Inside the Chalk

The San Diego Padres were only able to muster one run last night, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1, but it will be a different story today when they resume their 3-game set at PNC Park. The Bucs will send Chris Archer to the rubber and he has been getting lit up. Archer is 3-6, with an elevated ERA of 5.85, a 1.52 WHIP, and he has surrendered 17 homers on the season. That’s not good. The Pads will send their young flame thrower to the hill, Chris Paddack. Paddack sits at 4-4, with a 3.15 ERA and a stingy WHIP of only 0.93. Machado and company tee off on Archer today. Take the Friars.
TODAY’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES

The Philadelphia Phillies have lost 4 straight and now sit 4-1/2 games back of the Atlanta Braves for the lead in the National League East. Is it panic for Philly? No, but they had better get on track soon and that will happen tonight when they open a 3-game set at Citizens Bank Park against the Miami Marlins. The Phillies will have Aaron Nola on the bump. Despite a 4.89 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP, he is still 6-1 on the season and the Phillies are 25-9 in his last 34 home starts. Miami will send Sandy Alcántara to the rubber. He sits at 3-6, with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Miami is 1-4 in Alcántara’s last 5 turns and the Marlins have dropped 4 of their last 5 against Philadelphia. This is a good spot to jump on the Phils.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in a funk, losers of their last 3, but look for them to get back on track when they host the Colorado Rockies in an early one today at Chase Field. Southpaw Robbie Ray will take the hill for Arizona. Ray is a respectable 5-4, with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The Rocks will counter with Jeff Hoffman and his numbers are not good. Hoffman is 1-3 on the season, with a 7.04 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and he is 1-2 in his career against the Diamondbacks with a bloated ERA of 9.00. Take the Snakes.
TODAY’S PICK: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Will the Houston Astros get swept by the Cincinnati Reds in an early one today at Great American Ball Park? I don’t see that happening because Gerrit Cole will get the nod for Houston and José Altuve is expected back in the line-up for ‘Stros. Over Cole’s last 3 turns, he is 1-0 with an 2.37 ERA and a WHIP of just 0.79.
TODAY’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

After a crazy weekend in Colorado, the San Diego Padres find their pitching staff depleted so they will reach down to AAA El Paso for tonight’s starter. Logan Allen will get the nod for the Friars for the second game of the 3-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers. Allen’s numbers for the Chihuahuas were not great with a 5.15 ERA, and he will be opposing Brandon Woodruff who has been delivering. Woodruff is 8-1, with a 3.87 ERA, and the Brew Crew is 5-0 in his last 5 road starts. Despite last night’s loss, the Brewers are still 9-4 in their last 13 meetings with the Pads and 6-1 in their last 7 at Petco Park.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Hotlanta Braves are surging, winning 9 of their last 10, and that will continue tonight when they host the New York Mets. Mike Soroka will be tapping the rubber for the Braves. He has been lights out, with a record of 7-1, a 1.92 ERA, and a 0.97 WHIP. Now that is dominance. Zack Wheeler is getting the nod for the Mets and he has been mediocre as usual. Wheeler is 5-4, with a 4.87 ERA, and a 1.29 WHIP. Atlanta is 8-1 in their last 9 homestands. Run with the hot team. A play on the Braves is warranted.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The Tampa Bay Rays will seek a series split with the Los Angeles Angels when they conclude a 4-game set in a matinée today at Tropicana Field. The Rays are expected to hand the ball to Ryne Stanek in the “opening role” and he will probably see about 2 innings of work. Stanek has good numbers, with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Jalen Beeks will likely take over for Stanek and he has been on his mark. In 16 relief appearances, he is 5-0 with a 2.55 ERA. The Angels are expected to give the nod to Griffin Canning. Canning’s numbers are respectable, at 2-2, with a 3.65 ERA, but over his last 3 turns, he is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA. Tampa has won 7 of the last 10 meetings with the Halos and 6 of the last 8 against them at the Trop. The Rays will have extra incentive to pull out a victory today. Tomorrow they head to the Bronx for a 3-game set with the Yankees, who own a half game lead over Tampa for the top spot in the AL East.
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS