analysis soon

The set-up: The White Sox dominated the Kansas City Royals in a series at home last week, outscoring the Royals 27-8 in the three-game sweep. Chicago built off that and had won six in a row, before losing 7-3 Sunday in Detroit. Meanwhile, Kansas City has been unable to recover from that beating by Chicago and with the White Sox coming to Kansas City for the opener of a four-game homestand, the Royals are on a nine-game losing streak, the team's longest in five years. The 7-16 Royals currently own MLB's worst record, while the 13-10 White Sox sit a half-game back of the first-place Indians in the AL Central.

The pitching matchup: Chicago hands the ball to rookie Dylan Covey (0-1 & 6.91 ERA) and the Royals will counter with lefty Jason Vargas (3-1 & 1.40 ERA). This marks Covey's fourth career start. He had a brutal April 19th outing at Yankee Stadium (5 IP / 10 hits / 8 ERs in a 9-1 loss) but while not earning a decision in his other two, he allowed just three ERs in 9 1/3 innings (both Chicago wins). That included Covey allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings against the Royals last week (White Sox won 10-5). As for KC's Vargas, he's been a lone bright spot in April for the Royals. He was reached for four runs (three earned) in in five innings 12-1 loss at Chicago last Monday but that was after he had allowed just one run over his first three starts of 2017, all wins. That said, his history against Chicago is not good, as he owns a 1-3 career record with a 6.70 ERA in 10 career games (nine starts / teams are 3-6) against the White Sox.

The pick: Ok, I'll admit the Royals are not the same team which went to back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015 but they are also not a .304 team either! Vargas has started well in 2017 and is up against a rookie making just his second road start. Covey's first road start was that horrible effort at Yankees Stadium back on April 19th (see above). Make KC an 8* play.

The set-up: The New York Yankees rallied from an eight-run deficit to earn a 14-11 win in 10 innings over the Orioles on Friday and then routed Baltimore 12-4 on Saturday. However after rallying again on Sunday, the Yanks fell 7-4 in 11 innings on Sunday. The 15-8 Yanks are tied with the Orioles for first in the American League East and get set to host the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set beginning tonight. The Jays lost the rubber match of their series in Tampa on Sunday and still have yet to win a series tin 2017. After playing in the ALCS each of the last two seasons, Toronto has opened this season 8-17 and sits in last-place in the AL East, EIGHT games back of the co-leaders.

The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (0-1 & 2.70 ERA) will get the nod for Toronto and Luis Severino (2-1 & 3.00 ERA) takes the mound for New York. Estrada has pitched well in his last three outings, allowing just two ERs over 19 innings (0.95 ERA) but he has not factored in the decision of any of them (Jays did win two of the three). He's 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA in nine career starts against the NYY (team is 6-3) and fared well against them in 2016, going 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts (Jays won all four!). Severino had a streak of two straight starts of posting double-digit strikeouts come to an end on Wednesday but he still managed to hold the Boston Red Sox scoreless on three hits over seven innings for the win. Severino is looking for his first career win over the Blue Jays and enters with a 0-2 record and a 5.89 ERA in five career games, including four starts (Yanks are 2-2 but his ERA as a starter is 7.05!).

The pick: Estrada was outstanding against the Yanks last season but the 2017 Blue Jays are a mess, scoring 3.56 RPG (28th) while batting .228 (26th). Severino has put his 'ugly' 2016 season behind him and has allowed just 17 hits over 27 innings with a 33-4 KW ratio. He owns an 0.78 WHIP and opponents are batting just .175 against him. He takes the mound for a New York team that is 10-2 in Yankee Stadium, averaging 6,83 RPG. Make the NYY an 8* play.

The set-up: A series between the Cubs and Red Sox was expected to draw a lot of interest and the atmosphere at Fenway Park has been electric for the first two games. The Red Sox won 5-4 on Friday night and the Cubs bounced back with a 7-4 Saturday afternoon. Now, it's a the rubber match of this series Sunday night on ESPN. The 13-10 Cubs are looking to win their fourth straight series, while the 12-11 Red Sox are attempting to avoid their third consecutive series loss.

The pitching matchup: Kyle Hendricks (2-1 & 4.50 ERA) goes for Chicago and Boston will counter with Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1 & 3.12 ERA). Hendricks won the NL ERA title last year in his most recent start, looked much more like that pitcher than in his first three starts (11 ERs in 16 innings for a 6.19 ERA). He pitched six scoreless innings Tuesday at Pittsburgh, allowing four hits and two walks in a 1-0 victory. Hendricks never has faced the Red Sox and is 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA in nine career interleague starts. Rodriguez allowed nine hits and seven walks in his first two starts of 2017 (six ERs in 10 1/3 innings for a 5.23 ERA) and pitched out of the bullpen on April 19th. However, he was outstanding in his return to the rotation last Sunday at Baltimore, holding the Orioles to one hit over six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Actually, Rodriguez is holding opponents to a .172 average but he served up three HRs in his first two starts of the season.

The pick: Rodriguez looked good in his last outing but he also allowed a career worst-tying five walks against the Orioles. In fact, Rodriguez has walked a team-worst 12 batters (17 1/3 innings) through four games (three starts) this season. That doesn't bode well vs. the dangerous Chicago lineup. Yes, Hendricks was sharp in his last outing but his first three (6.19 ERA) leave some questions still to be answered. Make the Over a 10* play.

The set-up: The Dodgers look to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon and extend their overall winning streak to four games. LA opened the ninth inning on Saturday with three straight HRs to erase a three-run deficit and then Adrian Gonzalez delivered a two-out RBI single for a 6-5 victory. The Dodgers had five HRs in all on Saturday and while Philadelphia pounded out 13 hits, it suffered its second straight loss following a string of six victories in a row.

The pitching matchup: Nick Pivetta (NR) goes for Philadelphia and the Dodgers will hand the ball to Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-4 & 4.64 ERA). Pivetta was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley when Aaron Nola went down with a back injury. He will finally be making his major-league debut as his originally scheduled turn during the week was delayed by a rainout. He has been outstanding for the minors this season, going 3-0 with one complete game and a 0.95 ERA in three starts. Pivetta was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by Washington, which traded him to Philadelphia in July 2015 for Jonathan Papelbon. Ryu deserved a better fate Monday as he was saddled with the loss at San Francisco despite allowing just one run and five hits in six innings. It's been a rough beginning to 2017 for Ryu (see above) The 30-year-old South Korean has not recorded a victory since Aug. 31, 2014, as he has been limited to five starts since that season due to shoulder and elbow injuries. Ryu has a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies (0-0 and the team is 1-1).

The pick: No knock on Pivetta but this marks his MLB debut and it's in Dodger Stadium. The Phillies were just 34-47 on the road last season (have opened 4-7 in 2017), while only the Cubs (57) won more home games than LA's 53 in 2016. Here in 2017, LA is 8-4 at home, outscoring opponents 5.25-to-3.00 RPG. Make LA a 6* play.

The set-up: The Rockies won last night's game 3-1, the opener of this three-game series between Colorado and Arizona. Colorado's victory gives them a 15-9 record, a half-game better than 15-10 Arizona. That's pretty heady stuff (although it's early) for teams which were 75-87 and 69-93 in 2016, respectively. Colorado's bullpen combined for three hitless innings last night, after being torched for 25 runs over the previous three games (all losses). As for the Diamondbacks, the team managed just six hits, after averaging 7.57 RPG over the last seven contests.

The pitching matchup: Lefty Tyler Anderson (1-3 & 7.11 ERA) gets the nod for Colorado and Arizona will counter with Zack Greinke (2-2 & 2.93 ERA). Anderson comes off a win but had lost his previous three starts and has yet to complete six innings in any of his five 2017 starts. Anderson is in just his second season and he posted a 6.30 ERA in two starts against Arizona last year and while he wasn't saddled with a loss in either game, the Rockies lost both. Greinke has allowed one run in three of his five starts this season and has struck out 31 while walking just six this season. He struggled against Colorado last season, going 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three starts to drop to 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA n 20 career appearances (19 starts / teams are 12-7).

The pick: As noted, Anderson is in just his second season and the road has not been kind to him. He's 1-6 with a 5.29 ERA in 10 career road outings, with the Rockies going 2-8! Yes, Arizona had just six hits (all singles) last night but the D'backs had scored 53 runs in their previous seven games. Getting to Anderson hardly seems like a stretch and note that the Rockies halted a five-game slide against the Diamondbacks with Friday's victory. All back Greinke and make Arizona a 10* play.

The set-up: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols each homered in LA's 6-3 Friday victory and the Angels will take a five-game winning streak into the middle contest of their three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Saturday. Trout and Pujols are the two biggest reasons for LA's recent success. Trout has reached base safely in 24 of 25 games this season and is batting .372 with four HRs, seven RBI and 11 runs during his eight-game hitting streak. Pujols is batting .371 with a HR and 10 RBI during his 12-game hitting streak plus moved past Ken Griffey Jr. and into 14th all-time with 1,838 RBI ,one shy of Ted Williams for 13th (pretty sweet company, huh!). While the Angels are now 13-12, Texas, AL West champs in 2016, are just 10-13 and in last-place, five games back of first-place Houston.

The pitching matchup: Jesse Chavez (2-3 & 4.13 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels, opposed by Texas ace Yu Darvish (2-2 & 3.03 ERA). Chavez allowed one run, four hits and four walks while striking out seven in six innings of a 2-1 victory over Toronto on Monday. He currently owns the lowest ERA among regular Los Angeles starters and has recorded two straight quality starts, including a 3-0 setback at Houston on April 17. Chavez is 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in 17 games (four starts / 5.24 ERA, going 2-2) versus Texas after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-3 loss on April 12. Darvish allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out eight in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Kansas City. He pitched eight innings for the first time since 2014 prior to Tommy John surgery. Darvish is 8-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts against Los Angeles (Texas is 11-3), after striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings of an 8-3 road victory on April 13.

The pick: Angels' starting pitchers have surrendered fewer than three runs in 13 of their last 14 games and as noted, currently owns the lowest ERA among regular Los Angeles starter. It's hard to ignore Darvish's excellent career numbers vs. LA (see above) plus both Darvish and Chavez are coming off strong starts heading into this second of a three-game series at Globe Life Park. Make the Under a 10* play

The set-up: The White Sox won the opener of this three-game set in Detroit last night by the score of 7-3. Chicago is the hottest team in the AL Central with five straight wins over division rivals and look to make it six in a row this afternoon, against the Tigers. Chicago beat Cleveland last Sunday, then swept a three-game set from Kansas City, before winning Friday's opener. The White Sox have now outscored their division rivals 40-13 in the five consecutive wins. The Tigers will look to halt a three-game slide which leaves them 11-11 on the season (White Sox are 12-9).

The pitching matchup: Derek Holland (2-2 & 1.99 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago against last year's ROY, Detroit's Michael Fulmer (2-1 & 2.88 ERA). Holland was reached for seven runs (but just two earned!) on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a loss at the New York Yankees on April 17 but bounced right back against Cleveland on Sunday, a game which jump started Chicago's current winning streak. He scattered three hits and allowed just one run over six innings while striking out a season-high six to pick up the win. Holland is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career regular starts against the Tigers but has not faced them since July 13, 2013. Fulmer has had four quality starts to begin 2017 and is off his longest outing of the young season at Minnesota on Sunday, when he allowed two runs and four hits while striking out seven in seven innings to pick up the win. Fulmer is looking for his first career win over Chicago after going without a decision in two starts against the division rivals last season (3.86 ERA), although Detroit won both games.

The pick: Knee and shoulder injuries have marred Holland's last three seasons with the Texas Rangers but he's off to a strong start with Chicago. However, I need to see more. As for Fulmer, the Tigers went 19-7 in his 2016 starts, as his moneyline mark of plus-$1292 was the sixth-best among all MLB starters. The Tigers are 3-1 (plus-$202) in his 2017 starts and I'm making Detroit a 10* play

The set-up: Break up the Phillies The Phillies open a seven-game road trip Friday night at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phils are riding a six-game winning streak, which puts them at 11-9. The Phillies are brimming with confidence, sitting two games above .500 for the first since Memorial Day weekend in 2016. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have lost seven of 11 and open the series at 11-12.

The pitching matchup: Jerad Eickhoff (0-1 & 2.55 ERA) will get the ball for Philadelphia up against the struggling Kenta Maeda (1-2 & 8.05 ERA) of the Dodgers. Eickhoff opened the season with three quality starts in a row and although that streak was snapped in his last outing, Eickhoff tied his season high with seven strikeouts while allowing one run on two hits over five innings against Atlanta. Despite opening with those three straight quality starts, Eickhoff had three consecutive no-decisions. He deserved better, giving up just five ERs over 18 innings with the team losing all three games! He's made just one career start against the Dodgers, allowing two HRs and four runs (6.00 ERA) in another no-decision, although Philly won that game. Maeda won 16 games as a rookie in 2016 but he is struggling during his sophomore campaign, failing to pitch beyond five innings in each of his first four starts. He was hammered in his last outing at Arizona, surrendering a career-worst four HRs and giving up six runs (also a career high) on nine hits over five innings. He won both of his starts against the Phillies last season, but allowed four HRs and posted a 4.19 ERA.

The pick: Philadelphia opened the 2017 season with a three-game set against the Reds but followed with 17 in a row against NL East opponents. However, this visit to LA followed with a four-game set at the Chicago Cubs, will test these over-achievers, who are off to their best 20-game start since 2011. The Dodgers were an impressive 53-28 at home last season, while the Phillies were 34-47 on the road. Make the Dodgers a 6* play.

The set-up: The 10-12 Texas Rangers avoided a series sweep and snapped a two-game skid with a 14-3 win over Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. They now welcome the LA Angels to Globe Life Park for a three-game weekend series. The Angels are coming off a 2-1 home win Thursday night over the Oakland A's, giving them a four straight wins and five of seven, to reach 12-12 on the season.

The pitching matchup: Tyler Skaggs (1-1 & 4.44 ERA) gets the nod in the opener for LA, opposed by the Rangers' Nick Martinez (0-0 & 1.29 ERA). Skaggs has pitched well in his last two starts, blanking Kansas City on four hits over seven innings in a no-decision on April 16 and following up by allowing just two runs and seven hits in seven frames of a win over Toronto. That's quite an improvement over his first two 2017 starts, when he allowed five ERs in each outing (8.71 ERA). He escaped with a no-decision against Texas earlier this month, despite allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings. That outing leaves him 2-1 with a 6.20 ERA in five career starts versus the Rangers (Angels are 3-2). Martinez will be making just his second start of 2017, in place of the injured A.J. Griffin (ankle). He defeated Kansas City 2-1 on April 22nd, allowing just one run on four hits over seven innings for his 14th career victory. Martinez is 2-3 with a 2.51 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts / Rangers are 2-4 in those starts with a 2.92 ERA) against the Angels.

The pick: Actually, both teams come in playing fairly well, as both enter the series having won five of seven. Skaggs has had two straight good outings, in keeping with an LA starting staff which has now not allowed more than two earned runs in 12 of its last 13 games, compiling a 2.10 ERA in that span. Martinez looked sharp in his 2017 debut (see above), so the Under is a 10* play.

The set-up: The Yanks took the first of this rain-abbreviated two-game series in Fenway last night, 3-1 (Tuesday's game was postponed and will be made up later this season). Boston led the majors in runs in Ortiz's final season in 2016 but sits in the bottom half of the league almost a month into 2017 (3.90 RPG ranks 22nd) despite a lineup that still includes MVP candidate Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez and Xander Bogaerts. The Red Sox totaled 13 runs in the last six games and are 6-for-42 with runners in scoring position in that span, including 0-for-7 in Wednesday's 3-1, series-opening loss. The Yankees weren't much better on Wednesday (1-for-5 with runners in scoring position) but got the big hit when they needed it with rookie Aaron Judge's seventh HR. Nerw York is 12-7 and Boston 11-9, heading into tonight's contest.

The pitching matchup: Masahiro Tanaka (2-1 & 6.00 ERA) gets the ball for the Yankees while Chris Sale (1-1 & 0.91 ERA) gets introduced to one of baseball's greatest rivalries in the series finale for the Red Sox. Tanaka is coming off his best start of the season, limiting the White Sox to one run and six hits over seven innings on April 19. He has won his last two starts while allowing four runs in 13 1/3 innings but opened the season allowing 10 runs over just 7 2/3 innings in his first two outings. Tanaka went 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three starts against Boston last season but in his career, sits 5-2 with a 4.05 ERA against Boston in 10 starts (Yanks are 5-5). Chris Sale has been everything the Red Sox thought they were getting when they sent four prospects to the White Sox in exchange for the perennial Cy Young candidate over the winter. Sale struck out 13 and scattered four hits over eight scoreless innings last Thursday at Toronto and owns 42 strikeouts against six walks in 29 2/3 innings. However, Boston's struggling offense leaves him with just one win in four starts, although Boston is 3-1. He has dominated New York in 10 career appearances with a 1.17 ERA. In seven starts, he's got a 4-1 record and 1.43 ERA but his team is just 4-3.

The pick: Expect Sale to finally get some support and make Boston an 8* play.

The set-up: The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays will try to complete a three-game IL series, after getting rained out Wednesday, by playing a doubleheader on Thursday. The Jays won 6-5 (11 innings) on Tuesday but last night's game was rained out. Wednesday's scheduled starters (Latos and Martinez) will go in Game 1 with the second game following. Toronto entered the series ranked 29th in the majors in scoring but eked out a 6-5 victory in 11 innings Tuesday night. The win gets Toronto to 6-14, after opening 1-9. The Cards are just 9-11 and already are "looking up" at their hated rivals, the Chicago Cubs.

The pitching matchup: Casey Lawrence (0-2 & 7.56 ERA) will start Game 2 for Toronto and Adam Wainwright (1-3 & 6.27 ERA) takes the hill for St. Louis. Lawrence gave up a grand slam to Andrelton Simmons in the third inning of his first career start this past Saturday against the LA Angels, taking a 5-4 loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings before exiting after 97 pitches. Lawrence walked just three batters on Saturday after issuing five free passes in two combined innings of relief against Tampa Bay on April 8-9. Wainwright hit a two-run HR in Friday's 6-3 win over Milwaukee to help him snap a three-game losing skid. He also pitched well in the victory, striking out a season-high nine in five innings to subdue the Brewers. That said, Wainwright has not looked like the Wainwright of old, with that 6.27 ERA, a 1.93 WGHIP plus opponents BAA of .366!

The pick: Lawrence has shown little so far and Wainwright is a shell of his former self. Throw in that Wainwright also struggled in his lone career outing versus Toronto, allowing three HRs in four innings of a 5-0 loss back on June 24, 2010, and the Over is a 10* play

The set-up: The Tigers beat Minnesota 13-4 on Sunday and then on Tuesday, in the opener of a three-game home set with Seattle, clubbed the Mariners 19-9. The Tigers had 24 hits in the rout of Seattle, their most since Sept. 2013 (19 runs were the team's most since 2008). However, James Paxton threw seven scoreless innings (9 Ks) against the Tigers last night and two relievers completed the four-hit shutout. Seattle scored eight runs on 15 hits and has enjoyed an offensive surge of its own, with a total of 28 runs in its last three games.

The pitching matchup: Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2 & 5.31 ERA) will oppose Justin Verlander (1-2 & 6.04 ERA) in the rubber match of this series this afternoon at Comerica Park. Iwakuma allowed a modest three runs over 12 innings in his first two outings of 2017 but then nine runs in 8 1/3 innings in the last two.He's already allowed six HRs in just 20 1/3 innings to open the 2017 season. Iwakuma is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in eight career games - seven starts (Seattle is 4-3) - against Detroit with nine HRs allowed in 46 2/3 innings. Verlander, a former Cy Young and MVP winner, is also going through similar struggles in MLB's first month. He allowed just two ERs over 13 1/3 innings in his first two starts before trouble set it. He was ripped for nine runs on 11 hits in four innings at Cleveland on April 15 and then could not find the strike zone while issuing six walks in five innings of a 7-6 loss at Minnesota last Saturday. Verlander is 10-8 with a 3.25 ERA in 20 career starts vs. Seattle, with Detroit going 11-9.

The pick: Verlander did not factor in the decision in either of his two starts against Seattle last season but pitched well, allowing three runs in 14 total innings. Coming off being shut out, on the heels of scoring 13 and 19 run sin the two previous games, I expect thoss Detroit bats to bounce back. After all, Seattle's win in Detroit last night gives the Mariners just a 3-10 road record in 2017, where they've allowed an average of 5.23 RPG (Detroit has averaged 5.33 RPG at home). Make Detroit an 8* play.

The set-up: The Twins opened this three-game series at Texas having lost six of their previous seven games but have beaten the Rangers 3-2 (Mon.) and 8-1 (Tue.). These back-to-back losses for Texas has but a sudden halt to the four-game winning streak the team had when it opened the new week. Texas now looks to avoid getting swept in Arlington by the Twins for the first time in 41 years on Wednesday night! However, more trouble may be looming for the Rangers, as the Twins have now won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams dating to last season.

The pitching matchup: A pair of left-handers take the mound tonight at Globe Life Park, Hector Santiago (2-1 & 2.19 ERA) for Minnesota and Cole Hamels (1-0 & 2.77 ERA). Santiago continued his string of strong outings this season on Friday, recording his third straight quality start, earning a 6-3 win over Detroit. He has a 17-4 KW ratio through four starts, with an 0.97 WHIP and ,217 BAA. He's made 17 starts against the Rangers in his career, going 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA (teams are 10-7). Cole Hamels is off his best performance this season on Friday, allowing one run on three hits in eight innings of a 6-2 win over Kansas City. Not that Hamels had pitched all that poorly in his first three, but Texas had lost each of those three starts. That's quite a change from last season, when the Rangers were 24-8 in Hamels' 32 starts (plus-$1469, which ranked 4th-best among all starters). He's faced the Twins just five times in his career without much success, going 1-1 with a 6.92 ERA (teams are 2-3).

The pick: Santiago is off to a great start for the Twins in 2017 and Hamels finally looked like his "old self" in his last outing. Make the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: After a 14-3 rout on Monday at Pittsburgh, the Cubs made made a single unearned run stand up in Tuesday's 1-0 victory, Chicago's first win without an RBI since July 2011. The Cubs have now won six of seven to reach 12-8 on the season and will look to complete a three-game sweep of the Pirates Wednesday night. Pittsburgh's hard-luck 1-0 loss came just hours after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred revealed that Pirates star center fielder Starling Marte declined to appeal last week's 80-game suspension. Since a three-game sweep of the Cubs in Chicago, Pittsburgh has dropped six of its last eight games and now sit at 8-12.

The pitching matchup: Jon Lester (0-0 & 2.66 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago and will be opposed by the Pirates' Tyler Glasnow (0-1 & 7.94 ERA). Lester looks to bounce back from his worst outing of 2017, after he surrendered five runs on a season-high nine hits over 5 2/3 innings at Cincinnati last Friday. He had permitted only two runs on 14 hits over his first three starts but with Chicago scoring only seven runs in that span, he had yet to earn a decision. Lester was 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts against Pittsburgh last season and is 4-3 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career starts against the Pirates (teams are 4-5). Glasnow will be making his 11th career appearance and eighth start and is still looking for his first career win. He lasted only 4 2/3 innings at the New York Mets on Friday, giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits, after allowing four first-inning runs and six overall at Chicago in his previous outing. The Pirates won his start against the Cubs 8-7 back on April 15 but no thanks to his 7.20 ERA.

The pick: Lester looks for his first win of 2017 (this is his fifth start) but as noted, Glasnow is making his eighth start and is still looking for that initial MLB win, However, he has yet to pitch beyond 5 1/3 innings in his career and comes into this game with a 7.94 ERA and 2.29 WHIP, along with a .315 BAA in three previous 2017 starts. Make the Cubs an 8* play.

The set-up: The Brewers won 11-7 last night in the series opener against Reds, as Eric Thames hit two HRs. Thames now has 10 HRs, matching the team record for April, and the Brewers still have five games left this month. Seven of his HRs have come against Cincinnati, which has lost four of five meetings with Milwaukee. The Reds fell to 10-10 with the loss and the Brewers pulled within one game of .500 with the win (10-11).

The pitching matchup: Scott Feldman (1-1 & 2.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds on Tuesday, opposed by the Brewers' Zach Davies (1-2 & 8.24 ERA). Feldman pitched mostly but this marks his fifth start of 2017 and while the team is just 1-3 in his four starts, he's pitched reasonably well (1.19 WHIP along with that 2.38 ERA). He has made five career starts versus the Brewers, going 2-2 with a 3.46 ERA (teams are 2-3). Davies lost his first three starts a year ago but finished 11-7 with a 3.97 ERA. However, he's off to another slow (or should I say, brutal?) start here in 2017. He's allowed 18 ERs over 19 2/3 innings through his first four starts, giving him not only an awful 8.24 ERA but a 1.98 WHIP, with opponents batting .345 against him. He's 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA in six career starts vs. the Reds (team is 2-4).

The pick: It was an 11-7 slug-fest on Monday (teams combined for 18 hits and there were five errors in the game, as well) but as noted, Feldman has acquitted himself well in this year's starting rotation. As for Davies, there is no way to go but up and as also noted earlier, he recovered from last year's poor start to pitch well, as the team was 15-9 over his final 24 starts, after Milwaukee lost his first four. The Under is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Tigers return to Detroit to open a 10-game homestand, coming off a a 4-5 road trip. Making life difficult is that fact that the Tigers had to place shortstop Jose Iglesias, first baseman Miguel Cabrera and center fielder JaCoby Jones on the disabled list. Right fielder J.D. Martinez has yet to make his season debut, which leaves the Tigers with a makeshift lineup as they get set to host the Seattle Mariners for three games. Seattle on Tuesday night. The Mariners are on a 10-game road trip and after losing three in a row at Oakland, salvaged the series finale with an 11-1 victory on Sunday, exploding for a season high in runs. Seattle is just 8-12 but after opening 2-8, can't be too unhappy.

The pitching matchup: Felix Hernandez (2-1 & 3.65 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season on Tueday night, and will be opposed by Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann (1-1 & 5.94 ERA). The Mariners lost King Felix's first two starts of 2017 but have won his last two. Hernandez has 20 Ks and only one walk in 24 2/3 innings but it strange to see opponents hitting .330 against him, as his lifetime BAA is .240. Hernandez is 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 15 career starts versus Detroit (Mariners are 10-5). Zimmermann appeared in only 19 games last season, his first with Detroit after leaving Washington, because of a neck injury. He recorded a quality start in his 2017 season opener, a 4-1 victory over Boston on April 8, but struggled in two starts since. Calling it "struggling" is being kind. Zimmermann has lasted just 10 2/3 innings, allowing 14 hits and six walks, giving up five ERs in each outing (that's an 8.44 ERA). Zimmermann won his only start against the Mariners, an 8-3 victory in 2014 while pitching for the Nats.

The pick: Detroit returns for a 10-game homestand with nearly half of its lineup ailing and must face Felix Hernandez. He hasn't quite pitched like 'royalty' as of late but he's handled Detroit well in the past (see above). Meanwhile, Zimmermann hasn't come close to performing as hoped, since signed as a free agent. Make Seattle a 10* play.

The set-up: The Arizona Diamondbacks were 69-93 in 2016, finishing one game better than the 68-94 San Diego Padres.However, the D'backs have opened the 2017 season by winning 12 of 20 games, while the Padres have started by losing 12 of their first 20. The two NL West rivals open a four-game series tonight at Chase Field and with Arizona going 8-2 so far this season at home, the Padres could be in trouble considering that they are just 3-8 to open the season away from Petco Field. Arizona is MLB's highest-scoring team to this point (5.25 RPG) and will face a San Diego staff which owns a 4.53 ERA, ranking 28th of 30 MLB teams. In contrast, Arizona's so-so pitching staff will face a San Diego lineup which ranks 29th in runs scored at 3.15 per game.

The pitching matchup: The Padres will send Jhoulys Chacin (2-2 & 4.70 ERA) to the mound Monday night and the Diamondbacks will counter with Zack Greinke (1-2 & 3.28 ERA). This represents a quick "re-hook," as Chacin pitched eight scoreless innings for the Padres to outduel Greinke this past Wednesday in a 1-0 Padres victory in San Diego.
That was Chicin's finest outing as a Padre, getting the win after allowing only three singles and a walk while striking out five. He has yet to give up a run in 14 2/3 innings at home in 2017, but he has been ripped for 12 ERs over only 8 1/3 innings in a pair of road losses (14.04 ERA & 2.64 WHIP). Chacin is 6-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts / teams are 9-5) versus the Diamondbacks, including a 2-3 mark but a 2.83 ERA in eight starts at Chase Field. Greinke logged his first complete game of the season opposite Chacin, but took the loss despite permitting only a solo HR. The former Cy Young Award winner was coming off his worst effort of the season five days earlier, when he yielded five runs and 10 hits in five frames against the Dodgers. However, Greinke has had few problems with San Diego in his career, going 8-2 with a 1.96 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 17 starts (teams are 12-5).

The pick: Love Greinke is the quick turnaround pitching matchup plus remember Arizona is 8-2 at home, outscoring oppopnents 7.40-to-4.50 RPG . The Diamondbacks not only lead all MLB teams in runs per game at home this season but also in batting average (.316) and on-base percentage (.376). In stark contrast, the Padres are 3-8 on the road, getting outscored 5.09-to-3.00 RPG. Make Arizona an 8* play.

The set-up: The Washington Nationals beat the Mets 6-3 last night art Citi Field on ESPN, giving them a sweep of that three-game series. The sweep extended the team's winning streak to seven straight. Washington began its winning streak with a home victory over Philadelphia before registering three-game sweeps on the road against Atlanta and the New York Mets. At 13-6 and in first-place in the NL East, the Nats now head to Colorado on Monday for a four-game series in Coors Field against the Rockies, who are also a first-place team, leading the NL West at 13-5. The Rockies have won six of their last seven contests and are coming off their first three-game home sweep of San Francisco since May 2002. Colorado outscored the Giants 20-3 over the final two contests and improved to 6-3 at Coors Field to open the 2017 season.

The pitching matchup: Jacob Turner (1-2, 6.57 ERA in 2016) will make his 2017 debut for Washington and will be opposed by Colorado's Tyler Anderson (1-3 & 7.32 ERA) who is not exactly off to a great start this season. Turner was drafted ninth overall by Detroit in 2009 but has not lived up expectations. He's 12-27 with a 5.09 ERA in the majors with four different teams, spending the 2016 season with the White Sox. He signed a minor-league contract during the offseason with Washington and is being called up from Triple-A Syracuse to make his Washington debut (he owns a 2.61 ERA in three starts for Syracuse). Anderson has had all sorts of early-season struggles, as he has surrendered four or more runs in each of his first four starts, losing the last three. He has yet to complete six innings and lasted five on Wednesday, when he yielded four runs (two ERs) on six hits in a setback against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The pick: At first blush, this may look like an over with two shaky starters. After all, Washington is MLB's second-highest scoring team at 5.17 RPG (is also averaging 5.11 RPG on the road) and as always, Colorado puts runs on the board at home, averaging 4.89 RPG in its nine home games so far. However, a closer look reveals that the Rockies had averaged a modest 3.00 RPG in their first six home games, prior to scoring 26 runs in sweeping the Giants at Coors this past weekend. As for Colorado's Anderson, he's found Coors to be a friendly park, posting a 3.36 ERA in 13 home starts during his brief career. Let's add that the Colorado bullpen which finished the 2016 season with a MLB-high ERA of 5.13, opens the week with the NL's lowest ERA, at 2.76. Make the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: The Washington Nationals look to sweep this three-game series from the Mets tonight on ESPN. The Nats won 4-3 (11 innings) on Friday and four pitchers allowed just two hits for a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s contest. Surging Washington has now won six in a row to sport a 12-5 record, while the slumping Mets have lost seven of eight games to fall to 8-10. More bad news comes New York's way with the Mets placing infielders Lucas Duda (elbow) and Wilmer Flores (knee) on the disabled list Friday and New York will likely still be without Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) for a least a few more days.

The pitching matchup: The Nationals send Max Scherzer (2-1 & 1.37 ERA) to the mouynd tonight up against New York's Zack Wheeler (1-1 & 5.52 ERA). Scherzer takes the mound Sunday after his best start of the season, limiting Atlanta to two hits over seven scoreless innings last Tuesday with seven strikeouts and three walks in a 3-1 victory. He has yielded three ERs over 12 2/3 innings in his first two starts of the 2017 season and has yet to surrender a home run in three outings. Scherzer owns 1.88 ERA in 10 career career against the Mets, going 5-3, although his teams are just 5-5. Wheeler looked good his last time out in a no-decision, when he allowed just one run on four hits over five innings with seven strikeouts and two walks against Philadelphia. However, he had given up eight runs on 10 hits over 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts of the season after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery. Wheeler is 2-6 with a 4.69 ERA in eight career starts against the Nats.

The pick: No reason to step in front of the Nats in this one. Scherzer was 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA versus the Mets in 2016, while Wheeler was 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA in five outings against Washington back in 2014, the last time he faced them. Make the Nats an 8* play.

The set-up: The Yankees exploded for 11 runs in the final four innings to earn an 11-5 win on Saturday at Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 6-3 on Friday night, so the teams get set for the rubber match of this three-game IL series on Sunday afternoon from PNC Park. The Yankees are off to a solid 11-6 start, while the Pirates have yet to get going, sitting at 7-10.

The pitching matchup: Jordan Montgomery (1-0 & 4.22 ERA) makes his first career start against the Pirates while Ivan Nova (1-2 & 2.25 ERA), the ex-Yankee, will face his former team for the first time. Montgomery picked up his first career win in his second career start on Monday, when he held the Chicago White Sox to three runs and seven hits in six innings. Montgomery struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings in his debut on April 12 but had just four last Monday, while inducing eight groundouts on Monday. Nova struggled for the Yankees in 2015 and the first half of 2016 before coming over to Pittsburgh. He had made 118 starts with the Yankees but was having trouble sticking in the rotation with a 5.07 ERA at the time of the trade. However, with the Pirates, he posted a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts, going 5-2 (team won seven of his first eight starts, before losing his last three). He gave up fewer home runs, fewer walks and in general seemed to much more closely resemble the pitcher he had been early in his career, when he won 16 games for the Yankees in 2011.

The pick: Montgomery will face a Pittsburgh lineup that has totaled 11 runs in the first two games of the series but that's after managing just three in the previous three games. I wouldn't be surprised if Nova was sharp against his ex-teammates and will make the Under

The set-up: The Cubs have responded to a four-game losing streak by winning their last three, all in comeback fashion.The Cubs rallied for another thrilling victory last night in Cincinnati. Anthony Rizzo’s three-run HR with two outs in the ninth forced extra innings and Kris Bryant’s sacrifice fly in the 11th gave Chicago to a 6-5 win. That's three straight comeback wins for Chicago, with five of their last eight victories being of the come-from-behind variety. As for the Reds, the loss in the opener of this three-game set makes it three straight defeats and after opening 2017 at 7-2, the Reds are now just 9-8 and on a 2-6 skid.

The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (2-0 & 2.89 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs and Cody Reed (1-0 & 0.00 ERA) for the Reds.Arrieta won his first two starts of 2017 but settled for a no-decision the last time out in an 8-7 Chicago win at Pittsburgh.He allowed three runs on five hits (including two HRs) over 5 2/3 innings. He is 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA in seven career starts against the Reds. Cody Reed suffered through a 'nightmare' rookie season in 2016. He made 10 starts last year going 0-7 (team was 0-10) with a 7.36 ERA and 1.80 WHIP (opponents batted .328 against him). He's opened the 2017 season in the bullpen and after four appearances, has yet to allow a run or even a hit, although it's over a modest eight innings. He walked four his first time out but has now retired 18 straight batters over his last three appearances with eight Ks! Reed was 0-2 with a 12.38 ERA in two starts against the Cubs in 2016.

The pick: Reed gets his first start of 2017 in this one and faces a Chicago team he met twice last year, going 0-2 against with a 12.38 ERA. That hardly bodes well here, as the Cubs have scored 22 runs (7.33 per) on 33 hits during their three-game winning streak. The Cubs have now won 19 of their past 23 games vs. Cincinnati and six of the past seven series. Chicago was 15-4 last season against the Reds, including 8-2 at Great American Ball Park. Make the Cubs an 8* play

The set-up: The Cincinnati Reds got off to a quick starts in 2017, opening 7-2. Hopes that they could be a be a surprise challenger to the World Series champion Chicago Cubs in the NL Central have taken a hit though, as the Reds have lost five of their last seven. The 9-7 Reds lead the 8-7 Cubs by a half-game entering this weekend three-game home series with Chicago. The Cubs ended a four-game slide with consecutive comeback wins over Milwaukee, 9-7 on Tuesday and 7-4 on Wednesday. The Cubs used Thursday’s day off to reconfigure their pitching rotation, flip-flopping the top of the lineup.

The pitching matchup: Left-hander Jon Lester (0-0 & 1.00 ERA) will now get Friday's start for Chicago, matched up against Cincy's Tim Adleman (0-0 & 2.25 ERA). Lester is still looking for his first win of 2017, entering his fourth start. He's got three no-decisions and the Cubs are just 1-2 in those starts, despite him allowing only two ERs on 14 hits with a 17-5 KW ratio over 18 innings. He's got a 1.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .222 BA. A lack of run support has been the main culprit but Lester should be full of confidence here, as he's 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA in nine starts against the Reds (teams are 8-1!). The 29-year-old Adelman made one start at Triple-A Louisville before being called up to pitch four innings in long relief Sunday against Milwaukee. He allowed one run and two hits with five strikeouts in his first big-league outing of the season. He made 13 starts in 2016, going 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA (team was 6-7). He made two starts against the Cubs last season, going 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA (Reds were 1-1).

The pick: Lester is overdue for a win and has an impressive LT record against the Reds, including posting a 2.94 ERA in five outings at Cincinnati. Lester hasn't had much support in his first three starts but note that the Cubs have won 18 of their past 22 games vs. Cincinnati and six of the past seven series. Chicago hit 42 HRs against Reds pitching in 2016, the most in a single season against Cincinnati, while going 15-4 last season against the Reds, including 8-2 at Great American Ball Park. Make the Cubs a 10* play

The set-up: The Seattle Mariners opened 2-8 but have won five of six after Wednesday's 10-5 victory over the Miami Marlins. Seattle now travels to Oakland, off to a 7-8 start, for a four-game series which begins tonight. Oakland, like Seattle did on Wednesday, produced a season best for runs in Wednesday's 9-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. LF Khris Davis hit his seventh HR of 2017 to tie for the major-league lead. Davis had career-high 42-homer campaign in 2016.

The pitching matchup: Lefty James Paxton (2-0 & 0.00 ERA) takes the hill for Seattle, opposed by Oakland's Cesar Valdez (NR in 2017). Paxton was just 6-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 20 starts last season (Mariners were 7-13, minus-$898) but it was notable that he had nearly five times as many strikeouts (117) as walks (24). He been long been viewed as a future standout by the Mariners but injuries have curtailed his progress and last season's 121 innings are his most since he reached the majors in 2013. Maybe 2017 will be his tyear? He's opened 2-0 without allowing a run over 15 innings with a 17-3 KW ratio. What's more, he is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics (Seattle is 3-0). Valdez is making only his third major-league start and is appearing in a big-league game for the first time since June 10, 2010 when he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 32-year-old went 1-2 with a 7.65 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in nine appearances (two starts) during the 2010 stint. Valdez was signed by Oakland as a minor-league free agent last November.

The pick: Paxton has been terrific in two starts this year and in limited action, has done well vs. the A's. Also, the Mariners have won 12 of their past 13 games in Oakland. A's manager Bob Melvin said about Valdez, "We were impressed by what we saw from him in spring training." He was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA at Triple-A Nashville when recalled to start for injured Kendall Graveman. Added Melvin, "The thing is: Every injury to somebody is an opportunity for somebody else." My 'gut' says...Make Seattle an 8* play.

The set-up: The Phillies and Mets have split the first two of this three-game series in New York and will play the rubber match tonight. Philadelphia won 6-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday with New York winning 5-4 last night.The Phillies come into this contest 5-9 overall and have lost six of their last eight. Meanwhile, the Mets' win last night ended a four-game slide (New York is now 8-7), but the Mets will be looking to make it five win in six outings versus the Phillies this season.

The pitching matchup: Aaron Nola (1-0 & 3.27 ERA) takes the mound for Philly and Noah Syndergaard (1-0 & 0.95 ERA) for the Mets. Nola had a poor 2016 (6-9 with a 4.78 ERA / team was 8-12 in his starts) but has shown signs of rebounding in the early going of 2017. He's got 13 strikeouts against just two walks in his tow starting assignments, covering in 11 innings. The seventh overall pick of the 2014 draft, Nola settled for a no-decision on Friday despite allowing just one run on six hits and striking out six over five innings at Washington. However, he was roughed up in his lone career meeting with the Mets, allowing six runs on nine hits in four innings of a 9-4 setback back on Sept. 2, 2015. Syndergaard is off to a dominating start in 2107 with 20 strikeouts without walking a single batter in 19 innings over three starts so far. He beat the Phillies twice in 2016, improving to 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA in four career starts against them.

The pick: It's been feast or famine for the Mets through 15 games this season. They have been limited to two runs or less six times but have scored five runs or more seven times. Those New York bats should reach Nola without much trouble and more good news comes the Mets' way in that reliever Jeurys Familia is expected to make his season debut Thursday. Familia led the majors with a team-record 51 saves last year but was suspended for the first 15 games following a domestic violence incident with his wife in October. Make the Mets an 8* play.

The set-up: The Brewers won In Wrigley 6-3 on Monday but the Cubs rallied for a 9-7 win on Tuesday, snapping a four-game losing streak. Chicago’s bullpen has been a concern early on but five relievers combined to allow one run over 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday and retire 15 of Milwaukee's last 16 batters. The loss was just the second of the Brewers’ nine-game road trip which concludes Wednesday afternoon, before Milwaukee begins a 10-game homestand on Thursday. The 8-7 Brewers and 7-7 Cubs play the rubber match of this series today.

The pitching matchup: Lefty Tommy Milone (1-0 & 7.36 ERA) will be on the hill for the Brewers and the Cubs respond with Kyle Hendricks (1-1 & 5.73 ERA). Milone is taking the injured Junior Guerra's spot in the rotation (Guerra was the Opening Day starter but left the game with a calf injury). Milone held Cincinnati to three runs and six hits over five innings on Friday, although he did surrender a pair of HRs, while picking up his first win of 2017. Milone's first start of the season came against the Cubs back on April 8 in Milwaukee, when he allowed four ERs on nine hits over four innings, drawing a no-decision in an 11-6 Milwaukee loss (it's his lone career start vs. the Cubs). Hendricks led the NL with a 2.13 ERA in 2016 (was 16-8 on the season / team ws 19-11 in his starts) but will be pitching on regular rest for the first time this season (2 1/2 weeks in!). The hope is that it will lead to him having sharper command. He gave up four runs over six innings in a win at Milwaukee on April 8 (opposite Milone) and lasted just five innings while allowing three runs in a loss to Pittsburgh on Friday. Hendricks is 6-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 11 career starts against the Brewers (Cubs are 7-4).

The pick: This could be the last start for a while for Milone, as Matt Garza (right groin strain) is expected to return from the disabled list later this week. Hendricks pitched too well last year for the Cubs to be concerned about his slow start in 2017. Getting back on regular rest should help and expect the Cubs, last year's best home team with a  57-24 mark, to take the rubber game of this series against a Milwaukee team which finished 30 1/2 games back of the Cubs last season, while going only 32-49 on the road. Make Chicago a 6* play

The set-up: The San Francisco Giants are off to a slow start to the 2017 season (just 5-9), as they visit Kansas City to take on the 6-6 Royals in this two-game IL series. However, the Giants are getting some good news, as four-time All-Star catcher Buster Posey is expected to be activated from the DL on Tuesday. Posey was beaned by a fastball in a game against Arizona on April 10 and will likely serve as the team's DH as he eases his way back into action. "It gives him three more extra days (counting Thursday's off day)," manager Bruce Bochy told The San Jose Mercury News of Posey (team-leading .333 batting average). Kansas City has been streaky in the early going of 2017, and comes in on a four-game winning streak, following a three-game slide, which was the second such skid of the season for the Royals. This marks the Giants' first return to Kansas City since the 2014 World Series.

The pitching matchup: Matt Cain (1-0 & 4.82 ERA) gets the nod tonight for San Francisco and Kansas City hands the ball to Jason Hammel (0-1 & 6.52 ERA). Cain had a shaky 2017 debut (allows six hits and four ERs over 4 1/3 innings against the Padres) but earned a 6-2 win against Arizona on Wednesday. He allowed just one run on five hits in as many innings. The Giants are hoping Cain can be the team's fifth-starter, coming off a two-year span in which his ERA is 5.77 and WHIP is 1.52. Cain is 1-0 with a 3.28 ERA in his lone start against the Royals. It's early but Jason Hammel has stumbled out of the box after signing a two-year, $16 million deal in offseason, a move designed to shore up KC's starting rotation after the death of Yordano Ventura. Hammel's allowed 13 hits and seven ERs over 9 2/3 innings, with a 6.52 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and .333 opponents BA! However, despite going winless in 11 career appearances against San Francisco (10 starts / teams are 4-6), he has pitched reasonably well against them with a 3.17 ERA.

The pick: KC's starting pitchers have a 0.63 ERA, allowing two runs and 13 hits over 28 2/3 innings during the team's four-game winning streak and now it's Hammel's turn to start "pulling his own weight." He faces a San Francisco lineup which has been very mediocre, batting .237 (17th). As for that KC lineup, it ranks 29th in BA (.210) and runs scored (3.17 per). Make the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: The 7-5 Washington Nationals open a three-game series tonight in Atlanta against the Braves. Daniel Murphy has hit safely in 11 of 12 games this year and brings a .396 batting average into the series opener. Bryce Harper followed his 2015 MVP season with a down year in 2016 (hit only .243) but is starting to warm up in 2017, going 9-for-23 with eight RBI and seven runs scored in his last six games. He had two HRs, including a walk-off shot, in Sunday’s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia. The Braves won just 68 games in 2016 and opened the 2017 season at 1-6 but come into this series on a five-game winning streak, after Dansby Swanson’s walk-off single in Monday’s 5-4 victory over San Diego gave them a four-game sweep of the Padres, along with giving them a 4-0 record at their new home, SunTrust Park.

The pitching matchup: Max Scherzer (1-1 & 2.13 ERA) will get the ball in the series opener for the Nats, opposed by Atlanta's Mike Foltynewicz (0-1 & 6.35 ERA). Scherzer was slowed in spring training by a knuckle injury on his right ring finger but has pitched well in his first two outings of 2017. He took the loss Wednesday against St. Louis despite allowing only one ER in six innings with 10 strikeouts but he struck out seven while giving up two runs in a win at Philadelphia back on April 7. He won his second career Cy Young Award last season and had no trouble vs. the Braves, going 4-0 while striking out 32 in 33 1/3 innings in five starts (Nats were 4-1). The Braves had multiple off-days during their season-opening road trip and that resulted in Foltynewicz being temporarily moved to the bullpen. He gave up two runs and three hits in two innings of relief last Tuesday at Miami, striking out four without issuing a walk. Foltynewicz's only start of the year came ion April 7th, when he allowed two runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings en route to a 5-4 loss at Pittsburgh. He was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Washington in 2016 (team was 1-1).

The pick: Washington won the NL East last season with a 95-67 record, thanks in part to dominating Atlanta by taking 15 of the 19 meetings between the two rivals (?), while averaging 5.7 runs per contest. Setting aside Washington's dominance over Atlanta, we also have a Scherzer-Foltynewicz 'duel,' which seems like a total mismatch. Make the Nationals an 8* play.

The set-up: The Indians were AL champs last year and had the Cubs down 3-1 in the 2016 World Series, before losing the final three games of the Fall Classic (Games 6 & 7 at home). Cleveland then opened the 2017 season in Texas against the Rangers, a team which has been to the postseason in five of the last seven years. The Indians swept that three-game series in Arlington, 8-5, 4-3 and 9-6. Terry Francona's club was off and running, or so we thought. However, just the opposite has been the case, as the Indians limp into Minnesota on Monday, losers of seven of their last nine. As for the Twins, they were coming off a 103-loss season, owners of MLB's worst record in 2016. However, they opened 4-0 and 5-1, before losing four of their next six.

The pitching matchup: Danny Salazar (0-1 & 4.63 ERA) will open this four-game series for the Indians, opposed by Minnesota's Kyle Gibson (0-1 & 8.00 ERA). Salazar limited the White Sox to two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over six innings last Wednesday, but suffered the loss in a 2-1 decision despite matching a career high with 11 strikeouts. Salazar had a great first half for the Indians in 2016 (10-3 with a 2.75 ERA before the All-Star break) but injuries limited him to eight starts after the break (he was 1-3 with a 7.44 ERA / team was 5-3 in his starts). In the postseason, he made just two relief appearances. Salazar went 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts against the Twins in 2016 and is 3-3 in 10 appearances (all starts) with 4.80 ERA against Minnesota (Indians are 6-4). Gibson has allowed eight runs on nine hits (including three HRs) over nine innings with seven strikeouts and three walks to open the 2017 season. This comes on the heels of him going 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA in starts last year. Gibson was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two starts versus Cleveland last year and is 2-3 with a 6.40 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians (4-5).

The pick: The Indians scored 21 runs in sweeping the Rangers to open the season but have scored three or fewer runs in six of their last nine games. However, Gibson was just brutal at home last season, going 1-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 13 starts. Make Cleveland a YUGE 10* play.

The set-up: The Arizona Diamondbacks were just 69-93 in 2016 (22 games behind the division-winning Dodgers) but opened this season 7-2. However, consecutive losses here in Dodger Stadium (7-1 on Friday and 8-4 on Saturday), gives the D'backs three straight losses overall and a record of 7-5. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have improved to 5-1 at home on the 2017 season and to 7-5 for the season (a half-game back of the first-place Rockies).

The pick: After that quick start (6-1), Arizona has lost four of its last five games. Looking at the team's early schedule, its 6-1 start was greatly helped by all games being contested at Chase Field. Away from home, the D'backs are now 1-4, getting outscored 5.60-to-2.40 RPG. Conversely, the Dodgers are 5-1 at home, outscoring opponents 7.00-to-2.50 RPG. Let's not overthink. Make the Dodgers an 8* play.

The set-up: The Pittsburgh Pirates were just 1-8 in the "Friendly Confines" in 2016 but Andrew McCutchen’s go-ahead, three-run HR in a five-run seventh inning on Saturday made them 2-0 there in 2017. The Pirates won 4-2 on Friday and then 8-7 on Saturday, assuring the Cubs of their first series loss since mid-September of 2016. Reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant hit his first two HRs of the season on Saturday but the Cubs have just nine dingers through their first 11 games. Chicago is just 6-5 and needs to salvage a win in the finale of this series, to avoid slipping to .500.

The pitching matchup: Jameson Taillon (0-0 & 1.38 ERA) will take the mound in Wrigley for Pittsburgh, opposed by Chicago's Jon Lester (0-0 & 1.64 ERA). Taillon has pitched well enough to win in each of his first two outings of 2017 but has yet to earn a "W." He pitched seven scoreless innings at Boston and then allowed just two runs over six innings against Cincinnati. Taillon has registered 10 strikeouts and four walks over 13 innings with a 1.38 ERA and 1.00 WHIP but the Pirates are 0-2 in his starts. Taillon faced the Cubs twice last season, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Lester knows how Taillon feels. He has also failed to earn a "W." despite two string performances to open the 2017 season. He has seven Ks in each of his two starts, limiting the Cards to one run over five innings and holding the Dodgers to one in six innings. He does not have a decision yet, although the Cubs are 1-1 in his starts. Lester is 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA in eight career starts against the Pirates (teams are 4-4).

The pick: The Pirates aim for their first sweep at Wrigley since Sept. 5-7, 2014 but remember Pittsburgh was an 88-win team that season, while the Cubs went 73-89, finishing in the basement of the NL Central back then. Eight of the Chicago's first 11 games have been decided by two runs or less, with the Cubs going 3-5 in those contests. Be assured, that will change. How about right here? After all, the Cubs owned MLB's best home record in 2016, going 57-24. Make the Cubs an 8* play.

The set-up: The Red Sox opened the 2017 season with consecutive wins over the Prates, before the third game of that series was rained out. However, after last night's 10-5 home loss to the Rays, Boston is just 5-5 to start the season. Tampa Bay's win snapped a three-game slide and the Rays get set for the second of this three-game series at 6-5.

The pitching matchup: Jake Odorizzi (1-1 & 4.50 ERA) will take the hill for Tampa Bay and Chris Sale (0-1 & 1.23 ERA), who is still looking for his first win with Boston, takes the mound for the Red Sox. Odorizzi limited the Toronto Blue Jays to two runs on two hits in six innings to pick up his first win of 2017 last Sunday. However, it's not good news that seven of the nine hits he has allowed so far in 2017 have gone for extra bases, including three HR. Odorizzi has faced Boston 13 times, going 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA (teams are 8-5). Sale has yielded eight hits in 14 2/3 innings while recording 17 strikeouts through the first two starts, along with a 1.23 ERA and 0.68 WHIP (.157 BAA). However, the Red Sox didn't score until the 12th inning in his team debut and were limited to just one run in his second appearance last Monday at Detroit. Sale was 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA -- 16 strikeouts and no walks -- in two starts against the Rays for the White Sox last season, including a two-hit shutout April 15. Lifetime, he is 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 55 innings against Tampa Bay.

The pick: Boston is just not giving Sale any support and I wouldn't want to bet on it happening here, even though Odorizzi is hardly a "shut-down" pitcher. Meanwhile, Sale is an impressive 48-19 with a 2.70 ERA in his career before the All-Star break and owns a 2.76 mark all-time at Fenway. The Under is a 10* play.

The set-up: The Nats edged the Phillies 3-2 Friday night in the opener of this three-game series. Washington has won three of its last four to move to 6-4, with Daniel Murphy (.347 BA in 2016) hitting safely in all 10 games so far. He has multiple-hit games in seven of the 10, including a 2-for-5 effort Friday. His game-winning RBI double in the 10th inning gives him a .444 average through 10 games. along with a team-leading 10 RBI. The Phillies, who won two of three at home against Washington last weekend, have now dropped four in a row, three by one run, and sit at 3-7. One way to open the season 3-7 is to have an NL-worst 5.11 team ERA, including a 5.59 bullpen ERA and just one save!

The pitching matchup: Jeremy Hellickson (1-0 & 0.90 ERA) takes the mound for Philly on Saturday afternoon, opposed by Washington's Tanner Roark. Hellickson has been the lone bright spot in Philadelphia's rotation. He allowed only one hit over five scoreless innings versus the Nationals last Sunday, before departing with the injury. He has allowed just one run on seven hits with two walks in 10 innings overall, throwing just 137 pitches thus far. However, he is just 1-3 with a 4.93 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals (teams are 2-5), having allowed 31 hits and 16 walks in 38 1/3 innings. Roark had a very solid 2017 debut and while he wasn't anything special in his second outing of the season (allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits in just five innings against St. Louis on Monday), he was able to move to 2-0 to open the season. Roark is 4-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 career starts against Philly (teams are 5-5), including making five starts against them in 2016.

The pick: Roark won 15 games in his first full season in the majors (2014) but was the "forgotten man" in 2015, before working his way back into the starting rotation last year and winning 16 times. He owns a 2.84 ERA in his career at home, while Hellickson owns a 5.60 ERA in three career starts at Nationals Park. Make Washington an 8* play.

The set-up: The Texas Rangers opened the 2017 season by getting swept at home in a three-game series by the Indians but have rebounded to take two of three at home against the A's and then win two of three in Anaheim against the Angels. The Rangers rode a 47-29 record inside their division last year to create the nine-game gap between themselves and the Seattle Mariners, allowing them to win the American League West going away. The Mariners got Thursday off and it can't possibly do anything but help. 2-8 Seattle has matched its worst 10-game start since 2004, after losing for the fifth time in six contests on Wednesday, 10-5 at home to the Astros. Seattle has struggled in a number of key categories, ranking 26th in the majors in BA (.208), 26th in ERA (4.94) and last in opponent's batting average (.290).

The pitching matchup: Martin Perez (1-1 & 2.38 ERA) will get the nod for Texas and Felix Hernandez (0-1 & 4.09 ERA) get the ball for Seattle. Perez has struggled with his control in two starts (seven walks in 11 1/3 innings). His first two starts of 2017 have been at home and now he goes on the road, hoping to put 2016's road struggles behind him. The lefty was just 2-8 with a 5.78 ERA in 15 road starts last season, as Texas went 6-9. However, one of his two road victories came at Seattle's expense and Perez went 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA in four overall starts against the Mariners in 2016 (Texas was 4-0). Hernandez did not factor in the decision of Saturday's 5-4 road loss to the Angels, giving up three runs and 10 hits in six innings during his 100-pitch outing. The six-time All-Star has 12 recorded strikeouts without issuing a walk in 11 innings but he's hardly resembled a 'King,' already surrendering three HRs and 15 hits, while allowing opponents to bat .333 against him thus far. Hernandez went 1-2 with a 7.47 ERA in three starts versus the Rangers last season, falling to 18-23 - his most losses against any opponent - with a 3.95 ERA in 50 career starts.

The pick: Noting the above numbers, "King Felix" has not pitched like royalty against the Rangers but Perez has always been a pitcher who has been tough at home but woefully vulnerable on the road. Seattle unveiled a bronze statue of Ken Griffey Jr. outside the home plate entrance on Thursday. Friday figures to be a special night at Safeco Field, as fans in attendance will receive a miniature version of the statue and Griffey will throw out the first pitch. Make Seattle an 8* play.

The set-up: The Atlanta Braves went 68-93 last season and the San Diego Padres were 68-94. In the early going of 2017, the Padres have opened 5-5 while the Braves are 2-6, although Atlanta has yet to play at home. That changes here, as the Braves open a four-game series with the Padres in the team's brand-new stadium, SunTrust Park. The Braves opened the season with a three-city road trip and needed a 5-4 ninth-inning victory over the Marlins in Miami on Wednesday, just to avoid coming home to christen their new ballpark on a six-game losing streak. San Diego took two of three at Colorado this week (held the Rockies to just six runs in the three games) and after scoring just 10 runs in the team's first four games, the Padres have scored 25 in winning four of their past six contests.

The pitching matchup: Jhoulys Chacin (1-1 & 8.10 ERA) takes the mound for San Diego and Atlanta ace Julio Teheran (0-0 & 0.00 ERA) gets the ball for Atlanta. Chacin surrendered nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3 (opposite Kershaw) in Colorado's 2017 debut, giving up eight hits and hitting a batter. However, he rebounded to beat San Francisco this past Saturday, allowing three hits with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 shutout innings. He is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA over four career starts against the Braves (teams are 1-3). Teheran started the final game the Atlanta Braves played at Turner Field last season and tonight, he fittingly draws the honor of starting the inaugural game at SunTrust Park. Teheran opened the 2017 season by throwing six scoreless innings against the New York Mets on April 3 and followed up by allowing two unearned runs on six hits in seven innings Sunday at Pittsburgh. Atlanta’s offense has struggled in both of Teheran’s 2017 starts but what else is new? The Braves averaged just 3.35 runs in Teheran’s starts last season, 2nd-worst fewest among starters. He's 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA is seven career starts against the Padres (Braves are 3-4).

The pick: The Atlanta Braves don't come into their home opener at their new ballpark with the record they hoped for, but at least they'll have the pitcher they'd want on the mound (Teheran has yet to allow an ER in 13 innings!). San Diego was swept in a three-game series at Atlanta last year and has struggled mightily at Turner Field for most of its 20 seasons of use by the Braves. No reason for that to change at SunTrust Park. Make Atlanta a 10* play.

The set-up: The defending AL Champs have lost five of their last six outings. The Indians three-game sweep of the Rangers in the season's first week seems like a long time ago, as the Indians get set to host the 6-3 Detroit Tigers in a three-game series which opens tonight. The Indians gave up five runs in the first inning of Thursday's 10-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox and have now allowed at least five runs in five of their first nine contests. The Tigers lost 11-5 in Thursday's series finale against Minnesota but had won five of their previous six games. “I know it’s a sour note to end the homestand on a loss,” Detroit manager Brad Ausmus told reporters, “but if we’re going to win series, we’ll be in great shape. I’ll take series wins the rest of the way. If that happens, we’ll be in the playoffs.” The Tigers are playing better than the Indians at the moment but are well aware that they lost 14 of 18 games against the Indians last season, getting outscored 106-71.

The pitching matchup: Lefty Daniel Norris (0-0 & 4.26 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit, up against Cleveland righty Trevor Bauer (0-1 & 6.35 ERA). Norris failed to earn a decision in his season debut, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a 7-5 loss to Boston last Sunday. Norris made 14 appearances (13 stgarst) for the Tigers in 2016, going 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA (team was 8-5 in hsi 13 starts). Norris has made three career starts against Cleveland, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA (teams are 2-1). Bauer pitched four scoreless innings in his first start of the season against Arizona last Saturday, but left the game after 5 2/3 innings having given up four runs on seven hits and three walks to take the 11-2 loss. He won a career-high 12 games last season (12-8 & 4.26 ERA) and did strike out seven without allowing a walk against the D'backs. He's made nine career starts against Detroit, going 3-3 with a 6.99 ERA (Indians are 3-6).

The pick: Norris has had success in limited action against the Indians but also note that he finished last season well, going 3-0 over his final seven starts (Tigers were 6-1). He also pitched well on the road in 2016, going 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA in six starts (team was 4-2). When healthy, Bauer is a solid pitcher and I look for good efforts from both of these starting pitchers. The Under is an 8* play.

The set-up: What's up with the Blue Jays? Toronto has played in the last two AL championships series but at 1-7 in 2017, is off to its worst start in franchise history. Toronto managed just four hits in a 2-0 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday, its fifth consecutive defeat. The Blue Jays are in desperate need of an offensive spark, as they have only a total of 17 hits in their last four games. Toronto opens a four-game series with the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, who swept two from Toronto at home to begin the season. The 5-2 Orioles hit five HRs in a 12-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, gaining a split in the two-game set at Fenway Park.

The pitching matchup: Kevin Gausman (0-0 & 5.40 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore and it will be Francisco Liriano (0-0 & 135.00 ERA) getting the ball for Toronto. Gausman is making his third start of 2017 and took a step back in his second start of the season Saturday against the Yankees, allowing four runs and eight hits with three walks in 4 2/3 innings. He has given up 13 hits and walked seven in 10 innings thus far but despite his 5.40 ERA, Baltimore has won both of his starts. He is 2-3 with a 4.43 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays (Orioles are 4-4). Liriano walked four batters, threw one wild pitch and was taken deep by Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria while retiring just one batter in his dismal 2017 debut last week on the road. He went 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA in five starts at home for the Blue Jays in 2016, after being traded from Pittsburgh to Toronto last season. He is 2-4 with a 4.34 ERA in nine career starts against Baltimore, with his teams going 2-7.

The pick: Liriano is hoping for a better result at the Rogers Centre tonight, than what happened in his 2017 debut. How could it be worse? Toronto is too good of a team to continue its offensive struggles and Gausman has yet to be sharp in two previous 2017 outings, plus he was 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three starts (Orioles lost all three!) against the Jays in 2016. Make Toronto a 10* play.

The set-up: The Yankees opened the 2017 season losing two of three in Tampa to the Rays and then losing two of three in Baltimore to the Orioles. However, after 8-1 and 8-4 wins Monday and Wednesday against the Rays here in the Bronx, the Yanks go for a three-game sweep in their opening series at home in tonight's game against Tampa. Tampa Bay opened its 2017 season by taking five of seven at home over New York and Toronto but are looking for the team's first road win of the season tonight, after getting outscored 16-5 while going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and committing four errors in the first two games of this series in the Bronx.

The pitching matchup: Matt Andriese (0-0 & 9.00 ERA) gets the nod for Tampa and Luis Severino (0-0 & 7.20 ERA) for New York. Andriese is Tampa's fifth starter, as of now. However, he may need to put together a few strong performances to keep his hold on that role after allowing five runs (four earned) and seven hits against Toronto last Friday. He was 8-8 with a 4.37 ERA in 29 appearances in 2016 (19 starts) and went 2-6 with a 6.03 ERA after the All-Star break last season. He's made three career starst vs. the Yankees, going 1-2 with a 7.43 ERA. Severino kept his team in the game during his first start of the season (allowed four runs and six hits with six strikeouts and a walk over five innings in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore last Friday) but he's still searching for the form he displayed in 2015 when he was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie. He is 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA in seven appearances (three starts / team is 2-1 and his ERA is 5.17!) against Tampa Bay.

The pick: The Rays have dropped their last eight series in New York but haven't been swept at Yankee Stadium since losing four straight here back in September 2009. Severio is a liability and I won't ignore that he owned a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 22 appearances in 2016, including 11 starts. In fact, the Yankees were 2-9 in his starts, going minus-$714 against the moneyline. Take the 1 1/2 runs with Tampa Bay and make them an 8* play.

The set-up: The Dodgers and Cubs meet this afternoon at Wrigley for the rubber match of their three-game series. The Cubs won 3-2 on Monday night but the Dodgers evened the series last night with a 2-0 win behind a solid effort from Brandon McCarthy (six scoreless innings) and three more scoreless innings from three relievers. The Cubs were shut out for the first time in 2017 but note that this powerful Chicago lineup has scored three runs or less in five of its first eight games (Cubs are 5-3). LA (5-4) hopes to stay above .500 with w win, before returning home for a four-game series with the surprising 7-3 Arizona Diamondbacks.

The pitching matchup: The Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1 & 3.86 ERA) to the mound up against Chicago's Brett Anderson (0-0 & 1.59 ERA). Ryu missed all of 2015 and made just one start last year but was promising in his season debut against Colorado. He struck out five while allowing two runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first major-league outing since July of 2016. Ryu is in his fifth Dodgers season. He was 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 2014 (his last full season) and was 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA in his 2013 rookie season and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. He's only faced the Cubs twice, going 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA (Dodgers are 2-0). Anderson spent the previous two seasons with the Dodgers and has never has faced his former team. Anderson went 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA in 2015 but was sidelined much of 2016 with a bad back, working four games between Aug. 14 and Sept. 29 (1-2 with an 11.91 ERA over 11 1/3 innings pitched). Other injuries over his career have included a strained right oblique, stress fracture in his right foot and a broken left index finger. The Cubs signed Anderson, a free agent, in January.

The pick: Anderson was solid in his Cubs debut, limiting Milwaukee to one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings while recording four strikeouts. Anderson has made just one start at Wrigley Field, allowing two runs and 11 hits over seven frames of a no-decision in 2014. The Cubs have yet to get untracked in 2017 but let's not forget that Chicago was 57-24 at Wrigley in 2016, the best home record of any team in MLB. Make the Cubs an 8* play.

The set-up:The Toronto Blue Jays opened the 2017 season by going 1-5 on a six-game road trip. That's not what was expected from a team which had played in the last two AL championship series. A return home to host the Milwaukee Brewers was supposed to help but the Blue Jays lost again last night (4-3) and now sit at 1-6. The Toronto lineup managed just five hits on Tuesday, after producing just three in a loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Brewers received HRs from Keon Broxton and Domingo Santana last night and they have now gone deep 12 times in their first eight games (3-5).

The pitching matchup: Chase Anderson (0-0 & 1.50 ERA) takes the mound for Milwaukee up against Toronto's Marcus Stroman (1-0 & 1.42 ERA), who is the lone Blue Jays pitcher to have earned a win in 2017. Anderson allowed one run on three hits in six innings of a no-decision against Colorado in his season debut, striking out four and walking two. He has never faced the Blue Jays but is 4-2 with a solid 3.20 ERA in 11 career interleague games (10 starts). Stroman sailed through the first six innings in scoreless fashion in his first start of the season, before allowing a run in the seventh. He yielded six hits and two walks while striking out five and getting 11 outs on the ground. Like Anderson, he has never faced this opponent but is 5-0 with a 2.21 ERA in interleague play.

The pick: Toronto is batting just .196 (29th) as a team, while scoring 3.29 RPG (26th). Jose Bautista is one of the primary culprits and is batting .120 after another hitless effort on Tuesday. Catcher Russell Martin is 0-for-18 and former MVP Josh Donaldson was limited to pinch-hitting duties Tuesday due to a calf injury. However, Stroman is the man Toronto wants on the mound here, looking to end its four-game slide. Make Toronto a 6* play.

The pick: We've got two young pitchers in this one but the edge goes to Snell, who has seen this Yankee lineup before. Montgomery outperformed pitchers such as Luis Cessa and Chad Green during spring training to earn a spot in the starting rotation but the jury is surely still out. Make Tampa Bay a 10* play.

The set-up: The Toronto Blue Jays have won 93 and 89 games the last two seasons, each time reaching the ALCS. However, the Jays opened the 2017 season with six games away from home and after losing all three games at Tampa Bay this past weekend, return home at 1-5, one of three American League teams with five-plus losses (Royals are 2-5 and the Mariners 2-6). Toronto opens its home season tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers, who play in the NL's Central Division. This marks Milwaukee's first road game, after going 2-5 at home to begin the 2017 campaign. Milwaukee is batting only .215 and has a .292 on-base percentage. However, it entered Monday tied for the National League lead with 10 HRhe

The pitching matchup: Wily Peralta (1-0 & 0.00 ERA) takes the mound for the Brewers and J.A. Happ (0-1 & 3.86 ERA) for the Blue Jays. Peralta was a 17-game winner in 2014 but he started horribly for Milwaukee last season and was sent to the minors. However, he posted a 2.92 ERA in 10 starts after the All-Star break and opened 2017 with five scoreless innings in a 6-1 home win over Colorado last Wednesday. Peralta has had just one career start against Toronto (0-0 with a 6.00 ERA / team is 0-1). Happ had a career season in 2016, going 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA. Toronto was 24-8 in all his starts, giving him a plus-$1189 moneyline mark (eighth-best among all starters) He suffered a hard-luck loss in his 2017 debut, allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings while striking out nine at Baltimore last week. "Overall, I was throwing a lot of strikes," Happ told reporters after issuing zero walks. "That's a good sign." However, he owns a 6.13 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against Milwaukee. He's 3-4 with a 5.81 ERA in those 10 starts (teams are 5-5).

The pick: "Obviously, 1-5 is not the way you want to start ... good thing there's 162 of these," Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "It's only six games, so back home in front of our great fans, (we can) get this thing rolling. I agree with Tulo. Toronto is home for the first time in 2017, while Milwaukee plays away from Miller Park for the first time. Toronto was 99-63 at home these last two season while Milwaukee has gone 66-96 in the same span on the road. Also note that Toronto has gone 25-15 these last two seasons against NL clubs. Make Toronto an 8* play.

The set-up: The Cleveland Indians opened the season with an impressive three-game sweep at Texas, one which included two late-inning comebacks. However, they then moved on to Arizona and the pitching staff was ripped for 21 runs, as the Indians lost all three games. Cleveland will play in front of its fans late this afternoon for the first time since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, hoping for a better result. The Indians host the rival Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in the first of a three-game series. Chicago is batting only .238 as a team and fought through some tough weather conditions against Detroit (rained out twice at home vs. the Tigers), to open 2-3 despite playing all games so far at home.

The pitching matchup:James Shields (1-0 & 1.69 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago and Carlos Carrasco (1-0 & 3.18 ERA) for Cleveland, with both pitchers coming off wins in their 2017 debuts. Shields split last season between San Diego and Chicago, going 6-19 with a 5.85 ERA. The two teams were 9-24 in his 33 starts and his moneyline mark of minus-$1403 was better than only Ervin Santana (minus-$1450) and Chris Archer (minus-$1553). So much for the moniker, "Big Game James!" His WHIP was 1.60 and he struck out 81 fewer hitters than the previous season in the same number of starts (33). However, he allowed just one run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings to beat Detroit 11-2 last Thursday. Shields is 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 18 career starts against Cleveland (teams are 9-9). Carrasco missed the 2016 postseason when he was hit by a line drive that broke his right hand on Sept. 17 and while he was bothered by elbow swelling in spring training. He's been a solid pitcher for the Indians these last two seasons with 55 starts (Cleveland is 33-22) and 366 strikeouts in 330 innings. Carrasco shook off those elbow issues in the spring to win his season debut, allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over 5 2/3 innings last Tuesday in Texas (Indians won 4-3). He needs one victory to even his career record at 46-46 and hopes to improve at home after allowing 13 HRs and posting a 4.29 ERA at Progressive Field in 2016. However, Carrasco went 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in three starts against the White Sox last year and is 3-9 with a 5.73 ERA in 16 career starts against Chicago (teams are 5-110.

The pick: For all of Shields' woes last year, let's note that he had won double-digit games every season since 2007 before last year's implosion. In fact, entering ther 2017 season, Shields led all major-league pitchers with 330 starts and 2,169 innings pitched since 2007. He was also fourth in that span with 208 quality starts and sixth with 1,873 strikeouts. He pitched well in his 2017 debut and expect another solid outing here. As for Carrasco, he will be on the mound at Progressive Field for the first time since Sep. 17 of last year, which became the last start of his season. His lifetime mark against Chicago is poor but the White Sox aren't hitting so far in 2017, batting only .238 to open the season. This is Chicago's first road game. The Under is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 3-3 Mets are in Philadelphia Monday for the opener of a three-games series with the Phillies, who are also 3-3. Philadelphia dropped a 7-6 decision to Washington in its home opener on Friday but then outscored the Nationals 21-6 in winning on Saturday and Sunday. The Phils look to make it three in a row tonight, against National League East-rival, the New York Mets. The Mets will take to the road for the first time after going 3-3 on their season-opening homestand. New York salvaged the finale of its three-game series against Miami on Sunday as Michael Conforto homered and drove in two runs in his first start of the year while Noah Syndergaard struck out nine over seven strong innings en route to a 5-2 triumph.

The pitching matchup: Jacob deGrom (0-0 & 0.00 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets and Jerad Eickhoff (0-1 & 2.70 ERA) for the Phillies. DeGrom showed no ill effects from his elbow surgery in September, as he struck out six and limited Atlanta to two hits over six scoreless innings on Wednesday. However, he settled for a no-decision and has now  gone six starts (Mets are 2-4) without a victory since defeating the New York Yankees on Aug. 2. The good news for New York here is, deGrom is 4-0 (2.42 ERA) in seven career starts against the Phillies, with the team going a perfect 7-0 (that includes a one-hit shutout on July 17 at Philadelphia). Eickhoff also pitched well his season debut b pitched but like deGrom, got no support and took the loss last Wednesday at Cincinnati. He allowed only two runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings while recording six strikeouts and one walk but the Phillies were shut out, 2-0. Eickhoff has also had no luck against the Mets in his career, posting a 2.66 ERA in seven career starts but owning a 1-4 record (however, the Phils are much better at 3-4 in those starts).

The pick: DeGrom's 2017 debut was promising, as he threw six scoreless innings of two-hit baseball with six strikeouts and a walk against the Braves. Most important, his fastball topped out at 98 mph. "Last year it was all I could do I felt like to get to 93, 94," he told the New York Post after his Wednesday outing, a game the Mets lost 3-1 to the Braves in 12 innings. DeGrom looks like he's back and I'll make the Mets a 10* play.

The pick: Cueto was 3-1 with a 1.41 earned run average in four starts against the Padres last season, including throwing complete games in his first three! After going 23-9 (plus-$1056) in his regular season starts in 2016, the Giants are 1-0 here in 2017. Make the Giants a 10* play.

The set-up: The Phillies scored 12 first-inning runs in Saturday's home contest against the Nationals and cruised to a 17-3 victory. Philadelphia hosts Washington in the rubber game of this series (Nats won 7-6 Friday night), looking to even their record at 3-3 (a Nats loss and 3-2 Washington would fall to .500).

The pitching matchup: Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.57 ERA) takes the mound for Washington and Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 1.80 ERA) does so for Philadelphia. Strasburg has said his new mindset in now focused on inducing groundballs instead of always going for the strikeout. He held Miami to two runs over seven innings in Monday's 4-2 win (had a modest three Ks) and has enjoyed success against Philadelphia in his career, going 8-2 with a 2.37 ERA in 17 starts (Nats are 13-4). Hellickson limited Cincinnati to one run in five innings on Monday, generating eight groundouts compared to one strikeout. However, in 2016, his first season with the Phillies, Hellickson made four starts against the Nationals and went 1-2 with a 5.09 ERA. He's 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA in six career starts against the Nats (teams are just 1-5).

The pick: It was the Phillie bats which exploded on Saturday but with Hellickson's poor career numbers vs. the Nats, expect it to be Washington's turn to 'light up' the scoreboard on Sunday. Make the Over an 8* play.

The set-up: The Pirates opened the season by losing twice at Fenway (final game of the series was rained out) but have taken the first two of this three-game home series with the Braves, evening their record at 2-2. The Braves have now dropped three in a row to fall to 1-4. They committed two errors that led to three unearned runs in Saturday's 6-4 loss and continue to struggle with runners on base. Atlanta is 9-for-43 with RISP through five games, leaving 39 runners on base and grounding into eight double plays.

The pitching matchup: Each team trots out its ace for the series finale, Julio Teheran (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for Atlanta and Gerrit Cole (0-1, 9.00 ERA) for Pittsburgh. It was the "same old song" In Teferan's 2017 debut, as Atlanta's best pitcher rarely gets any support. The Braves averaged just 3.35 runs in Teheran’s starts last season (2nd-worst fewest among starters) and could not score push across a run in Monday's 6-0 defeat at the New York Mets. He scattered four hits while striking out six over six scoreless innings. He blanked the Pirates over 7 2/3 innings in his only start against them in 2016 and is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in seven career games (six starts / team is 5-1) against Pittsburgh. Cole pitched poorly in his 2017 debut at Fenway, giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings. He battled injuries in 2016, landing on the DL twice while making just 21 starts but posted a 3.88 ERA. Cole is 3-0 in four career starts against the Braves (Pirates are 4-0), giving up two runs or fewer in each outing while throwing seven innings three times (1.73 ERA)..

The pick: I went against Teheran and the Braves on Opening Day and will do so again here. The Braves have scored four runs in each of the first two games of this series, yet have lost both. The Braves have struck out 44 times in 178 at-bats through five games and will face a starter (Cole) who has "had their number," owning a 1.73 ERA in four meetings. The Braves are 4-11 in their past 15 games at PNC Park, so expect Teheran's hard luck to continue. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.

The set-up: The Texas Rangers opened 2017 by getting swept at home in a three-game series with the Indians but picked up their first win of the new season with last night's 10-5 win over the 2-3 Oakland A's. Texas scored eight times in the first two innings en route to the easy triumph. Nomar Mazara is off to a tremendous start for the Rangers as he is batting .588 with two HRs and nine RBI (he had a grand slam and six RBI last night). Khris Davis appears intent on proving that last season was no fluke, as he has three HRs in five games, after setting career highs with 42 HRs and 102 RBI in 2016 (his first season with Oakland, after spending three years in the National League with Milwaukee).

The pitching matchup: Kendall Graveman (1-0 & 3.00 ERA) had a solid season debut on Opening Day against the Angels, picking up the victory after allowing two runs and striking out seven over six innings. He is looking to post his second win in two starts this season, after needing 10 outings to hit the mark last year (Graveman was 10-11 with a 4.11 ERA in 2016 / Oakland was 14-17 in his starts). He's made four career starts against the Rangers, going 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA (team is 1-3). Yu Darvish (0-0 & 5.68 ERA) allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings in starting Texas' season-opener. He also issued five walks, which was one shy of his career high. Darvish has not been very good against the A's in his career, going 3-9 with a 4.64 ERA in 14 starts versus the Athletics (Rangers are 4-10).

The pick: Despite Dravish's poor numbers against the A's, it's hard to overlook the fact that Texas was MLB's biggest moneymaker last season, going plus-$2932, more than $1300 better than second-place Baltimore (Rangers were 53-28, plus-$1873 at home). Meanwhile, the A's ranked 27th in the moneyline standings in 2016, at minus-$1478. Make Texas an 8* play.

The set-up: The Brewers bested the Cubs 2-1 in 11 innings on Friday, as the defending champs fell to 2-2 to open the 2017 season. The Cubs have played three one-run games so far, with their first four contests being decided by a total of just five runs. The Brewers' win makes them 2-3 to open the 2017 season as the teams clash in the middle contest of this three-game series at Miller Park.

The pitching matchup: Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA in 2016) makes his 2017 debut for the Cubs and will be opposed by Tommy Milone, who pitched in relief on Opening Day, allowing two runs and three hits over two innings. Milone will make at least one start while Junior Guerra nurses a calf injury. The veteran Milone, pitching for his fourth team in seven years, appeared in seven spring training games, including three starts, posting a 9.00 ERA with nine strikeouts and two walks in 14 innings. Hendricks begins the season in the No. 5 slot in the rotation despite leading the majors in ERA and finishing third in the National League Cy Young Award voting a year ago. The Brewers handed Hendricks two losses in four meetings last season, but he is 5-3 with a 2.11 ERA in 10 career starts against Milwaukee. The 27-year-old has been especially good at Miller Park, where he’s 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA in five outings.

The pick: Milwaukee has won six of its last seven games against Chicago and is trying to capture its third straight series in the rivalry. However, Chicago's starting pitchers have been outstanding, posting a 1.99 ERA in 22 2/3 innings through the first four games. Expect more of the same with Kyle Hendricks on the mound Saturday, as he allowed more than two ERs only six times in 30 starts in 2016. Make teh Cubs an 8* play.

The pick: The Twins will take the field Saturday afternoon in Chicago trying to win five straight games to start a season for the first time since 1968. Mejia did pitch well this spring but it was only in limited innings. This Minnesota pitching staff has pitched over its head in the early going and I will make the Over a 10* play in this one.

The set-up: The Washington Nationals opened the 2017 season by taking two of three at home against the Marlins, while the Philadelphia Phillies lost two of three at Cincinnati. The Phillies take the field for their home opener this afternoon against the Nats. Washington is on a bit of a quick turnaround after losing 4-3 to the Marlins last night. The game was delayed by rain and then went 10 innings. Philadelphia opened its season with a 4-3 Monday win but followed by losing 2-0 Wednesday night and then 7-4 Thursday afternoon. Let there be no mistake, there is still a lot of work to be done at Philadelphia.

Washington: Max Scherzer (20-7 & 2.96 ERA in 2016) will take the mound today against Vincent Velasquez (8-6 & 4.12 ERA). Scherzer begins his third season with Washington, coming off winning his second career Cy Young Award in 2016. He suffered a broken knuckle late last season but the injury was not diagnosed until December. He went the entire off-season without picking up a ball due to the injury. However, Scherzer did make three spring training appearances while posting a 2.45 ERA. “I’m good to throw 100 pitches (Friday),” said Scherzer, He will be opposed by Vincent Velasquez, who struck out 16 batters in his 2016 home debut as part of an up-and-down campaign.
Velasquez had a much better ERA at home (2.88) than on the road (5.37) last season and held opponents to a .204 average at Citizens Bank Park, compared to a .314 mark in visiting ballparks.

The pick: Velasquez made 19 appearances for Houston in 2015 but in his first year with the Phillies, he went 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 24 starts. His best stretch was his first eight games, when he went 5-1 with a 2.42 ERA, striking out 59 in 48 1/3 innings. Over his last 16 starts, he was 3-5 and the team was 5-11 (note: team lost eight of his nine post-All Star break starts!). The Nationals won 14 of 19 meetings last season with the Phillies with Scherzer going 3-0 with a 2.02 ERA in five starts against the Phillies (Nats were 4-1). He is 7-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 11 starts overall versus Philadelphia (teams are 9-2). Make Washington an 8* play.

The set-up: The Tigers were rained out twice this week at Chicago but the teams did manage to play two of the three games of the series (Tigers won 6-3 Tuesday but lost 11-2 on Thursday). The Red Sox opened their season with 5-3 and 3-0 (12 inn.) wins over the Pirates in Fenway but then got rained out yesterday, when the were trying to complete a three-game sweep. The postponement prompted a rotation reset. Eduardo Rodriguez, who was scheduled to start against the Pirates, will go Saturday in Detroit, keeping knuckleballer Steven Wright in line to make his season debut Friday. Boston also placed both shortstop Xander Bogaerts and reliever Matt Barnes on the bereavement list and put reliever Robbie Ross Jr. on the disabled list with a flu bug that kept right fielder Mookie Betts out of the lineup in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Pittsburgh.

The pitching matchup: Steven Wright (13-6 & 3.33 ERA in 2016) squares off against vs. Michael Fulmer (11-7 & 3.06 ERA). The Red Sox went 15-9 (plus-$339) in Wright's 24 starts last year. Wright is 0-1 with a 10.00 ERA in two starts against Detroit (team is 0-2). His worst start of the year came at home against Detroit on July 26, when he gave up eight runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.Fulmer won the AL's rookie-of-the-year in 2016, as the Tigers were 19-7 in his 26 starts and his plus-$1292 moneyline mark ranked 6th-best among all MLB starters. He allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings at Boston on July 27 before tying season highs by giving up six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings in a rematch at Comerica Park nearly a month later (0-1, 6.07 ERA and team was 1-1).

The pick: Both of these guys have some ugly numbers (Wright vs. Detroit and Fulmer vs. Boston) but both are small sample sizes. Overall, Wright boasted a sparkling 2.09 ERA away from home in 2016 and allowed just one run in 13 1/3 innings during Grapefruit League play. Fulmer started slow start in 2016 (6.52 ERA through the first four) but over his his last 22, had a 2.58 ERA! The Under is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Mets have gotten outstanding efforts from starters Syndergaard and deGrom (the duo combined for 13 strikeouts and allowed only seven hits in 12 scoreless innings) but have just split the first two of their season-opening three-game series with the Braves, who have also has received good starting pitching from Julio Teheran and Bartolo Colon (that duo has allowed just one run on six hits in 12 innings with 12 strikeouts!). The Mets did exploded for a six-run 7th in the opener before being held to one run in 12 innings last night. As for the Braves, they were scoreless for the first 15 innings of the season, while going 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. However, Matt Kemp's two-run double in the 12th inning was enough to give Atlanta a 3-1 victory on Wednesday.

The pitching matchup: Jaime Garcia (10-13 & 4.67 ERA in 2016) goes for the Braves in this rubber match of the series, up against the Mets' Matt Harvey ( 4-10 & 4.86 ERA in 2016). Garcia looks to rebound after his ERA nearly doubled from 2015 (2.43) in his final season with St. Louis. He will be a free agent at season’s end and did make 30 starts in 2016 after injuries limited him to just 56 starts in the previous four seasons. Garcia is 2-3 with a 2.66 ERA in seven career starts against the Mets (teams are 3-4). A healthy starting rotation is critical to New York's postseason hopes, so all eyes will be on Matt Harvey. He made only made 17 starts before missing the final three months of the 2016 season following surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome. His fastball velocity has not returned yet to the mid-90s speed that helped him strike out 188 hitters in 189 1/3 innings in 2015. Harvey was 1-6 in his final 10 games (Mets were 3-7) with a 5.13 ERA and a .308 opponents batting average, before getting shut down for the season. Harvey made four starts against Atlanta last season, going 1-2 with a 4.37 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings. He's 2-4 with a 3.61 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves (Mets are 2-5).

The pick: Harvey insists he was healthy during spring training, despite allowing 12 earned runs on 23 hits in 18 1/3 innings over five starts.We'll have to see. If he can't shut down the Braves weak lineup (batting .197 with three runs scored in 21 innings), he's in trouble. I'm backing him here and making the Mets an 8* play

The pitching matchup: The Tigers will send lefty Matthew Boyd (6-5 & 4.53 ERA in 2016) to the hill up against Chicago's James Shields. Shields split last season between San Diego and Chicago, going 6-19 with a 5.85 ERA. The two teams were 9-24 in his 33 starts and his moneyline mark of minus-$1403 was better than only Ervin Santana (minus-$1450) and  Chris Archer (minus-$1553). So much for the moniker, "Big Game James!" He's been forced to wait two extra days for his initial shot at redemption. The veteran right-hander says that he has been able to "work out a few kinks" in the bullpen earlier this month, as he expects (hopes?) to have a better season in 2017. Could it get any worse? Detroit originally planned to start Jordan Zimmermann on Wednesday but instead will give the ball to Matthew Boyd, who notched a 2.10 ERA in 25 2/3 spring innings. “This spring I’ve grown as a pitcher,” said Boyd and he's hoping for better results against the White Sox than in previous starts (Boyd is 0-1 with a 5.04 ERA in four starts, as his teams are 1-3).

The set-up: Shields completely fell apart last season, when his WHIP was 1.60 and he struck out 81 fewer hitters than the previous season in the same number of starts (33). However, he had won double-digit games every season since 2007 before last year's implosion. In fact, Shields leads all major-league pitchers with 330 starts and 2,169 innings pitched since 2007. He is also fourth in that span with 208 quality starts and sixth with 1,873 strikeouts. He's no Kershaw but he's WAAAY better than he showed last season. Make the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: Boston jumped out to 5-0 lead against the Pirates on Opening Day (Monday) but 2016 CY Young winner Rick Porcello ran into trouble in the 7th, when Pittsburgh scored three times. However, Boston's bullpen pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th (not without some angst, though) for a 5-3 Boston win. Monday's opener was Boston's first since longtime DH David Ortiz retired but rookie Andrew Benintendi helped Boston quickly turn the page to a new era with a three-run HR, as well as making a leaping catch in left field to stifle a rally by the Pirates in the seventh. In contrast, Pittsburgh's star outfielders, Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte, combined to go 0-for-8 on Monday, with McCutchen striking out three times (including one with the bases loaded in the seventh inning!).

The pitching matchup: The Pirates send Jameson Taillon (5-4 & 3.38 ERA in 2016) to face Chris Sale (17-10 & 3.34), who Boston acquired in December from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for for a massive haul of prospects, Sale has been an All-Star in five straight seasons while finishing in the top six in Cy Young Award voting each time. Sale matched a career high in wins while posting personal bests in starts (32), innings (226 2/3) and complete games (six) for Chicago last year. Taillon was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis in June and allowed three earned runs or less in 13 of his final 14 starts last year! He was the overall No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft but missed all of 2014 and 2015 following Tommy John and hernia surgeries.

The pick: Sale makes his debut for the Boston Red Sox in this one and he's 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in six career games (three starts) at Fenway Park. He has never faced the Pirates but he does own a 1.00 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against National League Central teams. Taillon looked good in the second half of last year but I believe he's in a little over his head here, up against Sale in Fenway. Make Boston an 8* play.

The set-up: The Nats beats the Marlins 4-2 on Opening Day (Monday) on the strength of HRs from Bryce Harper (fifth career Opening Day HR) and Adam Lind. Washington paid a hefty price in trading several top prospects to the White Sox for Adam Eaton and got exactly what they had hoped for from him, as he went 1-2 with two runs scored. Also, newly promoted closer Blake Treinen pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second career save. Throw in Strasburg giving them them seven innings allowing two runs and it's "so far, so good" for the Nats. The Marlins finished fourth in the majors in batting average last season (.263) but were limited to just six hits, including two by starting pitcher Volquez. Miami finished 32-43 against NL East competition last season and here in 2017, without Fernandez, will need to do better if it has any hopes of challenging for a playoff berth.

The pitching matchup: Miami's Dan Straily (14-8 & 3.76 ERA in 2016) squares off against the Nats' Tanner Roark (16-10 & 2.83). Straily set a career high in victories last season while with the Reds but gave up a National League-worst 31 HRs, 18 coming on the road away from the cozy confines of Cincinnati. He came on strong last year after the All Star break, going 10-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 15 starts. He's 0-0 with a 3.21 ERA in two career starts against the Nats, with his team going 2-0. Tanner Roark made his big league debut in 2013, going 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA that season in 14 games (five starts). He then won 15 games as a starter in 2014 but spent most of the 205 season in the bullpen. However, he was moved back into the starting rotation for 2016, finishing fourth in the NL in WAR for pitchers (5.5) and innings pitched (210), fifth in victories and 10th in the Cy Young voting. He limited opponents to a .232 batting average with runners in scoring position. He saw plenty of Miami last season, going 2-4 in six starts against them with a 4.46 ERA. Roark is 4-7 (4.09 ERA) in 12 career starts against the Marlins (team is 5-7)

The pick: Roark doesn't have good career numbers against the Marlins but he was very good last year overall and Washington was one of six MLB clubs to win 50-plus games at home, going 50-31. It's worth noting that Straily posted a 4.58 ERA in five spring training games. Miami elected to start the season with no left-handed pitchers in its bullpen, and that strategy backfired on Monday, as left-handed hitters Harper and Adam Lind homered off right-hander David Phelps. Deja vu? Make Washington an 8* play.

The pick: The Giants have won 13 of their last 14 series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona and went 9-1 at Chase Field in 2016. Sunday's blown save is behind them and while Cueto arrived late to camp due to personal issues this spring, he appears to be in mid-season form after posting a 1.50 ERA in three spring training starts. Make the Giants

The pitching matchup: Carlos Carrasco (11-8 & 3.32 ERA in 2016)  will face Martin Perez (10-11 & 4.39 ERA) in Wednesday's middle game of this three-game series. Carrasco missed the 2016 postseason when he was hit by a line drive that broke his right hand on Sept. 17 and while he was bothered by elbow swelling in spring training, he's set to go  here. He's been a solid pitcher for the Indians these last two seasons with 55 starts (Cleveland is 33-22) and 366 strikeouts in 330 innings. Perez made a career-high 33 starts last year for Texas and reached double digits in wins for the second time in his career. He was a different pitcher at home last year (8-3, 3.24 ERA) than on the road (2-8, 5.78) and that's the good news here for the Rangers.

The pick: Then again, Perez will face a formidable Cleveland lineup and he had just 103 strikeouts in almost 200 innings (198 2/3), while allowing 76 walks (not a good ratio). He's only had two starts in his career against Cleveland but they've been disastrous, as he's posted a 12.40 ERA while going 0-1 (Texas is 0-2). Carrasco doesn't have a good history against Texas either, with a 1-3 record and 5.52 ERA in five starts (team is 1-4), but he's the superior pitcher. Perez turns 26 today but no birthday gift awaits. Make Cleveland a

The set-up: The Oakland A's host the LA Angels on Monday, as the two AL West foes open the season with a four-game series. The A's made three consecutive playoff appearances (2012-14) but have lost 94 and 93 games each of the last two years, giving them back-to-back last-place finishes in the division. The Angels won the division in 2014 (98 wins was a MLB-high!) but were just 74-88 last year, missing out on the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. That was preceded by making the postseason in six of eight seasons, beginning back in 2002 when the team won the World Series.

The pitching matchup: Ricky Nolasco (2016: 8-14, 4.42 ERA in 2016 with Minnesota and LA) will face Oakland's Kendall Graveman, who is coming off a 10-11 (4.11 ERA) season. Nolasco will be making the fourth Opening Day start of his career, in his first full season with the Angels. He went 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and one shutout in 11 starts after being acquired from Minnesota but went 3-0 while allowing just one unearned run over his last three outings of 2016, including an eight-inning effort against Oakland. Nolasco is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a shutout in seven career starts versus the Athletics (teams are 4-3). Graveman gets the nod for his first career start on Opening Day, after working a team-high 186 innings last season. He was winless in his final six starts of 2016 (0-3 with the team going 1-5) but allowed three runs or fewer four times in that span. Graveman has pitched well in six career starts against the Angels, posting a 1-1 record and 3.38 ERA with one complete game (team is 3-3).

The pick: When one thinks "Opening Day starters," the names of Nolasco and Graveman don't readily come to mind. However, both pitched well down the stretch last season and I'm making the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: The Red Sox won the AL East last season (93 wins) but went meekly in the ALDS, losing three straight to the Indians. They now open the 2017 season at home vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates, without David Ortiz on the roster for the first time since 2002. Running the clubhouse now will be veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Boston has a handful of emerging outfield stars plus a solid but banged-up rotation that features newcomer Chris Sale. The Pirates saws their three-year wild card steak end last season, going just 78-83. They will need one-time MVP Andrew McCutchen to return to form as he makes the move from center to right field following a down year.

The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (2016: 7-10, 3.88 ERA) will be on the mound for the Pirates, up against Boston's Rick Porcello, who won 2016's CY Young award in the AL by going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA. Porcello led the league in wins and had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.91) among AL hurlers. Boston was 25-8 in all of his regular season starts, earning a profit of $1470 (3rd-best in MLB). He was dominant at Fenway Park, going 13-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 16 home starts (team was 15-1). He posted an ERA below 3.00 in July, August and September while becoming the 22nd pitcher in team history to record 22 wins. He's faced the Pirates three times, going 2-0 with an 0.39 ERA (teams are 2-1). Current Pirates are hitting a combined .130 against him. Cole followed up a 19-win season in 2015 with an injury-plagued 2016 that saw his ERA soar by more than a run as he was limited to 21 starts. He was only 2-6 with a 5.48 ERA in nine starts after the All-Star break and pitched just 10 innings during Grapefruit League action. He's had just one start vs. Boston (2014), limiting the Red Sox to two runs in seven innings (1-0, 2.57 ERA).

The pick: This is the Pirates' first trip to Fenway since June 2005. Before that, Pittsburgh had not played in Boston since the inaugural World Series in 1903 (wow!). Stepping in front of Porcello here at Fenway makes little sense, off last year's performance. Make Boston an 8* play.

The set-up: The NY Mets have been to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and return basically the same roster as 2016. When healthy, New York's starting rotation is among MLB's very best. However, that rotation has already had its problem this spring, as Stephen Matz begins the season on the DL (elbow) and Matt Harvey has not reached the same velocity since having thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last summer. In contrast to the Mets' win season, the Braves won only 68 games last season. That said, Atlanta did win 20 of its final 30 contests, as the addition of left fielder Kemp and shortstop prospect Swanson in August sparked the Braves' offense. Th issue heading into the 2017 season opener is a questionable starting rotation that felt as if adding R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon, a pair of 40-plus-year-old starters, to the back end of the rotation was a smart move. We'll see?

The pitching matchup: How New York's overall rotation will pan out is still a question mark but at the top, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob DeGrom give the Mets two Cy Young candidates. Syndergaard followed a strong rookie campaign with an All-Star appearance in 2016, finishing third in the NL in ERA, (2.60), fourth in strikeouts (218) and seventh in WAR (5.3). The 24-year-old dominated right-handers, holding them to a .228 average and a .581 OPS while giving up only five homers in 416 plate appearances. Syndergaard made one start against the Braves last season, giving up five runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss Sept. 19. He's made just three career starst against them, going 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA (team is 1-2). Atlanta's Julio Teheran was 7-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 2016. He pitched way better than his record, as he received only 3.37 runs per start in 2016 , the third-lowest average in the majors. He's made 30-plus starts each of the past four seasons with a 3.21 or lower ERA in three of those campaigns. Teheran, who made the All-Star team and finished 10th in the NL in WAR for pitchers (4.8) last season, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in four starts against the Mets in 2016 and overall, is 7-3 with a 2.02 ERA in 16 career starts but the team is just 8-6.

The pick: As noted earlier, the Braves played well late in teheseason but so did the Mets, who closed on a 27-13 kick to earn home field in the wild-card game game (didn't help, though against Bumgarner). Fredi Gonzalez of Atlanta was fired following a 9-28 start but Atlanta went 59-65 under interim skipper Brian Snitker, including 12-2 in the final 14 games. Snitker now has the full-time job and he's been in the Braves organization in many different roles since becoming a minor league player in 1977.

While Syndergaard has had little success against the Barves, it's over a small sample size (three starts). He's a 'monster' and Teheran is a hard luck pitcher who rarerly get support (see above). He won't get much here in his 2017 opener. Make the Mets an 8* play.

The set-up: Here's something no one has heard in over 100 years! The Cubs open the new season has defending champs! The curse is finally over but there is no rest for the weary, as the Cubs open their 2017 season with a three-game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals. This rivalry ranks among the most bitter in baseball and it's only intensified lately, with the Cubs now owning 'top dog' status in the NL Central, a division the Cards once dominated. Adding fuel to the fire was Dexter Fowler signing a five-year deal with St. Louis over the winter and leaving Chicago, just like Jason Heyward jilted the Cardinals to sign with Chicago prior to the 2016 season.

The pitching matchup: Jon Lester will make his second Opening Day start for the Cubs. He finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting last year (19-5, 2.44 ERA) and was the MVP of the NLCS. He is 7-5 with a 1.87 ERA in 12 career starts against St. Louis (teams are 7-5). He dominated the Cards last season, going 2-0 with an 0.87 ERA in three starts (Cubs were 3-0). Carlos Martinez opposes the veteran Lester and at 25-years-old, will be the youngest Opening Day starter for St. Louis since Joe Magrane in 1989. Martinez posted 20 quality starts (out of 31) and won a career-best 16 games in 2016 (16-9, 3.04 ERA),.

The pick: The Cards are coming off their first postseason miss since 2010 and would love to spoil the Cubs' 2017 debut but Martinez hasn't had much success against the Cubs, going 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 19 games against them, including nine as a starter (team is 5-4 but his ERA is 5.08). Martinez may have been 16-9 last season but t Che were just 17-14 in his starts and actually lost money (minus-$130). As for Lester, the Cubs went 24-8 (plus-$1047) in his 32 starts, including going 12-2 in his 14 starts after the All Star break. Make Chicago an 8* Play

The set-up: The San Francisco Giants are opening the season on the road for the eighth consecutive year and the 26th time in the last 33 seasons. They will open 2017 at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are coming off a 69-83 year in which they finished 18 games back of the Giants and 22 back of the LA Dodgers, who won the NL West. It marked Arizona's third straight sub-.500 year and the fifth straight missed postseason. In stark contrast, the Giants own just one losing season in their last eight (2013) and have been in the postseason in four of those years, winning World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The Giants had 32 blown saves last season and signed free agent closer Mark Melancon in hopes of settling a bullpen that was last seen imploding in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. Arizona changes included a front-office shakeup with new manager Torey Lovullo taking control of the team.

The pitching matchup: Bumgarner has proved himself over and over in the postseason, capped by his memorable 2014 World Series against the Royals. However, he is also just one of only two pitchers to make at least 30 starts and pitch 200 innings in each of the past six regular seasons. He set career highs in innings (226 2/3) and strikeouts (251) last season. Bumgarner is 9-7 with a 2.53 ERA in 26 appearances vs. Arizona, including 25 starts (Giants are 15-10). Zach Greinke signed a six-year, $206 million contract with Arizona prior to last season but oblique and shoulder injuries.limited him to 26 starts, going 13-7 with a 4.37 ERA (team was 16-10in his starts). Greinke's had excellent success vs. the Giants in his career, posting a 9-2 (2.49) record with his teams going 11-3.

The pick: Bumgarner had a solid spring (2.52 ERA in seven starts) and Greinke avoided any health issues this spring. This is the opener of a four-game series in Chase Field. It's important for Arizona to get off to a solid start for its new manager but that won't be easy. The Diamondbacks' first two weeks include seven games against the Giants, four versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and three against defending American League champion Cleveland. Arizona was just 6-13 against the Giants in 2016, losing nine of its 10 home games against San Francisco. Drawing Bumgarner in the season openers doesn't help. He is 6-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) at Chase Field and he is making his fourth consecutive Opening Day start, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his previous three. Make San Francisco a 10* play!

The set-up: The Cubs staved off elimination in Game 5 with a 3-2 win and then sent this series to a deciding Game 7 with a 9-3 win in Game 6, last night. The Chicago bats had been quiet all series (10 runs scored in the first five games) but Chicago scored three times in the top of the first, aided by a badly misplayed fly ball to right-center, which turned into a two-run double for Addison Russell. Russell then hit a grand slam in the fourth to break it open. These two long suffering franchises are now, fittingly, headed for a Game 7. Surprisingly, home teams are just 18-19 all-time in World Series game 7s and if the Cubs win, they end a 108-year drought, while if the Indians win, they end a 68-year drought. How great is this? The pitching matchup: Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 1.31 ERA), the MLB leader in ERA this regular season (2.13) takes the mound for Chicago and Corey Kluber (4-1, 0.89 ERA), the most dominant starter of the 2016 postseason will get the ball for Cleveland. "This is the ultimate dream," Hendricks said. "You dream of getting to the World Series, winning the World Series. When you're out in your backyard as a kid, playing Little League at the field with your friends, this is the moment you dream about, Game 7, 3-2, two outs, something like that, bottom of the ninth. But it's always Game 7 of the World Series." Hendricks won 16 regular-season games and took a no-decision in Game 3 of the World Series when he allowed six hits and two walks in 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Chicago manager Joe Maddon wants to ride his starter in the deciding game but explained to his entire pitching staff that all hands will be on deck. Jon Lester and John Lackey are definitely available in relief. However, after using closer Aroldis Chapman for eight outs in Game 5 and going to him in the seventh inning again in Game 6, Maddon might need to be creative to finish the seventh game. For the Indians, Kluber is looking to cap one of the best-ever postseason pitching performances leading the Indians to a win in Game 7. Kluber is 4-1 with an 0.89 ERA this postseason, including 2-0 with an 0.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a 15-1 KW ratio in the World Series. The pick: Hendricks may be young but he’s one helluva pitcher and the Cleveland lineup has struggled all postseason, entering this game batting .217 as a team while averaging just 3.36 RPG. Meanwhile, Kluber has been impersonating Bob Gibson or Sandy Koufax this Worlds Series plus is backed by the one-two relief duo of Miller (17.0 IP / 0.53 ERA / 0.71 WHIP / 29-4 KW ratio) and Allen (1.2 IP / 0.00 ERA / 1.03 WHIP / 22-4 KW ratio), who are both fresh. The Under is a 10* play.

The set-up: When the Indians won 7-2 in Game 4 to go up 3-1 in the 2016 World Series, it was noted that teams taking a 3-1 advantage have previously been able to win 29 of 34 times in that situation. However, the Cubs staved off elimination Sunday night with a 3-2 win by riding a three-run 4th inning which was enough for Chicago to secure the victory. The Cubs made the decision to bring in closer Aroldis Chapman for an eight-out save and he delivered the goods. The teams now play Game 6 tonight in Cleveland with history on the line for each of these two much-maligned franchises. The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (1-1, 3.78 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs and like Kluber in Game 4, Josh Tomlin (2-0, 1.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Indians on three days’ rest. Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award in 2015 (22-6, 1.77 ERA) and went 18-8 with a 3.10 during the 2016 regular season. However, he opened by going 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA through his first 11 starts. Arrieta entered the playoffs with a 5.01 ERA over his final four regular season starts and after a sold first start in the 2016 playoffs (two ERs allowed in six innings), he allowed four ERs on six hits (including two HRs) over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS. That gave him a 4.91 postseason ERA with opponents are batting .273 against him compared to .194 in the regular season. However, down 1-0 in the series, Arrieta came up big for the Cubs in Game 2, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning and leaving with just two hits and one run allowed over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 Chicago win. As for Tomlin, he’s been a great “second banana” to Kluber this postseason, owning a 1.76 ERA in three playoff starts with a 2-0 record and the Indians winning all three of his starts. Tomlin surrendered two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 3 but was yanked by Francona at the first hint of trouble in a game the Indians went on to win 1-0. He has now allowed two runs or less in each of his last eight appearances going back to the regular season. Yes, Tomlin is going on three days' rest in Game 6 but he only threw 58 pitches in Game 3. The pick: Wouldn’t it be fitting for this series, one in which the Cubs are looking for their first World Series tile since 1908 and the Indians for their first since 1948, to go to a deciding seventh game? Neither team has hit well  through the first five games with the Indians batting .236 and averaging 3.4 RPG and the Cubs batting .210 while scoring a measly 10 runs in the five games. However, the return of Kyle Schwarber to the Chicago lineup as the DH here in Cleveland may be just what the doctor ordered for the Cubs lineup. This marks the biggest starts in the careers of both Arrieta and Tomlin and I believe Arrieta’s Game 2 effort is enough of a reason to back the Cubs in this one. Chicago is an 8* play. 

The set-up: The Cubs bats went silent in last year’s NLCS against the Mets, as Chicago got swept 4-0. However, it was supposed to be different here in 2016, as the Cubs were MLB’s best team in the regular season and were appearing in their first World Series since 1945, looking to win their first title since 2008. That hasn’t been the case though, as the Cubs got shut out twice in the first three games of this series and then last night lost 7-2, as the Indians took a commanding 3-1 lead in the 2016 World Series. The Cubs are batting .204 as team and have scored a total of just two runs in their three losses. Cleveland pitching has been phenomenal all postseason (1.68 ERA / 1.05 WHIP / 120-31 KW ratio / .206 BAA) and it’s continued  here vs. the Cubs. The Indians haven’t needed to score much (had scored a modest 35 runs through their first 11 postseason games) but last night scored a postseason single-game high of seven runs, led by a solo HR from Santana (which tied the game in the second) and then a three-run HR in the 7th by Kipnis, sealed the deal. The pitching matchup: Trevor Bauer (0-1, 5.00 ERA) takes the ball for the Indians, up against Chicago’s (2-1, 1.69). Bauer lasted just 3 2/3 innings while allowing two runs and six hits in a Game 2 loss (Cleveland’s only one of the Series so far) and has been the lone weak spot of Cleveland's starting rotation. In his three starts (one in which he left in the first inning because of a bleeding finger), he’s lasted just nine innings, allowing 12 hits (two HRs), four walks and five ERs for a 5.00 ERA. Kluber (5), Tomlin (3) and Merritt (1) have started nine games, pitching 50 innings while allowing 33 hits and six ERs for a 1.08 ERA. Lester has a 1.69 ERA in the 2016 playoffs with 21 strikeouts and five walks plus his postseason resume includes 20 games (18 starts) with a 2.60 ERA. Lester might (should?) win the NL’s Cy Young award this year and is exactly the pitcher the Cubs want on the mound tonight, in this win-or-go-home game. Clearly, Bauer is Cleveland's weakest starter right now but can we expect these Chicago bats to break out, as the pressure of “ending the curse” seems to have been too much for the talented but very young team? Will the Cubs win and send this series back to Cleveland? Maybe, but I’d rather make an 8* play on the Under.

The set-up: Cleveland’s incredible pitching performance during the 2016 postseason continued last night in Game 3 of the World Series, the first time since 1945 that Wrigley Field had hosted a Fall Classic contest. Cleveland won 1-0, as Tomlin, Miller, Shaw and Allen combined for the shutout, holding the Cubs to five hits. Miller and Allen have now pitched a combined 25 postseason innings without allowing a run plus have posted a 45-7 KW ratio. It marked Cleveland's fifth shutout of the 2016 postseason and for the Cubs, they’ve now been shut out four times over their last eight playoff games. The Chicago bats, hitting a combined .217 this postseason, wasted an excellent pitching performance by Hendricks and five relievers. The pitching matchup: Corey Kluber (3-1, 0.74 ERA) makes another start on three days’ rest for Cleveland, while John Lackey (0-0, 5.63 ERA) of the Cubs has not pitched since Game 4 of the NLCS and will be going on nine days' rest. Kluber dominated the Cubs' lineup in Game 1, leaving after 88 pitches in the top of the seventh inning with a shutout (Indians won 6-0). Kluber had much more in the tank but the Indians went into the series planning on getting three starts from their ace, Games 1, 4 and 7."I think they're obviously going to make adjustments based on last game," Kluber said. "I'm going to make adjustments based on last game. And it's just going to be that cat-and-mouse game." John Lackey will make his 23rd career postseason start Saturday night and his third of this postseason. While his 2016 postseason ERA is 5.63, the Cubs have won both of his starts. "It's kind of been a crazy schedule for me, for sure. I feel like I'm pitching every two weeks kind of deal," said Lackey. "I like scouting reports. I like having a little bit of history. I'm a guy that studies film, studies reports, studies past history. So I think some of that information can help.” The pick: The Cubs trail 2-1 and will have to face not only the red-hot Kluber but likely the seemingly impregnable Cleveland bullpen. The better news is, the Indians enter this contest batting just .216 in 11 playoffs games this postseason, scoring a total of just 35 runs (3.18 per). The Cubs likely won’t need to score too much off of Kluber and the Cleveland pen but they WILL have to score some. Lackey’s a vet and has a load of postseason experience (owns a decent 3.42 ERA in 26 1/3 career innings in the Fall Classic) and may be a steadying influence for this talented but young Chicago team. The Cubs were down 2-1 to the Dodgers in the NLCS after getting shut out in back-to-back games but recovered to win three in a row, while scoring 23 runs in those three victories. Let’s not predict past Game 4 but make the Cubs a 10* play in this one.

The set-up: The Indians won Game 1 behind the outstanding pitching of Kluber, Miller and Allen, while a lineup which has struggled for most of this year’s postseason, came through with six runs on 10 hits. However, Arrieta took a no-hitter into the 6th-inning of Game 2 for the Cubs and Chicago’s bats came alive. After getting shut out while being held to four hits and striking out 15 times as a team in Game 1, the Cubs had nine hits and the five runs were more than enough to even the series, as Cleveland was held to four hits and one run in Game 2. With the series tied at one-all, it moves to Wrigley Field for the next three games. The pitching matchup: Josh Tomlin (2-0, 2.53 ERA) will get the ball for the Indians and Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 1.65 ERA) for the Cubs. Kluber has lived up to his role as ace of the staff (0.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 29-7 KW ratio in four starts), butTomlin has delivered exactly what Cleveland had hoped for, allowing a total of just three ERs in his two postseason starts, giving them 10 2/3 solid innings (2.53 ERA) before handing things off to the team's dominant bullpen. Tomlin was 13-9 in the regular season, as the Indians went 19-10 in his starts, with his plus-$864 moneyline mark ranking 15th among all MLB starters. He now looks to make it three-for-three in the postseason, after beating Boston and Toronto. He has never faced the Cubs. Kyle Hendricks led all MLB starters with a 2.13 ERA, going 16-8 overall and putting himself in Cy Young Award contention, along with teammate Jon Lester and Washington’s Max Scherzer. He was struck by a line drive on his right forearm in the fourth inning of an NLDS Game 2 and was forced to leave leading 4-2 (Cubs won 5-2). He was outdueled 1-0 by Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers but then came back to win Game 6 of that series, as the Cubs clinched it with a 5-0 win (this time, outpitching Kershaw). The pick: Hendricks was 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 home regular season games this season (including 14 starts) and now owns a 1.65 ERA in three playoff starts, all at Wrigley. No reason to think he won’t continue his excellent pitching against a Cleveland lineup which has scored a total of only  34 runs in 10 postseason games in 2016, while batting only .210. Meanwhile, Tomlin’s delivered for the Indians in his two previous starts and this potent Chicago lineup hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball this postseason, batting a combined .223. Neither Miller nor Allen pitched in Game 2, so with two days off, can be expected to provide the Indians with as much as four innings of work. Remember, the two have pitched a combined 22 1/3 innings this postseason without allowing a single run (39-7 KW ratio). The Under is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 2016 World Series began Tuesday night featuring teams that have combined for 174 seasons of futility (Cubs last won in 1908 and Cleveland last won in 1948). What we saw was a continuation of a dominant postseason pitching performance from the Indians, who won 6-0. Corey Kluber pitched six scoreless innings (4 hits and a 9-0 KW ratio), then Miller and Allen pitched the final three scoreless innings, as this incredible relief duo has now combined for 21.1 scoreless innings, striking out 39 and walking just seven. Miller got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 7th and then stranded runners at the corners in the 8th. The six runs scored matches Cleveland’s highest output this postseason, when the Indians beat the Red Sox 6-0 in Game 2 of the ALDS. Lester looked mortal fo Chicago (5 2/3 IP / 6 hits / 3 ERs) and outside of Zobrist, who had three hits, the Chicago bats were quiet (just six hits in the game, striking out 15 times!). The top-3 in the lineup went a combined 0-for-11. The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (0-1, 4.91 ERA) goes for Chicago in Game 2, opposed by Cleveland's Trevor Bauer (0-0, 5.06 ERA). Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award in 2015 (22-6, 1.77 ERA) and went 18-8 with a 3.10 during the 2016 regular season. However, he opened by going 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA through his first 11 starts. Arrieta entered the playoffs with a 5.01 ERA over his final four regular season starts and after a sold first start in the 2016 playoffs (two ERs allowed in six innings), he allowed four ERs on six hits (including two HRs) over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS. That gives him a 4.91 postseason ERA with opponents are batting .273 against him compared to .194 in the regular season. Bauer cut his hand repairing his drone and then lasted only two outs in his ALCS Game 3 start when his pinkie began bleeding. Bauer says the cut is now healed and he tested the finger by throwing 20 pitches on Monday without incident. "Threw it with max intent, just like in a game, as close to game intensity as I could possibly get to," Bauer said during a press conference. "There's no pain, no blood. I was able to execute all my pitches to a high level, and I'm really encouraged by it." Bauer was 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA during the regular season, as the Indians went 16-12 in his 28 starts. Yes, he’s thrown just 99 pitches in Cleveland’s first two series of the 2016 playoffs but it should be noted that he was a workhorse, averaging 99.8 pitches in his regular season starts. The pick: Losing Game 1 does not bode well for the Cubs, as the Game 1 winner of the last 19 World Series has gone on to win that series 17 times. That said, one must look at every series one game at a time and I’ll back Arrieta over Bauer, who I believe is a YUGE question mark coming into this contest. Don’t forget, Miller threw 46 pitches in Game 1, his most in five years (can Cleveland count on him here, if needed?). The Cubs have responded both times when tested, using a 4-run 9th in Game 4 of the NLDS to end that series before being forced to a deciding Game 5. Then, the Cubs won three straight against the Dodgers to close out the NLCS, after falling behind 2-1 by being shut out in Games 2 and 3. Cubs respond here and I’ll make them an 8* play.

The set-up: The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians will pitch their postseason aces in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday. It’s hard to imagine that anyone (baseball fan or not) doesn’t know the history by now. Cleveland has not won a World Series since 1948, coming up short in its three appearances since, 1954 (4-0), 1995 (4-2)  and most recently in 1997, when Edgar Renteria's walk-off single in the 11th inning of Game 7 gave the Florida Marlins the title. Then there are the Chicago Cubs, who have not been in the Series since 1945 and have not won it since 1908. The Indians have won seven of eight postseason games despite batting a combined .208 while scoring just 27 runs (3.38 per), led by a pitching staff which owns a 1.77 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. The Cubs were MLB’s best team this regular season (103 wins and a MLB-best plus-252 in run differential) but has a little tougher time than the Indians this postseason, needing a four-run 9th-inning rally to close out the Giants in four games in the NLDS and then needed to break a 21-inning scoring drought after getting shut out in Games 2 and 3 of the NLCS vs. the Dodgers, to win three straight by scoring 23 runs in Games 4, 5 and 6. The pitching matchup: Jon Lester (2-0, 0.86 ERA) goes for Chicago and Corey Kluber (2-1, 0.98 ERA) for the Indians. Lester was a star on Boston’s 2013 World Series-winning team, going 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He has been even better than that for the Cubs here in 2016, going 2-0 in three starts (Cubs are 3-0) with an 0.86 ERA and 0.76 WHIP. "You know, there will be nerves and there will be adrenaline and all that stuff when I go out there to throw the first pitch and kind of get the ball rolling," Lester said, "but once you get into the game, I feel like then you're able to go back to your game plan." The 2016 playoffs represent Kluber’s first postseason experience and the 2014 Cy Young winner has risen to the challenge. He’s 2-1 with an 0.98 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. "Obviously, you're in the World Series, and there's two teams left and all that kind of stuff," Kluber said. "For me at least, it's been all about getting prepared and being ready when it is time to throw that first pitch." The pick: The Cubs closed out the Dodgers in style, as Russell (.462) and Rizzo (.500) led the way to Chicago scoring 23 runs in winning three straight games. However, the Cubs have batted only .222  in the playoffsand not only face Cleveland’s ace (see Kluber’s starts above) but the dominating 1-2-3 relief ‘punch’ of Shaw, Miller and Allen. Miller deserves special mention, having  pitched 11 2/3 innings with 21-2 KW ratio, an 0.00 ERA and an 0.60 WHIP (1 win, four holds and one save). Allen gets overlooked because of Miller but he’s got five saves and one hold with an 0.00 ERA (7 2/3 innings), 1.04 WHIP and a 12-3 KW ratio. Something’s gotta give in Game 1 and my bet is a 10* play on the Indians. 

The set-up: The Cubs won four of their seven regular-season meetings against the Dodgers but found themselves down 2-1 in the NLCS after getting shut out in both Game 2 (1-0) and Game 3 (6-0). The Chicago bats were kept totally in check with only six hits in the back-to-back losses. However, after the Dodgers pitching staff extended its scoring drought against the Cubs to 21 innings, Chicago broke out for a four-run 4th inning in Game 4 on its way to a 10-2 victory. A five-run 8th in Game 5 broke open a 3-1 Chicago advantage in Game 5, leading to an 8-4 win. Those silent Chicago bats in Games 2 & 3 had 13 hits apiece in Games 4 & 5, as Chicago now takes a three games to two lead back to Wrigley Field for Game 6. Chicago has scored 26 runs in its two wins and been shut out in both of its loses this series. The pitching matchup: Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.72 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers up against the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00 ERA). LA manager Dave Roberts made the decision to save ace Clayton Kershaw for Game 6 instead of asking him to throw again on short rest in Game 5,and now Roberts and the Dodgers need him to save their season. Kershaw allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings to earn the win in Game 2 at Wrigley Field which came three days after he had earned a save in Game 5 of the NLDS (Kershaw had started Game 4 of that series, as well). Kershaw did not face the Cubs during the regular season but he owned a 2.18 ERA in eight previous starts against the Cubs (prior to Game 2 of the NLCS), striking out 68 batters in 53 2/3 innings while holding the Cubs to a .218 BA against him. Chicago’s Hendricks took a liner off the forearm in his NLDS start but was not bothered by any lingering pain in Game 2. He did walk four batters in his Game 2 start of this NLCS but he allowed just one run (on a solo HR) in 5 1/3 innings. Hendricks was the regular-season ERA champion at 2.13 and he was quite impressive at Wrigley Field during the regular season, going 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 appearances. The pick: The Cubs now have two chances to get one more win and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1945 and as almost all baseball fans know, the Cubs last won a World Series back in 1908. The Dodgers haven’t been to a World Series since they shocked the A’s 4-1 back in 1988 (led by Orel and Gibson’s dramatic Game 1 HR) plus Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young winner, has a chance here to put his playoff failures in the past. His lone dominant performance of the 2016 postseason came in Game 2 of this series (although LA has won all three of his starts) but his save in Game 5 against the Nat (with one day off after starting Game 4), was a legend-builder. However, Kershaw remains just 4-6 with a 4.39 ERA in his postseason career. That said, a win here to extend this series to a Gam2 7, would change the narrative of his postseason legacy. That’s the bet. Make the Dodgers a 10* play. 

The set-up: The 103-win Cubs were shut out in Games 2 and 3 by the Dodgers but ended a 21-inning scoreless drought in the 4th inning of Wednesday’s Game 4 by scoring four runs (Russell hit a two-run HR). Rizzo followed with a solo shot in the 5th and the Cubs then put the game away with a five-run 6th, coasting to a 10-2 while tying the series at two games apiece. Lackey was pulled after back-to-back walks to open the 5th and while those two runnners did score, none of Chicago’s five relievers were charged with a run over their five innings of work (just three hits allowed). The pitching matchup: Jon Lester (1-0, 0.64 ERA) gets the nod for the Cubs and Kenta Maeda (0-1, 9.00 ERA) for the Dodgers. LA manager Dave Roberts has decided to not pitch ace Clayton Kershaw again until Game 6 in Chicago. Roberts confirmed after last night’s contest that Maeda will pitch Thursday, citing that Kershaw’s workload of three starts and one relief appearance over a 10-day span sealed his decision. "It's not an elimination game," Roberts said. "And I think the accumulation of (Kershaw's) usage over the last 10 days plays a factor in our decision.” Maeda had a solid regular season (16-11, 348 ERA) but has lasted just seven innings in two playoff starts, allowing seven hits, five walks and seven ERs. He’s 0-1 (the team 0-2), while posting a 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and opponents have hit .300 against him. Lester went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 32 regular season  starts (24-8 in all starts, plus-$1,047) and along with Washington’s Scherzer, is a Cy Young favorite. He’s made two postseason starts and has been very good (he’s 1-0 and the Cubs 2-0), pitching 14 innings while allowing nine hits and one run (8-1 KW ratio) for an 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and opponents have batted only .188 against him. The pick: Clearly, Lester owns an decided edge over Maeda but things are rarely that simple. While the Chicago bats woke up in Game 4, the Dodgers hardly helped their cause by playing a sloppy game with four errors. The pressure is all on the Cubs, the season’s best team from start to finish and the team desperately looks to finally end “the Curse!” Lester does own an excellent 2.57 ERA in 18 postseason appearances (16 starts) but his 7-6 record reveals that more than a few of them have been no “walk in the park.” Maeda admits his playoff performance has been shaky but while a rookie, he’s no kid at 28-years-old. The Dodgers plus 1 1/2 runs is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Red Wings went 41-30-11 (93 points) last season and reached the playoffs for the 25th consecutive time, the longest current streak in the NHL. However, Detroit was eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs by the Tampa Lightning in five games and the team's woes continued in the first two games of the 2016-17 season, as Detroit had suffered one of the bigger losses of the summer when center Pavel Datsyuk decided to return home to Russia. He wanted to spend more time with his family and play in the Kontinental Hockey League. However, after losing their first two games 6-4 and 4-1, the Red wings bounced back Monday night with a 5-1 home win over the Senators. The Rangers have opened 2-1-0, after winning 7-4 at home over the Sharks (also on Monday). Following Monday's play, New York was the only team in the league to have 18 different players contribute at least one point Detroit: Red Wings GM Ken Holland signed free-agent center Frans Nielsen to fill Datsyuk's roster spot but maybe Detroit’s team effort Monday is a blueprint for success this season. Nine players had points in Monday’s win, led by defenseman Mike Green’s hat trick (the first of his career) and new acquisition LW Thomas Vanek, who contributed three assists. NY Rangers: Seven different players scored in Monday's 7-4 victory for New York, which has scored 14 goals and is averaging just over 34 shots per game. “Hopefully it’s going to have to continue. That’s got to be our identity as a speed game,” Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh said. "I just like the fact that we've already in a quick three games here identified what works for us." Forward Chris Kreider is off to a sensational start for New York, recording a goal and an assist in each of the first three games. Kreider is the first Ranger to notch six points in the season's first three games since Brian Leetch in 1992-93 and the first to open with three straight multi-point games since Bernie Nicholls (1990-91). The pick: The Rangers are averaging just over 34 shots on goal per game, which matches up well against a Detroit defense which has allowed 106 shots on goal through its first three games (35.3 per). That makes the Rangers an 8* play.

The set-up: The Cubs finished off the Giants with a stunning four-run rally in the 9th inning back in Game 4 of that NLDS matchup, closing out the series with a 6-5 win. A sold-out Wrigley Field crowd saw the Cubs open a 3-1 led over LA in Game 1 but the Dodgers tied the game before Miguel Montero hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the 8th for an 8-4 win. Then in Game 2, Clayton Kershaw made arguably his best-ever postseason start as LA tied the series one-all with a 1-0 victory (only score was a Gonzalez HR). The series now moves to Dodger Stadium for three games. The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (0-0, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Cubs and Rich Hill (0-1, 6.43 ERA) for the Dodgers. Arrieta makes his second start of the 2016 postseason. His first came in Game 3 of the NLDS on Oct. 10 against the Giants, allowing two runs in six innings and received a no-decision in a game the Cubs eventually lost 6-5 in 13 innings. Arrieta was 18-8 with 3.10 ERA on the season but he was 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA entering June, so he was not remotely a “shut down” pitcher for the season's final four months. Hill began the season with the A’s but was acquired by the Dodgers in late July, despite the fact that he was on the DL at the time of the trade. His first start for LA came on August 24th and he was famously pulled by manager Dave Roberts while he was tossing a no-hitter after six innings. He made 20 starts in 2016 (Oak & LA), finishing 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, including six starts for LA, going 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA (LA was 3-3). Hill had put up impressive numbers when healthy in 2016 but note that the Dodgers lost his last three starts of the regular season. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings while losing Game 2 of the NLDS vs. the Nats, giving up four runs on six hits. He then lasted only 2 2/3 innings, while allowing a run on three hits and received a no-decision in the Dodgers' 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS. The pick: Hill defended his performance in this year’s postseason at Monday's press conference. "For me, I go out there and give everything that I have, that's it. That's the bottom line," Hill told reporters. "Your effort is everything. Your ability to go out there and stay in the moment and execute pitch to pitch and do the best that you can, that's it. Let everything else fall where it may." I’m not buying it. Arrieta faced the Dodgers just once in 2016, throwing seven scoreless innings on May 31 at Wrigley, although LA won that game 5-0. The last time Arrieta faced LA at Dodger Stadium was Aug. 30, 2015, when he no-hit them. The Cubs are a 10* play.

The set-up: There seems to be nothing which can stop this Cleveland pitching staff from dominating. Trevor Bauer made it through only 21 pitches last night in Game 3. His start had been pushed back two days after cutting his finger last week repairing one of the drones he enjoys flying as a hobby. He received 10 stitches and tried to pitch but couldn't make it far without blood dripping from his hand. Six Cleveland pitchers came out of the bullpen to record 25 outs on 128 pitches. The Indians won 4-2, as closer Allen and Miller reversed roles. Allen came in first to get five outs and Miller closed out the Blue Jays by getting the final four outs. The duo combined to allow one hit, one walk and strike out five in three innings. The Blue Jays are now down 3-0, while batting .177 as a team with an OPS of .483 against Cleveland pitching. Toronto’s scored just three runs with one HR through three games, after scoring 22 runs with 10 HRs in its three-game sweep of Texas. The pitching matchup: Corey Kluber (2-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for Cleveland and Aaron Sanchez (0-0, 9.53 ERA) for Toronto. Kluber is 1-3 with a 5.34 ERA in five career regular-season starts against Toronto but in Friday’s Game 1, he held them to six hits, two walks and two runs while striking out six in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-0 win. Kluber’s made two postseason starts in 2016, winning both while tossing 13 1/3 scoreless innings. Sanchez will be making the second start of this postseason, which is also the second postseason start of his career (his previous postseason experience was as a reliever in 2015). Sanchez allowed six runs on three hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings in taking a no-decision against the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the ALDS, a game Toronto won in 10 innings. The pick: Maybe the Indians will never lose but when I see that this marks Kluber’s first-ever start on three days’ rest and that he owns a 5.34 ERA in five career regular-season starts against Toronto, I see a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for the Blue Jays. Let me also remind all that Sanchez led all AL starters in ERA (3.00) during the regular season and that in the 2015 postseason he was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 7 1/3 innings over nine appearances. No sweep here. Toronto is a 10* play.

The set-up: Pitching has dominated the first two games of the ALCS, with Cleveland taking a 2-0 lead by winning 2-0 in Game 1 and then 2-1 in Game 2. "It's been the same story, good pitching on both sides," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said on Sunday before his team worked out. "A little offense on both sides. They just got the two home runs, really. And then (Francisco) Lindor has had two big hits in both games. A lot of similarities, but they've been able to plate the runs. Not many of them, but more than we have." The series shifts to Toronto for the next three games and it seems likely the Blue Jays will need to win at least two to have much of a chance to advance to their first World Series since they won back-to-back tiles in 1992 and 1993. The pitching matchup: Trevor Bauer (0-0, 5.79 ERA) takes the mound for Cleveland and Marcus Stroman (0-0, 3.00 ERA) for Toronto. Bauer was scheduled to start Game 2 before he suffered a cut on the little finger of his right hand while working on his drone. Josh Tomlin took his place and picked up the win Saturday, continuing the outstanding pitching by the Cleveland staff (starters and relief) this postseason. Bauer faced Toronto twice this season, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA (Indians were 2-0). His win came when he pitched five innings in relief July 1 in the 19-inning, 2-1 victory at Rogers Centre that extended Cleveland's winning streak to a club-record 14 games. He is 1-1 with a 6.27 ERA in four career games (three starts / Cleveland is 2-1 in his three starts with Bauer owning an 8.57 ERA) against Toronto and is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in two career games at Rogers Centre. Stroman will be making his second postseason start this year and the fifth of his career. He allowed four hits and two runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles in the wild-card game, a Toronto win in extra-innings. He is 1-0 with a 3.91 in his first four career postseason starts (Toronto is 3-1). The pick: Cleveland is 5-0 this postseason led by a pitching staff that owns a 1.60 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. However, the outlier is Trevor Bauer, who in his one postseason start (Game 1 vs. Boston) allowed five hits (including two HRs) and three runs in 4 2/3 innings (5.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and .316 BA against). Throw in his 8.57 ERA in three career starts against Toronto (as well as his 7.11 ERA in two career starts at Rogers Centre) and the Blue Jays seem to have an excellent chance to break out of their slump which has seen them bat .159 as a team against Cleveland so far, accounting for just 10 hits, which includes only two extra-base hits (both doubles). The Jays have won three of the four postseason starts made by Stroman these last two years and in this ‘must-win” game, I’ll back the Jays. Toronto is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Cubs finished off the Giants with a stunning four-run rally in the 9th inning back in Game 4 of that NLDS matchup, closing out the series with a 6-5 win. Up next for MLB’s best team during the 2016 regular season were the Dodgers in the NLCS. A sold-out Wrigley Field crowd saw the Cubs open a 3-1 led over LA in Game 1 behind six strong innings from Jon Lester. However, Chicago’s bullpen allowed two runs in the 8th, as the Dodgers tied the game. Then in the bottom of that same inning, Miguel Montero hit a pinch-hit grand slam! The Cubs pulled out 14 of their major league-best 103 wins this season in their final at-bat. They added two more in their NLDS against the Giants and now, this. The pitching matchup: Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 5.84 ERA) will take the mound for LA and Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 4.91 ERA) for Chicago. Kershaw has a checkered postseason history but he won Game 1 of the NLDS, then started Game 4 on short rest and came in to close Game 5 with a seven-pitch save against the Washington Nationals. Three nights later, the three-time Cy Young winner gets the ball in Game 2 of the NLCS in Wrigley. He owns a 5-3 career record with a 2.14 ERA against the Cubs but he did not face them in 2016. Hendricks was hit in the right forearm by a comeback line drive in Game 2 of the NLDS, forcing him to exit in the fourth inning (gave up two runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings) against San Francisco. Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA) matured by leaps and bounds in 2016,  becoming the first Cubs pitcher to lead the majors in ERA since Bill Lee (2.66 ERA) in 1938. He had a 1.68 ERA after the All-Star break and went 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games (14 starts / Cubs were 10-4) at Wrigley Field. His home ERA was the lowest for any pitcher in MLB. He has shown no ill effects from the comebacker and is good to go. The pick: We don’t know how the game against the Giants would have gone had Hendicks had not been forced to leave but we do know that in the first two playoff starts of his career in 2015, he was unable to last five innings in either, finishing without a decision after surrendering five ERs on nine hits (four HRs) over 8 2/3 innings in outings at St. Louis in the NLDS and against the New York Mets in the NLCS. He’ll take a 5.11 postseason ERA into this start. As for Kershaw, for all the accolades heaped on him after his Game 5 save, let me note that he allowed 15 hits and eight ERs for a 5.84 ERA against Washington, as the Nats hit .294 against him in the NLDS. Then again, there is the feeling that Kershaw found his mojo in that save. The test will be here. Kershaw argues he's relatively fresh, having pitched just 149 innings in the regular season and didn't start a game between June 26 and September 9, when he returned from a layoff prompted by a herniated disk in his back to face the Miami Marlins. Kershaw was 12-4 with a 1.69 ERA in the regular season and gave up more than three runs just twice in 21 starts (team was 17-4). It’s now or never for Kershaw and the Dodgers and my bet says it’s N-O-W! The Dodgers are a 10* play.

full analysis soon

The set-up: The Blue Jays and Indians opened their ALCS matchup Friday night in Cleveland. While Toronto was a small favorite to win the series (about –145), the Indians were favored to win Game 1 (closed at –140). The reason Cleveland was favored in Game 1 was because of Corey Kluber. The 2014 Cy Young winner had rebounded from a terrible 2015 season to go 18-9, matching the record from his Cy Young-winning 2014 season. Kluber ended the regular season 9-1 over his last 12 starts (Indians were 11-1) and then beat the Red Sox and David Price in Game 2 of Cleveland’s series with Boston, pitching seven scoreless inning and allowing only three hits. Kluber brought his “A-Game” again on Friday, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings, as the Indians won 2-0 on the strength of Francisco Lindor’s two-run HR. Andrew Miller (five) and Cody Allen (one) combined for six Ks and 2 2/3 scoreless inning of relief. The pitching matchup: J.A. Happ (1-0, 1.80 ERA) takes the hill for Toronto and Josh Tomlin (1-0, 3.60 ERA) for the Indians. Trevor Bauer was slated to get this Game 2 start but Bauer, a devotee of drones, has been scratched from his scheduled start after suffering a lacerated small finger on his right hand while doing some "routine maintenance" on the drone, You can’t make this stuff up! "This was not malicious," Francona said. "He wasn't doing something that, I mean, he could have been opening a box in the kitchen. Things happen. I wish it wouldn't have, but it wasn't done maliciously. It wasn't done by being silly. It just happened." Tomlin was 13-9 with a 4.40 ERA during the regular season but his moneyline mark of plus-$864 (Indians were 19-10), was the best of any Cleveland starter. Also note that he acquitted himself well in Game 3 of the ALDS at Fenway, giving Cleveland five innings (allowed four hits and two ERs) in the team’s series-clinching 4-3 win. Toronto’s Happ had a career-year in 2016, to say the least. Way back in 2009, he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA for the Phillies in 35 appearances, including 23 starts. However, over the next eight seasons, he only once again reached double digits in victories, going 11-11 (4.22 ERA) for Toronto in 2014. So it’s fair to say, no one could have predicted he’d go 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 2016 (team was 24-8, plus-$1,189 in all of his starts). Happ allowed nine hits in Game 2 of the ALDS against Boston but just ONE run, as Toronto took a 2-0 series lead with a 5-3 win. The pick: The Blue Jays averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs RPG in their 29 September-October games but then scored 22 runs while hitting 10 HRs with an .863 OPS in sweeping Texas. Last night, Toronto was held scoreless, getting just six hits and went 0-5 with RISP, while leaving eight men on base. The good news for Toronto in Game 2 is that Tomlin was 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in two starts against Toronto this year and in five career starts against the Blue Jays, owns a 5.53 ERA. Happ made just one start against the Indians in 2016, allowing one run on five hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks over seven innings of a 17-1 win back on July 3. In six career appearances (five starts) against Cleveland, he is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA. Happ showed no signs of tiring down the stretch, going 3-0 over his last five six starts (Jays were 5-1), while posting a 2.97 ERA. Happ helps the Jays even the series at one-all. Toronto is a 10* play.

The set-up: The Blue Jays and Indians open the ALCS tonight in Cleveland with both teams coming off 3-0 sweeps in their respective ALDS matchups. The Blue Jays bested Texas, which not only owned the AL’s best overall record at 96-67 but the Rangers were also easily MLB’s biggest money-earners in 2016, earning a profit of $2,932 at $100/game (that was more than $1,300 better than the 2nd-best moneyline mark team, the Orioles). The Indians owned the homefield edge over the Red Sox but Boston opened the series with MLB’s most-potent lineup, leading all of MLB in runs scored (5.42 per), BA (.282) and OPs (.810). However, when all the dust had settled, the Indians completed a three-game sweep, holding that Boston lineup to 2.33 RPG with a team BA of .214 and an OPS of .655 The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (1-0, 1.08 ERA) starts for Toronto and Corey Kluber (1-0, 0.00) for Cleveland. Estrada was 9-9 with a 3.48 ERA this season in 29 starts but gets the Game 1 start over 20-game winner J.A. Happ. Estrada finished the regular season allowing just two ERs on nine hits over his last three starts (19 innings), for an 0.94 ERA as well as a 19-2 KW ratio. He then pitched 8 1/3 innings in Toronto’s 10-1 Game 1 win at Texas, allowing just four hits and one run. "Obviously, it's the playoffs and I understand it's a big deal, but I treat every game just like the one before," Estrada said at Thursday's press conference. "I don't put extra pressure on myself. And it's something I've been saying since last year - why think about it any other way than just another normal start?" Corey Kluber won the AL’s 2014 Cy Young award going 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA. However, his ERA jumped by more than a run (3.47) in 2015 and he suffered an awful season, going 9-16 and worst of all, finished the year with MLB’s worst moneyline mark at 11-21 in team starts, minus-$1,747. Here in 2016, Kluber ended the regular season 9-1 over his last 12 starts (Indians were 11-1) and matched his 2014 record at 18-9. He then beat the Red Sox and David Price in Game 2 of Cleveland’s series with Boston, pitching seven scoreless inning and allowing only three hits. The pick: The Indians went 16-11 in September while the Blue Jays stumbled to an 11-16. However, Toronto won its final two games of the regular season (Oct. 1 & 2) to nail down the No. 1 wild card spot, before beating the Orioles 5-2 (11 innings). Toronto then took down Texas, as a lineup which had been struggling down the stretch (the Blue Jays averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs RPG in their 29 September-October games), scored 22 runs while hitting 10 HRs with an .863 OPS. Toronto manager John Gibbons is so confident of Estrada, that while 20-game winner Happ could have been used on regular rest, he chose Estrada. See above for Estrada’s closing stretch numbers in 2016 and add to that his 2-1 record with a 2.33 ERA in three playoff outings last year, which makes Toronto plus 1 1/2 runs an 8* play. 

The set-up: The LA Dodgers have won four straight NL West titles but have not advanced to the World Series in that stretch. In fact, the last time LA made it all the way to the Fall Classic was back in 1988, when the Dodgers shocked the A’s four games-to-one! The Nats, who relocated from Montreal in 2005, haven't reached the World Series in franchise history. Recently, the Nats are in the postseason for the THIRD time in five years but have been eliminated in the NLDS in both previous trips to the playoffs. The Washington earned homefield advantage in this series by winning 95 games to LA’s so this deciding Game 5 will be played at Nationals Park. The pitching matchup: Rich Hill for LA and Max Scherzer for Washington. Hill began the season with the A’s but was acquired by the Dodgers in late July, despite the fact that he was on the DL at the time of the trade. His first start for LA came on August 24th and he was famously pulled by manager Dave Roberts while he was tossing a no-hitter after six innings. He made 20 starts in 2016 (Oak & LA), finishing 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, including six starts for LA, going 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA (LA was 3-3). Hill had put up impressive numbers when healthy in 2016 but note that he came into his Game 2 start with LA having lost his last three starts of the regular season. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings while losing Game 2, giving up four runs on six hits, although he did strike out seven. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts asserted that 20-year-old rookie Julio Urias is also part of LA’s Game 5 pitching plan. Scherzer got the Game 1 start in this series and entered that contest having not lost since August 9, entering 8-0 over his final 10 regular season stats (Nats were 10-0!). However, he allowed a solo HR in the first inning and a two-run shot in the third. He took a 4-3 loss (6 IP / 4 ERs), falling to 2-5 (3.72 ERA) in 11 career games vs. the Dodgers (nine starts / teams are 2-7). Scherzer is 4-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 13 postseason games, including 11 starts but he does have 85 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings over his playoff career. The pick: The Dodgers have spent a lot of money in recent years with little to show for it and the Nats enter this winner-take-all game with a sorry history. Washington lost Game 5 at home to the St. Louis Cardinals of the NLDS in 2012 and fell in four games to the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS two years later. As for manager Dusty Baker, he has lost a major-league record eight consecutive postseason games when a victory would have advanced the team he was guiding (hard to explain that away as bad luck). However, Scherzer was the NL’s lone 20-game winner in 2016 and is well aware the Nationals have never won a playoff series since relocating from Montreal. "This will probably be the biggest start of my career," Scherzer told reporters. "I've said that a few times in my life, but I think this will be it.” Is Rich Hill really up to the challenge? Off his Game 2 performance, the answer is N-O! The last time a baseball team in Washington won a postseason series was when the Senators beat the New York Giants in Game 7 of the 1924 World Series in the nation's capital. Expect these Nats to “party like it’s 1924” on Thursday! Washington is an 8* play.

The set-up: With Arrieta and Bumgarner taking the mound last night, a 6-5 final wasn’t expected but then again, it did take 13 innings. The score was 3-3 Chicago (Arrieta had hit a three-run HR off Bumgarner), before the Giants rallied for three runs in the 8th, followed by Bryant’s two-run HR in the 9th that sent the game into extra innings. The bullpens were busy last night with Chicago using six relievers and San Francesco using five. The victory by the Giants was the team's 10th consecutive win when facing elimination, an amazing run. The pitching matchup: John Lackey (11-8, 3.35 ERA) starts for the Cubs and Matt Moore (13-12, 4.08 ERA) for the Giants. The Cubs mark the fourth team that Lackey has pitched for in the postseason. He’s won WS-clinching games for the 2002 Angels (as a rookie) and again for the 2013 Red Sox. He’s made 23 career postseason appearances (20 starts), going 8-5 with a 2.54 ERA. Lackey has faced the Giants more often in the playoffs (four times) than the regular season (three),  going 2-1 with a 3.62 ERA against the Giants in those opportunities (includes six starts with his team going 3-3). Moore was acquired at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays and has never faced the Cubs. He does have postseason experience, having gone 1-1 (4.41 ERA) in four games, including two starts, for the Rays. The pick: Lackey’s a “gamer” and a veteran of situations like this, as he makes his 21st postseason start, the most among active pitchers. He pitched well down the stretch going 2-1 over his last five (Cubs were 4-1), including winning his last two with a 2.25 ERA. Moore was 4-1 in his last five starts, which including a horrific three-out effort in LA in which he allowed six ERs. However, in his four wins, he posted a 1.95 ERA (32 Ks in 27 2/3 innings), including the Giants’ wild card-clinching 7-1 win over those same Dodgers on the final day of the regular season. Classic pitchers duel anticipated. The Under is a 10* play.

The set-up: Cleveland manager Terry Francona knows his team is up 2-0 in this best-of-five series but cautioned, "The atmosphere is going to be a little different come Sunday." Francona's Red Sox came from down 3-1 against the Indians to win the 2007 ALCS, the second of Francona's two World Series championships in Boston. Saturday, he called Fenway "kind of like a cathedral" and he sure wants to end this series on Sunday. The Red Sox led all of MLB in batting (.282), runs scored (5.42 RPG) and OPS (.810) during the regular season but have collectively struck out 22 times in the first two games. Stars Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts, David Ortiz, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. have gone a combined 4-for-36 (.011). "We're getting our (butts) beat," Ortiz told reporters. "Nothing to celebrate. It's part of the game, man, but I know we're better than that."

The pitching match-up: Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40 ERA) takes the mound for the Indians and Clay Buchholz (8-10, 4.78 ERA) gets the ball for the Red Sox. Both of the Game 3 starters were banished to the bullpen during the regular season because of poor work but both have been better lately. Tomlin is making a postseason start mostly due to the fact that injuries have sidelined to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar. That said, after briefly being demoted to the bullpen, he finished strong finish by posting a 1.75 ERA in his final four appearances during the regular season, capped by a win at Kansas City that helped guarantee the Indians homefield advantage in the ALDS. Buchholz made three appearances out of the bullpen in late August but then the team won four of his five September starts, including surrendering three ERs on 11 hits in 19 innings over his final three regular-season starts (1.42 ERA).

The pick: There have been 28 teams which have rallied from 0-2 to win an LDS, including two Boston teams. The Red Sox did it to the Indians in 1999 and to the Oakland A’s in 2003. Déjà vu? Maybe but one game at a time. Boston is now a 10* play.

The set-up: The Washington/LA Dodgers matchup is the only one of the four LDS to be tied one-all, after Sunday’s 5-2 Washington win. The Nats rode Jose Lobton's three-run HR and Daniel Murphy’s two RBI to the victory. Los Angeles stranded 12 baserunners in Sunday’s loss (went 1-of-9 with RISP) and needs others to step up outside of Corey Seager and Justin Turner. Seager has homered in each contest of the series and Turner is 4-for-6 with a HR, extending his playoff hitting streak to seven games. The series now switches to LA, without a day off because of Saturday’s rain out. The pitching matchup: Gio Gonzalez (11-11, 4.57 ERA) gets the start for Washington and Kenta Maeda (16-11, 3.48 ERA) for LA. Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in five career starts (Nats are 3-2) against the Dodgers with current players on the Dodgers' postseason roster combined for a .163 average (23-for-141) against him. Maeda made 32 starts in his first season in the majors and overall, performed well. Maeda will be facing Washington for the first time and went 7-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 15 home starts (Dodgers were 9-6). The pick: The Dodgers finished the regular season 53-28 at home, the second-best mark in the NL. That includes sweeping a three-game series with the Nats in LA from June 20-22. However, rather than choosing a side, I look for a game which will easily surpass this posted over/under number. Gonzalez struggled in five September, posting a 7.43 ERA while completing more than five innings just once. As for Maeda, he’s lasted seven innings in just TWO of his 32 starts in 2016 (the last came way back on July 10). After posting a 2.95 ERA before the All Star break, his post-break ERA was 4.25, as he allowed 12 hits, three walks and eight ERs over his final two starts (over just 6 2/3 innings for a 10.80 ERA). The Over is a 10* play.

The set-up: The Dodgers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in Game 1 and  while Kershaw gave back three runs after five innings, LA used four relief pitchers to seal the win by combining for four scoreless innings. Washington was counting on 20-game winner Scherzer to come up big in Game 1 but he sure fell short, allowing four runs after just three innings. Washington is now in a “must-win” situation, as falling behind 0-2 in a best-of-five series is almost a guaranteed death knell, especially when the first two of this series will have been played in Washington. The pitching matchup: Rich Hill (12-5, 2.12 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers and Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA) for the Nationals. Hill began the season with the A’s but was acquired by the Dodgers in late July, despite the fact that he was on the DL at the time of the trade. His first start for LA came on August 24th and he was famously pulled by manager Dave Roberts while he was tossing a no-hitter after six innings. He made six starts for LA, going 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA (LA was 3-3). Washington’s Tanner Roark was pushed aside in 2015 by the Nats (made only 12 starts), after going 15-10 (2.85 ERA) in 2014. However, with Zimmermann leaving for Detroit, he was back in the regular starting rotation. He delivered an excellent season, going 16-10 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and .228 opponents BA. The pick: Hill has put up impressive numbers when healthy in 2016 but note that he comes into this contest wit LA having lost his last three starts of the regular season. He last faced the Nationals in 2012 with the Boston Red Sox and is 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA in four games (three starts) against the Nationals with 17 strikeouts and six walks in 18 2/3 innings. Hill’s only postseason appearance came in Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS as a starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He gave up three runs on six hits in three innings as the Cubs lost 5-1. Roark has been solid all season and like in Game 1, I’ll take the Nats plus the 1 1/2 runs as an 8* play.

The set-up: The Giants’ Cueto and the Cubs’ Lester squared off in an old-fashioned pitchers duel last night. The 1-0 Cubs win was decided when Javier Baez homered in the bottom of the eighth. Cueto gave up just three hits over eight innings and struck out 10, while Lester allowed five hits with five Ks in his eight innings. Aroldis Chapman finished the job in the 9th. The Cubs now look to open a 2-0 series lead tonight at Wrigley Field. The pitching matchup: Jeff Samardzija (12-11, 3.81 ERA) goes for San Francisco and Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA) for Chicago. Samardzija returns to a park he knows very well, as he was a member of the Cubs for nearly seven seasons. He went 31-42 with a 3.97 ERA during that span and was traded to the Oakland A's during the 2014 season. He signed with the Chicago White Sox in 2015 and then joined the Giants as a free agent this season. Hendricks is coming off the best season of his brief career, as he won seven of his final eight decisions and led the majors in ERA (2.13). The pick: Hendricks made the first two playoff starts of his career in 2015 but was unable to last five innings in either, finishing without a decision after surrendering five runs and nine hits (four HRs) over 8 2/3 innings in outings at St. Louis in the NLDS and against the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series. However, he matured by leaps and bounds in 2016,  becoming the first Cubs pitcher to lead the majors in ERA since Bill Lee (2.66 ERA) in 1938. He went 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games (14 starts / Cubs were 10-4) at Wrigley Field. His home ERA was the lowest for any pitcher in MLB. Samardzija continues to be talked about as a pitchers with “great stuff’ but his career 59-72 (4.04 ERA) speaks for itself. The Cubs are. an 8* play.

The set-up: The LA Dodgers have won four straight NL West titles but have not advanced to the World Series in that stretch. In fact, the last time LA made it all the way to the Fall Classic was back in 1988, when they shocked the A’s four games-to-one! The Washington Nationals earned homefield advantage in this series by winning 95 gamers to LA’s 91 but the Nats, relocated from Montreal in 2005, haven't reached the World Series, either. The Nats are in the postseason for the THIRD time in five years but have been eliminated in the NLDS in both previous trips to the playoffs. The pitching matchup: Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA) takes the mound for LA and Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA) for Washington. Kershaw may be the best pitcher in the majors but he takes the mound Friday with a career postseason record of 2-6 with a 4.59 ERA. The good news for LA is that Kershaw is 10-2 with a 2.02 ERA in 14 games (13 starts / Dodgers are 11-2) against Washington in his career. Scherzer hasn’t lost since August 9, entering 8-0 over his last 10 stats (Nats are 10-0!). His career record against the Dodgers is nothing special, as he’s 2-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 10 games, with eight starts (teams are 2-6). The pick: Neither the Dodgers (more chances) nor the Nationals have recorded any recent postseason success but here in Game 1, it’s hard to pass on the Nats with Scherzer on the mound at home (2.56 ERA). Kershaw’s postseason record leaves much to be desired and taking the 1 1/2 runs with the Nats is a 10* play.  

The set-up: The Blue Jays won their two regular-season games in October, after struggling to an 11-16 record in September. Doing the math, the Blue Jays averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs RPG in their 29 September-October games. The Blue Jays then went to extra-innings tied 2-all with the Orioles min Tuesday’s wild card game, before winning 5-2 on a three-run HR in the 11th. So, there was little to expect the kind of offensive surge seen late Thursday afternoon in Game 1 of Toronto’s ALDS matchup with the Rangers. The Blue Jays jumped all over Texas ace Cole Hamels, who gave up six hits and seven runs (six earned ) in just 3 1/3 innings. When all the dust had settled, it was a 10-1 Toronto victory, as the Jays pounded out 13 hits, including two HRs and Tulowitzki’s three-run triple. Toronto starter Marco Estrada did his part as well, allowing one run and four hits in 8 1/2 innings. The loss means that Texas is now a hard-to-believe 1-10 all-time at home in ALDS matchups. That’s truly a head-scratcher, as most will remember that the Rangers advanced to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. The pitching matchup: J.A. Happ (20-4, 3.18 ERA) takes the hill for Toronto and Yu Darvish (7-5, 3.41 ERA) for Texas. Happ is coming off the best season of his career (previous best was him going 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA for the Phillies in 2009), finishing as one of MLB's three 20-game winners. He also posted a career best in strikeouts (163). Happ owns a 4.82 ERA in eight career postseason games, including one start at Colorado on October 11, 2009 in which he yielded three runs and five hits over three innings while with Philadelphia. Yu Darvish missed the entire 2015 season while he was recovering from Tommy John surgery, so he was a spectator last year when the Texas Rangers lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS. However, is fully healthy now, as he hopes to help the Rangers win their first-ever World Series. Darvish is 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in seven career starts against the Blue Jays but did not face them this year. The pick: Going back to opening of this report, let me remind all that the Blue Jays averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs RPG in their 29 September-October games, before winning the wild card game 5-2 (11 innings) and then Game 1 of this ALDS matchup, 10-1. Darvish finished his injury-shortened 2016 season strong, allowing fewer than two runs in three of his final four outings, including allowing just one ER in 13 innings over his final two starts. Happ, like Darvish, finished strong down the stretch, posting a 2.35 ERA over his final five regular season starts, going 3-0 (team was 4-1). The Under is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians played at Progressive Field on Opening Day (April 5) and six months later, with both teams having won their respective divisions, they will meet in Game 1 in the ALDS. The 94-67 Indians won the AL Central Division by eight games over second-place Detroit, while the 93-69 Red Sox won the AL East by four games over second-place finishers Baltimore and Toronto. The teams meet Thursday night in Cleveland and current Indians manager Terry Francona is the former Boston manager who won two World Series with the Red Sox. Boston won four of the six regular-season games played between the two teams but the Indians winning the home field advantage for this series is not a small deal. Cleveland was 53-28 at home this year, tying Texas for the best home record in the AL and the team’s plus-$1230 home moneyline mark was the third-best in all of MLB. The pitching matchup: Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.15) will start Game 1 for the Red Sox, while Cleveland gives the ball to Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26 ERA). Porcello is the AL Cy Young favorite, as Boston went 25-8 in all of his starts, earning a profit of $1470 (third-best among all starters). Porcello spent the first six years of his career pitching for the Tigers, who play the division-rival Indians numerous times each season. He is 10-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 22 career starts against the Indians (teams are 14-8). Bauer is a surprising Game 1 starter. considering he was 6-4 at Progressive Field (Indians were 11-8 in his starts), and his ERA is over a run higher at home (4.73) than on the road (3.67). In two appearances, one start, versus Boston this year, Bauer was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. In three career games, two starts, against the Red Sox he is 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA. The pick: Porcello has had an amazing season but while the Red Sox went 15-1 in his Fenway starts, they were just 10-7 in his road starts. Bauer is no star but as noted earlier, Cleveland was 53-28 at home this year (averaging 5.58 RPG), with an impressive plus-$1230 home moneyline mark. Taking 1 1/2 runs with Cleveland makes them a 10* play. 

The set-up: The Giants and Mets each finished with identical 87-75 records, just like Baltimore and Toronto in the AL wild card matchup, which tied at 89-73. The Mets won four of the seven regular-season meetings and like with the Blue Jays, who were 10-9 against the Orioles, earned the homefield advantage for this winner-take-all game. The wild card game is familiar to the Giants, whose lineup Wednesday will likely feature six players, including starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner, who started the 2014 NL wild card game and won 8-0 with a four-hit shutout win. The defending NL champion Mets were 5 1/2 games behind in the race for the NL's second wild card on August 19 but had the best record in baseball (26-13) the rest of the way to reach the playoffs for a second straight season for only the second time in franchise history. The Mets' season-ending run was accomplished despite the fact that six Opening Day starters were already sidelined for the season or playing part-time roles due to injury or ineffectiveness. The pitching matchup: Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA) gest the ball for San Francisco (who else would get it?) and Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets.Bumgarner won at least 15 games for the fourth time in his career and posted his fourth consecutive sub-3.00 ERA. He had a 1.02 WHIP and opponents batted just .212 against him but the Giants were a modest 20-14 in his starts, plus the team was minus-$333 in those starts. However, his postseason record has been well-documented, going 7-3 with 2.14 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts. He was unbelievable in the 2014 postseason, making six starts and one relief appearance, going 4-1 (team was 5-1) in his starts and closed out Game 7 of the World series with a five-inning save (1.03 ERA and a 45-6 KW ratio). Syndergaard finished third in the NL in ERA (Bumgarner was fourth) and fourth in strikeouts (Bumgarner was third) while putting together one of the top all-around seasons in the league. He is 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in three career starts against the Giants. The pick: Going against Bumgarner has the feel of “spitting into the wind” but one can’t ignore that after reaching the All Star break with a MLB-best 57-33 record, the Giants went only 30-42 the rest of the way. It’s the worst post-All-Star Break record for a playoff team since the wild card was implemented in 1995. Meanwhile, as already noted, the Mets were a MLB-best 26-13 from August 20 through the end of the regular season. The Giants’ run of WorldSseries wins in even-numbered seasons (2010, 2012 and 2014) ends right here in the wild card game. The Mets are a 10* play.

The set-up: The Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays are familiar foes, as these AL East rivals have met 19 times this regular season. The teams finished the regular season with identical 89-73 records but the Blue Jays won 10 of the 19 meetings. That one-game edge is the reason this one-game, winner-take-all wild card game is being played at Rogers Centre instead of Camden Yards. The Blue Jays outscored the Orioles in the 19 head-to-head meetings this season (97-81) and owned an edge in HRs, 29-28 (note: Baltimore all of MLB with 253 HRs). The Blue Jays were 6-4 against the Orioles in the games played here in Toronto. The pitching matchup: Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA) starts for Baltimore and Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37) takes the mound for Toronto. Tillman spent some time on the DL this season but was Baltimore biggest winner (16) and its biggest money earner, as the Orioles were 22-8 in his starts (plus-$1452), the fifth-best mark among all starters. Tillman is 5-10 (5.18 ERA) in 24 career starts against  Baltimore with the Orioles going 10-14. Stroman takes the mound having not won since August 14. He was 0-5 in six September starts (Blue Jays were 0-6) and in six career starts against them is 2-3 (5.84 ERA) with the Blue Jays going 2-4. The pick: The Blue Jays won their two regular-season games in October, after struggling to an 11-16 record in September.Doing the math, the Blue Jays averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs RPG in their 29 September-October 29 games. Yes, Stroman was 0-5 in September (Orioles were 0-6) but he owned a respectable 3.41 ERA in those outings. He may just find this struggling Toronto lineup to his liking. As for Tillman, he owns a 3.63 ERA in four starts against Toronto this year, including posting a 2.38 ERA in two starts at Rogers Centre. The under is a 10* play. 

The set-up: The Padres have lost the first two of this three-game series, leaving the two teams 9-9 in the season series. The D’backs and Padres now enter the final game of the regular season with identical 68-93 records and to today’s winner goes the spoils. That being, the winner avoids last place in the National League West. Arizona attempts to avoid finishing in the basement for the third time in the last four years while San Diego has not finished in the cellar since 2011, the last time the D’backs won the division. The pitching matchup: Paul Clemens (4-5, 4.27 ERA) takes the mound for San Diego and Matt Koch (1-1, 2.25 ERA) for Arizona. Clemens is 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA over his last three starts (Padres are 3-0), allowing exactly three hits each time. He has made three appearances (two starts) against the D’backs in 2016 but despite posting a 2.31 ERA, has yet to earn a win. However, the Padres have won both of his starting assignments against Arizona. Koch made his first career start at Washington this past  Tuesday and did not allow a hit over his first five innings. He was pulled after giving up his only hit and walk to open the sixth inning. Unfortunately, both runners would score, as he was charged with two runs in the outing. He has been equally stingy in five relief appearances since arriving to the majors, giving up only one run and three hits over seven innings. The pick: The Padres take a three-game slide into this final game of the season, while the D’backs have won three of their last four. Arizona owns the momentum and in rookie Koch, the D’backs have a pitcher who has yet to surrender a run in six innings at home , while holding opposing batters to a .100 average. Arizona is an 8* play. 

The set-up: The Tigers and Braves opened a three-games series at Turner Field (Atlanta moves to a new home park next season) with plenty still on the line for the Tigers. Detroit began the final weekend of the regular season 1 1/2 games back of Baltimore and Toronto, which were tied for the two AL wild card spots. Meanwhile, the Braves may still own the NL’s worst record, but they opened this series with Tigers the winners of 10 of their previous 11 games. Detroit won last night 6-2 and moved to within a half-game of the AL’s second wild card spot, as the Blue Jays lost in Boston (the Orioles won to take over the No. 1 wild card spot). The pitching matchup: Jordan Zimmermann (9-6, 4.88 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit and Aaron Blair (1-7, 8.02 ERA) does so for Atlanta. Zimmermann (a huge FA signee from Washington) opened the 2016 season 5-0 with an 0.55 ERA in April and after a June 3rd win, was 8-2 with a 2.58 ERA. However, he began to struggle for the rest of June and then neck and lat issues limited him to just one start in the months of July and August. He returned on September 10th and allowed six ERs while getting just three outs! He then pitched three innings of relief on September 25 against Kansas City (allowed one run), the first relief appearance of his career. Atlanta rookie Blair will make the 15th start of his career. It has not gone well, with that 1-7 record, 8.02 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and .308 BAA (Braves are 3-11, minus-$ in his starts). The pick: Blair owns an 0-4 mark with an 8.18 ERA at Turner Field this season while allowing the opposition to bat .302 against him, as the Braves have gone 1-6. Yes, Zimmermann has suffered through an injury-marred last three months but in the Braves, he faces an old rival. Zimmerman has made 18 career appearances against Atlanta (all as a member of the Nationals), going 7-3 with a 2.55 ERA against the Braves with 82 strikeouts in 99 innings. He is 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA at Turner Field. The Tigers can't control what the Orioles and Blue Jays do, or for the matter the Mariners (who are just a half-game back of Detroit). However, Detroit can (and will) take care of business in this one! Detroit is a 10* play. 

analysis posted very shortly (10*)

The set-up:  The Cleveland Indians have already clinched the AL Central but they are still contending for the best AL record and home-field advantage. The team’s Thursday contest at Detroit (Tigers are still in the hunt for a wild card spot) was rained out. and that puts both the Indians and Tigers in a predicament, as it’s possible the two could wind up playing Monday with postseason ramifications at stake. The Indians will hopefully close out the regular season with three games this weekend in Kansas City, a team which, after back-to-back World Series appearances, will be watching this year’s playoffs on TV. The pitching matchup: Ryan Merritt (0-0, 1.50 ERA) gets the ball for the Indians with Yordano Ventura (11-11, 4.40 ERA) taking the mound for the Royals. Merritt is one of Cleveland’s September call-ups and has made 24 starts in Triple-A, going 11-8 with a 3.70 ERA. The 16th-round selection in the 2011 draft has been up with the Indians three times this season, pitching just six innings spread over three relief appearances with one run allowed. He was Thursday’s scheduled starter but now makes his first major league start, tonight. Ventura has had a disappointing season but after opening 6-9 with a 4.88 ERA, he’s 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA since August 1.  The pick: It’s hard to evaluate Merritt but we know that Ventura is 4-2 with a 3.13 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians (team is 5-4). As noted above, Ventura has regained some of his previous good form since August 1 and Cleveland limps in to this series has having lost four its last five games, while scoring only four total runs in the losses. Kansas city is a 10* play.

The set-up: Boston has already secured the AL East title plus enters the final weekend of the regular season trailing Texas by two games for the AL’s best overall record (the winner earns home-field advantage for the entire postseason). The Red Sox also have to look over their shoulder, as the the Indians are just a half-game back of them. Assuming Texas holds on for the best record, Boston and Cleveland would meet in one of two ALDS matchups, with the home field edge going to the team with the better record. Toronto dropped two of three to the Baltimore Orioles in Canada to open this week and that means both teams are in a flat-footed tie for the two wild card spots, with Detroit 1 1/2 games behind and Seattle two games back. The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.53 ERA) starts for the Blue Jays and Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.11 ERA), who is the favorite to win the AL’s Cy Young award, goes for the Red Sox. Estrada comes in having allowed just one run on five hits in 14 innings over his last two starts. He is 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA in his career against the Red Sox, including 3-3 with a 4.21 ERA in seven starts (teams are 4-3). Porcello has had quite a season, as evidenced by the fact that he comes into this game having tossed at least six innings in 17 straight starts, the longest run for a Red Sox pitcher since Josh Beckett reached 18 straight in 2009. His career record vs. Toronto is just 7-6 with a 5.08 ERA in 15 all-time starts (teams are 7-8) but he’s 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts versus Toronto in 2016. The pick: Toronto is playing for it’s postseason ‘life’ this weekend and take a closer look at Estrada. His W-L record might only be 9-9 on the season but he’s allowing just 6.74 hits per nine innings, second in the AL to Detroit's Justin Verlander. Toronto is an impressive 15-9 at Fenway Park since 2014 and Toronto, plus the 1 1/2 runs is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 97-71 Toronto Blue Jays and the 86-72 Baltimore Orioles meet Thursday evening at Rogers Centre in the rubber match of the three-game series. Toronto holds the No. 1 wild card spot in the AL with Baltimore one game back in the second spot (Tigers are one back of Baltimore and the Mariners two back). The Blue Jays appeared poised to open a two-game lead over the Orioles on Wednesday with a 2-0 advantage after seven innings but then Toronto’s bullpen imploded, as the Orioles earned a 3-2 win.The Blue Jays lost Joaquin Benoit who suffered a torn calf muscle as he ran from the bullpen to participate in the melee with the New York Yankees on Monday. They would have to play deep into October before Benoit, who has been a key performer in the seventh inning, could return. Grilli has been the eighth-inning reliever and has a 9.15 ERA in 11 September outings and closer Osuna has an 8.10 ERA over his past six outings, going 1-1 with two saves and two blown saves. The pitching matchup: Ubaldo Jimenez (7-12, 5.71 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore, while Marcus Stroman (9-9, 4.34 ERA) gets the start for Toronto. Jimenez has been in and out of the rotation since the All Star break, going 2-3 with one save and a 3.17 ERA in 11 games, including seven starts (team is 4-3). He’s 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in four September starts (Baltimore is 3-1). Stroman takes the mound looking for his first win since August 14. His ERA is 3.32 in his seven starts since that last win, with Stroman going 0-4 (Blue Jays are 2-5). The pick: Stroman comes in struggling and is 2-2 with a 6.00 ERA over five career starts against the Orioles (team is 2-3). That includes his 7.88 ERA in three 2016 starts against. However, while Jimenez has pitched better lately (has posted quality starts in four of his last six, this is Toronto’s final home game of the season. Toronto ends the season at Fenway (Boston has clinched the AL East title) and a win or loss here may determine where or even if, the Blue Jays will be playing past October 2. Toronto has an 8* play.

The set-up: The Washington Nationals are set to host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon. Washington lost 3-0 on Wednesday in a game called due to rain in the sixth. The Dodgers hold the edge in the tiebreaker since they went 5-1 against Washington in regular-season play. Rain is again in the forecast for today and with the Nationals leading the Dodgers by two games in the race for the NL’s best record, there is a chance that if the game is rained out, Arizona would have to return to Washington and play Monday. The Dodgers hold the edge in the tiebreaker having gone 5-1 against Washington in regular-season play, so if this game is washed out and the home-field edge in the playoffs between Washington and LA is not settled come Sunday, the poor D’backs would have to return to Washington to play the Nats. The pitching matchup: Robbie Ray (8-14, 4.77 ERA) takes the hill for the D’backs and Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) for the Nationals. Ray was a 12th-round pick by the Nationals in 2010 out of a high school but he was part of the package that Washington traded to Detroit before the 2014 season as the Nationals acquired veteran right-hander Doug Fister. Ray made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2014. The 2016 season is Ray’s first full year as part of a major-league rotation and it has hardly gone smoothly. Arizona is 11-20 (minus-$1133) in his 31 starts in 2016, ranking 4th-worst among all MLB starters. Ross, who spent over two months on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, has been held to three or fewer innings in two outings since coming off the DL. However, with Stephen Strasburg out until at least the NLDS, Ross is expected to get a start in the postseason The pick: Ray’s had a rough season and comes in having allowed at least four ERs in four of his five September starts. Ross needs to get his pitch count up after a pair of abbreviated appearances, hoping to nail down that possible playoff start. The Nats would love to “take care of business” and put the Dodgers away, so a win here is a big deal. The listless D’backs, who currently reside in the NL West ‘basement,’ should play the perfect foil. Washington is an 8* play. 

The set-up: The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched the AL West title but last night’s 7-1 loss in San Diego, coupled with Scherzer’s 19th win of the season (4-2 over the D’backs), allowed the Nationals to move two games up on the Dodgers for the NL’s best overall record (both teams have five games remaining in the season). San Diego’s Tuesday win snapped the Dodgers’ five-game winning streak, as the Padres used a lineup that featured several recent call-ups from Triple-A. Game 2 of a three-game series will be played tonight. The pitching matchup: Jose De Leon (2-0, 5.52 ERA) was scheduled to start last night but was replaced by Maeda, who gave up three, first-inning runs and was gone after four innings. Going for the Padres will be Luis Perdomo (8-10, 5.59 ERA). De Leon is hoping he can be included as LA's fourth postseason starter, following Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill. This will be just his fourth career start and the best of those came against these Padres, when struck out nine in his major-league debut, a 7-4 victory over San Diego back on September 4 (he allowed three ERs in six innings). Perdomo is hoping to strengthen his case for a spot in next year’s rotation with a good effort. The pick: Perdomo had never pitched above Double-A before the season and the Padres are 10-9 (plus-$634) in his 19 starts here in 2016. The Dodgers need to win here, as they surely can’t expect the Nats to lose at home to the D’backs, who send Shelby Miller (2-12, 6.47 ERA) to the mound. LA bounces back and is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 70-87 Philadelphia Phillies and the 64-92 Atlanta Braves play the middle contest of a three-game series at Turner Field on Tuesday. The Braves won 7-6 on Tuesday, after the Phillies had jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Both teams own terrible records but both have been very competitive against the moneyline, as the 17 games under.500 Phillies are plus-$99 on the season and the Braves, who are 28 games under .500, are only minus-$13. The pitching matchup: Adam Morgan (2-10, 5.57 ERA) starts for Philadelphia and Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.41 ERA) for the Braves. This marks Morgan’s final start of the season (21st). He hasn't won since September 6 and has received no decisions in each of his last two starts, allowing four ERs over 9 1/3 innings (3.86 ERA). He is 1-4 with a 3.19 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta, including 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA against the Braves in two starts this season. Foltynewicz will also make his final start of the season (22nd). He has made one start against the Phillies this season, taking a loss when he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings The pick: Morgan has pitched better down the stretch in his second season, posting a 2.89 ERA in his last five starts but the Phillies are still just 2-3 in those games. The Phillies are 5-15 (minus-$929) in all of Morgan’s 2016 starts. Foltynewicz has established himself as the team's No. 2 starter with a solid year and is 4-0 in his last eight starts (Braves are 5-3), giving up three runs or fewer five times in that span while striking out six or more in five of his last six outings. What’s more, the Braves come in 16-9 over their last 25 games. Atlanta is a 10* play.