Thursday's slate in the 2025 MLB Playoffs will feature a pair of Game 4s in the National League Divisonal Series, as the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies aim to force decisive Game 5s against the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. Here are our three best bets for this two-game slate Thursday.
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Best MLB Bets Thursday
Philadelphia Phillies 
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 
Cristopher Sanchez Over 5.5 strikeouts (-104 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Sanchez posted a 1.59 ERA over his final six starts in the regular season, and all things considered, the southpaw had an outstanding year in 2025 with a 2.50 ERA and a 212:44 K:BB through 202 frames. It was the first time he crossed the 200-inning mark, and he did so with a career-high 9.4 K/9. If there's one thing we know about Sanchez, it's that he can strike opposing hitters out. The Phillies need him to be at his best in Game 4. Another loss would send the Phillies home despite ending the regular season with the second-best record in the National League.
This will be the second time Sanchez faces the Dodgers this postseason. He didn't factor in the decision during the Game 1 loss in the NLDS, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight across 5.2 innings. That kind of effort would not only keep the Phillies alive to force a Game 5 in Philadelphia, but it would also cross our betting line by a sizable margin. Sanchez has struck out at least six in each of his last six starts dating back to the regular season.
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Milwaukee Brewers 
vs. Chicago Cubs 
Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 0.5 total bases (-134 at Caesars Sportsbook)
The Cubs got the job done in Game 3, and got past the Brewers to force a Game 4 on Thursday. If Chicago wants to remain alive for another day, and force a decisive Game 5 back in Milwaukee over the weekend, their star players need to produce on offense. One of them is Crow-Armstrong, who stepped up in Game 3 with a two-RBI single in the first inning that ended up being key for the win. He also struck out once and stole a base.
Crow-Armstrong is hitting a paltry .227 in the playoffs, but there are reasons to believe he's turning things around. He's hit safely in three of his last four games while going 5-for-16 over that stretch, although three of his five hits in that span came against the Padres in Game 3 of the Wild Card Round. He's 2-for-12 against the Brewers in the playoffs, but he showed some good things in the regular season. Crow-Armstrong hit .279 with 12 hits, five home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored in 13 games versus the Brewers in the regular season. The Cubs need him to produce, so he might be a good bet to reach at least one hit for the fourth time over his last five contests.
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Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs
William Contreras Over 1.5 total bases (+125 at BetMGM)
Contreras has mashed against the Cubs all season long, hitting .298 with 14 hits, two homers, four RBI and eight runs scored across 13 regular-season meetings against them. He's gone 5-for-12 (.417) with a homer, two RBI and four runs scored in three NLDS games so far while bagging at least two bases in two of the three contests.
The Cubs have had all sorts of problems getting him out, and there's a strong argument to say he's been Milwaukee's best hitter this series. He's as good a bet as any player to record multiple bases in what figures to be a key game for the Brewers, as a win here would send them to the NLCS. That's only fitting for the team with the best record in all of baseball in 2025.
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MLB Picks Recap
- Phillies vs. Dodgers: Cristopher Sanchez Over 5.5 strikeouts (-104 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Brewers vs. Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 0.5 total bases (-134 at Caesars Sportsbook)
- Brewers vs. Cubs: William Contreras Over 1.5 total bases (+125 at BetMGM)
