A lousy season for the New York Yankees has just gotten worse as tremendous rookie slugger Jasson Dominguez, just 20, old has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that will require surgery, ending his 2023 season and likely costing him the first half of 2024. Domínguez had become the youngest player in the Modern Era (since 1900) to homer in four of his first seven AL/NL games. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-week games around MLB.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (September 11th, 2023)

MLB Power Rankings: Astros make statement as defending champs move back into top fivehttps://t.co/KZZgvcSJMU

— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) September 11, 2023

San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

• When: Monday, September 11, 2023, 10:10 PM ET
• Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
• TV: SDPA, SNLA
• Radio: 97.3 The Fan (Padres) // AM 570 LA Sports (Dodgers)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Betting Odds: Padres (+144) // Dodgers (-169)

This is the most heated rivalry in the sport but really doesn’t mean much at this point with the Dodgers running away with the NL West again – they likely will clinch this week — and the Padres as huge disappointments. The Dodgers (87-55) lead the D-backs (75-69) by 13 games in the National League West, but they trail the Braves (93-49) by six games for the No. 1 seed in the National League.

LA will be without outfielder David Peralta at least for one game. Peralta exited Sunday’s game against the Nationals after being hit by a pitch in the second inning. He was initially diagnosed with a bruised left elbow and doesn’t appear to be dealing with any structural damage and is day-to-day. After missing two games with a left foot injury, which he suffered on Sept. 7 after fouling a ball off his foot, NL MVP candidate Mookie Betts was back in the Dodgers’ lineup for the series finale against the Nationals on Sunday. Initially, the team was expecting Betts to miss the entire series in Washington.

Want proof the Padres have waived the white flag? They rested both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado on Sunday in Houston and got waxed. Tatis is in the midst of a 2-for-24 slump. Since July 1, Machado’s 17 HRs T-5th and his 48 RBI T-4th in the NL (61 games). The Friars are the only team this year to have yet to win an extra-inning game (0-11), and they are 6-22 in 1-run games, with their .214 winning % in such games being the lowest in MLB.

It’s Pedro Avila on the mound for San Diego. Avila (1-2) allowed two hits and six walks while striking out one over 6.2 shutout innings to earn the win last Tuesday over the Phillies. He threw 91 pitches (50 strikes) in his longest outing of the season. Avila is now at a 2.19 ERA despite a 1.35 WHIP and 38:19 K:BB through 37 innings over 10 appearances (four starts) this season.

The Dodgers counter with Gavin Stone. Clayton Kershaw was initially slated to start Monday, but his start was pushed back to Friday to line up his appearances for late in the season. As a result, Stone will rejoin the major-league club, while Ryan Yarbrough will be placed on the paternity list. Stone has had a lackluster start to his big-league career, posting a 10.50 ERA and 2.28 WHIP in 18 innings over five appearances (three starts).

MLB Betting Pick: Dodgers

Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies

• When: Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 8:40 PM ET
• Where: Coors Field, Denver, CO
• TV: MARQ, ATTR
• Radio: 670 The Score (Cubs) // KHOW 630 AM (Rockies)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Betting Odds: TBA

The Cubs have called up their top prospect, outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 21-year-old has compiled an .876 OPS split between Double-A and Triple-A this year, including 20 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He’s considered one of the best defensive center fielders in the minor leagues.

Crow-Armstrong was drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2020, then traded to the Cubs the next season in a deal for shortstop Javier Baez. Over three minor league seasons, he’s hit .301 with an .892 OPS. The Cubbies need all the help they can get as they chase a wild-card spot. The Rockies are playing out the string.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has joined Willy Adames, Trea Turner and Francisco Lindor as the lone four N.L. shortstops with three-straight 20-plus homer seasons since 2021. Outfielder Cody Bellinger has recorded 30 RBI in his last 23 games and leads the majors with 67 since July 1. Bellinger is the first Cub to record a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season since Javier Báez in 2018 (34 HR, 21 SB). Just seven Cubs have now recorded 20-20 campaigns: Frank Schulte in 1911, Leon Durham in 1982, Ryan Sanderg did so in 1985, 1990 and 1991, Sammy Sosa did it in 1993-95 and 1997, Corey Patterson in 2004, Báez in 2018 and Bellinger this season.

Chicago has played 15 one-run games since Aug. 1, the most in the majors ahead of the Nationals (14) and Mariners (13). The Cubs are 8-7 in these one-run games and, on the season, have gone 19-20 in one-run affairs.

Javier Assad is scheduled to pitch Tuesday. Assad (3-3) allowed three runs on seven hits across 5.1 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks. He walked one and didn’t have any strikeouts. The righty has been pushed into the rotation with Marcus Stroman (hip) out and Drew Smyly getting shifted into the bullpen. Assad has been solid all year with a 2.83 ERA across 92.1 innings.

It’s struggling Chris Flexen (1-7) for Colorado. Flexen took the loss Wednesday, allowing six runs on four hits and two walks over 2.1 innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out three. Arizona exploded for five runs in the third inning after Flexen hit a pair of batters. The 29-year-old right-hander has allowed 10 runs in his last two starts (eight innings). Flexen’s ERA is up to 7.36 with a 1.74 WHIP and 60:32 K:BB across 80.2 innings between the Rockies and Mariners this season.

MLB Betting Pick: Cubs

Where to Bet on the 2023 MLB season with Crypto

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the 2023 MLB Season with bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire MLB Season betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023 MLB season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest baseball betting odds on our online crypto sportsbook.

READ MORE: Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week – September 18th, 2023