Category: Baseball

The Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels will play an early one today at Angels Stadium and I like the Astros in this one. Charlie Morton gets the nod for Houston. Morton is 10-6, with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and the Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 trips to Anaheim. Mike Scioscia will call on Ricky Nolasco to throw strikes and he is 6-12, with a 5.05 ERA, a WHIP of 1.45, and the Angels are 3-7 in his last 10 home starts.
TODAY’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

The New York Yankees have lost 2 in a row but should get back on track today when they send Sonny Gray to the hill to face Yovani Gallardo and the Seattle Mariners in a matinee in the Bronx. Gray has faced the Mariners 10 times in his career, boasting a record of 4-2, with an ERA of 2.86. Despite going 1-3 since becoming a Yankee, Gray has pitched well, with an ERA of 3.13. Gallardo is 0-2 in his last 3 starts, with an ERA of 8.59, a 1.77 WHIP, and in 7 career starts against New York, he has an ERA of 6.32, and Seattle is 0-4 in his last 4 starts against the American League East. The Mariners are 2-5 in their last 7 meetings with the Bombers and could be without Robby Canó, who is suffering from a hamstring issue.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Boston Red Sox Rick Porcello got off to a slow start but is back to his 2016 form and will take the hill tonight at Fenway when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles. Porcello is 3-0 in his last 3 outings, with a 2.84 ERA and a WHIP of 1.16. The Red Sox are 10-2 in their last 12 home games, 4-0 in Porcello’s last 4 starts, and they are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the American League East. Buck Showalter will call on Jeremy Hellickson to tap the rubber. Hellickson has been struggling. The ex-Philly is 0-2 in his last 3 starts, with a 9.19 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, and when not in the comforts of Camden Yards, the Orioles are a dismal 15-32 in their last 47 games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

The Minnesota Twins lost a tough one yesterday but they should rebound tonight when they play the final game of a 4-game set against the Chicago White Sox on the south side. There is a pitching mismatch in this one, with Derek Holland tapping the rubber for the White Sox and José Berríos for the Twins. Holland is 6-13, with a 6.28 ERA, a 1.70 WHIP, and in his last 2 starts against Minnesota, he has failed to make it past 3 innings. Chicago is 1-6 in Holland’s last 7 home starts and 0-7 in his last 7 starts against the American League Central. On the flip side, José Berríos gets the nod for the Twins. Berríos is 11-5, with a 3.99 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and is 2-0 in 2 career starts against Chicago with a 2.08 ERA. Minnesota is 6-2 in their last 8 games and 8-3 in their last 11 trips to Guaranteed Rate Field.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The Boston Red Sox clobbered the Cleveland Indians last night, 9-1, and are a big underdog tonight when they play the third game of a 4-game set at Progressive Field. Two flamethrowers are expected to oppose each other, with Boston sending the lefty Drew Pomeranz to the hill and Cleveland with Corey Kluber. Kluber has been on his game, with a record of 12-3, an ERA of 2.67, a WHIP of 0.92, and is 3-0 in his last 3 starts with an ERA of 2.11. Pomeranz has been just as lethal, with a record of 12-4, a 3.31 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and is 2-0 in his last 3 starts with an ERA of 2.20. The Red Sox are 16-5 in their last 21 overall, 6-2 in their last 8 road games, and 4-0 in Pomeranz’ last 4 road starts against a team with a winning record. I see this as a good dog bet.
Tonight’s pick: BOSTON RED SOX.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets will play the second game of a 4-game set tonight at Citi Field. Arizona won the first game in extras last night, 3-2, and I see them coming out on top again tonight. Patrick Corbin will get the call for Arizona. Corbin has been delivering, going 2-1 in his last 3 starts, with an ERA of 1.27 and a WHIP of 0.94. New York will counter with Tommy Milone. Milone has been sidelined with a sprained left knee and will be making his first start in 3 months. He is 1-2, with an ERA of 7.91, a WHIP of 1.73, and in 2 career starts against Arizona, he is 0-1 with an ERA of 7.59. New York is 1-7 in their last 8 games overall and 1-6 in their last 7 at home. The Diamondbacks should get this one. They are 5-0 in their last 5 meetings with the Mets and 4-0 in their last 4 trips to Citi Field.

Tonight’s Pick:

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Baltimore Orioles have lost 2 in a row and they had better get back on track soon if they want to stay in the American League Wild Card hunt. A visit from the Oakland Athletics tonight to open a 3-game set might be the answer. The Athletics, who are 20-39 on the road, will send Chris Smith to the rubber. In his last 3 starts, Smith is 0-1, with an inflated ERA of 6.61, a WHIP of 1.35, and he last faced the Orioles at home on August 10th, yielding 5 runs on 7 hits in a 7-2 Orioles victory. Baltimore, who is 36-24 at home, will give the nod to the southpaw, Wade Miley. In his last 3 outings, Miley is 1-1, with an ERA of 2.70, a WHIP of 1.26, and he opposed Smith on August 10th, giving up just 1 unearned run on 3 hits in 7 innings of work. Oakland is 0-4 in their last 4 games against lefties and 1-6 in their last 7 trips to Camden Yards. I like Baltimore in this situation.

Tonight’s Pick:

Baltimore Orioles