With the division series all set now and kicking off in a few hours, I thought I’d give you all two free MLB Futures bets to follow this October.

All lines taken from Pinnacle Sports with bet amounts ‘to win’ on favorites and flat on underdogs

Free Play Records

MLB Pre All Star Break: 101-107-13 (+$691)

MLB post All Star Break: 47-43 (+$2817)

CFL YTD: 6-8 (-$266)

NCAAF YTD: 8-9 ATS (-$413) 

NFL YTD: 5-8 ATS (-$798)

Pick #1: L.A Dodgers to win NLDS over St Louis (-185)

Nothing like a great series rematch from last year’s NLCS when the Cardinals beat L.A 4-2 to advance to the World Series. The Dodgers have not forgotten how close they were to the promised land last year and with home field advantage in this shorter five-game set and a better all-around team the Dodgers will get past the Cardinals this year.

Typically I don’t like laying this time of juice on any play, but this revenge spot is too good to pass up since the Dodgers went 4-3 SU against the Red Birds this season. St Louis isn’t near as good as they were last season as their offense struggles mightily at times as they have a hard time scoring runs. If St Louis isn’t shutting down teams in 2-1, 3-2 type games, the losses can pile up and if their bats are cold early on they’ll be lucky to get 2-3 runs a game against the starters L.A is throwing out there.

Kershaw and Greinke get the nod for the first two games at L.A and although Kershaw is up against another legitimate ace who’s been there before in Wainwright, the Cards are 0-3 SU in his last three starts vs. L.A, including 0-2 SU @ L.A. There aren’t too many reasons to think L.A won’t be heading to St Louis up 2-0 in this series (or at worst 1-1) and then throw either Ryu or Haren for those games in St Louis. Should this game reach Game 5, it will be Kershaw back on the hill in all likelihood and with his phenomenal stuff and L.A being at home for that contest (should it happen) it’s tough not to like L.A here.

I know the Cardinals have been here before and succeeded when they’ve been counted out, but this is the make-or-break year for L.A and they’ll take full advantage of it – at least in the first round.

Picks #2 and #3: L.A Angels to win AL Pennant (+189) and win World Series (+400)

I’ve been high on the Angels ever since I wrote this article at the All-Star break for Carbon Sports and I firmly believe this is their season. I think the Angels caught a bit of a break in facing KC over a team like Oakland that knows them very well and should be able to move on from the ALDS in 4 games or less. From there it’s a date with either Detroit or Baltimore (I like the O’s) and the Angels should be able to get past either of them.

L.A was 4-3 SU against the Tigers this season and 2-4 SU against Baltimore, but things change in the playoffs and with L.A’s offense being better (or at worst even) with those teams, home field could end up being the difference. They’ve got a great mix of young superstar talent (Trout) with wily veterans who’ve been there before in Pujols, Freese etc and I’ve always loved rosters that are built like that. You need a bit of that youthful exuberance from talented stars to keep those vets hungry and producing while the wisdom and experience from the vets keeps those same young stars calm and focused on the moment.

Some may question the Angels pitching staff, but even without Garrett Richards, they’ve got more than enough talent/experience to make this thing go and their offense will be able to support them plenty to keep them out of tough spots. Nobody in the majors scored more runs than the Angels did (773) and it’s that offense that will carry this team to the World Series.

From there the Angels will have home field advantage once again and use it to lift the trophy in 7 games or less. Again it’s that experience that will come into play with Pujols and Freese spending the majority of their careers in the NL and having great reports on all the pitchers in that league. As a team L.A was 2-1 SU vs. Washington this year (the favorite from the NL) and although they were 1-3 SU vs. the Dodgers this year, there will be no surprises facing them either.

The Angels might not be the most complete team in the playoffs but they are damn close and with the offensive talent they have 1-through-9 in their order, their bats can erase a lot of mistakes in a hurry.