Author: Roger

The New York Mets have been decimated with injuries this year and now they add outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the growing list with a quad strain. Tonight the Mets will hobble into Comerica Park to open a 3-game set against the surging Detroit Tigers. The Tigers send Justin Verlander to the hill and he has been delivering. Verlander is 11-6 on the season, with a 3.54 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and is 4-0 in his last 6 starts. The Tigers are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall, and 5-1 in their last 6 homestands. The Mets send Noah Syndergaard to the bump and he is 9-5 with an ERA of 2.48 and a WHIP of 1.14. It is rumored that Syndergaard has a bone spur in his elbow, which could explain his lack of control lately. New York is 0-4 in their last 4 meetings with Detroit. The Tigers stay hot.

Tonight’s pick:

Detroit Tigers

The St. Louis Cardinals will try to end a 3-game skid tonight when they play the second leg of a 3-game set in Cincinnati. Why he is still in the rotation I do not know, but the Reds will send Cody Reed to the hill. Reed is 0-5 on the season, with an ERA of 7.07 and a WHIP of 1.79. The Cardinals will counter with Michael Wacha, who is 6-7 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. St. Louis is 8-3 in the last 11 mettings and 6-0 in Wacha’s last 6 starts against the Reds. Wacha will need to be careful against Joey Votto and Zack Cozart. Votto is 8-21 against him and Cozart is 10-20. Scott Barry is behind the dish and the Cardinals are 6-0 in their last 6 with him pulling the strings.

Tonight’s pick:

St.Louis Cardinals

Madison Bumgarner will get the start tonight for the San Francisco Giants when they travel to Citizens Bank Park to take on Zach Eflin and the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite a lack of run support for the left-hander, Bumgarner is still 10-6 on the season with an ERA of 2.09 and a 0.98 WHIP. The Giants are 5-1 in their last 6 meetings with the Phillies and 7-2 in their last 9 in Philadelphia. The Phillies’ Zach Eflin is 3-4 in 2016, with an ERA of 4.23 and a WHIP of 1.19. The Phillies have struggled against left-handers, going 3-7 in their last 10. Hunter Pence has hit safely in his 2 games since returning to the line-up and is batting .318 in his career against his former team. Pence should help jump start this offense.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks open a 3-game home set tonight against flame thrower Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. The San Diego native is delivering as usual, with a record of 14-1, an ERA of 2.68 and a WHIP of 0.99. The Nats are 10-1 in Strasburg’s last 11 road starts and 9-3 in their last 12 meetings with Arizona. The Diamondbacks struggle at home, owning a 17-35 record at Chase Field. Archie Bradley gets the nod for Arizona and he is 4-6 on the season, with an ERA of 4.17 and a WHIP of 1.41. The Diamondbacks are just 1-4 in Bradley’s last 5 home starts and 1-4 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record. I like Harper and company tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Nationals

The New York Mets need to stop the bleeding and Noah Syndergaard might be the answer. Syndergaard is 9-5 on the season, with a 2.45 ERA and a WHIP of 1.13. The Rocks counter with Chad Bettis who is 9-6, with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Mets are 6-1 in their last 7 on Sundays.

Today’s pick:

New York Mets

Don’t look now but the surging Los Angeles Dodgers are only 1 game back of the league-leading San Francisco Giants in the National League West. They’ll try to inch a little closer tonight when they send the left-hander Scott Kazmir to the mound. Kazmir comes into this game winning his last 7 starts, is 9-3 on the season, with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. The Dodgers are tough to beat at Chavez Ravine. They’re 23-7 in their last 30 at home. Braden Shipley will make his second start in the Bigs. He was roughed up in his Major League debut against Milwaukee, surrendering 6 runs on 8 hits in 5-1/3 innings. Arizona struggles against LA. They are 17-41 in their last 58 meetings and 6-20 in their last 26 at the Ravine. I like A-Gon and company tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers