Inside the Chalk

The Milwaukee Brewers are hot, winning 12 of their last 14 games, and they have the good fortune of hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at Miller Park. Milwaukee has owned the Bucs this year, winning 12 of the 16 meetings. Chase Anderson is expected on the hill for the Brewers and the southpaw, Steven Brault, for the Pirates. Anderson has been steady at 6-4, with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Brault has been getting lit up. Over his last 3 starts, he is 1-2 with a 10.67 ERA and the Brewers can hit lefties. They are 4-0 in their last 4 against a left-handed starter and 6-1 in their last 7 home games. The Brewers continue their dominance over the Pirates.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Minnesota Twins mustered just 3 hits last night in their 3-1 setback to the Chicago White Sox, but don’t expect a repeat of that tonight when they open a 4-game set at home with the 56-97 Kansas City Royals. Kyle Gibson is having the best season of his career and he will be tapping the rubber tonight for Minnesota. Gibson is 13-7 on the season and the Twins are 5-0 in his last 5 turns at Target Field against the Royals. KC is expected to counter with the lefty, Mike Montgomery. The Twins should feast on this guy. Montgomery is 0-4 in his last 4 turns and just 1-5 in his last 6 road starts with a bloated ERA of 7.85. That’s not good. Minnesota gets it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

With last night’s victory over the Chicago White Sox, the Minnesota Twins have now won 5 straight against the Boys from the South Side. Chicago is no push over. This a really young talented team and keep an eye on them over the next few years. Tonight however, they will have to face Minnesota’s ace, Jake Odorizzi. He is 14-6, with a 3.60 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and the Twins are 17-5 in his last 22 starts at Target Field. Ivan Nova is the probable starter for the White Sox but that could change. Nova is 10-12 on the season, with a 4.85 ERA, and a 1.45 WHIP. Whoever is on the hill for the White Sox, it won’t matter with the way the Twins smack the ball.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The Tampa Bay Rays will be at Chavez Ravine tonight for a quick 2-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last year’s AL Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, is expected to get the nod for the Rays. Snell has been sidelined since July 21st with an elbow injury but has nasty stuff. Last year he was 21-5 with an ERA of only 1.89 but he will be on a short leash tonight, probably going no more than 3 innings. The Dodgers are expected to counter with Ross Stripling who has been mediocre, at 4-4, with a 3.40 ERA. Tampa won the last meeting with LA back in May at the Trop, 8-1, and they are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games. Tampa is hot, winning 13 of their last 17 games, and are worth considering tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

Two of the best hurlers in the game will oppose each other tonight when the Saint Louis Cardinals host the Washington Nationals. Stephen Strasburg will be tapping the rubber for the Nats and Dakota Hudson for the Cards. Strasburg has been lights out, with a record of 17-6, a 3.49 ERA, and a 1.05 WHIP. Hudson has been just as lethal. He is 15-7, with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and the Cardinals are 5-0 in his last 5 starts at Busch Stadium. Saint Louis will be a home dog in this one and they have won 5 of the last 6 meetings with Washington.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS