Inside the Chalk

The Tampa Bay Rays just keep on winning, and with the 11-4 pummeling of the visiting Minnesota Twins yesterday, Tampa is now 39-14 in their last 53 overall and hold a comfortable 7-1/2 game lead over the New York Yankees for the top spot in the AL East. The Rays’ bats erupted yesterday for 13 hits and 6 homers and I expect more of the same today when they wrap up their 3-games series with the Twins at the Trop. Griffin Jax, the expected starter for the Twins, has struggled over his last 3 turns, going 0-2 with a hefty ERA of 9.77 and a 1.85 WHIP. Kevin Cash is expected to send Luis Patiño to the hill. Over his last 3 starts, Patiño is 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The Rays are 45-25 in St. Pete and are averaging over 5 runs per game. They are worth a consideration over a Twins team that has lost 4 straight and are just 26-41 on the road.
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

It was a strange finish last night in the Dodgers/Giants game at Oracle Park with the Dodgers losing in extras, 3-2. Los Angeles is now one game back of San Francisco for the lead in the NL West. Tonight the Dodgers should even the score with southpaw Julio Urías tapping the rubber. He has dominated all season with a mark of 15-3 and a 3.17 ERA. Over his last 3 turns, Urías is 2-0 with an ERA of only 1.13 and a 0.69 WHIP. The Dodgers are 5-0 in his last 5 starts and 7-0 in their last 7 following a loss. San Francisco has yet to announce their starter for tonight’s game.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The New York Yankees return home to the Bronx tonight after a lengthy road trip to face the worst team in baseball, the Baltimore Orioles. The number is high in this one and so it should be. Baltimore is 41-91 on the season, 22-47 on the road, and a dismal 18-41 in their last 59 against the Yanks. Lefty John Means is expected on the hill for the Orioles. Means is 0-2 in his last 3 turns with a 4.96 ERA and has not fared well in his career against New York, with a record of 1-2 and an elevated ERA of 6.23. Aaron Boone is expected to hand the ball to “Nasty Nestor” Cortez, Jr. The southpaw has pitched well over his last 3, going 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA. The Yankees are 5-0 in their last 5 after a day off, 5-0 in their last 5 against the AL East, 6-1 in their last 7 home games against a left-handed starter, and shortstop Gleyber Torres, who has been a Baltimore killer in his career, could be back in the lineup tonight. New York sits 6-1/2 games back of Tampa for the lead in the AL East. With Baltimore in for 3 games followed by Toronto, New York cannot squander this opportunity to gain some ground and they won’t.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Oakland Athletics will go for a series win against the Detroit Tigers when they wrap up their 3-game set in a matinée today at Comerica Park. The Tigers won yesterday’s matchup, 8-6, thanks to Miguel Cabrera, who smacked his 502nd home run and drove in 3 but is not expected to suit up today which is good news for Oakland. Frankie Montas is expected to toe the rubber today for the A’s and he has been lethal. Over his last two starts, Montas faced two of the best teams in the Majors (the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants) and pitched a combined 14 scoreless innings, yielding just 4 hits and striking out 15. Detroit is expected to send rookie Matt Manning to the hill. Manning, who is 3-5 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP, had better be in the zone or the Athletics’ bats will jump all over him. Oakland is still very much alive in the AL Wild Card hunt and need this win today before they head north of the border for a 3-game set with the always dangerous Toronto Blue Jays.
TODAY’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS

After winning 13 in a row, the New York Yankees have lost 4 straight and are on the verge of being swept by the Los Angeles Angels but not so fast. The Yanks will have their ace on the hill, Gerrit Cole, and he has been as close to perfect as you can get. Cole has been throwing flames. Over his last 3 turns, he is 3-0, with a nasty 0.51 ERA, a WHIP of just 0.96, and is 7-1 lifetime against the Halos with a 2.60 ERA. The Angels are expected to counter with lefty Packy Naughton, who will be making his first Big League start. Good luck. The Bombers are 8-2 in their last 10 against a left-handed starter.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox will open a quick 2-game interleague set tonight with the last place Pittsburgh Pirates on the south side. The White Sox have never lacked in the run department, averaging over 5 runs per game, and are coming off a 13-1 romp of the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates, on the other hand, who are 20-45 on the road, are averaging just over 3 runs per game and will have to face Lucas Giolito tonight. Giolito has been sharp over his last 3 turns, posting a 2.65 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and tossed a no hitter at Guaranteed Rate Field last year against the Bucs. Pittsburgh is expected to hand the ball to Bryse Wilson. Wilson has posted a 4.20 ERA over his last 3 turns with a 1.20 WHIP, and in 6 interleague appearances he has a hefty 7.07 ERA. Chicago is 44-24 at home and 6-1 in their last 7 against the NL Central. The price is high in this one but if not for a total meltdown the White Sox should cruise to a victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The New York Yankees will have a golden opportunity to gain some ground on the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays when they open a 3-game set in SoCal with the Anaheim Angels. New York has lost 2 in a row following their 13-game winning streak and mustered just 3 runs in their 2 losses but you can’t keep the Bombers bats quiet for too long. Corey Kluber, who has been sidelined since May 25th due to shoulder issues, is expected on the hill for New York. Kluber was 2-1 in his last 3 prior to his injury, with a 3.00 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, and let’s not forget the no-no he had against Texas on May 19th. There is no line on the game yet and LA has not announced a starter for tonight but it’s doubtful it will be Shohei Ohtani, who is slated for tomorrow’s matchup. New York is 7-1 in their last 8 following a loss, 5-1 in their last 6 road games against a team with a losing record, and 6-1 in their last 7 in Anaheim. The Yankees need to strike and they know it. Tampa will have their hands full over their next four games with the Boston Red Sox.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES