Inside the Chalk

When the Tampa Bay Rays take the field at the Trop they are always worth considering and that is where they will be tonight when they open a 3-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rays own the best home record in baseball, at 28-12, and are expected to have Nick Martinez on the hill. Martinez has been outstanding. He is 6-2 with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The D-backs have not played well on the road, at 17-22, and their expected starter Zac Gallen is having a season he would like to forget. The once ace of Arizona is 3-6 with a bloated ERA of 6.10 and a 1.63 WHIP. The Rays have the edge in runs scored, hits, batting average, team ERA, and have won two straight against the Snakes and seven of the last eight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

The AL East leading New York Yankees will be in Fenway Park tonight to open a 4-game set with the bottom feeding Boston Red Sox. The Yankees have won 4 of the 5 meetings with the Red Sox this year which includes a 3-game sweep of them in Boston back in April. New York’s young ace, Cam Schlittler, is expected to take the hill for the Bombers. He grew up a Red Sox fan so he will be extra motivated to be at his best. Schlittler has excellent numbers at 8-3 with an ERA of only 1.71 and one of the lowest WHIPs in the majors at 0.89. The Red Sox are expected to counter with lefty Connelly Early who is 6-5 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Boston is just 3-7 over their last 10 and have been terrible at home, with a record of 12-25.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

The Atlanta Braves are on the verge of being swept by the San Diego Padres tonight when they wrap up their 3-game set at Petco Park, but not so fast. The Friars are expected to give the nod to lefty J.P. Sears who was just called up from AAA El Paso where he was terrible. Over his last 6 starts for the Chihuahuas, Sears had an 11.14 ERA, a 2.02 WHIP, and one of the best teams in baseball should send him packing early. Atlanta is expected to counter with another southpaw, Martín Pérez, and he has been dealing. Pérez is 6-3 with a 2.78 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and was lights out in his last turn against a really good Milwaukee team where he yielded just 1 run over 6 frames and the Braves went on to a 3-2 win. Atlanta bounces back tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The Tampa Bay Rays lost yesterday, 4-3, to the Washington Nationals at the Trop but they will bounce back today. Nick Martinez is expected on the hill for the Rays and he delivers, especially at home. Martinez is 6-2 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. If Kevin Cash lets him go deep into the game, the Rays win.
TODAY’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS

The Philadelphia Phillies will be at home tonight against the New York Mets and they will have Cristopher Sánchez on the hill. Enough said.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

The Boston Red Sox have lost four straight and now they have to travel across the country, which is not easy, to take on the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners are 21-17 at T-Mobile Park and will take care of business tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SEATTLE MARINERS