I’m playing on the Over in Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals as my 10* Blue Chip.

These National League Central foes have come ever so close to topping the total in their previous two games in this series. The Bucs and Cards pushed with the 7-run total in Game 1 and finished just Under the 6.5-run number in Game 2 Wednesday. We see solid value in the Over in the third and final game in this series Thursday. Francisco Liriano toes the rubber for the Pirates, coming off a shaky start in which he had mechanical issues leading to four runs on seven hits with two walks through only three innings versus the Dodgers. The left hander has given up a total of 20 hits through his last three starts and while he’s limited the amount of runs scored, his WHIP ballooned to 1.70 in that span. St. Louis hands the ball Lance Lynn for Thursday’s finale. He’s also had issues with his pitches, walking a total of 13 batters over his last three starts. Lynn has allowed 18 hits in that stretch but limited the damage to just five earned runs. However, he has a WHIP of 1.56 in those three games. With both pitchers playing with fire in recent starts – and the Over paying out in seven of Lynn’s last nine against the Bucs – we see great value in the Over Thursday.

I’m playing on the Over in Pittsburgh at St. Louis as my 10* Blue Chip Thursday.

NEW YORK YANKEES at CLEVELAND
I am playing on the INDIANS. I successfully took the Indians last night and I am jumping back on them again after they broke the Yankees' hearts in a 16-inning, 5-4 victory. 
It marked the fourth straight loss for the Yanks, who are having trouble at the dish lately with just eight runs over their last six games. It won't help New York any that Danny Salazar is taking the mound for the Indians tonight, who has a 1.31 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over his last three starts. 
The Yankees counter with CC Sabathia, who's been far from dazzling this season. Impressive performances are more of a rarity than the norm for him this season and his ERA of 5.34 suggests New York is going to need some runs if it hopes to win today. Considering their troubles at the dish lately, I feel this gives Cleveland a huge leg up heading into tonight's contest.  
Cleveland has won four of the last five meetings with the Yankees and oddsmakers usually get it right with the Indians' as faves. They are 6-2 in the last eight games they've been set as the chalk. 10* Personal Favorite

NEW YORK YANKEES at CLEVELAND 
I am playing on CLEVELAND. This is a series of two teams headed in opposite directions after the Yankees come in after getting swept at home by the Blue Jays while Cleveland used some impressive performances to take two of three from the Twins. 
The Indians scored 34 runs on 47 hits against the Twins after scoring runs had been a bit of a weak spot previously this season. Now that they are hitting, I really like them to take tonight's game against the Yankees - especially at home with the starting pitching edge. 
Today's starter for Cleveland, Carlos Carrasco, allowed just one earned run and three hits over a pair of sensational complete-game wins over his last two starts. I'm really surprised he's not seeing more chalk against New York's Luis Severino, who is making just his second major league start today. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the San Diego Padres as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Padres are out for redemption after an embarrassing series sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend, aiming to get back on track with a win over Cincinnati at home Monday. San Diego has won six of the previous seven head-to-head matchups with the Reds and boasts a 5-1 record in its last six versus Cincy inside Petco Park. The Padres turn to starter Ian Kennedy to keep that trend going, with the right hander going seven innings in each of his last two starts. He lost his last effort after a rough start in the first inning but got back on track and threw a solid game. Kennedy has a 3.15 ERA with 19 strikeout and just three walks in his last three starts and the Padres have come away with the victory in five of his last seven games with the team tabbed as a moneyline favorite. The Reds counter with David Holmberg on the mound Monday. The left hander has looked good in his first two starts with the big club since being called up from Triple-A but now teams have more tape on Holmberg. This also happens to be his first major league road start of the season. Cincinnati has been bullied by NL West clubs in recent years, going 7-18 in its last 25 games versus the division.

I’m playing on San Diego as my 10* NL Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the Chicago White Sox as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The White Sox put a series sweep in Kansas City behind them as they head back to the south side of Chicago to host the Los Angeles Angels, who got away late Sunday after an extra-innings affair with Baltimore and now travel overnight to the Windy City for this Monday contest. The ChiSox hand the ball to Chris Sale, who has been roughed up in his last two starts but that just offers us a better price on the White Sox’s moneyline. Sale is still one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in the majors and owns a solid 1.06 WHIP at home this season. Los Angeles goes with Matt Shoemaker on the hill in the series opener. He’s been pitching well in recent outings but has a 4.42 ERA away from home - almost a run higher than in L.A. - and is backed up by an Angels team that has lost six in a row as the visitor.

I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the Over in Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks as my 10* Blue Chip.

We’re going against the grain for this Sunday matchup after watching the first two games between the Reds and Diamondbacks play Under the total. Anthony DeSclafani is on the mound for Cincinnati in this series finale. He’s pitched extremely well in recent outings but has given up plenty of hits along with some walks and watched his pitch counts climb. We feel this rookie is about to suffer a downfall on the road to an Arizona team that can light up the scoreboard but have been quiet with slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in a slump. The D-backs go with pitcher Patrick Corbin for Sunday’s start. The southpaw lasted fewer than two innings in his last start, giving up three runs on six hits to the Nationals. Arizona is playing it safe with Corbin’s pitch counts since returning from Tommy John surgery and he’ll get the hook again if he shows any signs of struggling. Arizona has gone Over the total in six of his last eight home starts and is 8-3-1 O/U in its previous 12 contests overall.

I’m playing on Over in Cincinnati at Arizona as my 10* Blue Chip Sunday.

I’m playing on the Cleveland Indians as my 10* Personal Favorite.

The Tribe came up big as our 10* American League Personal Favorite Saturday, smashing the rival Twins in Game 2 of this AL Central matchup. Cleveland has stung Minnesota for big runs in the last two games and we expect the Indians to keep those bats swinging this Sunday. They send ace Corey Kluber to the mound for this series finale. The former Cy Young winner has been up and down in his last few starts but was sharp in his most recent effort in Progressive Field. Kluber through nine innings against Kansas City, allowing only one run on five hits on July 29. On the season, he’s been much better at home than on the road, with a 2.99 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in Cleveland. The Twins march Phil Hughes out on Sunday. He took a loss in his last start, making it just 5 2-3 innings against Toronto after allowing three runs on five hits. He’s just 2-5 with a 4.43 ERA on the road and Minnesota has won just three of his 11 appearance away from Target Field.

I’m playing on Cleveland as my 10* Personal Favorite Sunday.

I’m playing on the Cleveland Indians as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Tribe were edged 10-9 in an offensive slug fest with the Twins Friday, being dealt their fifth loss in the past six games. Despite that skid, we are drawn to Cleveland and its value at home in this AL Central matchup. The Indians hand the ball to Trevor Bauer, who has a slim 1.72 ERA over his last two appearances, spanning just under 16 innings of work. But due to poor run support, his efforts have been wasted. We are confident Cleveland can stir up some runs for its right hander against a Minnesota club that has given up nine runs in each of its past three games. The Twins have a collective 4.55 ERA on the road – third highest in the major leagues. They go with starter Ervin Santana, who has been inconsistent in recent efforts and has been drilled by the long ball, allowing eight home runs in his last six starts. Santana has had trouble with the Tribe throughout his career, boasting a 3-9 all-time mark versus Cleveland.

I’m playing on Cleveland as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Kansas City Royals as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Royals are back home after a forgettable road trip and know this home stand is the best chance to make up ground in the American League race. Kansas City is 18-7 in its last 25 as a home favorite and have dominated the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium, winning four in a row over Chicago at home and 18 of their last 24 meetings overall. The Royals look to pitcher Edinson Volquez in the series opener. He’s been one of the most undervalued starters in the bigs this season and boasts a 2.75 ERA over his last three starts. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in six straight starts and gave up just two runs through 6 1-3 innings in his last showing against the ChiSox on July 17. John Danks is on the hill for Chicago and dominated the Royals in that previous meeting, limiting KC to just four hits through six scoreless innings while striking out eight. However, the southpaw is a different arm on the road where he lugs a bloated 6.29 ERA and 2-5 record in nine road starts. Chicago has won just twice in his last seven starts in Kansas City and only four times in his last 14 road starts overall.

I’m playing on Kansas City as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Friday.

I’m playing on the Under in New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays as my 10* Blue Chip.

The Mets come to Tampa Bay for an interleague set, starting Friday. The Mets are on a tear, winning six in a row thanks in large part to a sudden uptick in offense. New York has averaged 5.8 runs during this winning streak – a major jump from its season scoring average of just 3.69 runs which ranks 29th in the major leagues. While we’re impressed by the Mets' turnaround at the plate – and benefited as a winner in many of those games – we see a return to the norm for N.Y. and like the value with the Under in this interleague contest. Jacob deGrom is on the mound for the Mets, boasting the second-lowest ERA in baseball at 2.09 and has limited batters to a .199 BA against this season. The Rays are just ahead of New York in terms of average runs, platting just 3.71 per game, and have finished 3-5-1 Over/Under in their last nine home games. Tampa Bay hands the ball to Jake Odorizzi in Game 1 of this AL-versus-NL set. The right hander has been nearly untouchable in his seven starts at Tropicana Field, owning a 1.41 ERA at home. Tampa Bay has played Under in four of his last five home starts heading into Friday’s action.

I’m playing on the Under in New York at Tampa Bay as my 10* Blue Chip Friday.

I’m playing on the Washington Nationals as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

Washington straightened out its shaky play with a commanding 8-3 win over Arizona Thursday and look to get back in the NL East race with a series-opening victory against Colorado Friday. The Nationals have won five of the previous seven clashes with the Rockies inside Nationals Park and send starter Jordan Zimmermann to the hill, who has helped Washington win six of his last seven starts versus Colorado. Zimmermann has locked down the Rockies with a career 5-0 record and 2.20 ERA in eight starts versus Colorado. The right hander is much better at home than on the road this season, boasting a 2.53 ERA in DC. Colorado goes with Jorge De La Rosa Friday. He’s been up and down in recent starts, bouncing back with a strong effort in his last start after posting a 6.08 ERA in July. De La Rosa has, however, given up seven home runs in his last six starts and faces a Nats lineup that ranks fourth in big flys in the National League.

I’m playing on Washington as my 10* NL Personal Favorite Friday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Cubs as my 10* Personal Favorite.

Chicago had its six-game winning streak come to a halt Wednesday in a 7-5 road loss to Pittsburgh. We’re confident the Cubs can keep these winning ways rolling though, especially since the club is back in the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field for Game 1 of this series with San Francisco Thursday. Chicago is averaging 4.6 runs per game over its last 10 heading into Thursday – nearly a run better than its season scoring average. The Cubbies turn to starter Jason Hammel for this series opener, with the righty coming off a strong showing in his last outing. Hammel allowed only one run – a solo HR – and gave up six hits through 5 2-3 innings in Milwaukee. He’s been great at Wrigley Field with a 3.08 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, making just nine starts at home this season. The Giants go with Chris Heston on the hill for Thursday’s Game 1. Heston has a winning mark on the road but hasn’t been sharp in those starts – a 4.01 road ERA – and has been saved by timely hitting from San Francisco’s bats.

I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday.

I’m playing on the Over in Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees as my 10* August TOTAL OF THE MONTH.

The Red Sox and Yankees rivalry isn’t as heated as it normally is but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any fireworks between these AL East clubs. Boston and New York smashed the total in Game 1 of this series, with the Yankees winning 13-3 before things got quiet in Game 2, a 2-1 Red Sox win. We expect this series to turn back to the explosive offense of the opener and love the value on the Over, which has paid out in five of their last six clashes in the Bronx. Boston, which has played Over in eight of its last 10 games, goes with left hander Eduardo Rodriguez for Thursday. He’s been up and down in recent efforts, including a seven-run barrage in his last away start, giving up seven runs on six hits and lasting only 1 2-3 innings in Los Angeles on July 20. C.C. Sabathia toes the rubber for the Yankees, with the hefty lefty battling dehydration issues in his last start. Sabathia has been blasted for 10 runs in his last 10 2-3 innings and N.Y. has gone Over in six of his last eight starts in Yankee Stadium, where he owns a 6.80 ERA on the season.

I’m playing on the Over in Boston at New York as my 10* August TOTAL OF THE MONTH Thursday.

I’m playing on the Washington Nationals as my 10* Personal Favorite.

Washington snapped a four-game losing skid with a hard-fought 5-4 victory against Arizona Tuesday, holding off a late charge from the Diamondback to secure a much-needed win. The Nationals take that momentum into Game 3 of this four-game set, handing the ball to starter Gio Gonzalez. The left hander is on a roll, winning each of his last four starts and takes the hill at home, where he owns a 2.50 ERA and 5-1 mark this season. Arizona has struggled with southpaws this season, hitting .257 BA and winning just three times in its last 10 contests versus a left-handed starter. Gonzalez has dominated NL West foes in recent seasons, with Washington going 13-3 in his last 16 showings versus the division. The D-backs go with starter Rubby De La Rosa, who has been up and down all season but is consistently bad on the road with a 5.14 ERA and 2-4 record in 10 starts away from home. Arizona has struggled in DC, winning just once in its last six games inside Nationals Park and holding a 2-8 record in its last 10 versus the Nats overall.

I’m playing on Washington as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Chicago White Sox as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The White Sox are trying to get back to their winning ways, following a seven-game winning streak with a 1-4 mark in their last five contests. Chicago was edged 5-4 by Tampa Bay at home Monday but looks to even this series by sending ace Chris Sale to the mound Tuesday. Sale stumbled at Fenway Park in his most recent outing but is now back in U.S. Cellular Field, where he owns a 2.60 ERA on the season. He held the Rays to two earned runs on three hits through 6 2-3 innings of work back in May but didn’t receive enough runs in support for his stellar effort to pick up the win. We’re getting a great price on a pitcher of his caliber thanks in part to his club's recent downturn. Tampa Bay goes with Chris Archer on the hill, who is coming off a loss at the hands of the Tigers – his fourth straight losing decision. The Rays are just 1-5 in his last six appearances, failing to back up their starter with adequate offense.

I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Under in San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers as my 10* Blue Chip.

The Padres and Brewers erupted for 18 total runs in Game 1 of this series Monday, easily playing Over the total. We expect that was all the offense these clubs can muster and see solid value with the Under in Game 2 of this set Tuesday. Despite Monday’s result, San Diego and Milwaukee have gone 3-9 Over/Under in their last 12 head-to-head meetings and 2-6 O/U in their previous eight clashes inside Miller Park. Milwaukee hands the ball to starter Jimmy Nelson Tuesday. Nelson has been solid on the mound with three straight quality starts, coming off seven shutout innings against the Cubs, and owns a 1.33 ERA during that span. He has a 1.00 WHIP at home while allowing visiting batters to hit just .207 BA inside Miller Park. This total hasn't swayed too far from the Game 1 number and we agree with the books on this one, seeing value in a low-scoring affair Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Under in San Diego at Milwaukee as my 10* Blue Chip Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Washington Nationals as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

After suffering a series sweep at the hands of the New York Mets this weekend, the Nationals return home looking for redemption against the Diamondbacks, who are in a tough spot after playing in Houston Sunday and traveling overnight for this East Coast matchup. Washington has won four straight against Arizona and own a 16-5 record in their last 21 home stands against the D-backs. The Nats give the ball to righty Doug Fister for Game 1 of this series. Fister allowed just two runs on four hits through six innings in his most recent showing and has been a much more reliable arm at home, with a 3.80 ERA in DC – compared to 5.06 ERA on the road. Arizona goes with hurler Zack Godley, who is making just his third major league start. He’s pitched well in the first two outings but now teams have much more tape on the right hander. He did look shaky at times in his last effort at Seattle, walking three and watching his pitch count close in on 100.

I’m playing on Washington as my 10* NL Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* Main Event.

We’ve been all over the Mets in their current contests, cashing in again with New York Saturday. The Mets have won five of their last seven outings including back-to-back wins against the Washington Nationals. New York looks to sweep their NL East rivals at home on Sunday Night Baseball, turning to starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard to get the job done. The right hander is coming off a stellar outing in which he allowed just three hits through eight scoreless innings. Syndergaard has been very sharp in recent outings with a slim 1.35 ERA over his last three starts, striking out 19 batters through those 20 innings of work. He faced Washington just 12 days ago, limiting the Nationals to only one run on five hits through five innings. New York has cashed in each of his previous four home starts.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* Main Event Sunday.

I’m playing on the Under in Colorado Rockies at St. Louis Cardinals as my 10* Blue Chip.

The Rockies and Cardinals topped the total in two of the first three games of this series, including Friday night but we see value with a low-scoring finale between these National League foes. St. Louis goes with southpaw pitcher Jamie Garcia on the hill for Sunday’s game. He’s been incredible on the mound as of late, with a 1.89 ERA over his last three starts. The left hander has helped Under backers cash in during six of his eight starts this season. Colorado counters with fellow lefty Yohan Flande, who is coming off his first major league victory. The reliever-turned-starter gave up just one run on four hits through five innings. He’s been great when called upon to log lengthy innings this season and takes on a Cardinals lineup that has struggled versus lefties, hitting just .237 BA on the year. We see Flande being undervalued Sunday, adding some value to the Under.

I’m playing on the Under in Colorado at St. Louis as my 10* Blue Chip Sunday.

I’m playing on the Chicago White Sox as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The White Sox avenged a 13-6 beating at the hands of the New York Yankees Friday by returning serve with an 8-2 win at home Saturday. We like the value on the home side to take this Sunday rubber match. Chicago has now won eight of its last 10 games and brings a ton of momentum into this matchup, handing the ball to starter Jeff Samardzija, who takes the mound with a clear mind after being plagued by trade rumors since the start of the summer. The right hander has been sharp over his last nine trips to the hill with an impressive 2.78 ERA and slim 0.97 WHIP in that span. The ChiSox have won four of his last five outings and are 6-2 in his last eight when pegged as a home favorite in U.S. Cellular Field. The Yankees go with Ivan Nova, who left his latest start with arm fatigue. The right hander is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and the Yanks have lost each of his last five starts when priced as road underdogs. After Saturday’s win, the White Sox are 9-3 in their last 12 home stands versus New York.

I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Sunday.

I’m playing on the Texas Rangers as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Rangers officially make their playoff push when newly-acquired starter Cole Hamels makes his Lone Star State debut against the Giants Saturday. Hamels, who was traded to the Rangers from Philadelphia this week, tossed a no-hitter in his final effort for the Phillies, fanning 13 batters and walking just two in that historic effort. Now, Hamels has some bats behind him – a far cry from the situation in Philadelphia – with Texas averaging 6.2 runs per game over its last 10 contests. The Rangers have won seven of those games and will have some added motivation in making Hamels’ first start with the club a winner. The Giants were on a tear following the All-Star break but have stumbled with two losses in their last three games, including a 6-3 loss to Texas Friday. San Francisco has struggled in road interleague action with an 8-21 record in its last 29 road games versus American League foes.

I’m playing on Texas as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Saturday. 

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Mets are putting up a solid fight since the break, edging Washington in a 2-1 contest Friday to pick up their fourth win in the last six games. We’ve been following New York very closely during this stretch and once again see tremendous value on it at home in Game 3 of this series. The Mets go with starter Jacob deGrom, who continues to be a rock in their rotation. The right hander spread two hits over seven innings versus the Dodgers in his last start – a no-decision – and is 7-2 with a 1.37 ERA since the middle of May. New York has won 12 of his 16 appearances inside Citi Field and oddsmakers are pricing deGrom and N.Y. with a tempting moneyline in this start.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* NL Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Cleveland Indians as my 10* Personal Favorite.

Cleveland takes a ton of momentum on the road as it kicks off a West Coast road trip Wednesday. The Indians had dropped six straight home games but snapped that skid in a big way with a 12-1 blasting of the Kansas City Royals Wednesday. Now, Cleveland is in the Bay Area playing the A’s and have actually been a different teams away from home this season. The Indians pitching has been stellar on the road, boasting a 3.46 ERA – fourth lowest in the major leagues. The Indians give the ball to starter Carlos Carrasco, who is looking to put a poor start behind him last time out. The right hander gave up six runs through four innings but told the media he may have been tipping his pitches. He’s ironed out the wrinkles for this road start, bringing a 6-2 road record and 3.10 ERA away from home to Oakland Wednesday.

I’m playing on Cleveland as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing the Under in Chicago White Sox at Boston Red Sox as my 10* Blue Chip.

This pair of Sox has blasted the total in the first three games of the series, scoring a collective 42 runs and playing Over the number in each contest heading into Thursday’s finale. While that offensive explosion is impressive, we see value on the other side of the total as oddsmakers pump up the Over/Under. Chicago goes with Chris Sale in this game, with the left hander looking sharp in recent efforts. Sale has 170 strikeouts through 132 1-3 innings and the White Sox have gone 6-11-2 Over/Under in his 19 starts in 2015. Boston has struggled against soutpaws, hitting just .239 BA off lefties – compared to .261 BA versus right handed hurlers. The Red Sox counter with knuckleballer Steven Wright, who has been shaky his last two starts but a couple passed balls hurt his numbers in his most recent trip to the mound. He’s been much more controlled at Fenway Park, with a 1.14 WHIP and a limiting opponents to a .230 BA.

I’m playing on the Under in Chicago at Boston as my 10* Blue Chip Thursday.

I’m playing on the Boston Red Sox as my 10* Personal Favorite.

The Red Sox are playing for pride in this series finale Wednesday, hoping starter Rick Porcello can right the ship versus the Chicago White Sox. Boston got a solid effort from the right hander last time out as Porcello picked apart his former club, limiting Detroit to just one run on five hits through seven innings, and striking out six batters in the victory. Porcello has a 2.50 ERA over his last three outings with a 15/4 strikeout/walk count over those 18 innings of work. Chicago goes with southpaw Jose Quintana, who blew through Cleveland last time out. He’s been solid this season but poor run support from the White Sox’s bats – which rank near the bottom of the bigs in most statistical categories – has spoiled those efforts. Chicago is 22nd in run support this season, giving Quintana just 2.80 runs per start – second lowest in the American League among qualified pitchers.

I’m playing on Boston as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Seattle Mariners as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Mariners are showing signs of life in the American League West, having stolen a series away from Toronto this past weekend and picking up wins over Detroit in the series prior. Seattle is hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of this interleague set Tuesday. Heading into this series, the M’s had won eight of the previous 10 contests between these clubs and Seattle tries to add to that tally by sending right hander Hisashi Iwakuma to the hill Tuesday. He’s rebounded from a slow start to the season and now that he’s finally healthy, Iwakuma has a slim 1.74 ERA over his last three starts. The righty has struck out 18 and walked just four in his last 20 1-3 innings of work. Arizona goes with Zack Godley, who makes just his second career big-league start. Godley was tremendous in his first career outing but we see the rookie coming back to earth for this road outing against a Mariners lineup that is starting to swing the bats. Seattle will have a bit of tape on the young right hander and presents a much tougher challenge than the listless Brewers did in his first MLB outing.

I’m playing on Seattle as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Mets are riding high after taking the final two games of a four-game set with the L.A. Dodgers this past weekend, and now host another West Coast club Tuesday. The San Diego Padres make a cross-country hike to Flushing, having lost seven of their previous nine games inside Citi Field. New York goes with starter Noah Syndergaard Tuesday, who has been stellar in recent outings with a 1.59 ERA over his last five appearances. The right hander is night and day at home as well, boasting a 4-1 record and 1.74 ERA in six starts in front of the Big Apple fans. The Padres go with James Shields, who has earned just one win since beating the Mets way back on June 3. The once-mighty righty has a beefy ERA just north of 5.00 away from home and hasn’t been able to go deep into starts. San Diego’s bullpen has had to work extra with Shields on the mound, and the relief unit is not a sound bet with a collective 3.73 ERA. The Padres don’t provide much support on the road either, hitting just .239 BA and averaging only 3.9 runs as visitors.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* NL Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Under in Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals as my 10* Blue Chip.

The Cardinals host their NL Central rivals, fresh off three straight Under winners in this past weekend’s series with Atlanta. St. Louis has played below the number in four of its last five contests and owns a long-standing 17-41-2 Over/Under run inside Busch Stadium, playing Under the total in almost 71 percent of its last 60 home games. The Cardinals have allowed a total of just 10 runs in the last five games, and send starter Lance Lynn to the mound to keep that stingy streak going. Lynn has allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight of his previous 10 appearances with St. Louis playing Under in 14 of his 18 starts on the season – in part to poor run support in Lynn’s efforts. Cincinnati comes off a high-scoring series in Colorado, including a 17-7 loss Sunday. This swing in setting will be a shock to the Reds offense. They are going with Raisel Iglesias on the mound Monday. He threw a lot of pitchers in his last start but allowed just two runs on six hits through 5 2-3 innings of work. He made his debut against the Cardinals in April, allowing three runs on five hits through five innings.

I’m playing on the Under in Cincinnati at St. Louis as my 10* Blue Chip Monday.

I’m playing on the Boston Red Sox as my 10* Main Event.

Boston hosts the Detroit Tigers in a Sunday Night Baseball rubber match after the Red Sox took Game 1 Friday and the Tigers returned serve with a 5-1 victory Saturday. Boston desperately needs to jump start its offense, and is looking to the bat of Mike Napoli to do so. With Dustin Pedroia on the shelf, Napoli is even more vital to the BoSox's offense. He’s gone 8-for-21 with three doubles and a home run in his last six games – a sharp turnaround from his season struggles. The Red Sox made good contact with the ball Saturday – even though most of those hits led to outs – and face Tigers pitcher Shane Greene, who has been hit hard in recent efforts. Greene is 0-2 with a hefty 12.41 ERA in his last three big league starts – this span including a tenure in Triple-A - most recently giving up five runs on six hits through just 4 2-3 innings versus Seattle. He’s 2-4 with an 8.44 road ERA on the year and toes the rubber at one of the most imposing parks in the majors under the primetime lights. Boston goes with Eduardo Rodriguez, who had trouble with his command in his last outing – at L.A. – but pitched well before that start with only three earned runs in the 11 1-3 innings prior.

I’m playing on Boston as my 10* Main Event Sunday.

I’m playing on the Kansas City Royals as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Royals look to retaliate for a 4-0 shutout loss to the Houston Astros and newly-acquired starter Scott Kazmir Friday. Kansas City has been a solid play at home, winning nine of its last 12 inside Kauffman Stadium heading into the weekend and sends hurler Danny Duffy to the mound. The left hander looked sharp in his most recent effort, giving up one run on six hits through eight innings of work. He’s worked at least six innings in four straight starts and is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his last three trips to the mound. Houston hands the ball to Scott Feldman, who is making just his second start since returning from the DL. Feldman suffered a knee injury in May and allowed four runs on nine hits – two home runs – in just under six innings in his return start last weekend. Houston has picked up the victory just three times in Feldman’s last 14 road starts.

I’m playing on Kansas City as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers in this cross-country series, with New York taking one on the chin in front of the home faithful Friday. The Dodgers dealt New York a 7-2 beating which follows a 3-0 shutout win over the host side Thursday. The Mets are desperate to get back into this series and go with starter Matt Harvey on the mound Saturday. Harvey has struggled with his command in recent games but has pitched two of this last three on the road against two of the tougher teams in the National League: Washington and Los Angeles. The righty is much better inside Citi Field, where he boasts a 2.95 ERA – compared to 3.45 on the road. He averages just 1.2 walks per home start so we expect Harvey to be much sharper for this effort. The Dodgers counter with Triple-A call-up Zach Lee, who is making his major league debut Saturday. The Mets, anxious to find their winning ways, will jump at the chance to rough up this youngster and the price is right for the home team.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* NL Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Under in Washington Nationals at Pittsburgh Pirates as my 10* Blue Chip.

These National League heavyweights have erupted for two high-scoring contests to open this four-game set in Steel Town, with the Nats and Bucs blasting the Over Thursday and Friday. We see a major swing in the makeup of this series, as pitching will tighten up for Game 3 Saturday. The Pirates go with veteran A.J. Burnett on the hill, who is a consistent performer in front of the Pittsburgh faithful. Burnett owns a slim 1.58 ERA in nine starts at PNC Park – compared to a 3.30 road ERA – with Pittsburgh posting a 7-18-1 Over/Under mark in his last 26 home outings. Washington goes with Gio Gonzalez for Saturday’s contest. The southpaw has a 2.81 ERA since June and has past success versus the Pirates, boasting a 3-0 career record and 2.95 ERA against the Bucs, while limiting opposing hitters to just a .230 BA.

I’m playing on the Under in Washington at Pittsburgh as my 10* Blue Chip Saturday.

MIAMI at SAN DIEGO 
I am playing on SAN DIEGO. Fading the Marlins is never a terrible idea considering they have the second worst record in baseball and they've won just five of their last 20 road games. 
I especially feel good about betting against them and taking the Padres here today though because Dan Haren is on the mound. Miami just doesn't win for this guy in July and the club has now lost his last eight July starts and 10 of his last 11 in this month. 
If the Padres have any self respect, they'll also come into this game pretty motivated after losing their last four at home and the first game of this series. I like that San Diego has been losing with poor pitching lately and today I think Andrew Cashner will put an end to that. 
Cashner has a stifling 0.92 WHIP over his last three games and I think the Padres will rally around that and even up the series tonight. 10* Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the San Diego Padres as my 10* Personal Favorite.

The Padres open a four-game set with the Miami Marlins Thursday looking to bounce back from two tough outings versus the rival San Francisco Giants. San Diego had won five in a row before those back-to-back losses and host a Miami squad on a cross-country road trip. San Diego has won four of the last five encounters with the Fish and own a 6-1 mark in its last seven against Miami in Petco Park. The Padres aim to build on that success by sending starter Tyson Ross to the mound for Game 1 Thursday. Ross has been a constant performer for San Diego this season, giving up more than three earned runs in just one outing this season. He’s been a solid bet at home for baseball fans, with the Padres winning 10 of his last 14 starts in San Diego. The Marlins counter with right hander Tom Koehler, who has struggled away from South Beach. Koehler has a 4.85 ERA on the road and is just 3-5 in 10 road outings this season. Miami is just 4-11 in his last 15 appearances as a road underdog.

I’m playing on San Diego as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday.

TORONTO at OAKLAND 
I am playing on OAKLAND. I think the A's simply ran into one of the best pitchers in the majors last night in a 7-1 loss to Toronto and I'm expecting them to bounce back today with the pitching advantage in their favor for Game 2. 
Mark Buehrle held the A's to just one earned run and the Jays used three homers to win the game last night. I'm not sure the Jays are going to get as good of a hitting performance tonight with Sonny Gray on the mound. 
Gray doesn't give up too many home runs - only seven in 19 starts this season - and his ERA is more than two runs better than Toronto counterpart Felix Doubront. Doubront is making just his third start of the season and got smacked around for five earned runs and seven runs total over five innings in his last outing against the Royals. I feel all of these factors point to an A's win tonight. 10* Personal Favorite

CLEVELAND at MILWAUKEE 
I am playing on CLEVELAND. The Indians come into this quick two-game interleague series on a two-game winning streak and I feel they'll keep the winning going tonight. 
The Indians have been hot on the road lately at 7-3 in their last 10 games as the visitor but they are simply putting the better pitcher on the mound tonight. 
Danny Salazar has an ERA that's almost two runs better than counterpart Matt Garza's this season (3.74 vs. 5.55) and he's been in better form lately. Garza's ERA was a skyrocketing 7.79 over his last three games and he's given up at least four runs in each of his last four games while not lasting more than six innings in any of those. He gave up six home runs in those four outings and only struck out a combined 12 batters. 
Salazar has posted a 2.57 ERA over his last three games and is just the much better arm in this contest and he's set at pretty likable odds. 10* Personal Favorite

LOS ANGELES DODGERS at ATLANTA 
I am playing on the UNDER. Both of these teams have been profitable under bets lately and I'm taking today's game to fall below the total as well. 
The Braves have seen six of their last eight games go under while the Dodgers have seen six of their last nine do the same. Neither team is hitting the greatest recently with the Dodgers hitting .257 over the last 10 games and the Braves hitting a mere .225 over the same period. 
I also like that oddsmakers have a tendency to set totals too high for the Dodgers when they face left-handed hurlers. The under is 9-3 in L.A.'s last 12 games against a lefty and the Braves are putting southpaw Alex Wood on the mound tonight. 
The under is also 13-5 in the Dodgers last 18 road games and umpire James Hoye has seen four of his last five games fall under the total. Put these important trends together and I think the total has been set too high for this one. 10* Blue Chip

PITTSBURGH at KANSAS CITY 
I am playing on the OVER. I feel that oddsmakers have set the total too low here when the Pirates visit the Royals on Monday. 
K.C. is sending its coldest pitcher to the mound while the Pirates are hitting pretty well these days and have have seen four of their last six games go over.
The Royals' Yordana Ventura carries a 4.73 ERA this season and he's slipped to a 7.36 ERA over his last three starts. I don't think he's going to go untouched against a Pirates squad that is seeing an average of nine runs combined with its opponents over its past six games. The Royals are also scoring an average of 4.96 runs per game at home, which makes this total seem like it's set at least a run too high to me. 
Another reason I like the over here is that Pittsburgh's Jordy Mercer suffered a tough injury in a collision at shortstop on Sunday and he'll be out for an undetermined amount of time. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a Pirates squad that's not as sharp on the defensive end on Monday, which could help an extra run or two cross the plate. 10* Blue Chip

KANSAS CITY at CHICAGO WHITE SOX 
I am playing on the WHITE SOX. This play is all about Chris Sale and when the White Sox ace is on the mound, Chicago is practically assured at least a fantastic shot at winning the ball game. 
Sale has been simply amazing this season and he comes into this game with the White Sox winning his last three games. The lefty has only had one start in his last 10 where he gave up more than six hits and only two starts during that stretch where he gave up more than two runs. 
The best part about Sale though is his strikeout power. He ranks third in the majors in strikeouts this season and he has fanned at least 10 batters in nine of his last 10 starts. 
The White Sox are 11-6 in Sale's starts this season, which is pretty impressive for the southpaw considering how much Chicago is struggling overall. I think he'll propel them to the win over K.C. here at home today. 10* Personal Favorite

COLORADO at SAN DIEGO 
I am playing on SAN DIEGO. I took the Padres yesterday as part of a big 3-0 day and I feel the Padres will continue the mini hot run they are on with another win today over the Rockies. 
Yesterday's 4-2 victory gave San Diego its third in a row, which also marked the Padres' fourth straight win in the season series over Colorado. It was the sixth straight win for the home side in meetings between these clubs and I like the streak to continue today. 
The Padres have the hotter pitcher on the mound with Tyson Ross, who has only given up just six earned runs over his last five starts. Ross hasn't given up a home run in his last 10 starts and he usually gets a couple of innings' worth of strikeouts when he takes the mound. 
Rockies starter Chad Bettis has struggled a little lately and he is coming off his worst start of the season two games ago when he got rocked for four home runs and 10 earned runs against the Angels. I think the Padres will be able to get to him today and we'll also see some more good pitching from Ross. 
Put those two elements together and I like San Diego to stay on the winning path at home. 10* NL Personal Favorite

BALTIMORE at DETROIT 
I am playing on DETROIT. It's getting a little hard to believe that oddsmakers continue to offer the Tigers' David Price at such low odds. He's the top money pitcher in all of baseball this season with a team win-loss record of 15-3 when he starts, which translates to over $1,000 in profits if you are playing $100 units. 
I'm taking him here again today and I think he'll get the better of the visiting O's at home. Detroit has won Prices' last four starts, three of which were quality outings. I love that Price will always get you some innings in strikeouts and he has fanned at least six batters in all but two of his last 10 starts. 
I believe we'll also see the Tigers give Price some run support to follow up on a 7-3 win over the Orioles yesterday. Detroit is hitting .304 over its last 10 games and the club is averaging almost six runs per nine innings over that span. 
With the O's playing horribly on the road this year with a record of 15-26, I like Price and the Tigers to take them down in Game 2 once again today. 10* AL Personal Favorite

COLORADO at SAN DIEGO PADRES
I am playing on SAN DIEGO. There was a report a few days ago in the Times of San Diego that said the Padres are gauging interest to see if any team would like to pick up James Shields. They trot him out to the mound today in the first showcase of their big free agent signing from February and I think we'll see a great performance from him. 
Shields started off the year by winning his first seven starts but it's been a bit of a bumpy ride since then and his last two starts before the break were among his worst of the season. I think he was just running out of gas after a major league leading 19 starts and nobody needed the rest like he did. 
I believe we'll see the James Shields who started the year 7-0 after he had a chance to regroup and I think the visiting Rockies will be on the losing end of that tonight. 
I like that San Diego snapped a seven-game losing skid right before the break also by taking two games in a row against Texas and the club should be coming into the second half of the season on a positive note after a less than dazzling first half. 10* NL Personal Favorite

TEXAS at HOUSTON. 
I am playing on the UNDER. I feel oddsmakers have set the total too high today for this matchup and I'm loving the under here. 
The Astros simply can't hit right now and the UNDER has been a lucrative 5-0-1 over their past six games coming into today's matchup. That's helped by some decent pitching but that stretch was really about dreadful hitting where the Stros managed to score a disgraceful seven runs over those six games. 
Houston hit just .160 over its past five and I don't see any reason for any miracle turnarounds today. I think we'll see a decent performance from the Rangers' Martin Perez, who is making his first start since 2014 after Tommy John surgery and Houston's Collin McHugh has been excellent lately too. 
McHugh owns a 3.10 ERA over his last three starts and he seems to be rounding into his best form of the season. Four of his last five starts were quality outings and he gave up just 13 hits over his last 20 1/3 innings. 
Good pitching and Houston's horrendous hitting have me thinking oddsmakers have set this one far too high today and I think we see the Astros' under streak continue. 10* Blue Chip

SEATTLE at NEW YORK YANKEES 
I am playing on on the YANKEES. New York won four of its last five games heading into the All-Star break, which vaulted them into first place in the AL East. I think the Yankees will pick up right where they left off by beating the Seattle Mariners today. 
The Yankees have won all three meetings with the M's this season and the last six meetings overall, but it's their hitting that I believe will continue to propel them tonight. New York was piling up runs right before the break with 27 runs over its last five games, which averages out to 5.65 runs per game. 
I also like that today's Yankees starter, Masahiro Tanaka, has found a way to win eight of his last 10 starts despite not having numbers that would blow anyone away. That includes a win over Seattle in one of his better starts of the year back on June 3, when he held the Mariners to just one earned run and three hits over seven innings. 
I think we'll see another decent start from him today and with some great run support, the Yankees should start off the break on a great note at home. 10* Personal Favorite

I'm playing on Colorado and Atlanta to finish OVER the total. The first few games of this series have all finished below the total. I expect to see a more "typical" Coors Field game this afternoon.

Bettis has seen 7 of 11 starts top the total. Last time out, he got rocked for eight runs on 10 hits, lasting just 2.3 innings. Four of those 10 hits left the yard.

Speaking of getting rocked, Bettis also gave up five runs in five innings in his lone start (2013) vs. the Braves, an 11-2 loss at Atlanta.

Wood has been respectable, but he's not exactly Cy Young material. He gave up 10 hits in six innings in his last start, fortunate to give up "only" four runs.

Neither bullpen strikes fear into opposing hitters. Colorado relievers have a 4.65 ERA at home. Atlanta relievers have an even worse 4.86 mark (1.576 WHIP!) on the road. Look for them to combine for double-digits this afternoon. 10* First Half (Pre-All Star Game) Total Of The Year

I'm playing on the CUBS. The Cubbies have dropped the first two games of this interleague Windy City set with the Chicago White Sox, including a 5-1 loss at Wrigley Field Sunday. I like them to bounce back big this afternoon.

Over his last three starts, Arrieta boasts a 2-0 record to go along with a superb 1.86 ERA and 0.877 WHIP. His teams are 3-0 his last three vs. the ChiSox.

The Sox are only 3-6 when Quintana pitches on the road. He's got a mediocre 4.05 ERA and 1.406 WHIP in those nine starts.

While they had some trouble with Sale yesterday (no shame in that!) the Cubs have been better against southpaws overall.

I look for them to close out the first half by improving to 7-3 their last 10 as home favorites in the -150 to -175 range. 10* First Half (Pre-All Star Game) Game Of The Year

ARIZONA at NEW YORK METS
I am playing on the METS. I successfully took the Mets on Friday to take down the D-backs in Game 1 of this weekend set and I think they keep things rolling Saturday. 
New York is the second best home team in the majors at 30-14 behind only the L.A. Dodgers and home field is one reason I like them to get the better of Arizona. The other is the Mets throw their Matt Harvey on the mound and I think we'll see a big performance from him. 
Harvey is coming off a tough start against the Dodgers last game where he gave up three earned runs in five innings, which isn't the worst but it's not the norm for him. I expect him to be focused to return to form Saturday. The righty loves pitching at Citi Field where the Mets are 6-2 in his starts there and he comes in with a 2.04 ERA over his last three outings.
Patrick Corbin takes the hill for Arizona and he's making just his second start in his return from Tommy John surgery. He threw just 75 pitches in a cautious but successful return and I won't be surprised if he doesn't go too deep again Saturday. The D-backs bullpen is mediocre with a 3.26 ERA and I think the Mets will be able to give Harvey some run support. 
New York enters this matchup on a bit of a heater with four wins in its last five games and I like the price on the Mets here Saturday. 10* NL Personal Favorite

DETROIT at MINNESOTA 
I am playing on MINNESOTA. The Twins got off to a rough start, losing the first game of this series to the Tigers but they bounced back Friday with a big come-from-behind win after trailing by six runs. I believe the emotional loss coupled with the better pitcher on the mound makes for a great play on Minnesota on Saturday.  The Twins are 29-16 at home which ties them for the most home wins in the American League. Minnesota also holds a big pitching advantage in my eyes with Phil Hughes on the mound against Alfredo Simon. The Twins have won Hughes' last five starts and four of those went in the books as quality outings and I expect him to remain tough on Saturday. 
Simon has been a totally different story lately for Detroit - he has given up at least five earned runs in each of his last four starts for whopping total of 23 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings. He also gave up at least one long ball in each of those starts for a total of five and I won't be surprised if we see him back in the bullpen soon where he may be more comfortable. 
Put it all together and I believe we see the Twins win on Saturday. 10* American League Personal Favorite

ARIZONA at NEW YORK METS 
I am playing on the METS. New York holds the clear starting pitching advantage today and I'm a little surprised the Mets aren't favored by more here. It makes for a great opportunity to take them in a matchup I feel they'll win today over the D-backs. 
Noah Syndergaard enters today's game with a 3.38 ERA and a 2.50 ERA over his last three outings. Arizona's Chase Anderson, meanwhile, has a 3.71 ERA on the season but he's been touched up lately for an ERA of 7.64. 
Anderson has given up 15 earned runs over his last three starts and he's been absolutely cranked for seven home runs over that span. I just don't feel he'll be able to hold the Mets to few enough runs to keep the D-backs in it and I expect New York to be much tougher than their last showing at home where the club got swept by the Cubs. 
Syndergaard loves pitching at home also - the Mets are 4-1 in his home starts, where he carries a 1.89 ERA. 10* Personal Favorite

L.A. ANGELS at SEATTLE
I am playing on SEATTLE. The Angels come into today's game in an unfortunate spot after their 8:40 p.m. game was delayed by two hours and seven minutes in Colorado last night due to rain. The Angels won 3-2, but they will come into Seattle after a very late night of travel. 
I think the fatigue will play a factor in helping the M's take this game but I also love that Felix Hernandez is back on the mound and getting some solid value. Hernandez drools when he sees the Angels on the schedule with an ERA under 1.00 over his past nine games against him, which the Mariners won eight of. 
Hernandez has given up just two earned runs over 20 innings in three starts against the Angels this season and he struck out at least eight batters in all three games. I don't think a weary Angels team is going to fare much better against the King today and I like the M's to get the job done. 10* Personal Favorite

TORONTO at CHICAGO WHITE SOX 
I am playing on the UNDER. The White Sox are simply a great under bet this season and every time they take the field, the under is worth solid consideration. 
Chicago has an over/under record of 33-46-3 this year and amazingly, the under is 27-8-1 in the club's last 35 home games. Oddsmakers just keep setting their totals too high and I think we can take advantage today. 
Even though the Jays have the second-most home runs in baseball and are known for their hitting, they aren't the 'over' powerhouse you might think with a 42-39-6 O/U record. Oddsmsakers have a tendency to inflate their totals too and I think that's the case here today. 
Jeff Samardzija is pitching his best ball of the season with four quality starts in his last five outings and he may be showing his top stuff with trade rumors swirling around him. R.A. Dickey has also had four quality starts in his last five games and I'm expecting some decent pitching to help this one fall below the number today. 10* Blue Chip

ARIZONA at TEXAS 
I am playing on TEXAS. Yovani Gallardo takes the mound after three straight losses for the Rangers and the timing couldn't be better for Texas, who could really use a win. 
Gallardo climbs the hill following a loss for the seventh time in his last eight starts and that's a spot he's come to relish. The righty is 6-0 with a 0.79 ERA for nine starts after a team loss this season and the Rangers are 8-1 in those games. So I'm more than happy to pounce on Gallardo today and I think the Rangers will rebound with a win today after getting swept at home over the weekend by the Dodgers. 
Gallardo has quietly been one of the best pitchers in baseball lately and he has an unbelievable 0.00 ERA over his last four outings while pitching at least five innings each time. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last eight appearances and I love that track record as I jump on the Rangers today. 
D-backs starter Robbie Ray has faced the Rangers once in his career - last May with the Tigers - when he got smashed for seven earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings. I think he'll come to the hill with bad memories today, another reason I really like Texas here. 10* Personal Favorite

HOUSTON at CLEVELAND 
I am playing on the UNDER. All three meetings this season - and the last 10 meetings overall between these two clubs - have played under the number. Throw in two starting pitchers in great form and I love this play today.
The three meetings this season came back in April in Houston and they didn't just play under the number, they soared below it by at least four runs in every game. That's the M.O. for these two teams and going back to last year, none of the last 10 meetings have seen more than six runs scored. Even that only happened three times over those 10 games. 
With Dallas Keuchel pitching for Houston and Carlos Carrasco going for Cleveland, I'll be rather surprised if this one goes over today. Keuchel hasn't given up a run in either of his last two outings while going at least eight runs both times and Carrasco is coming off three straight quality starts.  10* Blue Chip

SAN FRANCISCO at WASHINGTON 
I am playing on the UNDER. This is the Sunday night featured game and we often get the best out of pitchers when they're featured in the biggest game of the week, which is one reason I like the under here tonight. 
The other big reason is that the two scheduled starters happen to be fantastic form right now and I believe the total has been set too high by oddsmakers. The Giants' Ryan Vogelsong carries a 1.93 ERA over his last three games into tonight while Jordan Zimmerman has been even more dazzling with a 1.19 ERA over his last three. 
Neither of these teams has been very dangerous at the plate lately either, where the Giants are hitting just .240 and the Nats are hitting even worse at .225. The Giants have scored just four runs through the first two games of this series and Zimmerman will be the toughest pitcher they've seen yet. 
There is a slight possibility of showers for tonight's game also and if that happens, it's probably not going to help hitters much either. 10* Blue Chip

MIAMI at CHICAGO CUBS 
I am playing on the CUBS. Yesterday I successfully offered the Cubs as one of my top plays and I like them to earn a series win today with a home victory against the Marlins. 
The Cubs are sizzling right now with four wins in their last five games, a streak that has nearly erased a five-game losing skid that came right before it. They're using great pitching as the foundation but they showed on Saturday they can produce when they need to. The hot-hitting rookie Kris Bryant bashed two home runs - a grand slam and a two-run shot - that led the Cubs to a 7-1 win. Bryant is hitting .330 on the season and I think he'll look forward to facing Miami's Matt Latos, who has surrendered four home runs in his last three starts. 
Miami's bats have cooled for just four runs over the club's last two games after scoring 17 runs in a series sweep over the Giants and I think we might be seeing the Fish come crashing back to earth. It's not helping that Ichiro Suzuki is in the worst hitting slump of his career with no hits in his last 25 at bats. 10* NL Personal Favorite

MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY 
I am playing on KANSAS CITY. One way we know it's halfway through the MLB season is that Ervin Santana is starting today. It marks his first start of the year and his first start for the Twins after he sat out 80 games for testing for a banned substance - and I think he may need a little time to work into form. 
Santana lost his last four starts coming into today, which were all in Atlanta uniform but that means the last time his team won one of his starts was Sept. 3, 2014. I don't feel he'll break that streak today against KC lefty Danny Duffy, who loves playing the Twins. 
The Royals have won Duffy's last seven starts against the Twins, which includes a 12-3 victory on April 13. Duffy tossed a quality start in that outing, throwing 6 1/3 innings while allowing three earned runs and only six hits. With the Twins hitting just .236 against lefties on the road this season, I am expecting a similar performance today, which would give the Royals an important 3-1 series win against their divisional foe that's chasing them closely in the AL Central. 10* Personal Favorite

MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY
I am playing on KANSAS CITY. The Royals snapped a four-game losing streak yesterday with a win over the Twins that widened Kansas City's lead in the AL Central over Minnesota to 4 1/2 games. 
I'm expecting that lead to be 5 1/2 by the time today is over. Minnesota is not a great road team with a 17-23 record while the Royals are one of the best at home in the bigs at 23-14 at home. 
Mike Pelfrey has been disappointing on the mound for Minnesota lately where he's given up eight runs in his last two road games. He is coming off his ugliest start of the season where he surrendered eight runs in two innings at Cincinnati in an 11-7 loss for the Twins. 
I'm not expecting Pelfrey or the Twins to come out on top today and their minds may still be on last night when Kansas City won in the 10th inning on a play at the plate that the Twins disputed. 10* AL Personal Favorite

TORONTO at DETROIT 
I am playing on DETROIT. The Blue Jays limp into Detroit tonight after a dreadful home stand against the Red Sox where they went 1-3 and lost some valuable ground in the AL East. 
Thursday's loss was an especially tough one where Toronto got blasted 12-6 and starter Matt Boyd was chased out of the game before even getting an out. I think we'll see the Blue Jays enter this Fourth of July weekend series carrying a bit of a hangover after yesterday's disappointing defeat where Toronto rallied for a while and cut an 8-0 lead to 8-4 at one point. 
The rally died with a disgraceful 'out' call at the plate where the runner was clearly safe that would have trimmed the lead to three runs with two runners on and just one out. Instead, the lively crowd at the Rogers Center was silenced and you could see the life sucked out of the Blue Jays in the dugout. 
I think that loss will drag over into the weekend against a Detroit team playing in front of a holiday crowd that also has Annibal Sanchez on the mound. Sanchez has led the Tigers to four straight wins in his last four starts. 10* AL Personal Favorite

SAN FRANCISCO at WASHINGTON
I am playing on the NATIONALS. I am happy to see the Nats aren't laying more chalk here today with the better pitcher on the mound for an early home game on a holiday being observed for Independence Day in the nation's capital. 
Gio Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA at home and I fully expect him to out-perform Giants hurler Jake Peavy. Peavy is coming off a stint on the DL for a back injury today after tossing two ugly performances in April in his only MLB action of the year. I think we'll see some rust on his arm and I'm not even sure the Giants wanted to play him today in what was supposed to be Tim Hudson's spot in the rotation. The Giants had to plug someone in however, while Hudson tends to a personal matter. 
I'm also expecting the Nats to have a big home field edge here for what is a 5:05 local start time on a holiday Friday. Washington is 22-14 at home this season and only two teams in the majors have fewer losses at home this year (Cardinals and Dodgers). 10* NL Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Oakland A’s as my 10* Personal Favorite.

Oakland welcomes the rival Seattle Mariners to the Bay Area for Game 1 of this four-game AL West set Thursday. The Athletics are coming off a series victory against Colorado, taking two of three contests including a 4-1 win on Wednesday. Oakland is turning its season around with five series wins in its last seven sets and sends lefty Scott Kazmir to the bump for this opener. Kazmir’s record is not reflective of his consistency this season, allowing three or fewer runs in all but one of his 15 starts this season. The southpaw is 3-2 with a 1.63 ERA at home and faces a Seattle lineup ranked 29th in offense in the big leagues. The Mariners go with fellow left hander Roenis Elias, who has been roughed up in recent efforts. Over his last three starts, Elias is 1-2 with an ERA north of 10.00. Seattle has given him two extra days off heading into this start but we can't ignore a disappointing 8-17 overall in his last 25 starts.

I’m playing on Oakland as my 10* Personal Favorite Thursday. 

I’m playing on the Under in Texas Rangers at Baltimore Orioles as my 10* Blue Chip.

The Rangers and Orioles close out a four-game set in Baltimore Thursday, having gone 1-1-1 Over/Under in the first three games of this series. Texas hands the ball to starter Yovani Gallardo, who has been dominant on the mound in recent starts. Gallardo hasn’t allowed a run in three straight starts spanning 20 1-3 innings. The right hander is coming off an 8 1-3 inning effort in which he gave up only three hits in a road win in Toronto. Texas has played Under in each of those previous three contests and is 1-4 O/U in his last five starts away from Arlington. Baltimore calls up Kevin Gausman from Triple-A for this start. He looked solid in his first major league start of the year, allowing just two runs on four hits through five innings. The Orioles have been a steady Under play all season, owning a 33-41-4 O/U mark on the year and have stayed below the total in four of their last five home stands.

I’m playing on the Under in Texas at Baltimore as my 10* Blue Chip Thursday.

I’m playing on the St. Louis Cardinals as my 10* Personal Favorite.

An extra-innings loss to the White Sox in Game 1 of this series has taken some of the shine of baseball’s best team, but we expect the Cardinals to return in a big way for Game 2 of this interleague set. St. Louis has won seven of its last nine games off a loss and turns to veteran John Lackey to right the ship Wednesday. The right hander is putting in solid work and giving good value each time he takes the mound, pitching into the seventh inning in nine of his 15 outings. Lackey is 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA over his last three starts and owns a 5-1 record and slim 1.91 ERA through eight starts inside Busch Stadium this year. The White Sox go with southpaw Jose Quintana, who is coming off a dangerous outing in his last start. He gave up 11 hits through six innings against the Tigers, but only allowed three runs. Quintana has a 4.37 ERA on the road with the White Sox winning just one of his last six away games. Chicago is 2-6 in its last eight games in St. Louis following Tuesday’s win.

I’m playing on St. Louis as my 10* Personal Favorite Wednesday.

I’m playing on the Over in Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres as my 10* Afternoon Annihilator.

These West Coast interleague rivals stayed Under the number in the first game of this series, coming off a 5-0 win by the Mariners Tuesday. The Padres have given up runs in bunches in their recent contests, allowing an average of 5.7 runs over their last six games. We like the value with the Over in this series finale Wednesday. San Diego hands the ball to starter James Shields, who didn’t look sharp in his most recent effort. In fact, Shields posted his worst start of the season after allowing seven earned runs on nine hits through just four innings versus the Giants on June 25. Shields is actually 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts while San Diego is 12-4 Over/Under in his last 16 outings, including a 6-1 O/U run in his last seven at home. Seattle goes with righty Taijuan Walker, who has looked better in recent games but lugs a beefy 6.17 road ERA into this contest. We expect the Padres to put up more of a fight than in the series opener, pushing this final score Over the total.

I’m playing on Over in Seattle at San Diego as my 10* Afternoon Annihilator Wednesday.

MILWAUKEE at PHILADELPHIA 
I am playing on PHILADELPHIA. Phillies ace Cole Hamels has had a couple of rough starts recently but tonight serves up what the doctor ordered to get him back on track: a home game and the Brewers for an opponent. 
Five of Hamels' last seven starts have been on the road and the crafty southpaw much prefers to be at home, where he sports a 2.30 ERA and has reeled off six straight quality starts. 
Hamels also happens to love playing Milwaukee, against whom the Phillies have won seven of his last nine starts. The Brewers also would much rather see a righty on the mound considering they are hitting a woeful .210 against lefties this season and I see Hamels and the Phillies taking this one at home today. 10* NL Personal Favorite

SAN FRANCISCO at MIAMI 
I am playing on the UNDER. Miami's hitting woes have been so bad lately, it's been hard to stomach - so bad that the fact oddsmakers opened this total at 7.5 makes that number look as tall as a skyscraper. 
The Marlins are averaging a pathetic 1.6 runs per game over their last seven and they scored just one run in four of those contests while never scoring more than three in any of those games. The under is 6-2-1 in their last nine games and I anticipate that trend continuing tonight. 
The Giants' Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Latos already went head-to-head this season back on May 10 and the two hurlers fell below the total by two runs in a 3-2 Giants win. I'm expecting another good effort from both tonight, especially Latos, who is rumored to be on the trading block right now. If there's hope for him to move out of the misery in Miami, he'll want to put his best stuff on display for any potential suitors. 10* Blue Chip

BOSTON at TORONTO 
I am playing on TORONTO. The Jays got off to a bumpy start in this series when the Red Sox won 3-1 Monday night, but I see them storming back on Tuesday with their hottest pitcher on the mound. 
The Jays have won Estrada's last five starts and he's coming off what might be the best start of his career and what is the best start by a Blue Jay in a long time. Estrada tossed 8 2/3 shutout innings with 10 Ks in Tampa Bay last week and he carried a perfect game into the eighth inning en route to a 1-0 Jays win. 
Toronto didn't give the righty much help at the dish but I expect that to change today against the Sox's Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez has been shelled in two of his last three outings and brings a 9.82 ERA over his last three games into today. 
The Jays have won 11 of their last 15 home games and I see them getting a win back today in what is a very important four-game divisional set this week. 10* AL Personal Favorite

CLEVELAND at TAMPA BAY 
I am playing on TAMPA BAY. The Indians haven't had a whole lot of fun playing the Rays this season, where they managed just one run in each of the first three meetings. 
I see Tampa Bay as having the edge here again on Monday and I don't anticipate the Indians doing a lot of scoring. June has been an ugly month for the Indians, who scored just 66 runs heading into Sunday's double-header against Baltimore. That marks the second fewest in the AL and Cleveland went 9-13 as a result. By comparison, Cleveland hit 146 runs in May and went 17-12. 
Yes, Cleveland is slumping big time and I like the Rays and Nathan Karns to get the win on Monday. Karns hasn't given up more than one earned run in any of his last three starts where he tossed at least 5 2/3 innings each time. That included a 4-1 win over Cleveland on the 19th. 10* AL Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Oakland A’s as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

Oakland is trying to save face in this three-game set with the Royals, dropping the first two contests at home including a slim 3-2 loss to Kansas City Saturday. The Athletics took a five-game winning streak into this series and we expect a return to that form as well as some added motivation to avoid the series sweep Sunday. Oakland is going with starter Jesse Chavez, who is looking to rebound from a rare rough outing. Chavez was beat up over five innings versus Texas but has been a steady arm for the A’s all season. The right hander owns a 2.90 ERA and a stellar WHIP of 1.15 entering Sunday. He’s also been nearly untouchable at home, with a 1.75 ERA in Oakland, where the A’s have won six of his last eight starts as a home favorite. Kansas City counters with Jeremy Guthrie, who has been a roller coaster for KC bettors. The veteran righty is coming off a five-inning effort versus Seattle in which he allowed six runs on nine hits. He lugs a horrific 8.15 road ERA into this matchup in the Bay Area, with the Royals losing all four of Guthrie’s last four starts as a road underdog.

I’m playing on Oakland as my 10* American League Personal Favorite Sunday.

I’m playing on the Milwaukee Brewers as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Brewers host the Twins in the rubber match of this interleague set Sunday, having won Game 1 in blowout fashion, 10-4, before losing to Minnesota 5-2 Saturday. Milwaukee had won three of its last four before that Game 2 loss, outscoring opponents 17-9 in that span. The Brew Crew go with starter Mike Fiers on the bump for the finale Sunday. He was roughed up by the Twins earlier this season but boasts an impressive 1.88 career ERA versus Minnesota in three appearances, two of them starts. Fiers posted a quality start in his most recent effort and has allowed more than two runs just twice in his last nine starts. Minnesota goes with Tommy Milone, who avoided catastrophe in his last start after giving up two runs despite allowing 10 hits and walking two batters through six innings of work. The lefty has watched his pitch counts climb the past three starts, totaling 301 pitches. The wheels could be coming loose for the lefty and we see value on the other side of this matchup Sunday.

I’m playing on Milwaukee as my 10* National League Personal Favorite Sunday.

NEW YORK YANKEES at HOUSTON I am playing on the OVER. Seven of the last nine Yankee games have soared over the closing total and that means the over is worth a look every time the Yankees step out of the dugout these days.  Even though the last two games have gone under the number in this series, the seven games previous to that sailed over the total by so much that it's hard to think New York's bats have gone to sleep for very long. Those seven games averaged 14.71 runs per game and none of them saw fewer than nine runs scored.  Considering that, I think today's total is set too low by oddsmakers. The wind is blowing out to right field at 9mph and the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka is coming off his worst start of the season where he gave up three home runs and the Yankees lost to Detroit 12-4. Tanaka has given up five dingers in his last three games and I think we might see some fireworks from both teams today. 10* Afternoon Blue Chip

I’m playing on the San Diego Padres as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

San Diego is back home in Petco Park after dropping two of three against the Giants this week and finishing 3-5 on its eight-game road trip. The Padres welcome the Diamondbacks for this series opener, having gone 11-5 in their last 16 games coming off a loss. We expect to see that resiliency with the home side, especially with starter Tyson Ross on the hill. The right hander dominated Arizona just a few days back, limiting the D-backs to one run on four hits through nine innings. Ross has a slim 1.80 ERA versus Arizona this season and owns a career 3-3 record and a 2.73 ERA in 11 all-time appearances against the Diamondbacks. Arizona goes with Robbie Ray, who was beat up for four runs over 5 2-3 innings against San Diego in his most recent outing.

I’m playing on San Diego as my 10* National League Personal Favorite Friday.

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* Shocker GAME OF THE MONTH.

The Mets open this series with the Cincinnati Reds at home Friday, coming off a win against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday. New York snapped a seven-game losing skid with that 2-0 victory and faces a Reds team that could be a step slower after a 13-inning win over the Pirates Thursday. Cincinnati needed the extra frames and six relief pitchers to get the victory. The Mets have won six of the previous eight meetings with the Reds and send starter Noah Syndergaard to the mound Friday. The right hander is 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA at home this season. Cincinnati hands the ball to Johnny Cueto, who had his start pushed back to do stiffness in his arm. If he’s unable to go deep, the Reds' cupboard could be bare after using up so many relievers the previous game. We like the value with the home side in this series opener.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* Shocker GAME OF THE MONTH Friday.

CINCINNATi at PITTSBURGH 
I am playing on PITTSBURGH. I anticipate the Pirates throwing their absolute best effort into today's game for two main reasons: They need to get back on the winning track after losing four of their last five and they owe starter A.J. Burnett a win. 
Burnett has been fantastic in his last three starts - all three of which easily fell under the number - but the Pirates have given him just a 0-2 record to show for it. Burnett has a 1.59 ERA in those outings and gave up just four earned runs combined over 22 2/3 innings. 
Burnett's most impressive start was a nine-inning shutout performance against the Phillies on June 14, but he didn't even get the win in a 1-0 victory. 
Cincy has won five of seven meetings against Pittsburgh this season and the Pirates know they can't afford to continue to give away wins against a sub-.500 team in the NL Central if they hope to catch the Cards this season. 
I'm expecting a big effort here and I like the price with what I feel is a big advantage on the mound. 10* Personal Favorite

ATLANTA at WASHINGTON 
I am playing on the OVER. I believe oddsmakers have set the total too low here in a matchup that features a pitcher in sloppy form lately against a rookie who has barely dipped his toe in the major league waters. 
The Nats' Doug Fister has been chased to the showers early in his last two outings where he gave up a combined 12 earned runs over just 7 1/3 innings. Both were losses for the Nats that jumped over the total and it means six of the last seven Fister starts have played over. 
This total is really just set as low as it is because the first two games in this series easily fell below the number but I see that changing today. The Braves' 22-year-old Matt Wisler is making just his second major league start and his first one on the road today. With that in mind, I expect both pitchers to get touched up. 10* Blue Chip

ARIZONA at COLORADO 
I am playing on COLORADO. It almost doesn't matter who the opposition puts on the mound right now against the Rockies - their bats are cracking and I expect to see the onslaught continue today against the D-backs. 
Colorado has put a beating on home plate the last two games by crashing it with a 10-4 win over the Brewers followed by a 10-5 win over Arizona last night. The Rockies scored at least four runs in each of their last seven games and the 'over' has cashed in eight of their last nine. 
Nolan Arenado is playing a big part in the surge with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs, which ranks second in the majors. He hammered two home runs last night and is hitting .385 with four homers and 11 RBIs during a current 10-game hitting streak. 
I just don't think Arizona can keep up today and I think the Diamondbacks are in for another rough ride. 10* NL Personal Favorite

BALTIMORE at BOSTON
I am playing on BOSTON. The Red Sox have lost six straight against the Orioles but I think the bleeding stops today with Clay Buchholz on the mound. 
The Red Sox have won three of the 30-year-old righty's last four starts and he's coming off pitching seven innings with no earned runs against the Braves. I expect him to be strong again today like he was when he faced the O's in April when he gave up just two earned runs through six innings. 
The Red Sox made some roster moves on Tuesday, which to me shows they are doing all they can to battle for wins right now. Outfielder Rusney Castillo and right-handed pitcher Steven Wright were optioned to Triple-A, righty Justin Masterson was activated from the 15-day disabled lis and catcher Erik Kratz was added to the active roster. 
I think we'll see a spark from the Sox today along with a solid pitching performance. 10* AL Personal Favorite

I’m playing on the Los Angeles Dodgers as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Dodgers were dropped in Game 1 of this series Monday, getting edged 4-2 by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Los Angeles has been terribly inconsistent in recent outings but we expect the Dodgers to right the ship and love the value with the road side in Tuesday’s Game 2. The Dodgers go with Zack Greinke on the mound. He’s excelling this season with a 5-1 record and slim 1.81 ERA and has given up two or fewer runs in 11 of his 14 outings in 2015. While Greinke has done the bulk of his work at home, he’s boasting a 1.77 ERA on the road and has given up just one home run in his 35 2-3 innings away from L.A. The Dodgers have won 15 of his last 20 starts, including six of his previous seven road outings. The Cubs counter with Jason Hammel. He's pitching well inside the Friendly Confines but hasn’t had much success against L.A. in the past, posting a 2-5 record and 5.52 career ERA over 14 appearances versus the Dodgers. Despite Monday’s loss, Los Angles is still 13-5 in its last 18 meetings with Chicago.

I’m playing on Los Angeles as my 10* National League Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Tampa Bay Rays as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Rays took their second straight loss in the series opener against the Blue Jays Monday but had won seven of their previous eight games before that hiccup. We like the value with the home side in this AL East matchup, with Tampa Bay winning four of the last five meetings with Toronto. The Rays go with right hander Chris Archer on the mound. He’s stepped up as the staff ace in 2015, bringing an outstanding 8-4 record and 2.18 ERA into Tuesday’s Game 2. Archer has 116 strikeouts to only 23 walks on the year, and boasts a career 4-1 record and 2.67 ERA against the Jays. Toronto goes with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for this Game 2. Dickey was on the bereavement following the death of his father and has been away from the team since mid-June. He’s struggled against Tampa Bay this season, giving up 10 runs through 10 2-3 innings over two starts. Toronto has lost four of his last five outings versus the Rays.

I’m playing on Tampa Bay as my 10* American League Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Cleveland Indians as my 10* Revenge GAME OF THE MONTH.

The Tribe are out to avenge a 4-0 blanking at the hands of David Price and the Detroit Tigers on June 12, in which Cleveland mustered just seven hits against the Tigers star pitcher. The Indians have lost four of their last five against Detroit but we like the value with this motivated home side, especially after losing the series opener Monday. Cleveland hands the ball to righty Danny Salazar for this important contest. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in six straight starts, with a 2-1 mark and 3.03 ERA in that stretch. The Tribe have gone 9-3 in Salazar’s last 12 starts, including a 4-1 record in his last five starts at home. Price once again toes the rubber for the Tigers, and while he’s been very sharp we expect the Indians to get the best of him in this third look at the left hander.

I’m playing on Cleveland as my 10* Revenge GAME OF THE MONTH Tuesday.

I’m playing on the Los Angeles Angels as my 10* Personal Favorite.

Los Angeles backs into this series opener with the Houston Astros having dropped the final two games of its three-game set with the Oakland A’s this past weekend. The Angels welcome the Astros to Anaheim, where they’ve won 10 of the previous 13 meetings with Houston and look to add to that record with Hector Santiago on the mound Monday. The southpaw leads the Halos with a 2.77 ERA but hasn’t been as sharp in recent efforts. However, he did pitch well in a no-decision versus the Astros on May 7, throwing 6 1-3 scoreless innings while giving up just one hit. He’s just 2-1 at home but boasts a 2.49 ERA in those eight starts in L.A. Houston counters with Brett Oberholtzer on the hill Monday. The left hander has been untouchable at home – 1.65 ERA in Houston – but can’t replicate that production on the road, where he lugs a 4.50 ERA into Game 1 of this series. The Astros have won just five of Oberholtzer’s last 16 road outings.

I’m playing on Los Angeles as my 10* Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the Under in Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins as my 10* Blue Chip.

These American League Central rivals collide in Game 1 of a three-game set at Target Field Monday. The White Sox have been playing well below the total in their recent efforts, taking a six-game Under run into Monday’s contest. They’ve averaged just 2.2 runs for in that span while limiting opponents to only 2.4 runs against. Minnesota hasn’t put up much of a fight at the plate in its recent games, plating just one run in the previous two outings and scoring three or fewer runs in six of its last seven games. Minny is 1-6-1 Over/Under in its last eight games overall and 2-7-1 O/U in its last 10 home games. The Twins go with left hander Tommy Milone, who is coming off a one-run, five-hit, seven-inning start against the Cardinals last week. He faces a ChiSox lineup hitting a major league-worst .207 BA against southpaw pitchers, with Chicago playing Under the total in eight of their last 11 games versus a lefty starter. 

I’m playing on the Under in Chicago at Minnesota as my 10* Blue Chip Monday.

SAN FRANCISCO at L.A. DODGERS 

I am playing on the DODGERS. San Francisco took Game 1 of this series last night but I think the Dodgers rebound today in a series where the home team has won eight of 10 meetings this season. 
A hopeful sign for the Dodgers is they scored five runs last night in a 9-5 loss. L.A. has struggled at the plate recently and that marked the first time the club managed to get more than three runs across the dish in its last five games. Manager Don Mattingly has been playing with the batting order the last couple of games and it appears to be helping. 
In addition to finally getting a little confidence at the plate, the Dodgers will put the pitcher in better form on the mound today. Carlos Frias carries a 3.86 ERA over his last three games into today, while the Giants' Tim Hudson has an ERA of nearly one run higher over his last three. 10* NL Personal Favorite

SAN FRANCISCO at L.A. DODGERS 
I am playing on the DODGERS. I successfully took L.A. yesterday when Zack Greinke took care of business in a 1-0 win and today I'm jumping on them again on the back of another solid arm. 
Michael Bolsinger is one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball when he's at home where he owns a 4-0 record and a magical 1.01 ERA. He has 16 strikeouts in his last two home starts and I believe we'll see another big performance from him tonight. 
The home team has claimed eight of the nine meetings between these clubs this year and the Giants enter this game after losing five of their last seven. 10* NL Personal Favorite

TEXAS at CHICAGO WHITE SOX 
I am playing on the WHITE SOX. Chicago isn't beating anyone with its hitting these days but the White Sox are desperate to end their losing streak and they can do that with pitching tonight. 
The Sox set a franchise mark for futility by cracking just four hits or fewer in four straight games for the first time ever, but that has the team in a foul mood heading into Friday with Chris Sale taking the mound. 
Sale has a 1.25 ERA and an amazing 0.78 WHIP over his last three starts and the Sox have won six of his last eight outings. He can chew up a lot of innings and I think he'll snap the Sox out of their seven-game losing skid tonight when the team is struggling at the plate. 10* AL Personal Favorite

CHICAGO CUBS at CLEVELAND 
I am playing on CLEVELAND. Total humiliation can be a powerful motivator and that's the biggest reason I like the Indians today. 
The Cubs dismantled the Indians in Cleveland 17-0 last night and I have to think the Indians didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night. It wasn't just that the Cubs covered the two-touchdown spread though, it was the way they did it that has to leave Cleveland burning. 
Chicago finished the game off with a seven-run ninth when the Indians used outfielders Ryan Raburn and David Murphy as relief pitchers. Murphy gave up a grand slam in what was the first time the Indians used position players in relief since doing it against the Tigers on Aug. 8, 2013.
Danny Salazar is on the mound for Cleveland, who has helped Cleveland to wins in five of his last seven outings and I think he'll get another win today in this revenge spot. 10*

NEW YORK METS at TORONTO BLUE JAYS 
I am playing on the UNDER. Turns out this is an under series and the first three games of this home-and-home have all fallen under the total. 
I like the pattern to stay on track this evening, especially because the total has taken a big jump and we're looking at the highest total of the series so far. 
The big total is a little puzzling considering both pitchers seem to be playing their best baseball of the year as the weather gets warmer. Bartolo Colon hasn't allowed more than six hits or three earned runs in any of his last four starts while going at least six innings each time. R.A. Dickey has only allowed one earned run in his last 14 innings also, and both of those games fell under the total for the Jays. 
High total. Good pitching. Under trending. Adds up to an under play I really like today in Toronto. 10*

SAN FRANCISCO at SEATTLE 
I am playing on SEATTLE. Felix Hernandez is coming off his worst major league career and I'm expecting King Felix to bounce back strong today. 
Hernandez gave up eight runs and managed just one out - yes, one out - in his last outing, which was a 10-0 loss to Houston. That stings no matter who you are, but especially when you're a long time ace. I think the Mariners will contribute some runs of support also, realizing they probably owe their big arm one or two.  Hernandez has only faced the Giants three times going back to 2006 but the M's did win all three of those starts while San Francisco lost Madison Bumgarner's only start against Seattle.
The M's hit much better against lefties than they do against righties, which is another reason I like them today. 10* Personal Favorite

KANSAS CITY at MILWAUKEE 
I am playing on the UNDER. Two pitchers in form take the mound in Milwaukee today, which is why I feel this game will scoot under the number. 
Joe Blanton is making his first start since 2013 but he's pitched 15.0 solid innings so far for the Brewers and compiled a tidy 1.80 ERA. His fastball is hitting around 92 mph and he was solid in AAA ball early in the season. He'll toss about 75-80 pitches today if all goes well and I think his decent arm and the combination of the fact that hitters haven't seen him in a couple years will bode well for the under. 
Mike Fiers counters for K.C. and he's getting better as the season goes on. He has a 2.60 ERA over his last three outings and he actually seems to prefer the road, where he has a 2.48 ERA in six starts this year and his last nine road starts have actually fallen under the total. 10* Blue Chip

I’m playing on the Over in Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers as my 10* Blue Chip.

Things were pretty quiet in the series opener for this interleague set Monday, with Texas taking a 4-1 win against Los Angeles. We expect those bats to wake up in Game 2 Tuesday. The Dodgers go with starter Brett Anderson on the mound. He’s gone winless in six straight appearances and is coming off a five-inning, four-run, eight-hit effort against the Diamondbacks, allowing two home runs. He’ll pay for those arrant pitches in Arlington, where Texas has crushed 31 home runs this season. The Rangers go with Chi Chi Gonzalez as their starter. The righty is pitching extremely well, with a 0.42 ERA over his first three starts. But teams now have more tape on Gonzalez and the Dodgers’ stacked lineup is his first true test. Los Angeles is plating 4.36 runs per game on a .258 BA with 82 home runs – second most in the majors. We love the value with the Over as oddsmakers slim down this total despite the offensive firepower in both lineups.

I’m playing on Over in Los Angeles at Texas as my 10* Blue Chip Tuesday.

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* Personal Favorite.

The Mets served as a speed bump against the rolling Toronto Blue Jays Monday, taking a 4-3 extra innings victory from their interleague foes. New York has won back-to-back games and four of its last five, and we love the value the home side is holding at Citi Field again Tuesday. Toronto has struggled with the Mets in the past and continued those woes in the series opener, losing seven straight in New York and 12 of its last 16 versus the Mets overall. New York goes with starter Matt Harvey on the mound in Game 2 of this interleague set. The right hander is coming off a rough outing in his last start but has shown a resiliency to rebound already this season. The Blue Jays go with Scott Copeland, who is jumping into the rotation in place of the injured Aaron Sanchez. Copeland looked good in a spot start earlier this week but this reliever-turned starter will feel the wear and tear in his second go-around and faces a Mets team that has averaged more than five runs per game over their last six outings.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.

I’m playing on the San Diego Padres as my 10* National League Park Personal Favorite.

The Padres are coming off a closely-contested series against the Dodgers with all three games decided by one run, including a 4-2 extra-innings loss Sunday. San Diego hopes to score a decisive win against interleague opponent Oakland Monday, with the A’s coming off a series loss to the Angels this weekend. The Athletics did win the finale Sunday but have just one win in their last six road games and are scoring just 3.8 runs per game and hitting .243 BA away from the Bay Area. The Padres hand the ball to Tyson Ross, who makes just his second home start in the past five outings. The right hander has allowed no more than three earned runs in eight straight starts and San Diego is 8-3 in his last 11 appearances at Petco Park. The A’s counter with pitcher Jesse Hahn, who has been roughed up in recent outings and owns a 1-1 record and 4.32 ERA in his last three starts. He’s just 2-3 away from home with a 4.40 ERA in those contests. Oakland has failed to pick up the victory in five straight road starts from Hahn heading into this series opener.

I’m playing on San Diego as my 10* National League Park Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the Los Angeles Angels as my 10* American League Park Personal Favorite.

The Angels kick off a four-game, home-and-home interleague set with the Diamondbacks Monday, following a disappointing 8-1 loss to Oakland Sunday. The Halos won the first two games of that AL West series and look to right the ship in Game 1 of this AL-versus-NL clash. Arizona is ripe for a letdown after stealing a three-game sweep in San Francisco against the defending World Series champs this past week, including a 4-0 victory Sunday. The Angels have owned the D-backs in interleague action, winning five of their last six meetings overall. Los Angeles goes with ace Jered Weaver, who is having issues finding his form. Weaver is just 2-5 away from L.A. but pitching well at home with a 2-1 record and 3.06 ERA in five starts in Anaheim. We like the price on the right hander and expect to see his best stuff Monday. Arizona hands the ball to starter Robbie Ray, who is making just his fourth outing of the year. The lefty has struggled with his command, with his pitch counts climbing despite not going deep in those limited starts. He walked four and struck out four in his last outing, but managed to limit the damage. We expect those arrant pitches to catch up with him in this matchup.

I’m playing on Los Angeles as my 10* American League Park Personal Favorite Monday.

I’m playing on the New York Mets as my 10* Best Bet.

The Mets are riding high off a 10-8 victory against Atlanta Sunday, taking two of three games with the Braves this past weekend before welcoming the red-hot Blue Jays to Citi Field for an interleague showdown starting Monday. Toronto is coming off a series sweep of the Red Sox in Boston, and we believe they’re ripe for a letdown following that important AL East division battle. New York counters the Jays’ hot bats with starter Noah Syndergaard, who has pitched extremely well at home – compared to the road – with a 2.33 ERA over 19 1-3 innings in Flushing. Toronto is getting plenty of respect from the oddsmakers and Blue Jays bettors are paying a premium with Mark Buehrle on the hill Monday. However, we love the value in the home side, especially with Buehrle having trouble with the Mets in the past. He owns a 0-3 record with a 4.39 ERA in four career starts versus this National League foe. New York has won 11 of the previous 15 clashes with the Jays, including a dominant six-game home winning streak versus Toronto.

I’m playing on New York as my 10* Best Bet Monday.

I’m playing on the San Francisco Giants as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Giants find themselves down 0-2 to the Arizona Diamondback in this weekend NL West set, and attempt to avoid an embarrassing sweep Sunday. San Francisco hands the ball back to starter Chris Heston, who tossed a no-hitter in his most recent effort. The right hander blanked the Mets and added 11 strikeouts in that impressive showing. Heston is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two game versus Arizona this season. The D-backs go with Rubby De La Rosa, who had a horrific outing in his last start. The righty was shelled for nine earned runs through just five innings versus the Dodgers, and is winless over his last five starts. De La Rosa has a 6.38 ERA on the road and is 1-1 with an equally-bulky 6.75 ERA in two starts against San Francisco this season.

I’m playing on San Francisco as my 10* National League Personal Favorite Sunday.

I’m playing on the Los Angeles Angels as my 10* American League Personal Favorite.

The Angels took Game 1 of this series with the Oakland A’s Friday and have won three of their last four following an extended losing skid. The Halos are playing good baseball and still providing solid moneyline value. Los Angeles has totalled 19 runs in those three victories and scored five runs on nine hits against Oakland Friday. The Angels go with starter C.J. Wilson on the mound for Game 2, with the left hander trying to put some less-than-stellar starts behind him. He's been solid in 20 career starts against the A’s, with an 11-8 record and 3.52 ERA. Los Angeles has won five of his last seven contests against Oakland. The Athletics counter with starter Kendall Graveman, who has pitched well in recent outings. Graveman has, however, thrown plenty of pitches in those appearances and his rising pitch count and strikeout-to-walk ratio are warning signs, especially with the way the Halos are crushing the ball right now.

I’m playing on Los Angeles as my 10* AL Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Chicago Cubs as my 10* National League Personal Favorite.

The Cubs and Reds have split the first two games of this NL Central series, with Chicago winning Game 1 6-3 and Cincinnati taking Game 2 5-4 Friday. Chicago has won five of its last eight games heading into the weekend and we like its price to keep that winning run going at home Saturday. The Cubs have won eight of their last 10 games with the Reds, including a 6-2 record in their last eight meetings inside the “Friendly Confines”. Chicago hands the ball to pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who is finding his form after a slow start to the season. The righty has wins in two of his last four starts, including a five-inning, six-hit, two-run effort against the Nationals last time out. Chicago has also won eight of Hendricks' last nine starts at Wrigley Field. The Reds go with Mike Leake on the mound Saturday. The right hander has given up 11 hits – four of those home runs – in his last 14 innings versus the Cubbies. He’s faced the listless Phillies the past two starts, so take his recent work with a grain of salt. The Reds have been victorious in just one of his last six trips to the bump and just two of his last 11 road outings.

I’m playing on Chicago as my 10* National League Personal Favorite Saturday.

I’m playing on the Over in Colorado Rockies at Miami Marlins as my Early 10* Blue Chip.
 
The Marlins are smashing the ball in the first two games of this series, winning 6-0 and 5-1, with both games staying Under the total thanks to an absent offensive effort from the visitors. We expect the Rockies to find their power at the plate in Game 3 of this series Saturday. Books have trimmed this total dangerously low and we like the value we’re getting back on the Over. Miami returns starter Mat Latos to the mound for the first time since May 23 due to inflammation in his left knee. Latos was terrible in his time before that stint on the DL, giving up 30 runs in 42 2-3 innings pitched, including 23 runs in just 20 1-3 innings at home. The Marlins have gone Over in four of his last five starts inside Marlins Park. The Rockies counter with reliever-turned-starter David Hale, who is making just his fourth start of the season and his first road outing of 2015. There are plenty of question marks surrounding both starters, and with the Rockies ranked as one of the best offensive clubs in the majors, we don’t expect them to stay quiet at the plate for too long.

I’m playing on the Over in Colorado at Miami as my Early 10* Blue Chip Saturday.

CLEVELAND at DETROIT  I am playing on the UNDER. Well, the Indians just plain stink lately and a big part of that comes from their inability to get runners across the plate.   Thursday's 6-0 win against the Mariners was just the second time in Cleveland's last nine games the club managed to score more than two runs in a game. The under went 6-2-1 in those outings and I'm expecting Friday's contest to fall below the total too.  David Price takes the mound for Detroit and he's not a guy any team likes to see much, let alone Cleveland. Price owns a 2.70 ERA on the season and a glistening 1.14 ERA over his past three starts. The lefty has also taken a special liking to shutting down the Indians and has held them to just two earned runs in 20 1/3 innings in three starts since joining the Tigers. 10* BLUE CHIP

COLORADO at MIAMI 
I am playing on MIAMI. Revenge isn't always a huge element when it comes to handicapping baseball. But this matchup marks one of those cases where I feel a play is warranted and revenge is going to provide some big motivation. 
This is a pitching re-match from last week when Christopher Rusin faced David Phelps in Colorado and Phelps had one of the worst performances of his career. The Rockies embarrassed the Fish 10-5 and Phelps gave up nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings which includeded two home runs. 
That was part of a dreadful road trip that saw Miami lose four of six games and I think the club will be motivated today to get a win back at home to get things back on track. 
The Marlins are hitting .320 against lefties at home this season, which makes this a tough spot for the Rockies with the southpaw Rusin getting the start. 10* Personal Favorite

SAN FRANCISCO at NEW YORK METS 
I am playing on the METS. New York has the third best home record in the majors and I expect the Mets to come out looking for a bit of a revenge win with a bad taste in their mouths on Thursday. 
The Mets have lost eight of the last nine meetings against the Giants and were no-hit yesterday by rookie Chris Heston, so I don't expect them to be in a good mood today. They'll respond by sending ace Matt Harvey to the mound and Harvey has been enjoying pitching at Citi Field this season. 
The Mets are 4-1 at home with Harvey on the mound and he carries a 2.83 home ERA into today's matchup. His counterpart, Tim Hudson, meanwhile doesn't really like throwing on the road where he's 0-1 with a sloppy 5.06 ERA in three starts this year. He was 4-8 in 17 starts on the road last year and I like the Mets to keep that trend going. 10* NL Personal Favorite