Free MLB Picks Today for Friday, September 22nd, 2023

Our free MLB picks are out for Friday, September 22nd, 2023! Make sure you check our MLB picks before the action kicks off.

Look below to find our free MLB picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!

Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs – 2:20PM ET

Tony Battalio

It has been a rough season for the Colorado Rockies and at this point in the year they will just be looking for it to end. They have been one of the worst teams in all of baseball this season, but they have an opportunity to spoil the Chicago Cubs playoff hopes throughout the weekend. Colorado is still in the beginning stages of their rebuilding era and it could be a long time before they are a competitive baseball team once again. Colorado comes into the opening game of this series with a record of 56-96 and they will be looking to finish the regular season strong as they try to avoid losing over 100 games on the year. 

The Chicago Cubs will be looking to pick up a crucial victory on Friday afternoon at home as they look to take one big step towards clinching a National League wildcard spot this season. They had a slow start to the season and all things looked lost heading into the summer, but they were able to heat up over the last three months and they now find themselves in a great position to make a deep run in the playoffs. I expect Chicago to grab a crucial victory in the opening game of the series against the Colorado Rockies on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals – 7:05PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in all of Major League Baseball this season, and I will be looking to finish the regular season strong as they try to build up momentum for the playoffs. They are on their way to securing the top record in the National League and earning themselves some rest while not having to play in the National League wild card round. They have been consistent throughout the regular season and they have gotten the job done with quality starting pitching and timely heading which has led them to winning nearly 100 games at this point in the season. They will be looking to grab another victory here on Friday night in the second game of the series against Washington.

It has been a rough season for the Washington Nationals, but out of all the bottom feeding teams in the league, they have shown the most progress on their current rebuild. They will be looking to have a strong finish to the regular season as they look to build up more momentum before heading in the next season, and they will be looking to pick up a victory here on Friday night at home in the second game of the series against the Atlanta Braves. Washington will be looking to bounce back after they lost to Atlanta in the opening game of the series on Thursday night. Unfortunately for Washington I don’t see that happening as I have the Braves picking up the victory in this one as well.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ New York Yankees – 7:05PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Arizona Diamondbacks will be looking to use this three game interleague series against the New York Yankees to propel themselves into the top three of the National League wildcard race coming down the final stretch of the regular season. Coming into the opening game of the series on Friday night in New York City, the Arizona Diamondbacks currently find themselves with a one and a half game lead for the second spot in the National League wildcard race. They will be looking to keep the momentum, rolling and officially clinch themselves a spot in the playoffs over the coming week with some quality performances throughout the weekend. 

New York Yankees, a very rough season and they will be looking to finish the regular season strong and build up momentum for next year. They were rolling right along until injury started piling up, going into and coming out of the All-Star break and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the New York Yankees this season as they were never able to recover playing in the American League East division. They have been officially eliminated from the postseason at this point and there is nothing left to play for pride for the Yankees this year but unfortunately for New York I don’t see them picking up the victory in this game on Friday night.

Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers – 8:05PM ET

Tony Battalio

This is a very crucial series for the Seattle Mariners playoff hopes as they will be looking to get some results against the Texas Rangers throughout the weekend. As they will be looking to secure themselves a spot in the American League wildcard race, or potentially get them on top of the American League west division coming down the final stretch of the season. Seattle comes into the opening game of this series on Friday night with a record of 84-68 through their first 152 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. They are currently tied for the third wildcard spot in the American League with the Texas Rangers. 

The Texas Rangers come into this series in a similar situation as they currently find themselves time for the third wildcard spot in the American League, as well as still in the race to win the American League West division. This is perhaps the most crucial series of the season for them as a pair of victories over the Seattle Mariners would go a very long way throughout the weekend into the remainder of the regular season. Texas comes into the opening game of this series on Friday night with a record of 84-68 through their first 152 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Unfortunately for the Rangers, I look for Seattle to pick up the victory in the opening game of the series on Friday night. 

San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers – 10:10PM ET

Tony Battalio

This is a crucial series for the San Francisco Giants, and they will be looking to pick up a quality victory in the second game of the series here on Friday night in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. San Francisco comes into this game, right in the middle of the National League wildcard race, which will be the tightest race in all of baseball coming down the final stretch of the season. The San Francisco Giants come into the second game of the series hanging right around the .500 mark through their first 153 games of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. This is a series that could potentially end the season unless they find a way to get some victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers over the next three days. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have already clinched the National League west division. At this point of the year they will be playing to secure a top two seed in the National League to avoid playing a first round playoff series. Was around 10 games left in the season they hold a seven game lead on the Milwaukee Brewers for the numbers two seed in the National League so they will be able to clinch the second spot in the National League with a victory here on Friday night and a Milwaukee Brewers loss. That is exactly what I expect, as I look for the Los Angeles Dodgers to pick up the victory in the second game of the series against the San Francisco Giants at home.

If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our MLB hub page for all your baseball needs!

*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.