Inside the Chalk

The Chicago White Sox will be a big dog tonight when they open a 3-game set against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Ivan Nova is expected on the bump for the White Sox and he has been throwing flames. Over his last 3 starts, Nova is 2-0, with a nasty ERA of 0.41, and a WHIP of only 0.86. The Twins, who have gone 1-5 in their last 6 home stands, are expected to send Kyle Gibson to the rubber. Over his last 3, Gibson is 1-1, with an elevated ERA of 5.62, and a 1.69 WHIP. The White Sox are 5-0 in Nova’s last 5 starts and 4-1 in his last 5 turns against teams with a winning record. A play on the boys from the south side is worth a shot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The Houston Astros have now lost 5 straight and are on the verge of being swept by the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum today, but not so fast. The Astros are expected to send Zack Greinke to the rubber and he has been stellar. Greinke is 12-4, with an ERA of 2.91, and he has been perfect since joining Houston from Arizona. He is 2-0, with a 3.00 ERA, and has been an Oakland killer in his career. Greinke owns a 6-2 record with a 3.11 ERA lifetime against the Athletics and is 3-1 with a 2.74 ERA in Oakland. The southpaw, Brett Anderson, is expected on the hill for the A’s. Anderson has decent numbers, at 10-8, with a 3.95 ERA, but has struggled miserably in his career against Houston. He is 1-4 lifetime against the Stros with a bloated ERA of 6.58. Houston has had success against southpaws, going 40-15 in their last 55. The Astros get out of their rut today.
TODAY’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians will play an early one today in the Bronx and Yankee Stadium will be electric. The Yanks will be honoring the greatest reliever of all time, Mariano Rivera. James Paxton will be tapping the rubber for New York and after a slow start he has turned things around. Over his last 3, Paxton is 3-0, with a 2.89 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP. Zach Plesac will go for Cleveland and he has pitched well. In his last 3 turns, Plesac is 1-0, with a 3.94 ERA, and a 1.56 WHIP. Plesac will be making his first career start in the Bronx and will have to contend with a packed house of revved up Yankees fans. The pressure could be too much.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The New York Mets should coast to a victory tonight when they visit Kauffman Stadium to face the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of a 3-game set. The Mets have been on a roll, winning 7 of their last 10, and are expected to have their ace, Noah Syndergaard, on the bump. Syndergaard has been delivering as usual, with a record of 8-5, a 3.89 ERA, and over his last 3, it gets better. He is 1-0, with an ERA of just 1.27 and a stingy 0.89 WHIP. Mike Montgomery is expected to get the nod for the Royals. There is a reason why the Cubs traded him to Kansas City back in July, because his numbers are not good. Montgomery is 2-5, with a 5.19 ER, and the Royals have mustered just 1 win in his last 5 starts. The Mets have won their last 5 interleague games and have dominated the AL Central, going 12-2 in their last 14. Alonso and company get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK METS

The Oakland Athletics will be a home dog tonight when they open a 4-game set with the Houston Astros. Mike Fiers is expected on the bump for the Athletics and he has been throwing flames. Fiers is 11-3, with a 3.30 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and he is unbeaten in his last 17 starts. Now that’s domination. On the flip side, the Astros are expected to send Aaron Sanchez to the rubber. Sanchez has not been getting it done. He is 5-14, with a 5.60 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Oakland is an impressive 37-23 at the Coliseum and 4-0 in their last 4 games against the AL West.
TONIGHT’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS

The Toronto Blue Jays will go for the series sweep of the Texas Rangers today in an early one at Rogers Centre. The Jays outscored the Rangers, 22-4, in the first two games and are 4-1 in their last 5 home stands. Two young hurlers are expected to oppose each other today, with Sean Reid-Foley getting the nod for Toronto and southpaw, Kolby Allard, for Texas. Foley has decent numbers, at 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA, and Allard is winless with an ERA of 4.15. Texas has lost 6 of their last 7 road games and are just 3-9 in their last 12 trips north of the border. The young upstart Jays get it done.
TODAY’S PICK: TORONTO BLUE JAYS