Inside the Chalk

The Kansas City Royals will look to snap their 6-game losing streak when they head to Target Field to open a 4-game set with the Minnesota Twins. Just last week the Twins took 3 games from the Royals in KC and have won 6 of their last 7. Minnesota should have success against KC starter Daniel Lynch. Lynch is 2-3 with a 4.01 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and Royals relievers own the worst ERA in the American League. Devin Smeltzer will get the nod for the Twins and he has been dealing. Smeltzer is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. The AL Central-leading Twins are 21-9 in their last 30 at home against the Royals and should come out on top tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The San Diego Padres fell to the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, 4-1, but expect them to bounce back today when the two clubs meet again in an early one at Petco Park. The expected starters for today’s matchup are lefty Aaron Ashby for the Brewers and Yu Darvish for the Padres. Ashby is 0-3 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, and Darvish comes in at 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. San Diego rarely loses two in a row. They are 6-0 in Darvish’s last 6 starts and 12-2 in their last 14 against a left-handed starter. Consider the Friars.
TODAY’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES

The New York Yankees are in a rare 3-game losing streak. Will it go to 4? Highly unlikely. Two southpaws will oppose each other tonight in the Bronx when the Yankees and the Orioles play the middle game of their 3-game set. Baltimore will send Bruce Zimmermann to the hill and New York Jordan Montgomery. Both hurlers have similar numbers, with ERA’s hovering around 3.50. It’s common knowledge that New York feasts on left-handed starters and Baltimore is 1-8 in Zimm’s last 9 road starts. The Bombers get back on track tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Detroit Tigers will have their hands full when they travel to Target Field tonight to open a 3-game set with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins return home after a successful road trip where they won 5 of 6 and this team is a legitimate contender. They are first in the Central and swept the Tigers back in April, outscoring them 17-5 over their 3-game series. Chris Archer is expected to be on the hill for Minnesota and he can still get it done. Detroit has been back and forth with their expected starter and whether it’s Beau Brieske or Elvin Rodriguez doesn’t matter, the Twins will have a field day with either one these guys.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

Refer to yesterday’s blog for today’s pick. Nothing has changed.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The New York Yankees return home to the Bronx tonight to take on the Chicago White Sox. The expected starters are Nestor Cortés Jr. for the Yanks and southpaw Dallas Keuchel for the White Sox. New York took 3 of 4 from Chicago on the south side just last week and Nasty Nestor did his part. Cortés is 2-1 with an ERA of only 1.35, a 0.85 WHIP, and on May 15th he held the White Sox to just 1 run on 3 hits resulting in a 5-1 Yankees win. Keuchel is a far cry from what he once was. He is 2-3 with an elevated ERA of 5.54, a 1.92 WHIP, and the Yanks feast on left-handed starters.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES