Month: August 2021

The AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox will open a quick 2-game interleague set tonight with the last place Pittsburgh Pirates on the south side. The White Sox have never lacked in the run department, averaging over 5 runs per game, and are coming off a 13-1 romp of the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates, on the other hand, who are 20-45 on the road, are averaging just over 3 runs per game and will have to face Lucas Giolito tonight. Giolito has been sharp over his last 3 turns, posting a 2.65 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and tossed a no hitter at Guaranteed Rate Field last year against the Bucs. Pittsburgh is expected to hand the ball to Bryse Wilson. Wilson has posted a 4.20 ERA over his last 3 turns with a 1.20 WHIP, and in 6 interleague appearances he has a hefty 7.07 ERA. Chicago is 44-24 at home and 6-1 in their last 7 against the NL Central. The price is high in this one but if not for a total meltdown the White Sox should cruise to a victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The New York Yankees will have a golden opportunity to gain some ground on the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays when they open a 3-game set in SoCal with the Anaheim Angels. New York has lost 2 in a row following their 13-game winning streak and mustered just 3 runs in their 2 losses but you can’t keep the Bombers bats quiet for too long. Corey Kluber, who has been sidelined since May 25th due to shoulder issues, is expected on the hill for New York. Kluber was 2-1 in his last 3 prior to his injury, with a 3.00 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, and let’s not forget the no-no he had against Texas on May 19th. There is no line on the game yet and LA has not announced a starter for tonight but it’s doubtful it will be Shohei Ohtani, who is slated for tomorrow’s matchup. New York is 7-1 in their last 8 following a loss, 5-1 in their last 6 road games against a team with a losing record, and 6-1 in their last 7 in Anaheim. The Yankees need to strike and they know it. Tampa will have their hands full over their next four games with the Boston Red Sox.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Houston Astros will go for their fifth straight win and a sweep of the Texas Rangers when the two clubs wrap up their 3-game set in Arlington. Houston is expected to hand the ball to the future Hall of Famer, Zack Greinke. Greinke has been on his mark all season, with a record of 11-4, a 3.41 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and over his last 3, it gets better. Greinke is 1-1 with an ERA of just 1.42, a 0.74 WHIP, and will be seeking his fifth straight victory over the lowly Rangers. Texas is expected to send Taylor Hearn (3-4, 4.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) to the the hill. Hearn, who has been used primarily in relief, does have 5 starts on the season, where he has gone 1-2 with an elevated ERA of 5.71. Houston has won 7 straight against Texas and with Greinke on the hill you have to consider the Stros.
TODAY’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

The Milwaukee Brewers own the top spot in the NL Central but they shouldn’t get too complacent because the Cincinnati Reds, who are playing good baseball, are 7-1/2 games back and still within striking distance. The Brewers lost Game 1 of their 3-game set last night to the Twins, 2-0, and have now lost two straight but with Adrian Houser expected on the hill for the Brew their chances of getting back on track today look good. Houser has been been throwing flames. Over his last 3 turns, Houser is 1-0 with a nasty ERA of just 0.61 and a WHIP to match at 0.89. The expected starter for the Twins, lefty Charlie Barnes, has been just the opposite. Over his last 3 starts, Barnes is 0-2 with a bloated ERA of 8.36 and a 1.79 WHIP. The Brewers have excelled on the road this year, going 42-22, and are 20-7 in their last 27 as a road favorite. The Twins, who have nothing to play for except pride, are 31-33 at home and rarely put together back-to-back wins.
TODAY’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Despite being red hot and winning 9 of their last 10, the Los Angeles Dodgers still trail the San Francisco Giants by 2-1/2 games for the lead in the NL West. This weekend they should be able to make up some ground, with the Giants visiting the always tough Atlanta Braves while the Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at Chavez Ravine. The Rockies have been awful on the road, at 15-47, and are expected to turn to Kyle Freeland to throw strikes. Freeland is upside down, at 4-6, with 4.25 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and is just 2-7 lifetime against the Dodgers. The starter for Los Angeles has yet to be named but whoever it is, it shouldn’t matter. LA is 42-21 at home and 10-3 this year against Colorado. Consider the Champs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Boston Red Sox lead over the Oakland Athletics for the second AL Wild Card spot is now just 1-1/2 games, after falling to the bottom-dwelling Minnesota Twins yesterday in extras, 9-6. The Red Sox will look to get back on track tonight and a series win when the two clubs wrap up their 3-game set at Fenway. Boston will send the best southpaw in the majors to the hill, Chris Sale. Since returning from Tommy John surgery, Sale is doing what Sale does best and that is deliver. In his two starts since his return, Sale is 2-0 with a nasty ERA of 1.80 and a 1.20 WHIP. Minnesota is expected to have John Gant toeing the rubber. Gant (4-7, 3.77 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) was acquired in a trade from St. Louis and has not been producing, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA since joining the Twins. Boston has won 4 of the last 6 meetings this year against Minnesota, they are 40-26 at home, and have Chris Sale on the hill.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

The Philadelphia Phillies will look to salvage a split when they wrap up their 2-game set tonight with the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia lost a close one last night to Tampa, 3-1, but were without Andrew McCutchen and Rhys Hoskins. Both should be in the lineup tonight. Zack Wheeler, the expected starter for the Phillies, should be able to slow down the explosive Rays offense. Wheeler is 10-8 with an ERA of only 2.77 and a 1.00 WHIP. Ryan Yarbrough is expected on the hill for Tampa. Yarborough is 7-4 with a mediocre ERA of 4.57 and a 1.17 WHIP. Over his last 3 turns, Yarbrough is 0-0 and his ERA has jumped to 5.82. Philadelphia sits just 4-1/2 games back of Atlanta for the top spot in the NL East. Up next for the Phillies are three of the worst teams in the National League: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, and Miami Marlins. Atlanta will have to face the red hot San Francisco Giants over the weekend, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers, so now is the Phillies’ chance to gain some ground and it starts tonight. The Rays have won six straight against the Phillies but are just 3-7 in their last 10 at Citizens Bank Park.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES