Inside the Chalk

Hyun-jin Ryu has been a Mets slayer in his career and is expected to get the nod for the Toronto Blue Jays today when they conclude their 3-game set with the New York Mets in Buffalo. Toronto’s ace (3-1 with a 3.38 ERA) is 4-1 in his career against the Mets with a nasty ERA of just 1.20. Ryu faced the team from Queens twice last year as a Dodger, going 1-0 without allowing a run in 14-2/3 innings of work. Lefty David Peterson (4-1 with a 4.26 ERA) is expected to get the nod for New York and he was roughed up in his last outing. Peterson lasted just 2 innings against the Phillies, yielding 5 runs. Toronto’s young phenom, Bo Bichette, who is batting .354, is back in the lineup and the Jays are 4-1 in their last 5 against a left-handed starter.
TODAY’S PICK: TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Oakland kept it rolling yesterday as they cruised to a 10-6 win over the Texas Rangers in Arlington. The Athletics have won 3 straight and 6 of their last 8 and they will look to stay hot as the Rangers and A’s play a doubleheader today at Globe Life Field. Texas is spiraling out of control, losing 2 straight and 8 of their last 10. Going into today’s double feature, Oakland has won 40 of the last 55 meetings with Texas and are 7-1 in their last 8 in Arlington. That’s domination. Game 2 expected starters are Chris Bassitt and Kolby Allard. Bassitt sits at 3-2, with a 3.12 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and hit a bump in the road but looked strong in his last outing against Houston, where in pitched 7 scoreless innings resulting in a 6-0 Oakland win. Southpaw Kolby Allard has been getting lit up. Allard is 0-5, with a bloated ERA of 7.22 and a 1.43 WHIP, and you know what the Athletics do lefties. They crush them.
TODAY’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS – GAME 2

The Detroit Tigers will have their work cut out for them tonight when they travel to Guaranteed Rate Field for a 3-game set with the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox. Right off the bat it won’t be easy for Detroit because Chicago has their ace, Lucas Giolito, slated for Game 1. Giolito, who has a no hitter under his belt this year, is 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He was dominant in his last outing against the Tigers when he pitched 7 scoreless innings, yielding just 3 hits with 13 Ks. The Tigers are expected to start Casey Mize, who is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, a 1.79 WHIP, and with the way the White Sox crush the ball, it could be a long night for the rookie. Chicago has dominated Detroit this year, winning 6 straight, and during that span they outscored them, 46-18.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Two teams that are red hot, the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, will open a 4-game set tonight at Petco Park. The Giants have won 5 straight, 8 of their last 10, and are expected to send Trevor Cahill to the rubber. Cahill, who is 0-0 with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, has seen limited action this year with some finger and hip issues so he might be on a short leash tonight. The Pads have won 4 straight and 8 of their last 10. They are expected to have Chris Paddack tap the rubber and he has struggled. Paddack is 3-4, with a 4.75 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and he is 1-4 in his last 6 starts with a 5.13 ERA. The Giants have won 5 of their last 6 trips to Petco and warrant consideration.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in a funk, losers of 4 straight and 9 of their last 10, and it won’t get any easier for them tonight when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw is slated to get the start for the Dodgers and he is having another stellar year. Kershaw is 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. That’s nasty stuff. Taylor Clarke, who is expected on the hill for the Snakes, will be making his 4th start of the season and has pitched well, with a record of 1-0, a 2.96 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.17, but is 1-2 in his career against the Dodgers with a 5.06 ERA. LA has had Arizona’s number, going 6-0 in their last 6 meetings, and they are 5-1 in their last 6 at Chase Field.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS