Inside the Chalk

The Chicago White Sox are still scrapping for a Wild Card berth and will try to take game 1 of a 3-game set against the Minnesota Twins tonight at Target Field. Jose Quintana is expected to get the start for Chicago and he has been sharp over his last 3 outings, going 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and Chicago is 4-0 in Quintana’s last 4 starts. The White Sox have owned Minnesota, winning 8 out of their last 9 meetings and taking the last four at Target Field. Ricky Nolasco should get the start for the Twins and he has struggled over his last 3 starts, with a 1-1 record, an ERA of 6.43 and a WHIP of 1.71. In Nolasco’s last outing, he was drilled by the Red Sox, yielding 6 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings of work. The Twins will be without All-Star shortstop Eduardo Nunez, after they traded him last night to the San Francisco Giants for a left-handed pitching prospect. The White Sox need to win – the Twins don’t. I like Chicago tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Chicago White Sox

Cole Hamels, who has not allowed an earned run in his last 2 outings, gets the home start tonight for the Texas Rangers against Yordano Ventura and the Kansas City Royals. The lefty Hamels is having another stellar year, posting an 11-2 record with an ERA of 2.87 and a WHIP of 1.28. The Rangers are 13-3 in his last 16 home starts and 15-3 in his last 18 outings against a team with a losing record. Hamels last faced the Royals on July 23rd in Kansas City, with the Rangers winning 7-4. Ventura is 6-8 on the season with an ERA of 4.99 and a WHIP of 1.41. The Royals are 0-5 in Ventura’s last 5 starts, 1-5 in his last 6 road starts, and 0-7 in his last 7 outings against a team with a winning record. Kansas City has struggled against lefties, chalking up an 0-4 record over their last 4. I like the home team tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Texas Rangers

The Giants send the lefty Madison Bumgarner to the hill today to try to win the rubber game against Dan Straily and the Cincinnati Reds in this 3-game set. Bumgarner is 10-5 on the season, with a 2.14 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. After losing his last 2 outings, he should be due for a big game. The Giants are 19-7 in their last 26 home games and 12-1 in Bumgarner’s last 13 starts against the National League Central. Dan Straily is 5-6 on the season, with a 4.01 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and the Reds are 3-8 in their last 11 meetings with the Giants. Joey Votto has had success against Bumgarner, going 5-14 with 1 homer but Jay Bruce has struggled against him, going 2-15. Kerwin Danley is calling it today and the Giants are 4-0 in their last 4 with him behind the dish. If Bumgarner keeps it away from Votto, the Giants should win this game.

Today’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The Washington Nationals open a 9-game road trip tonight when they travel to Progressive Field to take on the Cleveland Indians. The Nationals have lost 5 of their last 7 games but will try to get back on track tonight when they send the lefty Gio Gonzalez to the hill. Gonzalez is 6-8 on the season, with a 4.53 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and Washington is 1-4 in his last 5 road starts. The Indians give Danny Salazar the nod tonight and he is 11-3 on the season, with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Cleveland is 8-1 in Salazar’s last 9 starts, 7-0 in their last 7 Interleague games, and 6-1 in their last 7 home games against southpaws. The Indians were losers in their last 3 contests but that should end tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Cleveland Indians

After an embarrassing loss at home yesterday to the Seattle Mariners, the Toronto Blue Jays will try to redeem themselves when they send the southpaw, J.A. Happ, to the mound today at Rogers Centre. Happ has been on fire. Over his last 3 starts, he is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. The Jays are 10-1 in Happ’s last 11 home starts and 4-0 in his last 4 against the American League West. Another lefty will take the hill for the Mariners, Wade Miley. Miley is 0-3 in his last 3 turns, with a 4.82 ERA, a WHIP of 1.64 and Seattle is 0-5 in his last 5 starts. The Mariners have struggled on the road against lefties, going 0-4 in their last 4 against them. Tim Timmons is behind the dish and the Mariners are 2-12 in their last 14 when he calls it. The Jays avoid the sweep today.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Sale has been scratched and replaced by Matt Albers, but I’m sticking with the White Sox.