Inside the Chalk

The Toronto Blue Jays will seek a series win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays when they play the 2nd game of a 3-game set tonight at Rogers Centre. Marco Estrada gets the start tonight for the Jays. He comes into tonight’s game with a record of 7-4, an ERA of 2.92 and a WHIP of 0.99. Estrada has 3 career starts against the Rays and he is 1-1, with stingy ERA of 0.86 and a WHIP of 0.54. Tampa Bay sends the lefty, Drew Smyly to the hill. Smyly is 3-11, with an ERA of 5.14 and a WHIP of 1.29. The Rays are 5-17 in their last 22 road games and 0-4 in Smyly’s last 4 road starts. David Rackley is calling it tonight and Toronto is 4-1 in their last 5 with him behind the dish.

Tonight’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Two flame throwers will square off tonight in Miami, when Johnny Cueto and the San Francisco Giants open a 3-game set against Jose Fernandez and the Miami Marlins. Cueto is having a stellar year, posting a 13-3 record with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. The same can be said for José Fernández, who is 12-6 on the season with an ERA of 2.87 and a 1.08 WHIP. Fernández last faced San Francisco on April 23rd in a loss, giving up 4 runs in 6 innings of work. The Giants are 10-2 in Johnny C’s last 12 road starts. With a little run support, the Giants should win this game.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

The New York Mets have been decimated with injuries this year and now they add outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the growing list with a quad strain. Tonight the Mets will hobble into Comerica Park to open a 3-game set against the surging Detroit Tigers. The Tigers send Justin Verlander to the hill and he has been delivering. Verlander is 11-6 on the season, with a 3.54 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and is 4-0 in his last 6 starts. The Tigers are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall, and 5-1 in their last 6 homestands. The Mets send Noah Syndergaard to the bump and he is 9-5 with an ERA of 2.48 and a WHIP of 1.14. It is rumored that Syndergaard has a bone spur in his elbow, which could explain his lack of control lately. New York is 0-4 in their last 4 meetings with Detroit. The Tigers stay hot.

Tonight’s pick:

Detroit Tigers

The St. Louis Cardinals will try to end a 3-game skid tonight when they play the second leg of a 3-game set in Cincinnati. Why he is still in the rotation I do not know, but the Reds will send Cody Reed to the hill. Reed is 0-5 on the season, with an ERA of 7.07 and a WHIP of 1.79. The Cardinals will counter with Michael Wacha, who is 6-7 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. St. Louis is 8-3 in the last 11 mettings and 6-0 in Wacha’s last 6 starts against the Reds. Wacha will need to be careful against Joey Votto and Zack Cozart. Votto is 8-21 against him and Cozart is 10-20. Scott Barry is behind the dish and the Cardinals are 6-0 in their last 6 with him pulling the strings.

Tonight’s pick:

St.Louis Cardinals

Madison Bumgarner will get the start tonight for the San Francisco Giants when they travel to Citizens Bank Park to take on Zach Eflin and the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite a lack of run support for the left-hander, Bumgarner is still 10-6 on the season with an ERA of 2.09 and a 0.98 WHIP. The Giants are 5-1 in their last 6 meetings with the Phillies and 7-2 in their last 9 in Philadelphia. The Phillies’ Zach Eflin is 3-4 in 2016, with an ERA of 4.23 and a WHIP of 1.19. The Phillies have struggled against left-handers, going 3-7 in their last 10. Hunter Pence has hit safely in his 2 games since returning to the line-up and is batting .318 in his career against his former team. Pence should help jump start this offense.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants