Live Bet Saturday | September 5th, 2026 | Hour 6

Will Hill (0:01)

This is VSiN, the SportsBetting Network.

Brad Taylor (0:16)

Live from Kentucky Downs, where they just ran the Nashville Derby outside, here at the Mitt Gaming Hall in Franklin, Kentucky, right above the Circus Sportsbook. This is Live Bet Saturday. I am Brad Taylor, along with Will Hill.

We are watching a lot of Cupcake games today in College Football, but we are still playing Major League Baseball. What better time on the Progressive Guest Line to bring in our next guest? You can find all of his work at his Hasan Hacks Substack. He is a College Baseball and Major League Baseball analyst. You can find him on the Twitter at thejakehasan. Jake, how are you today, sir?

Jake Hasan (0:51)

Doing great. Always happy to be with you. Glad to be on. Thanks for having me.

Brad Taylor (0:56)

Thank you, sir. We were talking about this just a few minutes ago, Will and I were. The futures in terms of these awards, American League Cy Young, MVPs, Rookie of the Year, all the favorites right now.

Are any of these underdogs going to come and overtake them? When we saw Sal Stewart, when we saw Weatherholt go on the injured list, that kind of put him in the driver's seat for the Rookie of the Year, although he probably should have won it before. That's another story. Are any underdogs going to overtake these favorites or will these awards come the end of the season here, Jake?

Jake Hasan (1:28)

I'm going to start with NLNVP, because I think that's the one everyone wants to talk about, and that's how you get people mad on Twitter these days.

It's going to be Pete Kerr-Armstrong. It should be Pete Kerr-Armstrong. I think maybe some Otani fatigue does factor into this, but the fact of the matter is it doesn't look like the guy is going to throw another pitch this year. And if that's going to be the case, you have to give it to Pete Kerr-Armstrong, who's going to go 35-35, maybe 40-40, get the Platinum Glove for the best defender in baseball, and he's just a lot of fun. So that's that. We're putting that one to bed. I have no qualms with Pete Kerr-Armstrong, probably more than likely winning an LNVP. As far as to answer your question of, can any of these awards, can any of these underdogs overtake these favorites? I really think American League Cy Young is the only one that's up in the air, and really, that's a two-horse race, just like it has been for months. It's Cam Schlitler, and it's Dylan Cease, and there's still time for Cam Schlitler to fall apart here. Every single pitch that he throws, every single inning that he completes is a new career high, and so maybe the wheels do start to fall off here, and Dylan Cease has been great. He's done nothing to lose the award. It's just that Cam Schlitler has not stumbled really whatsoever, and every time that he does, Cease similarly stumbles. So that's one to watch. I'm not telling anyone to rush and bet Dylan Cease at sub two to one, for this award, but I think to answer your question of is there anything worth watching in these awards markets, it's really just American League Cy Young.

Will Hill (2:58)

Who do you think gets the final spot in the American League and National League Wild Card? The Blue Jays seem to be kind of the hot team. Baltimore maybe missed their opportunity. Cleveland, a couple big wins last night. They're losing. I don't know. You tell me, final Wild Card spots, American League, National League, who gets in?

Jake Hasan (3:15)

I'll start with the American League, because I feel very strongly about the Toronto Blue Jays. I think as far as the teams that are jostling for that last Wild Card spot, I think Toronto is far and away the best team. The Guardians do nothing for me. They have no offense. If Joe Adele has to be your best offensive contributor, you got a lot of issues, because you rescued him from the Angels. So that's a problem. The Guardians pitching is great, but that's always the story with the Guardians. The Orioles, I think you're right, Will, it's a little too late. They've just started to put it together with just not enough runway here to ramp up in time.

I think the Blue Jays have the best rotation, at least at the front, with Cease and Trey Savage and Jose Soriano. If they could ever really start hitting the ball in the air, this Blue Jays team would be a real-world series contender. But I think they're the best team for that last wild card spot. Texas is fading, the Guardians are just not that good in my opinion, and the Orioles don't have enough runway. As far as the National League, it certainly seems like it's going to be one of those NL West teams. It's just close your eyes, throw a dart and see where it lands. I think it's the Diamondbacks. I think they're the better team. I think that they're going to win on Sunday as a dog to the Astros. I really like Eduardo Rodriguez. Eduardo Rodriguez just feels like one of those guys where the peripherals scream regression. It screams that the other shoe is going to drop at some point.