Inside the Chalk

The Minnesota Twins need three more wins to clinch the AL Central and they have a good chance of accomplishing that when they open a 3-game set with the Detroit Tigers tonight at Comerica Park. Tonight’s probables will be Jake Odorizzi for the Twins and Spencer Turnbull for the Tigers. Odorizzi has been on his game, with a record of 14-7, a 3.59 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and he is a perfect 2-0 against Detroit this year, with an ERA of only 2.00. The Tigers are having one of their worst seasons ever with 109 losses and Turnbull has not won a game since late May. On the season, he is a pathetic 3-15, with a 4.66 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and he is 0-1 this year against the Twins, with an ERA of 6.97. Cruz and company should have a field day with this guy.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS

The Philadelphia Phillies are 6 games back in the NL Wild Card race with only 8 games left and tonight they open a 5-game set with the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. GOOD LUCK. Washington is tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the top Wild Card spot and will have southpaw Patrick Corbin on the hill. Corbin is 13-7, with a 3.10 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and the Nats are 9-1 in his last 10 home starts. The desperate Phillies will counter with Zach Eflin. He is 9-12, with a 4.00 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and the Phils are just 3-8 in his last 11 turns. Philadelphia has not fared well against Washington. They are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings overall and 0-4 in their last 4 trips to Nationals Park. Washington gets it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON NATIONALS

The New York Mets playoff chances are slim, trailing Milwaukee by 4.5 games for the second NL Wild Card spot, but they are still alive! With only 8 games remaining in the regular season, New York cannot afford a loss today when they conclude their 3-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Two hurlers, who switched teams at the trade deadline, are expected to oppose each other, with Marcus Stroman getting the nod for the Mets and Trevor Bauer for the Reds. Since joining New York from Toronto, Stroman has pitched well, going 3-2, with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Bauer, on the other hand, has been shaky since being acquired by Cincinnati from Cleveland, going 2-4, with an elevated ERA of 6.39 and a 1.42 WHIP. The Mets have had success against the Reds, winning 24 of the last 33 meetings overall and 14 of the last 20 in Cincinnati. New York needs to win this game and they know it.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK METS

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