Category: Baseball

The Washington Nationals will try to win their first playoff series since moving from Montreal, when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in Game 5 of the NLDS. Max Scherzer will get the call for the Nationals and the 20-game winner will try to redeem himself, after giving up 4 runs on 5 hits in a loss in Game 1 to Kershaw and company. The lefty, Rich Hill, is expected to take the mound for Los Angeles but it’s not confirmed and there is a slight chance Julio Urías could get the start. Hill was battered by the Nationals in Game 2, yielding 4 runs on 6 hits over 4-1/3 innings, resulting in a Dodgers’ loss. Washington is 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts against the National League West and 5-1 in his last 6 home starts. On the flip side, the Dodgers are 0-4 in Hill’s last 4 starts and the Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games against southpaws. With Scherzer on the bump and the home crowd behind them, I give the edge to Washington. The Nationals should get their first playoff series win since leaving Montreal.

Tonight’s pick:

Washington Nationals

It’s official. Clayton Kershaw will start today for the Los Angeles Dodgers and will try to send the series back to Washington for Game 5. Kershaw is 13-4 on the season, with a 1.81 ERA and a WHIP of 0.76. Washington will counter with Joe Ross, who is 7-5 on the season, with an ERA of 3.43 and a WHIP of 1.30. The Dodgers are 11-1 in Kershaw’s last 12 starts against Washington and the Nationals are 3-8 in the last 11 meetings with LA. I like the Dodgers’ chances today.

Today’s pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Boston Red Sox will host the Cleveland Indians today, in a game that was rescheduled from yesterday. Since the starting pitching remains the same, I’m sticking with the Red Sox.

Today’s pick:

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have their backs against the wall today when they send Clay Buchholz to the mound to avoid a sweep against Josh Tomlin and the Cleveland Indians. Buchholz has been delivering down the stretch. In his last 3 outings, he is 2-0, with a 1.42 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Indians’ Tomlin has been sharp as well. Over his last 3, he is 1-1, with a 1.74 ERA and a WHIP of 0.77. Cleveland is 1-4 in their last 5 meetings at Fenway and the Indians are 0-4 in Tomlin’s last 4 starts against the American League East. Boston lives another day.

Today’s pick:

Boston Red Sox

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals meet today at Nationals Park for game 1 of the NL Divisional Series. The Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the hill today. Scherzer has been outstanding in 2016, winning 20 games, losing just 7 with an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 0.97. Over his last 3 starts, he is 3-0, but his ERA is 5.09, and his WHIP is 1.42. Scherzer is 2-4 in 8 career starts against the Dodgers, with an ERA of 3.29. The lefty, Clayton Kershaw, gets the nod for Los Angeles and is out to prove the doubters wrong, that he can’t win in the post-season. Kershaw is 12-4 on the season, with a 1.69 ERA, a 0.72 WHIP, and over his last 3, he is 1-1 with a nasty ERA of 0.90 and a WHIP of just 0.70. The Dodgers’ southpaw has dominated Washington over his career, going 10-2, with an ERA of 2.02 and the Dodgers are 4-0 in his last 4 starts at Nationals Park. Head to head, the Dodgers are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings with the Nats and 4-1 in their last 5 in Washington. Dodgers should take game 1.

Today’s pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers

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