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After a rough road sweep, the Seattle Mariners are desperate to turn things around as they head into a weekend showdown against the Atlanta Braves. Friday’s game opens a three-game set that could determine whether Seattle stays in the playoff race—or falls further behind. The Mariners have now lost five of their last six and three straight, thanks to a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. Even a mid-week visit from legendary manager Lou Piniella couldn’t shake them out of their slump. Manager Dan Wilson remains optimistic despite the skid. Seattle enters the weekend four games behind Houston in the AL West and clinging to the final AL Wild Card spot with just a 1.5-game cushion

Two teams with postseason hopes hanging in the balance clash this weekend as the New York Mets visit the Cincinnati Reds in a critical three-game National League Wild Card battle. While both clubs have seen recent struggles, this series could either revive or bury playoff dreams heading into the final stretch of the season. At one point in August, the Mets and Reds looked like they were locked in a head-to-head race for the last Wild Card spot. But a combination of inconsistent pitching and the surging Giants has complicated that narrative. Heading into Friday’s game, the Mets are 75-65 — just one game behind the Padres for the second Wild Card slot. The Reds, however, have dropped to 70-70

As the regular season winds down, the Chicago Cubs look to sharpen their postseason push against a Washington Nationals team coming off an unlikely sweep. Friday’s matchup kicks off a three-game series at Wrigley Field, and it comes with a handful of betting angles worth watching. After a brutal August in which he hit just .160 with a .446 OPS, Pete Crow-Armstrong is expected to return to the Cubs’ lineup on Friday. The All-Star center fielder had 25 home runs and 71 RBIs at the break, but has added just 3 homers and 12 RBIs since. Cubs manager Craig Counsell made the decision to give Crow-Armstrong three full days of rest — both mental and physical. Crow-Armstrong entered Wednesday’s game

Friday’s showdown between the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks isn’t just another late-season matchup—it’s a crucial moment for both teams fighting for playoff survival. On the hill, it’s rookie Payton Tolle for the Sox and former Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez for Arizona. Whether you’re a fan or looking for solid picks, this is a game worth diving into. The Red Sox are betting on youth with Payton Tolle making just his second major league start. His first? A solid performance: 5 1/3 innings with only two runs allowed against Pittsburgh. Though Boston lost that game 4-2, Tolle impressed fans and coaches alike. Manager Alex Cora is clearly playing the long game with his young pitcher, noting Tolle isn’t