2020 MLB Wild Card picks: Cardinals vs. Padres, Brewers vs. Dodgers

We’ll handicap a pair of potential elimination games as the 2020 MLB Playoffs roll on. First, the St. Louis Cardinals look to finish off the San Diego Padres, then the Milwaukee Brewers will try to tie things up with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres, 7:08 p.m., ESPN

The Padres were pushed to the brink after dropping the series-opener to the Cardinals, but they are capable of evening this best-of-three on Thursday night.

Zach Davies (7-4, 2.73 ERA) starts for San Diego, and he should be able to shut down the St. Louis lineup for quite a while. He held opponents to a scant .216 average in 2020, and the Redbirds are hitting a dismal .234 as a team this year (22nd). More importantly, following a 2 1/3-inning dud of a start from Chris Paddack in Game 1, Davies can provide the Padres some longevity on the hill. He averaged just over six innings per start in his first 11 outings before intentionally being removed in start no. 12 after only three frames.

Adam Wainwright (5-3, 3.15 ERA) counters for the Cardinals, and he’s had his share of struggles against this Friars lineup. Manny Machado, Wil Myers and Jurickson Profar have each taken him deep before in just 18 combined at-bats. It could be another strenuous night for the Redbirds bullpen, which tossed 5 1/3 innings in Game 1.

MLB pick: Padres moneyline

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Dodgers may be the best team in baseball, but that doesn’t mean the Brewers will go quietly after dropping Game 1 of this best-of-three.

Based on postseason splits, Milwaukee appears to have the starting pitching edge with Brandon Woodruff taking on Clayton Kershaw. In 16 1/3 innings of postseason work, Woodruff has a 1.65 ERA and 0.735 WHIP. Woodruff enters the 2020 postseason fresh off an eight-inning shutout of the Cardinals, lowering his September ERA to 2.25.

Kershaw’s playoff struggles have been well-documented. He needs to pitch carefully to outfielders Christian Yelich (9-for-18 lifetime with two homers and three walks) and Avisail Garcia (4-for-4 with two walks) if his team is to have a shot at taking Game 2.

MLB pick: Brewers run line

Remaining MLB Wild Card games

Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves, Noon, ESPN

MLB pick: Reds moneyline

Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs, 2:00 p.m., ABC

MLB pick: Marlins run line

Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics, 3:00 p.m., ESPN

MLB pick: Athletics moneyline