MLB Notable Weekend Matchups 9/15-9/16: Arizona @ Astros

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Major League Baseball Notable Weekend Matchups September 15-16, 2018 By: Chris Watford for NoLuckNeeded.com

The first week of football and the last few weeks of baseball, this is where things start to get interesting. The NL Wild Card race continues its pace of being unimaginably close, with the Chicago Cubs in a position to lose their spot while the Brewers are lurking two games behind. The Brewers are also in a chance to lose their spot while the Cardinals are also two games behind. We only have a couple more weeks of baseball but the baseball Gods are making sure it’s going to be a thrilling ride.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers 9/15

As I mentioned previously the Brewers are getting to the point where they’re not focused on getting the Wild Card spot - they’re looking for a playoff lock. They’re in the middle of a series with the Chicago Cubs and while they lost their previous outing against them, they’re hoping they can take a couple of games from them and close the two game gap as much as possible. While the Brewers are in the middle of this Cubs series, they need to be looking out for their matchup against the Pirates this weekend. The Pirates have gotten the better of the Brewers over the 13 games they have played this season; winning 9 of the 13 games. It could be anyone’s game however, as the Pirates have gone 3-3 against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Ivan Nova is expected to start for the Pirates opposite of Zach Davies. In their last outing, Nova gave up only one run in 4 2/3 innings. Davies is sitting with a 2-5 record and a 4.75 ERA for the season. Watch the Brewers try and secure their playoff spot this Saturday on FSWI or ATPT at 7:10 PM ET.

LA Dodgers @ St. Louis Cardinals 9/15

This is going to be the most exciting matchup that you’ll see this weekend and it’s one that you definitely don’t want to miss. Both of these teams are in a fight for a Wild Card spot; the Dodgers sitting a meager two games behind the Cardinals. These teams have only met once this year and the Cardinals took all three games from the Dodgers. The Dodgers already have a decent shot at snatching the NL Wild Card position from the Cards, but if they win this three game series it gives them a sliver of breathing room. Clayton Kershaw is expected to pitch for the Dodgers in the series opener on Friday, 9/15. As for Saturday, Rich Hill is expected to start for the Dodgers opposite of John Gant. Hill had a rocky outing in his last start, giving up four runs in five innings. Gant has looked very efficient in his last seven outings - giving up only two runs - which is a huge sigh of relief for the Cards if he can keep it up. You don’t want to miss this nailbiter this Saturday on FOX at 1:15 PM ET.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Houston Astros 9/16

This weekend is packed to the brim with exciting matchups and this particular matchup between the D-backs and the Astros is a great way to end the weekend. The D-backs are going to be fighting for their life in one of their most important matchups of the season. While these teams have only met once this year, the D-backs hold the better record of 1-2 in the times that they have met. This matchup is going to be a battle of the pitchers while Zack Greinke is expected to start for the D-backs opposite of a guy you might have heard of: Justin Verlander. Greinke is sitting on a 14-9 record for the season with a 3.11 ERA. Verlander on the other hand, has been his usual self with a 15-9 record and a 2.72 ERA with 258 strikeouts, 11 shy of his career high. The D-backs are sitting a mere 3.5 games behind the NL Wild Card spot and I doubt they’re looking forward to meeting up with the juggernaut that is the Houston Astros. Catch this important game this Sunday on TBS at 2:10 PM ET.

Bet on the Astros and Cardinals at Intertops Sports Betting