I'm playing the Over between the Astros & Dodgers on Tuesday with Dallas Keuchel taking on Clayton Kershaw.  Thanks to public perception, this total is being based on reputation more than reality. Dallas Keuchel is not as strong on the road as he has been at home.  The southpaw has a 4.09 ERA in his last 53 on the road, allowing 154 earned runs in 338 2/3 innings.  The total is on a 32-16 Over run when he starts road night games, with a combined average of 9.1 runs per contest.  In fact, Houston opponents have averaged 4.8 rpg in those outings.  Clayton Kershaw hasn't been the same over his last eight starts, allowing 20 earned runs and 11 home runs in 45 IP.  That's a 4.00 ERA with a 2.2 HRs per 9 IP ratio, while averaging less than 6 IP per start.  Houston enters on a 5-0 Over run on the road against lefties and they're on a 7-1 Over run against NL teams that average at least 4.5 rpg.  Finally, the Dodgers are on a 5-1-1 Over run at home.  The humidity is expected to be low when this one starts, which means the ball flies farther.  We also get a healthy Dodger lineup for this one.  I'm playing the Over in game 1 on Tuesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Twins & Yankees in Tuesday's wildcard game. Ervin Santana has had his issues against the Yankees with a 5.66 ERA in 20 starts.  More importantly, the veteran hurler has a 6.43 ERA in half-a-dozen starts at Yankee Stadium.  He's struggled in postseason play with a 5.56 ERA in eight outings.  Santana is catching a couple of Yankees at the wrong time, including Aaron Judge, who hit 15 homers over the final month of the season after a rough month in August.  Luis Severino starts for the home team.  The young righty has been the ace of the staff, but while his numbers at home are good, they aren't as strong as when he starts on the road. Severino got smacked for 3 earned runs and 6 base runners in just 3 innings in his lone start against the Twins this season.  And we note that both teams were strong at the plate over the final month of the season with the Twins ranked 4th, 8th, 5th, and 3rd, in MLB in team batting average, OBP, OPS, and runs scored, respectively.  The Yankees were even better, finishing 8th, 2nd, 2nd, and 1st in the same key categories. The Over is 10-2 in Severino's last 12 starts, including 7-1 to the Over in his last eight starts at home.  We're playing the Over between the Twins & Yankees on Tuesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Angels & A's with Skaggs & Manaea on the mound. Tyler Skaggs has been roughed-up quite a bit, allowing 13 earned runs and 21 base runners in his last three starts, spanning just 12 1/3 IP.  He's also allowed five home runs in his last 17 1/3 IP as his post all-star break struggles continue.  The lefty has given up four earned runs or more in five of his 11 starts this season and the Halos have allowed an average of more than 5 rpg in his last six starts.  LAA has been outstanding at the plate since acquiring Justin Upton and Brandon Phillips.  And really, it started two games prior to their arrival.  The Angels have scored 59 runs in their last seven games.  Pitching has not been too hot for the boys from Anaheim and their last six opponents have scored an average of more than 6 rpg.  We expect the A's to put runs on the board against Skaggs and for the hot LAA bats to do damage against Sean Manaea.  We also note that while bullpens are deeper at this point of the season, the Angels' pen worked 14 2/3 innings the last two games, while Oakland's pen has seen 12 2/3 innings of work.  The Angels enter on a 5-0 Over run, while the A's are 8-2 to the Over in Manaea's last 10 starts. I'm playing the Over on Wednesday, our KO release. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Twins & Orioles on Monday with Kyle Gibson & Ubaldo Jimenez on the mound.  Both teams are scoring plenty of runs in this situation with the Twins averaging more than 5 rpg on the road against right-handed starters, while the Orioles average nearly 5 rpg against righties, overall.  Gibson has been bad enough that he's averaging under 5 IP per start this season with horrible road numbers.  Jimenez walks too many batters and he's allowed 6 HR's in his last 19 IP, but the O's are 27-6 in his last 33 home starts because of outstanding run support.  We expect the same kind of run support against Gibson and we expect the Twins to do damage at the plate, also.  The Over is 13-3-2 in Gibson's last 18 starts, and 13-3 when Jimenez pitches on four days rest, which is the case tonight.  We're playing the Over between the Twins & Orioles, our Total Dominator on Monday.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Yankees & Royals on Tuesday.  C.C. Sabathia is struggling badly and for most of the season, facing KC could have been "just what the doctor ordered."  But the Royals' bats have finally come alive, producing 37 runs in their last seven games.  Meanwhile, NY, averaging about 5 1/2 rpg against righties, should pile-up the runs against Jason Hammel, who has not pitched well, especially at home. The Yanks are on an 11-4 Over run and they're 7-1 to the Over against pitchers with WHIPs greater than 1.30. KC enters on a 17-6 Over run against lefties, including 9-3 at home.  And finally, the series has seen seven straight Overs. More of the same. I'm playing the Over between NYY & KC on Tuesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Jays & Rangers on Friday.  J.A. Happ and Yu Darvish both pitched well in their 2016 starts and Darvish has been a beast in daytime action throughout his MLB career.  The Texas righty owns a 2.14 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and averages 11.4 Ks/9 IP in his last 19 daytime starts.  His BAA is a fantastic .189 in those outings.  Meanwhile, since being traded by Seattle and including starts with Pittsburgh and Toronto, J.A. Happ owns a sizzling 2.86 ERA with a 27-6 record in 43 starts.  The Rangers enter on a 5-1 Under run against southpaws, while the Jays are on a 12-2 Under run against right-handers.  They're 6-2 to the Under when Happ starts against a team with a winning record, while the Rangers are on an 18-3-1 Under run when Darvish faces the AL East and 5-0 to the Under when he starts against the Jays.  I'm playing the Under between the Blue Jays & Rangers on Friday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Rockies & Padres when Bettis & Cashner do battle. Chad Bettis has been bombed in his last two starts, and in fact, he's been smacked around for a 7.58 ERA & 1.72 WHIP in his last five. His road numbers are also rather foul. Bettis is backed by MLB's 26th ranked bullpen...not much relief there. Bettis and the pen will face a SDG offense that has been decent over the last week of action. The Rox should have Carlos Gomez back in the lineup, and they have played four straight Overs against right-handed starters. San Diego has watched the decline of Andrew Cashner's K-rate and the negatives don't stop there. The right-hander has been tagged for a 5.19 ERA & 1.54 WHIP in his last five starts. Cashner, like Bettis, is backed by one of the worst bullpen ERA's in MLB. Cashner has a 5.87 ERA in 12 appearances against the Rockies and his team is on a 4-0 Over run against right-handed starters. More of the same here. I'm playing the Over between the Rockies & Padres, my Total Knockout on Saturday night. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under when Junior Guerra and Jeremy Hellickson do battle in Philly on Saturday afternoon. The Phillies were a surprise through the first month-plus of the season, but it didn't look sustainable thanks to a lack of offense. The Phils just snapped a seven-game losing streak where they scored three or fewer runs in all seven games. They broke-out last night, scoring six runs in a win, but we should note the six runs were scored over a two inning span. The Phillies didn't plate a single run in the other seven innings of work and we expect more empty frames when they face Guerra. The Brewer righty owns a 2.22 ERA with 27 strikeouts in his last four starts. He's allowed just two home runs in 36 1/3 IP this season. Philly, meanwhile, has just one multi-home run game in 27 home games. The Brewers have played four straight to the Under with Guerra on the mound. Philadelphia counters with Hellickson, who owns a 2.00 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in his last four starts, to go along with 28 strikeouts in 27 IP. He has strong numbers in three starts against Milwaukee. The Phillies enter on a 12-3-2 Under run in their last 17 home games. I'm playing the Under between the Brewers & Phillies, my Total Beatdown. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Pirates & Marlins on Monday. Both starting pitchers have been struggling in the situation they're in tonight. Locke has an ERA north of 6.00 on the road, while Nicolino has had his troubles at Marlins Park. The Miami lefty has a horrible K/9 IP rate of just 3.09, and that leads me to believe he's in for more trouble. Both teams hit left-handers well, so I don't believe either SP is getting what the doctor ordered. The Bucs are 31-16 to the Over on the season, including 14-4 Over when the total is in the 8.5 to 10 range. And the Pirates have plated 5.6 rpg against busy bullpens, those averaging at least 4 IP per game. Miami fits the bill. I'm playing the Over between the Pirates & Marlins on Monday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Dodgers & Mets on Friday night. I'm excited to bet this one and watch it because we finally get to see Dodger pitching prospect Julio Urias. The 19-year old is probably the most hyped young arm in Los Angeles since Fernando Valenzuela. Urias was actually signed three years ago at the age of 16. The left-hander owns a fastball, slider, & change, repertoire, that has dominated the minors. Urias slammed the door at Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting a 1.10 ERA & 0.78 WHIP in seven starts and one relief outing, that included 27 straight scoreless innings. The kid is the real deal. The Mexico native will make his debut at Citi Field, which ranks 29th in ballpark OPS. And he'll face a NY Mets' lineup that has plated just 37 runs in their last 13 games. Urias will be backed by a Dodger bullpen with an upper-half, 3.52 ERA. Jacob deGrom counters for the home team tonight. The right-hander allowed four earned runs in 5 IP last time out, the first time this season he has allowed more than three earned runs in a start. We expect a bounce-back performance. He'll face a Dodger offense that ranks in or near the bottom-third in MLB in the three offensive categories I value the most. Los Angeles is also near the bottom of the league with RISP in team batting average, OBP, and OPS. deGrom has phenomenal career home numbers and we expect more of the same in this one. The Under is 19-9-4 when the Mets face left-handed pitchers at home and the Mets & Dodgers have played four straight Unders with deGrom on the bump. I'm playing the Under between the Mets & Dodgers, my Total Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Rockies & Red Sox on Thursday with Gray & Buchholz set to do battle. After last night's results, these teams have sailed over the total in seven of their last eight meetings. In fact, the Rockies are on a 7-0 Over run against teams from the AL East. Tonight, Colorado draws Clay Buchholz. The Boston right-hander is walking more than four batters per 9 IP, and he's been smacked around, carrying a hefty 1.57 HRs per 9 IP ratio. He may not be long for the rotation with the way his season has gone. Both teams have been outstanding and are near the top of MLB with RISP, in batting average, OBP, and OPS. Boston is ridiculous on offense at Fenway this season, while both teams have owned right-handed pitching. The Rockies counter with Jon Gray, who has had three horrible starts and three decent starts. He's in a spot here though, that would lean to a rough night. Gray is backed by an overused bullpen and Boston has averaged 7.2 rpg the last 19 times they have faced a relief staff that averages at least 4 IP per start (Colorado's fits the bill). Boston is 13-3-1 to the Over in their last 17 home games against teams with a losing record and the Sox and their "guests" have combined to average 13.2 rpg in their last 13 home contests, overall. I'm playing the Over between the Rockies & Red Sox, my Total Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Astros & A's on Friday night. Mike Fiers had his best outing of the season last time out against the Red Sox and now faces the right time in the right venue to take another step forward. Fiers has had little trouble with the Oakland A's, especially this particular roster. As reported, he's held the current roster to a .145 batting average in 55 combined at-bats. He's also posted a 3.57 ERA & 1.19 WHIP in his last three starts against the A's, overall. His offense likely won't supply him with much support for a couple of reasons. 1) The Astros rank 25th and 24th in road batting average and OBP this season, respectively. 2) They're facing Sean Manaea. Who's Sean Manaea? He's the A's #2 prospect, a lefty, making his MLB debut. Manaea threw 21 innings for Triple-A Nashville this season, posting a 1.50 ERA with 21 strikeouts. At the same time, I don't expect a lot of backing for Manaea from his offense. Oakland hitters rank 27th, 28th, and 30th at home in team batting average, OBP, and OPS. He's backed by MLB's 8th best bullpen ERA & WHIP. And both staffs should enjoy pitching in a ballpark ranked 26th in OBP and 27th in OPS. Six of Oakland's last eight home games have stayed under the total and we expect another tonight. I'm playing the Under between the Astros & A's, my Friday Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the A's & Tigers on Monday night. Detroit has been struggling at the plate and I don't believe it's going to get much better facing Oakland's Kendall Graveman. The A's right-hander has posted a 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a .159 BAA in three starts this season. Justin Upton and Miguel Cabrera look to return to the lineup after having Sunday off, but again, like the rest of the offense, they too are having a rough time at the plate. Detroit will send Jordan Zimmermann to the mound tonight. He's yet to give up a run in three starts as a member of the Tigers' rotation, while posting a 1.09 WHIP and .211 BAA. We also have two of the top eight bullpen ERAs if and when the starters exit the ballgame. Oakland enters on an 11-3-1 Under run against right-handed starters and they're on a 4-1 Under run when Graveman starts away from home. I'm playing the Under between the A's & Tigers, my Monday Knockout Total. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Cubs & Cardinals in game one.  Jon Lester and John Lackey have been about as good as it gets in the situations they're in on Friday.  Lester has made seven road starts since June 20.  Take out his lone weak outing against the Dodgers and the other six roadies were rather spectacular.  Lester allowed just four earned runs, 27 base runners, and one home run, with 46 Ks in 44 2/3 IP.  That's a sizzling 0.81 ERA & 0.60 WHIP.  One of those starts came in St. Louis on Sept 9, when Lester held the Cards to one earned run and two hits in seven innings of work.  The Cubs enter on an 11-1-1 Under run when Lester starts against teams with a winning record.  As a team, the Cubs are 9-1-1 to the Under against right-handed pitchers.  John Lackey not only finished with a 2.29 ERA and 40 Ks to just 9 walks over his final six starts, but the big right-hander slammed the door at home, where he posted a 1.93 ERA & 1.17 WHIP in 17 starts in 2015.  Lackey allowed the Cubs just three earned runs in 21 2/3 IP against them this season. The Cards are 8-2-2 to the Under against teams playing at least .600 baseball and they have gone under the total each of the last four times Lackey has faced the Cubs.  I'm playing the Under, my Total Knockout on Friday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

9:40 PM ET: I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Padres went into last night's game having scored just seven runs in their previous four games. They scored 10 runs in last night's win, but only scored in two of nine frames. Tonight, both sides have a starting pitcher who can slow down the other team's attack. SDG sends Tyson Ross to the hill. The right-hander owns a sizzling 2.84 ERA & 1.15 WHIP in his last 14 starts, and his numbers are even lower in his 11 career starts against the D-backs. Ross has pitched quite well against teams that strikeout an average of at least seven times per game (Arizona fits the bill). Not only have those 62 games gone under 40 times, but the opponents have averaged just 3.3 rpg. Arizona will counter with Jhoulys Chacin, who has been outstanding in his first two starts. Chacin was always better away from home than he was at Coors Field when he pitched for Colorado, sporting a 3.34 ERA in his last 26 road outings with the club. The right-hander also has a 2.57 ERA & 1.11 WHIP in nine starts against the Padres. SDG enters ranked 25th in team batting average on the road and 27th in OBP. I'm playing the Under, my Total GOM on Tuesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Giants & Diamondbacks on Monday afternoon. We have a pair of starting pitchers who're both in strong situations. Mike Leake has pitched well on the road, including his three road starts with SFO and his last two with Cincinnati. Leake has posted a 1.27 ERA & 0.74 WHIP in his last five on the road. He also pitched well in a couple of starts at Chase Field, including a stingy .192 BAA. Leake has had little trouble with Arizona star Paul Goldschmidt, holding him to 2 hits in their last 16 head-to-head meetings. Arizona will send Patrick Corbin to the hill. The left-hander has a fantastic sub-3.00 ERA & sub-1.15 WHIP in his previous 31 home appearances, including 29 starts. He's also dominated the Giants in four starts at this venue, holding them to nine earned runs and 29 base runners in 27 1/3 IP, for a 2.97 ERA & 1.04 WHIP. And both pitchers are backed by decent bullpens. We should note that SFO has struggled at the plate of late, ranked 25th in September in team batting average and 29th in OBP. The Giants enter Monday on a 9-2-2 Under run as a road dog. Meanwhile, Arizona is on an 11-1-1 Under run as a home favorite of -150 or less. They're 8-1 to the under when Patrick Corbin is in that particular situation, and they're 4-0 in his last four home starts, overall. I'm playing the Under between the Giants & Diamondbacks, my Total Beatdown! Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Dodgers & Padres on Thursday night. The Dodgers were involved in a pair of 2-1 games with SFO the last two days, but when the particulars are Greinke, Kershaw, Bumgarner, and Leake, that could be expected. Tonight, we have a couple of struggling pitchers as the Dodgers take on the Padres in their weekend series opener. Mat Latos has been a mess since arriving in Los Angeles, tagged with a 6.06 ERA & 1.73 WHIP in his last three starts, while lasting less than five full innings in each outing. The Friars counter with Colin Rea, who has a 5.95 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and .299 BAA in four starts. And while Adrian Gonzalez has crushed Padre pitching this season, Justin Upton has owned Latos. SDG enters on a 6-0-1 Over run when the total is set in the 7 to 8.5 range. They're on a 20-4-2 Over run against right-handers. And while PETCO is thought of as a low scoring venue, the fact is, the Padres are 37-23 to the Over at home, where they and their opponents average a combined 8 1/2 runs per contest. I expect more of the same tonight. I'm playing the Over between the Dodgers & Padres on Thursday, my Over/Under Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Twins & Rays on Wednesday. Last night's 11-7 final was against the norm for this ballpark. No less than 11 of Tampa Bay's last 14 home games have seen a combined total of seven runs or less. The Trop's ballpark OPS ranks 27th in MLB. And we're looking at a Rays' lineup that ranks 28th in average runs per game (3.74), while allowing just 3.69 rpg at home, with a 1.21 team WHIP. Chris Archer has pitched well in six of his last seven starts and if you remove one weak outing at Texas, you'll see the right-hander has allowed just eight earned runs and 33 base runners, with 54 strikeouts in the other six games, spanning 42 IP. Archer owns a 0.74 ERA & 0.78 WHIP, allowing no home runs in four starts against the Twins, spanning 24 1/3 innings of work. Tyler Duffey makes his fourth start for the Twins. The right-hander struggled in his first, but it can be excused with it coming at Rogers Centre against the high scoring Blue Jays. He's been excellent in his last two outings, including 15 strikeouts in 13 2/3 IP. The Twins enter on a 7-0 Under run on the road against AL pitchers with an ERA of 3.20 or less. Meanwhile, the Rays are 15-4 to the Under at home when facing AL teams batting .255 or less during the second half of the last two seasons, allowing just 2.8 rpg. I expect a return to norm tonight...I'm playing the Under between the Twins & Rays, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Giants & Pirates on Sunday night. Ryan Vogelsong sticks in the rotation after back-to-back strong starts. The right-hander pitched well in leading his squad to a 2-0 win over St. Louis and a 3-1 win over Washington. Vogelsong has faced the Pirates four times since the start of the 2012 season, posting strong combined numbers. The Bucs will send Francisco Liriano to the mound tonight. The Left-hander will face a SFO lineup that's scored just 14 runs in their last six games, combined, and in their last seven road games, overall. And if needed, Liriano is backed by MLB's 3rd ranked bullpen. By the way, SFO's pen also ranks in the top-10. The Giants enter on an 8-1-1 Under run when the total is posted in the 7 to 8.5 range. They're 5-0-1 to the Under the last six times Vogelsong has thrown on four days rest. The Giants & Pirates are 5-0-1 to the Under the last six times Vogelsong has started a game in their meetings. I'm playing the Under between the Giants & Pirates on Sunday night, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Diamondbacks & Reds on Friday. Arizona enters on a 6-1-1 Over run against left-handed starters and they're sure used to facing them with David Holmberg taking the mound for the Reds tonight marking the 4th straight lefty they'll have seen. Holmberg has been touched for 6 home runs, while allowing 13 walks in his last 19 2/3 IP. He's thrown just two home games so far in 2015, but his previous five appearances before this season at Great American saw the southpaw struggle, saddled with a 6.97 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 2.17 HR's per 9 IP ratio, and a .305 BAA. He'll face an Arizona offense that ranks 5th in road team batting average and 8th in road OBP. Rubby De La Rosa will throw on four days rest for the D-backs tonight and the right-hander has seen 8 of his last 10 fly over the total when doing so. I expect more of the same in this one. I'm playing the Over between the Diamondbacks & Reds, my Total Blowout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Nationals & Rockies on Tuesday night. Colorado has not been the same at the plate since Troy Tulowitzki was traded to Toronto on July 27. They're averaging just 3.95 rpg in 19 games since and have scored a grand total of just 20 runs in their last seven games. We should also note that the Rockies rank 22nd in team batting average and 27th in OBP in August. They'll face Washington's Jordan Zimmerman, who owns a 1.19 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and just 26 walks on the season. And after a shaky start in April, Zimmerman has been about as good as it gets. The right-hander has posted a 2.98 ERA & 1.14 WHIP in his last 19 starts, allowing just 40 earned runs and 138 base runners in 120 2/3 IP. Zimmerman has a 2.10 ERA & 1.15 WHIP in nine starts against Colorado and he's had no trouble with the rarefied air in Denver. But Washington has faltered at the plate, scoring a grand total of 12 runs during their current six-game losing streak. And they rank 24th in team batting average and 22nd in OBP in August. David Hale comes off the DL for the Rox tonight and he owns a 4.04 lifetime ERA as a starter. The Nats are on a 14-4 Under run on the road after playing at least seven straight road games previously, and the Rockies are on a 30-13 Under run at home if their bullpen didn't throw a single pitch in their previous game. Chris Rusin threw a complete game for Colorado last time out. I'm playing the Under between the Nationals & Rockies, my Knockout Total Game of the Week. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Pirates & Cardinals on Wednesday.  The Cardinals have been next to unstoppable in 2015 and it's not like they're scoring a plethora of runs. In fact, STL is 19th in the league, averaging just 3.96 rpg.  What they do is play well in the field and even better...pitch lights out baseball, whether we're talking about the rotation or the most stingy pen in MLB ERA.  Tonight, Michael Wacha takes the hill looking to extend his team's run to 7-1 to the under when he toes the home rubber.  Wacha has thrown 14 innings of shutout baseball over his last two starts and owns a 1.69 ERA in five outings against the Bucs.  His team enters on an 8-1-1 Under run against divisional opponents.  Gerrit Cole takes the mound for Pittsburgh and brings sizzling road numbers this season, even better than he has pitched at home.  His team is on a 6-1-1 Under run on the road.  Neither team hits the long ball; Pittsburgh ranks 24th and the Cards rank 25th in home runs.  And finally, the series is on a 4-0-1 Under run in the Arch City, for a combined mark of 24-3.  I'm playing the Under between the Pirates & Cardinals, my MLB Div. Total Knockout of the Month.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Nationals & Mets on Saturday. New York is starting to perform better at the play now that trades have been made. The Mets have hit 12 HR's in their last six games, one of the top marks in MLB. And after trading for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson last week, New York acquired Yoenis Cespedes over the last 24 hours and expect to have him in the lineup tonight. This is no longer the same team that struggled at the plate for a big chunk of the season. The Mets piled-up seven runs in a win over the Nats on July 21, a game started by tonight's opposing pitcher, Joe Ross. The young right-hander has thrown just 88 and 78 pitches in his last two starts. The Mets counter with Jacob deGrom and while it's tough to find fault with the righty, the fact is his ERA in four starts against the Nationals is nearly 3.90. That may not sound too bad, but it's all relative, considering the total was set at 6 1/2 and his season-long ERA is 2.05. Three of deGrom's four starts against Washington have gone over the total with 10, 9, and 8 runs having been scored. The Mets enter on a 4-0 Over run when deGrom is listed as home chalk to -150 and they're on a 7-3 Over run when he starts and the total is listed lower than seven. Meanwhile, the Nats are not only on a 25-15 Over run on the road against righthanders, but the average runs scored in those 40 games is 9.3. I'm playing the Over between the Nats & Mets, my Tapout Total. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Diamondbacks and Astros on Friday with De La Rosa & Feldman, the particulars. Rubby De La Rosa has been a mess on the road this season, saddled with an ERA north of 5.00. De La Rosa has a hefty 2.12 HR's to 9 IP ratio and that could spell doom against the Astros, the top home run hitting team in MLB. Houston will send Scott Feldman to the hill tonight. Feldman has been a mess at home all season, but especially in his last three, where he's been smacked for a 7.65 ERA & 1.90 WHIP. Feldman doesn't have a strikeout pitch, punching-out just two batters in each of his last four starts. Houston enters on a 5-0 Over run against teams with a losing record and they're on an 8-1 Over run against NL teams starting right-handed pitchers. Meanwhile, the D-backs are on a 6-1 Over run when De La Rosa takes the mound against teams with a winning record. I'm playing the Over between the D-backs & Astros, my Total Knockout on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Mets & Nats on Wednesday afternoon. Jordan Zimmerman has owned the Mets, posting a 2.91 ERA & 1.15 WHIP in 21 starts against them. I expect more of the same in this one. Zimm has posted a 1.99 ERA & 0.91 WHIP in his last five starts and faces a Mets' offense that has been near the bottom of MLB in team batting average and OBP on the road the entire season. At the same time, I expect the Nats to struggle at the plate. Washington ranks dead last 30th in BA and OBP in the month of July and will face Noah Syndergaard. The young Mets' hurler has a 1.55 ERA & 0.72 WHIP in his last four starts and the Mets and their opponents have seen a combined total of 5, 6, 3, and 3 runs scored in those games. No less than 10 of the right-hander's 12 starts have seen a combined total of 7 runs or less scored between the Mets and the opposition. And finally, the Nats enter this one on a 28-14 Under run against NL pitchers with a WHIP of 1.15 or lower, averaging 6.1 total runs per game in the 42 outings. I'm playing the Under between the Mets & Nats, my Daytime Total. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Mariners & Red Sox on Tuesday. Two struggling starting pitchers and two weak bullpens will go at it in this one and I expect plenty of runs. Seattle righty Taijuan Walker has allowed 11 earned runs in his last 11 IP and enters with a 1.41 HR's allowed per 9 IP ratio on the season. He's been slammed for a 5.47 road ERA, along with a 1.59 WHIP and a .303 BAA. I doubt he finds the "sweet elixir" against a strong Tiger offense that popped Walker for three home runs in six innings on July 7. Walker hasn't been throwing a ton of pitches in his outings and when he gives way to the relievers, he's giving way to MLB's 21st ranked bullpen. Not to be outdone, Shane Greene has been crushed in his last four starts, while lasting just 13 2/3 IP. He can't keep the ball down in the strikezone and he's paying dearly for it. Expect Greene to be sent back to the minors soon. His pen ranks 25th in MLB in ERA, but he has a chance here because his offense has been strong all season. Detroit sports the best batting average and OBP against right-handers in the entire league and their games are on a 21-5 Over run against righties. Detroit also ranks 2nd & 4th in team average and OBP at home and in July, overall. This series is on a 9-3-1 Over run in Detroit. I'm playing the Over between the Mariners & Tigers on Tuesday, my AL Total Blowout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Angels & Mariners on Friday night. We have two teams that have not fared well at the plate in the situations they're in tonight. The Angels are in the bottom half of MLB in team batting average and OBP against left-handed starters. They're on an 8-1-1 Under run in road games against southpaws. The Mariners, meanwhile, rank 28th in OBP against lefties and they're a dead last 30th in both team batting average & OBP on the season, overall. I don't believe either offense will find the "sweet elixir" with each team starting a quality left-hander tonight. The Angels will go with Hector Santiago, while Seattle counters with Mike Montgomery. Both are putting up strong numbers and I expect more of the same here. I'm playing the Under between the Angels & Mariners, my Total Tapout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Cubs & Mets on Thursday. Neither one of these teams is hitting the ball and producing runs of late and with the starting pitchers the lineups will face today, I expect neither team to find the "sweet elixir" at the plate. Jake Arrieta owns a sub-3.00 ERA on the road and in daytime action and that's just the start of it. Jacob deGrom has dominated in his last seven starts, allowing just seven earned runs, 27 hits, five walks, and one home run in 52 2/3 IP, while piling up 57 strikeouts. That's a 1.20 ERA, and amazing 0.61 WHIP! If and when these two give way to their bullpens, they'll be putting things in normally safe hands, with both relief staffs ranked in the top-seven in MLB. Chicago enters on a 12-3-1 Under run in their last 16 games and they're 8-1-3 to the Under when Arrieta is listed as a road dog. Meanwhile, the Mets are on a 12-2 Under run in their last 14 games. I'm playing the Under between the Cubs & Mets on Thursday, my Total Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Dodgers & Diamondbacks on Monday night. Both offenses should be in a good place in this one. Justin Turner returns at 3B tonight for the Dodgers after taking off Sunday. Turner is on fire in June, hitting .342. He and L.A. will face Allen Webster. The Arizona hurler has been knocked around in the Majors, saddled with a 6.28 ERA & 1.57 WHIP in 22 appearances, including 21 starts over the last couple of years. He's made three starts in 2015 and the last two have not gone well. Mike Bolsinger goes for the Dodgers tonight and the righty has lasted just 14 2/3 IP in his last three starts, allowing nine earned runs and 28 base runners. I'm sure Paul Goldschmidt is licking his chops, batting .417 with four home runs in nine games against the Dodgers. And we should note tonight's venue sports the 9th highest OPS in MLB. Arizona is on a 16-7-3 Over run at home, while the Dodgers are on a 37-16-2 Over run against teams with a losing record. I'm playing the Over between the Dodgers & Diamondbacks on Monday, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Cubs & Cards on Sunday night. The Redbirds have allowed just 13 runs in their last eight home games and with Carlos Martinez on the mound, I expect more of the same. Martinez has posted a 1.33 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, while striking out 51 batters in 47 1/3 innings over his last seven starts. The Cubs are struggling at the plate, scoring just five runs in their last four games. They're 3-for-23 with RISP in their last three games and the big bat of Kris Bryant has not been so big, mired in a 4-for-30 slump, striking out 12 times in his last nine games. St. Louis has been getting great pitching as evidenced in their current eight-game home winning streak. The team has scored just 32 runs in the eight outings, but the arms on the mound have been dominant. Jason Hammel goes for the Cubs tonight. He's been spectacular in evening action this season and owns a 2.01 ERA & 0.99 WHIP in his last five starts, overall. Hammel has a 5.75 K/BB ratio on the season! Chicago enters on a 6-1-1 Under run in their last eight games and they're 5-0 to the Under when Hammel starts with a posted total in the 7 to 8 1/2 range. The Cards are on a 14-3 Under run at home and 5-0-1 to the Under in Martinez' last six starts. I'm playing the Under between the Cubs & Cards on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Yankees & Astros on Friday night. These teams have been built in a similar fashion in that both teams heavily favor the long ball. Houston & New York are the top two home run hitting teams in the Majors this season. I believe both teams will get their chances at the plate, facing a pair of mediocre starting pitchers. Nathan Eovaldi has been smacked on the road for a 6.31 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, and a .366 BAA. In fact, he's allowed 56 hits in 35 2/3 IP. Houston counters with Vincent Velasquez. The young righty has yet to last five full innings in any of his three Major League starts. He'll face a red-hot Chris Young and a red-hot Carlos Beltran, who by the way, both went 2-for-4 yesterday, despite a rough night for the Yankees at the plate, overall. Houston has to be pleased that Jose Altuve broke out of his slump at the plate and he should continue his upswing in this one. The Astros are on a 10-3-1 Over run, while the Yanks are on a 6-0 Over run against right-handers and a 7-0 Over run when Eovaldi takes the mound. More of the same. I'm playing the Over between the Yankees & Astors, my Total Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Rays & Indians on Saturday with Erasmo Ramirez & Corey Kluber scheduled to start. We cashed a big dog last night with the Rays and I mentioned in the write-up that Cleveland is not scoring runs. After last night's 4-1 loss, the Indians have now scored just 35 runs in their last 13 games, less than 3 rpg. I doubt the Indians will find the "sweet elixir" at the plate tonight against Ramirez. The Tampa Bay right-hander has posted a 1.16 ERA & 1.07 WHIP in his last four starts. And after making back-to-back horrible appearances on the road to start the season, Ramirez has turned things around, posting incredibly stingy numbers in his last six road appearances. No need to detail Kluber's numbers...suffice it to say he's virtually untouchable at home and he completely shut down the Rays in three previous starts before 2015. The Indians enter on an 11-1 Under run when Kluber throws on five days rest. Meanwhile, the Rays, who're in the bottom seven in June batting average and OBP, are on an 8-0-1 Under run when facing starting pitchers with a sub-1.15 WHIP. I expect more of the same. I'm playing the Under between the Rays & Indians, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Braves & Mets on Saturday afternoon. We couldn't ask for a better pitching matchup on paper and I believe it's going to translate onto the field. Shelby Miller has worked his game to another level, becoming a trustworthy top of the rotation hurler by adding a sinker and a cutter to his fastball and curveball. This marks the first time the Mets will have faced him since he added to his repertoire. And Miller has a .181 BAA on the road to go along with his sub-1.00 WHIP. The Mets will counter with Jacob deGrom, coming off five straight quality starts. I expect another as he has simply dominated at home this season. I expect both offenses to be held in check and I'm playing the Under, my NL East Total Dominator GOM. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Rockies & Marlins on Thursday. Chris Rusin makes his fourth appearance and his third start, including his second in as many outings against the Marlins. Miami should have the bead on him this time and I expect them to continue to do what they have done this season...tag left-handers. Miami ranks 3rd in MLB in batting average against southpaws and they're 9th in OBP. They have a top-10 batting average in June, overall, while the Rockies have been hitting everything thrown at them, posting MLB's top batting average & OBP so far this month. Miami hurler David Phelps has allowed 19 earned runs and 33 base runners in his last four starts, spanning 20 2/3 IP. I expect the Rockies to score their share of runs. Both bullpens are in the bottom-third in MLB in ERA. The Marlins enter on a 18-7-7 Over run at home against left-handers and 8-2-2 to the Over in their last 12 against southpaws, overall. I'm playing the Over between the Rockies & Marlins on Thursday...my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Astros & White Sox on Wednesday. I've been involved with these two teams a few times of late and have noted just how poor both teams are at the plate when it comes to batting average and OBP. I should also note that since scoring 10 runs in a win over Detroit on May 24, the Astros have scored just 46 runs over their last 15 games, combined, an average of just over 3 rpg. They'll face Jose Quintana tonight. Take away one rough start against Minnesota on May 24 and you'll see the Chicago lefty has posted a 2.33 ERA & 1.27 WHIP in his last 46 1/3 IP, allowing not a single home run. He's posted strong numbers in his last five starts against the Astros, including one start in 2015. The Sox have not scored for Quintana, averaging less than 2 rpg in his last nine trips to the mound. I doubt the bats wake-up in this one, facing top prospect Vincent Velasquez, who has dominated at Double-A Corpus Christi. And like Quintana, I don't expect the Houston hurler to get much offensive support. Houston has scored two runs or less in four of their last five road games. The Under is 21-6 when Houston faces southpaws and 8-2 when the Sox are at home against right-handers. The teams are on a 4-0 Under run in head-to-head meetings and icing on the cake...even home plate umpire Tony Basner may help us. Basner has a wide strikezone and has umped seven straight Unders when behind home plate. I'm playing the Under between the Astros & White Sox, my Total Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Astros & White Sox with McCullers & Sale on the mound. We have two weak offenses facing two strong hurlers in this one, and the total is a tad high in my opinion. If Houston falls back to the pack it's likely going to be due to their lack of hitting. The Astros rank 29th in team batting average and 24 in OBP. They're also in the bottom-third against left-handed starters. Tonight, they'll face Chris Sale. The southpaw has allowed just 6 earned runs and 25 base runners, with 53 strikeouts in his last five starts, spanning 38 2/3 IP. That's a 1.40 ERA & 0.65 WHIP, to go along with a 12.33 K's per 9 IP mark. But Sale's teammates aren't much at the plate either. Chicago enters ranked 23rd in batting average and 28th in OBP...the numbers are even worse at home. The weak-hitting Sox will face the red-hot pitching of young Lance McCullers and I expect the right-hander to add to Chicago's struggles at the plate. The Sox are on a 5-0 Under run when Sale throws on four days rest, while the Astros are on a 21-7 Under run against lefties. I'm playing the Under, my Total Knockout on Monday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & A's with Warren and Chavez the expected starters. Neither of these lineups have hit well in the situation they're in today. The Yankees have struggled on the road in team batting average and OBP this season. They rank 29th in batting average in day games, to go along with the 25th ranked daytime OBP, while the A's are nearly as bad. Add in the 24th ranked ballpark OBP and we have most of the ingredients we need for a low scoring game. The rest is up to pitching and I believe it's going to be pretty good on Sunday. Warren owns a 1.24 WHIP in nine starts in 2015 and a 2.19 ERA in his last five appearances against the A's. Yankee opponents have averaged just 2 rpg in his last three starts. Jesse Chavez has been terrific in his seven starts, allowing just two home runs in 45 innings of work with seven Oakland opponents averaging just 3 rpg, overall. He's tossed 17 2/3 innings against the Yankees over the previous three seasons, posting a 2.55 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and .200 BAA. And with Chavez pitching deep, eating up innings, he should put less pressure on the pen. The Under is 4-1 in Warren's last five starts with the total posted from 7 to 8 1/2. And the Under is on a 4-0-1 run in Oakland games when Chavez toes the rubber. If that's not enough, we have a scheduled home plate umpire with a wider than average strike zone. The Under is on a 9-2 run when Paul Nauert calls balls & strikes. I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & A's, my Total Dominator on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Astros & Orioles with McHugh & Jimenez on the mound. Collin McHugh is rounding into form with back-to-back quality starts as he heads into Wednesday. This was something we saw coming with McHugh's WHIP now at a solid 1.21. The Houston righty will face a Baltimore lineup that ranks 27th, 29th, and 30th in team batting average, OBP, and OPS in the month of May. In fact, the Astros haven't fared much better this month, ranked 29th in batting average and 28th in OBP. Ubaldo Jimenez has enjoyed success this season, overall, and in his career against the Astros and I have no reason to think it won't continue in this particular meeting. The Orioles have seen a 9-1 Under run in their last 10 home games against right-handers and these teams are 6-1 to the Under in their last seven meetings. I'm playing the Under between the Astros & Orioles on Wednesday, my Total Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & Royals on Friday. Two hot starters, two strong bullpens, and a Yankee team that's scored two runs or less in five of their last seven road games is what we have in KC on Friday night. Michael Pineda has been nothing short of fantastic on the season and has held current KC hitters to a .200 batting average. Not to be outdone, Chris Young owns a 0.78 ERA & 0.52 WHIP in 23 innings this season, allowing just seven hits. And the tall righty has held current Yankee hitters to a .197 batting average over the last five seasons. KC's home park is middle of the road in OPS, so both starters should approach this game with the confidence that if they hit their marks, they're likely to fare well. The Yankees enter on an 8-1 Under run against teams with a winning record, while the Royals are 43-20-5 to the Under as a home dog up to +150. Finally, the teams are on a 20-9 Under run when they meet in KC. I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & Royals, my Total Dominator on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Pirates & Phillies on Wednesday. We cashed with the Bucs last night and they scored like we thought they would. But tonight, the Pirates are facing Cole Hamels off of his best start of the season and Pittsburgh has been horrible against southpaws in 2015. Speaking of horrible -- the Phils have been just that in just about every important offensive category. Philadelphia is averaging 2.82 rpg, which is dead last in MLB. Pittsburgh ranks 23rd in scoring and 27th in OPS. And while the Phils are on a 5-1-2 Under run against lefties, the Pirates are 10-1-2 to the Under when Liriano takes the mound with a posted total in the 7 to 8.5 range. Toss in a pair of pens both ranked in the top-eight in MLB and I believe we have the solid recipe for a low scoring game. I'm playing the Under between the Pirates & Phillies on Wednesday, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under in Monday's Game-3 clash in KC. After a couple of games in the bandbox known as Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the teams will now look to score runs in one of the least homer-friendly parks in the Majors. Wei-Yin Chen gets the start for the Orioles with two strong starts against KC under his belt this season. In fact, the Orioles & Royals have played four straight Unders when Chen has taken the mound. The lefty and the O's are on a 16-5 Under run in his last 21 evening starts, limiting the 21 opponents to just 3.1 rpg. Kansas City will send former Oriole hurler Jeremy Guthrie to the mound. Guthrie hasn't pitched for a while, but has thrown simulated games and he's had no trouble in four starts against the O's, posting a 2.67 ERA & 1.22 WHIP. And of course, if and when his time runs out on Monday, the Royals' bullpen is about as good as it gets. Finally, the Orioles enter on a 25-9 Under run on the road. I'm playing the Under, my Total Dominator on Monday night. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Giants & Pirates on Wednesday night. We cashed with the side last night (Royals) but we like the Over in this one. The perception is that MLB playoff games are all low scoring affairs. There's no denying Madison Bumgarner's numbers away from home and what he has meant to the Giants. But the SFO southpaw did get beat-up in his lone start against the Pirates this season, allowing 5 earned runs and 8 base runners, while lasting just 4 innings. Edinson Volquez gets the start for the home team tonight and while the right-hander will face the Giants for the first time in 2014, he has been tagged for a 4.95 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and .277 BAA in his last eight starts against San Francisco. He's found new life in 2014, but we don't trust him in a win-or-go-home outing. The Giants have averaged 4 1/2 runs per game against right-handers this season, while the Bucs topped 4 rpg against lefties. Back to playoff totals in general. Yes, league championship series contests were low scoring last season, as was the World Series...no shocker there. But including last night's AL result, playoff games have seen an average of 8.33 rpg over the last 21 wildcard and divisional series games, going back to the start of the 2013 postseason. The Over is 5-1-1 the last seven times these teams have met at PNC and I expect another over ticket to cash tonight. I'm playing the Over between the Giants & Pirates on Wednesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Tigers & Royals on Friday night. I have little trust in both of tonight's starting pitchers, Justin Verlander & Jason Vargas. I doubt either goes the distance in this one which means we should also see both bullpens. Detroit's has been shaky most of the season and ranks 27th in the league - and Joe Nathan has been struggling again of late. The Royals are a little better than middle of the pack in the pen, but may see some action tonight with the way the Tigers hit Vargas. The KC lefty has been tagged for a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts against Detroit. Rajai Davis & Ian Kinsler have owned Vargas and no one is hitting better than Miguel Cabrera in September. Verlander, meanwhile, has an ERA of nearly 7.00 in his last three against the Royals. The Tiger right-hander has posted a 6.00 ERA in his last half-dozen starts, overall, and teams are batting over .300 against him during the same span. The Tigers enter on a 17-6 Over run with Verlander on the hill against teams that average no more than 6 strikeouts per game. The average amount of runs per game in those outings is 10.1 and KC, disciplined at the plate, fits the bill. The Over is 10-4-1 in Detroit's last 15 road games and KC is 4-0-1 to the Over in their last five games, overall. The three situations add-up to a 31-10 mark, pointing to the Over. I'm playing the Over between the Tigers & Royals, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & Rays. These teams played to yet another Under last night and I look for another low scoring game on Saturday afternoon. The Rays' rotation has been on fire over their last nine games and Drew Smyly threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball in his last start, his second with the Rays. Smyly has four appearances (one start) against the Yankees, posting a sizzling 0.77 ERA & 0.51 WHIP, while holding New York to a .105 team batting average. He's facing a Yankee team that's slumping at the plate, scoring a total of 7 runs in their last five games. New York has also found the going tough against the Rays, averaging less than 3 rpg in the last five meetings. Shane Greene will toe the rubber for the Yanks. He's from the Tampa area and will be facing them for the first time. Greene has pitched well so far in 2014, especially on the road. I expect more of the same against the Rays. The Under is 9-2-1 the last 12 times the Yankees have been priced as an underdog and they're 6-0 to the Under at +150 or less. The teams are on a 4-0-1 Under run in their last five head-to-head meetings. And finally, it doesn't hurt to have Kerwin Danley and the widest strikezone in baseball behind home plate. The Under is 48-11-2 in Danley's last 61 games calling balls and strikes. I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & Rays, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Dodgers & Braves on Tuesday. Dan Haren and Mike Minor will do battle in this one and while those names don't strike fear into the mind of batters, I suspect they're both getting "just what the doctor ordered" in tonight's meeting. Haren is coming off the huge game against LAA, where he pinpointed his pitches as well as he has in years. Haren retired the first 16 batters he faced and I believe the veteran righty will carry it over tonight. Haren will face a Braves lineup that's won just 2 of their last 12 games, averaging just 2.58 rpg along the way. Minor needs to get back on track and I believe he will, at least for this one. He's fared well in five starts against the Dodgers and he'll face a Los Angeles lineup that has scored just 44 runs in their last 13 games, an average of 3.38 rpg. The Dodgers are on a 6-1 Under run on the road against southpaws and 5-0 to the Under when Haren is priced as an underdog of +1.50 or smaller. Meanwhile, the Braves are 24-10-2 to the Under as home chalk of -1.50 or smaller, relaying on pitching when laying a price. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Kerwin Danley will be calling balls & strikes. In case you didn't know, the Under is 47-11-2 the last 60 times he's been behind the plate. Most of all, this is all about the matchups between the teams and their tendencies. I'm playing the Under between the Dodgers & Braves on Tuesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Twins & White Sox on Sunday. We've seen 32 runs scored through the first two games of this series, but we have two starters on the mound who should slow down the opposing offenses in this one. Kyle Gibson is starting for the Twins and has kept four of his last six opponents off the scoreboard when pitching on the road, including two straight road outings. He's allowed just 9 earned runs and 35 base runners in his last six road starts, spanning 37 IP. Take away one bad outing in Anaheim and his ERA and WHIP drop to 0.51 & 0.74 in his other five road starts since June 13. Gibson has been at his best in daytime action in 2014 and he's facing the Twins for the first time, an advantage for the pitcher. Minnesota sends Jose Quintana to the mound on Sunday. The left-hander has held seven of his last eight opponents to 2 runs or less and all eight to no more than 3 runs. Quintana has been especially stingy in daytime action this season and he's had no trouble at all in two starts against the Twins. The Under is a book-busting 21-4-1 the last 26 times Quintana has started against teams with a losing record, while the White Sox are 13-3 to the Under at home against losing teams. Meanwhile, the Twins are 9-3 to the Under when Gibson starts on the road and the total is in the 7 to 8 1/2 range. Finally, Kerwin Danley is scheduled to call balls & strikes in this one. While we aren't making this play simply due to Danley, it shouldn't hurt to have his wide strike zone going for us. The Under is on a 46-10-2 run the last 58 times Danley has called balls & strikes and he's 13-1 to the Under in 2014 when the total is 7 1/2 or more. The 21-4 & 13-1 spots combine for a 34-5 mark. I'm playing the Under, my Total Tapout on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Royals & A's on Saturday afternoon. Oakland has been a little sluggish at the plate of late, scoring 21 runs in their last seven games, with nine of those runs coming in one game. Yoenis Cespedes went 2-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs in the contest. Obviously, Cespedes is now in Boston. He played in their 8-1 loss on July 30, but was already on the east coast when the A's were shutout last night. Oakland has just 9 hits in their last 62 at-bats, a .145 team batting average. Not only will they face the ultra-tough Jason Vargas (activated off the D-L), but the player the A's traded Cespedes for, Jon Lester, takes the mound for the A's. Lester is having arguably his best season ever. He knows a thing or two about stretch drives, pennant races, and world series wins. I expect Lester to continue to flourish, now in Oakland. He'll face a KC team that has scored just 14 runs in their last five games, combined. Royals' road games are on a 6-0 Under run on the road. This series is 13-3-1 to the Under in their last 17 meetings, including a 4-0 Under run in Oakland. I'm playing the Under between the Royals & A's on Saturday, my Total Knockout! Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Phillies & Mets on Tuesday night. Both pitchers have struggled against tonight's opponent and I expect more of the same in this one. Cole Hamels' starts against the Mets have seen a 4-0-2 mark to the Over, while 8 of the last 9 have gone Over when Dillon Gee starts against the Phillies. We also have a starter in Cole Hamels who has more on his mind that just this start with a possible trade looming. The Phillies' offense is at their run scoring best on the road against righties, which explains part of the reason why they're on a 9-2 Over run in tonight's situation. Meanwhile, the Mets have scored an average of 4.9 rpg at home against left-handers. Mets' games are on a 7-0 Over run at home against teams with a losing record and I'm playing the Over in this one. The Over is my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Dodgers & Giants on Sunday night. Hyun-Jin Ryu has been an Under machine when he takes the mound, Dodger games are on a 7-1-1 Under run in his last nine starts. The lefty owns nice numbers at AT&T Park through his first two MLB seasons and he'll face a Giants' team that's 20-8-2 to the Under in their last 30 games against left-handers. Ryu was having a strong season before a hiccup against the Tigers on July 8. But he's bounced right back allowing just 2 earned runs and 8 base runners with 15 strikeouts and just 1 walk in his last two starts, spanning 13 IP. The Giants will counter with veteran Jake Peavy, after making a trade for the veteran righty before the weekend. Peavy has "owned" the Dodgers in 25 career starts against them, including a start against this group last August, allowing just 1 earned run in 8 innings of work. Peavy has been at his best this season in IL action against National League teams and I expect another strong outing tonight. One final note: Tonight's schedule home plate umpire is Alfonso Marquez. The Under is on a 22-8-3 run the last 33 times he's called balls & strikes in games involving the Dodgers. I expect another low scoring game and I'm playing the Under between the Dodgers & Giants on Sunday night, my Div Tapout Total. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Red Sox & Blue Jays on Monday night. I played the Under in the Red Sox game yesterday and we cashed the ticket, thanks to a strong performance by Jon Lester against the slumping KC Royals. But Toronto rolls into this one averaging 5.1 rpg in home night action against right-handed starters. Tonight, they'll face John Lackey who has seen each of his last four road starts fly Over the posted total. Melky Cabrera should be happy to see Boston pitching, posting a .342 batting average during his current 9-game hitting streak against them. And as a team, the Jays are 2nd in MLB in HR's hit, 4th in OPS, 5th in runs per game, and 7th in team batting average. The Jays will counter with Drew Hutchison who enters with a 2-4 mark, a 6.75 ERA, and a 1.59 WHIP in seven home starts this season. He'll pitch to a Boston lineup averaging 5.4 rpg in their last eight contests. We also expect to see Mike Napoli & Xander Bogaerts back in the lineup tonight after having yesterday off. I'm betting we'll see plenty of run scoring in this one and I'm playing the Over between the Red Sox & Blue Jays on Monday, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Royals & Red Sox on Sunday afternoon. Both of today's starting pitchers have been throwing quite well and I expect more of the same today. Royals' righty Yordano Ventura has pitched well in 2014, especially on the road where he owns a 2.83 ERA in seven starts. Ventura has not yet faced the Sox in his young career, an advantage for the pitcher. The problem for Ventura is that his team is not scoring runs. Kansas City has "hit the wall" after overtaking the Tigers for first in the AL Central not that long ago. But they have scored a grand total of 47 runs in 14 games in July, an average of 3.36 rpg. They're not likely to get healthy at the plate against Jon Lester. The lefty has dominated the Royals going 5-0 with a 1.02 ERA in six starts at Fenway. He's actually been dominant in 10 lifetime starts against KC, leading to an 8-0-2 Under record when he takes the mound against the AL Central opponent. He'll face a KC team averaging just 3.5 rpg against lefties on the season. But before any Boston fans get too excited, we should note the Sox have averaged just 2.6 rpg in home day games against righties in 2014. Boston enters on an 18-4 Under run at home when the total is in the 7 to 8.5 range, and they're on a 5-0 Under run at home with Lester on the mound. And the kicker? How about scheduled home plate umpire Kerwin Danley? The Under is 43-10-2 the last 55 times he's set-up behind the plate. Talk about a wide strike-zone! I'm playing the Under, my Total Dominator on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Dodgers on Sunday. Los Angeles has scored 7 runs over their last 43 innings of action. The Friars enter as Major League Baseball's worst offensive team, batting .214 and scoring just 2.96 rpg. San Diego has been shutout 13 times already this season. I expect neither team to find the sweet elixir at the plate today. Tyson Ross goes for the visitors and the all-star hurler has been tremendous. He's posted a 1.86 ERA in his last 4 starts and doesn't award free passes. His counterpart, Hyun-Jin Ryu is looking to get back on track after a rough outing in his last start. He gets "just what the doctor ordered" with a start against SDG. Ryu has a 2-0 mark against the Friars with a 0.93 ERA in three starts. The Under is on a 37-10-4 run in Padre games with the total set between 7 & 8.5. The Pads are 20-5-3 to the Under against lefties and Tyson Ross starts have gone Under 17 of the last 21 times against teams with a winning record. Meanwhile, the Under is 14-3 the last 17 times these teams have met. I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Dodgers, my Div. Total of the Month. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Brewers & Reds on Friday night. Two of 2014's top pitchers battle it out tonight when Kyle Lohse takes the mound for Milwaukee and Alfredo Simon counters for Cincinnati. Lohse has enjoyed his starts against the Reds, posting a 2.89 ERA & 1.18 WHIP in 16 career outings. He owns an even stingier 1.89 ERA the last 10 times he's faced them. Tonight, he faces a Reds' lineup averaging just 3.6 rpg in home night games against right-handers. Alfredo Simon has far exceeded expectations as a starter in 2014. The right-hander, a former reliever, is just one win away from the top of the league standings and he owns a terrific 1.05 WHIP. Simon has 14 quality starts in his 16 trips to the bump and his team is on a 10-2 Under run when he faces NL teams with an OBP of .315 or less. The 12 teams averaged just 1.9 rpg. The Brewers and Reds are on a 5-0 Under run when Lohse starts for Milwaukee and we expect another low scoring game in this one. I'm playing the Under between the Brewers & Reds, my Total Tapout on Friday night. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & Twins on Thursday night with Tanaka & Hughes set to do battle. New York has struggled to score runs in this spot, averaging just 3.3 rpg in road night games against right-handers. I expect more troubles at the plate against Phil Hughes, who already shut down his former employer once this season. Not much needs to be said about Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankee-Ace continues to dominate the league, so much so, that allowing 3 earned runs in 7 innings against Baltimore two starts ago is considered a shaky outing. He's "punched-out" 127 batters in 115 2/3 innings. He's great on the road and great at night. And Tanaka completely shut down the Twins earlier this season. Tonight, against a Twins' team averaging 3.78 rpg in evening action, I expect more of the same. The Under is on an 8-1-1 when the Twins face teams with a losing record and 11-2-1 to the Under off their last 14 losses. Meanwhile, the Yanks are on a 5-1 Under run with Tanaka on the mound. I'm playing the Under between the Yankees & Twins, my Total Dominator on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Reds & Padres on Monday night. Nice pitching matchup at PETCO tonight that I believe will translate well onto the diamond. Former Padre pitcher Mat Latos takes the mound for the Reds. Latos has been outstanding in two road starts this season and returns to his old stomping grounds, a joint he used to dominate. Latos owns a 2.99 ERA in 33 career starts at PETCO where he has registered 14 strikeouts in 13 innings in two starts as an opponent of the Padres. SDG ranks last in MLB in team batting average and runs scored per game. They're hitting .130 and have scored a grand total of just four runs in their last four games, combined. The Friars will counter with Jesse Hahn, who has been on fire in his last three starts (0.95 ERA) and he'll have the advantage of being a bit of a mystery to the Reds who will be facing the righty for the first time. Reds games are on a 7-0 run when Latos starts as a road favorite, while Padre games are on a 44-14-4 Under run when they face teams with a winning record. The Under is also on a 5-0 run the last five times these teams have faced each other. I'm playing the Under between the Reds & Padres, my Total Dominator on Monday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the A's & Mets on Tuesday night. I played a pair of Unders with the Mets last week and we cashed both tickets, I believe we're in for another low scoring game in this one. The Mets are one of the worst offensive teams in MLB, especially in home night games where they average just 2.94 rpg. Tonight, they'll face the rejuvenated Scott Kazmir. The Oakland lefty has had an unbelievable 2014 thus far. Kazmir owns a 2.08 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a .203 BAA in 15 starts this season. He's allowed 3 runs or less in 14 of the 15 outings and he owns a sizzling, 0.57 HR's per 9 IP mark with just 20 walks in 95 innings of work. It's unlikely the Mets will turn around their offensive woes against Kazmir. New York counters with ex-Oakland A's veteran Bartolo Colon. The right-hander has allowed just 8 earned runs and 40 base runners over his last 6 starts, spanning 43 1/3 IP. That's a smoking-hot 1.66 ERA & 0.92 WHIP. Two red-hot starting pitchers, both putting up all-star numbers take the mound tonight. And while I expect Colon to hold down the A's, Kazmir should have no trouble with the anemic Mets. The Mets are on a 9-1-1 Under run when the total sits in the 7 to 8 1/2 range. Meanwhile, the A's are on a 6-1 Under run on the IL road. I'm playing the Under between the A's & Mets on Tuesday, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Mets & Marlins on Friday night. We had the Under in last night's contest and cashed as easily as we possibly could in a 1-0 New York win. The Under is on an 11-1-2 run in the last 14 meetings. Tonight, Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound for the Mets, while the Marlins will counter with Henderson Alvarez. First of all, the Miami right-hander has been as good as anyone could have hoped...even better. His outstanding season has eased the blow suffered when Jose Fernandez was lost for the season. Tonight, Alvarez will face a Mets' lineup that's averaging just 3.6 rpg against right-handers. David Wright went 1-for-3 last night, but he has just 7 hits in his last 54 at-bats. Curtis Granderson is hitting .160 in seven games against the Marlins this season and he's just 3-for-19 against Alvarez. While I don't expect much from the Mets' bats, I do expect a decent outing from Matsuzaka, who has made the most of 21 appearances, including four starts in 2014. Miami averages just 4.l rpg against righties and they have scored a grand total of just 14 runs in their last five games, combined. Add in a pair of bullpens ranked in the top-11 in MLB and we have the recipe for yet another low scoring game. The Mets & Marlins have averaged just 4.64 combined runs in their last 14 meetings (7 this year and final 7 last year) and just one of those 14 meetings saw more than 7 runs scored. I'm doing it again. I'm playing the Under between the Mets & Marlins, my Total Dominator on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the A's & Yankees on Thursday afternoon. New York has a decent shot to stave off the sweep with Masahiro Tanaka on the mound. It's his first start against the Oakland A's and I expect more success and domination from the Japanese import. But I'm not so sure the Yankee bats will do enough. New York has scored just 14 runs in their last six games, overall, and they're averaging less than 3 rpg against left-handers. Making matters tougher for the Yankees is the fact they'll be facing Drew Pomeranz for the first time, quite often an advantage for a lefty. The Yanks are on a 40-18-1 Under run as home chalk of -150 to -200 and they're 16-5 to the Under the last 21 times at home against teams that are winning more than 60% of their road games (A's fit the bill). We also expect to have Tom Hallion calling balls & strikes today and Hallion has a decent-sized strike-zone and it's showing at the books where he's on an 18-7-1 Under run when behind the plate. Combine the above with a pair of hurlers who own strong daytime numbers and we are playing the under. My Total Tapout...the Under between the A's & Yankees. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the A's & Yankees on Wednesday night. New York is averaging less than 4 rpg in home night games against right-handers, and despite getting Mark Teixeira back in the lineup, the Yanks still managed just 2 runs in last night's 3-run loss to Oakland. The problem is that the Yankees aren't scoring runs in general, plating just 10 runs over their last five games. Take Teixeira's RBI base hit out of last night's boxscore and the rest of the Yankees went 0-7 with RISP. They'll face Jesse Chavez tonight. The A's righty has posted a 2.78 ERA & 1.18 WHIP in 11 starts this season. I expect the Yankee bats to continue to struggle in home night games against righties. New York is on a 54-26-2 Under run at home when the total is in the 9 to 10 1/2 range and they're on a 4-0 Under run in the same total range with Vidal Nuno on the mound. The left-hander has been giving Joe Girardi innings, lasting at least six innings in four of his last five starts. Besides the Yankee Under angles mentioned above, the A's are on a 7-0 Under run when the total is in the 9 to 10 1/2 range and they're on an 8-0-1 Under run on the road against teams with a losing record. I'm playing the Under between the A's & Yankees, my Total Dominator! Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Royals & Cardinals on Tuesday night. Nice spot for St. Louis to plate some runs. The Cardinals look to avoid being shutout for the third straight game for the first time since 1976 when they face Royals starter James Shields. Several Cardinals have enjoyed major success against the right-hander, including Jhonny Peralta, who went 11-for-29 with 3 HR's against Shields in his American League days. Shields has been knocked around in his last two outings and he's seen his last five starts on four days rest (tonight's situation) sail over the posted total. The Cards will counter with Jaime Garcia who has been tagged for a 7.30 ERA in three starts against KC. And while the Cards have allowed 36 runs during their current 1-5 slide, the Royals have plated 30 runs in their last six IL contests (5-1). Finally, the Cards are on a 6-0 Over run with Garcia on the mound and 21-5-1 to the Over when he's a favorite of -150 or less. I'm playing the Over between the Royals & Cardinals, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

Please note:  The 16-0 spots include the 5-0 spot on the Rays, the 5-0 spot backing the Over in the Giants-Reds game, and the 6-0 Spot backing the Cards-Royals game. 

I'm playing the Over between the Giants & Reds on Tuesday night. The last time Homer Bailey faced the Giants, he threw a no-hitter, last July 2. He wasn't so hot in his previous four starts against SFO, getting tagged for a 6.56 ERA. Tonight, Bailey throws on five days rest and each of his last five starts in this situation went over the posted total. The Giants will counter with Tim Lincecum. I expect a "market correction" for the righty after "getting away" with walking 17 batters in his last four starts, spanning 24 2/3 IP. Lincecum has been rocked by the Reds, slammed for an 8.65 ERA in his last five starts against them. The Giants are 12-3-2 to the Over when Lincecum starts on the road against teams with a losing record. I'm playing the Over between the Giants & Reds on Tuesday, my Total Beatdown. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Orioles & Astros on Sunday. Baltimore put an end to the Astros winning streak yesterday and George Springer has finally looked human, going 0-8 with 3 strikeouts over the last two games. He and the Astros will look to bounce right back against Wei-Yin Chen. But that's easier said than done. Chen is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA against Houston and I expect a bounce-back of his own. Chen fared poorly in his last two starts, but had allowed just 7 earned runs in his previous four starts, spanning 24 1/3 IP. His team is on a 30-14-1 Under run in his last 45 starts when the total has been in the 7 to 8 1/2 range. Houston has averaged just 3.7 rpg against southpaws this season. Scott Feldman has pitched well for the most part, allowing 3 runs or fewer in six of his eight starts (3.02 ERA, overall). The Astros enter on a 5-0 Under run at home against teams with a winning road record and they're on a 4-0 Under run in head-to-head meetings with the Orioles. More of the same. I'm playing the Under between the Orioles & Astros, my Total Dominator on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Jays & Rangers on Sunday. Texas has been struggling to plate runs, ranked 20th in runs per game, overall, averaging just 3.93 rpg. The Rangers have scored just 6 runs in their last four games and they're averaging just 2.14 rpg in their last seven. Texas got more bad news on the injury front when Prince Fielder was scratched from Saturday's lineup. Fielder is likely out until at least Tuesday. The slumping Rangers, just 5-14 in their last 19 games are catching R.A. Dickey on a bit of a heater. The knuckleballer has posted a 2.92 ERA & 1.21 WHIP, while allowing just 1 HR in his last six starts. The Rangers will counter with Nicholas Martinez, who'll be making his first start since April 22. The right-hander is replacing injured Matt Harrison in the rotation. Martinez, a righty, has posted a 0.77 ERA in his last five appearances since the start against the Oakland A's. The Under is on a 6-0 run when these teams meet in Texas and I'm betting we're in for another low scoring game again. I'm playing the Under, my Total Dominator on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Reds on Tuesday. Andrew Cashner has 12 quality starts in his last 15 outings with an ERA just above 2.00, but he gets little support. The Padres have scored zero runs in four of his last seven starts. Mike Leake is another pitcher who hasn't received much support, with the Reds scoring a grand total of four runs in his last three starts. He's been eating-up innings and Chapman is now back to close the deal. The Friars are on a 13-3 Under run with Cashner on the mound and they're 9-1-1 to the Under in their last 11 road games against right-handers. Meanwhile, the teams have combined to score just 32 runs in their last six meetings. I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Reds, my Total Dominator. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Angels & Yankees on Sunday night. Masahiro Tanaka has displayed outstanding control in his first month in the Majors. Tanaka owns a 35:2 K/BB ratio through his first four starts, spanning 29 1/3 IP. We expected this before the season began, a solid run his first couple of months through the league before teams eventually get a "read" on the righty...and even then he ought to provide the Yankees with solid starts. I believe he's just what they need to slow the Angel offense for the second straight game. The Halos counter with Garrett Richards. The righty has been virtually untouchable in three road starts this season. Richards has allowed just 1 hit in 2 of his last 3 starts and he's yet to allow a home run. Richards will face a Yankee lineup that ranks in the bottom half of MLB in home runs hit. In all, the 25-year old has pitched 18 innings on the road, holding his 3 opponents to a .086 batting average. The Angels are on a 7-0 Under run when Richards takes the mound with a total of 7 to 8.5 runs. The Yankees, meanwhile, are on a 19-6-1 Under run as a favorite. I'm playing the Under between the Angels & Yankees on Sunday night. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the White Sox & Tigers on Wednesday night. No Chris Sale and no Felipe Paulino, which means Andre Rienzo gets the start tonight for the Sox. The White Sox rotation is already in terrible form and now Rienzo, struggling at the Triple-A level will have to face the Tigers. The Brazilian righty will also have to face Miguel Cabrera, who's getting more aggressive at the plate and is off a 3-for-5 night on Tuesday. It also helps that the Tigers saw Rienzo last season - a definite advantage for the hitters. The Tigers will counter with Drew Smyly who struggled in his first start against the Angels. Smyly will face the league's top scoring team tonight. While the Sox pitching rotation has been lit-up, their bats have been on fire. Chicago averages 5.48 rpg (1st), owns a .267 team batting average (5th), are second in the league in OPS and have hit 25 HRs (5th). We also factor in two of the worst bullpen ERA's in the majors (Sox 28th; Tigers 27th). Chicago enters on an 8-1-1 Over run on the road against teams with a winning record and they're 7-2 to the Over against southpaws. Meanwhile, the Tigers are on a 10-3-2 Over run against right-handers. I'm playing the Over between the White Sox and Tigers, my Total Knockout on Wednesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Brewers on Monday night with Cashner and Peralta the particulars. Both pitchers are off to red-hot starts and while I expect Cashner to shut down the Brewers in his first start against them this season, it shouldn't take a Herculean effort for Peralta to hold the Padres' sticks at bay. San Diego ranks 29th, 25th, and 28th, in runs scored per game (2.79), team batting average (.233), and OPS (.640), respectively. They're also 28th in the league hitting just 11 home runs so far this season. Wily Peralta has allowed a grand total of 4 earned runs through his first three starts, spanning 18 1/3 IP for a 1.97 ERA to go along with a 1.09 WHIP. Cashner's numbers are even better. The Padres enter on a 7-0 Under run when Cashner starts against teams with a winning record, while the Brewers are on a 7-0 Under run at home against right-handed starters, for a combined 14-0 mark. I'm betting on more of the same in this one. I'm playing the Under between the Padres & Brewers, my Total Dominator on Monday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.