The 2024 MLB Postseason rolls on as we dive into the top MLB picks and MLB best bets for Saturday, October 12th. We have just one game on tap today as the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers face off in Game 5 of the ALDS. Let’s dive into MLB best bets as you enjoy the action!

 

 

MLB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 10/12

As always, be sure to shop around for the best Vegas Odds and Lines at different sportsbooks as you place those MLB best bets. The odds in this article below are accurate as of this writing. 

Without further ado, let’s check out my MLB picks and MLB predictions for Saturday, October 12th.

 

 

 

Tigers vs. Guardians Prediction Game 5: Saturday, October 12th

It all comes down to Game 5 in this AL Divisional Series between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians. The Tigers have Tarik Skubal on the mound while the Guardians will start Matthew Boyd. We just saw this pitching matchup in Game 2 as both starters were sharp in a 3-0 win for Detroit. That was a low-scoring contest and we’re banking on something similar for this Game 5 showdown. 

Skubal comes in as the hottest pitcher in baseball – just as he was during the entire regular season. Detroit’s ace tossed 7 shutout innings back in Game 2, striking out 8 with no walks and just 3 hits allowed. The presumed AL Cy Young winner is nearly unhittable right now with a current 24-inning scoreless streak spanning his past four starts. Skubal had a 1.85 ERA and 1.98 FIP over his final 8 regular-season starts and has now thrown 13 shutout innings in his first two postseason outings. 

Barring an uncharacteristic blowup, Skubal should limit the Cleveland offense that’s been shut out twice in four ALDS games. If he runs into any trouble, expect Tigers manager A.J. Hinch to deploy his slew of relievers like he’s done all series. The Detroit bullpen has a 2.65 ERA during the postseason. 

Meanwhile, Boyd can hold serve for as long as he’s in this game. The Guardians’ left-hander tossed 4.2 shutout innings in Game 2 and boasted a 2.72 ERA across his 8 regular-season starts. Detroit was a bottom-5 offense against lefties this year and had a .261 wOBA, 69 wRC+, .199 BA, and 31.0% K rate vs. southpaws in the season’s final month. If Boyd does get into any jams, though, bank on Cleveland to use their league-best relief corps to limit the damage. 

Overall, runs should be at a premium for this winner-take-all Game 5. We should have confidence in both Skubal and Boyd to keep things low-scoring early on while the bullpens have proven to be very effective in the later innings. Grab the under for the full game and the first five innings. The day off in between Games 4 and 5 benefits both bullpens with extra rest and the managers will be aggressive to use every high-leverage arm possible whenever there’s a rally threat. 

 

 

 

Best MLB Player Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 10/12

The top MLB player prop bets today feature Jose Ramirez. The Cleveland superstar had been quiet this series until he launched a solo home run last game. Let’s bank on him carrying that momentum into this matchup, especially considering Ramirez has a .284 batting average and .880 OPS over his past 13 playoff games since 2020. 

Facing Skubal isn’t ideal, obviously, but Ramirez is hitting .375 in his career against the Tigers’ left-hander. He also had a .348 BA and 1.081 OPS against lefties during the regular season. Let’s take the over on his total bases and hits + runs + RBI props at plus-money. 

Finally, let’s go with a Matthew Boyd prop to wrap up the MLB picks. As mentioned, we’ll likely see a quick hook for Boyd if he gets into any trouble. Cleveland may also want to pull him after three or four innings to get a right-hander in there and flip the Tigers’ lineup around. The Guardians have a number of elite relievers to go to. All in all, Boyd’s strikeouts should be limited.