MLB Today’s Best Bets for October 17th: Home Run Picks & Top Player Props

Last night's MLB Championship Series games were incredible, with a ton of talking points as they go into Friday's doubleheader. In Seattle, seven different Toronto Blue Jays recorded hits as they took Game 4 by a score of 8-2. As a result, the Blue Jays roared back from two games down to even the series behind Max Scherzer's incredible outing.

In Los Angeles, the Dodgers continued to shut down the Milwaukee Brewers at the dish behind seemingly unstoppable pitching performances as they won 3-1 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. They'll send Shohei Ohtani to the bump tonight as they try to punch their second-straight World Series appearance and their fifth appearance in the last nine seasons.

There's a lot of value to be found at your favorite sportsbooks and betting apps tonight. We'll try to make it easier for you by featuring our picks for MLB's best bets for today.

Toronto Blue Jays @ Seattle Mariners

• Home Run Pick: George Springer (+405 via DraftKings)
• Player Prop Pick: First 3 innings: Under 2.5 runs (-140 via Caesars Sportsbook)
• Home Run Parlay: Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+1769 via FanDuel)
• Best Bet: Blue Jays ML, Under 7 runs (+300 via BetMGM Sportsbook)

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In an ALCS Game 1 rematch from October 12th, Kevin Gausman takes the hill against Bryce Miller, only this time the game is in Seattle. If you need a reminder, both pitchers had fantastic performances, with Miller earning the win after throwing six innings of one-run, two-hit baseball. Gausman's efforts shouldn't be ignored, as he allowed just two runs on three hits in 5.2 innings, striking out five.

It's been a tale of two halves for the Mariners in this series, especially when it comes to their bullpen. In Games 1 and 2, in Toronto, the Mariners' pen was lights out, allowing just one hit in a combined nine innings of relief. Unfortunately, since the series moved to Seattle, they've been a leaky faucet. While starters George Kirby and Luis Castillo got lit up, the bullpen couldn't plug the leak, allowing a combined 16 hits, 10 runs, and five walks in 11.2 innings over the past two games.

There’s every reason to expect Gausman and Miller to deliver strong performances. This game could come down to the bullpens, and I think the Blue Jays have a huge advantage. In their two wins, the Toronto bullpen has given up just two earned runs on six hits in 6.1 innings.

I would cautiously take the under in this one and lean toward Toronto in a game that will come down to the bullpens.

Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers

• Home Run Pick: Freddie Freeman (+520 via FanDuel)
• Player Prop Pick: Mookie Betts 5+ Total Bases (+750 via FanDuel)
• Home Run Parlay: Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Betts (+10953 via FanDuel)
• Best Bet: Dodgers -1.5, Over 8 Runs, Ohtani 1+ hits, Betts 1+ hits (+346 via FanDuel)

The Milwaukee Brewers have only had nine hits through the first three games of the NLCS. For reference, that's the lowest total through the first three games of any postseason series since the Chicago White Sox managed the same lowly feat in the 1906 World Series. Conversely, the White Sox found themselves up two games to one thanks to some unbelievable pitching, while the Brewers are on the verge of being swept.

The Brewers' bullpen threw everything they had at the Dodgers last night, but they haven't been able to get any run support whatsoever. If you had asked Brewers fans before the series started how they would feel about limiting the Dodgers to just 10 runs through the first three games, they would have been thrilled. With Shohei Ohtani on the hill tonight and, most likely, another bullpen game on the horizon for the Brewers, this series just feels over.

It seems that morale within the Milwaukee camp is low, the bullpen is all used up, and the bats have disappeared. These are all the makings for a Dodgers rout tonight, and I feel that they're going to go yard several times tonight. Look for Ohtani to get it done at the dish and on the mound, while Mookie Betts looks to be entering his postseason hero phase once again.

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