Month: September 2017

The Cleveland Indians can clinch home field advantage throughout the American League post-season with a win today at home over the Chicago White Sox and I see that happening. Cleveland showed no mercy on Chicago yesterday, pummeling them 10-1. It won’t get any easier for the White Sox today because Corey Kluber is expected to go for the Indians. Cleveland’s ace has been throwing flames, with a record of 18-4, an ERA of 2.27, and a 0.86 WHIP. The Indians are 6-0 in Kluber’s last 6 starts against the White Sox and 4-1 in his last 5 turns against them at Progressive Field. The young upstart Carson Fulmer is expected to get the nod for the White Sox. Fulmer is 2-1, with a 4.42 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and was yanked early in his last start with a blister and that is always an issue. The White Sox are 15-38 in their last 53 road games and 0-5 in their last 5 meetings with the Indians. The number is high in this one and so it should be.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CLEVELAND INDIANS

The Milwaukee Brewers sit 2 games back of the Colorado Rockies, with 3 games left for the second Wild Card spot, so it is a must-win situation for them tonight when they play out the last 3 games against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals were eliminated last night from post-season play by the Chicago Cubs and will send John Grant to the rubber to oppose the Brewers Chase Anderson. Grant will be making his second start of the season and is 0-0, with a 3.65 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and has yielded 3 homers in his 2 outings. The Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 overall and 1-5 in their last 6 games against the National League Central. The Brewers Chase Anderson has mowed them down in 2017, with a record of 11-4, a 2.81 ERA, and a 1.12 WHIP. The Brewers are 7-2 in their last 9 road games, 6-2 in their last 8 meetings with St. Louis, and 4-1 in their last 5 trips to Busch Stadium. Brew Crew stays alive!
TONIGHT’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The New York Yankees are still alive to capture the American League East title and tonight they will go for the 3-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. The Bombers have been hot, winning 18 of their last 24 games, going 11-1 in their last 12 at home, and have scored 33 runs over their last 5 contests. New York will send Sonny Gray to the rubber and he has pitched better than his record indicates. Gray is 10-11 on the season, with an ERA of 3.30, and a 1.17 WHIP. The Rays will counter with Jake Faria. He is 5-4, with an ERA of 3.33, a 1.15 WHIP, and is winless in his last 3 turns, with an ERA of 4.67 and a 1.33 WHIP. Tampa has struggled with the Yanks, going 2-8 in the last 10 meetings, and are just 7-23 in their last 30 trips to the Bronx. I like the Bombers in this situation.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Colorado Rockies have just a 1-1/2 game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the second Wild Card spot, so losing is not an option when they play the rubber game of a 3-game set against the Miami Marlins in an early one today at Coors Field. The Rockies will send Jon Gray to the hill and he will be opposed by Marlins southpaw Adam Conley. Conley has had issues in his last 3 outings, going 1-0, with an inflated ERA of 10.50, a 2.17 WHIP, and was lit up in his last turn, allowing 7 runs on 6 hits in just 1-2/3 innings. Gray on the other hand, has been delivering. He is 2-0 in his last 3 outings, with an ERA of just 1.50, a 0.89 WHIP, and has allowed 3 runs or fewer in his last 12 starts. The Rockies are 8-3 in their last 11 home games against southpaws and should get to Conley today.
TODAY’S PICK: COLORADO ROCKIES

There is a pitching mismatch at Fenway Park tonight when the Red Sox send Drew Pomeranz to the hill to face Toronto’s Brett Anderson. Pomeranz doesn’t get the recognition of the Kershaws and Sales but is one of the best lefties in the business and he has been delivering, going 2-0 in his last 3 outings, with an ERA of 1.47, and a WHIP of 1.04. Anderson is 1-1 in his last 3 turns, with an inflated ERA of 9.26, and a WHIP of 1.97. The Blue Jays are 1-5 in their last 6 meetings with the Red Sox and Boston is 13-3 in Pomeranz’s last 16 home starts. The numbers say Boston in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

Two flamethrowers will oppose each other in an early one in Queens today when the New York Mets send Jacob deGrom to the hill to oppose the Washington Nationals ace, Max Scherzer. Both of these guys are at the top of their game. DeGrom is 15-9, with an ERA of 3.55, and a WHIP of 1.20. Scherzer is 15-6, with an ERA of 2.59, and a WHIP of 0.91. New York is 5-2 in their last 7 home games and they are 7-1 in deGrom’s last 8 starts against the Nationals. Consider the home dog in this one.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK METS