Month: May 2023

The 20-10 Pittsburgh Pirates got off to a blazing start in the 2023 campaign but have now lost two straight after last night’s 4-1 loss to the 24-6 Tampa Bay Rays at the Trop. Tonight the Bucs are expected to send Mitch Keller to the hill and he has been dealing. Keller is 3-0 with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. The Rays are expected to counter with their ace, southpaw Shane McClanahan, who has been nothing short of spectacular. McClanahan comes into tonight’s matchup with a 5-0 record, a 2.12 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Tampa is 15-2 in St. Pete and #1 in runs per game, run differential, batting average, home runs, etc., etc., etc.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

The 19-9 Baltimore Orioles are the real deal and will open a 3-game set tonight with the 7-22 Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The O’s have won 11 of their last 13 and are off to their best start since 1997. Baltimore’s expected starter is Tyler Wells. He is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA and has the lowest WHIP in the majors, at 0.724. Southpaw Ryan Yarborough is expect to get the nod for the Royals. He is winless at 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Royals are just 1-12 at “The K” and are a dismal 3-14 in their last 17 overall. Mountcastle and company are 6-1 in their last 7 against a left-handed starter and continue to stay hot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BALTIMORE ORIOLES

After getting swept over the weekend by the San Diego Padres in Mexico City, the 11-16 San Francisco Giants will open a 3-game set tonight with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. San Francisco has lost 3 straight and they are just 1-6 in their last 7 road games. The Giants expected starter, Ross Stripling, will try to get them back on the rails but his numbers are not good. Stripling is 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. The Astros are expected to counter with Luis García. His numbers are a mediocre 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP but over his last two starts he has been lights out. García pitched 6 scoreless innings against the Rays with the Astros cruising to a 5-0 win and 7 scoreless against the Jays, resulting in a 8-1 Houston victory. Despite all their injuries, the Champs are still 15-13 and will be catching a Giants team that had to travel from Mexico City yesterday so fatigue could be an issue.
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS