Author: Roger

If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to stay in a playoff hunt, they better start turning things around in a hurry. Tonight they will try to get back on track when they open a 3-game set at PNC Park against the Houston Astros. Jameson Taillon gets the call for the Bucs and he has been delivering. Over last 3 outings he is 1-0, with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 0.95. The ‘Stros will counter with Doug Fister. He is 1-1 over his last 3 starts, with an ERA of 5.29 and a WHIP of 1.71. Houston is 5-14 in their last 19 meetings with the Pirates, and 7-20 in their last 27 in Pittsburgh. The Bucs are 7-1 in Taillon’s last 8 starts. I’m taking McCutchen and company tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates avoid the sweep today when they send Ryan Vogelsong to the hill, to face José Ureña and the Miami Marlins. Vogelsong has been delivering. Over his last 3, he is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. That can’t be said for José Ureña. Over his last 3, he is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA and a WHIP of 1.59. Miami is 1-8 in Ureña’s last 9 starts and they are 0-5 in his last 5 starts against the National League Central. Chris Conroy is calling it today and the home teams are 4-1 when he is behind the dish.

Today’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

Tulowitzky and Donaldson are expected to return for the Blue Jays today. With Aaron Sanchez on the bump at 12-2, I’m taking the Jays over Cleveland.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Two of the best arms in the Majors will face off tonight at AT&T Park, when the New York Mets send deGrom to the mound to face the lefty Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants. Jacob deGrom is 7-5 on the season, with a 2.30 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and is 2-3 with an ERA of 2.38 in 9 road starts. New York has had trouble hitting lefties, going 1-6 in their last 7. On the flip side, Madison Bumgarner is 11-7, with a 2.11 ERA, a WHIP of 1.00 and in 5 career starts against the Mets, he is 4-0 with an ERA of just 1.03. Jay Bruce and James Loney have struggled against the Bum, with Bruce going 3 for 18 and Loney 2 for 13. I like the Giants in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The Los Angeles Dodgers racked up 15 runs last night against the Philadelphia Phillies and will try to keep that momentum going when they play game 2 of a 3-game set tonight at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers’ Chase Utley was on fire last night against his old club, belting a solo home run and topping that off with a grand slam. Los Angeles sends Scott Kazmir to the mound and he is 9-6, with an ERA of 4.44, and the Dodgers are 4-1 in his last 5 road starts. The rookie Jake Thompson will make his third Big League start and he is 1-1 on the season, with an ERA of 8.68, and has yielded 5 walks in 9-1/3 innings of work. The Dodgers are 5-1 in their last 6 meetings with the Phillies and 4-1 in their last 5 at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers’ bats stay hot.

Tonight’s pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox will open a 3-game series at Progressive Field tonight. Two flame throwers will face off in game 1 with the lefty, José Quintana pitching for the Sox and Corey Kluber for the Indians. Quintana, over his last 3 outings is 1-0 with a 2.11 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Over Kluber’s last 3 outings, he is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA and a WHIP of just 0.90. Quintana has trouble with the AL Central and the White Sox are just 2-8 in his last 10 starts. Chicago has struggled against Cleveland. They are 0-4 in their last 4 in Cleveland and 0-6 in their 6 meetings. Kluber has been lights out at home, winning his last 5 starts. Indians should get this one.

Today’s pick:

Cleveland Indians