Category: Baseball

The Oakland Athletics will go for a series win against the Detroit Tigers when they wrap up their 3-game set in a matinée today at Comerica Park. The Tigers won yesterday’s matchup, 8-6, thanks to Miguel Cabrera, who smacked his 502nd home run and drove in 3 but is not expected to suit up today which is good news for Oakland. Frankie Montas is expected to toe the rubber today for the A’s and he has been lethal. Over his last two starts, Montas faced two of the best teams in the Majors (the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants) and pitched a combined 14 scoreless innings, yielding just 4 hits and striking out 15. Detroit is expected to send rookie Matt Manning to the hill. Manning, who is 3-5 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP, had better be in the zone or the Athletics’ bats will jump all over him. Oakland is still very much alive in the AL Wild Card hunt and need this win today before they head north of the border for a 3-game set with the always dangerous Toronto Blue Jays.
TODAY’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS

After winning 13 in a row, the New York Yankees have lost 4 straight and are on the verge of being swept by the Los Angeles Angels but not so fast. The Yanks will have their ace on the hill, Gerrit Cole, and he has been as close to perfect as you can get. Cole has been throwing flames. Over his last 3 turns, he is 3-0, with a nasty 0.51 ERA, a WHIP of just 0.96, and is 7-1 lifetime against the Halos with a 2.60 ERA. The Angels are expected to counter with lefty Packy Naughton, who will be making his first Big League start. Good luck. The Bombers are 8-2 in their last 10 against a left-handed starter.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox will open a quick 2-game interleague set tonight with the last place Pittsburgh Pirates on the south side. The White Sox have never lacked in the run department, averaging over 5 runs per game, and are coming off a 13-1 romp of the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates, on the other hand, who are 20-45 on the road, are averaging just over 3 runs per game and will have to face Lucas Giolito tonight. Giolito has been sharp over his last 3 turns, posting a 2.65 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and tossed a no hitter at Guaranteed Rate Field last year against the Bucs. Pittsburgh is expected to hand the ball to Bryse Wilson. Wilson has posted a 4.20 ERA over his last 3 turns with a 1.20 WHIP, and in 6 interleague appearances he has a hefty 7.07 ERA. Chicago is 44-24 at home and 6-1 in their last 7 against the NL Central. The price is high in this one but if not for a total meltdown the White Sox should cruise to a victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The New York Yankees will have a golden opportunity to gain some ground on the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays when they open a 3-game set in SoCal with the Anaheim Angels. New York has lost 2 in a row following their 13-game winning streak and mustered just 3 runs in their 2 losses but you can’t keep the Bombers bats quiet for too long. Corey Kluber, who has been sidelined since May 25th due to shoulder issues, is expected on the hill for New York. Kluber was 2-1 in his last 3 prior to his injury, with a 3.00 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, and let’s not forget the no-no he had against Texas on May 19th. There is no line on the game yet and LA has not announced a starter for tonight but it’s doubtful it will be Shohei Ohtani, who is slated for tomorrow’s matchup. New York is 7-1 in their last 8 following a loss, 5-1 in their last 6 road games against a team with a losing record, and 6-1 in their last 7 in Anaheim. The Yankees need to strike and they know it. Tampa will have their hands full over their next four games with the Boston Red Sox.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Houston Astros will go for their fifth straight win and a sweep of the Texas Rangers when the two clubs wrap up their 3-game set in Arlington. Houston is expected to hand the ball to the future Hall of Famer, Zack Greinke. Greinke has been on his mark all season, with a record of 11-4, a 3.41 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and over his last 3, it gets better. Greinke is 1-1 with an ERA of just 1.42, a 0.74 WHIP, and will be seeking his fifth straight victory over the lowly Rangers. Texas is expected to send Taylor Hearn (3-4, 4.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) to the the hill. Hearn, who has been used primarily in relief, does have 5 starts on the season, where he has gone 1-2 with an elevated ERA of 5.71. Houston has won 7 straight against Texas and with Greinke on the hill you have to consider the Stros.
TODAY’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

The Milwaukee Brewers own the top spot in the NL Central but they shouldn’t get too complacent because the Cincinnati Reds, who are playing good baseball, are 7-1/2 games back and still within striking distance. The Brewers lost Game 1 of their 3-game set last night to the Twins, 2-0, and have now lost two straight but with Adrian Houser expected on the hill for the Brew their chances of getting back on track today look good. Houser has been been throwing flames. Over his last 3 turns, Houser is 1-0 with a nasty ERA of just 0.61 and a WHIP to match at 0.89. The expected starter for the Twins, lefty Charlie Barnes, has been just the opposite. Over his last 3 starts, Barnes is 0-2 with a bloated ERA of 8.36 and a 1.79 WHIP. The Brewers have excelled on the road this year, going 42-22, and are 20-7 in their last 27 as a road favorite. The Twins, who have nothing to play for except pride, are 31-33 at home and rarely put together back-to-back wins.
TODAY’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Despite being red hot and winning 9 of their last 10, the Los Angeles Dodgers still trail the San Francisco Giants by 2-1/2 games for the lead in the NL West. This weekend they should be able to make up some ground, with the Giants visiting the always tough Atlanta Braves while the Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at Chavez Ravine. The Rockies have been awful on the road, at 15-47, and are expected to turn to Kyle Freeland to throw strikes. Freeland is upside down, at 4-6, with 4.25 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and is just 2-7 lifetime against the Dodgers. The starter for Los Angeles has yet to be named but whoever it is, it shouldn’t matter. LA is 42-21 at home and 10-3 this year against Colorado. Consider the Champs.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS