Category: Baseball

Momma said there’d be days like yesterday and she was right! Today I’m going with home teams.

Today’s picks:

Toronto Blue Jays
Kansas City Royals
Saint Louis Cardinals
Los Angeles Dodgers

Houston visits KC tonight for the first game of their American League Divisional Series. So far all of the road teams have won in the last 3 games (Houston, Chicago and Texas) but that’s going to change tonight with Kansas City at home. Pitcher stats are about equal between McHugh (HOU) and Ventura (KC). The Royals are 6-1 in Ventura’s last 7 home starts. KC likes playing at home this season with a record of 51-30.

Tonight’s pick:

Kansas City Royals

The Texas Rangers travel to Rogers Centre to take on the Toronto Blue Jays for game 1 of the ALDS. The Jays have not been in a playoff game since 1993 so the home crowd should be revved up for this one. The lefty Price gets the start for the Jays, posting an ERA of 2.37 and a WHIP of 1.00 over his last 3 starts. Toronto is 5-0 in Price’s last 5 starts. The Rangers have Gallarado on the hill and he has an ERA of 4.20 with a WHIP of 2.00 over his last 3 starts. In their last 5 visits to Rogers Centre, the Rangers are 1-4. The Toronto Blue Jays don’t have a weakness in their line-up. All Jay’s batters can hurt you. They have the edge in starting pitching, bullpen, hitting, power, defense and bench. Joey Bats and company should get this one.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

The Chicago Cubs visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park tonight to determine who plays the St. Louis Cardinals. I’m siding with the home dog here. Two studs are on the bump tonight – Arrieta for the Cubs and Cole for the Bucs. The Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 road playoff games. The Pirates are 23-5 in Cole’s last 28 home starts and 53-28 at home this year overall. In Cole’s last 9 starts against the Cubs, the Pirates are 8-1. The home crowd should be a factor for McCutchin and company tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Astros are in New York tonight for a 1 game showdown to see who plays the Kansas City Royals. Houston has not been stellar on the road this year, going 33-48 overall. Dallas Keuchel gets the start for the Astros and he was dominant against the Yanks this year but the Astros are 3-8 in his last 11 road starts. Keuchel is starting with only 3 days rest and he isn’t invinsible. On September 16, in Arlington Texas, he gave up 9 runs in 5 innings in a 14-3 loss to the Rangers. Masahiro Tanaka gets the nod for New York and the Yanks are 7-1 in his last 8 starts against AL West teams. The Bombers’ home record was 45-36 and they are 5-1 in their last 6 games against a starter with a WHIP of less than 1.5. Tough call tonight but I’m siding with the home team here. Should be fun – good luck!!

Tonight’s pick:

New York Yankees

There will be no ninth inning heroics for the Angels today. Hamels should get the win for Rangers.

Today’s pick:

Texas Rangers

I’m sticking with the Astros, after the fury of offense they delivered last night, and that energy will carry over today. Houston is 4-0 in their last 4 interleague games versus a right handed pitcher, and 5-1 in their last 6 meetings against Arizona. McHugh is pitching for the Astros and they are 5-1 in his last 6 starts. Astros need this game.

Today’s pick:

Houston Astros