Month: August 2016

The Beltway Series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals concludes tonight, and the Nationals will try to salvage one game out of the 4-game set. The Nationals will call on Max Scherzer to stop the bleeding. Scherzer is 13-7, with a 3.05 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and is 2-1 with an ERA of 1.17 in 3 outings against the American League in 2016. Since Chris Tillman is on the DL, Ubaldo Jiménez is back in the rotation and will get the start tonight for the Orioles. Jiménez is 5-10 on the season, with an ERA of 6.94, a WHIP of 1.91, and Baltimore is 1-8 in his last 9 road starts. With that being said, and with the Nationals 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts, I’m leaning Washington.

Tonight’s Pick:

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals dropped the first 2 games of the Beltway Series to the Baltimore Orioles but will try to get one back when the series switches to Washington tonight. Tanner Roark gets the call for the Nats and he has been outstanding. In Roark’s last 3 starts, he is 2-0, with an ERA of 1.77 and a WHIP of 1.08. That can’t be said about the lefty Wade Miley who will get the nod for Baltimore tonight. Miley is 0-1 over his last 3 starts, with an inflated ERA of 10.50 and a WHIP of 2.08. In Miley’s last start on Friday against the Astros, he was lit up, yielding 6 runs on 6 hits in just 1-2/3 innings. The Nats are 14-3 in Roark’s last 17 starts and 6-1 in his last 7 home outings. Washington has had success against lefties, going 7-3 in their last 10 against them.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Nationals

If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to stay in a playoff hunt, they better start turning things around in a hurry. Tonight they will try to get back on track when they open a 3-game set at PNC Park against the Houston Astros. Jameson Taillon gets the call for the Bucs and he has been delivering. Over last 3 outings he is 1-0, with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 0.95. The ‘Stros will counter with Doug Fister. He is 1-1 over his last 3 starts, with an ERA of 5.29 and a WHIP of 1.71. Houston is 5-14 in their last 19 meetings with the Pirates, and 7-20 in their last 27 in Pittsburgh. The Bucs are 7-1 in Taillon’s last 8 starts. I’m taking McCutchen and company tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates avoid the sweep today when they send Ryan Vogelsong to the hill, to face José Ureña and the Miami Marlins. Vogelsong has been delivering. Over his last 3, he is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. That can’t be said for José Ureña. Over his last 3, he is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA and a WHIP of 1.59. Miami is 1-8 in Ureña’s last 9 starts and they are 0-5 in his last 5 starts against the National League Central. Chris Conroy is calling it today and the home teams are 4-1 when he is behind the dish.

Today’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

Tulowitzky and Donaldson are expected to return for the Blue Jays today. With Aaron Sanchez on the bump at 12-2, I’m taking the Jays over Cleveland.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays