Category: Baseball

After a slow start out of the gate it looks like the Chicago Cubs have straightened things out and will go for their third straight win today when they host the Los Angeles Angels in the second game of a 3-game set in a matinée at Wrigley Field. The Angels are just 1-6 on the road in 2019. They are expected to send Chris Stratton to the rubber and he has struggled. Stratton is 0-1, with a 6.48 ERA, a 2.04 WHIP, and has yet to get past the fifth inning in his two starts. The Cubs are expected to counter with Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks has also struggled at 0-2, with a 6.48 ERA and a 2.64 WHIP, but it is well known the right hander can deliver and especially when he taps the rubber at Wrigley. The Cubs are 5-1 in his last 6 home starts and have had the Angels number. The boys from the north side are 5-0 in their last 5 meetings with the Halos and 5-1 in their last 6 against them at home.
TODAY’S PICK: CHICAGO CUBS

It’s been awhile but the San Diego Padres are in sole possession of first place in the National League West and you can chalk that up to a rotation filled with a bunch of young flamethrowers. Tonight they will seek their third straight win when they send Chris Paddack to the bump at Chase Field for the second game of a 4-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In two turns this year, Paddack owns an ERA of only 1.04 with a nasty 0.92 WHIP and has allowed just 3 hits over 8-2/3 frames. The Snakes will send Luke Weaver to the rubber and so far he has not looked impressive, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. The Padres are 6-2 in their last 8 overall and 4-1 in their last 5 against the National League West. I like the Friars chances in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES

The New York Mets will open a 4-game set tonight at SunTrust Park against the red hot Atlanta Braves. The Braves have won 3 straight and 7 of their last 8. Atlanta is expected to send Kevin Gausman to the rubber tonight and he was spectacular in his last turn against Miami. He yielded zero runs and just 2 hits over 7 frames, resulting in a 4-0 Atlanta victory. The Mets are expected to give the nod to southpaw Steven Matz. He has had some control issues early on but has been able to wiggle out of jams, yielding just 1 earned run over 10-1/3 innings of work. Matz had better be on target tonight because New York is 5-12 in their last 17 meetings with Atlanta and 2-5 in their last 7 trips to SunTrust Park. The Braves are hot, ride them ’til they’re not.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The New York Mets will be on a lengthy road trip starting tomorrow so a win today against the Minnesota Twins in Queens would be a nice send off and that should happen. New York is expected to send Noah Syndergaard to the hill and he delivers. Last year at Citi Field, he was lights out with a record of 8-1, an ERA of 2.87, and in inter-league play, the Mets are 6-1 in his last 7 starts. The Twins are expected to counter with Jake Odorizzi. Odorizzi was lit up in his last turn, yielding 5 runs in just 2/3 innings of work, resulting in a 10-4 shellacking at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Twins have struggled against the Mets, going 1-7 in their last 8 overall and 1-4 in their last 5 trips to Queens. The Mets get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK METS

The Boston Red Sox will send Chris Sale to the hill today for their home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. Just like his team, Sale is off to a rocky start but that won’t last. The flame-throwing lefty is the best in the business. The Red Sox are 7-2 in Sale’s last 9 home starts and 6-1 in his last 7 starts against the American League East. The Blue Jays are 5-22 in their last 27 road games against lefties and with a guy like Sale on the hill, good luck.
TODAY’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

Are the Boston Red Sox going to be swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks today? I say not.
TODAY’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

The Boston Red Sox may be 2-7 to start the season but don’t forget, they are are the World Champions and for a reason, they are really good. This early temporary setback will not last long. You can count on that. Tonight they will try to even the score with the Arizona Diamondbacks when the two clubs play the second game of a 3-game set at Chase Field. David Price is expected to get the nod for Boston and he was not sharp in his season debut against Oakland, yielding 4 runs, including 3 homers in 6 innings of work, but chalk that up to rust. Last year the veteran southpaw won 16 games including 3 in the post-season. Price has fared well against Arizona, going 2-0, with a 2.81 ERA, and the Red Sox are 7-0 in his last 7 starts in inter-league play. Luke Weaver is expected to take the bump for Arizona. Weaver’s season debut is one I’m sure he would like to forget. He gave up 5 runs on 6 hits over 4-1/3 frames in a losing cause to the Dodgers. Despite last night’s loss, the Sox have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Snakes and Arizona is just 2-6 in their last 8 games against left-handed starters. I like Boston’s chances in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX