With the changes to the MLB season and postseason format, certain teams made the playoffs that technically didn’t deserve to be there (under older rules).
The Miami Marlins were a team that barely made the playoffs, but that’s what makes 2020 so special for professional baseball. Today, the Marlins and Chicago Cubs begin their three-game set in the opening round of the 2020 postseason.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 30th, 11:00 A.M. (EST)
Online bookmaker BetOnline has the Cubs at -163 on the Money Line.
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Focusing on today’s game only, rather than the series, the Chicago Cubs are the favorites to open game 1.
What’s interesting about a three-game series is how the managers tinker with their pitching rotation. Normally, in a best-of-five or best-of-seven series, you would want your ace to start to maximize his efficiency. With three-games, managers have opted to put their ace for game 2. This allows the team to either have a chance to sweep with their best pitcher, or come back from a deficit.
Speaking of pitchers, the Cubs will be sending Kyle Hendricks to the mound. Hendriks has been in the spotlight before. He pitched in game 7 of the World Series when the Cubs won and in September had 30 strikeouts.
Miami will be countering with Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara can shut down an entire lineup with his pitching, which is why he is getting the nod game 1. The Cubs might be the favorites in this series, but Alcantara is a great equalizer.
Both teams want to open this dramatic three-game set with a victory. Will it be the Cubs or Marlins gaining the advantage game 1?
