Author: Roger

The Minnesota Twins lost Game 1 of their 3-game set to the visiting Cincinnati Reds last night, 2-1, but bounce back today in a matinée at Target Field. The Reds are dead last in the league in scoring, averaging just 3.3 runs per game, and the Twins’ expected starter Taj Bradley will have no problem shutting them down. Bradley has been throwing flames. He is a perfect 3-0 with an ERA of just 1.25, a WHIP to match at 1.25, and the Twins are 4-0 in his last 4 starts. The Reds are expected to send Andrew Abbott to the hill. He is a solid pitcher but off to a rocky start. Abbott is winless at 0-2 with an elevated 5.85 ERA, a 1.70 WHIP, and the Twins who are averaging 5.20 runs per game should have success against the left-handed hurler.
TODAY’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The Athletics are no longer one of the bottom feeders in the AL West. They have done a complete 180^o from last year and are in first place in the AL West. This team should not be taken lightly. The A’s are 10-9 on the season, have won 7 of their last 9 with series wins over the New York Yankees and a sweep of the New York Mets, and that was on the road. Tonight they will welcome in the lowly Chicago White Sox to their temporary home in West Sacramento at Sutter Health Park. At 6-13, the White Sox own the worst record in baseball. They were just swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a 3-game set on the south side and have just 1 win in their last 6 tries. One bright spot for Chicago is their expected starter for tonight, Davis Martin, who comes in at 2-1 with an excellent ERA of 2.50 and a 1.11 WHIP. The Athletics are expected to give the nod to Aaron Civale and he has been on his game. Civale is 2-0 with an ERA of only 1.72 and a 0.96 WHIP. The Athletics have won 5 of the last 6 meetings with the White Sox. They have the edge in runs scored, run differential, batting average, homers, and the list goes on.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATHLETICS

The first place 10-7 Tampa Bay Rays are clicking on every cylinder. They have won 5 straight and are on the verge of another sweep when they conclude their 3-game set this afternoon with the 6-12 Chicago White Sox on the south side. The Rays swept the Yankees at the Trop in a 3-game set and have dominated the White Sox over the first 2 games, outscoring then 16-8. Today’s expected starters are southpaw Steven Matz for Tampa and Jordan Leasure for Chicago. Matz is a perfect 3-0 with a 3.94 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP over 16 innings of work. Leasure comes in at 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over 9 innings of work. Tampa’s offense is on fire. The Rays are averaging over 5 runs per game and simply put are the better team on the diamond this afternoon. The Rays are hot; ride them ’til they are not.
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

The Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins will play the rubber game of their 3-game set tonight at Truist Park. The Braves evened the score last night with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory. Tonight the Marlins are expected to send Chris Paddack to the hill and the Braves’ potent offense is licking their chops. Paddack is winless at 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA, a 1.57 WHIP, and that is not good. The Braves are expected to hand the ball to Bryce Elder, who has been in the zone. Elder is 1-1 with a 1.02 ERA and a WHIP to match at 1.02. This Atlanta team is really good. They have the lowest team ERA in the majors at 2.92. They are fourth in the league in runs scored, second in run differential, second in batting average, and third in hits. That is a recipe for winning.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The 10-6 Pittsburgh Pirates are for real. They are in first place in the NL Central and have one of the best rotations in the majors. In game one of their 4-game set with the 7-9 Washington Nationals last night at PNC Park, Paul Skenes pitched another gem, allowing just 1 run over 6 innings of work and the Bucs went on to crush the Nats, 16-5. Tonight in game two another Pittsburgh flamethrower is expected to get the nod and that is Mitch Keller. Keller has been outstanding. Over 18 innings of work he is 1-0 with an ERA of only 1.00 and a barely visible WHIP of 0.94. Washington is expected to counter with Miles Mikolas, and his season thus far has been a disaster. Mikolas comes in at 0-3 with an ERA that has soared to 12.41 with a 2.35 WHIP over just 12.1 innings of work. The Bucs have won 7 of their last 10, are 5-2 at PNC, and should send Mikolas to the showers early.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PIRATES

After a fast start to the 2026 campaign, the Miami Marlins have come back down to earth and have now lost 3 straight and 7 of their last 10. Tonight they will have their work cut out for them when they head to Truist Park to open a 3-game set with the NL East leading Atlanta Braves. The Braves are coming off a 13-1 shellacking of the Cleveland Guardians and are averaging 5.6 runs per game which is fourth in the majors. They are expected to send Grant Holmes to the hill and he has been throwing strikes. Holmes is 1-1 with an excellent ERA of 2.55 and a WHIP to match, at 1.08. The Marlins, who are a dismal 1-5 on the road, are expected to hand the ball to Eury Pérez. He comes in at 1-1 with an elevated 5.06 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Braves are 6-3 at home, have won 5 of the last 6 meetings with the Marlins, and should be the victor tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals will play the rubber game of their 3-game set in a matinée today at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals are currently a home dog today and that is perplexing. The Red Sox are just 2-6 away from Fenway and are expected to send right-hander Brayan Bello to the hill, and he has been getting lit up. Bello is 0-1 on the season with a bloated 9.00 ERA, a 2.50 WHIP, and is 0-1 in his career against St. Louis with an ERA of 9.64. The Cardinals are 5-3 at Busch and are expected to give the nod to righty Andre Pallante. Pallante has been in the zone. He is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and is 1-1 in his career against Boston with an ERA of 2.84. St. Louis is averaging 4.5 runs per game, Boston averages 3.8, and the Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games against a right-handed starter.
TODAY’S PICK: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS