MLB picks and odds: Indians vs. Cubs, A's vs. Rockies (Sept. 15)

The Chicago Cubs will look to build on their NL Central lead when they host the Cleveland Indians at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, while the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics head to Coors Field to take on the Colorado Rockies. Here are our best bets for the evening.

Cleveland Indians (26-21) at Chicago Cubs (28-20), 8:15 p.m. ET

The last time Yu Darvish (7-2, 1.77 ERA) took the hill for the Cubs, he guiled his way through six innings against the Reds while surrendering three runs. But his offense was unable to solve Trevor Bauer in a 3-0 defeat. Darvish hopes to avoid a similar fate when Carlos Carrasco and the Indians come to town on Tuesday night.

Cleveland has dropped six straight and have scored just 3.1 runs per game over their last 10 tilts. Darvish should be able to post his ninth straight quality start against this group. That will pave the way for the Chicago bullpen, second in ERA this month (1.85), to clamp things down late.

Carrasco (2-4, 3.12 ERA) has a 0.90 ERA over his last three outings. He’ll face a Cubs lineup that’s exceeded five runs just twice in their last 12 contests. The Indians’ relief corps is a sub-par 26th in ERA this month (6.61), but Chicago’s lineup might not be able to take advantage.

MLB pick: Under

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Oakland Athletics (30-18) at Colorado Rockies (21-25), 8:40 p.m. ET, FS1

The surging Sean Manaea and the Athletics should make light work of the Rockies on Tuesday night.

Manaea (4-2, 4.46 ERA) has bounced back from a rough start to the campaign, producing a 1.98 ERA over his last five efforts. He should lower his ERA once again as he faces a Rockies lineup that’s plated just 3.5 runs per game over their last six contests. Manaea should feel confident when he turns things over to an Oakland bullpen that’s sixth in the majors by ERA in September (3.50).

Antonio Senzatela (3-2, 3.69 ERA) struggled in each of his first two starts this month, producing a 5.23 ERA. He draws another difficult matchup with the A’s 10th-ranked offense by runs per game (4.88), which should relish playing in Coors Field. First baseman Matt Olson has been particularly dangerous at the dish in September, tallying three homers and 16 RBI so far. Once Senzatela departs, he’ll turn things over to a collapsing Colorado bullpen that’s authored a league-worst 8.87 ERA this month.

MLB pick: Athletics run line