MLB The Show Players League Quarterfinals Odds & Picks

• The MLB The Show League quarterfinals get underway Friday at 10:00 pm EST
• Blake Snell is the top seed among the Elite Eight. Is Snell the player to beat?
• Examination of the odds and picks on all four quarterfinals are unveiled in the following story

The MLB The Show Players League is down to its Elite Eight. The quarterfinals in this video baseball tournament are set, and there’s been some serious surprises during regular-season play.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell opened as the +550 chalk to the win the competition, and he’s the top-seeded player among the eight left standing. However, the next three favorites in the opening betting line – Amir Garrett, Trevor May and Hunter Pence – were all sent packing.

MLB The Show Players League Quarterfinal Odds

Odds taken May 1st.

Three players who opened at odds of +3500 – Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays, Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox and Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers – clawed their way into the postseason.

Snell and Gavin Lux square off at 10:00 pm EST Friday, as do Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets and Dwight Smith Jr of the Baltimore Orioles. Bichette meets Giolito and Gallo faces Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs on Saturday at 3:00 pm EST.

Each quarterfinal is a best-of-three affair.

Happ Holds Hot Hand

At the outset of the MLB The Show League, Gallo came out of the box like gangbusters. He opened the season 4-0 and was instantly established as the -550 pick to win the AL West.

Happ wasn’t nearly as impressive. After 18 games, he was a middling 9-9.

The @Cubs may have just snuck into the @MLBTheShow players league playoffs. 10 wins in the last 11 games. My palms are so sweaty

— Ian Happ (@ihapp_1) April 28, 2020

The Cubs pitcher closed the campaign a torrid 10-1 to finish 19-10 and grab a playoff spot. One of those triumphs was a 6-5 verdict over Gallo. Even Happ described that performance as “a big upset.”

Gallo went 23-6, posting the second-best record and earning the #2 seed. He’ll bring an end to Happ’s fairytale run.

Pick: Joey Gallo (-325)

Giolito a Quarterfinal Underdog

White Sox pitcher Giolito defeated Garrett in his final regular-season game to finish 19-10 and slip into postseason play.

The @MLBTheShow Players League postseason is set!

Who is your pick to be king of the sticks? ⚾️ 🎮 pic.twitter.com/RtIX8ynUJy

— MLB (@MLB) April 30, 2020

Bichette started 3-1 en route to a 21-8 record. But the first loss suffered by the Blue Jays shortstop was a 3-1 setback handed him by the White Sox. Virtual Giolito pitched actual Giolito to the win in that game.

Take Giolito to pull off the upset here.

Pick: Lucas Giolito (+160)

McNeil-Smith a Toss Up

Smith closed 5-2 to finish 19-10. McNeil, who was once 14-4, ended up 21-8, meaning he lost as many games in his last 11 as he did through his first 18.

Smith posted the most impressive inning all season when he touched up Niko Goodrum and the Detroit Tigers for 16 runs in the third inning of his 17-1 victory.

On the basis of that impressive performance alone – never mind getting the Orioles in the playoffs – take the price and go with Smith.

Pick: Dwight Smith Jr. (+135)

Gavin’s Lux About to Run Out

Dodgers infielder Lux snuck into the playoffs through the back door. Lux got his spot after New York Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle lost his final game.

.@snellzilla4 introduces us to the fake bunt yammer. 😂 pic.twitter.com/HgnQBTZghM

— MLB (@MLB) April 17, 2020

Snell has steamrolled the competition en route to an impressive .828 winning percentage (24-5).

He’s not only the one to play in this game, Snell is the MLB player who’s the one to bet to win the whole show.

Pick: Blake Snell (-300)