K/BB ratio over 32 innings.

This game means nothing to the Giants, but the Diamondbacks desperately need this one and with a much better offense and the better starting pitcher, I think that they get it.

Pick – ARIZ 1^st 5 and full game MLs in a few parlays