Category: Baseball

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers get their AL Division Series rolling today with an early start at Globe Life Park. The Jays are riding high from their dramatic win on Tuesday over the Orioles and look to Marco Estrada to keep that momentum going. Estrada has been sharp over his last 3 outings, with a record of 1-0, an ERA of 0.95, a WHIP of 0.84 and Toronto is 8-3 in his last 11 road starts. Texas will counter with their ace southpaw, Cole Hamels. Over his last 3, Hamels is 1-0, with an ERA of 4.05 and a WHIP of 1.30. The Jays line-up consists mainly of right-handed hitters and that is why they are killing left-handed flame throwers. Toronto is 9-2 in their last 11 against southies and 4-1 on the road in their last 5 against them. The Jays have had success at Globe Life Park, going 11-4 in the last 15, and 7-3 in the last 10 meetings with Texas overall. The line opened at Texas -140 and now is Texas -120. Money is going Jays’ way. Flip some bats, Joey.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Two aces face off tonight in Queens to determine who extends their season and travels to Wrigley to take on the Chicago Cubs. The Giants send the lefty, Madison Bumgarner, to the hill. Bumgarner has had another stellar year, with a 15-9 record, an ERA of 2.74, and a WHIP of 1.02. Mad Bum shines in post-season play. In 12 career post-season starts, he is 7-3, with an ERA of 2.14. Bumgarner has also been lights out against the New York Mets. In 6 career starts against them, he is 5-0, with a nasty ERA of just 1.80. Noah Syndergaard gets the nod for New York and has had an outstanding year as well. Syndergaard went 14-9, with an ERA of 2.60, a WHIP of 1.15, and in 3 career starts against the Giants, he is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.66. The Mets are just 2-5 in Syndergaard’s last 7 home starts. I like the Giants’ chances tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles will square off tonight at Rogers Centre to determine who makes the trip to Arlington to take on the Texas Rangers. Marcus Stroman will get his chance to shine for the home crowd when he takes the hill for the Jays. Even though Stroman is 0-2 in his last 3 outings, he has pitched well, posting an ERA of 2.70, a WHIP of 1.20, and Toronto is 5-2 in his last 7 home starts. The Orioles’ ace, Chris Tillman, gets the start tonight. Over Tillman’s last 3, he is 0-1, with an ERA of 4.85, a WHIP of 1.69 and in 24 career starts against Toronto, he is 5-10 with an ERA of 5.44. Baltimore has not been getting it done in post-season play, going 0-4 in their last 4. This is a tough call but the Jays’ fans should give them a slight edge.

Tonight’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Sale takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox today to face the league’s worst, Minnesota Twins, in what will be Robin Ventura,s last game as skipper for the boys from the south side. Sale sends him out on a winning note.

Today’s pick:

Chicago White Sox

The Detroit Tigers can smell the post-season and they will inch closer today when they send Jordon Zimmermann to the hill to face Aaron Blair and the Atlanta Braves. Zimmermann is 9-6 on the season, with an ERA of 4.88, a WHIP of 1.36, and is 7-3 lifetime against the Braves, with an ERA of 2.55. What can I say about Aaron Blair? Well, he is 1-7 on the season, with an ERA of 8.02 and a WHIP of 1.73. Atlanta is 0-5 in their last 5 meetings with Detroit and the Tigers have Miguel Cabrera. Need I say more?

Today’s pick:

Detroit Tigers

The Texas Rangers play their final 3 games of the 2016 campaign at home against the Tampa Bay Rays and with a win tonight, they can wrap up home field advantage. Texas will call on Yu Darvish to get things done and he is 6-5, with an ERA of 3.53, and is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 4 career starts against Tampa. Matt Andriese takes the hill for the Rays. Andriese is 8-7 on the season, with an ERA of 4.34, and the Rays are 1-6 in their last 7 overall, and 1-4 in their last 5 road games. Rangers win.

Tonight’s pick:

Texas Rangers

As it stands now, the Baltimore Orioles hold the second spot in the American League wild card but the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners are sniffing at their heels. Detroit sits one game back of the Birds and will end the regular season against the red hot Braves down in Atlanta. Baltimore finishes up in the Bronx and believe me, the Bombers would love nothing more than to send the Orioles packing. Seattle has a great opportunity to enhance their post-season chances when they finish up at home in a 4-game set with the Oakland Athletics.

Tonight Seattle will send Ariel Miranda to the hill and he is 5-2, with an ERA of 4.10, and a 1.16 WHIP. The Mariners are 4-1 in Miranda’s last 5 starts and 4-0 in his last 4 against the American League West. Kendall Graveman gets the start for Oakland and he is 10-11 on the season, with an ERA of 4.19, and a 1.30 WHIP. Graveman is 0-3 on the season against the Mariners and was drilled in his last outing against Canó and company, giving up 8 runs on 12 hits in 5 innings of work. Oakland is 0-4 in Graveman’s last 4 starts against Seattle and they are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings overall.

Tonight’s pick:

Seattle Mariners