Category: Baseball

The Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals opened a 3-game set yesterday at Kauffman Stadium with the Royals taking the opener 4-0. I like the Indians chances today to even the score. The Indians will start Carlos Carrasco and the Royals will counter with Jason Hammel. Carrasco has been delivering, with a record of 5-2, a 2.89 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and the Indians are 7-1 in his last 8 starts in Kansas City. Hammel has been getting lit up. He is 1-6, with an ERA of 6.18 and a 1.71 WHIP. The Royals are 0-4 in his last 4 starts and 1-5 in his last 6 home starts. In the last 15 games between these two teams, Cleveland has won 11 of them. Edge Indians.

Today’s pick:

Cleveland Indians

The Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper appealed his 4-game suspension and is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Nationals go for a 3-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Max Scherzer, who was dominant in his last outing, striking out 13 against San Diego, takes the hill for Washington. Scherzer is 5-3, with a 2.77 ERA, a WHIP of 0.94, and Washington is 20-7 in his last 27 road starts. Matt Cain gets the call for the Giants. Cain has been unreliable, losing his last 2 starts and is 3-3, with an ERA of 4.45 and a 1.50 WHIP. Washington has won 4 of the last 5 meetings and I like their chances tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Nationals

The Red Sox’ Chris Sale will face his old team for the first time when Boston and Chicago play the second game of a 3-game set. Sale is having another stellar year, with a record of 5-2, a 2.34 ERA, a WHIP of 0.81 and leads the majors with 101 strikeouts. In the southpaw’s career at Guaranteed Rate Field, he is 42-24 with a 3.01 ERA. José Quintana gets the nod for the White Sox. Quintana is off to a slow start. He is 2-6, with an ERA of 4.82, a 1.30 WHIP and was drilled in his last outing when Arizona nailed him for 8 runs on 8 hits, in 4-1/3 innings. Boston lost its last 2 games but the flamethrower Sale should get them back on track.

Tonight’s pick:

Boston Red Sox

The Chicago Cubs have lost 3 in a row but a trip to San Diego today should get them straightened out. The Cubs are sending Kyle Hendricks to the hill. Hendricks is 4-2, with a 3.25 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.16 in 52.2 innings of work. Chicago is 8-2 in his last 10 road starts and 4-1 in his last 5 starts against the Padres. Jarred Cosart gets the start for the Padres. Cosart is 0-1, with an ERA of 4.50, a WHIP of 1.75 in 16 innings of work and the Friars are 0-4 in his last 4 home starts. The Cubs have dominated San Diego, going 6-2 in their last 8 meetings and are 5-0 in their last 5 trips to Petco Park.

Today’s pick:

Chicago Cubs

The New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics will square off in an early one today in the Bronx. The Athletics road record is the worst in the American League at 7-16. Oakland will try to make it 8 road victories when they send Andrew Triggs to the rubber. Triggs is 5-3, with an ERA of 2.77 but was lit up in his last outing. Boston clobbered him for 6 runs on 8 hits in a 12-3 Red Sox victory. The Yankees Michael Pineda, who is finally living up to his potential, will take the hill for the Bombers. Pineda is 5-2, with an ERA of 3.35 and has been lights out at home. At the Stadium, he is 4-1, with a 2.18 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and New York is 7-1 in his last 8 starts. Oakland is 1-5 in their last 6 meetings with New York. Edge: New York Yankees.

Today’s pick:

New York Yankees

The southpaw CC Sabathia will take the hill today for the New York Yankees when they try to even the score against Jharel Cotton and the Oakland Athletics. CC has been on his mark. Over his last 3, he is 2-1, with a 3.06 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP. Over Cotton’s last 3, he hasn’t been able to find his groove. He is 1-2, with a bloated ERA of 7.04 and a WHIP of 1.70. The Yankees are 8-2 in CC’s last 10 starts and 6-0 in his last 6 starts at The Stadium.

Today’s pick:

New York Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers do not like each other and that is a fact. Tonight the rivalry continues when the Blue Jays and the Rangers open a 3-game set at Rogers Centre. Both teams will send pitchers to the hill who are mediocre at best. Mike Bolsinger gets the start for the Jays and he has an ERA of 6.32, and a 1.79 WHIP. On the flip side, Texas sends AJ Griffin to the bump and he is not much better, with a 5.02 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP. Tonight the edge will go to Toronto because of the expected return of Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson. Texas is 2-7 in their last 9 meetings with Toronto and 0-4 in their last 4 trips to the Centre. The numbers say Jays in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays