The Los Angeles Dodgers recent tendency to score late and win often will probably have to continue

Monday http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-addison-russell-jersey , whether they want to operate that way or not.The reason is they are facing New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who is putting together an historic season despite being on one of the worst teams in the majors. The Dodgers took nine days to erase a 4 1/2-game deficit in the National League West by using their late-inning rally strategy to perfection.Article continues below ...Matt Kemp moved the Dodgers into sole possession of first place in the NL West with a game-ending two-run double off Brad Boxberger to give Los Angeles a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday. Los Angeles moved into a tie atop the division Saturday when Kemp hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning. The Dodgers won Friday on late home runs from Enrique Hernandez and Justin Turner.“It’s the coaches, the players and just the hyper-focus on each day,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s victory. It’s hard to not scoreboard watch and feel that 4 1/2 (games) is not a big number to (overcome). Our goal each day was to just play good baseball.”In order to stay in front in the NL West on their own terms, though, the Dodgers will have to get through deGrom. The right-hander is on a march to possibly win the National League Cy Young Award, even if his 8-8 record seems to suggest otherwise. He will enter with a 1.68 ERA, the third best since 1968.A pair of Mets records could belong to deGrom exclusively by the time Monday’s game ends. He currently has 24 consecutive starts of three earned runs or less, tied with Dwight Gooden (1985) for the longest run in franchise history. His 19 consecutive quality starts are also tied for the most in team history.“He continues to do the job http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-sammy-sosa-jersey ,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said, according to mlb.com. “He’s just an all-around player, and the best pitcher in baseball at this point.”The Dodgers can hang their optimism on the fact that the Mets are somehow just 11-16 in games deGrom has started. They can also feel good about their eight victories over their past nine games, as they aim for their sixth consecutive NL West title.At 61-75, the Mets are out of contention in the NL East, but deGrom still has plenty to pitch for. His main competition for a Cy Young Award appears to come from the Nationals’ Max Scherzer, the Rockies’ Kyle Freeland and the Phillies’ Aaron Nola.The competition at present, though, is a Dodgers offense that has surged thanks to hot bats from Manny Machado (nine home runs in 41 games with the Dodgers) and Justin Turner (.402 batting average Joe Maddon Jersey , 1.213 OPS in August).The Dodgers will call on Alex Wood to start opposite deGrom. The left-hander has worked his way through nagging leg injuries this season but has still managed to post an 8-6 record with a 3.42 ERA.Formerly a member of the NL East when he pitched for the Atlanta Braves, Wood knows the Mets well having made nine starts against them in his six seasons. Wood is 1-3 against New York with a 3.83 ERA.In seven starts against the Dodgers in his career, deGrom still does not have a victory over the West Coast foe. He has a 3.43 ERA against them over 44 2/3 innings. The New York Yankees (100-62) will host the Oakland Athletics (97-65) as clear home favorites at sportsbooks for Wednesday's American League Wild Card game. The Yankees will send righthander Luis Severino (19-8, 3.39 ERA) to the mound against the A's and reliever Liam Hendriks (0-1, 4.13 ERA).MLB betting line: The Yankees opened as -148 favorites (wager $148 to win $100); the total is at 8.5 runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.2-3.1, Athletics (MLB picks on every game)Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news. Why the Athletics can pay on the MLB linesWhile Hendriks may not be the ideal candidate to make a start in this key spot with Oakland's season on the line http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-willson-contreras-jersey , he has pitched well in September to earn the nod. The Australian, 29, is pitching for his fourth different team and was outstanding down the stretch, allowing just two runs in 12 relief appearances totaling 13 innings with three walks and 10 strikeouts.Hendriks has not given up a run in his past 11 outings, seeing his ERA drop more than 3.5 runs from 7.82. In addition, the A's have won seven of the previous 10 meetings in the series, according to the OddsShark MLB Database.Why the Yankees can pay on the MLB linesSeverino turned things around toward the end of the regular season to put himself into position to start this Wild Card game, and he was also great at home this year with a 10-2 mark and 2.74 ERA in 15 starts at Yankee Stadium.In his last two starts overall, the 24-year-old surrendered three runs and 10 hits in 12 innings versus the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays Albert Almora Jr Jersey , walking four batters and striking out 13 over that period. Severino has allowed more than three runs only once in his previous seven outings as well, making him one of the top options for New York. If he struggles, look for J.A. Happ (17-6, 3.65 ERA) to take over.Smart betting pickHapp would have been a much better choice to start here for the Yankees, who must be counting on a win so he can pitch Game 1 of the AL Division Series instead. Severino has struggled against Oakland this season with a 1-1 mark and 6.23 ERA in two starts after giving up six runs and six hits in 2.2 innings of an 8-2 defeat on September 5. The A's have no pressure on them, so they will advance with another win. MLB betting trendsThe total has gone over in 10 of Oakland's last 14 games.Oakland is 7-3 in its last 10 games against New York.The total has gone over in four of New York's last five games at home.All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.