Inside the Chalk

The San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks will play the rubber game tonight of a 3-game set at Chase Field. San Francisco fell to Arizona in the first game, 1-0, but managed to pull it out last night in extra innings, 4-3. Tonight they will try to win back-to-back games when they hand the ball to the leftie, Ty Blach. Blach is 1-2, with an ERA of 4.43, and has not done well on the road. The Giants are just 1-6 in Blach’s last 7 road starts. Zack Greinke will get the start for the Diamondbacks. Greinke is off to a slow start, with a record of 1-1 and an ERA of 5.29, but has been a Giant slayer in his career, with a record of 11-2 and an ERA of 2.37. Arizona has feasted on southpaws at home, going 23-5 in their last 28.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

The Seattle Mariners will send Mike Leake to the hill tonight when they host the Houston Astros in the third game of a 4-game set. Leake has been on his game, with a record of 2-0, an ERA of 3.50, and a 1.33 WHIP. Ex-Pirate Gerrit Cole will get the nod for Houston. Cole has been dominating, posting a record of 1-0, with an ERA of 1.29, and a 0.67 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 21 innings of work. Houston is 7-1 in their last 8 meetings with Seattle and 6-1 in their last 7 visits to Safeco.
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS

The Milwaukee Brewers were drilled yesterday at home by the Cincinnati Reds, 10-4, but will have a chance to redeem themselves tonight when they meet again at Miller Park. The Reds sit at 3-13 on the season and will send Sal Romano to the hill, who has struggled. Romano is 0-1, with a 5.87 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He faced the Brewers three times last year, losing every outing with a bloated ERA of 7.24. Junior Guerra will tap the rubber for Milwaukee. Guerra has been on his game, with a record of 1-0, an ERA of 1.69, and a 1.12 WHIP. The Reds are 3-7 in their last 10 trips to Miller Park. Quinn Wolcott will be calling balls and strikes. Wolcott has not been favorable to Cincinnati. The Reds are 0-4 in his last 4 games behind the dish.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Derek Jeter will travel with his Miami Marlins today when they open a 2-game Interleague set against the New York Yankees. The Yankee great insists he will keep an eye on the game but will not be in attendance. It’s got to be a tough situation for number 2. New York will have their ace, Luis Severino, on the hill. Severino was not at his best in his last turn but is still 2-1 on the season, with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Miami will give the nod to lefty Caleb Smith. Smith is winless on the season and owns a 4.72 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP. The Bombers feast on southies, going 4-1 in their last 5 games against them. They are 6-0 in their last 6 Interleague games and have won the last 4 out of 5 match-ups against the Marlins. Boston has already been postponed so if this game gets played, look for Stanton to have a big day against his old team.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Boston Red Sox are the best in the East and will have their ace southpaw, Chris Sale, on the hill today when they host the Baltimore Orioles. Sale has been lights out as usual, with a record of 1-0, a 1.06 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP. Boston has won the last 5 meetings with Baltimore and the Red Sox are 8-3 in Sale’s last 11 home starts. The Orioles will counter with the best they have, Dylan Bundy. This guy can deliver. Bundy has an ERA of 1.35, with a WHIP of 0.95, but the bats don’t support him. The Orioles are 1-5 in his last 6 starts. Gary Cederstrom will be pulling the strings today. Home teams are 9-1 in his last 10 Sunday games when he is behind the dish. Consider the Red Sox in this one.
TODAY’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

The Washington Nationals will turn to Max Scherzer today to pull them out of their funk when they play an early one against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. Scherzer has been dominant as usual, posting a record of 2-1, with a scary ERA of 0.90 and a 0.80 WHIP. The Rockies will counter with Jon Gray. Gray is 1-2 on the season, with a 5.62 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. With Max on the hill, the Nationals are 8-2 in their last 10 home games. Side with Harper and company in this one.
TODAY’S PICK: WASHINGTON NATIONALS

It might be early but if the New York Yankees want to contend in the brutally tough American League East, they had better get on track, and I see that happening today when they travel to Comerica Park to open a 3-game set against the Detroit Tigers. Detroit is obviously in a rebuilding mode and the Triple Crown winner, Miguel Cabrera, is starting to show his age. It’s just a matter of time before Murderer’s Row starts delivering. The Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 trips to Detroit and will send their young southpaw, Jordan Montgomery, to the hill. The Tigers have had issues against flame-throwing lefties, going 1-4 in their last 5 against them, and they are 1-4 in their last 5 overall. This could be a good spot for the Bombers to make a statement.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES