This is a 10* play on PHI@ATL to go UNDER the total.

The Braves are on fire at the moment, coming into this home series versus Philly as winners of seven of their last eight. I expect a pitcher's duel in Game 1.

Julio Teheran (6-10, 3.10 ERA) allowed one run on five hits over seven innings in a 5-4 win over the Mets his last time out. He's pitched very well against Philly this season, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two previous meetings. Philly's lineup is batting just .221 over a combined 172 at bats versus Teheran.

The Phillies hand the ball to Jerad Eickhoff, who has also pitched well against Atlanta. He's 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts versus the Braves this year, but he's 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA in his two starts at Atlanta.

The under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Atlanta.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are still looking for their first win of the season, and they should have a good shot of getting it tonight at home versus Atlanta. They beat Atlanta twice last year, and the Falcons have failed to cover in four of their last five at the Superdome. New Orleans defense was the worst in the NFL last year, and it didn't look much better in a home loss to Oakland in Week 1. They put in an impressive showing on the road in New York last week, holding the Giants offense to just three field goals. They also had a couple of goal line stands that kept the New York out of the endzone. Drew Brees has looked sharp early in the season, and in a game that could turn into a shootout, I like his chances against the mistake prone Matt Ryan. The Saints sacked Ryan five times in last year's 31-21 home win over Atlanta. The Falcons defense hasn't impressed, and I don't like their chances of slowing down Drew Brees in the dome on Monday night.

Take Saints.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CHI@DAL to go UNDER the total.

The Cowboys are a big favorite at home to the Bears on Sunday night, but I am still not convinced that rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot are going to live up to all the hype. The Cowboys are 1-1, and everyone is singing the praises of their new rookie quarterback. As solid as he's looked, he's yet to throw a TD pass. The good news is that he hasn't made many mistakes. If the Cowboys want to keep it that way, they will have to continue protecting him with a conservative game plan on offense. They don't need to come out passing, and settling for field goals is likely to be plenty good enough against these Bears. Chicago's offense is in rough shape, with Brian Hoyer stepping in at quarterback to replace Jay Cutler. Hoyer is a capable backup, but this is a tough situation, playing behind an offensive line that can't stop the pass rush. Chicago has not seen the total go over 45 points in seven straight games dating back to last December. The Cowboys have gone under in four of their last five versus an opponent with a losing record, and I expect to see a low scoring game here tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tennessee Titans.

It's been an impressive start to the season for the Titans, who probably should be 2-0. In Week 1 they took a 10-0 lead to the locker room at halftime at home versus the Vikings, but Minnesota scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in thew second half to come back and win. Last week they held the Detroit Lions to just 15 points, and rallied for a 16-15 home win.

Tennessee will host the Raiders this Sunday, and Oakland is coming off a disappointing home loss to Atlanta. The Oakland defense ranks dead last in the NFL versus the pass after giving up a total of 69 points in the first two weeks.

The Titans have to be pleased with the play of DeMarco Murray, who has averaged 5.2 yards per carry so far. He's also been a threat in the passing game, with a dozen receptions for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

These two teams are trending in different directions, as the Titans are developing a winning culture, while the Raiders are second guessing themselves. The Titans come in full of confidence, while Oakland is desperately trying to sort out it's defense.

Take TEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants have split the first two games of this series in San Diego, but they are a heavy favorite with their ace on the mound Saturday.

Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 2.47 ERA) struck out 10 while tossing seven scoreless innings in a no decision at LA his last time out. He gave up just one hit in that game, but the bullpen went on to blow it in the bottom of the ninth. 

The Padres hand the ball to Jared Cosart, who has not missed many bats lately. Cosart (0-4, 5.64 ERA) allowed five runs on five hits and four walks in just 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Colorado his last time out. He's still looking for his first win of the season, and he's 0-3 with a 4.79 ERA in nine starts since joining the Padres.

The Giants have not been fooled by Cosart, hitting .432 in 37 at bats in previous meetings.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

10*

10*

10*

This is a 10* play on USC@UTAH to go UNDER the total.

The Utah Utes are 3-0, but when you really examine those three victories, none of them are all that impressive. Despite the fact that they've played three unranked opponents, they've scored an average of just 26 points per game, ranking 90th nationally. The Trojans haven't looked great defensively, but keep in mind that they've played two defending conference champions (Alabama and Stanford). When matched against a lesser opponent, they didn't look too bad. USC held the Utah State Aggies to just seven total points, and 253 total yards in Week 2. Sam Darnold will step in at quarterback for the Trojans, but he faces a Utes defense that ranks top 10 nationally. Darnold was 5-of-7 for 45 yards with an INT against Stanford last week. Given the history between these two conference rivals, we should expect to see a defensive battle. The last time the Trojans played here they lost 24-21, and the under in 5-2 in the last seven meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans.

After upsetting Arizona on the road in Week 1 without several starters on both sides of the ball, the Patriots seem invincible. There seems to be a feeling that Bill Belichick can get it done no matter who starts at quarterback. History tells us that isn't the case, and I think there's a big difference between 2nd string quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and third stringer Jacoby Brissett. We saw Miami score 21 unanswered points in the second half of last week's game, and New England just barely held on. The Texans come in with the #3 ranked scoring defense, and a quarterback that beat New England last year. This Houston defense has the potential to make life miserable for an inexperienced quarterback, and I expect Brissett to struggle here. I think Belichick's luck is about to run out.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on SF@LAD to go UNDER the total.

The Giants and the Dodgers have been involved in back-to-back pitcher's duels, and I expect a similar result here in Game 3 tonight.

Matt Moore will toe the slab for San Francisco, and the southpaw has been dealing. Moore (11-11, 4.06 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on seven hits over five innings in a home win over the Cardinals his last time out. He's won four of his last five starts, holding the opposition to two runs or less in all four wins. The only loss during that span came at Coors Field. He came one out away from a no-hitter in his last start at LA (August 25th). The Dodgers have hit just .182 versus Moore in 88 previous at bats.

The Dodgers hand the ball to Kenta Maeda, who has been the epitome of consistency. While he rarely blanks the opposition, he's held opponents to three runs or less in 10 straight starts.

These teams have gone under in eight of the last 10 meetings, and that's a trend that's likely to continue tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SF@LAD to go UNDER the total.

We saw a pitcher's duel in LA last night, with the Giants blowing a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth. I expect to see a similar result here in Game 2 tonight.

Johnny Cueto will toe the slab for San Francisco, and he's been dealing. Cueto (16-5, 2.86 ERA) went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits, fanning seven in a home win over St. Louis his last time out. He allowed one run on four hits over six innings in a 1-0 loss at LA back in August, and he's 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in four starts versus the Dodgers this year.

Rich Hill will go for LA, and he suffered his first loss as a Dodger in his last start. The southpaw allowed four runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Arizona. He hasn't given up any runs in three starts in LA.

Six of the last 10 games between these teams have been decided by a single run, and the under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in LA.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers are sizzling in September, coming into Game 1 of this home series versus Pittsburgh as winners of 11 of 17. They swept the Pirates in Pittsburgh at the beginning of the month, and they took two of three versus the Cubs in Chicago over the weekend.

Matt Garza will toe the slab for the Brewers, and he's been dealing at home. Garza (5-7, 4.22 ERA) allowed five runs (only one earned) on eight hits over five innings in a loss at Cincinnati his last time out. He's been far better at home, going 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

The Pirates hand the ball to Steven Brault, who has yet to win a game in the majors. The 24 year old has appeared in six games, and the Pirates have lost five of those six contests. He was rocked for five runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Philly his last time out.

The Pirates are 20-62 in the last 82 meetings in Milwaukee.

Take MIL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox moved four games clear of Baltimore with a 5-2 win in Game 1 at Camden Yards last night, but I like the Orioles in Game 2 tonight.

Kevin Gausman will toe the slab for the O's, and he's 5-0 in his last six starts. Gausman (8-10, 3.43 ERA) tossed eight scoreless innings, surrendering just four hits in a win at Fenway his last time out. He's been great at home, going 6-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 11 starts.

The Red Sox hand the ball to Eduardo Rodriguez, who has been inconsistent all year. Rodriguez (2-7, 4.98 ERA) allowed four runs on eight hits over just 2 1/3 innings in a no decision versus the Yankees his last time out. He's 1-4 with a 3.25 ERA in his last 11 starts.

The Orioles are 7-0 in Gausman's last seven home starts, while the Red Sox are 4-10 in Rodriguez's last 14 starts.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners have won eight of their last 10, putting them just two games back of Toronto in the Wild Card race. They host the Jays tonight, and Toronto has lost nine of it's last 13 overall.

Taijuan Walker will toe the slab for Seattle, and he's coming off a complete game shutout. Walker (6-10, 4.28 ERA) struck out 11, and allowed just three hits while going the distance in an 8-0 win over the Angels. His last home start was a 6-3 win over Texas, in which he allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings.

The Jays hand the ball to Marco Estrada, who is coming off three straight losses. The right-hander has been torched for 13 runs on 17 hits over 13 innings in those three starts. He's 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA in 10 starts since the All Star break.

The Blue Jays bats have really cooled off in the second half, Toronto's team batting average of .240 since the All Star break is the second worst in the American League.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Diego Padres.

The Padres are sitting dead last in the NL West, but trail Arizona by just one game. They host the Diamondbacks at PETCO tonight, and this looks like a good spot to back the home team.

Clayton Richard will toe the slab for San Diego, and he's been dealing. Richard (2-3, 3.00 ERA) allowed three runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings in a win over the Giants his last time out. He's really pitched well since the All Star break, going 2-2 with a 1.63 ERA in 11 appearances.

The D'Backs hand the ball to Braden Shipley, who hasn't been missing many bats. Shipley (4-3, 5.56 ERA) allowed five runs on eight hits in just four innings in a no decision versus Colorado his last time out. He was torched for seven runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at PETCO last month.

The D'Backs bullpen ranks dead last in the major leagues with an ERA of 5.11.

Take SD.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@CHI to go OVER the total.

Jay Cutler had the Bears up 14-10 at halftime in Houston in Week 1, but Chicago was shutout in the second half and went on to lose 23-14 to the Texans. The offensive line couldn't keep Houston's pass rushers off of Cutler, and he was sacked five times. Chicago's offense should have a more favorable matchup here at home against Philly. The Eagles are really thin in the secondary, and making matters worse, Leodis McKelvin will be out with a hamstring injury. Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz had his way with the Browns in Week 1, throwing for 278 yards and a pair of TDs. Wentz has plenty of weapons at his disposal, but he might not be quite as successful here on the road against a solid Bears defense. The Bears have seen the total go over in nine of their last 13 games in the month of September, and the over is 4-1 in their last four games versus the Eagles.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New York Mets -1.5.

The Mets have won 11 of their last 14 overall, putting them a game up in the National League Wild Card race. They host the Braves tonight, with a favorable matchup on the mound.

Noah Syndergaard will toe the slab for New York, and he's been dealing. Syndergaard (13-8, 2.43 ERA) allowed one run on four hits, striking out 10 in seven innings in a win over the Nationals his last time out. The Mets are 5-1 in his last six starts, and four of those wins came by two or more runs.

The Braves hand the ball to Aaron Blair, who is still looking for his first career win. Blair (0-6, 8.23 ERA) was torched for five runs on eight hits over four innings in a loss at San Francisco his last time out. He's surrendered a whopping 10 home runs in his last six appearances.

Blair has faced the Mets three times this season, going 0-2 with an 8.04 ERA.

Take NYM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BOS@BAL to go UNDER the total.

The Red Sox sit three games clear of Baltimore at the top of the AL East, and the two teams play Game 1 of a four game series at Camden Yards on Monday.

Rick Porcello will toe the slab for the Sox, and he's looking for his 21st win of the season. Porcello (20-4, 3.12 ERA) allowed a single run on four hits over eight innings in a 1-0 loss to the Orioles his last time out. He's held the opposition to two runs or less in seven of his last 10 starts.

The Orioles hand the ball to Dylan Bundy, who shutout the Yankees in his last home start. The 23 year old is 4-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 17 appearances at home in 2016. He's 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA in his last three starts.

The under is 23-5-1 in Baltimore's last 29 home games.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on HOU@SEA to go UNDER the total.

The Astros beat the Mariners by a score of 2-1 at Safeco yesterday, moving into a second place tie with Seattle in the AL West. Both teams are trying to clinch a Wild Card berth, and I wouldn't be surprised to see another pitcher's duel here in Seattle Sunday.

Ariel Miranda will toe the slab for Seattle, and he's won three straight starts. Miranda (4-1, 4.10 ERA) tossed six scoreless innings, surrendering just three hits in a win at LA his last time out. He's now 3-0 with a 3.65 ERA in five appearances at Safeco this season.

The Astros hand the ball to Doug Fister, who has been better on the road than he has been at home. The right-hander has won a dozen games this season, nine of those coming on the road. He's 2-1 with a 4.67 ERA in three starts against the Mariners this season, and Seattle's lineup has hit a combined .241 over 133 at bats versus Fister.

These teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and the under is 5-0-1 in the Mariners last six games versus a right-handed starter.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10* analysis before game time

10*

This is a 10* play on STL@SF to go OVER the total.

The Giants have won back to back games in this home series versus St. Louis, and we've seen plenty of scoring in both those contests. I think we'll see our fair share of runs here in Game 3 on Saturday.

Mike Leake will toe the slab for St. Louis, and he's been hit hard in previous meetings with the Giants. San Francisco's lineup is hitting .325 over 126 at bats versus Leake. Hunter Pence has really given him trouble, the Giants right fielder is batting .419 in 31 career at bats against him.

The Giants hand the ball to Jeff Samardzija, who hasn't missed many bats lately. Samardzija (11-10, 4.07 ERA) allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings in a home loss to San Diego his last time out. The Cardinals are hitting .306 over 111 previous at bats versus Samardzija.

These teams have gone over in eight of the last nine meetings in San Francisco.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Stanford Cardinal.

The Trojans were thoroughly embarrassed in a Week 1 loss to Alabama, losing by a score of 52-6. Most of the damage was done on the ground, with Alabama running for 242 yards and three TDs. USC was unable to stop Christian McCaffrey while losing both of last year's gmes against Stanford by a double digit margin.

McCaffrey ran for over 200 yards with two TDs, and caught four passes for 105 yards and a TD, as well as throwing a TD pass in last year's 41-22 win over USC in the PAC-12 Championship Game. He ran for 140 yards and a pair of TDs in a Week 1 win over Kansas State, and he's well rested ahead of Saturday's clash with the Trojans.

Senior quarterback Ryan Burns wasn't asked to do much in Week 1, but he was efficient throwing for 156 yards and a TD on 14-of-18 passing. The Cardinal have won six of the last eight in this series, and they appear to have things locked in a whole lot tighter than USC so far this season.

Expect McCaffrey to put on a show again at home, and Stanford should run away with this one.

Take STAN,

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles lost Game 1 of this home series versus Tampa, but they battled back to even the series at 1-1 with a 5-4 win Friday. Baltimore has all the momentum heading into the rubber match tonight.

Chris Tillman will toe the slab for the O's, and he's been dominant at home in 2016. Tillman (16-5, 3.68 ERA) allowed one run on four hits over six innings in a 3-1 win over Detroit in his last start. He's 8-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 14 starts at Camden Yards, and 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts versus Tampa this season.

The Rays hand the ball to Matt Andriese, who has really struggled of late. Andriese (7-7, 4.46 ERA) allowed seven runs on nine hits over five innings in a home loss to the Orioles two weeks ago. He's 1-5 with a 6.85 ERA in his last 11 appearances.

The Rays are 1-8 in their last nine games at Baltimore, and they've lost 10 of the last 13 in this series.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Texas A&M Aggies.

The Aggies have started each of the last two seasons with five straight wins, but have faded down the stretch, finishing 8-5 in 2014 and 2015. Coach Kevin Sumlin’s reputation as an offensive guru took a hit last season, as poor quarterback play resulted in an average of just 28.3 points per game, finishing 71st nationally.

Trevor Knight is off to a good start since coming over from Oklahoma, and the Aggies offense is looking a lot more dangerous. Knight has thrown for 583 yards and four TDs, and he's ran for over 100 yards and two scores in his first two starts.

The quarterback situation at Auburn isn't quite as optimistic, with sophomore Sean White under center. He threw for just 140 yards with a TD and an INT in a home loss to Clemson in Week 1. White threw for 1166 yards with just one TD and four INTs in limited time as the starter last season.

Auburn has only covered the spread in three of it's last 13 home games, and they are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games in conference play.

Take AGGIES.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Diego State Aztecs.

The Northern Illinois Huskies are coming off an ugly 48-17 loss at South Florida, and they face another tough non-conference opponent at home this week. Making matters worse for the Huskies, starting quarterback Drew Hare went down with an injury in last week's loss, and he's out indefinitely. Backup quarterback Ryan Graham started four games for the Huskies last year, including a 55-7 loss to Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.

The Broncos ran all over NIU in last year's bowl game, and so far in two games to start the 2016 season, Northern Illinois has given up 543 yards and five rushing TDs. San Diego State has one of the top rushing offenses in the country with Donnel Pumphrey, who shredded Cal for 281 yards and three TDs on the ground last week. The Huskies aren't likely to have any answer on defense, and their offense isn't going to be able to keep up. NIU has failed to cover the spread in five straight non-conference games, while the Aztecs have beaten up on inferior opponents, going 5-0 ATS in their last five versus teams with a losing record.

Take SDSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Ole Miss Rebels.

Alabama comes into Mississippi as the defending champions, and undisputed #1 ranked team in the nation. This still looks like a tough spot for the Tide, facing a team that's beat them each of the last two seasons, and playing on the road in a hostile environment. The Rebels lost to Florida State in Week 1, and some might think that somehow makes them vulnerable here in this game. The one thing that I take away from Mississippi's loss to the Seminoles, was that they managed to shut down Dalvin Cook. As impressive as Alabama has been, we haven't seen anybody step up and fill the shoes of Heisman winner Derrick Henry. Bo Scarbrough was expected to be the star, but he's carried the ball just 16 times for 55 yards in two games.

Chad Kelly has thrown for over 500 yards and leads all SEC quarterbacks with seven TD passes. He was the best quarterback in the conference last year, and nothing has changed. The senior lit up Alabama last year, throwing for 341 yards and three TDs, leading the Rebels to a 43-37 win in Tuscaloosa. Given the Rebels previous success against Alabama, and their strong showing defending the run so far this season, I think they should be able to cover this inflated spread.

Take MISS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants snapped a three game losing streak last night in Game 1 against the Cardinals, and I expect them to make it back to back wins here in Game 2.

Matt Moore will toe the slab for San Francisco, and he's won three of his last four starts. Moore (10-11, 4.08 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on eight hits, striking out 11 in seven innings in a 5-3 win at Arizona his last time out. He struck out seven, while allowing one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-2 win over Arizona in his last home start.

The Cardinals hand the ball to rookie right-hander Luke Weaver, who has yet to win on the road. Weaver (1-2, 3.48 ERA) has allowed 10 runs on 23 hits over 19 innings in four starts away from home this season.

The Cardinals are 7-15 in their last 22 games versus a left-handed starter.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on HOU@SEA to go UNDER the total.

The Astros are two games back of Seattle in the AL West, and they begin a three game series at Safeco tonight. The Mariners are a favorite with ace Felix Hernandez on the mound, and I expect this to be a pitcher's duel.

Hernandez (11-5, 3.58 ERA) tossed six scoreless innings in a win at Oakland his last time out. He's 7-1 in his last 11 starts, but his ERA during that span is a bit of a concern at 4.22.

The Astros hand the ball to Colin McHugh, who has owned the Mariners. McHugh (10-10, 4.86 ERA) has been dealing, winning five straight starts. He allowed one run on two hits over five innings in a 2-1 win over the Cubs his last time out. He's 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts at Safeco this season.

The Mariners are batting just .216 with 46 strikeouts and 38 hits over 176 at bats against McHugh in previous meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAD@ARI to go UNDER the total.

The D'Backs have won four straight, and all four of those games have been slugfests. I expect a pitcher's duel tonight as they host the Dodgers in Game 2 at Chase Field.

Kenta Maeda will toe the slab for the Dodgers, and he's probably been the most consistent pitcher in the majors this year. He's held opponents to three runs or less in nine straight starts. What's really interesting about that stat, is that during that span he's pitched at Coors Field twice, at Citzen's Bank Park, and he's face the D'Backs twice at home. He's 2-1 with a 3.18 in five starts against Arizona this season.

The D'Backs will hand the ball to Zack Greinke, who has lost back to back starts. One of those was against the Dodgers, and he was torched for eight runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in a 10-2 loss in LA. He's likely burning for another crack at his former team, and I think he'll be a little sharper tonight. Four of his last five home starts have gone under the total.

The under is 15-5-1 in Dodgers last 21 overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CWS@KC to go OVER the total.

The White Sox come into Kansas City tonight as winners of six of their last nine, and the are the favorite with ace Chris Sale on the mound.

Sale (15-8, 3.03 ERA) is winless in his last four starts, and a trip to Kansas City looks like a tough place to break out of slump. The Royals have seen him plenty throughout his career, and they've hit him pretty hard. Kansas City is batting .300 over 390 at bats against him in previous meetings. Sale won 14 games in 18 starts before the All Star break, and he's won just once in 10 starts since.

Kansas City will counter with Ian Kennedy, who is 5-0 in his last nine starts. Kennedy (11-9, 3.62 ERA) made his last start against the White Sox, tossing six scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and fanning six. He faced Chicago twice earlier in the season, and the results were not as favorable. He gave up eight runs on 15 hits (5 home runs) in a dozen innings in those two games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Royals.

The White Sox come into Kansas City tonight as winners of six of their last nine, and the are the favorite with ace Chris Sale on the mound.

Sale (15-8, 3.03 ERA) is winless in his last four starts, and a trip to Kansas City looks like a tough place to break out of slump. The Royals have seen him plenty throughout his career, and they've hit him pretty hard. Kansas City is batting .300 over 390 at bats against him in previous meetings. Sale won 14 games in 18 starts before the All Star break, and he's won just once in 10 starts since.

Kansas City will counter with Ian Kennedy, who is 5-0 in his last nine starts. Kennedy (11-9, 3.62 ERA) made his last start against the White Sox, tossing six scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and fanning six.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers are six games back of Cleveland in the AL Central, but only two games back of the Orioles and Jays in the Wild Card race. They are an underdog in Game 1 at Cleveland Friday, and I expect a close game.

Michael Fulmer will toe the slab for the Tigers, and he's been one of the best in the big leagues in 2016. Fulmer (10-6, 2.76 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on three hits while striking out five over seven innings in a 4-3 win over the Orioles his last time out. He's 8-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 15 starts on the road this season.

The Indians hand the ball to Corey Kluber, who has been sharp overall this year. The Cleveland ace has struggled in previous meetings with these Tigers though. Detroit is batting .290 in 200 previous at bats versus Kluber.

Miguel Cabrera has really had his number, batting .476 with five home runs and 10 RBIs in 42 at bats.

Take DET.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Hamilton Tigercats.

Hamilton has played six of it's last eight games on the road, losing four of those contests. They've won both home games during that span, and both were blowouts. Zach Collaros has stepped in and thrown for over 1800 yards with 15 TDs and four INTs in just five starts. Hamilton will host a Montreal team that is really in a state of disarray, having parted ways with veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn, and handed the reigns to youngster Rakeem Cato. The 24 year old had to be escorted out of the building during practice this week, after an altercation with star wideout Duron Carter. The Alouettes have lost eight of their last 10 overall, and seven of those eight losses came by a double-digit margin. The Tiger Cats have a CFL best 24 passing TDs so far this season.

Take HAM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play NYJ@BUF to go UNDER the total.

The Bills offense was putrid in Week 1, gaining just 160 total yards in a 13-7 loss to the Ravens. It doesn't figure to get any easier here at home versus the Jets just four days later. Their top receiver Sammy Watkins is banged up, still bothered by a foot injury that troubled him last year. The Jets defense didn't look too bad in a loss to Cincinnati on Sunday, holding the Bengals to a total of 57 yards on the ground, and sacking Andy Dalton seven times. Ryan Fitzpatrick had an average performance, throwing for 189 yards with two TDs and an INT on 19-of-35 passing. Fitzpatrick has a history of struggling against Rex Ryan's defense. Last year he was picked off three times while throwing for 181 yards on 16-of-37 passing in a 22-17 at Buffalo in last year's season finale. The Jets lost at home to the Bills earlier in the season, by the exact same score. These two teams have failed to reach the total in three straight meetings, and the under is 4-1 in the Jets last five trips to Buffalo.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Houston Cougars are flying high after upsetting Oklahoma in Week 1, and following that up with a blowout win over lowly Lamar. The Cougars look like the real deal, but I think all the hype as resulted in an inflated line as they get set to face a division rival on the road. Remember the Bearcats are also 2-0, and sophomore quarterback Hayden Moore has thrown for 510 yards and accounted for seven TDs in those wins. Last year the Bearcats went into Houston, and gave the Cougars a scare in a 33-30 thriller.

Cincinnati was 5-1 at home last year, and they played some quality opponents during that span. They beat Miami 34-23, and Hayden Moore threw for 279 yards and a pair of TDs, also scoring a rushing TD in just his second start. While Cinci is in good shape with a confident sophomore quarterback, the Cougars are concerned about a shoulder injury that is bothering starter Greg Ward Jr, who was unable to go last Saturday against Lamar. He's expected to play through pain tonight, but it's hard to imagine that he'll be at 100 percent just four days after sitting out a game. I don't think the Bearcats are going to roll over at home in such a big game, it should be close.

Take CIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYM@WAS to go UNDER the total.

The Nats have split the first two games of this home series versus the Mets, but they are a favorite in the rubber match with a red hot pitcher on the mound. I expect to see a low scoring game here in the nation's capital today.

Tanner Roark will toe the slab for the Nats, and he's been dealing all year long. Roark (14-8, 2.85 ERA) allowed one run on six hits, fanning eight over six innings in a home win over Philly his last time out. He's 7-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 15 starts at home, but an even more impressive 6-2 with a 1.77 ERA in 11 starts in day games.

The Mets hand the ball to Robert Gsellman, who beat the Nats in New York just two weeks ago. Gsellman (2-1, 3.92 ERA) allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings in a no decision at Atlanta his last time out. He won't have much margin for error here opposite Roark.

These teams have failed to reach the total in nine of the last 10 meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth last night, but went on to lose 6-4 to the Padres. They try to avoid a sweep here at AT&T Park this afternoon, and they are big favorite with their ace on the mound.

Madison Bumgarner (14-8, 2.61 ERA) allowed four runs on six hits, striking out nine in a win at Arizona his last time out. He's 8-3 with a 1.91 ERA in 15 starts at home, and 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 10 starts in the afternoon.

San Diego will hand the ball to Luis Perdomo, who is coming off back to back losses. Perdomo (7-9, 5.89 ERA) allowed four runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Rockies his last time out. He's faced the Giants three times this season, conceding six runs on 18 hits over 8 1/3 innings, not recording a decision.

The Padres are 14-38 in the last 52 meetings in San Francisco.

Take SF -1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers are right in the thick of things in the American League Wild Card race, and a home series versus the Twins is a golden opportunity for Detroit to narrow the gap even more.

Matt Boyd will toe the slab for the Tigers, and he's pitched well at home this season. Boyd (5-3, 3.89 ERA) allowed two runs on eight hits while fanning six in seven innings, but got zero run support in a 2-0 loss to the White Sox his last time out. He's 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven home starts, and he's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts versus the Twins.

Minnesota will hand the ball to Kyle Gibson, who hasn't been missing many bats lately. Gibson (5-9, 5.34 ERA) gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings in a no-decision at home versus Kansas City his last time out. He's only faced the Tigers once this season, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings.

The Tigers own Gibson, batting .313 against him over a combined 147 at bats in previous meetings.

Take DET.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds come into Tuesday's home game versus Milwaukee as winners of four straight, and they look good to make it five in a row with a favorable matchup on the mound in this one.

Dan Straily will toe the rubber for the Reds, and he's been dealing. Straily (11-8, 3.88 ERA) is 6-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 starts in Cinci this season. He's owned the Brewers, going 1-0 with a 1.41 ERA in two starts.

The Brewers hand the ball to Matt Garza, who has been horribly inconsistent. That's been Garza's M.O. throughout his career, but he has been consistent on the road. Consistently bad! He gave up four runs on six hits and a pair of walks, losing his only start in Cinci this season, and he's 1-5 with a 5.96 ERA overall on the road in nine starts.

The Reds are 9-2 in Straily's last 11 starts.

Take CIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LA@SF to go UNDER the total.

The Niners host the Rams on Monday Night Football, and these two teams have a lot in common. They both finished with a losing record, missing the playoffs last year. They both have below average quarterbacks, and both teams like to focus on running the football. They've gone under in each of the last three head to head meetings, and the under is 4-1 in the Rams last five visits to San Francisco. The Niners have scored an average of less than 12 points in those three games, while the Rams were held to an average of just over 18 points per game. Case Keenum won three of his four starts at the end of last season, but he didn't put up eye popping numbers, with four TDs and one INT in those games. Three of those four games went under the total.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SF -.1.5.

The Giants are now three games back of the Dodgers in the NL West, and they should have a chance to make up more ground with a home series versus San Diego starting Monday.

Jeff Samardzija will toe the slab for San Francisco, and he's coming off a fantastic performance. Samardzija (11-9, 4.00 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on four hits, striking out nine in seven innings in a win at Colorado. He's own the Padres this season, going 3-0 with a 3.91 ERA in four previous meetings.

San Diego will hand the ball to Paul Clemens, who has not missed many bats lately. Clemens (2-5, 5.44 ERA) was torched for five runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings in a loss to the Red Sox his last time out. He's 1-5 with a 5.70 ERA in his last eight starts.

The Padres have dropped nine of their last 13 overall, and 15 of their last 20 versus the Giants.

Take SF -1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on KC.

The Royals are four games back in the American League Wild Card race, but they play a home series versus Oakland, which should be a chance to make up some ground.

Ross Detwiler will toe the slab for the A's in Game 1, and he's been lit up in recent outings. Detwiler (1-3, 5.15 ERA) was torched for three runs on five hits and two walks in just three innings in a loss to the Angels his last time out. He's 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA in five appearances on the road in 2016.

The Royals hand the ball to Dillon Gee, who has been pitching well lately. The 30 year old is trying to hold down a spot in the Royals rotation, and he's won three of his last four starts. He's 4-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 17 appearances at Kauffman this season.

Oakland is just 4-14 in it's last 18 road games.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on OAK@KC to go OVER the total.

The Royals are four games back in the American League Wild Card race, but they play a home series versus Oakland, which should be a chance to make up some ground.

Ross Detwiler will toe the slab for the A's in Game 1, and he's been lit up in recent outings. Detwiler (1-3, 5.15 ERA) was torched for three runs on five hits and two walks in just three innings in a loss to the Angels his last time out. He's 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA in five appearances on the road in 2016.

The Royals hand the ball to Dillon Gee, who has been pitching well lately. The 30 year old is trying to hold down a spot in the Royals rotation, and he's won three of his last four starts. He's 4-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 17 appearances at Kauffman this season. 

The Over is 12-3-1 in the Royals last 16 overall.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* GOY play on Arizona.

Notes - The Brady suspension is clearly the biggest factor, as he's dropped all appeals and will NOT play. Jimmy Garoppolo has not shown any sign of being able to step up and fill those big boots.

Carson Palmer threw for 4,671 yards last year, just 99 fewer than Tom Brady. His 35 TDs were only one shy of Brady's 36.

Arizona should have a superior defense, and they have perhaps the fastest wide receivers in the league.

The Cardinals led the league in total offense last year, and it shoud be a tough ask for Garoppolo to match serves with Palmer.

The Patriots are extremely shorthanded here without: QB Tom Brady RB Dion Lewis TE Rob Gronkowski LT Nate Solder RT Sebastian Vollmer G Jonathan Cooper DE Rob Ninkovich.

Take ARI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New York Giants.

Cowboys fans remain optimistic despite the injury to Tony Romo, but if history is any indication, Dallas is in big trouble. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott played well in the pre-season, but it would be naive to think it's going to be that easy once the bullets start flying for real. The pressure is on another rookie, RB Ezekiel Elliot to carry the load on offense. Everything we've seen from Elliot would suggest he will be successful in the NFL, especially running behind that stout O-line in Dallas. You never really know until a guy proves it as a pro, as evidenced by the disappointing careers of guys like Trent Richardson and Darren McFadden. Dallas lost the last meeting at New York by a score of 27-20, and they beat the Giants by just one point in last year's home opener. The Giants have covered the spread in three straight in this series, and they are 5-2 in their last seven trips to Dallas. The Cowboys have no business being favored in this game.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CLE@MIN to go OVER the total.

The Twins have lost 18 of their last 22 overall, and 19 of those games saw at least nine runs scored. We should expect plenty of scoring here in Sunday's game.

Corey Kluber will toe the slab for the visitors, and while he's having a solid season, he's been hit hard by the Twins. He's surrendered seven runs on 13 hits and five walks over 14 2/3 innings against Minnesota this year. He's surrendered seven runs on hits, walking five and giving up three home runs in his last two starts.

The Twins hand the ball to Jose Berrios, who hasn't missed many bats in his rookie season. Berrios (2-5, 9.21 ERA) allowed five runs on nine hits over five innings in an 11-5 home loss to the Royals his last time out. He's faced Cleveland twice, surrendering eight runs on 11 hits in 10 innings.

The over is 39-13-2 in the Twins last 54 home games.

Take MIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BAL@DET to go UNDER the total.

The Orioles have split the first two games of this series in Detroit, and I expect to see a pitcher's duel here in the rubber match.

Justin Verlander will toe the slab for the Tigers, and the under is 9-1 in Verlander's last 10 starts. The Tigers ace is 9-4 with a 3.17 ERA at home, and 6-1 with a 2.09 ERA in his last 11 starts overall. He's owned Baltimore, the Orioles are batting just .235 with 68 strikeouts in 247 at bats in previous meetings.

The Orioles hand the ball to their ace Chris Tillman, who was roughed up in a home loss to Houston his last time out. This looks like a good spot for Tillman, who is 7-3 with a 3.18 ERA in a dozen starts on the road this season, and he tossed seven shutout innings, striking out seven in his only start against the Tigers.

The under is 6-2 in Detroit's last 10 home games, and 38-18 in Baltimore's last 56 overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BOS@TOR to go UNDER the total.

We saw a pitcher's duel at Rogers Center on Saturday, with the Jays winning by a score of 3-2. The stakes are high with Boston holding on to a one game lead in the AL East, and I expect another low scoring affair here on Sunday.

Aaron Sanchez will toe the slab for the Jays, and he's been Toronto's best pitcher this season. Sanchez (13-2, 2.92 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings in a no decision at New York his last time out. He's 5-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 11 starts at home, and 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two starts versus Boston.

The Red Sox will hand the ball to Clay Buchholz, who has really found his groove since the All Star break. Buchholz (6-10, 4.99 ERA) allowed one run on eight hits, striking out six over 6 2/3 innings in a 5-1 win at San Diego his last time out. He's 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 15 appearances so far in the second half of the season. He's faced Toronto three times, holding them scoreless through 8 2/3 innings.

These two teams have failed to reach the total in nine of the last 13 meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

 Vikings fans started panicking when Teddy Bridgewater went down with a season ending injury, but I still think this team has all the tools in place to make the playoffs. Keep in mind, last year Bridgewater ranked 22nd in the league in passing yards, and he threw for just 14 TDs and nine picks. In 2012, they made the playoffs and won 10 games with Christian Ponder as their starter. They have the league's leading rusher from a year ago, and a Top 5 defense. They really don't need more than a game manager, and they should do just fine this season, especially against weaker teams. Tennessee appears to have made major improvement, but I think the Titans are likely still a few year away from reaching their full potential. Marcus Mariota is great quarterback, but he isn't surrounded by a lot of talented receivers. Tennessee had a below average defense against the run last season, allowing opponents to average 113 yards per game. They were even worse against the pass. Expect the Vikings to pound away with the run, which will eventually set them up for a couple of big plays in the passing game. They should edge out an inferior Titans team in Week 1.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Boise State Broncos.

The Broncos offense was firing on all cylinders in a 45-10 win at Louisiana Lafayette in Week 1. Brett Rypien threw for 347 yards and a pair of TDs on 22-of-33 passing. He'll face a Washington State defense in Week 2 that struggled against the pass last week, allowing Eastern Washington to throw for almost 500 yards and five TDs. The Broncos have covered the spread in four straight non-conference games, and they are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games during the month of September. Boise State's defense has held opponents to 14 points or less in eight of their last 14 games. They've won nine of their last 12 games, and all nine of those victories came by a double-digit margin. We should see another blowout on the Blue Turf Saturday night.

Take BSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the South Florida Bulls.

South Florida won seven of it's final eight games of the 2015 season, and all four home games during that span. That impressive run included a 44-23 win over the #22 ranked Temple Owls, and a 65-27 win over Cincinnati. They host the Northern Illinois Huskies this Saturday, and NIU has dropped off quite a bit since winning the MAC Championship in 2014. They lost 55-7 to Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl last December. Their defense was shredded for 243 rushing yards and three rushing TDs in a loss to Wyoming last week. These teams haven't played since 2010, but the Bulls have out-scored the Huskies 64-9 in the last two meetings dating back to 2002. South Florida has bee very tough at home, going 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight. The Huskies have only covered the spread in two of their last eight non-conference games. I expect this game to be a blowout from start to finish.

Take USF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UCF@MICH to go UNDER the total.

The Wolverines took full advantage of a travel weary Hawaii team last Saturday, beating the Warriors by a score of 63-3. I expect them to face a slightly tougher challenge here at home against a UCF team that pitched a shutout in Week 1. The Knights were 0-12 last season, but I expect them to be far more competitive here in 2016. This program is only two years removed from a 9-4 season and an AAC Championship. As impressive as Michigan's offense looked last week, their passing game wasn't exactly what you would call explosive. Wilton Speight was picked off on his first pass attempt, and finished with 145 yards and three TDs on 10-of-13 passing. The Knights have played five straight non-conference games without going over the total, and the under is 20-5-1 in their last 26 games during the month of September. Weather conditions in Ann Arbor are expected to be less than ideal, with rain and wind in the forecast.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CLE@MIN to go OVER the total.

The Twins have lost four of seven on their current home stand, and all seven of those games have seen 10 or more runs. They host Cleveland tonight, and I expect another slugfest.

Danny Salazar will toe the slab for the visitors, and he's been roughed up in previous meetings with Minnesota. Salazar (11-6, 3.78 ERA) allowed one run on six hits, striking out 11 over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 home win over Miami his last time out. He's faced the Twins twice this season, surrendering nine runs on nine hits and six walks over a combined 6 2/3 innings. He also surrendered three home runs in those games, and the Twins have tagged him for seven home runs total while batting .287 in 115 previous at bats.

The Twins hand the ball to Tyler Duffey, who has really been hit hard at home. Duffey (8-10, 6.24 ERA) was torched for six runs on seven hits in just three innings in a home loss to the Tigers his last time out. He's 4-5 with a 7.22 ERA in a dozen starts at Target Field this season.

The Twins might have the worst record in the major leagues, but since the All Star break on two teams have scored more runs than Minnesota.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TEX@SEA to go OVER the total.

The Mariners are 3-3 on their current home stand, and five of those games saw the total go over. They wrap up a four game series with Texas tonight, and I expect another slugfest.

Taijuan Walker will toe the slab for Seattle, and he's been getting hid hard lately. Walker (4-10, 4.60 ERA) failed to get out of the first inning, giving up six runs on six hits including three home runs in a 10-3 home loss to the Angels his last time out. He's 0-3 with a 9.17 ERA in his last four starts, and he's allowed seven runs on 14 hits over 11 innings in two previous meetings with Texas.

The Rangers hand the ball to Derek Holland, who has been hit hard at Safeco in the past. Holland (7-6, 4.57 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks is six innings in a 12-4 win over Houston his last time out. The Mariners are batting .293 with 11 home runs over a combined 232 at bats versus Holland.

Texas has gone over in nine straight, while Seattle has gone over in eight of it's last nine.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers were a slight favorite in last year's Super Bowl, and they lost 24-10 to the Broncos at Levis Stadium. Cam Newton threw for 265 yards and an INT on 18-of-41 passing, taking six sacks and fumbling the ball twice. He's facing that same Denver defense here in his first game of the 2016 season, and I don't see any reason why he'll be more successful on the road at Mile High Stadium.

The Broncos proved last season that they could win games in spite of poor quarterback play, and surely they won't be asking Trevor Siemian to do too much. C.J. Anderson had some success running on the Panthers defense, picking up 90 yards and a TD on just 23 carries in Super Bowl 50. 

The Panthers have failed to cover in four straight road games, and they've failed to cover in Week 1 in five of the last seven seasons. Denver won five games last year with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, and with the league's #1 scoring defense, I'll take the Broncos as a home dog to almost anybody.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals are four games back in the Wild Card race in the American League, and they look to make up some more ground by completing the sweep here in Minnesota on getaway day.

Danny Duffy will toe the rubber for the Royals, and he's been dealing all season long. Duffy (11-2, 3.13 ERA) allowed four runs on nine hits, but struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers his last time out. He's 5-2 with a 2.84 ERA appearing in 18 games on the road, and he's 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two games against the Twins.

Minnesota will hand the ball to Kyle Gibson, who has not missed many bats lately. Gibson (5-9, 5.93 ERA) gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in a home loss to the White Sox in his last start. He's surrendered a total of 14 runs on 24 hits, walking eight in his last three starts.

Gibson was rocked for six runs on 10 hits over five innings in his only start versus the Royals this season.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ATL@WAS to go OVER the total.

The Nats have lost back to back games in this home series with the Braves, and both games went over the total. The number here in game three seems artificially low with Stephen Strasburg returning from an elbow injury.

Strasburg (15-4, 3.59 ERA) was torched for nine runs on nine hits over 1 2/3 innings in a loss to Colorado his last time out. Prior to that he gave up six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over 5 1/3 innings in a home loss to Atlanta. He's always had trouble with the Braves, who are batting .287 against him over a combined 122 at bats. Freddie Freeman has done plenty of damage, batting .412 with four home runs against him.

The Braves hand the ball to Mike Foltynewicz, who makes his second career start against Washington. He was roughed up in the first meeting, giving up four runs on five hits and a pair of walks over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-5 win at Nationals Park.

Atlanta has won six of it's last eight overall, with the total going over in seven of those eight games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Philadelphia Phillies +1.5.

The Phillies have outscored the Marlins 10-5 while winning the first two games of this series in Miami, and I like Philly as a dog in the finale Wednesday.

Jeremy Hellickson will toe the slab for Philly, and he's owned the Marlins. Hellickson (10-8, 3.88 ERA) allowed four runs on six hits, striking out six in six innings in a no decision versus the Braves his last time out. He's 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts against Miami this year, and the Marlins lineup is hitting just .203 over a combined 187 at bats in previous meetings.

Miami hand the ball toe Andrew Cashner, who has yet to win a game for them since coming over from San Diego. This doesn't look like a good spot for the right-hander, the Phillies are batting .301 over 73 at bats against him.

The Marlins have lost five straight, and 10 of their last 11 overall.

Take PHI +1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Chicago White Sox.

The Tigers have split the first two games of this series in Chicago, and it looks like they'll be at a serious disadvantage in the rubber match Wednesday.

Jose Quintana will toe the slab for the Sox, and he's been quite good at home. Quintana (11-10, 3.05 ERA) was roughed up in Minnesota in his last start, surrendering seven runs on seven hits, but striking out eight in just five innings. He's 6-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 home starts, and he shutout the Tigers through 6 2/3 innings in a home victory earlier this year.

Detroit will hand the ball to Anibal Sanchez, who has been brutal on the road this season. Sanchez is 3-7 with a 7.11 ERA in 16 appearances away from Detroit, and he's 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three appearances at US Cellular Field this season. The White Sox have hammered him in the past, batting a combined .362 over 163 at bats.

The White Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.

Take CWS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on NYM@CIN to go UNDER the total.

The Reds are 2-3 through the first five games of this home stand, and only one of those games went over the total. I expect a pitcher's duel here at Great American Ballpark this afternoon.

Noah Syndergaard will toe the slab for the visitors, and he's been dealing lately. Syndergaard (12-8, 2.56 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on three hits over seven innings in a loss to Washington his last time out. The Reds haven't had much success against him, hitting a combined .173 over 52 at bats.

The Reds hand the ball to Anthony DeSclafani, who has been one of the hottest pitchers in the majors since returning from injury. DeSclafani (8-2, 2.93 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on six hits over seven innings in a 3-2 home win over St. Louis his last time out. He's 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in seven home starts in 2016.

The Mets rank 27th in the major leagues in runs scored, and own a team batting average of .243.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Ole Miss.

The Rebels are coming off a 10-win season that saw them upset Alabama for the second straight year. They have a stud at quarterback, with Chad Kelly who led the SEC in passing last season, and he threw a conference best 31 TD passes. They open the season as a significant underdog versus Florida State, and while the Seminoles are loaded with talent, I still think they are vastly overrated.

FSU plays a much softer schedule in the ACC, and while they've won 23 games in the last two seasons, they haven't seen many teams as strong as Ole Miss. The Rebels beat LSU at home last November, holding Leonard Fournette to just 108 yards on 25 carries, keeping him out of the endzone. The Seminoles rely heavily on a power running game, with Dalvin Cook running all over softer defenses. If the Rebels can take that away, it will put a ton of pressure on a freshman quarterback.

Playing FSU in their backyard isn't going to be easy, but keep in mind ... this team went into Tuscaloosa and whupped the national champions last season. I'll take the points thank you very much.

Take MISS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on EDM@CAL to go UNDER the total.

The Calgary Stampeders own the league's best record at 7-1-1, and they rank 1st in scoring defense allowing a total of just 185 points in nine games this season. They host the Edmonton Eskimos on Labor Day, and the Eskies come in riding a three game win streak. This is one of the top rivalries in the CFL, known as the "Battle of Alberta". History tells us that we should expect a low scoring game, as seven of the last 10 meetings have failed to reach the total. The Eskimos have gone under in 13 of their last 19 road games, while Calgary has failed to reach the total in each of it's last four games. Tonight's total looks a little high, considering the last eight times these teams met the total was set below 50. The Eskimos have only managed to score an average of 13 points in their last four games at Calgary. The combined score of the last two games these two teams played in Calgary doesn't even come close to tonight's total of 54.5.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Royals.

The Twins have lost 14 of their last 16 overall, and they face a hot Kansas City team Monday afternoon. The Royals are just a small favorite, despite what appears to be a complete mismatch.

Ian Kennedy will toe the rubber for the Royals, and he's been dealing lately. Kennedy (9-9, 3.66 ERA) allowed four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings in a no decision versus the Yankees his last time out. He had won four in a row before that, and he's 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in six starts in day games in 2016. This will be the fourth time this season he faces the Twins, and he's 2-0 with 1.00 ERA in the previous three.

The Twins hand the ball to Jose Berrios who is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in four starts in Minnesota. He returns from a successful stint in Triple-A, facing a Royals team that tagged him for four runs on five hits and four walks over four innings in a loss at Kauffman earlier in the year.

The Royals have won eight of their last 10 on the road, and the Twins are 1-9 in their last 10 versus a right-handed starter.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

10* analysis before game time

This is a 10* play on WMU@NW

The Wildcats had one of the nation's top defenses last year, resulting in 12 of their 13 games combining for fewer that 52 points. They open the 2016 season at home versus Western Michigan, and the Broncos should be over-matched here. Western Michigan had success against opponents in the MAC last season, but didn't fare to well in non-conference games against Power Five teams. They scored an average of just 17.6 points per game in losses to Michigan State, Georgia State and Ohio State. Unlike the aforementioned teams, Northwestern doesn't have an explosive offense to run up the score. The Wildcats opened up last season with a 16-9 loss to Stanford, and they've gone under in nine straight games in the month of September. The under is 24-8 in the Wildcats last 32 home games, and Northwestern has failed to reach the total in 16 of their last 21 non-conference games.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals have split the first two games of this home series versus the Yankees, but they have a favorable matchup on the mound in the rubber match Wednesday.

Ian Kennedy will toe the rubber for the Royals, and he's been dealing in recent starts. Kennedy (9-9, 3.57 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on nine hits, striking out eight over 5 1/3 innings in a win at Boston his last time out. He went eight innings, giving up just four hits and striking out six in a 10-0 win over the Twins in his last home start. He's 4-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 10 starts at home in 2016, and the Royals are 6-2 in his last eight home starts.

The Yankees hand the ball to rookie right-hander Luis Cessa, who makes just his third major league start. The 24 year old allowed three runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs in six innings versus the Orioles his last time out. He's given up seven home runs in just 30 innings pitched.

The Royals have won 13 of their last 16 games versus a right-handed starter.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Texas Rangers.

Texas comes into Game 2 of this home series versus Seattle with the best record in the American League, and the Rangers are 5-1 in their last six overall. I like the Rangers with their ace on the mound in Arlington tonight.

Cole Hamels will toe the rubber for the Rangers, and he's on top form in the second half. Hamels (14-4, 2.67 ERA) struck out eight, tossing eight scoreless innings in a 9-0 win over Cleveland his last time out. He's 5-2 with a 1.59 ERA in eight starts since the All Star break. He's owned the Mariners, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two previous meetings.

The Mariners hand the ball to James Paxton, and the Mariners have lost seven of his last 10 starts. Paxton (4-5, 3.63 ERA) allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in a 7-6 loss to the White Sox his last time out. The Rangers have hit the southpaw pretty hard, batting .309 over a combined 68 at bats.

Adrian Beltre is 4-for-7 lifetime versus Paxton, and he's batting .322 versus southpaws in 2016.

Take TEX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NYY@KC to go OVER the total.

The surging Kansas City Royals are the hottest team in baseball, returning home after taking two of three in Boston as winners of 17 of their last 21 overall. They host the Yankees tonight, and we should expect fireworks as both these teams are swinging hot bats.

Dillon Gee will toe the rubber for the Royals, and he appears to be the weak link on the Kansas City staff. Gee (5-7, 4.55 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits through 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Miami his last time out. He's 2-4 with a 5.14 ERA in his last eight appearances, and he faces a Yankees team that has plated 37 runs while winning four of their last five games.

The Yankees hand the ball to Michael Pineda, who was rocked by the Royals earlier in the season. Pineda (6-10, 5.02 ERA) was torched for five runs on seven hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings in a 7-5 loss at Safeco his last time out. He surrendered six runs on six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings, losing his lone start versus Kansas City this season.

The wind isn't expected to be a factor tonight, but the forecast is calling for heat and humidity which should favor the hitters.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NYY@KC to go OVER the total.

The surging Kansas City Royals are the hottest team in baseball, returning home after taking two of three in Boston as winners of 17 of their last 21 overall. They host the Yankees tonight, and we should expect fireworks as both these teams are swinging hot bats.

Dillon Gee will toe the rubber for the Royals, and he appears to be the weak link on the Kansas City staff. Gee (5-7, 4.55 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits through 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Miami his last time out. He's 2-4 with a 5.14 ERA in his last eight appearances, and he faces a Yankees team that has plated 37 runs while winning four of their last five games.

The Yankees hand the ball to Michael Pineda, who was rocked by the Royals earlier in the season. Pineda (6-10, 5.02 ERA) was torched for five runs on seven hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings in a 7-5 loss at Safeco his last time out. He surrendered six runs on six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings, losing his lone start versus Kansas City this season.

The wind isn't expected to be a factor tonight, but the forecast is calling for heat and humidity which should favor the hitters.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Kansas City Royals +1.5

The Royals have split the first two games versus Boston at Fenway, but they've won 16 of their last 20 overall. I like Kansas City as a dog here in the rubber match.

Yordano Ventura will toe the rubber for the Royals, and Kansas City is 5-0 in his last five starts. Ventura (9-9, 4.27 ERA) tossed six scoreless innings, striking out six in a 1-0 win at Miami his last time out. His last three starts have all been on the road, and he's allowed just four runs total, striking out 22 batters in 19 1/3 innings. He's only faced Boston once in 2016, allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in a victory.

The Red Sox hand the ball to Eduardo Rodriguez, who is returning from a hamstring injury. Rodriguez (2-5, 5.11 ERA) tossed four innings of scoreless ball in a 5-3 win at Baltimore his last time out. He's still in search of his first win at Fenway, with a record of 0-3, 508 ERA in six starts at home.

Kansas City's bullpen leads the major leagues in ERA (3.11) while Boston ranks 18th overall in ERA by relief pitcher.

Take KC +1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on HAM@CGY to go UNDER the total.

Hamilton is flying high after a 53-7 win over Saskatchewan last week. The Cats offense has been charged up since starting quarterback Zach Collaros returned from injury. He threw for 381 yards and five TDs last week, but that was against the Roughriders, who's defense ranks dead last in the CFL. Previous trips to Cow Town have not been as fruitful for the Cats, who have lost five straight at Calgary, scoring an average of just 20 points in those losses. Four of those five games went under, and these two teams have failed to reach the total in seven straight meetings dating back to 2012. Calgary boasts the top defense in the CFL, allowing opponents to score a total of 161 points in eight games. The Stamps are the only team that has allowed less than 200 points this season. Given that Calgary hasn't seen a combined 54 points in any of it's previous six games, I believe this total is grossly inflated.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings have impressed so far this pre-season, winning on the road at Cincinnati and Seattle. They will be at home in "dress rehearsal week", hosting the San Diego Chargers. Minnesota's head coach Mike Zimmer has the best pre-season record of all active NFL coaches, winning 10 of 11 games so far. He's never lost in the all important third pre-season game, and last year his team won on the road by a score of 28-14 at Dallas. Mike McCoy is just 6-8 in pre-season games in his career, and his Chargers are a mess at the moment. Teddy Bridgewater didn't take a snap last week, but he should see plenty of action against the Chargers. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill looked sharp against Seattle, throwing for 129 yards on 10-fo-17 passing. Adrian Peterson is not expected to play, but backups Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon are more than capable. Phillip Rivers is expected to start, but may play as little as one quarter. His backups haven't done much so far, combing to throw for 384 yards, no TDs and two INTs on 33-of-61 passing.

Take MIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

10*

8* analysis before game time

This is a 10* play on the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers have been pretty cautious with Aaron Rodgers so far, but the two time MVP is expected to play for the first time this pre-season tonight in San Francisco. The 49ers defense looked great against Marc Sanchez last week, but I don't think slowing down the Packers is going to be quite as easy. San Francisco's own quarterback situation is a mess, with Blaine Gabbert appear to be at the top of their depth chart. Most NFL teams have two (if not three) quarterbacks that could easily come in and be better than any of the Niners starters. We could see Colin Kaepernick take the field tonight, and that might not be a good thin for San Francisco. He hasn't played since last November, and has had three surgeries since then. He's been dealing with a "dead arm" in training camp, but claims he's now ready to play. Kaepernick completed 5-of-13 attempts for 40 yards with no TDs in three appearances in last year's pre-season. Gabbert has connected on 10-of-19 passes for 132 yards and a TD so far this pre-season. I just don't think Chip Kelly's team has the personal to match the Packers with Aaron Rodgers and a trimmed down Eddie Lacy.

Take GB.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB@HOU to go UNDER the total.

The Astros come into Game 1 of this home series versus Tampa as winners of five of their last six. They face a hot pitcher here at home though, and the Astros are batting just .236 at Minute Maid Park in 2016.

Drew Smyly will toe the rubber for the Rays, and he's won five straight. Smyly (6-11, 4.88 ERA) allowed four runs on five hits, striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings in a home win over Texas his last time out. He's been dealing in the second half of the season, going 4-1 with a 3.50 ERA in seven starts.

The Astros hand the ball to Mike Fiers, who has been pretty sold at home in Houston. Fiers (9-6, 4.41 ERA) allowed one run on five hits, striking out seven over seven innings in a win at Baltimore his last time out. He's 6-3 with a 3.36 ERA in a dozen starts at home in 2016.

These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, going under in 25 of the last 25 head to head meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PIT@MIL to go UNDER the total.

The Pirates won 3-2 at Miller Park last night, and these two teams have a history of playing low scoring games. They've failed to reach the total in five straight, and eight of the last nine. Today's umpire has had a generous strike zone, as he's called six straight unders.

Matt Garza will toe the slab for the Brewers, and he's been very sharp at home. Garza (4-5, 5.27 ERA) was rocked for six runs on nine hits over just 3 2/3 innings in a 7-6 win at Seattle his last time out. He's 3-0 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts at Miller Park in 2016, and one of those wins came against the Pirates, allowing just two runs on four hits in five innings.

The Pirates hand the ball to Ryan Vogelsong, who has owned the Brewers in previous meetings. Vogelsong (2-3, 2.98 ERA) allowed three runs on three hits over six innings in a 3-2 loss to Miami his last time out. He's 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA in his last four starts, and he's 4-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his last six starts against Milwaukee.

The Pirates are dead last in runs scored, batting just .237 since the All Star break.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SEA@CWS to go UNDER the total.

The White Sox have won four of their last five, and they host the Mariners in Game 2 of a home series in Chicago tonight. We should see a pitcher's duel between Felix Hernandez and Chris Sale.

Hernandez (8-4, 3.26 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on seven hits, striking out eight in eight innings in a home win over Milwaukee his last time out. He's 4-0 with a 3.80 ERA in his last seven starts, and he faces a Chicago team that struggles at the plate. The White Sox rank 25th in the major leagues in runs scored.

Sale (15-6, 3.15 ERA) struck out eight, surrendering just three hits while tossing eight scoreless innings in a home win over Oakland his last time out. He was even better in his only start versus Seattle this season, tossing eight scoreless frames and allowing just one hit. The Mariners are batting .192 with 31 strikeouts in 104 at bats versus Sale.

The White Sox have seen the total go under in 16 of Sale's last 23 home starts.

Take UNDER.

GL,
 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on TB +1.5.

The Astros come into Game 1 of this home series versus Tampa as winners of five of their last six. They face a hot pitcher here at home though, and the Astros are batting just .236 at Minute Maid Park in 2016.

Drew Smyly will toe the rubber for the Rays, and he's won five straight. Smyly (6-11, 4.88 ERA) allowed four runs on five hits, striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings in a home win over Texas his last time out. He's been dealing in the second half of the season, going 4-1 with a 3.50 ERA in seven starts.

The Astros hand the ball to Mike Fiers, who has been pretty sold at home in Houston. Fiers (9-6, 4.41 ERA) allowed one run on five hits, striking out seven over seven innings in a win at Baltimore his last time out. He's 6-3 with a 3.36 ERA in a dozen starts at home in 2016.

These teams have a history of playing close games, with six of their last eight meetings decided by a single run.

Take TB +1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Redskins.

The third week of the pre-season is known to be the most important, the one game that actually matters. This is when most coaches like to leave the starters in for a little longer, in order to get a good idea of what they have to work with. Jay Gruden has a reputation as a guy who likes to win these pre-season games, he comes into tonight's game with a 70% pre-season win percentage in his third season with the Redskins. This year's team should be even better than last year's squad that won the NFC East. Kirk Cousins is surrounded by plenty of weapons, and the addition of star CB Josh Norman should help improve the defense. Bills head coach Rex Ryan has a career record of 14-16 in the pre-season, and coming off a 21-0 win over the Giants last week, may not feel he has a lot to prove. Cousins had a huge game in "dress rehearsal" week last year, throwing for 190 yards and a TD on 20-of-27 passing as the Skins crushed Baltimore 31-13. All the signs seem to indicate that Gruden has selected this game as the one where his starters will get their reps, while the Bills might be less inclined to put their stars in harms way coming off an impressive showing last week.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers have kept their playoff hopes alive, winning four straight heading into this home series versus LA. They trail Cleveland by just 4.5 games in the AL Central, with with the Indians in Texas, and the Tigers hosting an inferior Angels team, they might be able to make up some more ground.

Justin Verlander will toe the slab for the Tigers, and he's turned back the clock here in 2016. Verlander (13-7, 3.88 ERA) allowed one run on three hits over six innings in a home win over Boston his last time out. He's 8-4 with a 3.28 ERA in 15 home starts this season, and he's owned the Angels in previous meetings. LA is batting a minuscule .155 with 27 strikeouts in 84 at bats versus Verlander.

The Halos hand the ball to Ricky Nolasco, who hasn't missed many bats lately. Nolasco (4-11, 5.22 ERA) allowed five runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings in a home loss to the Yankees his last time out. He's 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts against Detroit this season, and the Tigers are batting .311 over 190 at bats versus the veteran.

The Angels have lost 15 of their last 20 overall.

Take DET -1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DAL@SEA to go UNDER the total.

The third week of the pre-season is known to be the most important, the one game that actually matters. This is when most coaches like to leave the starters in for a little longer, in order to get a good idea of what they have to work with. Pete Carroll has a reputation as a guy that covets winning pre-season games, especially in the crucial third week. Since 2012, Seattle is 4-0 in their third game of the pre-season, and in those games they held opponents to an average of just 11 points. The Cowboys are likely to be cautious to avoid injury to Tony Romo, so we should see plenty of Dak Prescott in this game. As good as Prescott has looked against backups, and vanilla schemes, he's going to have a tough time moving the ball against the toughest defenders in the league. Seattle knows what it has at quarterback, so I expect the Hawks to really focus on running the ball here. The last time these teams met in the regular season, the Seahawks won 13-12 at Dallas. They've failed to reach the total in six of the last eight head to head meetings, and I think tonight's total is just a little too high.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Texas Rangers.

Texas is two game clear of Cleveland, with the best record in the American League. The two teams will open a four game set in Arlington Thursday, and I like the home team with it's ace on the mound in Game 1.

Cole Hamels will toe the rubber for the Rangers, and he's been dealing of late. Hamels (13-4, 2.80 ERA) allowed one run on three hits, striking out 10 over 7 1/3 innings in a 6-2 win at Tampa his last time out. He's now 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA in seven starts since the All Star break.

The Indians hand the ball to Josh Tomlin, who has lost four straight. Tomlin (11-7, 4.39 ERA) was torched for six runs on nine hits, including three home runs over just 4 1/3 innings in a home loss to the Blue Jays his last time out. He got clobbered by Texas earlier this year, surrendering eight runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

The Indians bats have been awful quiet, scoring just three runs while losing 2-of-3 in a three game series in Oakland.

Take TEX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAA@TOR to go OVER the total.

The Jays have split the first two games of this home series versus LA, but they will be expected to punish a struggling Angels pitcher in the rubber match.

Jered Weaver will toe the slab for the Halos, and he's been hit hard of late. Weaver (8-11, 5.47 ERA) was torched for five runs on 10 hits over just 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Yankees his last time out. He's surrendered 15 runs on 28 hits, including a whopping seven home runs in his last three starts.

The Jays hand the ball to J.A. Happ, who can take over the major league lead in wins with a victory tonight. Happ (17-3, 3.05 ERA) allowed four runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 7-4 win in New York his last time out. The Angels have hit the left-hander pretty hard, batting .300 with five home runs in previous meetings.

Kole Calhoun was 2-for-4 with a double last night, and he's 4-for-7 with a pair of home runs lifetime versus Happ.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DET@MIN to go OVER the total.

The Tigers and the Twins have combined to score 24 runs in the first two games of this series, and another slugfest is expected in Game 3.

Jose Berrios will toe the slab for the Twins, and he's been roughed up in all eight of his starts this season. Berrios (2-3, 9.28 ERA) was torched for four runs on five hits and four walks in just four innings in a home loss to the Royals his last time out. His last meeting with the Tigers was brief, getting the hook in the first inning after surrendering seven runs and walking four.

The Tigers hand the ball to Daniel Norris, who hasn't missed many bats in his recent outings. Norris (1-2, 3.81 ERA) allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings in a home loss to the Red Sox his last time out. He's struggled with his command, walking eight batters in his last three appearances.

The over is 55-24-4 in Minnesota's last 83 overall, and I expect that trend to continue this afternoon.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers have seized a two game lead in the NL West, and the Giants badly need a win here in Game 2 of this series at Chavez Ravine.

Johnny Cueto will toe the slab for San Francisco tonight, and he's having a phenomenal season. Ceuto (14-3, 2.90 ERA) allowed just one run on eight hits over seven innings in an 8-1 home win over the Mets his last time out. He's 8-1 with a 3.19 ERA in 13 starts on the road this year, and one of those wins came at LA.

The Dodgers hand the ball to Rich Hill, who's debut with the team has been pushed back due to a blister on his throwing hand. Hill (9-3. 2.25 ERA) allowed one run on three hits, striking out 10 in six innings in a 3-1 win at Houston his last time out.

San Francisco has crushed southpaws, ranking 4th in the major leagues in runs scored versus left-handed pitching.

Take SF +1.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is a 10* play on ARI
The Braves have lost 10 of their last 13 games and have the worst record in baseball.
Zach Greinke (11-4, 4.21 ERA) toes the rubber for Arizona and in his last start pitched seven innings and gave up two runs and seven hits. He has allowed three runs or less in seven of his last eight starts and two runs or less in his last three home starts. Arizona have won seven of his last 10 games and he has a 2-1 record with a 2.61 ERA vs the Braves in his career.
The Braves hand the ball to Julio Teheran (3-9, 2.90 ERA) and in his last start pitched five innings and gave up three runs and six hits. It was his third straight game not pitching past the fifth inning an he has walked six batters in his last three starts. In his last two games he pitched a total of 10 innings and gave up six runs and 11 hits while not winning a game in seven straight starts.
The Braves have lost six of Teheran's last seven starts.
Take ARI
GL
Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DET
The Tigers have scored 18 runs and banged out 24 hits in winning their last two games.
Matt Boyd (4-2, 3.92 ERA) toes the rubber for Detroit and in his last game pitched six innings and gave up one run and five hits. It was the seventh straight game he allowed 3 runs or less and in his last three road starts has allowed one run or less. He pitched 13 innings and gave up one run and seven hits in his last two games.
The Twins hand the ball to Tyler Duffey (8-9, 5.93 ERA) and he was knocked out in the fourth inning of his last start when he gave up five runs and two hits with one HR and three walks. It was the sixth game in his last nine starts he allowed at least four runs. He is 4-4 at home with a 6.67 ERA and 4-7 at night with an 8.07 ERA.
The Twins have lost five straight games and 10 of their last 13.
Take DET
GL
Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox are deadlocked in a first place tie with Toronto at the top of the AL East, and they will look to pick up a crucial win here in Tampa tonight.

Rick Porcello will toe the slab for the Sox, looking to add to his major league leading total of 17 wins. Porcello (17-3, 3.22 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on four hits, fanning eight in seven innings in a win at Detroit his last time out. He's struck out 18 while surrendering just four earned runs in three straight wins.

The Rays hand the ball to Matt Andriese, who has been rocked in his last two starts. The 26 year old has given up 11 runs on 15 hits over 10 1/3 innings in back to back losses to Texas and New York. He's also given up a whopping six home runs in those two games. A date with the major league's highest scoring team doesn't seem like an ideal situation for the right-hander.

The Red Sox have won 10 of their last 12 overall, and five straight versus Tampa.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on WAS
Baltimore who have lost five of their last eight games open a five game road trip in the second half of a home and home set against Washington.
Tanner Roark (13-6, 2.87 ERA) toes the slab for Washington and in his last game pitched six and a third innings and gave up three runs and four hits and has won his last four decisions. It was the fifth straight game he allowed three runs or less while in his last two home games pitched 14 innings and gave up one run and 10 hits.
The Orioles hand the ball to Wade Miley (7-10, 5.58 ERA) who has started four games for Baltimore. He is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA and in his last game was knocked out in the second inning after giving up six runs and six hits for the third game of his four starts he allowed at least four runs. Between Seattle and Baltimore, the teams have lost eight of his last 10 starts.
Miley has lost eight of his last nine decisions.
Take WAS
GL
Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oakland A's.

Cleveland has a comfortable lead in it's division, sitting seven game clear of Detroit. The Indians though have been out-scored 9-2 in the first two games of this series in Oakland, and I'll take the A's as a home dog in the rubber match this afternoon.

Kendall Graveman will toe the slab for the A's, and he's coming off a complete game shutout. Graveman (9-8, 4.09 ERA) struck out five, surrendering just two hits while going the distance in a 9-0 win over Chicago his last time out. He's having a solid second half, going 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA in seven starts. The 25 year old boasts a stellar 3.03 ERA in 10 home starts this season.

The Indians hand the ball to Trevor Bauer, who has been wildly inconsistent. Bauer (9-5, 3.88 ERA) struck out 13 while allowing a pair of runs on five hits through eight innings in a 3-2 home win over the Blue Jays his last time out. He's struggled since the All Star break, posting a 5.40 ERA while going 2-2 in seven starts.

The Athletics are 10-3 in Graveman's last 13 starts, and they've won five of his last six home starts.

Take OAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule