New York Mets - Miami Marlins

The New York Mets took full control of their Playoff destiny after winning 3 of 4 games vs. Philadelphia Phillies and securing one game lead over the Giants for the Top NL Wild Card spot.  They continue their Playoff battle today in Miami against the Marlins with a 3-game series.  In Game 1, the Mets will send Bartolo Colón to the mound. Colón is riding a 4-game winning streak dating back to August 20, posting a 2.35 ERA over that stretch, and he is expected to win Game 1 today.  His career vs. Miami is solid: 7-4 with 2.73 ERA.  The Marlins will counter with pitcher Adam Conley, who was to start on Sunday.  Conley missed over a month with finger tendonitis, but was put back into the rotation today. He is 4-3 at home this year with 3.41 ERA. With that said, I am picking the New York Mets with the spread of (+1.5) Runs. 

UPDATE September 27, 2016 - FINAL Result: New York Mets  3-7  Miami Marlins.  Miami defeated New York in Game 1:  The Marlins took a big lead and hold off the Mets, 7-3, on a night they paid tribute to Fernandez, whose death on Sunday morning in a boating accident rocked the sports world.  People should've known better when placing their bets on this strange game - on the first night after the terrible accident, there was NO way Miami would lose...It seemed like the Mets players were just not there to play.  Following the victory, the Marlins' players and coaches circled the pitcher's mound in a display of unity, while Giancarlo Stanton delivered a speech. The players removed their caps, leaving them on the mound, while many Mets remained in the dugout, watching in silence. This proves only one thing - Game 1 was decided before the start - a win for the Marlins to pay a tribute to Fernandez.  I see nothing wrong with honoring this great young guy, who tragically lost his life, but in the end of the day, people are paying money to watch REAL baseball, not "staged events", deliberately arranged to create certain effects...pretty sad story to say the least.  In another game played at the same time, the heavy favorites Washington Nationals lost huge at home 4-14 from the Arizona D-backs. Remember, yesterday, the Nationals surprisingly exploded in the 8th inning with 5 runs to beat the Pirates 10-7 [the score was 5-7 Pirates in the 8th], despite a starting lineup that featured just 3 of their everyday players - to remind, this "comeback" enabled a "Vegas clean up", as most people placed their bets on the Pirates. One day after this miraculous, surprising victory (10-7), the Nationals were clobbered badly by Arizona, allowing 14 runs in the process [with most likely nobody wagering against them]...This is how betting really works in Vegas.