Category: Baseball

Ricky Nolasco will face his old team for the first time when the Minnesota Twins host the Miami Marlins at Target Field tonight. Nolasco is 2-4 on the season, with an ERA of 4.93 and has struggled in his 2 starts at Target Field, posting an inflated ERA of 6.23. The lefty Wei-Yin-Chen takes the mound for the Marlins and he is 3-2 on the season with an ERA of 4.25. Chen has had success against the Twins, owning a 3-1 record and allowing just 1 run over 6 innings in his last encounter. Minnesota is just 1-6 in Nolasco’s last 7 starts and they are 3-8 in their last 11 interleague games. Jerry Lane is calling it tonight and Miami is 5-1 in their last 6 with him behind the dish. Taking the Marlins tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Miami Marlins

Zack Greinke and the Arizona Diamondbacks will try to slow down the surging Tampa Bay Rays when they host them tonight at Chase Field. Greinke has found his groove after a slow start. He is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.14 and a stingy WHIP of 0.81 over his last 3 outings, and the D-Backs are 4-0 in his last 4 starts. Matt Moore takes the hill for the Rays tonight. Over his last 3 starts he is 1-0 with a 6.48 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. The Rays are 0-4 in Moore’s last 4 road starts and 1-4 in their last 5 in Arizona. Mark Ripperger is behind the dish tonight and the Rays are 1-5 in their last 6 when he’s calling it. Taking Arizona in this one.

Today’s pick:

Arizona Diamond Backs

The New York Yankees will be glad to be back home after a grueling road trip, when they host the Los Angeles Angels tonight. The Angels have had trouble in New York, going just 8-25 in their last 33 at the stadium and they are 2-6 in their last 8 meetings overall. Matt Shoemaker gets the call for the Angels. He is 3-6 on the season with an ERA of 5.50 and a WHIP of 1.43. Masahiro Tanaka takes the hill for the Yanks and he is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.78 and a WHIP of 1.00. The Yankees are 4-0 in Tanaka’s last 4 starts and they are 4-0 in their last 4 against the American League West. Albert Pujols is questionable tonight due to an ankle strain. I’m taking the Bombers tonight.

Today’s pick:

New York Yankees

The flame thrower Noah Syndergaard takes the hill for the New York Mets tonight when they travel to Miami to take on the Marlins. Syndergaard has been delivering in 2016. He is 5-2 on the season with a stingy ERA of 1.84 and a WHIP of 0.96, and over his last 3 outings it gets even better, with 0.00 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. Syndergaard will face Tom Koehler tonight. Koehler is 3-5 on the season, with an ERA of 4.50, a WHIP of 1.65 and the Marlins are 1-5 in his last 6 starts. The Mets are 6-2 in Syndergaard’s last 8 road starts and they are 11-2 in their last 13 Friday contests. Even without David Wright who is out 6-8 weeks with neck issues, the Mets should win this one.

Tonight’s pick:

New York Mets

The red hot Kansas City Royals start their 10-game road trip tonight when they travel to Progressive Field to take on the Cleveland Indians. Carlos Carrasco is expected to return from the DL tonight and get the start for the Indians. Carrasco is 2-0 on the season with an ERA of 2.45 and a WHIP of 0.95. In his last outing against the Royals he was lights out, striking out 15 and surrendering just 1 hit. Yordano Ventura is expected to take the hill for Kansas City. He is 4-3 on the season with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Ventura faced Cleveland on May 6th and was lit up, giving up 5 runs and 5 walks in 4 innings of work, resulting in a 7-1 loss. I like Cleveland to snap the Royals 6-game winning streak tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Cleveland Indians

The Cincinnati Reds are 5-20 on the road this year and tonight they will send John Lamb to the hill at Coors Field. Lamb has been getting lit up. He is 0-3 in his last 3 outings with a 10.54 ERA, a 2.27 WHIP and in his 2 road starts this season it’s been ugly, with an ERA of 15.26. On the flip side for the Rockies, Tyler Chatwood gets the call. Chatwood has been sharp. In his last 3 starts, he is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.05. The Reds are just 1-5 in Lamb’s last 6 road starts and they are 8-20 in their last 28 meetings in Colorado.

Tonight’s pick:

Colorado Rockies

Mike Leake takes the hill tonight for the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a three game set, to face Wily Peralta and the Milwaukee Brewers. Leake has been dominating over his last 3 starts, posting an ERA of 1.35 and a WHIP of 0.95. Outfielder Stephen Piscotty should return tonight for the Cardinals after missing yesterday’s contest with a stomach ailment. Peralta has been struggling to find his mark. Over his last 3 outings, he has an ERA of 6.32 and a WHIP of 1.79 and Milwaukee is 0-5 in his last 5 against St. Louis. Ryan Braun has missed the last 2 games with neck stiffness but is expected to suit up tonight. I’m siding with the Cardinals in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

St. Louis Cardinals