2024 MLB division series round betting guide: Props, picks, futures

The 2024 MLB division series round is here, with four best-of-five showdowns ready to get going. In each series, Games 1, 2 and 5 (if necessary) will take place at the home stadium of the division winners that earned a bye into this round of the playoffs.

Check back every day to see the latest odds for each game as well as a few betting tips on some of the prop bets available to be made on each contest.

For more on the MLB playoffs, check out each team's oddsto win the World Series here.

All odds accurate as of publish time. For more, go toESPN BET.

Series tied 1-1

• Series line: Tigers (-120), Guardians (Even)
• Series result:Tigers in 4 (+280), Tigers in 5 (+260)
• Series result:Guardians in 4 (+230), Guardians in 5 (+290)

Zola's series pick:Playoff baseball is intriguing since runs are harder to come by, but the successful teams usually hit more homers. The Guardians' offense is ideal for this scenario, and the Guardians manage their pitching as well as any team in the postseason. That said, they will face Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal in Game 2, so predicting a sweep is aggressive. So is anticipating the Guardians to sweep both games in Motown, but that's where I am going, avoiding betting simply on the Guardians to defeat the Tigers and calling it in four games (+400).

Game 1: Guardians 7, Tigers 0

Game 2: Tigers 3, Guardians 0

Game 3:Comerica Park, Detroit,Wednesday, Oct. 9, TBD, (TBS)

• Game 3 run line: Guardians -1.5 (+160),Tigers +1.5 (-190)
• Game 3 money line: Guardians -110,Tigers -110
• Game 3 O/U: 7.5 runs, Over (+115)/Under (-135)

*Game 4:Comerica Park, Detroit,Thursday, Oct. 10, TBD, (TBS)

*Game 5: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 12, TBD, (TBS)

Series tied 1-1

• Series line: Mets (+120), Phillies (-145)
• Series result:Mets in 4 (+280), Mets in 5 (+360)
• Series result:Phillies in 4 (+240), Phillies in 5 (+220)

Zola's series pick:The Philliesare one of the few teams with three solid starting pitchers, although their bullpen is suspect. The Phillies are favored over the Mets, and they are my choice to advance. The safe play is just picking the Phillies to win the series. I'm going to be more adventurous, however, and I will back the Phillies to win in four (+300).

Game 1: Mets 6, Phillies 2

Game 2: Phillies 7, Mets 6

Game 3: Citi Field, New York, Tuesday, Oct. 8, TBD, (FOX/FS1)

• Game 3 run line: Phillies -1.5 (+160),Mets +1.5 (-190)
• Game 3 money line:Phillies -110,Mets -110
• Game 3 O/U: 7.5 runs, Over (+105)/Under (-125)

Zola's picks

• Attention turns to a pair of games at Citi Field, where scoring is suppressed more than any other venue in the league. On paper, the Phillies have the better starting pitching, but the Mets have shown that if they can stay close, they're capable of getting to the Phillies' suspect bullpen. Tuesday will be Phillies RHP Aaron Nola's first start of the 2024 postseason. He's no stranger to the big stage, posting a 2.35 ERA while winning three of four postseason starts last year. I'm expecting a strong effort and will back the Phillies and the money line.
• The Mets will send LHP Sean Manaea to the hill. Oddly, the Phillies' left-handed pair of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper exhibited reverse splits this season, though for their career they're both a bit less productive facing left-handers. However, Phillies RHB Trea Turner flourishes against southpaws, so I'll bet Turner to go over 1.5 total bases (+115).

*Game 4: Citi Field, New York, Wednesday, Oct. 9, TBD, (FOX/FS1)

*Game 5: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Friday, Oct. 11, TBD, (FOX/FS1)

Series tied 1-1

• Series line: Royals (+140), Yankees (-170)
• Series result:Royals in 4 (+300), Royals in 5 (+400)
• Series result:Yankees in 4 (+220), Yankees in 5 (+200)

Zola's series pick:Of the four divisional series, this is the toughest for me to handicap. The odds disagree, as they have the Yankeesas the heaviest favorites in this round. My issue is that the Yankees' pitching, on paper, should be better than the Royals', but there are a lot of question marks in the New York rotation while the Royals are healthy and in a groove. Yankees bats should be better than their counterparts', but they are fueled by homers, and the Royals' staff yielded the fewest long balls in MLB. For the second straight round, the Royals are my upset special. I'm taking them to win the series, but I am also hedging a bit by calling the series to go five games (+170).

Game 1: Yankees 6, Royals 5

Game 2: Royals 4, Yankees 2

Game 3: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Wednesday, Oct. 9, TBD, (TBS)

• Game 3 run line:Yankees -1.5 (+150), Royals +1.5 (-180)
• Game 3 money line:Yankees -115, Royals -105
• Game 3 O/U: 7.5 runs, Over (-120)/Under (Even)

*Game 4: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Thursday, Oct. 10, TBD, (TBS)

*Game 5: Yankee Stadium, New York, Saturday, Oct. 12, TBD, (TBS)

Series tied 1-1

• Series line: Padres (-115), Dodgers (-105)
• Series result: Padres in 4 (+225), Padres in 5 (+320)
• Series result:Dodgers in 4 (+320), Dodgers in 5 (+240)

Zola's series pick:The Dodgers and Padresopened the season in South Korea, and now they meet to decide who represents SoCal in the NLCS. The Dodgers finished five games ahead of the Padres in the NL West and are slight favorites. However, the Padres' starting pitching is in much better shape, plus the San Diego bullpen is solid. Since the Padres are getting plus odds as the underdog, I'm taking the Padres to win the series while also picking them to defeat the Dodgers in four games.

Game 1: Dodgers 7, Padres 5

Game 2: Padres 10, Dodgers 2

Game 3: Petco Park, San Diego, Tuesday, Oct. 8, TBD, (FOX/FS1)

• Game 3 run line: Dodgers +1.5 (-175),Padres -1.5 (+145)
• Game 3 money line: Dodgers +130,Padres -155
• Game 3 O/U: 7.5 runs, Over (-115)/Under (-105)

Zola's picks

• Petco Park plays host to Game 3 between the Padres and Dodgers. Emotions ran high in Game 2, so this should be an intriguing affair. The Padres are favorites behind RHP Michael King, and their offense should be able to score against Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler, so I'll wager the Padres and the -1.5 run line.
• If the Padres do indeed plate some runs, Manny Machado is usually involved. I'll take Machado to go over 2.5 total hits + runs + RBI (+140).

*Game 4: Petco Park, San Diego, Wednesday, Oct. 9, TBD, (FOX/FS1)

*Game 5: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 11, TBD, (FOX/FS1)