Category: Baseball

The St. Louis Cardinals are hot, winning 7 in a row, and will go for 8 today when they host the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals have the edge in the pitching matchup in this one. St. Louis will send Carlos Martínez to the rubber. Martínez is 8-9, with an ERA of 3.52, and a WHIP of 1.19 in 148.1 innings of work. Atlanta will counter with Lucas Sims, who is 0-2, with a 5.25 ERA, and a 1.17 WHIP in just 12 innings of work. The Cards are 13-3 in their last 16 games as a favorite and Atlanta is 1-7 in their last 8 games as an underdog. St. Louis is hot, ride them ’til their not.

Today’s Pick:

St. Louis Cardinals

The Milwaukee Brewers have lost 5 in a row but they should get back on track tonight when they host the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park. Jimmy Nelson will tap the rubber tonight for Milwaukee. Nelson is 9-5, with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and is 2-0 this season against the Reds, with an ERA of 1.93. Homer Bailey will get the nod for Cincinnati. Bailey has been struggling, posting a record of 3-6, with an ERA of 8.86, a 2.04 WHIP, and was lit up in his last outing by St. Louis, yielding 10 runs on 10 hits in just 3-1/3 innings of work.

Tonight’s Pick:

Milwaukee Brewers

The Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox will play the final game of a 3-game set tonight on the South Side. The Astros are on the verge of being swept by a very bad White Sox team but Brad Peacock takes the hill for Houston tonight and he can deliver. Peacock is 10-1, with a 3.20 ERA, and a 1.26 WHIP. Houston is 7-0 in his last 7 starts and 6-0 in his last 6 road starts. Chicago will hand the ball to Carlos Rodon. Rodon is 1-4 on the season, with an ERA of 4.66, and a WHIP of 1.47. Chicago is 2-5 in their last 7 games against the American League West and 4-11 in their last 15 home games. The numbers say Houston in this one.

Tonight’s Pick:

Houston Astros

Masahiro Tanaka will take the hill tonight for the New York Yankees when they face the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a 3-game set at Rogers Centre. Tanaka has pitched well of late, going 1-1 over his last 3 starts, with a 2.70 ERA, and a 0.80 WHIP. Tanaka has been a Blue Jay killer. New York is 6-1 in his last 7 starts against Toronto and has notched 2 victories against them this season. Toronto is expected to call up Nick Tepesch from AAA Buffalo. In 41 career starts, Tepesch is 9-19, with an ERA of 4.69. Toronto’s Ryan Goins is 0-19 against Tanaka, Justin Smoaks is 1-14, and the ex-Yankee Russel Martin is 1-11. I like the Yankees’ chances in this one.

Tonight’s Pick:

New York Yankees

The Los Angeles Angels should snap their 3-game skid tonight when they host the Baltimore Orioles and this is why. Jeremy Hellickson will get the nod for the Orioles and the former Philly is 7-5, with an ERA of 4.45. Mike Scioscia will counter with Parker Bridwell. Bridwell is 5-1, with an ERA of 3.20. The Angels are 5-0 in his last 5 starts and 5-0 in his last 5 starts against the American League East. Paul Nauert will be calling the balls and strikes tonight and the Angels are 4-0 in their last 4 when he is pulling the strings.

Tonight’s Pick:

Los Angeles Angels

Jhoulys Chacín will tap the rubber tonight for the San Diego Padres when they open a 4-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Chacín is 11-7, with an ERA of 3.99, a WHIP of 1.26, and San Diego is 6-0 in his last 6 starts. Tim Adleman will get the nod for the Reds. Adleman is 5-9, with an ERA of 5.42, a WHIP of 1.41, and Cincinnati is 1-5 in his last 6 starts. The Friars are 4-1 in their last 5 meetings with Cincinnati and 6-2 in their last 8 trips to Great American Ball Park. Edge San Diego.

Tonight’s Pick:

San Diego Padres

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres will play an early one today at PNC Park. The pitching matchup today will be Jameson Taillon for the Pirates and southpaw Clayton Richard for the Friars. Taillon is 6-5 on the season, with an ERA of 4.74, and a WHIP of 1.53. Richard is 5-12, with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, and has given up more hits than any other hurler in the Majors, with 175. The Padres are 2-6 in their last 8 trips to PNC Park. McCutchen and company should get to Richard today.

Today’s Pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates