The Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins conclude their four game set here on Monday. It's been all Washington thus far with a 3-0 series lead. They have scored 26 runs in the process to just 14 by Miami. These teams won't be in the postseason but they are rebuilding and the Nats look to have the more talent and pitching. The Nationals are in fourth in the NL East and have a -10 run differential. The Marlins are in last in the division and have a -59 run differential. Jake Irvin will start for the Nats here on Monday. He's 1-2 in his five starts with a 4.55 ERA and 1.301 WHIP. Irvin had two excellent starts in a row and one of those he held the hard hitting Dodgers lineup to just four hits and no runs over six innings to get the win. But the Dodgers came back in his last start and got him for 12 hits and six runs over 4 2/3 innings for the loss. The Marlins will start Trevor Rogers today who is 0-3 in his five starts. He has a 4.10 ERA and 1.519 WHIP. To say run support is lacking in his starts would be an understatement. After his first start where the Marlins scored seven runs, he has since received 1,1,1 and zero runs of support. You won't win any games no matter how good you are with those kind of numbers. Sorry Marlins, I have to back the Nationals once again here today. Play Washington.

 The LA Lakers staved off elimination in game four of their series with the Denver Nuggets back in LA. After losing the first three games the Lakers won game four, 119-108 covering the +3.5 point spread and going over. The Lakers have been a good over play all season, especially on the road where they are 27-16 O/U. They average 116.1 ppg and allow 119.5 ppg on the road this year. Denver is 4-2-1 O/U in their last six games. They average 118 ppg at home this year while allowing 108.4 ppg. Considering what the Lakers allow on the road, I won't be surprised to see the Nuggets get past the 120 mark. The Lakers are shooting 49.9% from the field against a good defense. Plus the Nuggets attempt way more three-point shots at home then they do on the road. I expect a lot of points in this one as the Lakers go all out to stay alive for one more game. Play the OVER.

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox begin a three-game series here on Monday. The Twins are coming off a three game sweep of the Angels in which they outscored LA 32-13 in the process. The Twins improved to 14-13 and shaved a game off of AL Central leader Cleveland's lead to just 4.5-games. The Wins are red-hot having won seven straight games. They also have a +8 run differential on the season. They will send Joe Ryan to the hill today. Ryan is 1-1 in his five starts with a 3.77 ERA and 1.012 WHIP. Ryan coming off a win over these White Sox where he went six innings and allowed four hits and three runs while striking out eight and walking one. The White Sox snapped a seven game losing streak by sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Still, the Sox are the worst team in the division and 2nd worst in baseball with a 6-22 record. They also have a horrid -77 run differential. They will start Garrett Crochet tonight with a 1-4 record in his six starts and a 6.37 ERA and 1.180 WHIP. He's allowed 17 runs over his last 11 2/3 innings. He also receives little to no run support, evidenced by the three total runs the White Sox have scored in his last three starts. I'll lay the price on the road with the Twins here tonight. Play Minnesota.

The Philadelphia Phillies travel to Anaheim to begin their three game set here on Monday with the LA Angels. The Phils are coming off a 3-game sweep of the Padres. They have won 11 of their last 13 games to climb to within just 1.5 games of the division leading Atlanta Braves. They also have a +25 run differential. Cristopher Sanchez will get his sixth start today for the Phillies. He's 1-3 on the season, but has a nice 2.59 ERA and 1.439 WHIP. He's also allowed just two earned runs over his last three starts (15 innings). Despite those three runs, he's taken two losses. The Angles were swept by the Twins over the weekend, losing all three by a 13-32 margin. That makes them 1-9 over their last 10 games. They are 10-18 on the season and in fourth in the AL West with a -36 run differential. Griffin Canning will toe the rubber today for the Angels. He's 1-3 on the season with a 7.50 ERA and 1.542 WHIP. While both these starters have losing records, Sanchez has pitched very well with some bad luck. I'll take the red-hot Phillies here on Monday.