San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King throws a pitch during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. (David Frerker/Imagn Images)
The Wild Card round of the MLB Playoffs is here, and we have some excellent matchups for us to enjoy! Underdog has an offer for new users to enjoy as well, with up to a $1,000 deposit match using promo code FOXNEWS.
Each team has at least one key to winning their series. One player doesn’t normally carry a team, but we’ve picked out at least one player (and a manager) to watch in each series and see what happens in the Wild Card round.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.
Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Schwarber is the engine that makes the Phillies offense run. He has been spectacular for them, batting .232 with 45 homers and 97 RBIs this season. If he can connect for a homer against the Braves, it could be the difference-maker.
Atlanta Braves: Chris Sale is the primary option in the rotation, a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, and if he throws the way he needs to, it could give them the start they need in the series.
Chicago White Sox: Munetaka Murakami has been the power behind the White Sox lineup this season. If he can have a great series against the Astros, the White Sox could pull this out.
Houston Astros: Yordan Alvarez is going to be a finalist or the winner of the MVP award in the American League. He is the heartbeat of this offense; the question is if he will even see any pitches to hit in this series.
Boston Red Sox: Sonny Gray has been the best pitcher in the rotation this season, and he will need to be elite in his start for them if the Red Sox want a chance to win the series.
New York Yankees: Ben Rice has carried the Yankees offense all season. With the pitching getting more difficult moving forward, can he still do it?
Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell was paid a lot of money to manage this team and situations like this. His pitching staff is full of guys who are hard to trust right now. How he navigates a tough Padres lineup will make the difference.
San Diego Padres: Manny Machado’s turnaround helped spark the Padres’ success in the second half. If he can keep it going, the Padres could find themselves in the Division Series.
Underdog is offering new users a great offer of up to a $1,000 deposit match when using promo code FOXNEWS.
How to Sign Up and Claim the Underdog Promo Code
- Click here to go directly to Underdog (bonus code FOXNEWS).
- Register your account: provide full name, email, date of birth, address, and last 4 of SSN to verify eligibility.
- Enter promo code FOXNEWS to lock in the welcome offer.
- Make your first deposit, and Underdog applies a 50 percent match up to $1,000 in bonus funds.
- Jump into Keep Your Million to start with a virtual $1,000,000 pot and play through the season.
Odds for Phillies vs Braves
*Odds are subject to change*
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line | |
| Phillies | +162 | O 6.5 (-122) | +1.5 (-142) |
| Braves | -198 | U 6.5 (+102) | -1.5 (+118) |
Odds for White Sox vs Astros
*Odds are subject to change*
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line | |
| White Sox | +102 | O 8.5 (-102) | +1.5 (-193) |
| Astros | -123 | U 8.5 (-118) | -1.5 (+159) |
Odds for Red Sox vs Yankees
*Odds are subject to change*
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line | |
| Red Sox | +129 | O 6.5 (-103) | +1.5 (-183) |
| Yankees | -155 | U 6.5 (-117) | -1.5 (+151) |
Odds for Cubs vs Padres
*Odds are subject to change*
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line | |
| Cubs | +105 | O 7 (-117) | +1.5 (-205) |
| Padres | -126 | U 7 (-103) | -1.5 (+168) |