Month: April 2017

The World Champion Chicago Cubs are on the verge of being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Jon Lester might have something to say about that when he takes the hill for the Cubs today at Wrigley. The southpaw Lester has been his usual self, posting a 1.64 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 11 innings of work. The Pirates will counter with Jameson Taillon, who has been sharp so far, posting a 1.3 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 games against lefties and 3-9 in their last 12 at Wrigley. With Lester’s 22-5 record in his last 27 homes starts, I like the Cubbies chances in this one.

Today’s pick:

Chicago Cubs

The Boston Red Sox will send the flame-throwing southpaw Chris Sale to the hill today to try to even up the series after getting bamboozled last night, 10-5, by the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Sale has been outstanding for his new team, posting a 1.23 ERA, with a 0.68 WHIP, in 14.2 innings of work. The Rays will send Jake Odorizzi to the hill and in 12 innings of work thus far, he has a 4.50 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP. The Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 meetings with the Red Sox, 2-5 in their last 7 trips to Fenway, and 3-9 in their last 12 against lefties.

Today’s pick:

Boston Red Sox

The Washington Nationals dropped 2 out of 3 to the Phillies last weekend at Citizens Bank Park but can seek revenge when they open up another 3-game set in an early one today in Washington. Philadelphia will send Aaron Nola to the hill and he is 1-0 in 6 innings pitched, with a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. The Phillies are 1-4 in Nola’s last 5 road starts and 1-6 in their last 7 trips to Washington. The Nationals will counter with their ace Stephen Strasburg who is 1-0, with an ERA of 3.21, and a 1.00 WHIP in 14 innings of work. In 85 career home starts, Strasburg has an ERA of just 2.88, and the Nationals are 20-6 in his last 26 home starts. Philadelphia’s pitching has given up a league leading 18 home runs, and with the Nationals’ Daniel Murphy batting .450, with 2 homers and 9 RBIs, and Bryce Harper batting .344, with 2 homers and 8 RBIs, I like the Nationals chances in this one.

Today’s pick:

Washington Nationals

The Colorado Rockies are off to a fast start, with a 5-2 record, and tonight they will play host to the very young San Diego Padres team. San Diego’s Trevor Cahill was slated for the start today but was placed on the DL with back issues so Jared Cosart will get the nod. In Cosart’s only appearance this year, he struggled, yielding 2 runs, 3 walks and posted only 2 outs. Tyler Chatwood will take the bump for the Rockies and he is 4-0 in 7 career starts against the Padres. San Diego is 0-5 in their last 5 trips to Coors Field. I like the Rocks in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Colorado Rockies

The Washington Nationals were embarrassed yesterday by the Philadelphia Phillies, getting drilled 17-3, but I don’t see that happening again today. The Nationals will send the flame throwing San Diego native, Stephen Strasburg, to the hill. He is 8-2, with an ERA of 2.37 against Philadelphia, and the Nats are 15-3 in their last 18 trips to Philly. Harper and company get it done today.

Today’s pick:

Washington Nationals

The San Francisco Giants are off to a slow start, going 1-4 in their first 5 games, and you can attribute that mostly to their bullpen. Today however, the All-Star southpaw Madison Bumgarner will take the hill at Petco Park for the second game of the 3-game series. Mad Bum was stellar in his season debut against the Diamondbacks, retiring the first 16 batters and launching 2 home runs but the Giants lost due to the bullpen. The Padres will send Jhoulys Chacin to the bump and he was horrendous in his season debut against the Dodgers, yielding 9 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks, in just 3-1/3 innings of work. The Giants are 4-1 in Bumgarner’ last 5 starts and they should get to Chacin today.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants