After the dramatic double overtime win over Ottawa Senators on Friday, the momentum has now shifted to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins and the Senators will play game 6 in a matinee today at TD Garden. Ottawa has had success at TD Garden but this is playoff hockey which is a different animal. I’ll take the home team in this one.
Today’s pick:
Boston Bruins
The World Champion Chicago Cubs might have gotten out of the gate slow but they are starting to heat up. The Cubs have won their last 3 and will seek their 4th win today when they send Jake Arrieta to the hill to face the Cincinnati Reds in an early one at Great American Ball Park. Arrieta is off and running, with a record of 2-0, a 2.89 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Reds will counter with the lefty Cody Reed. Cincinnati is 0-10 in his last 10 starts and 0-4 in his last 4 home starts. The Cubs are 6-0 in their last 6 against southies. I’ll take my chances on Chicago in this one.
Today’s pick:
Chicago Cubs
The New York Yankees are the hottest team in baseball and tonight they will take their game to PNC Park to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. CC Sabathia will get the call for the Bombers and the southpaw has been spectacular. Sabathia is 2-0, with an ERA of 1.47, and 1.04 WHIP in 18.1 innings of work. CC has a career record of 4-0, with a 1.23 ERA against the Bucs, and the Yanks are 4-0 in his last 4 starts. Tyler Glasnow will take the hill for Pittsburgh and he is off to a dismal start. Glasnow is 0-1, with a bloated ERA of 12.15, and WHIP of 2.55 in just 6.2 innings of work. Pittsburgh will be without their star outfielder, Starling Marte, due to an 80-game suspension for PEDs. The Bucs are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague games and 1-4 in their last 5 interleague games against lefties. The Yanks are hot and I’ll stick with them until they’re not.
Tonight’s pick:
New York Yankees
The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets will play the final game of a 3-game set under the lights tonight at Citi Field. The Mets will send Noah Syndergaard to the hill and he has been throwing flames. Syndergaard is 1-0, with an ERA of just 0.95, a 0.84 WHIP, with 20 strikeouts and no walks in 19 innings of work. Syndergaard has dominated the Phillies, posting a career record of 4-0, with an ERA of 1.37. Aaron Nola gets the nod for Philadelphia and he is off to a descent start, with a record of 1-0, a 3.27 ERA, and a 1.36 WHIP. Philadelphia has had issues with New York, going 16-40 in the last 56 meetings, and 8-20 in their last 28 trips to Queens. I like the Mets chances tonight.
Tonight’s pick:
New York Mets
The Washington Capitals playoff woes continue and they are on the verge going down 3-1 to a young and carefree Toronto Maple Leafs team. Tonight however, they will have a chance to even things up when they take the ice at Air Canada Centre. Both of Washington’s losses were in overtime and I don’t see a repeat of that tonight. Washington just has too many weapons and they are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings with Toronto. The Capitals have the edge in offense, defense, penalty kill, discipline and goaltending. Washington should get this one.
Tonight’s pick:
Washington Capitals
The Atlanta Braves have won 5 in a row and have yet to lose at SunTrust Park. Tonight they will open a 3-game homestand against Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. Washington is 5-0 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts against Atlanta and he comes into tonight’s contest 1-1, with an 2.13 ERA, and a 0.95 WHIP. Mike Foltynewicz takes the hill for the Braves and in just 5.2 innings of work he has an ERA of 6.35 and a 2.12 WHIP. The Nationals Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy are off to a great start and they should get to Foltynewicz tonight.
Tonight’s pick:
Washington Nationals
The Seattle Mariners took 3 from Texas over the weekend and will look to continue the momentum tonight when they play an interleague game against the Miami Marlins at Safeco Field. The Marlins will send Tom Koehler to the hill. The Marlins are 1-9 in his last 10 starts, 1-4 in his last 5 road starts and 2-5 in his last 7 interleague starts. The Mariners will rely on Ariel Miranda to get things done. Seattle is 6-2 in his last 8 starts and 4-1 in his last 5 home starts. Miami made a cross-country flight and that is always draining. I like Seattle in this one.
Tonight’s pick:
Seattle Mariners
