2020 MLB Playoffs: Braves vs. Marlins, Rays vs. Yankees odds and picks

We’ll take a look at a pair of potential elimination games this Thursday night as the 2020 MLB Playoffs roll on. First, the Atlanta Braves will look to complete the sweep of the Miami Marlins. Then the Tampa Bay Rays hope to send the hated New York Yankees home in Game 4.

Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins, 2:08 p.m. ET, FS1

If the Marlins want to avoid elimination on Thursday afternoon, they’ll need to strike quickly against Braves starter Kyle Wright and ride the coattails of uber-prospect Sixto Sanchez for another day. Their odds are just enticing enough.

Wright sports a dismal 10.29 ERA in two starts against Miami in 2020. Outfielder Corey Dickerson had a pair of hits against Wright, so hopefully he’ll wake up at the plate after two straight 0-for-4 contests to start this NLDS.

Sanchez shut Atlanta out over six innings in his first start against them on Sept. 8 before surrendering four runs to the Braves in just three innings on Sept. 23. He bounced back nicely against the Cubs in the Wild Card round though (five scoreless frames), so perhaps Sanchez can shake that bad day off.

The Braves have the clear advantage in the bullpen department, as they’ve allowed just one earned run in 17 1/3 innings of relief, while the Marlins have allowed four in only 11 1/3 innings. Forging an early lead is imperative for Miami.

MLB pick: Marlins moneyline

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees, 7:10 p.m. ET, TBS

The Rays are in position to eliminate the Yankees and close out an ALDS that’s been an Over bettor’s dream on Thursday night. The strained bullpens of each club figure to do more heavy lifting here, so the Over once again looks like the best bet.

Ryan Thompson, yet to exceed two innings in any outing in 2020, will open things for Tampa. He scattered three hits in two scoreless innings against New York in Game 1. However, once Thompson departs, Rays manager Kevin Cash will need to piece together the requisite number of outs with a bullpen that owns a 3.93 ERA (next-to-last of the remaining eight teams) in these playoffs. Bombers slugger Giancarlo Stanton – with six homers and 13 RBI since the postseason began – casts a large shadow, both figuratively and literally.

Meanwhile, Yankee skipper Aaron Boone is hoping Jordan Montgomery (2-3, 5.11 ERA in 2020) can bridge the gap to the heart of his bullpen. As it stands, the Bombers relief corps sports a 5.32 ERA through 22 innings, the worst mark of the eight teams still in playoff contention. New York needs to find a way to stop Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who’s batting .600 this postseason and has homered in each of the first three games of this series.

MLB Free Play: Over

All remaining MLB Playoff games for Thursday, Oct. 8

Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros, 3:35 p.m. ET, TBS

MLB pick: Astros moneyline

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres, 9:08 p.m. ET, MLBN

MLB pick: Dodgers run line