Inside the Chalk

The surging Philadelphia Phillies will go for two in a row against the St. Louis Cardinals when the two teams play the second game of a 3-game set at Citizens Bank Park. The Cardinals will need all the luck they can get tonight. They are just 6-17 in their last 23 overall and have called up Genesis Cabrera to take the hill. Cabrera has not been getting it done in Triple-A, with a 6.35 ERA, and that doesn’t bode well when you have to face the Phillies offensive weapons. Philadelphia will send their ace, Aaron Nola, to the hill and he is a perfect 5-0 on the season. The Phillies are 19-10 at home and 3-1 this year against the Cardinals.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

The New York Yankees are red hot, winning 12 of their last 14 games, and disposed of the San Diego Padres last night, 5-2. The two clubs will meet again tonight in the Bronx, with Masahiro Tanaka getting the nod for the Yankees and the southpaw, Eric Lauer, starting for the Padres. Tanaka has pitched well, with a record of 3-3, a 2.94 ERA, and a 1.12 WHIP. Lauer has not been producing, at 3-4, with an elevated ERA of 4.73, a 1.31 WHIP, and it could be a long night for him because the Yankees crush left-handed pitching and are 14-3 in their last 17 Interleague games against southies. The Padres have not fared well at the Stadium, going 0-6 in their last 6 trips to the Bronx.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Los Angeles Angels are on a 4-game skid and will try to right the ship tonight when they host the red hot Texas Rangers but will be up for the challenge. The Rangers will send Drew Smyly to the rubber and he has been awful. Smyly is winless at 0-3, with a 6.51 ERA, a 1.73 WHIP, and in his career against the Angels, he is 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA. The best player in baseball, Mike Trout, has been a Rangers pitchers’ nightmare. In his career, he has launched 30 home runs, including 5 this year with 9 RBIs. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES ANGELS

The Houston Astros were pummeled last night by the Chicago White Sox, 9-4, but expect them to bounce back tonight when they conclude their 4-game set at Minute Maid Park. Lucas Giolito has been delivering and is expected be on the hill for Chicago. Giolito is 5-1, with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, but he has struggled against the Astros, going 0-3 in his career with a bloated ERA of 7.31. Corbin Martin is expected to tap the rubber for Houston. Since being called up from AAA, he has been steady with a record of 1-0 in 2 starts and a 3.86 ERA. The Astros are resilient. After a loss, they are 5-1 in their last 6, winning 9 of the last 10 meetings with the White Sox and 6 of the last 7 against them at home. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

It was a tough loss for the Atlanta Braves yesterday, blowing a lead to the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth, but I expect them to bounce back tonight when the two teams resume their 4-game set at Oracle Park. Jeff Samardzija will take tap the rubber for the Giants and he has been steady, with a record of 2-2, a 3.69 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP, but against the National League East, the Giants are just 1-8 in their last 9 when he takes the hill. The Braves will counter with Max Fried and he has been on his mark. Fried is 6-2, with a 2.86 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and despite last night’s loss, the Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 at Oracle Park. 
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The Milwaukee Brewers will return home tonight after a lengthy road trip for a quick 2-game set against the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers have an impressive home record, at 16-8. They will have Gio González on the hill and he has been delivering. González is 2-0, with a 1.69 ERA, and a 1.08 WHIP. That can’t be said for Sonny Gray, who will be tapping the rubber for Cincinnati. Gray is winless, at 0-4, with a 4.30 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and the Reds are just 9-15 on the road this season. The Brewers have won 16 of the last 21 meetings with the Reds and 6 of the last 8 against them at Miller Park. Brewers get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS