Chris Sale takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox today to face the league’s worst, Minnesota Twins, in what will be Robin Ventura,s last game as skipper for the boys from the south side. Sale sends him out on a winning note.
Today’s pick:
Chicago White Sox
The Detroit Tigers can smell the post-season and they will inch closer today when they send Jordon Zimmermann to the hill to face Aaron Blair and the Atlanta Braves. Zimmermann is 9-6 on the season, with an ERA of 4.88, a WHIP of 1.36, and is 7-3 lifetime against the Braves, with an ERA of 2.55. What can I say about Aaron Blair? Well, he is 1-7 on the season, with an ERA of 8.02 and a WHIP of 1.73. Atlanta is 0-5 in their last 5 meetings with Detroit and the Tigers have Miguel Cabrera. Need I say more?
Today’s pick:
Detroit Tigers
The Texas Rangers play their final 3 games of the 2016 campaign at home against the Tampa Bay Rays and with a win tonight, they can wrap up home field advantage. Texas will call on Yu Darvish to get things done and he is 6-5, with an ERA of 3.53, and is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 4 career starts against Tampa. Matt Andriese takes the hill for the Rays. Andriese is 8-7 on the season, with an ERA of 4.34, and the Rays are 1-6 in their last 7 overall, and 1-4 in their last 5 road games. Rangers win.
Tonight’s pick:
Texas Rangers
As it stands now, the Baltimore Orioles hold the second spot in the American League wild card but the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners are sniffing at their heels. Detroit sits one game back of the Birds and will end the regular season against the red hot Braves down in Atlanta. Baltimore finishes up in the Bronx and believe me, the Bombers would love nothing more than to send the Orioles packing. Seattle has a great opportunity to enhance their post-season chances when they finish up at home in a 4-game set with the Oakland Athletics.
Tonight Seattle will send Ariel Miranda to the hill and he is 5-2, with an ERA of 4.10, and a 1.16 WHIP. The Mariners are 4-1 in Miranda’s last 5 starts and 4-0 in his last 4 against the American League West. Kendall Graveman gets the start for Oakland and he is 10-11 on the season, with an ERA of 4.19, and a 1.30 WHIP. Graveman is 0-3 on the season against the Mariners and was drilled in his last outing against CanĂ³ and company, giving up 8 runs on 12 hits in 5 innings of work. Oakland is 0-4 in Graveman’s last 4 starts against Seattle and they are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings overall.
Tonight’s pick:
Seattle Mariners
The Texas Rangers will try to stay one step ahead of Boston and Cleveland for the best record in the American League when they conclude a 3-game home set tonight with the Milwaukee Brewers. Cole Hamels gets the call for the Rangers and he is having another outstanding season with a record of 15-5, an ERA of 3.30, and a WHIP of 1.31. Texas is 4-0 in Hamel’s last 4 interleague starts and 17-4 in his last 21 home starts. Milwaukee will send Chase Anderson to the hill and he is 9-11 on the season, with an ERA of 4.36, and a 1.35 WHIP. The Brewers are just 1-4 in Anderson’s last 4 road starts and they have also struggled on the road in interleague play, winning just 4 out of their last 14 contests. Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun sat out last night’s game with a wrist injury and is questionable for tonight. Texas should get this one.
Tonight’s pick:
Texas Rangers
The Detroit Tigers sit 2 games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild card spot and need to get on track quickly if they want to see the post season. The Cleveland Indians handed the Tigers their third straight loss last night and in doing so, clinched the American League Central. Detroit will turn to Justin Verlander tonight to right the ship. Verlander is 15-8, with an ERA of 3.21, and a WHIP of 1.01. Cleveland counters with Mike Clevinger, who is making just his tenth career start. Clevinger is 2-2, with an ERA of 4.65, and a 1.39 WHIP. Terry Francona will probably rest some starters tonight and the Indians could be nursing a celebration hangover. I like Detroit in this spot.
Tonight’s pick:
Detroit Tigers
Next blog will be posted on Tuesday, September 27th. Good luck today.
