Three marquee MLB bets anchor Saturday’s slate: Phillies-Nationals Over 9.5, Yankees over Cardinals (-140), and Padres as underdogs (+112) against Dodgers. The picks lean on a mix of metrics and late-season form: Taijuan Walker’s 3.39 ERA masks a 4.85 FIP and a 1.294 WHIP, while Cade Cavalli makes his third start against a Phillies offense that has heated up since the All-Star break. San Diego’s offense has logged better numbers than the Dodgers in the post-break stretch, yet San Diego is seen as the underdog with Blake Snell on the mound. The blend of matchup context and price points creates a trio of bets with legitimate upside if the offenses click and the starting pitchers hold up. Promo aside, the slate offers a balanced blend of high-floor and high-ceiling plays for fantasy managers and bettors alike.

Phillies-Nationals leans Over 9.5 because Philadelphia’s bats have found rhythm and Cavalli’s limited big-league track record invites a few runs from the home lineup. Walker’s peripherals suggest regression potential, but Washington’s lineup figures to test him early. Yankees-Cardinals centers on momentum and a clear edge in the run environment; New York’s lineup faces Sonny Gray’s steadiness but benefits from a favorable park and plate discipline, while the Cardinals’ post-break OPS has trended toward the bottom of the league, creating an exploitable angle. Padres-Dodgers plays the long game: San Diego has outrun L.A. offensively since the break, but Snell’s numbers portend some volatility, making the underdog bet feel timely.

Across the board, the card blends pitcher data with current form and park factors to carve out bets with edge. Readers should watch line movements closely, as odds refresh periodically and the market may react to late injury or temp-spot starts. The slate rewards a disciplined approach: back the stronger offense in the right spot, fade overextensions on pitchers with inflated FIP, and treat the Padres’ upset potential as a compelling, value-driven bet given the price.