Category: Baseball

The Washington Nationals snapped their 3-game skid last night by throttling the San Diego Padres, 10-2, and I expect a similar result tonight. Jeremy Hellickson gets the nod for the Nationals and he has been delivering. Hellickson is 1-0, with a 2.20 ERA, and a 0.86 WHIP in 32.2 innings of work. That can’t be said about Eric Lauer, who will take the hill for the Padres. Lauer is 1-2, with a soaring ERA of 8.14, a 2.10 WHIP, and is 0-1 on the road with a 9.24 ERA. Harper and company should get to him tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON NATIONALS

The Washington Nationals have lost 3 in a row after being on a tear, going 13-15, but should get back on track tonight when the San Diego Padres come to town. The Friars are reaching into the barrel when they send Robbie Erlin to the rubber. Erlin will get the nod because Joey Lucchesi is nursing a sore hip. Erlin is 1-2, with a 3.46 ERA, and was lit up in his last start against the Dodgers, yielding 6 runs in just 3 innings of work. The Nationals will send the southpaw, Gio González, to the hill. González has been on his mark, with a record of 4-2, a 2.36 ERA, and a 1.41 WHIP. In his last 3 turns, he has been even better, with an ERA of only 1.69 and a 1.38 WHIP. Anthony Rendon has feasted on Erlin, going 4-6, and the Nationals collectively are 10-16, with 2 homers and 11 RBIs against the young left-hander.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Julio Teherán will take the hill today for the Atlanta Braves as they try to take the 3-game set from the visiting Miami Marlins. Atlanta’s ace comes into the game at 4-1, with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The bottom-feeding Marlins will send Wei-Yin Chen to the bump. Chen has been battling elbow issues and that’s apparent in his record. He is 1-2, with a 7.56 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. The Braves should get to him today.
TODAY’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The New York Yankees lost the first game of a 3-game set last night at Kauffman Stadium against the Kansas City Royals but they should even the score today when Luis Severino takes the hill for the Bombers. Severino is probably the most underrated pitcher in the Majors but this guy is 6-1, with a 2.14 ERA, and a stingy 0.90 WHIP. The Royals will counter with southpaw Danny Duffy. Duffy has been struggling at 1-5, with an elevated 6.51 ERA, a 1.66 WHIP and you know what the Bombers do with lefties? They clobber them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

Atlanta is expected to go with Matt Wisler, instead of Sean Newcomb. Wisler is 1-0, with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. The pick stays the same.
ATLANTA BRAVES

Two National League East teams will face each other tonight when the first place Atlanta Braves play host to the last place Miami Marlins. “Donny Baseball” will send the right-hander to the hill, Dan Straily. Straily, who missed the first 4 weeks of the 2018 campaign due to a right forearm injury, will be making his 4th start of the season. He is 1-0, with a 5.54 ERA, a 1.77 WHIP, and his lone win came against the team he will face tonight, the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta has to be the surprise team of the year and will send southpaw Sean Newcomb to the hill. Newcomb has been outstanding. He is 4-1, with a 2.51 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and he has been lethal in his last 3 turns, going 3-0 with an ERA of 0.00 (no typo there), and a WHIP of just 0.68. Now that is total dominance. The Marlins are just 2-7 in their last 9 games in Atlanta and 2-8 in their last 10 road games against lefties. Miami’s backs are against the wall in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The San Diego Padres will take their pathetic 6-9 road record into PNC Park tonight to open a 4-game set against the red hot Pittsburgh Pirates. Southpaw Eric Lauer will get the call for the Friars and he has been awful. Lauer is 1-2, with a bloated ERA of 8.27, a soaring 2.14 WHIP, and in his last turn he allowed 6 runs and 4 homers in just 2-1/3 innings of work. The Pirates are tough at home, with a record of 14-6, and have won 7 of their last 8 games. Tonight they send Chad Kuhl to the hill. Kuhl has pitched well at 4-2, with a slightly elevated ERA of 4.17, and a 1.35 WHIP. The Bucs are 4-1 in his last 5 overall and 5-1 in his last 6 at PNC. It could be a long night for the Padres. They are 2-7 in their last 9 games in Pittsburgh and the Pirates are 4-1 in their last 5 home games against lefties.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PIRATES