Inside the Chalk

The Chicago Cubs have lost 3 in a row but a trip to San Diego today should get them straightened out. The Cubs are sending Kyle Hendricks to the hill. Hendricks is 4-2, with a 3.25 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.16 in 52.2 innings of work. Chicago is 8-2 in his last 10 road starts and 4-1 in his last 5 starts against the Padres. Jarred Cosart gets the start for the Padres. Cosart is 0-1, with an ERA of 4.50, a WHIP of 1.75 in 16 innings of work and the Friars are 0-4 in his last 4 home starts. The Cubs have dominated San Diego, going 6-2 in their last 8 meetings and are 5-0 in their last 5 trips to Petco Park.

Today’s pick:

Chicago Cubs

The New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics will square off in an early one today in the Bronx. The Athletics road record is the worst in the American League at 7-16. Oakland will try to make it 8 road victories when they send Andrew Triggs to the rubber. Triggs is 5-3, with an ERA of 2.77 but was lit up in his last outing. Boston clobbered him for 6 runs on 8 hits in a 12-3 Red Sox victory. The Yankees Michael Pineda, who is finally living up to his potential, will take the hill for the Bombers. Pineda is 5-2, with an ERA of 3.35 and has been lights out at home. At the Stadium, he is 4-1, with a 2.18 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and New York is 7-1 in his last 8 starts. Oakland is 1-5 in their last 6 meetings with New York. Edge: New York Yankees.

Today’s pick:

New York Yankees

The southpaw CC Sabathia will take the hill today for the New York Yankees when they try to even the score against Jharel Cotton and the Oakland Athletics. CC has been on his mark. Over his last 3, he is 2-1, with a 3.06 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP. Over Cotton’s last 3, he hasn’t been able to find his groove. He is 1-2, with a bloated ERA of 7.04 and a WHIP of 1.70. The Yankees are 8-2 in CC’s last 10 starts and 6-0 in his last 6 starts at The Stadium.

Today’s pick:

New York Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers do not like each other and that is a fact. Tonight the rivalry continues when the Blue Jays and the Rangers open a 3-game set at Rogers Centre. Both teams will send pitchers to the hill who are mediocre at best. Mike Bolsinger gets the start for the Jays and he has an ERA of 6.32, and a 1.79 WHIP. On the flip side, Texas sends AJ Griffin to the bump and he is not much better, with a 5.02 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP. Tonight the edge will go to Toronto because of the expected return of Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson. Texas is 2-7 in their last 9 meetings with Toronto and 0-4 in their last 4 trips to the Centre. The numbers say Jays in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to leave Atlanta with a split today when they face the Braves in the final game of a 4-game set. Bartolo Colón, who turned 44 yesterday, will take the hill for the Braves. Colón is 2-4 on the season, with an ERA of 6.38, and a 1.48 WHIP. Pittsburgh will counter with the ex-Yankee, Ivan Nova. Nova has been the steady for the Pirates, with a record of 4-3, an ERA of 2.63, and a WHIP of 1.05. Nova is 1-0 in 2 career starts against Atlanta and in those 13 innings he has not allowed a run.

Today’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

The New York Yankees will have the edge tonight in the Bronx over the Kansas City Royals and this is why. Luis Severino will take the mound for the Bombers. Severino is 2-2, with an ERA of 3.64 and a 1.13 WHIP. The Royals will counter with Jason Hammel. Hammel has been struggling to say the least. The ex-Cub is 1-5, with a 6.20 ERA, a 1.75 WHIP, and the Royals are 1-7 in his last 8 starts. The Yanks faced Hammel on May 16th, when he served up a 2-run blast to Chris Carter and a 3-run bomb to Aaron Judge, in a 7-1 Yankee victory. The Royals are 7-15 on the road and 16-41 in their last 57 at Yankee Stadium. My only concern tonight is Severino’s ERA at home which is 5.09 but that’s still lower than Hammel’s overall ERA at 6.20.

Tonight’s pick:

New York Yankees

The Cincinnati Reds will square off tonight at Great American Ball Park with the Cleveland Indians in the second leg of a 4-game home-and-home series. Cleveland is expected to send Carlos Carrasco to the rubber to even the score. Carrasco is 2-0 in his last 3 outings, with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP, but left his last outing early with pectoral tightness which could be reason for concern. The lefty Amir Garrett is expected on the hill for the Reds and he is 1-1, with an ERA of 5.29, and a WHIP of 1.35 over his last 3 starts. Cincinnati has been struggling, going 2-8 in their last 10 overall and they are 2-8 in their last 10 against the American League Central. The Indians are 6-1 in their last 7 meetings with the Reds, 4-1 in their last 5 in Cincinnati and 4-1 in their last 5 against southpaws. I’m banking on a healthy Carrasco tonight and siding with Cleveland.

Tonight’s pick:

Cleveland Indians