MLB Best Bets Today: MLB Betting Picks for Monday, September 22
The final week of the regular season is here and there is still a lot to play for across the league, whether it be playoff spots or playoff seeding. Things start off on a quiet note Monday as there are only three games on the schedule. Despite the limited options, here are three wagers to consider.
Mike Barner's season record: 83-50 (+13.65 units)
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Best MLB Bets Monday
San Diego Padres 
vs. Milwaukee Brewers 
Betting Picks
- Padres vs. Brewers: Under 0.5 1st inning runs (-140) at DraftKings Sportsbook for 1 Unit
The Padres and Brewers both hope to make deep runs in the playoffs. The Brewers have locked up the NL Central and are on pace to have the best record in the National League. The Padres are not only still in the hunt for the NL West, but they are very likely to at least grab the second Wild Card spot in the NL. These teams begin this series with a great starting pitching matchup between Nick Pivetta and Freddy Peralta.
Peralta has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the league down the stretch, allowing one or no runs in seven of his last eight starts. He did not allow a run in the first inning in any of those eight starts. Pivetta hasn't been as dominant, but he has given up two or fewer runs in six of his last seven starts. He did not allow a run in the first inning in four of those seven starts. Helping his cause Monday is that the game will be in San Diego, where he has a 0.82 WHIP for the season. It should prove to be difficult for either of these teams to score in the first inning.
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Atlanta Braves 
vs. Washington Nationals 
Betting Picks
- Braves -0.5 RL first 5 innings (-154) at DraftKings Sportsbook for 1 Unit
- Game total hits: Under 14.5 (-120) at DraftKings Sportsbook for 1 Unit
The Braves and Nationals have long been out of the playoff picture, but this could still be an interesting game with Chris Sale pitching against MacKenzie Gore. This was the same starting pitcher matchup that took place last week in Washington. The Braves won that one, 5-0 in 10 innings. Sale was dominant, allowing three hits and posting nine strikeouts over eight innings. Gore logged 5.1 scoreless innings, finishing with five strikeouts.
Sale has given up one or no runs in nine of his last 10 starts. As good as Gore was when these teams last met, the Braves still have a significant starting pitching advantage between these two. It's difficult to trust these two bullpens, so let's take them out of it and just go with the Braves to have the lead after five innings.
Another appealing wager is taking the under for total hits. The main reason to like this is Sale, who has given up just 95 hits over 115 innings. Gore can have control issues, but he has allowed just 148 hits over 157.2 innings this season. That includes him allowing six or fewer hits in each of his last six starts. The Braves and Nationals both rank inside the bottom-half of baseball in batting average, so asking these teams to combine for at least 15 hits is a lot.
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MLB Picks Recap
- Padres vs. Brewers: Under 0.5 1st inning runs (-140) at DraftKings Sportsbook for 1 Unit
- Braves -0.5 RL first 5 innings (-154) at DraftKings Sportsbook for 1 Unit
- Braves vs. Nationals total hits: Under 14.5 (-120) at DraftKings Sportsbook for 1 Unit
