The Playoffs Are Here
The 2026 MLB playoffs are officially underway, and the stakes are absolutely massive. With the Wild Card round moving to a quick-fire three-game series format, every single pitch carries weight. Today’s slate features a legendary clash between the Yankees and the Red Sox, alongside a Padres-Cubs showdown that has experts buzzing. Real talk: it’s the perfect time to get in on the action.
The Breakdown
SportsLine’s Projection Model is heading into the postseason on a heater, currently riding a 31-25 run on top-rated MLB money-line picks that has returned over $900 for $100 players.
For the Yankees vs. Red Sox matchup, the model is signaling the Over 6.5 runs as a high-value play, projecting it to hit in 61.8% of simulations. Despite the Yankees starting AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA) against Boston’s Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03 ERA), the history is there: the two teams averaged 7.3 runs per game during their 13 regular-season meetings.
Meanwhile, SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is leaning toward the Cubs to jump on the Padres early in Game 1. Hochman highlighted that Cubs hitters like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, and Ian Happ are well-positioned to exploit what he calls an overvalued Michael King, noting, "Michael King is the most overvalued postseason starter, with underlying stats suggesting major negative regression."
Beyond the diamond, NFL expert R.J. White is already looking ahead to Sunday, spotting value in the Broncos covering the spread against a banged-up 49ers squad that is missing key names like Nick Bosa, Mike Evans, and Trent Williams.
Why it matters
It’s postseason season, and the momentum is real. Whether you’re tailing the experts or making your own calls, DraftKings is offering new users $150 in bonus bets after a $5 entry. Just remember to play smart—DraftKings has a "Responsible Gaming Center" with deposit and time limits if you ever need to hit the brakes. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET. Keep it fun, stay calculated, and say less.
