Rating: 2 Units

The Astros now are staring at some adversity for the first time in the postseason. They haven't trailed in any series as of yet and now turn to their ace 1A in lefty Framber Valdez. Valdez has been dominant during the season and dominant in the postseason. He is 1-0 in two starts thus far and has struck out 10.7 batters per nine innings while giving up less than six hits per start. 

Rating: 2 Units

While the Astros have a formidable lineup with experienced hitters, pitching has gotten them to this point. They have a team ERA of 1.88 in the playoffs thus far and have struck out 11.1 batters per nine innings. Houston’s top two pitchers matchup very well with the Phillies' top-two pitchers. Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez have gone a combined 2-0 in the playoffs with Valdez particularly effective with a 1.42 ERA in two starts. Verlander survived a rough first start to strike out 11 Yankees in six innings in the ALCS opener. Houston can easily go four deep in the World Series with Christian Javier now likely to get the game three start after his dominant performance in game three against New York. The Houston bullpen is as good as any in baseball. They had the best bullpen ERA in the regular season and that has carried over into the playoffs, with a playoff-leading 0.82 ERA. Their bullpen has struck out 42 batters and has a 0.73 WHIP. 

Rating: 2 units

Right-hander Zack Wheeler is expected to start for Philadelphia in Game 5. He was dominant in Game 1 of the NLCS, throwing seven scoreless innings in the 2-0 win. Wheeler needed just 83 pitches to mow down the Padres, getting five of his six first-pitch outs via the fastball. He has allowed three runs and nine hits through 24.1 innings of work this month. Wheeler has been fantastic at home all year, posting a 1.85 ERA. He is 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 53 strikeouts in seven appearances against San Diego in his career. 

Rating: 2 units

Back home with a righty on the mound, the Yankees will have Matt Carpenter available for a full game in front of that short right field porch for the first time in the playoffs. While Javier has pitched extremely well to close the season and against the Yankees as well, pitching at Yankee Stadium in the playoffs is a different animal. Cole has proven to be a true stopper in the playoffs and he will continue that role in this huge spot. Look for the Yankees to chip away for enough runs and Cole to get them into the 8th inning to close this one out.

Rating: 2 Units

San Diego has a very clear pitching advantage on Friday night, so I do not know why this line is a pick’em. Musgrove has been one of the best starters in the majors this season, and he has turned it up another notch in the playoffs. He has a 1.38 ERA across his two starts this postseason and has a strong history against Philadelphia during his career. Suarez struggled to find the strike zone during his first career playoff start last week and does not have nearly as much big-game experience to draw upon as Musgrove does. The Phillies have the advantage of playing at home, but that is not nearly as meaningful as it is in other sports.

Rating: 2 Units

The Astros as a team are hitting just .220 in four games but have nearly as many home runs as the Yankees with 9 in two less games. The Astros have yet to lose in the postseason despite the fact that Jose Altuve is now 0-for-16 in the postseason. Simply put, the Yankees have far too many outs in their lineup and have scored solely on the long ball. Until they get some production from the likes of Torres and Donaldson among others, it is impossible to lean the Yankees way. Valdez will give the Astros six to seven innings while Severino will likely leave after five innings. I like my chances much better with the back end of the Astros bullpen than I do with the Yankees.

Rating: 2 Units

In the four starts after his return, Verlander went 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 23 innings -- stellar statistics but an overall performance that, according to Verlander, paled compared to the roll he was on prior to the setback. In the 11 starts before the DL stint, Verlander went 8-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings. Verlander is 9-7 with a 3.44 ERA in 23 career regular-season starts against the Yankees, 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA in eight career postseason starts. The Yankees will arrive in Houston late off their elimination of the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Division Series on Tuesday night, providing the Astros an edge.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phillies rank third out of the 12 playoff teams offensively, batting at a .237 clip. Designated hitter Bryce Harper leads the team with 10 hits and six RBIs, including three home runs. He is facing a San Diego pitching staff that is No. 5 this postseason with an ERA of 2.80. Right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler is expected to start for Philadelphia on Tuesday. He has pitched in 12.1 innings this postseason, going 0-1 with a sparkling 2.19 ERA. Wheeler has been excellent against San Diego during his career, posting a 2.06 ERA and striking out 53 batters across seven appearances. He threw seven scoreless innings against San Diego in May, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out nine.

Rating: 2 Units

Cole will be under immense pressure to get deep into this game as the Yankees have taxed some of their key bullpen pieces, namely Peralta and Jonathan Loaisiga each of whom has pitched in all three games of the series thus far. Yankees closer Clay Holmes was not available to close out game and has only made two appearances of 2/3 of an inning each. Cleveland does an excellent job of extending at bats and their game plan tonight will certainly be to push Cole near 100 pitches as early as possible. Cleveland starter, Quantrill is 9-0 at home this season. He has allowed 14 home runs in 19 home starts this year and that will be the key, keep the Yankees in the yard. He will and the Guardians will close this series out.

Rating: 2 Units

I was happy to back Philadelphia as a slight home favorite on Friday afternoon in the team’s first playoff game in more than a decade. However, I am equally as happy to back the Braves in an elimination game on Saturday. They have faced plenty of challenges over the past few seasons en route to winning the World Series last year and the NL East for the fifth straight year. Morton has a ton of playoff experience to rely on heading into this start, while Syndergaard is winless in his career against Atlanta. Morton is 4-0 with an 0.95 ERA in playoff elimination games. The Braves have too much talent and experience to lose this series in four games.

Rating: 2 Units

Philadelphia did not compete with New York and Atlanta in the NL East this season, but the Phillies can be the lone team to advance to the NLCS this year. They were underdogs against St. Louis in the NL Wild Card round, spoiling the going away party for Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina in a two-game sweep. The Phillies got off to a strong start in this series, racing out to a 7-1 lead before giving up some late runs on Tuesday. Their offense went cold on Wednesday, but they are now going home to what will be a raucous environment today.  It will be either veteran Charlie Morton (9-6, 4.34 ERA) or star rookie Spencer Strider (11-5, 2.67 ERA). Morton struggled over the final month of the regular season, posting a 5.40 ERA in 31.2 innings. Strider was questionable to even make the NLDS roster due to an oblique injury that he suffered in mid-September. He posted a 1.27 ERA in 21.1 innings against Philadelphia this year, but he would likely only be available for a few innings in this game due to load management.

Rating: 2 units

The Seattle Mariners mounted a spectacular comeback against the Blue Jays and this time they were the team squandering a big 7-3 lead late in game one on Tuesday and could not hold on for the win. Fortunately, the Mariners have Luis Castillo on the mound in this one. The right-hander was spectacular in the Wildcard, breezing through 7.1 shutout innings against the Blue Jays. Castillo has allowed just one run in his 12.2 career postseason innings. Framber Valdez wasn’t at his best late in the season. He posted a 3.90 ERA in the month of September. I also like the fact Seattle is slightly more productive against lefties, recording a .713 OPS against left-handed starting pitchers compared to .702 against right-handers. Valdez was horrible in the playoffs last year, surrendering 17 runs in 19.2 innings, resulting in a 7.78 ERA. 

Rating: 2 Units

Right-hander Kyle Wright is set to start for Atlanta in Game 2. He picked up a win against New York 10 days ago, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out three. Wright led the majors with 21 wins this season, finishing with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has a 2-3 record and a 3.86 ERA in six appearances against Philadelphia, allowing six earned runs in three outings this season. Wright was instrumental during Atlanta’s World Series run last year, allowing one run in 5.2 innings out of the bullpen.  The Braves scored five consecutive runs late in Tuesday’s game, giving them some momentum coming into this game. They are 11-4 in their last 15 games against Philadelphia.

Rating: 2 Units

In his last three starts, Urias has no record with a 1.10 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, four walks and 14 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work. Urias makes his 16th career appearance and 11th start against the Padres in this contest. He comes in 6-1 with a 2.19 ERA, a 0.989 WHIP, 22 walks and 59 strikeouts over 61.2 innings of work against them. Urias is 20-7 with three saves, a 2.95 ERA, a 1.082 WHIP, 80 walks and 283 strikeouts over 293 innings in 67 career appearances, 49 starts, at Dodger Stadium.

Rating: 2 Units

Atlanta is not only the reigning World Series champions, but they also erased a 10.5-game deficit in the NL East this season, coming back to take down New York last weekend. Atlanta has won 13 of its last 14 home games and has its rested ace on the mound, while Philadelphia is having to manage its rotation after playing two games this past weekend. The Braves won the season series against the Phillies and are primed to get off to a strong start on this afternoon.

Rating: 2 Units

Miles Mikolas is as reliable as it gets. The right-hander posted a stifling 2.32 ERA in his five September starts. Mikolas contained the Phillies in the two meetings this season. He held them to four runs (only two earned) in 5.1 innings on the road in the first encounter and limited them to one run in 7.1 innings in a 6-1 win at Busch Stadium. I also like the fact that Mikolas has postseason experience. He has only allowed two runs in 12 career postseason innings.

Rating: 2 Units

The upstart Guardians will now turn to right-hander Tristan McKenzie to lead them out of the wildcard round. McKenzie won 11 games this season and had an ERA of 2.95. At home, he is 5-3 with a 2.77 ERA this season. In addition, McKenzie has a 1.50 ERA against the Rays this season in one start. He went six innings, allowed three hits and one run while striking out six batters. He will have a fresh bullpen behind him as only Clase was called upon in game one. Like Bieber, McKenzie was dominant down the stretch with an ERA of 1.91 and a 2-0 record while striking out 9.82 batters per nine innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Yu Darvish hasn't had much postseason success through 7 games, and I'm a bit concerned for him here on the road. Yes, none of those games were with the Padres, but Darvish has a history of folding in pressure situations. Max Scherzer is about as solid as they come, he's won a world series, has a title under his belt and has a 3.22 ERA with 1.10 WHIP. At home this season, Scherzer has a 1.67 ERA and .200 allowed batting average. You can't name 5 pitchers you'd rather have on the mound in the postseason over Scherzer. You also don't get him at prices this cheap very often.

Rating: 2 Units

Cleveland, which won four of the six meetings against Tampa Bay in the regular season, will send right-hander Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) to the mound on Friday. He will be opposed by Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan (12-8, 2.54).  Bieber, like his team, finished the season with a flourish. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award recipient improved to 5-0 in his past six outings on Sunday after allowing one earned run in five innings of a 7-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals.  McClanahan, 25, struggled in his lone career outing versus Cleveland, surrendering five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-3 setback on July 31.

Rating: 2 Units

San Francisco might not have anything tangible to play for, but that has not stopped the Giants from playing great baseball over the past few weeks. They have won six of their last seven games coming into this series, and 11 of their last 13 overall. San Francisco is also 8-1 in its last nine road games. Rodon has been an excellent starting pitcher for them this season, while Manaea has struggled since the All-Star break. The Padres have been resting players and getting ready for the postseason, so their full attention will not be on San Francisco.

Rating: 2 Units

The Brewers have lost five of their last seven games and four of their last six home games. They have struggled offensively, scoring only seven runs in their last three games. Things won’t get easier for them in this game because Gallen has done a good job on the mound for the Diamondbacks, giving up eight runs in his last five starts. He gave up three runs in three career starts against the Brewers and will keep their offense in check. The Diamondbacks split their last four games, but they are playing very well offensively, scoring 20 runs in their last four games. Even though Lauer has pitched well for the Brewers, he struggled in recent starts, giving up 11 runs in his last four starts. He gave up six runs in his last three starts against the Diamondbacks.

Rating: 2 Units

Cubs starter Javier Assad logged five shutout innings against the Phillies last time out and features a stellar 2.81 ERA in his four road outings. The Reds are slumping, going 1-6 in their last seven games. Reds' starter Luis Cessa has squandered seven runs in nine innings against the Cubs this season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Braves view this as a must-win game as they look to secure a division title. They have dominated the Marlins, winning 12 of the 16 meetings this season. The Braves earned the sweep in the previous series against the Marlins, outscoring the fish by a 17-3 margin. The Braves have won seven out of their last eight games after sweeping the Mets.  Braves’ starter Bryce Elder has been dominant. The rookie has allowed just one run in his three starts this month spanning a total of 20 innings. He tossed six shutout innings against the fish in that span and has held them to only three runs in 17.2 innings. Marlins’ starter Jesus Luzardo has not fared well against the Braves, conceding nine runs in 13 career innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Chicago is currently on an impressive streak, as they are 9-1 in their last 10 games played. They are seeing the ball great right now and they have a great matchup in this game. Cincinnati will be starting Hunter Greene on the mound, as I see Chicago teeing off on him. He is currently 4-13 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He is also 2-6 at home this season, as he has continued to struggle in front of his fans. Chicago has also won six games in a row.

Rating: 2 units

The White Sox have lost eight of their last nine games and two of their last three road games. They aren’t playing well offensively, scoring only eight runs in their last three games. Things won’t get easier for them in this game because Snell has done a great job on the mound in recent starts, giving up one run in his last three starts. He gave up six runs in his last four home starts and will keep Chicago’s offense in check. The Padres have won eight of their last 11 games and three of their last five home games. 

Rating; 2 Units

The 41-year-old legend Adam Wainwright (11-11, 3.51 ERA) will make the start on Sunday. Against the Pirates this season, Wainwright is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. At home Wainwright is 7-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 17 games. There is no better team Wainwright could be facing on Sunday, as he is a perfect 7-0 with a 0.55 ERA in his last seven starts against Pittsburgh going back to 2020. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Rays have been stumbling down the stretch. They have only won two out of their last six games entering Saturday due to a slumping offense. The offense only managed one run in four out of the six games in that span. The Astros continue to excel and have yet to lose a series all month. Rays’ starter Corey Kluber hasn’t been reliable. The veteran has posted a poor 5.18 ERA this month and the Rays have lost in three out of his last four starts. Meanwhile, Astros' starter Luis Garcia has been dominant, recording a minuscule 1.96 ERA in his four outings this month. 

Rating: 2 units

Cole Ragans goes for the Rangers on Saturday evening. The right-hander is 0-3 on the season with an ERA of 5.40 in 8 starts. He has 25 strikeouts and 15 walks in 35 innings pitched. He gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings in a loss to the Guardians in his last start. The Rangers have a team ERA of 4.22, which ranks 22nd in the major leagues.

Rating: 2 Units

KC comes into Saturday's matchup with four straight losses and six in their last ten. Bubic is 0-4 in his last five starts and faces a Cleveland lineup that is averaging nearly six runs per game in their last ten games. Plesac has been outstanding against the Royals in his career with just one loss in seven decisions. This will be his last start for over a week so he will get the opportunity to throw a good number of pitches. He will finish 2022 strong against the struggling Royals.

Rating: 2 units

The Cubs have won eight of their last nine games and four of their last six home games. They usually aren’t very good offensively, but they are playing well at the moment, scoring 16 runs in their last four games. They will play well once again because Lodolo has been shaky on the mound in recent starts, giving up seven runs in his last three starts. He gave up four runs in his lone start against the Cubs and will have a hard time slowing them down. The Reds have lost six of their last seven games and seven of their last eight road games. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Reds are stumbling in a big way down the final stretch, losing six out of their last seven games including an ugly sweep by the Pirates in that span. The Cubs are playing well, recording victory in six out of their last eight bouts including a three-game sweep against the Phillies this week.  Reds’ starter Graham Ashcraft hasn’t been able to shut down the Cubs, squandering  11 runs (10 earned) in 8.2 innings spread across two performances. Cubs’ starter Adrian Sampson continues to shine, registering a minuscule 1.55 ERA in his five starts this month. He has held the Reds to three runs in 10 innings this season.

Rating: 2 units

Brewers will start Eric Lauer on the mound. He is currently 10-7 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The last time he was on the mound, he pitched for 2.2 innings and he gave up two earned runs, as he will be looking to bounce back in this one. He is also 5-2 at home this season with a 2.98 ERA. The Brewer's bullpen has also been solid this season. 

Rating: 2 Units

Right-handed pitcher Logan Webb is set to take the mound for San Francisco in this game. He shut out the Rockies across 5.1 innings last Wednesday, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Webb has already thrown a career-high 187.1 innings, so the team is managing his workload down the stretch. He is 14-9 with a 2.93 ERA overall this season.  The Giants have won five consecutive games against Colorado, and they are 12-4 in their last 16 home games against the Rockies. Marquez has been terrible during the month of September, posting a 6.26 ERA—he is 8-12 with a 5.15 ERA this season.

Rating: 2 units

While Houser has been mediocre against the Cardinals this season, he will be on a short leash as each game from now on is critical to the Brewers' playoff chances. Mikolas has been poor on the road this season, going just 5-10 with an ERA of 4.29. In addition, despite their first-place standing, the Cardinals are just 29-34 against teams over .500 this season. Go with the Brewers in a must-win spot here.

Rating: 2 Units

Mets will be starting Carlos Carrasco on the mound. He is currently 15-6 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 4.0 innings and he gave up three earned runs to the Brewers. He has been better at home this season, though. Inside Citi Field, he is 9-2 with a 3.21 ERA. The New York bullpen has also held its own. They have the 11th lowest bullpen ERA in the MLB. As a team, the Mets are surrendering 3.80 runs per game, which is the fourth least in the league.

Rating: 2 Units

Baltimore lost two heartbreakers to close out their series with Houston but they still have life. Lyles is coming off his best performance of the season and will look to get over .500 and tie his career high in victories with a win over Boston. While Lyles has been hit hard by Boston this season, Seabold has been hit hard in every appearance. He was pummeled in his one start at Fenway this season going 2.2 innings and allowing nine hits and seven runs. He now faces an Orioles team hungry to pick up wins and keep their playoff hopes alive and a pitcher looking to tie his career high in wins.

Rating: 2 Units

The Yankees are only 5-5 in their last ten road games while the Blue Jays have been stellar at home. Toronto has been tough to beat down the stretch. They have yet to lose a series in all of September. Yankees’ starter Luis Severino has struggled against the Blue Jays, surrendering eight runs in his last two meetings against the foes this season, spanning only 9.2 innings. Jays' starter Kevin Gausman has silenced the Yankees this season, holding them to only two runs in 12.2 innings. The veteran knows the Yankees well from his time with the Orioles and features a 3.28 career ERA against the foes.

Rating: 2 Units

Left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic is expected to start for Kansas City in this game. He allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks across just 2.2 innings against Boston on Sunday. Bubic allowed one run in each of the first two innings before giving up three runs in the third inning. He has gone 0-7 with a 7.83 ERA over his last seven starts, driving his season ERA up to 5.81.  Right-handed pitcher Logan Gilbert is going to start for Seattle today. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk across six innings against the Angels on Monday. Gilbert set season-highs in strikeouts (11) and whiffs (21), throwing five scoreless innings before allowing a sacrifice fly. He is 3-1 with a 0.78 ERA over his last four starts, and he holds a 3.13 ERA overall this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Right-handed pitcher Davis Martin will be on the mound for Chicago tonight. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out five batters across six innings against Detroit last week, notching a quality start. Martin has allowed just one earned run across his last 11 innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.78.  Drew Hutchison is going to start for Detroit tonight. He allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks across 4.2 innings against the White Sox last Sunday. Hutchison has allowed at least two runs in five consecutive outings—he is 2-9 with a 4.59 ERA this season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Astros have won 10 of their last 11 games and seven of their last eight road games. They have been on fire offensively, scoring at least five runs in six of their last seven games. They won’t have trouble scoring in this game because they’ve done a good job against right-handers and Baumann has struggled on the mound and will have a hard time slowing down the Astros in this game. The Orioles have lost four of their last six games and four of their last five home games. With the exception of their game against the Tigers, they have struggled offensively, scoring only two runs in their previous three home games. Expect their struggles to continue in this game because Houston’s pitchers have been dominant in recent games, giving up four runs in their last four games. They pitched a shutout in three of their last six games.

Rating: 2 Units

The Giants will have Carlos Rodon on the hill to begin the series. Rodon was stellar in his previous start, limiting the Braves to only one run in five innings, and registered the win to lift his record to 13-8. The Giants’ ace features a minuscule 1.10 ERA this month and has posted a stifling 2.84 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 167.2 innings of work on the season. he Diamondbacks are struggling to win games recently. They have lost five consecutive series and have dropped five out of their last seven home games. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Padres do not like playing at Coors Field. They are an abysmal 1-6 in their seven games in Denver this season and the Rockies lead the season series 9-7. Colorado has a winning record at Coors Field and has won six out of their last eight home games.  Padres’ starter Sean Manaea can’t be relied on. The veteran has an abysmal 6.10 ERA on the road. He has not been able to find a groove at all, logging a 7.88 ERA last month and a disastrous 8.71 ERA in his three outings in September. Rockies’ starter Ryan Feltner has fared well against the Padres, holding them to only four runs in 9.2 innings. 

Rating: 2 units

Milwaukee has dominated Cincinnati of late, winning 14 of the last 20 meetings. The Brewers have won five of their last six games at Cincinnati.  Left-handed pitcher Mike Minor is set to start for Cincinnati today. He allowed five runs on five hits and three walks against St. Louis last Saturday, striking out just one. Minor has allowed seven hits or more in four of his last seven starts, throwing six-plus innings just once. He is 0-8 with a 6.22 ERA in 10 home starts this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Cincinnati appears to have given up on the season as far as playing competitive games—getting swept in a four-game series against Pittsburgh pretty much tells the whole story. The Reds are at a large competitive disadvantage on Thursday night, as Milwaukee is in a must-win position. The Brewers are two games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, so they cannot afford to slip up during this series. Woodruff has been collecting wins for the Brewers all season, and he should have no problem shutting down Cincinnati’s lineup in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

Joe Musgrove gets the start for the Padres on Thursday. Musgrove, a right-hander, is 10-7 on the season with a 3.16 ERA in 27 starts. Musgrove was lights out in his last start, throwing 6 innings and allowing 0 runs on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts and 0 walks. The Padres won 2-0. Musgrove is 2-7 with an ERA of 5.53 and 63 strikeouts in 10 appearances in his career against St. Louis. The Padres have a team ERA of 3.87 this season, which ranks 11th in the majors. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.85, which ranks 14th in baseball.

Ratings: 2 Units

The Angels are just 20-23 against lefties this season including a loss to Perez. Perez has flourished in the Rangers' new stadium which is far more forgiving to pitchers than the team's previous stadium. Perez ERA at home this season is a solid 2.90. Lorenzen has been hit hard in recent games and is just 2-4 with a 6.63 ERA on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

Miles Mikolas has been shaky recently. The veteran has allowed three or more runs in four out of his last five starts which is noteworthy considering four of those performances were against poor teams in the Reds or Cubs. Mikolas squandered seven homers in that span. Blake Snell has conceded one or zero runs in three out of his last four outings.

Rating: 2 Units

Philadelphia will be starting Zach Wheeler on the mound in this one. He is currently 11-7 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 5.1 innings, but he gave up five hits and four earned runs to the Mets. This was his second shaky start in a row, as he also gave up six earned runs to the Mets two starts back. Blue Jays will start Kevin Gausman on the mound in this one. He is currently 12-10 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 7.0 innings, but he gave up six hits and five earned runs, as the Rays got to him early. He has been a completely different pitcher on the road this season, though. He has an 8-3 road record and his ERA drops to 2.45.

Rating: 2 Units

Taijuan Walker is going to start for New York today. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out five across 7.1 innings against Pittsburgh last Friday. Walker has a 3.26 ERA in three starts this month after posting a disappointing 6.98 ERA in August. He is 12-4 with a 3.42 ERA and 111 strikeouts overall this season. Adrian Houser is going to start for Milwaukee today afternoon. He is coming off a rough start, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks across three innings against the Yankees last Friday. Houser has issued 43 walks in 94.2 innings this season, striking out just 66 batters. He is 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA overall in 2022.

Rating; 2 Units

Left-handed pitcher Tyler Alexander is going to start for Detroit on Monday night. He allowed four runs on six hits and a walk across five innings against Kansas City last Sunday. Alexander’s turn in the rotation was skipped last week when the team temporarily moved to a four-man rotation, but he will return to the mound on Monday. He has really struggled over his last four starts, posting a 10.06 ERA and 1.82 WHIP.

Rating: 2 Units

Cubs’ starter Wade Miley has pitched five or fewer innings in all but one start this season and the Cubs bullpen is below average with a 4.34 ERA.  Marlins’ starter Edward Cabrera continues to shine, limiting his foe to two or fewer runs in six out of his last eight performances. He tossed five shutout innings against the Cubs last month. The Cubs have not been able to solve the Marlins this season, scoring only six runs in the three meetings.

Rating: 2 units

Seattle will be starting Logan Gilbert on the mound and he has been an absolute beast on the road this season. Overall, he is 12-6 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, but on the road, he is 7-1 with a 2.95 ERA. He has been extremely tough to make contact against and the Angels haven't impressed me at the plate.

Rating: 2 units

Yu Darvish will be on the hill today for San Diego. Darvish was outstanding in his previous start, tossing eight shutout innings against a good Mariners offense, and earned another victory to lift his season record to 14-7. The veteran right-hander features a dazzling 1.29 ERA in his three performances this month and has posted a 3.16 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 176.2 innings pitched on the year. Darvish has logged a 2.42 ERA in four outings against Arizona this season and is 6-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 79.2 career innings. 

Rating: 2 units

Brewers will start Jason Alexander on the mound in this game. He is currently 2-3 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 5.1 innings and he gave up nine hits and five earned runs to the Reds. This was also his fourth consecutive loss. Yankees will be starting Gerrit Cole on the mound. He is currently 11-7 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. The last time he was on the mound, he pitched for 6.0 innings and he gave up four hits and four earned runs. The Red Sox got to him early, but he has been better on the road this season. He is currently 6-2 on the road with a 3.62 ERA.

Rating: 2 Units

Rays will be starting Jeffrey Springs on the mound. He is currently 8-4 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 6.0 innings and he only allowed three hits and zero earned runs. The Rangers will be starting Glenn Otto, who has stunk all season. He is currently 6-8 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, as he has given up at least two earned runs in his last four starts. The Rays will be able to make consistent contact against him and give themselves multiple chances to score.

Rating; 2 units

Pirates’ starter Bryse Wilson just pitched against the Mets earlier this month and gave up four runs in a 5-1 Pirates defeat. Wilson is struggling in a big way, posting a 5.73 ERA last month and a 5.40 ERA in his two outings this month. Mets’ starter Chris Bassitt just held the Pirates to one run in seven innings two starts ago and has limited the Pirates to only four runs in 12 career innings. The Mets have outscored the Pirates by a wide 28-13 margin. 

Rating: 2 Units

Tigers will be starting Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound. He is 3-5 this season with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 5.0 innings and he gave up 10 hits and five earned runs to the Astros. He has also struggled at home this season, as he is 2-3 with a 4.72 ERA. 

Rating: 2 Units

Joe Berrios gets the start for the Blue Jays today. The right-hander is 10-5 on the season with an ERA of 5.07 in 28 starts. Berrios got a no-decision in his last start, a 3-2 win over the Rays. He allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 6.1 innings of work. Berrios is 1-0 with an ERA of 3.46 and 10 strikeouts in 2 appearances versus the Orioles this season. In his career versus the Orioles, Berrios is 7-0 with an ERA of 3.05 and 59 strikeouts in 10 appearances. 

Rating; 2 Units

Robbie Ray will get the starting call Friday, and the reigning AL Cy Young Award champ is 12-9 with a 3.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 189/53 K/BB ratio in 28 starts (166.2 innings pitched) this season.  Ray met the Angels three times in 2022, posting a 2-0 record with a sparkling 1.80 ERA. The 30-year-old southpaw has yielded four earned runs on 14 hits and five walks across 20 frames of work while punching out 30. Their last duel came in August, and Ray fanned ten in an 8-2 victory at Angel Stadium. 

Rating; 2 Units

The Twins staff has been decimated by injuries and there are not a lot of options left, so it will likely be a bullpen day or they'll call someone up from deep on the depth chart. Triston McKenzie gets the start for the Guardians on Friday. The right-hander is 10-11 on the season with a 3.05 ERA in 26 starts and 27 appearances. McKenzie has 159 strikeouts and 43 walks in 165.1 innings pitched. In his last outing, he blanked these same Twins, allowing 0 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks. 

Rating; 2 Units

The Rockies have now dropped five out of their last six road games and are one of the worst road teams in the big leagues. Rockies’ starter German Marquez just surrendered nine runs against the Diamondbacks in his previous start and has abysmal numbers against the Cubs, logging a 7.65 ERA.  Cubs’ starter Marcus Stroman has been reliable, limiting his foe to only five runs in his last three outings spanning 16 innings. He has excelled in his career against the Rockies, flaunting a 2.53 ERA. The Cubs have scored 22 runs in four games against the Rockies in the first series and are fresh off a big three-game road sweep of the Mets. 

Rating: 2 Units

Madison Bumgarner is 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in four starts and 17 frames of work against the Padres in 2022. On the other side, Sean Manaea is 2-0 with a 2.88 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in four starts and 25 innings pitched against the Diamondbacks this season. 

Rating: 2 Units

Daniel Lynch gets the start for the Royals on Thursday. The left-hander is 4-10 on the season with a 5.14 ERA in 8 starts and 23 starts. Lynch has 105 strikeouts and 46 walks in 112 innings pitched. In his last outing, he got pummeled in a loss to the Tigers, allowing 6 runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings. He gave up 2 home runs. Lynch is 1-2 with an ERA of 4.05 and 12 strikeouts in 4 appearances against the Twins this season The Royals have a team ERA of 4.72, which ranks 27th in baseball. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.71, which is second to last in the league.

Rating; 2 Units

Astros will be starting Lance McCullers Jr. on the mound in this one. He is currently 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 7.0 innings and he only gave up four hits and two earned runs. Luckily, the Astro's bullpen has also been great this season. They are allowing 2.79 runs per game, which is the lowest bullpen ERA in the league. As a team, the Astros are allowing 3.28 runs per game, which is the second least in the MLB.

Rating; 2 units

Right-hander Brayan Bello is expected to be on the mound for Boston on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on three hits and four walks across 5.1 innings against Baltimore last Friday. Bello tied his career high with seven strikeouts, lowering his rookie ERA slightly to 5.79. He picked up his first big-league win two weeks ago, so he is 1-5 entering this start. Boston has been unable to avoid lengthy losing streaks this season, which is ultimately going to be the reason the Red Sox are not in the playoff bracket. They have gone on five separate skids of at least three games since the All-Star break.

Rating: 2 Units

Washington’s pitching is one of the worst in the league, with the team giving up 5.33 runs per game. Opponents have a .265 batting average against the Nationals, which is 28th in the league. Their 5.06 ERA is 29th, while their 1.44 WHIP is 28th. In his last start, Corbin gave up five hits and five runs in 6.2 innings leading to a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. He has struggled against the Orioles, going 1-4 in six starts against them while giving up 17 runs in his last four starts against them.

Rating: 2 Units

Luis Castillo gets the start for the Mariners on Wednesday. The right hander is 6-5 on the season with a 2.81 ERA in 21 starts. Castillo has 141 strikeouts and 38 walks in 128.1 innings pitched. In his last outing he got a no decision, allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits in 5.2 innings with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk. He also gave up a long ball. Castillo is 2-1 in his last 7 starts with a 2.70 ERA. Mariners are 5-1 in their last 6 inter-league games versus a team with a winning record and 9-3 in their last 12 inter-league games versus. a right-handed starter. 

Rating: 2 Units

Brewers are using the bullpen for this game. The Brewers’ pen isn’t as dominant as past seasons, logging a 3.96 ERA, tabbing them 16th. Cards’ starter Jordan Montgomery has been incredible, sporting a minuscule 1.45 ERA in his seven starts as a member of the Cardinals. He recorded six shutout innings in his lone meeting against the Brewers last month.

Rating: 2 Units

Washington’s pitching is one of the worst in the league, with the team giving up 5.33 runs per game. Opponents have a .265 batting average against the Nationals, which is 28th in the league. Their 5.06 ERA is 29th, while their 1.44 WHIP is 28th. In his last start, Espino gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings leading to a 4-1 loss to St. Louis. The Nationals have lost five of their last six games. 

Rating: 2 Units

Left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter is going to start for Philadelphia in this game. He allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks across 5.1 innings against Miami on Wednesday. Falter had his four-game streak of quality starts snapped, but he extended his winning streak to four. He has posted a 2.66 ERA over 23.2 innings during that stretch and is going to remain in the rotation at least until Zack Wheeler is ready to return.  This is about as perfect of a scheduling spot as you are going to get with an MLB bet. Philadelphia had the day off on Monday and is fighting for a playoff spot, while Miami is coming off a doubleheader.

Rating: 2 units

Chris Bassitt (13-7, 3.24 ERA) will get the start for the Mets on Monday. He is 5-5 at home this season with a 2.77 ERA in 14 games. Bassitt has been pitching his best baseball late in the season, with a 6-0 record and 1.75 ERA in his last seven starts. The Cubs are in a tough spot having a later travel night on Sunday. They are without Wilson Contreras and also could be missing Hoerner. Chicago has also been outscored 20-4 in their last three road games.

Rating: 2 units

Framber Valdez gets the start on Monday. The left hander has had an excellent campaign as he is 14-5 on the season with an ERA of 2.64 in 26 starts. He has 161 strikeouts and 60 walks in 171.2 innings pitched. In his last start he pitched well in a loss to the Rangers, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits in 6.2 innings with 11 strikeouts. He faced the Tigers earlier this season and gave up 2 runs on 9 hits with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts in 6 innings. The Astros have a team ERA of 2.96, which is second in baseball. The bullpen has an ERA of 2.82, which is the best in baseball.

Rating: 2 Units

Left-handed pitcher Mike Minor is going to start for Cincinnati in this game. He allowed one run on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three batters across 5.2 innings against the Cubs last Wednesday. Minor started the season at 1-10, but he has picked up wins in each of his last three decisions. He has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his past three starts.  Right-handed pitcher Bryse Wilson is going to start for Pittsburgh on Monday night. He allowed four runs on seven hits across six innings as a bulk reliever against the Mets last Wednesday. Wilson has allowed at least three earned runs in seven of eight appearances since the All-Star break, posting a 5.59 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through those 38.2 innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Johnny Cueto gets the start for the White Sox on Sunday. The right-hander is 7-7 on the season with an ERA of 2.87 in 20 starts and 21 appearances. He has 85 strikeouts and 30 walks in 135 innings pitched. Cueto is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.06 and 20 strikeouts in 5 appearances against Oakland in his career. Cole Irvin gets the start for the A's on Sunday. The left-hander is 7-11 on the season with an ERA of 3.78 in 25 starts. He has 108 strikeouts and 31 walks in 152.1 innings pitched. Irvin got bombed for 9 runs in 4.2 innings in his last start, a loss to the Braves.

Rating: 2 Units

Arizona will send Zach Gallen to the mound on Sunday. In 26 starts this season, Gallen is 11-2 with a 2.42 ERA, including 5-2 with a 2.39 road ERA. Even at Coors Field, Gallen has performed well in his career, going 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five games there since 2019.  Ryan Feltner will be going for the Rockies Saturday. He is 2-7 with a 5.85 ERA in 15 games this year and 2-3 with a 5.71 ERA at home. Feltner allowed six runs, five earned in 4.1 innings at home against Arizona in a 7-4 loss on August 14.

Rating: 2 Units

Tigers will be starting Tyler Alexander on the mound. He is 3-9 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 4.1 innings, but he gave up 10 hits and six earned runs. The Angels lit him up, as he has also struggled on the road this season. He is 1-6 with a 7.31 ERA outside of his home ballpark.  Royals will be starting Brady Singer on the mound. He has been solid this season, as he is 7-4 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 6.0 innings, but he gave up nine hits and three earned runs. Luckily, Singer has been a man on a mission at home this season. He is 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA inside Kauffman Stadium.

Rating: 2 Units

Urias has been on another planet the last couple of months and things get tougher for the hosts. Urias is 12-1 with a 1.88 ERA, 19 walks and 83 strikeouts over 81.1 innings of work in his last 14 starts dating back to June 18. With Urias dealing and the Dodgers’ bats, give the advantage to the top team in the National League here.

Rating: 2 Units

Rangers will start Kohei Arihara on the mound. He is currently 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.76 ERA. In his last start, he pitched for 2.0 innings and he allowed four hits and one earned run. But, he struggled against the Tigers two starts back. He has been up and down this season, but he has consistently lost at home. He is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA inside Globe Life Field. Kevin Gausman will be getting the start on the mound. He is currently 11-9 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The last time he was on the mound, he pitched for 6.2 innings and he only allowed seven hits and two earned runs. Gausman has also been a road warrior this season, as he is 7-3 with a 2.07 ERA outside of his home ballpark. 

Rating: 2 Units

Miami is 26-38 at home this season and is the third least profitable team in those games at -$1555. On the runline the Marlins are 63-73 and the third worst money team at -$1979.  Starting today will be Pablo Lopez (8-9, 3.66 ERA). At home he is 3-4 with a 4.24 ERA. Lopez is 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Reds will be starting Nick Lodolo on the mound. He is currently 3-5 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 6.0 innings and he only gave up two hits and zero earned runs. He shut down the Rockies while he was on the mound. Lodolo hasn't been great on the road, though. He is currently 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA outside of his home ballpark. Brewers will start Jason Alexander on the mound in this game. He is 2-2 with a 5.03 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. In his last start, he did get roughed up a bit. He only pitched for 4.2 innings and he gave up five hits and three earned runs. The Diamondbacks got to him early, but he has been decent at home this season. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Orioles are 7-5 against Boston this season, including winning four out of six games at Camden Yards. The Red Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter. Look for the Orioles to continue to play well against Boston and finish the season strong, particularly against a team that they want to stay ahead of in the standings. Boston will be getting its first look at Voth and will likely struggle against the former Nationals pitcher.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cardinals are playing well and continue to dominate, winning nine of their last 13 games. The Pirates have only won one out of their last seven games overall and have been just as bad at home, dropping nine of their last ten home games as the bats continue to struggle. Miles Mikolas has silenced the Pirates' offense this season, limiting them to only three runs in 12.1 innings. He just tossed eight shutout innings against the Cubs earlier this week. Pirates’ starter Roansy Contreras is a solid young pitcher but has not been able to contain the Cardinals' allowing eight runs in seven innings against the rivals this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Cubs will be starting Drew Smyly on the mound. He is 5-8 on the season with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He had a ton of problems in his last start, though. He only pitched for 2.1 innings, as he gave up five hits and seven earned runs to the Cardinals. Smyly has also been horrible this season at home, as he is 1-4 with a 2.86 ERA. Giants will be starting Carlos Rodon on the mound. He is currently 12-7 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. It has been extremely difficult for his opponents to consistently reach base against him. He also looked great in his last start. He pitched for 6.0 innings and he didn't give up an earned run. He shut down the Phillies, but he hasn't been great on the road this season.

Rating: 2 Units

White Sox will be starting Dylan Cease on the mound. He is 13-6 with a 2.13 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Reaching base consistently has been a real struggle for his opponents this season. He has also been a road warrior, as he is 7-3 on the road with a 1.78 ERA. In his last start, he pitched for 9.0 innings and he didn't give up an earned run. He completely shut down the Twins the last time he was on the mound.

Rating: 2 Units

Reds have Mike Minor starting this one. The squad rarely wins games when he is on the hill. They have lost in 13 of the 16 games started by Minor. He has posted a 5.45 ERA in his last six starts and has some of the worst numbers you will see for a starting pitcher. Cubs’ starter Javier Assad has been solid. He tossed four shutout innings against the Cardinals in his debut and five scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. The rookie has only allowed one run in 10 innings this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Red Sox have struggled all season to find accomplished pitchers in the middle innings and that issue will not be solved until an offseason of acquisitions. The Rays are the hotter team, have been dominant on the mound and have dominated Boston this season with a 11-4 record now after Tuesday night's win. That trend will continue here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Brewers have dropped nine of their last 12 games against losing teams, and Eric Lauer will be facing some past demons. In five career starts at Coors Field, Lauer is 0-4 with a 14.63. On the other side, Kyle Freeland has a 2.53 ERA in four career starts against Milwaukee, which includes tossing seven shutout innings against them on July 25. Colorado has fared much better against lefties this season, averaging 5.1 runs per nine innings against them, with a .275 batting average.

Rating:  2 Units

Logan Gilbert will take the mound Tuesday and search for his second consecutive win. Last Thursday, he tossed six frames of a two-hit ball in a 7-0 dismantling of the lowly Detroit Tigers. The 25-year-old righty holds an 11-5 record, 3.35 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP in 27 starts (155.2 IP) this season. Gilbert has accounted for a 2.70 ERA and 2.04 FIP in his previous four starts and 23.1 innings of work. 

Rating; 2 Units

Royals will be starting Kris Bubic on the mound. He has had problems all season, as he is 2-10 with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 6.0 innings and he gave up five hits and two earned runs. Unfortunately, he has been horrible at home this season. Inside Kauffman Stadium he is 1-5 with a 5.98 ERA. The Kansas City bullpen has also had issues this season, as they are allowing 4.81 runs per game, which is the most in the league. As a team, the Royals are allowing 5.18 runs per game, which is the 26th most.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rays continue to rely heavily on their dominant bullpen and overall good pitching to remain in the hunt for both the division title and a wildcard spot in the American League. The Rays ERA is a solid 3.03 in their last ten games and they've allowed 82 hits in 89 innings. The bullpen has three saves in the seven wins over that span. The Rays will turn to Drew Rasmussen to try and turn away Boston. Rasmussen has been dominant in recent weeks, going 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA in his last five starts. He has allowed just 13 hits in 28 innings of work and has a 9.5 K/9 rate in that span. Rasmussen has faced Boston once this season without a record and an ERA of 4.50.

Rating: 2 Units

Jose Suarez is 5-6 with a 4.10 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 77/30 K/BB ratio in 15 starts and a couple of relief appearances (79 IP) this season. He was 3-2 in August, posting an excellent 2.51 ERA and 2.84 FIP through 28.2 innings of work. The 24-year-old southpaw threw six frames of a two-run ball in a 4-3 victory against the Yankees this past Monday. Tyler Alexander holds a 3-8 record with a troublesome 4.76 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 37/16 K/BB ratio in 11 starts and ten relief appearances (68 innings pitched) in 2022. The 28-year-old left-hander went 1-4 in August and posted a pedestrian 5.58 ERA and 5.17 FIP across 30.2 innings of work. He’s yielded two or more earned runs in seven straight appearances. 

Rating: 2 Units

I've bet against Lance Lynn all season, as he has continued to struggle. He is currently 4-5 with a 4.70 ERA, as he has shown that he can blow up in these games. He has also been horrible on the road this season, as he is 0-3. I don't have a ton of faith in the White Sox bullpen either, as they have the 19th lowest bullpen ERA.  Mariners will be starting Marco Gonzales on the mound. He is currently 10-12 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. In his last start, he pitched for 6.0 innings and he only allowed three earned runs to the Tigers. Gonzales has been better at home, though. Inside T-Mobile Park, he is 6-5 with a 3.46 ERA.

Rating: 2 Units

This is a nice spot to take Boston against a Tampa Bay team that is coming off an extremely emotional series against New York. The Rays are fighting for the AL East crown, but they will be dealing with an emotional hangover on Monday after losing Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees. Meanwhile, Boston has quietly gone on a hot streak over the past week, bringing a five-game winning streak into this game. Wacha is having the best season of his career and is coming off another strong start. Patino is being recalled from the minors after two sub-par performances, so I do not have high hopes as far as he is concerned.

Rating: 2 Units

The Diamondbacks have quietly been one of the hottest teams in the majors over the past few seasons. While they are still going to come up short of a playoff berth, they have been cashing tickets for their backers. Milwaukee is trending in the opposite direction, getting further and further from a playoff appearance. Right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen is going to be on the mound for Arizona on Sunday. He allowed two hits and a walk across seven scoreless innings against Philadelphia on Tuesday, striking out seven. Gallen has now thrown 34.1 scoreless innings over his last five starts, trimming his ERA all the way down to 2.53. The Diamondbacks also have the better pitcher on the mound, so this is an easy pick.

Rating: 2 units

José Urquidy will be getting the start on the mound for Houston. He has been solid this season, as he is 12-5 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He did struggle in his last start, though. He only pitched for 5.0 innings, and he gave up four hits and three earned runs. The Orioles got to him early, as the Astros were forced to turn to their bullpen. But he has been even better on the road this season. He is currently 7-2 away from home with a 4.24 ERA, as he will be looking to bounce back in this one. Luckily, Houston also has the lowest overall bullpen ERA in the MLB, as their relievers have been getting the job done all season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pirates are struggling to win games at home, losing seven consecutive home games including defeats on Friday and Saturday. Blue Jays’ starter Ross Stripling has been outstanding, sporting a stifling 1.96 ERA in his last three starts. Toronto has won five out of the last six games started by the veteran. The Blue Jays’ potent offense should feast on JT Brubaker. The veteran squandered a whopping six runs last time out and especially has trouble at PNC Park where he has fielded a 5.07 ERA. The Jays have won eight out of their last nine road games.

Rating: 2 Units

The pitching matchup alone tells you that the Dodgers are going to win this game. Urias has been lights out this season, especially since June, when he has allowed 19 total runs over his last 86.2 innings, with a 1.97 ERA. He has faced San Diego one time this season (April 22), allowing one run in five innings.  Manaea is getting hammered. He has faced the Dodgers two times this season. The first was on April 24 when he gave up six earned runs in 4.1 innings, and that was back when he was pitching well.  In his August 5 start against them, he allowed eight runs in 4.0 innings. This could get ugly early.

Rating: 2 Units

Marlins’ starter Edward Cabrera just surrendered six runs against the Dodgers in his latest effort. Braves’ starter Jake Odorizzi has been effective since arriving in a trade last month, allowing two or fewer runs in four out of his last five outings. Five of the Braves' last six wins have been by two or more runs.

Rating: 2 Units

Right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling is expected to start for Toronto on Saturday. He allowed three runs on seven hits across six innings against the Angels his last time out, striking out six. The 32-year-old has posted three consecutive quality starts and has a 2.94 ERA this season. Pittsburgh is virtually unbackable in this spot, as the Pirates are in a free fall heading towards the finish line of the season. They have the worst lineup in the majors and are facing one of the top offensive teams.

Rating: 2 Units

Sonny Gray takes the ball for his 21st start of the season for the Twins in this contest. On the season, he is 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA, a 1.113 WHIP, 32 walks and 99 strikeouts over 100.2 innings of work. Gray didn’t earn the decision in his last start, which came against the Giants at home Sunday. He threw five frames, allowing one run on one hit with four walks and four strikeouts in a game the Twins went on to win 3-2 in 10 innings. In his last three starts, Gray is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, six walks and 20 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Gray makes his 10th career appearance and 9th start against the White Sox in this contest. He comes in 4-2 with a 4.47 ERA, a 1.221 WHIP, 20 walks and 46 strikeouts over 48.1 innings of work. Gray is 2-1 with a 5.47 ERA, a 1.338 WHIP, 11 walks and 25 strikeouts over 24.2 innings in five career appearances, four starts, at Guaranteed Rate Field.