Category: Baseball

The Cleveland Indians will try to even things up tonight when they host the Houston Astros in the second game of a 4-game set. The 2014 AL Cy Young winner, Corey Kluber will take the hill for the tribe and he was on fire last month. Kluber was 5-0 in August, with an ERA of 2.43, and was named AL Pitcher of the Month. The Astros called up Brad Peacock from Triple-A Fresno and in 7 innings of Big League work, he is 0-0 with an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.00. Cleveland is 7-0 in Kluber’s last 7 starts and 4-0 in his last 4 starts against the AL West. The Astros are 7-17 in their last 24 meetings with the Indians and 3-11 in their last 14 in Cleveland. I like the tribe tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Cleveland Indians

If you think the New York Yankees are out of the playoff hunt, think again. They’ll try to inch a little closer today when they open a 3-game set against their American League East rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. The knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey will get the start for the Jays. Over Dickey’s last 3 outings, he has been productive, going 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP but has struggled in the Bronx. The Jays are 1-7 in Dickey’s last 8 road starts against the Yanks and they are 8-21 in Dickey’s last 29 starts against the American League East. The Yankees #1 guy, Masahiro Tanaka takes the hill and he’s been delivering. Over his last 3, he is 2-0, with an ERA of just 0.92 and a WHIP of 0.81. Tanaka shines at home. The Yankees are 11-1 in his last 12 home starts. I like the Bombers today.

Today’s pick:

New York Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays avoid a sweep today against the Tampa Bay Rays when they send their flame-throwing leftie, J.A. Happ to the hill. Happ is 17-4 on the season, with a 3.23 ERA and a WHIP of 1.15. Chris Archer gets the start today for the Rays. He is 8-17, with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Tampa Bay is 0-6 in Archer’s last 6 starts against the American League East and 2-8 in Archer’s last 10 home starts. Pat Hoberg is behind the dish and the Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 when he’s pulling the strings.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to keep pace in the wild card hunt, then they better start winning some games and that will happen today when they send the ex-Yankee Ivan Nova to the hill to face Jimmy Nelson and the Milwaukee Brewers. Since joining the Bucs, Nova is a perfect 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Nelson’s numbers are not impressive. He is 7-13, with an ERA of 4.45, and a WHIP of 1.51. The Bucs are 5-0 in Nova’s last 5 starts and they snap their 4-game skid today.

Today’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

The American League East leading Toronto Blue Jays take it on the arches tonight when they travel to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Marcus Stroman is taking the hill for the Jays and he has been steady, owning a record of 9-5, a 4.58 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Tampa will send Alex Cobb to the bump. Cobb is making his first big league start since coming back from Tommy John surgery. Cobb struggled in the minors, going 0-3 with an ERA of 6.65 in 21-2/3 innings and that’s not good. The Jays will feast on Cobb tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

The San Francisco Giants will try to keep pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers when they open a 2-game series tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. The Giants’ bats finally came alive on Sunday, when they ripped the Atlanta Braves for 13 runs, and they hope that continues tonight when they face Zack Greinke. Over his last 3 starts, Greinke is 0-1 with an ERA of 9.20 and a WHIP of 1.91. On the flip side, the Giants’ Johnny Cueto has been delivering, with a 1-1 record, an ERA of 2.29 and a WHIP of 1.12 in his last 3 outings. The Diamondbacks are 1-6 in their last 7 road games and 0-4 in their last 4 meetings with San Francisco. The Giants should get this one.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The Washington Nationals dropped two to the Rockies over the weekend, but a visit to Philadelphia tonight might be what they need to get straightened out. Tanner Roark will get the start for the Nationals. Roark is 13-7, with an ERA of 2.99, and is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.86 in 3 starts this year against Philadelphia. Jake Thompson will go for the Phillies. In his first 4 Major League starts, Thompson has struggled, posting a 1-3 record, with an ERA of 9.78, and has given up 21 runs in 19-1/3 innings. Washington has been dominating Philadelphia, winning the last 6 meetings and they are 8-1 in their last 9 in Philadelphia.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Nationals