The Arizona Diamondbacks hold a 1/2 game lead over the San Diego Padres for the last wild card spot in the NL with 18 games remaining in the regular season. They will open a 3-game set today with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, who are sitting nine games out of the last AL wild card spot; KC is not going to the post-season that is a given. Today the Royals are expected to send lefty Noah Cameron to the bump. Cameron is 9-8 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. The Diamondbacks have yet to announce a starter for today, so a bullpen game is probably the direction they are going. Kansas City has not fared well against the NL West, going 0-6 over their last 6 tries. The Snakes cannot afford to lose to bottom dwellers like the Royals if they want to see the post-season and they know it. Arizona has won two straight, three of their last four, score more runs than the Royals, give up less, and is the side to consider.
TODAY’S PICK: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS