Texas Rangers.

Double Play.

Game 963.

11:10 AM PST/2:10 PM EST.

Texas has taken Games 1 and 2 of this series by a combined score of 16-2. Kansas City is on a five-game slide. The Rangers have dominated the Royals this season, taking four of five meetings. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Rangers are just too strong for the Royals. They have also won five of their last six road games, six of their last eight games versus right-handed starters, and four of their last five games played versus the AL Central. Kansas City has lost 11 of their last 12 games played at home, four of their last five games played versus left-handed starters, and 92 of their last 134 games played versus the AL West. Take the Rangers. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves.

Double Play release.

Game 907.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Once again, this season, the Atlanta Braves are showing that they are not just going to vie for the NL East title, but they will also compete for the National League Pennant as well. At 13-4, they currently possess the best overall record in the NL and the second-best overall record in baseball. They enter today’s Game 2 match up with the San Diego Padres the hottest team in the Majors, winning seven consecutive games. Obviously, this includes yesterday’s Game 1 victory, 2-0. That defeat was San Diego’s fifth over the last six outings. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Braves possess some of the best numbers in baseball. Statistically, offensively they average over 1.3 runs per game, while their pitching staff has a Team ERA of more a half a run less. They have dominated the Padres at Petco Park, taking nine of the last 11 meetings there. Strider and Snell are scheduled starters today. The Atlanta right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA, while the San Diego left-hander is 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA this season. The Braves are money when they travel, winning seven straight games played on the road, while the Padres are just 1-5 the last six games played at home. Take Atlanta. Thank you.

Miami Marlins

Double Play release.

Game 952.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Losers of three in a row, San Francisco is certainly slumping. Now they travel to LoanDepot Park to face Miami. The Giants have always had trouble away from home. And this season is no different, as they are just 3-5 as a guest. Their pitching has been absolutely deplorable. And today, Logan Webb gets the nod. The right-hander has made three appearances so far this season as the team has lost all three of those contests. He has allowed nine runs on 18 hits in just 17.0 innings pitched. Taking the mound at home is Jesus Luzardo. The left-hander sports a 2-0 record with a 1.93 ERA so far, as a team has won all three games in which he has appeared. In 18.7 innings pitched, he is allowed just four earned runs and fanned a whopping 20 batters. The Giants are just 1-4 their last five games played versus left-handed starters, 1-5 their last six games played during Game 1 of a series, and 10-26 their last 36 games played versus teams with a winning record. Take the Marlins. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.
Interleague Game of the Week.
Game 969.
3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

There is no question that the Tampa Bay rays are playing the best baseball in the Majors. Following a 13-game win streak to begin campaign, they dropped Games 1 and 2 of the three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, they did take Game 2 yesterday with authoriyy, 8-1, to get back on the winning track. They face a Cincinnati Reds opponent today that is struggling. Granted, the Reds lineup has been putting up some runs.  But they are erratic at best, offensively. As far as their pitching goes, the rank 25th in the Majors with a Team ERA of 5.21. The Rays are doing it both with explosive hitting and outstanding pitching. They top both leagues in scoring and pitching as they account for over 7.12 runs per game and possess a Team ERA of just 2.54.  Hunter Greene takes the mound at home. The right-hander has yet to earn a decision, sporting a 0-0 record with a 5.14 ERA. Jalen Beeks will take the mound on the road, making his fifth appearance of the season, including his second start as an opener. If you’re worried about him, don’t be. The team has won all four of the games that he has made an appearance. I know he hasn’t gone more than 2.0 innings pitched in any one outing. However, if they just put him in to give him some starting time and then yank him, they can rely on one of the best, or I should say the best pitching staff in baseball backing him up.  Tampa Bay is 5-0 their last five Interleague road games and 9-1 their last 10 games versus right-handed starters. Cincinnati is just 2-7 their last nine during Game 1 of a series and 3-8 their last 11 overall. Take the Rays. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.
Best Bet Play.
Game 963.
11:10 AM, PST/2:10 PM EST.

Very quietly, winners of two in a row, the Orioles have moved into a tie for third place in the most competitive division of baseball, the American League East. The offense has exploded. They currently rank fourth in the Majors in scoring, accounting for over 5.71 runs per game. They have a respectable batting average, they are stealing bases, and they are hitting the long ball as well. The one downfall for the team has been their pitching. However, today Kyle Gibson gets the nod. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.44 ERA on the campaign. And the team has won each one of his starts. Taking the hill at home is Michael Kopech. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA thus far. Meanwhile, over his career, the Baltimore pitcher, in 18 starts against the White Sox, owns a respectable 9-5 record with a 2.91 ERA. The White Sox starter, in three appearances, which includes one start against the O’s over his career is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Baltimore is 6-2 the last eight overall meetings with Chicago, 4-1 the last five games played at Guaranteed Rate Field, and 4-1 the last five games played versus teams with a winning percentage under .400. Chicago is just 1-4 the last five games played versus right-handed starters, 1-4 the last five games played at home, and 2-7 the last nine games played versus the American League East. Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

Best Bet Play.

Game 928.

11:20 AM PST/2:20 PM EST.

These two teams are facing one another going in opposite directions right now. Chicago has taken both Games 1 and 2 of this series to extend their domination of Seattle to seven consecutive victories. The Mariners are in real trouble here, riding a three-game slide and having to face a Cubs opponent starting to surge winning five of the last six outings. The Cubs lineup has been impressive, topping the Majors in Team Batting Average and ranking third in scoring. Logan Gilbert and Marcus Stroman are set to start today. Yet to give up a run this season, Stroman owns a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. Going back to last season, he is 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in his last six starts. Gilbert has looked good, but sports a losing record at 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA. The only thing worse than the Mariners offense, has been their pitching. Playing the Cubs has been fatal to this team, failing to win the last five games played in Wrigley and 10 of the last 11 overall meetings. They are also just 2-5 the last seven games played on the road, 2-6 the last eight games played versus right-handed starters, and 4-11 the last 15 games played overall. Take Chicago. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

NL WEST GAME OF THE WEEK.

Game 961.

6:45 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

The cure to rebound from a three-game slide for Los Angeles is playing San Francisco. The Dodgers took Game 1 of this series yesterday, 9-1 to extend their dominance in this Division rivalry, taking the last six consecutive meetings. Not only have they won six in a row and nine of the last 10 with the Giants, but the Dodgers, going back a bit, have taken 20 of the last 27 meetings. And that does include eight straight victories at Oracle Park. There’s no debate Los Angeles is a monster team. Both on the mound and at the plate, they are loaded with talent. They currently rank second in the Majors in scoring, averaging over 6.27 runs per game.  Believe it or not, they are doing it with the long ball, as they have crushed 21 home runs already. And surprisingly rank second in baseball in stolen bases, accumulating 20 steals. On the other hand, San Francisco is mediocre offensively, and subpar as far as their pitching goes.  They’ve also committed quite a few errors already in the field. Today’s starters are scheduled to be Dustin May and Alex Wood. May is off to a wonderful start this campaign, going 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA. The right-hander has pitched over 13.1 innings and has only allowed a single earned run on five hits. Over his career, he has done very well against the Giants in four appearances, which includes two starts, he is a very respectable 2-0 what is 0.79 ERA. The Giants left-hander did not get a decision in his first start less than a week ago. He only went three innings and allowed six hits and one earned run. In his last appearance against Los Angeles, he took a loss going 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs. That was August of last season. The Giants are 9-26 the last 35 games played versus teams with a winning record, which does include a 1-4 mark the last five games played at home versus winners. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Colorado Rockies.

Diamond Play.

Game 958.

5:40 PM PST/8:40 PM EST.

There is no question the Rockies lineup is starting to heat up, accounting for 25 runs over the last four contests. They took Game 1 of this series yesterday, 7-4. Although the Cardinals have done well overall in this rivalry, they have a tough time playing at Coors Field, where they are just 1-5 the last six meetings. As a matter fact, St. Louis, which happens to be a highly touted team in the NL once again this season, is struggling. They are just 3-7 overall on the campaign, which does include a 1-3 away record. Miles Mikolas and Kyle Freeland are scheduled starters today. The St. Louis right-hander is off to a rocky start, going 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in two outings this season. He has faced Colorado seven times over his career, which does include five starts, sporting a 1-1 record with a whopping ERA of 8.67. Four of those games, which does include three starts and both decisions have come on the road, where his ERA soars to 13.50 at Coors Field. The Colorado left-hander is off to a wonderful start this season, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He is averaging over six innings per start, showing incredible control. Don’t be fooled by his 0-3 career record (in five starts) against St. Louis, Freeland has not gotten the run support during those turns. However, the way the Cardinals are struggling and the fact that they aren’t playing competitive on the road, compels me to side with the home team here. St. Louis is just 1-5 the last seven games played on grass, 2-5 the last seven games played versus the NL West, and 1-6 the seven games played overall. Take Colorado. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Monday Money Maker.

Game 909.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

At 7-2, the Brewers possess the best record in the National League. With a combination of an explosive lineup and a stellar pitching staff, Milwaukee is surging. They rank sixth in the Majors, averaging over 5.33 runs per game. They also own the third ranked pitching staff, sporting a Team ERA of 2.59. Despite a solid lineup, Arizona is shaky at best. No question this is due to the 24th ranked pitching staff in baseball, with a Team ERA of 5.28. Left-hander, Miley and the right-hander, Gallen are scheduled starters today. Without question, the Brewers starter has looked stronger than the Diamondbacks hurler. Milwaukee has taken 18 of the last 25 meetings with Arizona, four of the last five outings versus the National League West, five straight contests versus right-handed starters, and five of the last seven games played on the road. Take the Brewers. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Best Bet Play

Game 966.

10:10 AM, PST/110 PM EST.

Pertaining to Tampa Bay yesterday, I made a statement saying, “You can’t argue with success, let alone perfection.” Well folks, the Rays are the only undefeated team left standing in the Majors, at 8-0. This is team that has outscored opponents 64-18 thus far. Not a single game in their eight contests has been decided by less than four runs. This includes games 1 and 2 of this series with the A’s. They have taken Oakland down by a combined score of 20-5. Going back to last season, they have won five consecutive matchups in this rivalry. And my friends, the lowest margin of victory in those five games was three runs. The Rays are doing it both on the mound and at the plate. They currently own the No. 1 pitching staff in baseball, possessing a Team ERA of 2.13. As a matter fact, they rank in the top-three in just about every major category. When batting, they also top the majors in scoring, averaging over 8.00 runs per game. Offensively, they rank in the top-four in just about major category. On the other hand, Oakland is struggling. They are tied for the worst record in the American League as well as dwelling in the West’s cellar at 2-6. Both on the mound and at the plate, their statistics are some of the worst in baseball. They rank 28th in pitching, with a whopping Team ERA of 7.00. They also rank 26th in scoring, averaging a dismal, 3.38 runs per game. Today, James Kaprielian and Drew Rasmussen are schedule starters. The Oakland right-hander was shelled on April 3 for five runs on seven hits in just five innings pitched. A season ago, he was just 5-9 with a 4.23 ERA in 26 starts. The Tampa Bay right-hander held Washington to just two hits over six shutout innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks, also back on April 3. In his only career start against Oakland, Rasmussen earned a victory approximately one year ago, giving up one run and on just one hit in five innings pitched. A season ago, in 28 games started, he was a very respectable, 11-7 with an anemic ERA of 2.84. The A’s are just 18-40 the last 58 games played on the road, 10-21 the last 31 games played versus right-handed starters, 7-19 the last 26 games played versus the American League East, and 1-6 the last seven games played overall. Take the Rays on the run line. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.
Best Bet Play.
Game 918
1:10 PM, PST/4:10 PM EST.

You can’t argue with success, let alone perfection. The Tampa Bay Rays with another victory on Friday are off to the best start in franchise history, leading the Majors with the best overall record at 7-0. They took down the Oakland A’s yesterday, 9-5. That was the first matchup between these two American League rivals this season. But going back to last season, Tampa Bay has taken four consecutive meetings over Oakland. As a matter fact, they have crushed the A’s, as the Rays smallest margin of victory during those last four matchups came by three runs. Overall, in the 2023 campaign, the Tampa Bay has outscored opponents, 53-18. They have won each of the first seven games by at least four runs. My friends, they are tops in baseball in scoring, averaging 7.57 runs per game. Furthermore, they are scoring almost twice as many runs per game than their opponent today is scoring. That’s right, the A’s only account for 3.80 runs per game. To make things even tougher on the Oakland pitching staff, which by the way ranks 29th with a Team ERA of 6.33, is the fact Tampa Bay’s offense is in the top-four in every major category. On the mound, they are equally as strong, ranking third with a Team ERA of just 2.43. Scheduled starters today are Fujinami and Springs. The A’s right-hander allowed eight runs in his earlier start, getting the hook in the third inning. The Tampa Bay left-hander, who had a stellar campaign in 2022, going 9-5 to 2.46 ERA in 33 games, which includes 25 starts, kicked off this campaign with an outstanding performance, earning a victory over the Detroit Tigers, striking out 12 with just one walk over six scoreless and hitless innings on Sunday. Oakland is just 18-39 the last 57 games played on the road, 10-25 the last 35 games played versus left-handed, starters and 6-17 the last 23 games played versus the American League East. Take Tampa Bay on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Diamond Play.

Game 957.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Los Angeles took Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 5-2, to give the team their fifth victory in the seven games they have played this season. At 5-2, they have taken over the top spot in the NL West. And once again, possess one of the best records in all of baseball. Yesterdays, victory gave Los Angeles their third consecutive win. The team is doing it both at the plate and on the mound. They rank fourth in the Majors averaging over 6.14 runs per game. They also rank second in baseball with a Team ERA of 2.14. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Arizona, despite a respectable 3-4 record, is putting up some of baseballs poorest statistics, both at the plate and on the mound. They rank 26th in scoring, averaging a dismal, 3.15 runs per game. They also rank 22nd in pitching, with a whopping Team ERA of 5.40. In a rematch of an April 1 meeting in which the Dodgers prevailed, 10-1, Clayton, Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner are scheduled to start here. The left-hander, Kershaw improved to a 21-11 lifetime record against the Diamondbacks, with a 2.67 ERA in 42 starts. The left-hander, Bumgarner, in 42 career appearances against the Dodgers, which includes 41 starts, is just 16-18 with an ERA of 3.03. He got lit up in the earlier start, allowing five runs in just 4.0 innings pitched. Los Angeles has taken 40 of the last 51 overall meetings in this series. And 21 of the last 28 matchups played in Arizona. They are also 35-16 the last 51 games played on the road, 46-17 the last 63 games played versus the NL West, and 52-22 the last 74 games played versus left-handed starters. On the other hand, Arizona is just 1-6 the last seven games played at home, 0-5 the last five games played versus left-handed starters, and 48-98 the last 146 games played versus the NL West. Take the Dodgers on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

NL West Game of the Week.

Game 909.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Once again, this season, the Dodgers are one of the favorites to win the World Series. Once again, this season obviously they are one of the favorites to take the National League Pennant. And once again this season, they are the favorite to win the National League West. At 4-2 thus far, Los Angeles sits atop the division with a one-game lead over Arizona. This is an ideal opportunity for the team to put a little distance between themselves and the rest of the division. This is a rematch of the first series of the 2023 campaign for both teams. A matchup in which the two rivals split out a four-game series. In all sincerity, the Diamondbacks play the Dodgers very tough. However, they enter this matchup struggling, both on the mound and at the plate. They rank 21st with a team ERA of 5.29. They also rank 25th, averaging just 3.17 runs per game. On the other end of the spectrum, Los Angeles began this season off exactly where they left off last season…and that is succeeding both on the mound and at the plate. They rank third with a team ERA of 2.17. They also rank third in runs scored, averaging 6.33 runs per game. While both starting pitchers here have had issues with today’s opposing lineups, there is no question that Dustin May look a lot stronger in his first appearance of the campaign, than did Merrill Kelly. The Dodgers have also dominated this rivalry, taking 20 of the last 27 meetings in Arizona and 41 of the last 53 overall meetings against Arizona. The Diamondbacks have lost five of the last six games played at home, seven consecutive games during Game 1 of a series, and four straight outings following an off day. Take the Dodgers. Thank you.

Tigers/Astros Over.

AL Total of the Week.

Games, 959/960.

11:10 AM PST/2:10 PM EST

Games 1 and 2 of this series have both gone over the total as these two teams had combined to score 24-runs. Going back to last season, Detroit has played to six overs in the last eight outings, while Houston enters today’s matchup playing to five consecutive overs. Rodriguez and Javier are scheduled starters. Neither fared very well in their earlier starts this season. With the way both teams are hitting the ball, and the way both pitchers seem to look in the short campaign thus far, you can expect another high-scoring affair here. The over is 19-6-2 in the Tigers last 27 road games and 5-0 in the Astros last five home games. Take the over. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Diamond Play.

Game 956.

10:40 AM PST/1:40 PM EST.

The Mets have been blanked thus far in this series with the Brewers, losing the first two games by a combined score of 19-0. Milwaukee has now won four straight games to currently possess one of the best records in the National League. Their pitching has been solid. And their bats have come alive. As a matter of fact, during the current four-game win streak, they have outscored opponents by a combined 31-6. 2021 Cy Young Award winner, Corbin Burnes takes the hill today at home. Over the last two seasons, the right-hander is a very impressive 23-13. In five career games versus New York, which includes four starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA. Taking the mound on the road is David Peterson. The left-hander lost a heartbreaker in his first start of the campaign. However, he is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in two career appearances, which includes one start versus the Brewers. New York is just 1-8 the last nine games played versus teams with a winning record and 7-20 the last 27 games played at Milwaukee. The Brewers are 4-1 the last five games played at home and 13-6 the last 19 home games played versus teams with a winning record. Take Brewers. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Grand Slam Play

Game 968.

10:05 AM, PST/1:05 PM EST.

Well folks, Philadelphia finally got off the schneid yesterday, beating New York, 4-1. It wasn’t so much the pitching was strong for the Phillies. It was just finally the Yankees did not produce offensively. I look for their explosive lineup to bounce back here today, folks. In the previous four outings, New York accounted for 24 combined runs as they went 3-1. With Gerrit Cole on the mound, I expect the ace to get a ton of run support and go deep into the game. Aaron Nola takes the hill on the road in the Bronx. He was shelled in his first outing. Philadelphia is just 1-6 the last seven road games, 1-7 the last eight Interleague games, and 4-9 the last 13 games versus the AL East. New York is 6-1 the last seven Interleague games versus right-handed starters, 14-4 the last 18 Interleague home games, and 12-5 the last seven games played versus the NL East. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line

Best Bet Play.

Game 969.

10:05 AM, PST/1:05 PM EST.

My friends, you can’t argue with success, let alone perfection. The Rays stand alone as the only undefeated team in baseball. Going 5-0 to kick off the campaign is big. They are doing it with a combination of stellar pitching and explosive hitting. As a matter of fact, they have outscored opponents 37-11. Of course, this includes winning both Games 1 and 2 of this series against the Nationals. There are high expectations for the Tampa Bay this season. Let’s face it, they play in the most competitive division in baseball. And they have the personnel to win the American League East. On the other hand, preseason predictions say the Washington should figure to be one of the poorest teams in the Majors this year. This is a team that has started the campaign just 1-4, once again they are having problems both at the plate and on the mound. There is no doubt that Shane McClanahan outshines counterpart Patrick Corbin. McClanahan will once again keep another line up at bay, while the Rays light up another starting pitcher. The statistics are bad for the Nationals. But here’s a few just for you to take note of; they are 0-5 the last five games played versus the AL East, 0-4 the last four games played against Interleague opponents, 14-41 the last 55 games played versus left-handed starters, 16-41 the last 57 games played at home, and 27-63 the last 90 games played overall. Take Tampa Bay on the runline. Thank you.

Minnesota Twins.

Interleague Game of the Week.

Game 921.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST

Minnesota is only one of two teams left in the Majors still undefeated. The Twins came out of the gate winning their first-four contests with authority. Their hitting has been good. Their pitching has been good. They took Game 1 of this series against Miami yesterday, 11-1. Once again, this season not much is expected of the Marlins. They are off to another rough start at 1-4 thus far. In their five contests thus far, their offense has accounted for a total of nine runs scored. New season, same story. They come into today’s matchup a favorite because they have Sandy Alcantara on the mound. This will be the right-handers second start of the campaign. He went 5.2 innings pitched in his first start with an ERA of 4.76. And did not get a decision. In his career, Alcantara has faced the Twins just once, taking a loss back in July 2019, getting routed for seven runs on 6 hits in just 4.2 innings pitched. He is a very solid and one of the most durable pitchers in the League. Taking the mound on the road today is Kenta Maeda. The right-hander will be making his first start since August 2021. If you recall, he missed last season due to Tommy John surgery. However, a few years back in 2020 shortened season, he was an astounding, 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA to finish second in voting for the American League Cy Young Award. In five career appearances (four starts) against the Marlins, he is 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA. Even with a few players questionable or out here for Minnesota, I still see Maeda getting very solid run support from an offense that has been exploding. Going back several years, Minnesota has taken five of the last seven meetings against Miami. They have also won four consecutive Interleague games, five consecutive games against right-handed starters, and five consecutive games overall going back to last season. Meanwhile, the Marlins are just 16-35 the last 51 home games, 16-36 the last 52 games versus right-handed starters, and 16-39 the last 55 games played versus Interleague opponents. Take the Twins. Thank you

Houston Astros on the Run Line.

Home Run Play.

Game 966.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

Detroit heads to Minute Maid Park, winless, as the Tigers were swept 3-0 at the hands of Tampa Bay, being outscored, 23-3. They must face a Houston team which, despite splitting a four-game series with Chicago, has had their number. The Astros have taken 20 of the last 27 overall meetings against the Tigers. And this does include four consecutive meetings at home. Going back to last season, Detroit has now dropped six consecutive outings. Left-hander, Matthew Boyd will be making his first start September 2021. Hunter Brown is scheduled to make his third Major League start today. The right-hander made seven appearances, which includes two starts for the Astros a season ago. He was an astounding 2-0 with an anemic ERA of 0.89. On a team full of talent, Brown is creating quite a buzz. The Tigers are 0-6 the last six games played on the road. The Astros or 40-11 the last 51 games played versus left-handed starters, 46-18 the last 64 games played at home, and 38-13 the last 51 games played overall. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.  

Houston Astros.

Diamond Play.

Game 908.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The Astros are once again predicted to be one of the best teams in the Majors. Taking an Opening Day, 3-2 loss at home against the White Sox does not sit well with the squad. Houston knows that there was a very good chance that they will be seeing the Chicago down the road in the postseason. Granted, that’s a long day away and we are only on the second day of the regular season, but the Astros hate, and I mean hate losing to other top AL opponents. With one of the most explosive lineups in baseball, the they were held to just four hits on Thursday. I look for them to break out here offensively and exact a little revenge from yesterday’s defeat. Starting today for Chicago is Lance Lynn. The right-hander comes off an 8-7 campaign, with the ERA of 3.99. Now folks, I’ve always been a fan of Lynn. In my opinion he has always been a workhorse. And you knew that you’re going to get solid starts from him. However, he is not a kid anymore. And to be quite honest, the Astros are his kryptonite. He will be making his 15th career appearance, which includes 14 starts against Houston. He is winless, at 0-5 with a whopping ERA of 8.80 over his last five starts against the Astros. Christian Javier takes the hill at home. The right-hander, in 30 games last season, which does include 25 starts, went 11-9 with a very respectable ERA of 2.54. And his only career start against the White Sox, which took place last June, he only allowed one run on two hits in five innings to earn a win against them. Chicago is just 5-16 the last 21 meetings in Houston and 10-22 the last 32 overall meetings against Houston. The Astros are a whopping 38-13 the last 51 games played following a loss, 19-7 the last 26 games played versus right-handed starters, and 44-17 the last 61 games played at home. Take Houston. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 901.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

New York, which, despite a few injuries, is still predicted to be a National League elite squad this season. They took Game 1 of this series on Opening Day yesterday, 5-3. Going back to July of last season, the Mets have dominated the Marlins, taking seven of nine meetings. Moving up in the rotation, David Peterson takes the hill on the road for New York. The left-hander won a career high, seven-games a season ago, with a 3.83 ERA in 28 appearances, which included 19 starts. Over his career in five appearances, which does include force starts against Miami, he is a very respectable 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA. Once again, this season, the Marlins are predicted to be one of the poorest teams in the NL. Jesus Luzardo takes the mound at home. The left-hander was just 4-7 a year ago. And in his lifetime, he has faced New York in four starts, amassing a whopping ERA of 5.40. Granted, these are not the best starting pitchers. However, the Mets are significantly stronger both at the plate and in the bullpen. They are also 39-19 the last 58 games played versus the NL East, 5-2 the last seven games played versus left-handed starters, and 5-2 the last seven games played overall. Oh, by the way, they have also taken six of the last seven meetings at a LoanDepot Park. Take New York. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Home Run Play.

Game 969.

1:10 PM, PST/4:10 PM EST.

Once again, this season expectations are high for the New York Mets. Despite some preseason injuries, they are one of the favorites to win the National League pennant. They are touted to win 94.5-games and battle it out with the Atlanta Braves for the NL East crown. For the Miami Marlins, although they’ve made some additions to the club, it seems like it’s going to be another long and disappointing season. Sandy Alcantara takes the mound at home today. The right-hander comes off his best campaign since coming into the Majors in 2017. However, I still don’t see the team putting up too many runs. So, I doubt he’s going to get a ton of run support. Veteran, Max Scherzer takes the hill on the road. Once again, this season, he is touted to be a major part of his teams success. He also comes off a very good campaign. As division rivals, these two squads know each other very well. To say the Mets have dominated would be an understatement. Just over the last few months of the 2022 campaign, New York took seven of the final 10 meetings with Miami. This does include five of the last six matchups at the LoanDepot Park.  And while overall the Mets struggle a bit on the road, they are one of the best teams in baseball opening a series, winning 37 of the last 54 in Game 1 of a series. On the other hand, the Marlins are just 12-28 the last 40 games played at home, 10-26 the last 36 games played versus the National League East, 15-31 the last 46 games played versus right-handed starters, and 30-65 the last 95 games played during Game 1 of a series. Take New York. Thank you.

San Diego Padres.

Game 971.

4:37 PM PST/7:37 PM EST.

With this series tied 1-1, and now being played in Philadelphia, I know a lot of people out there are going to lean on the Phillies. However, the Padres have taken two of three at Citizens Bank Park this season. They are also a whopping 8-3 the last 11 games played on the road. I really do lean on their starting pitcher as the stronger of the two scheduled today. Joe Musgrove and Ranger Suarez are set to take the mound in this Game 3 matchup. Musgrove was 10-7 with a 2.93 ERA during the regular season. And is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA this postseason. Not only that, but over his last three outings, despite having no decisions, he has an anemic ERA of 0.56 in 16 innings pitched. And on the road in 2022, the right-hander owns a very respectable 7-3, 3.01 mark. Suarez was 10-7 with a 3.65 ERA during the regular season. And during this postseason, he has no decisions, but owns a respectable ERA of 2.70. Over his last three outings he is not fared too well, going 1-2 with a 4.80 ERA, giving up 19 hits and eight runs in just 15 innings pitched. And at home this season, he split out, going 4-4 with a 4.27 ERA. Philadelphia is just 1-4 the last five versus the NL West, while San Diego is 5-2 the last seven versus the NL East. I like Musgrove as the stronger starter and feel San Diego has a little momentum here. Take the Padres. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

Game 963.

5:37 pm PT/8:37 pm ET

My friends, Los Angeles does not take losing lightly. And dropping Game 2 at home in front of their loyal fans left even worse of a bad taste in in their mouth. They will bounce back here in Game 3 at Petco Park and gain the edge in this series. They have had their way with the Padres in San Diego, taking four the last five meetings there. The pitching matchup here heavily favors Los Angeles as Tony Gonsolin and Blake Snell are scheduled starters. Gonsolin went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA during the regular season and will be making his 2022 postseason debut. He also went 2-0 in two starts against San Diego this season with anemic ERA of 0.71. If you’re worried about him being on the road, don’t be. He was perfect as a guest in 2022 sporting a 7-0 mark with a 2.66 ERA. On the other hand, Snell was 8-10 with a 3.38 ERA during the regular season. During the postseason so far, he is 0-0 with a whopping ERA of 5.40. He did quite well after the All-Star Break. But had problems this season against Los Angeles. In three starts against the Dodgers, he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Control was an issue for the left-hander, walking 10 batters in just 14 innings pitched. San Diego is 2-5 the last seven playoff home games, 1-5 the last six games played following a win, and 2-10 the last 12 divisional playoff games. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Game 966

10:07 am PT/1:07 pm ET.

New York took Game 1 of this series on Tuesday by score of 4-1. Cleveland came out the top of the third inning to hit the scoreboard first and lead, but just for a few minutes. The bottom of the third, New York tied it up. and then their bats went to town the rest of the game, taking the series opener. That’s pretty indicative of the baseball that the Yankees play. The Guardians played very good towards the end of the season, as one of the hottest teams in all of baseball to finish the season. However, playing good in the regular season and then taking the Rays at home in the Wildcard round is much different than going on the road to the Bronx and playing in New York. Let’s face it, the playoffs are a whole different monster. Furthermore, going into Yankee Stadium to face the best home team in the American League is even more of a monster. The Yankees have now taken six of the seven meetings with the Guardians in 2022, outscoring them by a combined, 42-14. This includes winning all four meetings with Cleveland this season in the Bronx. Today’s starters are Shane Bieber and Nestor Cortés Jr. Both pitchers Finished the regular season on high-notes. The one thing that really stands out to me is the fact that Cortez is 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA at home on the campaign. While Biebers numbers are very good, Cortezhas allowed three runs or less in 12 consecutive appearances. Cleveland is 2-9 their last 11 playoff games, 0-6 the last six road playoff games, and 0-7 the last seven divisional playoff games. They are also just 23-50 last 73 meetings in New York. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Game 934.

5:37 PM PT/8:37 PM ET.

Los Angeles took Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 5-3. They have now taken three straight meetings over San Diego and seven of the last overall nine matchups. While the Padres are a good team, the Dodgers are a very good team. And facing L.A. at Dodger Stadium is a difficult task for any visitor as they finished the regular season the most successful home team in the National League going 57-24 at Dodger Stadium. San Diego had decent numbers, both on the mound and at the plate this year. However, they still rank around the middle of the pack in both areas. Los Angeles, what can you say they, own the top pitching staff as well as the top scoring lineup in baseball. And the differences between two squads going up against one another in those areas are significant. Today’s starting pitchers are Yu Darvish and Clayton Kershaw. The Padres right-hander is 17-8 with a 3.03 ERA in 2022, which includes a win this postseason. The Dodgers left-hander is 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA on the campaign. Darvish’s postseason numbers are decent. But they just don’t match up with Kershaw’s playoff statistics. He also has a career record against Los Angeles of 3-5. Compare that to 45 career regular season starts again San Diego for Kershaw, who is 23-9 with a 2.03 ERA in 292 innings pitched. Let’s face it, playoff experience means a lot. San Diego is 16-41 the last 57 meetings with Los Angeles, 2-5 the last 7 playoff road games, and 1-10 the list 11 divisional playoff games. Take Los Angeles on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Game 924.

6:37 PM PT/9:37 PM ET.

My friends, I wouldn’t overthink the fact that the Dodgers closed out the regular season campaign dropping three of their last four. They didn’t need the wins and they coasted through and rested quite a bit in preparation of the postseason. Yes, the Padres took down the highly-favored Mets in the Wildcard round. They deserve our applause for sure. However, things are going to go drastically different for San Diego in this series. Especially here in Game 1. They must face a Los Angeles team that sported the best home record in the National League this regular season, going 57-24 at Dodger Stadium. You know going back a bit the Padres have not fared well at all in L.A., going 16-45 the last 61 meetings as a guest in the Dodgers house. Starting pitchers for today’s series opener are Mike Clevinger and Julio Urias. The Padres right-hander was 7-7 with a 4.33 overall on the season. On the road, his ERA soars to 5.46. Now the team has won his last four appearances, which does include a September 9 extra innings 5-4 win in Los Angeles. But he earned the loss just five days before at Dodger Stadium. However, in both of those matchups he allowed nine earned runs in just 8.1 innings pitched. As a matter of fact, he was 0-2 with a 9.69 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles this season. Urias sports team great numbers. Overall, on the campaign he 17-7 with a 2.16 ERA. This does include at a home mark of 6-3 with a 2.43 ERA. What is remarkable about the Dodgers left-hander is that he has allowed two runs or less in his last 14 appearances. The team is has won 17 of his last 19 outings. Moreover, he has dominated San Diego in four games season, going 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 24 innings pitch. Three of those starts came in the month of September when he went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA. As a matter fact, in 15 career appearances (which does include 10 starts against the Padres), Urias is 6-1 with a 2.19 ERA. If you recall, in the only other postseason match up all-time between these two teams, the Dodgers swept the Padres three games to zero in the 2020 NLDS. San Diego is 5-11 the last 16 playoff games, 1-4 the last five games played following a win, and 1-5 the last six divisional playoff road games. Take Los Angeles on the runline. Thank you.

San Diego Padres.

Game 939.

5:07 pm pst/8:07 pm est.

Sports fans, over the course of this season I have spoken many times about, in my opinion, if the New York Mets had any heart whatsoever, they would’ve made more than one trip to the Fall Classic over the last decade. And should have walked away with at least one ring. This is a team that spent over 175 days in first-place in the competitive NL East. But yet when crunch time arose, they couldn’t get it done, finishing behind the Atlanta Braves. I’m not going to argue the fact that this team has a lot of talent. But having talent and accumulating victories during the regular season is much different than winning in the postseason. I do feel this series will be a very competitive series. However here in the opening game, I do feel they will fall short. They have a false sense of security, coming off a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to end the regular season. Prior to that, this team lost five of the last seven, as they struggled both at the plate and on the mound. On the other hand, the Padres did take two of three in their final series against the Giants. These two teams met six times in the 2022 regular season, with San Diego taking four of the six meetings. They are both throwing their best on the mound in the opener. Yu Darvish and Max Scherzer are getting the nod here in Game 1. While the Mets right-hander has solid career numbers against the Padres, he did take a loss in his only meeting this season against them back in the end of July. And when it comes to the playoffs, Max Scherzer is a mediocre, 7-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 26 playoff games, which includes 21 starts. On the other hand, the Padres right-hander, who has had enormous success against many teams in the MLB, but really has been unstoppable when facing the Mets. Darvish is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in eight starts against New York, which includes a which includes a 2-0 mark with a 0.64 ERA in two starts this season alone. Granted his postseason numbers are less than stellar, but he is a much different pitcher this season than in previous seasons. San Diego is 5-1 the last six games played on the road and 16-5 the last 21 games played following an off day. New York is 0-4 the last four versus teams with the winning record and 1-5 the last six playoff games. While I do think this will be a competitive series, the Padres will take Game 1. Take San Diego. Thank you.

Cleveland Guardians.

Game 946.

9:07 AM PST/12:07 PM EST.

Tampa Bay finished the regular season losing five straight games while Cleveland ended the campaign winning seven of their last 10. These two teams only met six times in 2022 as the Guardians took four of the six meetings. Not only did the Rays slump the last several weeks, but their offense was nonexistent. To add insult to injury, they’re pitching staff seemed to feel the fatigue of the long regular season. On the other hand, Cleveland did whatever it took to finish on a high-note. Both at the plate and on the mound, this team surged. Shane McClanahan and Shane Bieber are schedule starters in game 1 of this series. There is no arguing the fact that both starting pitchers put up very solid numbers during the regular season. Over his last three outings, the Tampa Bay left-hander went 0-3 with a whopping ERA of 7.07. Meanwhile, the Cleveland right-hander was a very impressive 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA over his last three appearances. Tampa Bay is 1-5 their last six playoff games, 1-6 the last seven playoff road games, 0-6 the last six games played versus RH starters, and 0-5 the last five overall games played on the road. Take Cleveland. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves.

NL East Game of the Week.

Game 955.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

My friends, the Atlanta Braves can clinch their fifth straight NL East championship with one more victory. And trust me when I tell you, with the New York Mets just over their shoulder and facing the Washington Nationals this series, they want to do it sooner than later. They have dominated the Miami Marlins, taking eight straight meetings between the two division rivals. The Braves come into this matchup red-hot, winning seven of their last eight. Bryce Elder takes the hill on the road here. The right-hander is just 2-3 on the campaign. However, he has an anemic ERA of 2.76. And in his three starts against the Marlins in 2020, his ERA is just 1.53. The team has won three of his last four turns. And he comes off his best performance of the campaign, going nine full innings and blanking the Nationals, 8-0 a week ago. Jesus Luzardo gets the start at home. The left-hander is 3-7 with a 3.53 ERA on the campaign. He is making his fourth career start against Atlanta. And owns a 6.23 ERA in 13 innings in those starts. The team has dropped his last nine appearances. He has given up runs in each one of those outings. And at home on the campaign, he is 1-5 with a 4.95 ERA. Atlanta is 21-6 the last 27 during Game 1 of a series, 4-1 the last five on the road, 49-10 the last 59 versus teams with a losing record, and 38-16 the last 54 versus the National League East. Take the Braves. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 921.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

You would think that clinching the division and only one-win away from a 100-win season would allow Houston to coast into the postseason. However, with New York starting to heat up, they do not want to lose the top seed in the American League. They play a Baltimore team that mathematically still has a chance at a Wildcard spot. They are just four-games back of that opportunity. The Astros are the hottest team in baseball winning nine of their last 10 outings. They are doing it with a combination of explosive hitting and stifling pitching. In those nine victories in the last 10 contests, they have outscored opponents by a combined, 57-14. The pitching matchup heavily favors the away team here today. Justin Verlander and Kyle Bradish are scheduled starters. Verlander has the best earned run average in the Majors. He’s also gone 14 straight innings without allowing a run. On the campaign the right-hander is 17-3 with a 1.78 ERA. In 23 career starts against Baltimore, he is 10-5 with a 3.64 ERA. You would think his numbers wouldn’t be as impressive when he travels. But the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 8-2 with an ERA of 1.78 on the road in 2022. He also looking to get 20-wins this season. Bradish owns a 3-7 record with a 5.05 ERA on the campaign. He has lost his last two starts. And while pitching at Oriole Park this season he is winless at 0-5 with a whopping ERA of 5.80. The Astros are 13-3 the last 16 in Baltimore, 13-3 the last 16 on the road, 5-0 the last five versus right-handed starters, and 4-0 the last four versus the American League East. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

San Francisco Giants.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 957.

5:40 PM PST/8:40 PM EST.

San Francisco has taken three straight meetings with Colorado. including Games 1 and 2 of this series. With just 14-games remaining in their regular season, the Giants are 9.5-games back of a Wildcard spot. Although it is a longshot, they still have a chance of making the postseason. Therefore, they must keep their foot on the gas and continue to win. The Rockies have been eliminated from any chance at the playoffs. So, they are not playing for anything at all folks. What really does interest me here today is the pitching matchups. Logan Webb and German Marquez our scheduled starters. Webb is 13-9 with a 3.02 ERA on the campaign. On the road he owns is a respectable record of 5-3 with a 3.07 ERA. And over his last three turns, he is 2-1. You can always depend on Webb to go about six or so solid innings. Marquez is 8-11 with a whopping ERA of 5.14 on the campaign. At home he is just 2-5 with a 6.78 ERA. And over the last three outings his ERA is 6.50. The Giants are 4-0 the last four versus teams with a losing record, 4-0 the last four on the road, and 11-5 the last 16 following a win. Take San Francisco here. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Crusher Play.

Game 907.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

Some teams might take their foot off the gas once they clinch a playoff berth. However, the New York Mets cannot. With a 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of this series yesterday, New York reserved a postseason spot for themselves. But they still want to take the division and reach 100-wins on the season. The Atlanta Braves are right behind them, just one-game back in the NL East. So, they must keep their foot on the gas folks. Not only that, but there jut six-games away from reaching the milestone of 100-wins in a season. Carlos Carrasco and Aaron Ashby are scheduled today. Carrasco is 15-6 with a 3.70 ERA on the campaign. Over his last three starts, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA. And in four career starts against the Brewers, he is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA. Ashby is 2-10 with a 4.58 ERA on the season. Just over his last three turns, he has allowed 12 earned runs in 15.2 innings pitched. As a matter of fact, the team has lost seven straight appearances made by the left-hander. And at American Family Field this season, he owns a record of 1-3. The Mets have taken three of four the season against the Brewers. They are also 5-1 the last six on the road, 19-7 the last 26 versus the NL Central, and 5-0 the last five overall. Take New York. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Grand Slam play.

Game 954.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves still have a very good shot at taking the NL East. They sit just 1-game back of the New York Mets in the division. Not only that, but they would love to hit 100-wins this season. They enter game 1 of this series with the Washington Nationals after sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0. They have dominated Washington once again this season, taking nine of the last 10 meetings alone in 2022. Speaking of the Nationals, they own the worst record in all of baseball. They have thrown in the towel on the season a long time ago folks. And recently, they have dropped six of their last eight overall. Cory Abbott and Kyle Wright are schedule starts today. Abbot is 0-2 with a 4.37 ERA on the campaign. The team has lost his last three and eight of his last nine overall appearances. I don’t expect him to pitch more than a few innings. When Washington goes to their bullpen, please remember they rank 30th it’s in the league with a Team ERA of 5.03. On the other hand, Kyle Wright, who is 18-5 with a 3.18 ERA on the campaign is trying to become the first Atlanta pitcher to win 20-games in over 19 years. He is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA against Washington this season alone. And at home in 2022, he has been stellar, sporting an 11-2 record with a 2.82 ERA. The Nationals are 1-5 the last six on the road, 10-43 the last 53 versus the NL East, and 16-40 the last 56 during Game 1 of a series. The Braves are 40-13 the last 53 at home, 35-16 the last 51 versus the NL East, and 23-7 the last 30 during Game 1 of a series. Take Atlanta on the runline. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 962.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

The Houston Astros have their sites on a 100-win season. Not only that, but they know the New York Yankees have started to heat-up again and don’t want to relinquish the A.L.’s top-spot, knowing they just very well may be facing the Yankees for the pennant. They face an Oakland A’s team that currently possesses the worst overall record in the American League. They have dominated this series taking three in a row overall and four of the last five at Minute Maid Park. The A’s are absolutely atrocious. They rank at or near the bottom in every major offensive category. And own one of the poorest pitching staffs in the Majors. Facing an Astros team that is on a 12-3 run with a dangerous offense and the baseball’s second-ranked pitching staff is going to prove to be fatal here. James Kaprielian and Lance McCullers are scheduled today. The Oakland right-hander is 3-9 with a 4.79 ERA on the campaign. Over his last three starts, he is 0-2 with a whopping ERA of 8.10. By the way, he is winless in his last five turns, going 0-4 with a no decision.  The Houston right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA on the season. He has made five appearances in 2022, never going less than five innings pitched, and never allowing more than three earned runs. By the way, at home this year, he is a perfect 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA. Oakland is 4-10 the last 14 versus the AL West, 3-9 the last 12 versus right-handed starters, and 3-10 the last 13 overall. The Astros are 43-18 the last 61 versus division opponents, 59-25 the last 84 during Game 1 of a series, And a 46-18 the last 64 at home. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Crusher Play.

Game 919.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

My friends, cream rises to the top. Having said that, the Yankees have won three in a row and six of their last eight to now give them a six-game lead in the competitive, A.L. East. Not only does New York want to widen their cushion in the division, they also want to make sure they have one of the two best records in the American League. And they also wouldn’t mind catching Houston for the overall best record in the League. There is no debating that Aaron Judge is going to probably sign one of the most lucrative deals in the history of the sport after the season. He is on-fire at the plate. And the rest of the offense has started to heat up as well. Just over the last three-games, the lineup has accounted for 27 runs scored. On the other hand, Boston is now four-games under .500 and dwelling in the cellar of the division, 17-games back. Technically they have a chance at a Wildcard spot. But at 10.5-games back of that, it is highly unlikely. The Red Sox have dropped six of their last seven as their erratic lineup just can’t compensate for their atrocious pitching. Speaking of pitching, Nelson Cortez and Brayan Bello are scheduled here today. The New York right-hander is 9-4 with a 2.73 ERA on the campaign and has not allowed more than three runs in his last eight turns. On the road he is a very respectful 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 2022. Bello is 1-5 on the season with an ERA of 5.79. At home things don’t get too much better for the Boston right-hand as he is 1-3 with a 5.01 ERA on the campaign. With the way that the Yankees lineup has begun to surge and the fact that they know they need every win they can get right now, getting them at this price is a bargain. They are 4-1 the last five versus the A.L. East and 7-2 the last nine versus right-handed starters. Take New York. Thank you.

St. Louis Cardinals on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 962.

4:45 PM PST/7:45 PM EST.

St. Louis is running red-hot, winning eight of their last 10 outings. And believe me folks, they need to continue to keep their foot on the gas to keep their cushion in the NL Central. They are a division leader and have an 8.5-game lead over Milwaukee in the division. They face of Washington team that is the first team in the Majors to be eliminated from any chance at the postseason. The Nationals are done and aren’t playing for a single thing. Today’s starting pitchers are Corey Abbott and Jordan Montgomery. The Washington right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.39 ERA. And has only pitched two innings this month in relief. Overall, this season, he is 0-2 with a 4.39 ERA. On the other hand, The St. Louis left-hander has been stellar since coming over from the Yankees. He is 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA in six starts since joining the Cardinals last month. Overall, on the campaign, he is a very respectful 8-3 with a 3.15 ERA. And when taking the mound at home in 2022, he is a perfect 6-0 with a 3.15 ERA. I just don’t see the lowly Nationals 26th-ranked offense competing here against the surging Montgomery and contending with the Cardinals third-ranked lineup. Washing is 2-5 the last seven versus the NL Central while St. Louis is 7-3 the last 10 versus the NL East. Take the Cardinals on the runline. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Crusher Play.

Game 970.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

With about a month left in the regular season, Tampa Bay is starting to surge. Their bats have come alive, resulting in seven wins in their last eight contests. They currently own a Wildcard spot and are just 4.5-games back of New York for the coveted top-spot in the American League East. They face a Boston team they have dominated, taking three in a row and nine of the last 11. Not only that, but they have owned them in Tropicana Field, taking 23 of the last 32 meetings at home. The Red Sox have now sunk to last place in the division, 15-games back and nine-games back of a Wildcard opportunity. Starting pitchers today are Pivetta and Springs. The Boston right-hander owns a 1-4 record with a 5.34 ERA against Tampa Bay as they have swatted 27 hits in 32 innings. Over his last three outings, he is 0-1 with a whopping ERA of 5.27. The Rays left-hander is 7-4 on the campaign with a 2.62 ERA. Over his last three turns, he is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA. And at Tropicana Field in 2022 his ERA shrinks down to 1.91 in 47 innings pitched. The Red Sox are 1-5 the last six on the road, 16-36 the last 52 versus the American League East, and 1-5 the last six versus teams with a winning record. Take the Rays. Thank you.

Arizona Diamondbacks.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 911.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Arizona has won nine of their last 11 outings, including Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 5-0. The Diamondbacks need every win they can get right now as they are two losses away from being eliminated from a Wildcard opportunity. San Diego is on a three-game slide, being outscored by a combined 26-5. Today’s schedule starters are Merrill Kelly and Joe Musgrove. Kelly is 12-5 with a 2.84 ERA on the campaign. Musgrove owns a 9-6 record with a 3.01 ERA this season. The Diamondbacks right-hander seems to be getting better as the season progresses, going 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last 12 starts. And in 12 career starts against the Padres, he owns a very respectable record of 8-2 with a 2.34 ERA, including a 1-0 mark with a 0.90 ERA in two outings this season. The Padres right-hander has struggled for several months now, losing six straight decisions since late-June before a decent outing against the Giants on Wednesday. Arizona is 6-1 the last seven versus right-handed starters. San Diego is just 2-5 the last seven at home. Take the Diamondbacks. Thank you.

Kansas City/Chicago over.

American League Central Total of the Month.

Games 921/922.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The long regular season has started to take it’s tall on these two clubs. Particularly their pitching staffs. Kansas City ranks 27th with a Team ERA of 4.74. While Chicago ranks 20th with the Team ERA of 4.06. As a matter of fact, the last four meetings in this series, all in the month of August have gone over the total, combining for 45 runs scored. Coming into today’s match up, the Royals have gone over in six of their last seven outings. And the White Sox, three of their last four. Bubic and Lynn are scheduled starters. Bubic is 2-9 with a 5.62 ERA. August has not been kind to the left-hander. He is 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in five starts in the month. Lynn is 3-5 with a 5.00 on the campaign. He is certainly not a kid anymore. That’s for sure. The over is 5-1 in the Royals last six versus right-handed starters and 4-1 in the White Sox last five at home. Take the over. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the runline.

Home Run Play.

Game 910.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves are looking to take over the NL East from The New York Mets. However, Atlanta has dropped three straight. The only thing that has helped is the fact that New Yorke has drop their last two. Losing Game 1 of this series to Colorado extra motivates this team here today. The Braves have taken the four previous meetings this season against the Rockies. Feltner and Wright are schedule starters. Feltner is 2-5 or 5.87 ERA on the campaign. And has made two career starts against Atlanta, going 0-2 with a whopping ERA of 19.06. Wright has some of the most impressive numbers this season, going 16-5 with a 2. 99 ERA. He has won each of his last three starts and nine and his last 10 decisions. At home this season he has been outstanding, going 10-2 with a 3.05 ERA. The Rockies are 3-10 the last 13 following a win, 8-22 the last 30 versus the NL East, and 16-41 the last 57 on the road. I expect the Braves offense to explode here today. Take Atlanta on the run line. Thank you.

Dodger/Mets under.

Grand Slam Play.

Games 907/908.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

These are two of the best teams in all of baseball. Not only that but they own two of the most explosive offenses in the Majors. However, they both also possess two of the best pitching staffs. Four of the five meetings between these two powerhouses this season have gone under the total. Three of the Dodgers last four overall games have gone under the total, while six of the Mets last seven have also done the same. Anderson and the deGrom are schedule starters here. Anderson owns a 13-2 record with a 2.69 ERA. DeGrom is 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA. Both have done very well on against today’s opposing lineups. deGrom, in 10 regular season starts against the Dodgers has an ERA of just 2.87. He also, in 13 innings pitched in the playoffs against them own a very impressive 1.38 ERA. Anderson owns an ERA of just 2.42 in four career starts against the Mets in his career. The under is 13-5-1 in the Dodgers last 19 versus the NL East and 7-1 in the Mets last eight at home. Take the under. Thank you.

Arizona Diamondbacks.

Home Run Play.

Game 960.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Philadelphia may possess a Wildcard spot and a better record than Arizona, but the Diamondbacks seem to be the Phillies kryptonite at Chase Field. They have taken six straight meetings in this rivalry at home, which includes Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 13-7. The Diamondbacks have now won four consecutive games and have Zac Gallen starting today. Over his last seven turns, the right-hander is 5-0 with an anemic ERA of 0.80. As a matter fact, he has not been defeated in his last 13 outings. Aaron Nola takes the bump for Philadelphia. The right-hander is 9-10 with a 3.08 ERA on the campaign. And he owns a 1-1 career mark in three starts against the Diamondbacks, with a whopping area of 6.06. Take Arizona. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 956.

4:20 PM PST/7:20 PM EST.

After winning 15 of their last 17-games, Atlanta dropped the last two matchups with St. Louis. They must turn it around here to better their situation and catch New York in the NL East. They have taken all four meetings with Colorado this season. Jose Urena and Max Fried are schedule today. Urena is 2-5 with a 5.98 ERA. The right-hander will be making his 16th career start, and 19th overall appearance against the Braves, possessing a 2-9 record with a 6.50 ERA against them. Fried, who is 12-4 with a 2.52 ERA on the campaign, owns a career record against the Rockies of 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four appearances, which includes three starts. Colorado is 1-8 the last nine versus left-handed starters, 2-10 the last 12 following a win, and 7-22 the last 29 versus the NL East. Atlanta is a 20-7 the last 27 at home versus right-handed starters, 42-15 the last 57 following a loss, and 12-3 the last 15 versus the NL West. Take the Braves on the run line. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Interleague Game of the Month.

Game 975.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Tampa Bay has dominated Miami, taking five consecutive meetings in this series, including both matchups this season. And the Rays have taken seven of their last nine overall outings to earn a Wildcard spot in the American League. And with just a seven-game deficit behind the Yankees in the A.L. East, they can gain some ground with some victories for sure. The Marlins are just deplorable. They have gotten crushed in Interleague play, going 16-36 to last 52 against the American League. None of their statistics are any better, as they are 17-41 the last 58 versus teams with a winning record, 14-37 the last 51 versus the American League East, 6-20 the last 26 at home, McClanahan and Luzardo are scheduled starters here today. The Tampa Bay left-hander is 11-5 with a 2.20 ERA on the campaign. And in two career starts against the Marlins, he is 2-0 with an ERA of just 0.82. This includes a 4-0 win back at the end of May when he dominated the Miami lineup, striking out nine batters in six scoreless innings. Luzardo is 3-5 with a 3.34 ERA on the season. He has faced Tampa Bay just once in his career, approximately one year ago when you gave up two runs in four innings pitched in a loss. The Rays are 38-15 the last 53 versus the NL East, 7-1 the last eight versus left-handed starters, and 5-1 the last six or following a win. Take Tampa Bay on the run line. Thank you.

New York Mets on the run line.

Best Bet Play.

Game 958.

10:40 AM PST/1:40 PM EST.

New York has taken all three games in this series, dominating Colorado once again this season, going 5-1 against them. The Mets are looking to extend their lead over the Braves in the National League East. And facing the Rockies will help them achieve their goal. Colorado is just phoning it in right now. They are dead-last in the National League West, possessing one of the poorest records in the N.L. Things go from bad to worse when they travel, sporting the worst road record in the Majors, at 18-42 away from home. Max Scherzer and German Marquez are scheduled here today. Scherzer is 9-3 with a 2.33 ERA, making his second attempt trying to become the third active pitcher to record 200 career wins. Marquez has struggled, recording a 6-10 record with a whopping 5.22 ERA on the campaign. Over his last three turns, the right-hander is 0-1, with a 5.50 ERA. Scherzer has been stellar at home, going 4-1, with an anemic 1.71 ERA. The Rockies are 6-22 the last 28 versus the N.L. East, 0-6 to last six versus teams was a winning record, and 14-41 the last 55 on the road. The Mets are 4-0 the last four versus the N.L. West, 39-13 the last 52 versus teams with a losing record, and 36-15 the last 51 at home. Take New York on the run line. Thank you.

New York Mets on the runline.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 958.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

New York Mets have a two-game cushion over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. With less than a quarter of the regular-season remaining, they need to keep their foot on the gas. They face a Colorado Rockies team they have had their way with, taking three of four meetings in 2022, including game 1 of this series. Overall, they have taken six of the last seven meetings going back a bit, and are a perfect 4-0 in this rivalry the last four games played at Citi Field. Chad Kuhl and Chris Bassitt are scheduled starters. Kuhl is 6-7 with a 5.16 ERA on the campaign. And in three career starts against the Mets, he is 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA. He comes off six consecutive outings giving up a lot of runs. He has allowed 29 earned runs in 24.6 innings pitched. Away from home, his ERA soars to 6.08. Oh, by the way over the last three outings, his ERA is a whopping 13.91. Bassitt owns an 11-7 record with a 3.26 ERA on the season. He is facing the Rockies for just the second time. He started against them over seven years ago as a member of the A’s, allowing just one run in five innings. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three turns, going 20.0 innings pitched. And at home this season, he has a low, low ERA of just 2.55. Colorado is 6-20 the last 26 versus the NL East, 14-39 the last 53 on the road, and 3-8 the last 11 overall. Take New York on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 966.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The Houston Astros have played just about the most consistent baseball we have seen this season. They currently own the best record in the American League at 79-45. With a combination of solid hitting and stellar pitching, this team is a true force to be reckoned with. They rank eight in the Majors in scoring, averaging 4.59 runs per game. And second in pitching, with a Team ERA of 3.07. As a matter fact, they rank in the top-10 in just about every offensive and pitching category there is. They have had their way with the Minnesota Twins this season, taking all four meetings against them. They have outscored their American League rival by a combined 21-5, blanking the Twins in two of those games. Minnesota has turned ice-cold, riding a four-game slide, and dropping nine of their last 14 outings. Over the last week or so, their offense has absolutely sputtered, accounting for just nine-runs in the last five contests. And that’s just not going to do it in a match up with a Houston lineup that has exploded. As far as pitching goes, today Dylan Bundy and Framber Valdez are scheduled. Bundy is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA on the campaign. And in nine career appearances, which includes eight starts against the Astros, he is 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA. Valdez owns some very respectable numbers, going 12-4 with a 2.72 ERA this season. He is unbeaten over his last six starts, going 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA. And in his career, in six lifetime appearances, which includes three starts against the Twins, he’s 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. The Twins are 0-4 the last four versus the American League West, 0-4 the last four versus teams with a winning record, and 1-6 the last seven on the road. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Early Game Winner.

Game 951.

9:35 AM PST/12:35 PM EST.

Winning 13 of their last 15 games, Atlanta is right on the heels of New York in the NL East. They sit just two-games back in second place in the division. They have had their way with Pittsburgh this season, taking all six meetings in this National League rivalry. The Braves have outscored the Pirates 30-12. And only one-game was decided by a single run. Kyle Wright and Mitch Keller are scheduled starters today. Wright is 15-5 with a 3.14 ERA on the campaign. The team has won 17 of his 23 appearances in 2022. And he personally has won six of his last seven decisions. Keller is 4-9 with a 4. 49 ERA on the season. And at home at PNC Park, he has been absolutely deplorable, going 0-5 with a 4.80 ERA. Atlanta is 8-0 the last eight on the road and 5-1 the last six versus the NL Central. Pittsburgh is 0-4 the last four at home and 8-21 the last 29 versus the NL East. Take the Braves on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the runline.

Home Run Play.

Game 918.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The Houston Astros have had their way with the Minnesota Twins this season, taking all three meetings. The Twins are riding a three-game slide. And although they need wins not just to better themselves in the division, but to earn a wildcard spot, they are struggling. Although the Astros dropped two of three to the Braves in their last series, they really have played consistent baseball since Opening Day. Today Sanchez and Verlander are scheduled. Sanchez is 3-3 with a 7.68 ERA on the campaign. And in his career, in seven appearances, which includes four starts against Houston, he is 3-2 with a 6.20 ERA. Verlander owns a 15-3 record on the season with an anemic ERA of just 1.95. And in 39 career starts against Minnesota, he possesses an incredible record of 21-10 with just a 2.82 ERA. Minnesota is 1-5 the last six versus the AL West, 1-5 the last six on the road, 1-4 the last five versus right-handed starters, 2-5 the last seven following a loss, and 4-11 the last 15 versus teams with a winning record. They are struggling and Houston is not. Take the Astros on the run line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the runline.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 905.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves are sitting just three-games behind the New York Mets in the NL East and want the top-spot in the division. They are playing very strong baseball right now, winning 12 of the last 14 outings. They are doing it with a combination of solid hitting and stellar pitching. They face a Pittsburgh Pirates team that is one of the worst squads in baseball. Let’s face it, this team is making reservations to play golf already for October. Lol. Atlanta has taken all five meetings with Pittsburgh this season. And going back a bit, are 19-7 the last 26 overall meetings. Today Max Fried and JT Brubaker are schedule starters. Fried is 11-4 with a 2.60 ERA on the campaign. And is 2-1 in four career starts versus the Pirates. Brubaker, who is 3-10 with a 4.19 ERA this season has lost both of his career starts against the Braves with a whopping ERA of 7.30. The Braves are crushing it away from home riding a 7-0 record the last seven on the road. Not only that but they are also 4-1 the last five versus the NL Central and 35-16 the last 51 versus right-handed starters. The Pirates are 8-20 the last 28 versus the NL East and 0-5 the last five at home versus left-handed starters. Take Atlanta on the runline. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 974.

1:10 PM PST/410 PM EST.

The Tampa Bay Rays are fighting to stay close to the first place New York Yankees in the American League East. Not only that but they are fighting for a Wildcard spot as well. They currently sit in third place in the competitive division, nine-games back. They desperately need wins at the moment. And what better team to face to achieve their goal than the Kansas City Royals. They did split Games 1 and 2 of this series. However, the Royals are one of the poorest teams in the American League. They own one of the worst away records in the league, going 20-38 on the road this season. This does not bode well as the Rays are a very good home team, sporting a 36-23 mark at Tropicana Field in 2022. But it is the pitching matchup today they compels us to side with the home favorite here. Kris Bubic and Drew Rasmussen are schedule starts. Bubic is 2-7 with a 5.11 ERA on the campaign. Rasmussen owns a very respectable 7-4 record with a 2.80 ERA. When on the road, the Royals left-hander is just 1-3 with a 4.81 ERA. Meanwhile at home, the Rays right-hander has been stellar, going 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA. Kansas City is just 3-9 the last 12 meetings in Tampa Bay and 8-18 to last 26 meetings overall. They are also just 1-6 the last seven on the road, 17-35 the last 52 on astroturf, and 0-5 the last five versus right-handed starters. The Rays are 4-1 the last five versus the American League Central, 82-40 the last 122 at home, and 4-1 the last five versus left-handed starters. Take Tampa Bay on the run line. Thank you.

Boston Red Sox.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 971.

1:05 PM PST/4:05 PM EST.

The Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox are not only trying to make a Wildcard spot, they are both also trying to stay out of the American League East cellar. While the Orioles did take Game 1 of the series yesterday. Overall, the Red Sox are playing a little more consistent baseball. Both on the mound and at the plate, they are playing some good baseball folks. Today’s pitching matchup significantly favors the away team. Michael Wacha and Kyle Bradish are scheduled starters here. Wacha is 7-1 with a 2.44 ERA on the campaign. This does include a 3-0 record with a 3.79 ERA on the road this season. On the other hand, Bradish has struggled, possessing a 1-4 mark with a 6.38 ERA. At home he is winless, going 0-3 with a 6.52 ERA. He also goes between four and five innings tops. And with the lackluster Orioles bullpen, I like the Red Sox bats to come alive here. Take Boston. Thank you.

San Francisco Giants on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 914.

6:45 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

San Francisco is just 4.5-games back of a Wildcard spot. They have taken games 1 and 2 of this series by a combined score of 8-2. They have had their way with Arizona, taking 37 of the last 53 overall meetings. And take it up a notch when playing their division rival at Oracle Park, taking 21 of the last 26 meetings at home. Overall, the Giants are starting to heat-up, winning five in a row and eight of their last 10 contests. Not only has the offense been exploding, but their pitching staff has been absolutely outstanding. Today Zach Davies and Carlos Rodon are scheduled. Davies it’s just 2-4 with a 4.11 on the campaign. And when the right-hander takes it on the road, things get worse, as he is 1-3 with a 5.00 ERA this season away from home. He has been getting shelled resulting in the team losing seven of his last nine turns. On the other hand, Rodon has some very respectable numbers. The left-hander is 11-6 with a 2.95 ERA overall on the season. Over his last three outings, he is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA. And when at home in 2022, he has been lights-out, sporting a 6-1 record with an anemic 1.89 ERA. The team has won his last three starts, which are all wins for the pitcher as well. San Francisco is 10-1 the last 11 versus teams with a losing record, 4-0 the last four versus right-handed starters, and 5-0 the last five at home. Take the Giants on the run line. Thank you.

Philadelphia Phillies on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 901.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Dropping their last two games, while both the Mets and the Braves are winning, the Phillies have now dropped to 11.5-games back in the division. But they still own a Wildcard spot in the NL. This team needs to get back on track and pile up some victories. What better team to face in to do that than their Reds. Cincinnati is one of the poorest home teams in the National League, sporting a 25-34 record this season at Great American Ball Park. They dropped five of their last six coming into today’s series opener. Their offense is struggling to say the least. Prior to Sunday’s victory, their lineup accounted for two runs or less in five consecutive contests. All this while they’re pitching staff has gotten shelled, allowing five runs or more in seven of the last nine outings. While Noah Syndergaard has had serious problems on the road this season, he’s had enormous success against the Reds in his career, going 5-0 with a 2.11 ERA in six starts against them. The right-handers record will certainly improve as he will get more run support with the Phillies than when he was with the Angels. Mike Minor, who is 1-9 with a 6.24 ERA on the campaign, is horrible. His home record in 2022 is 0-6 with a 6.25 ERA. And overall, the team has lost his last nine appearances. And 11 of his 12 total appearances this season. The Phillies are 4-0 the last four versus the NL Central, 4-0 the last four versus left-handed starters, 4-1 the last five following a loss, 9-3 the last 12 on the road, and 13-4 the last 17 overall. Take Philadelphia on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 972.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The Houston Astros, like so many other opponents, have dominated the Texas Rangers again this season. They took Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 7-5. That victory gave them three straight in this rivalry, eight of the list 10 this season, and 39 of the last overall 54 meetings. The American League West’s top-team now owns an 11.5-game lead in the division. Meanwhile, things aren’t looking too good for Texas. Despite being in third-place in the West, they are 13-games under .500, 22-games back in the division, and 10-games back for a Wildcard spot. Their offense is erratic at best. And their pitching staff has been downright deplorable. This does not bode very well as they face a lineup today that has been heating up recently. Not only does Ranger starter, Glenn Otto allow a lot of runs on a lot of hits, but the team has lost his last eight starts. On the other hand, that is not the case with Astros ace, Justin Verlander. The team has won his last seven turns and 16 of his 20 overall starts in 2022. The seasoned veteran has been stellar. During those last seven outings, he is allowed a total of four earned runs in 50.2 innings pitched. Texas is 1-6 the last seven during game 2 of series, 2-7 the last nine versus right-handed starters, 2-6 the last eight on grass, and 4-11 the last 15 versus the American League West. Take Houston on the runline. Thank you.

New York Mets on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 904.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

New York has won four in a row and eight their last 10 to give the first-place team a seven-game cushion in the NL East. They took Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 5-1 to give the Mets their third win in four meetings with the Reds in 2022. Speaking of Cincinnati, they are just dreadful. They are currently 16-games back, tied for third-place with the Cubs in the NL Central with an overall record of 44-64. They happen to be one of the poorest road teams in baseball, sporting a 20-32 mark away from home. This is a team which possesses a lineup that has been erratic at best and currently the 29th-ranked pitching staff. They send Mike Minor to the mound today. The left-hander is 1-8 with a 6.19 ERA on the campaign as as a team has lost his last eight appearances. Carlos Carrasco takes the hill at home. The right-hander is 12-4 with a 3.82 ERA on the campaign. And has been outstanding at CitiField, donning a 7-1 record with a 3.41 ERA at home this season. By the way, the team has won his last six turns. In those six turns he has allowed three or less runs in each. The Reds are 6-15 the last 21 at the Mets, 1-5 the last six on the road versus right-handed starters, and 16-35 the last 51 during Game 2 of a series. The Mets are 5-1 the last six versus the NL Central, 13-3 the last 16 following a win, and 40-19 the last 59 at home. Possessing top-five rankings both on the mound and at the plate, look for New York to win another game here. Take the Mets on the run line. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 963.

7:10 PM PST/10:10 PM EST.

The New York Yankees have dropped five straight for the first time in the 2022 season. And yes, the Seattle Mariners did take two of three in the earlier series approximately a week ago. Their cushion in the AL East is down to 9.5-games. Anyone looking at the standings wouldn’t worry. But New York must turn it around immediately. That means a big win here today. And facing the AL West’s second-place Seattle team would not only get them going, but also make a statement. The Mariners own a Wildcard spot along with a 10-game lead for their divisions second-place slot. The Yankees aren’t slumping. They are skidding. There is a huge difference. Over the last nine contests, the New York lineup has tallied six or more runs six times. Over their last 10 outings, Seattle has accounted for six or more runs just three times while their pitching staff has gotten plowed. The M’s lineup is erratic at best. And facing a Bronx Bombers team that is in a “must-win” situation, will be fatal for the team. Taillon and Gilbert are slated to take the hill today as starters. The Yankees right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA in three career starts vs. the Mariners. The Mariners right-hander is 1-0 with a 4.38 ERA in two lifetime starts vs. the Yankees. Seattle is 16-35 the last 51 versus New York at T-Mobile Park, 1-4 the last five during Game 1 of a series, and 3-7 the last 10 versus team with a winning percentage of over .600. New York is 36-16 the last 52 overall versus Seattle, 38-15 the last 53 during Game 1 of a series, and 6-1 the last seven on Monday. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.

Home Run Play.

Game 926.

10:35 AM PST/1:35 PM EST.

Four-games separate the American League East’s second place thru fifth place teams. But the only team in the division on a winning streak is the Baltimore Orioles. They have won five in a row. And are just one-game back of a Wildcard spot in the American League. They have taken games 1 and 2 of this series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, outscoring their National League opponent by a combined 7-3. Pittsburgh possesses some of the poorest numbers in the Majors, both on the mound and at the plate. This is a team which is in last-place in the NL Central at 43-64, dropping seven of their last 10 outings. They are also one of the worst road teams in baseball, sporting a dismal, 19-35 away record. This does not bode well as Baltimore is a whopping 31-20 at Oriole Park this season. Bryce Wilson and Spenser Watkins are scheduled starters today. Wilson is 1-6 with a 6.20 ERA on the campaign, while Watkins is 4-1 with a 3.80 ERA this season. For just about three straight months, Wilson has gotten crushed, giving up tons and tons of runs. As a matter of fact, he has allowed 34 runs in his last nine starts, in which he’s pitched only 39.9 innings. On the other hand, Watkins has allowed three runs or less in eight consecutive starts. By the way, the team has won his last four straight and six of his last seven overall turns. The Pirates are 1-7 the last eight following a loss, 1-6 the last seven versus the American League East, and 15-40 last 55 Interleague games. Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Philadelphia Phillies on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 956.

3:05 PM PST/6:05 PM EST.

Currently, the Philadelphia Phillies own a Wildcard spot for the National League postseason. But at nine-games back in the NL East, they certainly want to better their situation in the division. And what better team to face than the Washington Nationals. The Nationals possess the Majors worst overall record at 36-72. Not only that, but as of this morning, they are 32-games back in the NL East and 23-games back of a Wildcard slot. They have lost three in a row, which includes both Games 1 and 2 of this series by a combined score of 12-6. Philly has taken three straight and eight of the last 10 over Washington this season alone. Going back a bit, they are 22-8 the last 30 overall meetings in this NL rivalry. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Nationals are significantly outclassed. Their pitching staff ranks 30th with a Team ERA of 5.20. And their offense ranks 27th in scoring, averaging just 3.81 runs per game. This does not bode well as Philadelphia ranks in the top-10 in both of those areas. Today Patrick Corbin and Ranger Suarez are set to take the hill. Corbin is 4-15 with a 6.57 ERA this season Suarez is 7-5 with a 3.60 ERA. Corbin has gotten shelled for four or more runs in five straight turns. As a matter of fact, the team has lost his last eight starts. Suarez has not allowed a run in his last three outings. While the team has won five of his last six turns. The Nationals are just 3-9 the last 12 on the road, 16-41 won the last 57 versus left-handed starters, and 15-37 the last 52 overall. Philadelphia is 37-17 the last 54 on grass, 9-2 the last 11 versus the NL East, and 8-1 the last nine overall. Take the Phillies on the runline. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 927.

5:15 PM PST/8:15 PM EST.

Despite possessing one of the best records in baseball and a 10.5-game lead in the American League East, the Yankees are just 6-8 since the All-Star break. They need to get back on track. The Cardinals have seemed to turn it up the last week or so, winning six of their last seven outings. However, their last two series were against the Cubs and the Nationals. Let’s face it, neither one of those two teams are going to do better than last place in their perspective divisions. Regardless of how they’ve been doing the last few weeks, New York still possesses the top-scoring lineup and the third-ranked pitching staff in the Majors. St. Louis ranks in the top-10, both on the mound and at the plate. But facing the Yankees is a big step up in class from their last several opponents. Nestor Cortes and Dakota Hudson are starters today. Cortez, who is 9-3 with a 2.53 ERA on the campaign has allowed just three runs in the last 19 innings, covering four appearances, including three starts. The team has won 14 of the left-handers 19 appearances in 2022. Hudson is a 6-6 with a 4.10 ERA on the campaign. However, he has struggled big-time recently. He has just one win in his last six appearances as the team has lost his last four turns. The Yankees are 4-0 the last four meetings with the Cardinals, 19-7 the last 26 following an off day, 30-14 the last 44 following a loss, and 52-21 the last 73 versus the NL Central. By the way, St. Louis has problems in Interleague action going 2-7 the last nine IL games. And moreover, a lot of trouble with the AL East going 17-36 the last 53 versus the division. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 963.

6:45 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

With over 100 games already played, the Los Angeles Dodgers are showing no signs of letting their foot off the gas. They have won seven of their last 10 outings, which includes Game 1 of this series with the San Francisco Giants. As a matter fact, the Dodgers seem to be looking to further widen their lead on the rest of the NL West. They currently own a 12-game cushion. And have truly dominated the rest of the division, going 45-16 the last 61 against NL West representatives. The Giants are on a 3-9 run and seem to be showing signs of fatigue. This is not a good situation for San Francisco, as they have dropped five straight against Los Angeles. Today, Tyler Anderson and Alex Wood are scheduled. Anderson is 11-1 with a 2.61 ERA on the campaign. Wood owns a 7-8 record with a 4.11 ERA. The Dodgers are 8-1 the last nine on the road and 41-17 the last 58 versus left-handed starters. The Giants are 0-8 the last eight versus the NL West and 2-5 the last seven versus left-handed starters. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 957.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

Milwaukee made the news yesterday by trading away Josh Hader. However, they got Taylor Rogers in return. This tells me they’re going to do everything they can to make a real push in the second half of the season and extend their lead in the NL Central. They are currently leading the second-place St. Louis Cardinals by three-games in the division. Today is a very good situation for the Brewers. Just about everybody in the National League has dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates. But they have really had their way with them. They are 7-2 the last nine meetings in Pittsburgh. And 42-17 the last 59 overall meetings. The Pirates are starting to spiral. This is a theme riding a seven-game losing streak as they are being outscored by an average of two runs per game during the slide. Corbin Burnes is scheduled to face Bryse Wilson. Burnes is 8-4 with a 2.31 ERA on the campaign. He seems to be getting stronger this year. Over his last eight starts, he is 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA. And over his career, he is a perfect 6-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 18 games, which includes six starts against the Pirates. On the other hand, Wilson has really struggled this season, going 1-6 with a 6.31 ERA. In five lifetime appearances, which includes four starts against the Brewers, he is 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA. Milwaukee is 12-5 the last 17 following a loss, 5-0 the last five following an off day, and 6-1 the last seven versus right-handed starters. Take the Brewers on the run line. Thank you.

New York Mets on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 903.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

The New York Mets are the hottest team in baseball winning six in a row. They own one of the best overall records in the Majors. And heading into Game 1 of this series facing a team they have dominated. Not just that but they get to go up against the team that possesses the worst overall record in baseball. New York owns a three-game lead in the NL East with an overall record of 64-37. Washington dwells in the division cellar, 30-games back at 35-68. The Mets have taken eight of the last 10 meetings against the Nationals this season alone. And going back a bit, they have taken 16 of the last 21 matchups. New York’s pitching has been good for several seasons. The problem they have had in the past, is that their hitting was very inconsistent. Well, that’s not the case this season. They currently ranked fifth in baseball offensively, averaging over 4.7 runs per game. They also have a Team Batting Average of .256, which also ranks them at fifth. Both on the mound and on the plate, Washington is significantly outclassed here. They rank 27th in scoring, accounting for a dismal, 3.82 runs per game. And they rank dead-last in the Big Leagues with a team ERA of 5.14. Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin are schedule today. Scherzer is 6-2 with a 2.09 ERA on the campaign. And owns a career record of 2-0 against the Nationals. Corbin is 4-14 with a 6.49 ERA this season. The team has lost all five of his starts in July, in which the pitcher got losses in four of those starts. He also owns a lifetime record of 5-9 with a 4.51 ERA against New York. The Nationals statistics and trends are just horrible. They are 22-58 the last 80 at home, 17-64 the last 81 versus division opponents, and 17-37 the last 54 overall. My friends, they are being outscored by nearly 1.5 runs per game as it is. And facing a New York team that is starting to truly surge is going to make things go from bad to worse for them. Take the Mets on the run like. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 957.

10:40 AM PST/1:40 PM EST.

The New York Mets are the hottest team in the Majors, winning five straight. This does include GAMES 1 and 2 of the series against Miami, outscoring the Marlins by a combined 10-4. To say the Mets have dominated their division opponent would be an understatement. They have taken four of the last five meetings at LoanDepot Park and are an overall 10-4 the last 14 meetings. New York has shown consistency all season long both on the mound and at the plate. The offense ranks sixth in scoring, while they’re pitching staff ranks fifth in Team ERA. This does not bode well for a Miami team which has been the epitome of inconsistency in both areas. Their lineup has struggled, while their pitching staff has begun to show fatigue. Taijuan Walker and Pablo Lopez are scheduled here. Walker owns an 8-2 record on the campaign with a 2.67 ERA. Lopez is 7-5 with a 3.03 ERA. The Mets are 6-1 the last seven on the road, 4-0 the last four versus right-handed starters, and 35-16 the last 51 versus the NL East. Miami is 0-6 to the last six at home, 0-5 the last five home games versus right-handed starters, and 0-5 the last five versus division opponents.  Take the Mets. Thank you.

Philadelphia Phillies.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 905.

4:15 PM PST/7:15 PM EST.

Philadelphia has won their last three outings, including Games 1 and 2 of this series. They have dominated Pittsburgh, taking six of the last seven meetings. The Pirates are on a five-game slide. Both on the mound and at the plate, they are absolutely dreadful, possessing some of the poorest stats in the Majors. Suarez and Keller are scheduled starters here. Suarez is 2-0 in four career appearances against Pittsburgh. Keller in two career starts against Philadelphia is 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA. The Pirates are 1-5 the last six at home, 1-6 the last seven versus the NL East, and 2-8 the last 10 at home versus left-handed starters. The Phillies are 5-0 the last five on the road, 21-10 the last 31 following a win, and 23-11 the last 34 versus right-handed starters. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 962.

7:10 PM PST/10:10 PM EST.

Winning eight in a row, the Dodgers now possess the best record in baseball at 64-30. They come off a sweep of division rival Giants and enter Game 1 of this series with another team they have dominated, the Nationals. They have taken nine of the last 10 meetings against the NL East’s last place squad. Only one of those nine victories have come by a single run. As a matter of fact, Los Angeles has outscored Washington 58-21 in those last 10 matchups. Reliever turned starter; Paolo Espino takes the mound on the road today. The right-hander has not earned a victory as a starter as the team has lost six of his seven appearances made as a starter. On the other hand, the Dodgers have won nine consecutive starts made by Tony Gonsolin, who happens to be 11-0 on the campaign. Not only that but he owns an anemic 2.02 overall ERA. He gets even tougher at home where he is 7-0 with a 1.12 ERA. Los Angeles accounts for nearly one and a half runs more while they’re pitching staff yields more than two runs less. They are also 53-15 the last 68 at home, 43-17 the last 60 versus right-handed starters, and 44-18 the last 62 overall. Take the Dodgers on the run line. Thank you.

Toronto Blue Jays.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 915.

10:35 AM PST/1:35 PM EST.

Only five games separate the AL East’s second and fifth place teams. However, the only team on a winning streak in the competitive division is the Toronto Blue Jays. They have won five straight games. On the other hand, the Boston Red Sox are certainly struggling. They have lost four in a row and eight of the last nine. This does include Games 1 and 2 of this series by a combined score of 32-6. The Blue Jays have dominated the Red Sox, taking eight of the last 10 meetings, all in 2022. Striping and Bello are scheduled starters today. Stripling is 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA on the campaign, showing consistency all season long. As a matter of fact, the team has won 10 of his last 14 appearances. In all 14 of those appearances, the right hander has pitched very well. Bello, on the other hand is making just his third appearance. The 23-year-old has pitched an overall 8 innings, walking six, striking out seven, and possessing a whopping ERA of 10.13. It used to be that visitors had a tough time in Fenway Park. But Boston is 23-22 at home this season while Toronto is four and one the last five as a guest against them. The Red Sox are 2-5 the last seven at home, 9-23 the last 32 versus the AL East, and 0-6 the last six versus right-handed starters. Take Toronto. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Diamond Play.

Game in 921.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

As we begin the second half of the baseball campaign, the Rays sit in second place in the competitive, AL East, 12- games back of the Yankees. However, they are a game and a half ahead in the Wildcard spot. On the other hand, the Royals dwell in the Central cellar, 13-games back in the division and 13 1/2 games back of a Wildcard slot. Kansas City owns one of the poorest home records in baseball at 19-27 at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals possess some of the worst statistics, both at the plate and on the mound. They are she definitely outclassed in this matchup. Drew Rasmussen and Brad Keller are scheduled for today. Rasmussen owns a very respectable, 5-3 record with a 3.22 ERA. While Keller is 5-9 with a 3.96 ERA. And in five career appearances against Tampa Bay, four of which are starts, he is 1-3 with a 6.86 ERA. The lackluster Royals lineup has trouble putting up runs against any staff. But against this staff, they will be shut down completely. Take Tampa Bay. Thank you.

San Francisco Giants/Los Angeles Dodgers under the total.

Home Run Play.

Games 951/952.

7:05 PM PST/1005 PM EST.

Both San Francisco and Los Angeles went into the All-Star break winning. The Giants were on a 7-3 run. while the Dodgers won nine of their last 10. It’s no secret that these two division rivals know each other very well. This season alone they played to four unders in the five matchups. Carlos Rodon and Mitch White are scheduled starters today. Rodon is 8-5 with a 2.66 ERA on the campaign. White is 1-2 with a 4.20 ERA this season. Rodon’s last 11 appearances have been seven unders, two overs, and two pushes. In White’s last five appearances, four have gone under the total. The under is 11- 2-3 in Los Angeles’ last 16 versus the NL West and 7 -1-1 in San Francisco’s last nine during game 1 of the series. Take the under. Thank you.

New York Mets on the money line.

Home Run play.

Game 907.

11:20 AM PST/2:20 PM EST.

The New York Mets are playing some amazing baseball. They have won four in a row and 10 of their last 14 outings. This includes Games 1, 2, and 3 of this series with the Chicago Cubs. With All-Star break beginning tomorrow, New York would love to widen their cushion in the National League East over the Atlanta Braves. They currently have a 2.5-game lead in this division. The Chicago Cubs are one of the most disappointing teams in the NL this season. They have lost nine straight contests, to drop them into a last-place tie with a Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central at 34-57. They are 15.5-games back at this point. In my opinion, the team has already thrown in the towel on the campaign playing with no heart or emotion. Both on the mound, and at the plate, the Mets significantly outclass the Cubs. They score a half run more per game while their pitching staff allows a full run less per game. There was a time when Chicago was dangerous at Wrigley Field. But this season they are a mere 17-32 at home. This does not bode well as they face a New York team that is one of the best in baseball when traveling, sporting a 30-19 road record. David Peterson and Adrian Sampson are scheduled starts today. Peterson is 5-2 with a 3.48 ERA this season, which includes a 2-1 record with a 2.84 ERA on the road. Sampson owns a 0-1 record with a 3.33 ERA. The team has lost two of his four starts. Going back to last season the Mets have taken six of the last seven meetings with the Cubs, are 4-0 the last four on the road, and 7-3 the last 10 versus right-handed starters. Take New York on the money line. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 957.

1:05 PM PST/4:05 PM EST.

The Atlanta Braves are hot on the trail of the New York Mets in the NL East. Winners of 13 of the last 18 outings, Atlanta is just two-games back in the competitive division. With All-Star break just around the corner, they want to close that gap. There is no better opponent for them to face to achieve that goal than Washington. The Nationals possess the worst overall record in baseball at 30-62. The team has dropped 12 of their last 13 contests, finding new and improved ways to lose. The Nats offense, or lack thereof, ranks 27th in baseball in scoring, averaging a mere 3.85 runs per game. That would be bad enough. But their pitching staff ranks 29th, with the Team ERA of 5.14. As a matter of fact, in most offensive and pitching categories, they rank at or near the bottom in the Majors. The Atlanta has dominated Washington once again this season, taking nine of the 11 meetings between them and outscoring them 79-40. Max Fried takes mound on the road today. The left-hander owns a 9-3 record with a 2.56 ERA on the campaign as the team has won his last nine starts. Paolo Espino, who is making his 27th appearance, is only making his seventh start of the season. The right-hander has an 0-2 record with a 3.42 ERA. The team has lost his last three starts. Overall, this is a team that has dropped 20 of his 26 appearances in 2022, which does include six of his last seven. Atlanta is 15-4 the last 19 on the road, 37-16 the last 53 versus the NL East, and 38-16 the last 54 overall. The Braves account for approximately a run more per game while their pitching staff yields almost two runs less per game here. Take Atlanta on the run line. Thank you.

New York Mets Game 1 on the money line.

Early Game Winner.

Game 953.

11:20 AM PST/2:20 PM EST.

New York took Game 1 of this series on Thursday with authority, crushing Chicago, 8-0. That defeat handed the Cubs their seventh straight loss. In my opinion, this team has thrown in the towel already on the season. They are playing without any heart or emotion. It used to be that they were a good home team. That isn’t the case this season, as they are just 17-30 at Wrigley Field in 2022. Meanwhile they face a visitor who is extremely good on the road. The Mets are 28-19 as a guest this season. Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman are starting today. Walker, who is 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA on the campaign, has had six consecutive solid starts in which the team went 4-2. Stroman, who is 2-5 or 4.91 ERA this season, is absolutely horrible at home, going 0-3 with a 9.33 ERA. Both on the mound and at the plate, New York significantly outclasses Chicago. They are 4-1 the last five versus the Cubs, 4-1 the last five on the road, and 4-1 the last five versus the NL Central. The Cubs are 17-39 the last 56 at home, 4-10 the last four versus right-handed starters, and 4-10 the last 14 versus the NL East. Take the Mets on the money line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 929.

6:35 PM PST/9:35 PM EST.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have already dominated their division. And in all sincerity, the National League. Today, they get an opportunity to also dominate the city of Los Angeles. This is a team that does very good in Interleague play, going 41-18 the last 59 in those contests. They are also very successful in playing the American League West, sporting a 30-12 record of the last 42 games against the division. Things aren’t looking too good for the Los Angeles Angels. They currently sit in fourth place in their division, 20-games back, dropping 10 of their last 12 contests. They lost both meetings against the Dodgers this season. And going back a bit further, they are on an 0-4 slide against their cross-town rivals. Clayton Kershaw and Patrick Sandoval are scheduled today. Despite missing five weeks of action due to a lower back issue, Kershaw is 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA on the campaign. Over his career he has had enormous success against the Angels, going 8-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 14 starts. Sandoval, despite an ERA of just 2.95 is only 3-4 on the season. Over his career, he has not done too well against the Dodgers, sporting a 0-2 record with a 4.76 ERA in four games, which includes three starts. And by the way, the team has lost six of his last seven appearances. Overall, the Dodgers account for more than a run more per game and allow just about a run less per game. Take Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Home Run Play.

Game 926.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

With the midway point of the regular season coming near, the Houston Astros have shown no signs of slowing down. They own are tied for second best overall record in all of baseball at 58-30. And currently have an 11-game lead in the American League West. They have had their way with this division, going 23-8 the last 31 versus AL west opponents. Today in Game 1 of this series, they face the divisions last place, Oakland Athletics. They have taken seven of the last eight meetings in this rivalry, which includes a 5-1 mark in 2022. Cole Irvin and Jake Odorizzi are scheduled starters today. Irvin, who is 3-7 with a 3.32 ERA this season has gotten decimated by the Astros in his career. In six lifetime starts against them, he owns a 0-4 record with a 5.57 ERA, which includes 0-1 mark this season alone. Odorizzi is 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA on the campaign. And over his last four starts, he seems to be getting even stronger, possessing a 4-0 mark with a 1.87 ERA.  In their five victories over the A’s this season, the Astros have outscored them by a combined, 27-10. Today’s matchup won’t be any different. They are 47-19 the last 66 during Game 1 of a series, 44-20 the last 64 at home, and 5-1 the last six versus left-handed starters. The Athletics are 2-8 the last 10 on the road, 0-5 the last five following an off day, and 15-38 the last 53 versus teams with a winning record. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Home Run Play.

Game 966.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST. 

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to what solidify their second place standing in the competitive American League East. The division is the only in baseball consisting of five teams with a winning record. However, the Rays are starting to distance themselves from the rest of the pack. They sit a game and a half ahead of both the Red Sox and the Blue Jays and 2.5-games ahead of the Orioles. What better opponent to face to achieve their goal than Boston. They have taken five consecutive meetings against their division rival and seven of the last eight this season alone. Just in this series they have won Games 1, 2, and 3 by a combined score of 20-8. It seems as though the Red Sox have had their 15 minutes of fame and the long stretch of the first staff of the regular season has taken its toll on them. They have now dropped seven of their last nine. Their pitching staff has totally fallen apart, allowing five runs or more runs in seven of those last nine outings. Playing in Tropicana Field is difficult on any visitor as the Rays are one of the best home teams in baseball, sporting a 28-17 record as host. Speaking of pitching, Kutter Crawford gets the start here for the guest. While he has not pitched too shabby in recent weeks, he does not have too many starts under his belt. This is just the fifth time he will take the mound as a starter in his short two seasons in the Majors. The way the Tampa Bay lineup has been exploiting the Boston pitching staff tells me he is in for a long day here today. On the flipside, Drew Rasmussen gets the nod at home. He has pitched quite well over recent weeks but a lack of run support has resulted in few wins. But his numbers are very respectable, a 5-3 record with a 3.10 ERA which does include a 3-0 mark with a 1.65 ERA at home this season. Look for Tampa Bay to extend their domination of Boston again today. Take the Rays. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 929.

5:05 PM PST/8:05 PM EST.

The hottest team in baseball is not the Yankees, the Astros, or the Dodgers. Don’t look now, but the Orioles have won nine consecutive games. Not only that, but they have hit the .500 at 44-44. One more victory and every single team in the American League East will have a winning record. With their current hot streak, only 3.5 games separate four teams in the division. The way Baltimore is playing right now, they can go into All-Star break in second place. What better team to face to achieve that goal than Chicago. The Cubs are riding a five-game losing streak and own one of the worst home records in baseball at 17-28 at Wrigley Field. In my opinion, Chicago has already thrown in the towel on the season. They’re playing without any heart or emotion. And I doubt things are going to get any better. This is a team which possesses a very erratic lineup and the 25th ranked pitching staff in baseball. Spenser Watkins takes the hill on the road. The right-hander has a 2-1 record with a 4.15 ERA this season. And he seems to be getting better as the campaign is progressing, going 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in his last three turns. Justin Steele takes in mound at home. He is 3-5 with a 4.13 IRA in 2022. While he is striking batters out, the left-hander is also having a problem with control. To me, baseball is the streakiest of all the major sports and you cannot go against a team that is streaking like Baltimore is at the moment. They have taken both meetings against Chicago this season by a combined score of 13-5. The Cubs are 17-36 The last 53 at home and 7-20 the last 27 Interleague games, Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

Home Run Play.

Game 907.

4:45 PM PST/7:45 PM EST.

Los Angeles snapped their seven-game win streak yesterday in game 1 of this series to St. Louis, 7-6. The Dodgers have just a few games left before the All-Star break and would love to widen their lead in the NL West. This is a team that does not take losing lightly and are excellent in “bounce back“ mode. They have taken eight of the last 11 overall meetings with the Cardinals. And come in here today with Tony Gonsolin on the mound. The right-hander is a perfect, 11-0 on the campaign with an anemic ERA of just 1.62. This is a guy who owns a 4-0 record with a 2.21 ERA on the road this season. While the team has won his last eight turns. St. Louis sends veteran, Adam Wainwright to the hill. The right-hander has lost his last two outings to bring his record to 6-7 with a 3.15 ERA in 2022. Look for Los Angeles to get back on track here as they are 53-20 the last 73 versus the NL Central, 6-1 the last seven road games versus right-handed starters, and an overall 39-16 the last 55 games versus right-handed starters. Take the Dodgers. Thank you.

Houston Astros.

Home Run Play.

Game 971.

6:35 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

With the Yankees starting to show signs of mortality, the Astros know they can go in to All-Star break possibly tied with New York for the best record in the American League and in all of baseball. It’s a slim chance, but it is still a chance. Houston is running red-hot winning 11 of their last 13 contests. Their lineup is exploding. In eight of those last 11 victories, they accounted for five or more runs. All this while their pitching staff has been absolutely outstanding. They have allowed more than three runs just three times in those last 13 overall games. They enter this match up with confidence knowing they have taken three straight and seven of the last 10 meetings this season alone over Los Angeles. Going back a bit they certainly have had their way in the series going 50-23 the last 73 overall meetings. Today Luis Garcia gets the road start. Despite coming off a tough outing, he recorded his fourth win in four straight turns. On the hill for the Angels is Noah Syndergaard. Overall, he has pitched well. However, run support has been an issue as the team has dropped five of his last six starts. Los Angeles is struggling to say the least. They are 3-13 the last 16 during Game 1 of a series, 8-24 the last 32 versus right-handed starters, and 6-15 the last 21 at home. Take the Astros. Thank you.

Cleveland Guardians.

Home Run play.

Game 916.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 pm est.

A half-game separates the AL Central’s second place Guardians and the third place, White Sox. I will tell you that neither team is piling up victories right now. However, Cleveland has taken four of five meetings with Chicago this season. And going back to last season, four the last five meetings at Progressive Field. Scheduled starters today are Lance Lynn and Cal Quantrill. Quantrill has a considerably lower ERA this season. And in eight career appearances versus the White Sox, which includes four starts, he has an ERA of 2.03. Lynn Lynn, in three starts at Progressive Field over his career is 1-2 with a 3.32 ERA. Lynn is only making his sixth appearance on the campaign while Quantrill is making his 17th. He has certainly been the more consistent of the two pitchers. The Guardians are 8-2 the last 10 home games versus teams with a losing record. Take Cleveland. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Game 977.

4:05 PM PST/7:05 PM EST.

New York took Games 1 and 2 of this series with authority only to lose Game 3 in the 10th inning last night. Well folks, the Yankees do not take losing lightly. They certainly don’t take losing lightly to their archrival, the Red Sox. While Boston does occupy second place in the competitive American League East division by just a half-game, this team is certainly starting to show signs of fatigue. The lineup has been erratic at best, while they’re pitching staff has allowed five or more runs in nine of the last 12 contests. This does not bode well when that pitching staff has to face the top-scoring lineup in baseball. That’s right, New York accounts for over 5.22 runs per game, which tops the league. They also lead the league in OPS and home runs. All this while they possess the Majors No. 2 ranked pitching staff. Speaking of pitching, James Taillon and Nick Pivetta are scheduled starters today. The Yankees hurler is 9-2 with a 3.63 ERA on the campaign. And in for career starts against Boston, he owns a 2-0 record with a 1.46 ERA. The Red Sox starter is 8-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 2022. And in his career in four appearances, which includes three stars, is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA versus the Yankees. New York is 5-2 the last seven meetings in Fenway Park and 10-3 the last 13 overall meetings with Boston. They are also 23-8 the last 31 versus the American League East, 39-12 the last 51 versus right-handed starters, and 24-8 the last 32 following a loss. The Red Sox are 1-4 the last five versus the American League East, 1-4 the last five versus right-handed starters, and 1-4 the last five at home. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Home Run play.

Game 960.

1:10 PM PST/4:10 PM EST.

Los Angeles has had their way with most opponents this season. But when it comes to Chicago, they have absolutely dominated. They have taken all six meetings with the Cubs in 2022. And going back a bit further, the Dodgers have taken nine consecutive matchups in this National League rivalry. LA is rolling, riding a five-game win streak, winning nine of their last 10 overall outings. Meanwhile Chicago is slumping, dropping three straight and five of the last seven. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Cubs are significantly outclassed here. When you match up a team that averages over five runs per game with a team that allows over five runs per game, bad things are going to happen. Drew Smyly will be making his first start in nearly six weeks. In six career appearances, which includes four starts against the Dodgers, the left-hander is 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA. Julio Urias takes the mound at home. He sports a 2.57 ERA on the campaign. And in his career, in five appearances, which includes three starts against the Cubs, he is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA. The Cubs are 5-13 the last 18 on the road, 7-21 the last 28 versus the NL West, and 6-14 the last 20 following a loss. Take the Dodgers on the run line. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.

Home Run play.

Game 966.

4:05 pm pst.

Looks can be very deceiving my friends. Case in point, the Baltimore Orioles record. Yes, they are in last place, 20.5-games back in the American League East. However, the division is the only division in baseball that’s sports four teams with winning records. Meanwhile the Orioles themselves possess a 40-44 mark on the campaign. Trust me when I tell you if this ball club was in any other division in baseball, not only would they have a winning record, they might even be a division leader. They are currently riding a five-game win streak. This includes a Game 1 win yesterday over the Angels, 4-1. They have taken three of four meetings in 2022 with Los Angeles. And going back a bit further five of the last six overall matchups. Talk about a disappointing team. The Angels, which had some high hopes this season, are 17-games back in the West, sitting in fourth place, with a dismal record of 38-46. If you just look at the records on the road and at home in the situation it will make you gasp. Baltimore is 22-17 at Oriole Park, while LA is a 17-23 on the road. Reid Detmers and Tyler wells are scheduled. Detmers comes off two extremely bad outings, allowing nine earned runs in just 8.2 innings pitch. The team has lost his last six turns. On the other hand, Wells has allowed two runs or less in four straight appearances and has won his last five consecutive outings. The Angels are 1-12 the last 13 versus the American League East, 5-17 the last 22 on the road, and 8-21 the last 29 versus right-handed starters. Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Grand Slam play.

Game 979.

3:40 pm pst.

Tampa Bay owns sole possession of second place in the American League East by just a half-game. My friends, second-place in the toughest and most competitive division in all of baseball is big. With All-Star break just around the corner the Rays want, and more importantly need every victory they can earn right now. And playing the lowly Reds is perfect. Cincinnati owns the worst record in all the National League. They rank 21st in scoring and dead-last in the Majors in Team ERA. Speaking of pitching, Luis Castillo takes the mound at home here. There are rumors that he is a target with the trade deadline approaching. He comes off two solid performances. However, if you want to talk about solid performances, look no further than Tampa Bay starter, Shane McClanahan. He leads the American League in ERA, opponents average, and WHIP. Not to mention he is tied for the league-lead in strikeouts. He has allowed two or less runs in 11 consecutive turns. Meanwhile the team has won nine of his last 11 starts. The Tampa Bay bats have started to heat up. Just over the five victories in the last six outings their lineup has accounted for over 39 runs. This spells doom for Cincinnati. The Rays are 5-1 the last six games on the road, 8-2 the last 10 versus the NL Central, and 5-0 less five versus right-handed starters. Take Tampa Bay on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Home Run play.

Game 916.

7:10 pm pst.

Guys, I’m going to be very honest here. If I was a Chicago Cubs fan, or a season-ticket holder, I would ask for my money back. This team is playing with no heart or emotion whatsoever. Not only that, but it really feels like they’ve already thrown in the towel on the season. They may be sitting currently in third place in the NL Central, but they might as will be sitting on Mars. Let’s face it, the Cubs, Pirates, and the Reds really have no chance in this division, let alone at the playoffs. The NL Central is a two-horse race between the Brewers and the Cardinals. But that doesn’t mean they should stop trying. Having said that, the Cubs have lost all three meetings with the Dodgers this season. And going back a bit further, six consecutive matchups. Just this season alone, they’ve been outscored by Los Angeles, 20-3. But this is just indicative of their season. The only thing worse than their erratic lineup has been their deplorable pitching.  Today Mark Leiter Jr. gets the start. Come on guys, this guy was out of the Big Leagues since 2018. That’s how desperate this team has been to put some new and fresh blood on the field. He is currently the owner of a 2-2 record with a 4.85 ERA. Speaking of pitching, Tony Gonsolin takes the hill at home. He is a perfect, 10-0 on the season with a 1.54 ERA. In his 15 appearances in 2022, the right-hander has not allowed more than two earned runs in a single outing. So, both on the mound and at the plate Chicago is significantly outclassed her. Let’s face it guys, the Dodgers own the No. 2 scoring offense and the No. 2 pitching staff in the Majors. As I said, the Cubs are outclassed. There are also 4-10 the last 14 on the road and 0-4 the last four versus the NL West. Take the Dodgers on the run line. Thank you

Miami Marlins.

Best Bet play.

Game 907.

4:10 pm pst.

The New York Mets are starting to show signs of stress and fatigue. Their lineup has been erratic, while their pitching staff, although still respectable, has dropped to 13th in the league with a Team ERA of 3.85. Speaking of dropping, this team has lost five of the last nine outings for the reasons I just stated. They own a slim, 2.5-game lead in the NL East as the Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Miami Marlins have all gained a little traction. Miami is starting to heat up, winning five of their last six contests. And today, they send Daniel Castano to the hill. The left-hander has allowed two runs or less in six of seven appearances in 2022. For New York, Trevor Williams gets the nod. The right-hander is 1-5 with a 4.34 ERA on the campaign. And in five career appearances, which includes three starts against the Marlins, owns a 0-1 record with a 4.26 ERA. My friends, I feel the wrong team is favored here. One team is running hot and the other is not. The Marlins are 5-0 the last five versus the NL East, 6-1 the last seven on grass, and 5-1 the last six versus right-handed starters.  Take the Marlins. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Crusher play.

Game 974.

5:10 pm pst.

If any other team in baseball where on the eight-game win streak, we would certainly say they were running red-hot. However, it seems that the Houston Astros have been running hot all seasoned long. They own the Majors second best overall record at 53-27. Not to mention that they have a 13.5-game lead in the American League West. On the other hand, the Kansas City Royals are once again struggling, to say the least. They possess one of the worst records in all of baseball and dwell in the American League Central division at 29-50, a whopping 15.5-games back. Houston has taken four of the five meetings over Kansas City this season. Going back a bit the Royals are 0-4 the last four matchups at the Astros and an overall 1-6 the last seven match ups. Brad Keller and Christian Javier are starting pitchers today. Keller, is 3-9 with a 4.24 ERA. Javier, who is 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA on the campaign has never faced Kansas City as a starter (two relief appearances). The Royals are significantly outclassed in this matchup, both on the mound and at the plate. Take the Astros on the run line. Thank you.

Minnesota Twins

AL Central Game of the Week.

Game 965.

11:10 am pst.

As we near the midway point of the regular season, the Twins seem to be getting hotter while the White Sox seem to be cooling off. Minnesota has taken Games 1 and 2 of this series to now give them a 4.5-game cushion in the division. As a matter of fact, they have dominated the White Sox in 2022, taking all five meetings with their American League Central rival. Going back a bit they have taken seven in a row against them. Joe Ryan and Lance Lynn are scheduled starters today. Ryan owns a 6-3 record with a 3.00 ERA this season. As a second-year Major Leaguer, the right-hander has not faced Chicago in his career. Lynn is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA on the campaign and is only making his fifth start of the year. While team has won three of his four turns, he has given up a total of 11 earned runs so far. He has had success against Minnesota over his career. But he still trying to get back in sync and is not the pitcher he once was. The White Sox lineup has certainly struggled recently. And facing the leagues sixth-ranked pitching staff, I don’t see things changing here for them. They are 1-6 the last seven at home. Take the Twins. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

MLB Crusher play.

Game 920.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

As we approach the All-Star break, the Houston Astros aren’t taking their foot off the gas. They have won seven in a row and nine of their last 10 contests. The team is perched atop the American League West with a record of 52-27, and a 13.5-game cushion in the division. They took Game 1 of this series yesterday 7-6, giving them three victories in the four matchups with the Kansas City Royals in 2022. Scheduled starters are Zack Greinke and Luis Garcia. The Royals right-hander is 2-4 with a 4.38 ERA on the campaign. In all sincerity, the 38-year-old is not the pitcher he once was. And now he must face an Astros lineup that is striding. Just over their current seven-game win streak, they have outscored opponents 41-12. Garcia has won his last three starts, owning a 6-5 record with a 3.54 ERA this season. Kansas City has trouble facing the right-handers going 16-35 the last 51 against them. To make matters worse they are dominated by AL West representatives going to 37-83 the last 120 versus the division. Houston is 42-19 the last 61 at home and 41-16 the last 57 overall. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Astros are far superior. Their lineup accounts for more than half a run per game, while their pitching staff allows just about two runs less per game. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the run line.

Best Bet play.

Game 970.

1:10 pm pst.

The Astros show no sign of taking their foot off the gas, winning six in a row and eight of their last nine contests. Behind the No. 1 pitching staff in baseball, the team is surging. In those eight victories over the last nine games, the staff has allowed just seven runs. Jake Odorizzi returns, coming off the injured list to make his first appearance since mid-May. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA on the campaign. Prior to the layoff, he went 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA over his last four turns. This is an ideal spot to make his return facing a Royals lineup that ranks 27th in scoring, averaging just 3.84 runs per game. Jonathan Heasley takes the hill today for Kansas City. The rookie right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.20 ERA on the season, going winless over his past three starts. Houston has taken two of three meetings over Kansas City in 2022. And going back a bit, four of the last five matchups. They are 41-19 the last 60 at home, 20-6 the last 26 versus right-handed starters, and 44-19 the last 63 during Game 1 of a series. Take the Astros on the run line. Thank you.

Houston Astros on the runline.

Best Bet play.

Game 920.

11:10 am pst.

The Astros are in an ideal spot to further widen their lead and the AL West. They currently have a 12.5-game cushion in the division and enter Game 3 of this series with confidence. Houston has taken the first two games over the Angels by combined score of 17-2. The Astros have dominated the Angels once again this season taking six of the nine meetings with their division rival. Los Angeles is having problems, both at the plate and on the mound. Their lineup is in a severe slump while the pitching staff is getting crushed. Houston is red-hot, riding a 13-3 hot streak, with a combination of a surging lineup and a stellar pitching staff. They have dominated their division, taking 18 of the last 24 meetings against AL West rivals. They take it to another level at Minute Maid Park, winning 40 of the last 59 contests at home. This does not bode well for Los Angeles as they are 4-14 the last 18 games played on the road. Take the Astros on the runline. Thank you.

Boston Red Sox.

Interleague Game of the Week.

Game 981.

4:15 pm pst.

With All-Star break just around the corner, there are quite a few teams vying to better their situation. One of those teams is the Boston Red Sox. They are one of the hottest teams in the American League, winning 20 of their last 27 contests. They did drop Game 1 of this series yesterday to the Chicago Cubs, 6-5. They now sit in third place in the competitive, American League East. This is a very good team that doesn’t take losing lightly as they are 13-3 the last 16 games played following a loss. Not only that but they have dominated the National League Central, taking 11 of the last 14 meetings with opponents from the division. In my opinion, the Chicago Cubs have already thrown in the towel in for the season. Their division is a two-horse race between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals. This team has won three in a row but let’s be honest, the first two victories in that small win streak were against the worst team in the NL, the Cincinnati Reds. Josh Winckowski and Alec Mills are scheduled today. The Red Sox starter has been stellar in his last three starts, earning victories in all three, allowing just for earned runs in over 16 innings pitched. On the other hand, Mills hasn’t had a strong outing in weeks, yielding five earns runs in each of his last three turns. By the way in those three appearances, he has only lasted a total of a little over seven innings pitched. And when the team goes to their bullpen, things will get worse as their pitching staff ranks 26th. The Cubs are 3-15 the last18 interleague home games, 1-6 the last seven versus AL East, and 16-35 the last 51 overall home games. Take Boston. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

NL West Game of the Week.

Game 912.

7:10 pm pst.

Following a quick stint in second place in the NL West, the Dodgers have reclaimed the top-spot in the division, winning seven of their last 10 games to give them a 2.5 game lead over the Padres. Playing San Diego is ideal for Los Angeles to further widen their cushion in the division. They won Game 1 of this series yesterday 3-1. They have taken three or four meetings with the Padres this season. And going back a bit, nine of the last 10 overall matchups. Blake Snell is winless in 2022, going 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA. The team has lost all seven of his starts this season. On the other hand, Tony Gonsolin, who is 9-0 with a 1.58 ERA, has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his 14 appearances this season. Los Angeles owns the top scoring lineup in baseball, averaging over 5.05 runs per game. This does not bode well for a San Diego squad which have managed to score over five runs just three times in the last 13 outings. San Diego is 1-5 the last six on the road, 1-4 the last five on grass, and 0-4 the last four versus right-handed starters. Take Los Angeles on the run line. Thank you.

Seattle Mariners on the run line.

Best Bet play.

Game 924.

7:10 pm pst.

One game separates three teams in the AL West from possessing sole possession of second place in the division. And right now, the Seattle Mariners are the hottest of those teams. They have won three in a row and eight of the last 10 outings. This includes a Game 1 victory yesterday over Oakland, 8–6. That defeat was the A’s fourth in a row. The Mariners have taken five of seven meetings with their division rival this season, outscoring them by 19 runs in those five victories. James Kaprielian and Marco Gonzales are scheduled here today. Kaprielian is 0-5 with a 5.88 ERA while Gonzales is 4-8 with a 3.31 ERA. In seven career appearances against Seattle, Kaprelian has a whopping ERA of 6.26 as Gonzales, in 17 appearances versus Seattle has an ERA of just 3.94. Gonzales is already 2-0 versus Oakland this season while Kaprielian is 0-1 in two starts against the Mariners. The Athletics are 2-8 the last 10 meetings at the Mariners and 6-20 the last 26 overall meetings. To make matters worse they have lost four straight on the road and 20 of the last 26 versus division opponents. Take Seattle on the run line. Thank you.

St. Louis Cardinals.

Home Run play.

Game 901.

3:05 pm pst.

St. Louis sits one game behind of Milwaukee in the NL Central. They desperately want the top spot back. They enter this matchup with a top-10 squad both on the mound and at the plate. Miles Mikolas gets the start here. The seasoned right-hander is 5-5 with a 2.57 ERA on the campaign. And over his career in three games, which includes two starts against the Phillies, is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA. Bailey Falter has never faced the Cardinals in his short career. The left-hander, however is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA this season. I don’t expect the young pitcher to last too long today. And when the Phillies go to their bullpen, things are going to go from bad to worse for them. St. Louis is 21-7 the last 28 vs. left-handed starters.  Take the Cardinals. Thank you.

Seattle Mariners on the run line.

Run Line Game of the Month.

Game 966.

7:10 pm pst.

Not only does Oakland possess the worst record in the American League, they also possess the worst record in all of baseball. They dwell in the AL West cellar, 23.5 games back at 25-52. Their numbers don’t improve at all in this situation either. They have dropped 11 of the last 15 on the road, 22 of their last 29 versus division opponents, and 43 of their last 58 overall. While Seattle is just five-games under .500, please understand that a mere 1.5 games separate three teams in this division. A small win streak now and a little help can leapfrog this team into second place in the West. And playing Oakland is just what they need to achieve their goal. They have taken three straight and eight of the last 10 overall in this rivalry. As a matter of fact, they are 7-2 the last nine meetings in Seattle and 21-7 the last 28 overall meetings. Adrian Martinez and Logan Gilbert are scheduled starters here. Martinez is making just his second career start while Gilbert is 8-3 with a 2.44 ERA on the season. And has faced the Athletics four times in his career. The Mariners are 5-1 the last six versus the American League West, 7-2 the last nine versus right-handed starters, and 7-2 the last nine overall. Take Seattle on the run line. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Battle of the AL Best.

Game 961.

3:10 pm pst.

Not only do these two teams own the best records in the American League, they also own the two best records in all of baseball. They have split four meetings so far in 2022. But going back a little bit further, New York has gotten the better of Houston, taking six of the last 10 matchups. There is no questioning the fact that the Yankees offense is more lethal, ranking in the top-three in scoring, OPS, and home runs. The Astros lineup is certainly good, but they just don’t possess the same depth or consistency as their opponent here today. Both pitching staffs are excellent ranking No. 1 and No. 2 in the Majors. Speaking of pitching, Luis Severino and Luis Garcia are scheduled today. Severino has been more consistent, possesses the lower ERA, and has had more experience facing his opponent than his counterpart does. New York is 14-2 the last 16 road games versus right-handed starters, 20-8 the last 28 versus the American League West, And 40-12 the last 52 during Game 1 of a series. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Over in the Rangers/Royals matchup.

AL Total of the Month.

Games 915/916.
11:10 am pst. 

Games 1 and 2 of this series have both gone over the total as these two teams have combined for 25 runs scored in the two matchups. Going back a bit, eight of the last 10 meetings have gone over the total. Today Dane Dunning and Zack Greinke are schedule starters. Dunning is 1-5 with a 4.17 ERA, allowing four or more runs four times the season. Greinke owns a 1-4 record with a 4.68 ERA on the campaign. And just over his last five starts, he has allowed five or more runs three times. The Rangers lineup has started to heat up, while both pitching staffs are less than stellar to say the least. The over is 4-0 in Texas’ last four road games and 4-0 in Kansas City’s last four home games. Take the over. Thank you.

New York Yankees on the run line.

Home Run play.

Game 966.

4:05 pm pst.

There are several things contributing to New York’s success this season. For starters, they’re coming back to win ball games. This is something they haven’t done in recent seasons. Last night’s victory over Oakland in Game 1 of this series was their 23rd comeback win this season alone. Something else that is contributing to the teams Major League best record is their pitching staff. Granted, their lineup is ranked No. 1 in scoring, OPS, and home runs. But unlike recent seasons, this season they’re pitching staff ranks second overall, with a Team ERA of 2.97. It’s not just their starters that are playing well. Their relievers are playing just well too. They should have no problem continuing their winning ways here today. The Yankees have dominated the Athletics, taking five of the last six meetings in New York. And seven of the last 10 meetings overall. The A’s currently possess the worst record in all of baseball at 25-50. Today they send Frankie Montas to the hill. The right-hander has notched just one win since mid-April. That’s right. Over his last 12 starts, he is 1-6, while the team is just 1-11 in those 12 starts. For New York, JP Sears will make his fourth appearance and second start of the campaign. Recalled from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the left-hander Has looked good in his three appearances. I don’t think he’ll be threatened too much against the league’s 29th-ranked offense. To be honest with you, not only does Oakland rank 29th in scoring and home runs, they also rank 30th in both Team BA and OPS. If he does get in a little trouble, I have full faith in the Yankees bullpen to keep the Athletics lineup in toe. Oakland is 1-9 the last 10 versus the AL East, 5-16 the last 21 versus left-handed starters, and 7-19 the last 26 following a loss. Take New York on the run line. Thank you.

Texas Rangers.

Best Bet play.

Game 913.

5:10 pm pst.

These are two teams that surely have different outlook on the second half of the regular season. Kansas City dwells in the AL Central cellar at 26–-45 and 13.5 games back. Texas sits in second place in the AL West at 34-37, 10.5 games back. Currently they are just 5.5 games back of a Wildcard spot. The Rangers have taken two of three meetings with the Royals this season. And going back a bit further, five of the last six matchups. They have just outclassed their opponent here today. The Royals rank among the worst in baseball, both on the mound and at the plate. The Rangers are about at the middle of the pack in both areas. Today Martin Perez gets the road start. The left-hander comes off two outstanding outings en route to an overall record this season of 5-2 with a 1.96 ERA. Over his career in 11 appearances (all starts) he is 4-1 with a 4.43 ERA against the Royals.  Kris Bubic gets the nod at home. He is 1-4 with a 7.41 ERA this season. And has only faced the Rangers twice in his career, both as a reliever. Texas is 10-4 the last 14 meetings at Kauffman Stadium and 7-1 the last eight versus left-handed starters. Take the Rangers. Thank you.