Wednesday’s MLB slate showcases an enticing matchup between Eastern division leaders as the Tampa Bay Rays travel to Atlanta looking to bounce back following a 7-1 setback in Tuesday’s series opener. Beyond that interdivision clash, several compelling individual storylines beckon — particularly the highly anticipated return of New York’s Aaron Judge against Colorado’s Tomoyuki Sugano. All odds referenced are courtesy of FanDuel.
St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants, 3:45 p.m. ET
Just one game separates the Giants (61-85) from recording their first home sweep of what has been a largely forgettable campaign. Meanwhile, the Cardinals (72-74) remain in the mix for the final National League Wild Card spot despite dropping three consecutive games — at Philadelphia from August 21–23 and again in Milwaukee earlier this month.
In a notable twist, right-hander Andre Pallante — who did not participate in either losing streak — is slated to toe the rubber for St. Louis. His inclusion adds intrigue to an otherwise straightforward afternoon affair.
Pallante boasts a strong track record recently, going 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA across his last seven outings spanning 41 frames. He’ll oppose Giants starter Blade Tidwell (0-2, 4.43), whose last two starts required elevated pitch counts (100 and 93 respectively) just to reach the fifth inning. A rough outing against Pittsburgh last Thursday saw him issue five walks alongside a hit batsman in a road loss.
Pick: Cardinals (-124)
Colorado Rockies at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET
New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge made his return to action on Tuesday, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the team’s 4-3 win over Colorado after missing 84 games due to a broken rib. However, better days appear imminent with Rockies veteran righty Tomoyuki Sugano taking the hill.
Last season, while pitching for division rival Baltimore, Sugano struggled immensely against Judge, who batted .778 (7-for-9) with three solo homers in those matchups. That historical success offers a tantalizing edge in this rematch, even if Judge may only play briefly before being lifted for a late-inning defensive substitute.
With the Yankees slowly integrating Judge back into game rhythm, leveraging his proven track record against Sugano could yield significant returns — especially given the Rockies’ shaky 55-89 standing this year.
Pick: Aaron Judge 2+ Hits (+230)
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers, 7:40 p.m. ET
Holding a commanding nine-game lead in the NL Central standings, the Milwaukee Brewers (90-56) host the Chicago Cubs (81-56) with playoff positioning still up for grabs over the final 16 games of the regular season. The Cubs entered this series hoping to close the gap, but instead find themselves down two games after consecutive 4-3 defeats.
Tuesday’s extra-inning thriller highlighted both teams’ resilience — and bullpen vulnerabilities. Despite surrendering a late rally capped by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two-run homer off Brewers starter Logan Henderson, the Cubs couldn’t hold their slim advantage in the top of the 10th.
Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman delivered another solid start for Chicago, allowing just one earned run on five hits across seven innings while striking out multiple batters. Both starters demonstrated dominance on the mound, combining for 16 strikeouts. As they meet again under similar circumstances, pitching control and timely hitting will likely dictate the outcome.
Pick: Under 7.5 Runs (-110)
