Author: Roger

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals meet today at Nationals Park for game 1 of the NL Divisional Series. The Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the hill today. Scherzer has been outstanding in 2016, winning 20 games, losing just 7 with an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 0.97. Over his last 3 starts, he is 3-0, but his ERA is 5.09, and his WHIP is 1.42. Scherzer is 2-4 in 8 career starts against the Dodgers, with an ERA of 3.29. The lefty, Clayton Kershaw, gets the nod for Los Angeles and is out to prove the doubters wrong, that he can’t win in the post-season. Kershaw is 12-4 on the season, with a 1.69 ERA, a 0.72 WHIP, and over his last 3, he is 1-1 with a nasty ERA of 0.90 and a WHIP of just 0.70. The Dodgers’ southpaw has dominated Washington over his career, going 10-2, with an ERA of 2.02 and the Dodgers are 4-0 in his last 4 starts at Nationals Park. Head to head, the Dodgers are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings with the Nats and 4-1 in their last 5 in Washington. Dodgers should take game 1.

Today’s pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers get their AL Division Series rolling today with an early start at Globe Life Park. The Jays are riding high from their dramatic win on Tuesday over the Orioles and look to Marco Estrada to keep that momentum going. Estrada has been sharp over his last 3 outings, with a record of 1-0, an ERA of 0.95, a WHIP of 0.84 and Toronto is 8-3 in his last 11 road starts. Texas will counter with their ace southpaw, Cole Hamels. Over his last 3, Hamels is 1-0, with an ERA of 4.05 and a WHIP of 1.30. The Jays line-up consists mainly of right-handed hitters and that is why they are killing left-handed flame throwers. Toronto is 9-2 in their last 11 against southies and 4-1 on the road in their last 5 against them. The Jays have had success at Globe Life Park, going 11-4 in the last 15, and 7-3 in the last 10 meetings with Texas overall. The line opened at Texas -140 and now is Texas -120. Money is going Jays’ way. Flip some bats, Joey.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Two aces face off tonight in Queens to determine who extends their season and travels to Wrigley to take on the Chicago Cubs. The Giants send the lefty, Madison Bumgarner, to the hill. Bumgarner has had another stellar year, with a 15-9 record, an ERA of 2.74, and a WHIP of 1.02. Mad Bum shines in post-season play. In 12 career post-season starts, he is 7-3, with an ERA of 2.14. Bumgarner has also been lights out against the New York Mets. In 6 career starts against them, he is 5-0, with a nasty ERA of just 1.80. Noah Syndergaard gets the nod for New York and has had an outstanding year as well. Syndergaard went 14-9, with an ERA of 2.60, a WHIP of 1.15, and in 3 career starts against the Giants, he is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.66. The Mets are just 2-5 in Syndergaard’s last 7 home starts. I like the Giants’ chances tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles will square off tonight at Rogers Centre to determine who makes the trip to Arlington to take on the Texas Rangers. Marcus Stroman will get his chance to shine for the home crowd when he takes the hill for the Jays. Even though Stroman is 0-2 in his last 3 outings, he has pitched well, posting an ERA of 2.70, a WHIP of 1.20, and Toronto is 5-2 in his last 7 home starts. The Orioles’ ace, Chris Tillman, gets the start tonight. Over Tillman’s last 3, he is 0-1, with an ERA of 4.85, a WHIP of 1.69 and in 24 career starts against Toronto, he is 5-10 with an ERA of 5.44. Baltimore has not been getting it done in post-season play, going 0-4 in their last 4. This is a tough call but the Jays’ fans should give them a slight edge.

Tonight’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Sale takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox today to face the league’s worst, Minnesota Twins, in what will be Robin Ventura,s last game as skipper for the boys from the south side. Sale sends him out on a winning note.

Today’s pick:

Chicago White Sox

The Detroit Tigers can smell the post-season and they will inch closer today when they send Jordon Zimmermann to the hill to face Aaron Blair and the Atlanta Braves. Zimmermann is 9-6 on the season, with an ERA of 4.88, a WHIP of 1.36, and is 7-3 lifetime against the Braves, with an ERA of 2.55. What can I say about Aaron Blair? Well, he is 1-7 on the season, with an ERA of 8.02 and a WHIP of 1.73. Atlanta is 0-5 in their last 5 meetings with Detroit and the Tigers have Miguel Cabrera. Need I say more?

Today’s pick:

Detroit Tigers