MLB Wild Card Round 2025 Betting Preview: Odds, Predictions, Picks

Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians Odds, Prediction, Betting Pick

• • Detroit Tigers (-110)
  • Cleveland Guardians (-110)

The Detroit Tigers are back into the postseason after blowing a 15.5-game lead for the AL Central title! They broke an MLB record that no club wants to be a part of, as the team to blow the largest division lead ever.

After a red-hot start to the season, the Tigers have gone 34-42 since July 1. They were 7-16 in September and barely did enough to clinch a postseason berth. AJ Hinch’s team has won just two of their last ten games but one of them was on Saturday over the Red Sox to secure a wildcard!

If the Detroit Tigers miss the playoffs after leading the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins by 14 games and Cleveland Guardians by 15 1/2 on July 8 – it would be the biggest advantage blown by a team that did not win its division or league in modern AL/NL history 👀

H/T… pic.twitter.com/4rL8IYmWUN

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 24, 2025

That was against a Red Sox team that largely benched their starters after guaranteeing a seed. It wasn’t necessarily a reason to celebrate in Detroit. Now, can the Tigers bounce back and oust the team that clawed all the way to take the AL Central?

Aside from starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, I don’t have much confidence right now in this unit. He should pitch well and put his team in a position to win. However, the Tigers need help elsewhere, and it’s hard to find where it’s going to come from right now.

Skubal enters with a 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 31 games played. He’s set to repeat as the 2025 AL Cy Young winner, but the Tigers are 16th overall, with a team ERA of 3.95. The bullpen has been mediocre, with a 4.05 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

Then you look at the Guardians, who have gotten hot at the perfect time. Overall, the Guardians’ pitching staff is fourth in MLB, with a 3.70 ERA. The Guardians are 19-7 in 26 games in September. Before the All-Star break, they had a team ERA of 3.92, and 3.36 ERA afterward, so timely pitching has been the key.

Gavin Williams works his way out of a jam with back-to-back punchouts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/i7CjizSBQ7

— MLB (@MLB) September 23, 2025

The Guardians’ bullpen has been outstanding, with a season mark of 3.44, second in the American League. That could ultimately be the difference, but they have the home-field advantage, and momentum is on their side. Cleveland is 45-36 at home, while the Tigers are just 41-40 on the road.

After what has transpired over the last month, the Guardians deserve to be favorites. In short, the Guardians at -110 is a top bet for your 2025 MLB Wild Card Round picks!

San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs Odds, Prediction, Betting Pick

• • San Diego Padres (+100)
  • Chicago Cubs (-120)

The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs clash in a National League showdown in what should be a tight series. The Padres finished two games behind the Dodgers for the NL West title with a record of 90-72. Meanwhile, the Cubs couldn’t keep pace with the red-hot Brewers in the second half and settled for a 92-70 mark and a five-game deficit.

The Padres will have to find a way to win on the road, a place where they’ve found it difficult to win baseball games. They are just 38-43 away from home, where their pitching staff doesn’t have the benefit of playing in the pitcher’s friendly Petco Park.

San Diego’s pitchers have a collective ERA of 4.16 on the road and 3.12 at home! That’s a massive difference and exemplifies how much of an advantage Petco Park can be.

The Padres must find a way to win at Wrigley Field, which isn’t easy. Wrigley was a huge advantage for the Cubs, as they went 50-32 in the regular season.

Overall, the Cubs finished ninth in pitching, with a team ERA of 3.79. The offense was highly underrated, with 223 home runs and 771 RBIs to rank third in the Major Leagues.

Michael Bush has 6 home runs in his last 5 at-bats.

It is an MLB record pic.twitter.com/kWxVA6kzOw

— Statfax (@statfax) September 16, 2025

With Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Michael Bush, the Cubs have three hitters with at least 31 homers this season. Additionally, Kyle Tucker, Ian Happ, and Kyle Tucker give the Cubs three more hitters with a minimum of 22 homers.

The way I see it, the Cubs are the most underrated team in the postseason. They are well-balanced offensively and on the mound. This club is capable of winning a pitching duel or with their power bats! So, I recommend the Cubs to win this one for your MLB Wild Card betting picks.

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Odds, Prediction, Betting Pick

• • Boston Red Sox (+145)
  • New York Yankees (-165)

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees renew their rivalry in the postseason. This is the most anticipated series between two of the most historic baseball clubs in MLB history. The winner will travel to Toronto next week to open the ALDS against the Blue Jays.

The Yankees are a strong favorite over the Red Sox in the Wild Card Round. At -165, the bookies give them a 62.3% implied probability to win the series. However, I expect this to be much closer than the odds suggest against the Red Sox.

It wasn’t the Yankees’ best effort against Boston this season. The Red Sox won the regular season series with nine wins in 13 matchups! With a season record of 89-73, the Red Sox finished five games behind the Yankees.

They posted a record of 35-28 after the All-Star break and came up clutch late to clinch a postseason berth. While the Yankees have the offensive advantage with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the pitching edge goes to the Red Sox with ace Garrett Crochet on the mound.

Garrett Crochet dominated in his first season in Boston!

He finishes 2025 with the most strikeouts in baseball 🐷 pic.twitter.com/N5URbc6PcR

— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2025

The Red Sox posted a team ERA of 3.70 to finish in a tie for fourth. Crochet spearheads the Red Sox with a 2.59 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 32 performances. He was on the heels of Skubal for the Cy Young this season, and beat Skubal in some metrics, including strikeouts with 255.

Overall, the Yankees recorded a 3.91 ERA, 14th in MLB. They make their bread at the plate. Judge is a heated duel with Cal Raleigh for the AL MVP award, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Stanton afford the Yankees solid pop.

However, I am going to side with the better pitching staff, which also includes the second-best bullpen in baseball. The Red Sox notched a 3.41 ERA from their relievers, while the Yankees were eighth-worst in the Majors, posting a 4.37 ERA.

As a hefty underdog, the Red Sox are one of the best MLB Wild Card Round bets!

Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Odds, Prediction, Betting Pick

• • Cincinnati Reds (+219)
  • LA Dodgers (-265)

The Dodgers have the largest odds to win in the Wild Card Round. As a massive -265 favorite, the champions hold a 72.6% implied probability of completing the first step in their title defense.

It’s unlike the Dodgers to see them in the Wild Card, but it was an up-and-down year in Los Angeles. They went through hot and cold stretches, ultimately finishing 93-69 to yield the top two spots in the National League to the Phillies and Brewers.

Injuries played a role, as the pitching staff was dealt a series of curveballs. Now healthier with Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell back in the starting rotation, the Dodgers appear poised to go on a run. With the lights brighter in the postseason, expect the Dodgers to look motivated again.

The Dodgers finished first in the National League with 244 home runs and 791 RBIs. Led by Shohei Ohtani’s .282 batting average and 55 home runs, the Dodgers are in good hands. Ohtani caught fire late with five long balls in 10 games.

NEW CAREER HIGH
NEW @DODGERS SINGLE-SEASON RECORD

SHOHEI OHTANI, HOME RUN NO. 55! pic.twitter.com/MNi2GawyyA

— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2025

Statistically, the Dodgers didn’t excel on the mound, but in healthier form now, they should be fine against the Reds. Cincinnati is 21st in the Majors, with only 167 home runs. Additionally, the Reds were lukewarm offensively, with 677 RBIs for 15th.

The Dodgers dominated the Reds in the regular season, with a record of 5-1 in six matchups. -265 is a big number, but the Dodgers should clear the Reds in the Wild Card Round.