Author: Roger

After losing three in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers are on the verge of being swept at home by one of the worst teams in baseball, the Cincinnati Reds. My question is, after last year’s blunder in the World Series when Dave Roberts started a struggling Darvish over a ready Kershaw and with the way they are performing thus far, how does this guy still have a job? He is incompetent. With that said, the Dodgers should be able to get back in the Win column today because the Reds will send Luis Castillo to the hill. Castillo has been shaky at best, with a record of 2-4, a soaring ERA of 6.47, and a 1.54 WHIP. The Dodgers will counter with the lefty Rich Hill. Hill is a top ranked hurler and has been struggling since coming off of the DL but it’s just a matter of time before he finds his groove and that will be today. The Dodgers are 7-1 in Hill’s last 8 starts against teams with a losing record and he is 4-2 in his career against the Reds with an ERA of 3.80.
TODAY’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

After being red hot, the New York Yankees have now lost two in a row but I see them getting back on track today when they play an early one in the Bronx against the Oakland Athletics. During their hot streak, the Bombers mowed down the best in the business – the Angels, Astros, Indians, and Red Sox. Today they will send the young upstart, Domingo Germán, to the hill. Germán has shown signs of brilliance. He possesses a 2.66 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and in his last 2 outings he has pitched 10 scoreless innings. Oakland counters with Andrew Triggs. Triggs has been an anchor for the Athletics at 3-1 but has an elevated 4.41 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and the A’s are 1-5 in his last 6 starts against the powerful American League East. The conditions today in New York are ripe for the Bombers’ bats, with a temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit and 11 MPH winds out of the NNE.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Seattle Mariners’ James Paxton threw a no-hitter on Tuesday against the host Toronto Blue Jays, beating them 5-0, but the Jays evened the score yesterday with a 5-2 victory at Rogers Centre. Tonight they will go for two in a row and a series win when they send their top hurler, southpaw J.A. Happ, to the hill. Happ sits at 4-2 on the season, with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Toronto is 5-1 in Happ’s last 6 starts and 4-0 in his last 4 outings at home. The veteran, Mike Leake, will tap the rubber for Seattle and he has been struggling. The ex-Red is 3-3 with a 6.28 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, and in his last 3 turns, he is 1-2 with an inflated ERA of 9.20 and a 2.05 WHIP. Considering Leake’s poor numbers, and that the Mariners are 1-6 in their last 7 trips north of the border, the Jays warrant consideration in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO BLUE JAYS

The Baltimore Orioles gave up 10 runs yesterday in the first inning and were routed at home by the Kansas City Royals, 15-7. After yesterday’s shellacking, Baltimore has now lost 7 straight and will turn to the ex-Padre Andrew Cashner to get them back in the Win column. Cashner has been anything but stellar, at 1-4, with a 4.89 ERA, and a 1.53 WHIP. The Royals will send Eric Skoglund to the hill and he has not be delivering either. Skoglund is 1-2, with a bloated ERA of 6.84, a 1.41 WHIP, and the Royals are just 1-7 in their last 8 trips to Camden Yards. So if Baltimore is going to win another game and save Buck Showalter’s job, it should be tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The Philadelphia Phillies own one of the best home records in the Majors, at 12-5, and showed why last night in a 11-0 trouncing of the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will seek their second straight win when they host the Giants again in the second game of a 4-game set. Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola is emerging as one of the top hurlers in baseball and the 24 year old will get the nod tonight for the Phillies. Nola is 4-1, with a 2.17 ERA and a WHIP of only 0.92. The G-men will send the 31 year old southpaw, Derek Holland, to the hill. Holland’s better days are behind him. He comes into tonight’s contest at 1-3, with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Philadelphia has been crushing lefties at home, with a record of 12-2 in their last 14 games. The Phillies should get to Holland tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES