Best MLB Bets Today – Free (Friday 9/29)

Welcome to a Friday edition of MLB best bets. This is the final weekend in the MLB regular season, and we still have a few teams with playoff baseball in reach. We’ll take a look into Game 1 of a three-game set between the visiting Miami Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates, taking place at PNC Park. 

Miami Marlins @ Pittsburgh Pirates

The Marlins have heated up once again to end the season and enter Friday’s game with a half-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the third and final NL Wild Card spot. It’s set up to be a dream ending for the fish, as they’ve put the ball in their own court with a win-and-you’re-in scenario to end the season.  

In Friday’s Game 1, the Marlins will hand the ball off to right-hander Edward Cabrera. Cabrera has been efficient in his second stint with the Marlins this season. He has a 4.22 ERA on the year but has pitched 19 innings in September and only allowed 4 earned runs with 22 strikeouts across that stretch. 

The Marlins have dominated the head-to-head meetings with Pittsburgh lately, winning seven of the last 10 games. Miami also enters playing the better baseball with a 16-9 record since the end of August while the Pirates have lost three of their last four games. 

The Pirates have not confirmed a starter for Friday’s game, but projections have Quinn Priester slated to make his eighth start. Priester has struggled on the year, with a 3-2 record, 7.86 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. The pitching and lineup advantages go towards the Marlins in this must win spot, we’ll back them to keep their playoff hopes alive with a road win.

Best Bet

Miami Marlins ML (-120, DraftKings Sportsbook) — 1-Unit Wager