Category: Baseball

The Minnesota Twins have the White Sox and Indians breathing down their neck for the AL Central lead and had better get back on track after losing two straight. Tonight they will have that opportunity when they visit Comerica Park to open a 4-game set with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have been playing better lately but are expected to send lefty Matthew Boyd to the hill. The once dominant Boyd has been struggling this year with a record of 0-4, a bloated ERA of 8.48 and a 1.74 WHIP. The expected starter for the Twins has been just the opposite. Randy Dobnak is 5-1 with an ERA of only 1.78 and a 1.02 WHIP. Despite being riddled with injuries, the Twins are still 6-4 in their last 10 and have had the Tigers’ number at Comerica, going 20-7 in their last 27.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The Oakland Athletics pounded the Texas Rangers last night, 10-3, at Globe Life Field to even the 4-game set at 1-1. The A’s could have another big night when they face the Rangers expected starter, southpaw Kolby Allard. Allard is 0-2, with a 7.82 ERA, a 1.82 WHIP, and lasted only 1 inning in his last outing against Seattle, where he gave up 4 runs in a 7-4 loss. Mike Fiers is expected on the bump for Oakland. Fiers is 3-1, with a 5.81 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, and Texas is 5-1 in his last 6 starts. To say the Athletics crush left-handed starters would be an understatement. They are 42-12 in their last 54 against lefty starters and have won 5 of their last 6 in Texas. Oakland is hot, winning 5 of their last 7, and Texas is not, losing 9 of their last 10.
TONIGHT’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS

The Chicago White Sox have won 7 of their last 8 and will return home tonight to host the Pittsburgh Pirates. The White Sox lead the American League in homers with 55 and 30 of those have come at Guarantee Rate Field. Not good for opposing pitchers. The Pirates have also been on a roll, winning 3 straight, but are just 2-8 on the road. Chicago’s Lucas Giolito is slated to take the hill and he is starting to find his groove. Giolito is 2-2 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He was lights out in his last turn against Detroit, yielding just 3 hits with 13 Ks in 7 innings of work. Pittsburgh is expected to have lefty Steven Brault tap the rubber. Brault has good numbers, with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP, but that’s over just 12 innings of work. In their last 7 games against a left-handed starter, the White Sox are 7-0 and are worth considering.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Zack Greinke will be tapping the rubber today at Petco Park for the Houston Astros and if anyone is going to slow down the San Diego Padres it’s Greinke. He is 13-3 lifetime against the Friars, with an ERA of 2.37 and a 0.918 WHIP.
TODAY’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

The Chicago Cubs were embarrassed yesterday by the homer-happy Chicago White Sox, 10-1, at Wrigley. The Sox have now won 6 in a row but all good things must come to an end. The Cubs will be sending Kyle Hendricks to the rubber. Hendricks is 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA and a WHIP of only 0.92. The White Sox are expected to counter with Reynaldo López and his numbers aren’t even worth mentioning. Despite last night’s win, the Sox are still just 3-7 in their last 10 on the North Side.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO CUBS

The Tampa Bay Rays are hot, winning 9 of their last 10, and they just swept the New York Yankees in the Bronx, which is not an easy task. Tonight the Rays return home to St. Pete to take on the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays are rolling as well, winning 5 straight, but have had issues with Tampa, losing 4 of the last 5 meetings.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

The Chicago White Sox will go for a series sweep of the Detroit Tigers in an early one today on the South Side. The White Sox are hot, winning 4 in a row, and have belted 14 homers during that span. The Tigers are a mess, losing 8 straight. They are 0-4 in their last 4 at Guaranteed Rate Field and will have to face Lucas Giolito, who can deliver.
TODAY’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX