Author: Roger

The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets will play the final game of a 3-game set under the lights tonight at Citi Field. The Mets will send Noah Syndergaard to the hill and he has been throwing flames. Syndergaard is 1-0, with an ERA of just 0.95, a 0.84 WHIP, with 20 strikeouts and no walks in 19 innings of work. Syndergaard has dominated the Phillies, posting a career record of 4-0, with an ERA of 1.37. Aaron Nola gets the nod for Philadelphia and he is off to a descent start, with a record of 1-0, a 3.27 ERA, and a 1.36 WHIP. Philadelphia has had issues with New York, going 16-40 in the last 56 meetings, and 8-20 in their last 28 trips to Queens. I like the Mets chances tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

New York Mets

The Atlanta Braves have won 5 in a row and have yet to lose at SunTrust Park. Tonight they will open a 3-game homestand against Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. Washington is 5-0 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts against Atlanta and he comes into tonight’s contest 1-1, with an 2.13 ERA, and a 0.95 WHIP. Mike Foltynewicz takes the hill for the Braves and in just 5.2 innings of work he has an ERA of 6.35 and a 2.12 WHIP. The Nationals Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy are off to a great start and they should get to Foltynewicz tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Nationals

The Seattle Mariners took 3 from Texas over the weekend and will look to continue the momentum tonight when they play an interleague game against the Miami Marlins at Safeco Field. The Marlins will send Tom Koehler to the hill. The Marlins are 1-9 in his last 10 starts, 1-4 in his last 5 road starts and 2-5 in his last 7 interleague starts. The Mariners will rely on Ariel Miranda to get things done. Seattle is 6-2 in his last 8 starts and 4-1 in his last 5 home starts. Miami made a cross-country flight and that is always draining. I like Seattle in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Seattle Mariners

The World Champion Chicago Cubs are on the verge of being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Jon Lester might have something to say about that when he takes the hill for the Cubs today at Wrigley. The southpaw Lester has been his usual self, posting a 1.64 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 11 innings of work. The Pirates will counter with Jameson Taillon, who has been sharp so far, posting a 1.3 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 games against lefties and 3-9 in their last 12 at Wrigley. With Lester’s 22-5 record in his last 27 homes starts, I like the Cubbies chances in this one.

Today’s pick:

Chicago Cubs

The Boston Red Sox will send the flame-throwing southpaw Chris Sale to the hill today to try to even up the series after getting bamboozled last night, 10-5, by the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Sale has been outstanding for his new team, posting a 1.23 ERA, with a 0.68 WHIP, in 14.2 innings of work. The Rays will send Jake Odorizzi to the hill and in 12 innings of work thus far, he has a 4.50 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP. The Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 meetings with the Red Sox, 2-5 in their last 7 trips to Fenway, and 3-9 in their last 12 against lefties.

Today’s pick:

Boston Red Sox

The Washington Nationals dropped 2 out of 3 to the Phillies last weekend at Citizens Bank Park but can seek revenge when they open up another 3-game set in an early one today in Washington. Philadelphia will send Aaron Nola to the hill and he is 1-0 in 6 innings pitched, with a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. The Phillies are 1-4 in Nola’s last 5 road starts and 1-6 in their last 7 trips to Washington. The Nationals will counter with their ace Stephen Strasburg who is 1-0, with an ERA of 3.21, and a 1.00 WHIP in 14 innings of work. In 85 career home starts, Strasburg has an ERA of just 2.88, and the Nationals are 20-6 in his last 26 home starts. Philadelphia’s pitching has given up a league leading 18 home runs, and with the Nationals’ Daniel Murphy batting .450, with 2 homers and 9 RBIs, and Bryce Harper batting .344, with 2 homers and 8 RBIs, I like the Nationals chances in this one.

Today’s pick:

Washington Nationals