The set-Up: The Miami Marlins had hoped to take advantage of an easier portion of the schedule, which included series with the Rockies, the slumping Giants, the White Sox and now the Reds. However, Miami is just 4-8 in that span (starting back on August 5), heading into the final game of its four-game series with the Reds. Miami (62-58) has slipped in the NL wild card race, falling one game behind the Pirates and two games back of the St. Louis Cards, who currently own the final NL playoff spot. Miami took Monday’s opener 6-3 but has totaled just five runs in losing on Tuesday and Wednesday, struggling to adjust to life without Giancarlo Stanton. The 50-69 Cincinnati Reds have little to play for other than pride but do expect to have all hands on deck for Thursday, after a series of minor injuries caused regulars to miss games during this series against Miami. The pitching matchup: Jose Fernandez (12-6, 2.81 ERA) takes the mound for Miami and Dan Straily (8-6, 3.75 ERA) goes for the Reds. Fernandez toes the rubber after having had his last start skipped in an effort to keep his workload down in his first full season since returning from Tommy John surgery. His last outing was back on August 8, when he held San Francisco to one run in six innings, settling for a no decision. Straily has arguably been the Reds’ most dependable starter. This marks his 26th appearance of the season and 23rd start. Opponents are hitting just .215 against him, the ninth-best mark in the NL. He hasn't walked a batter in his last 16 2/3 innings. The pick: Straily is 4-0 in his last five starts and has allowed three or fewer ERs in eight consecutive outings. However, he’s not in the class of Fernandez, who owns a 2.81 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a .218 opponents BA. Fernandez is more dangerous at home than on the road but he comes in fully rested and I expect him to give Miami a much-needed win in this one. Marlins are an 8* play.

The set-up: The Mets moved back above .500 (60-59) after posting a 7-5 win at Arizona on Tuesday. It was the team’s first win this season against the D’backs, having lost four previous games to Arizona in a seven-day span. The victory moved New York to three games back of St. Louis by for the NL's second wild-card spot. Arizona is now 49-70, a record better than only the 48-71 Twins. Arizona’s moneyline mark of minus-$1946 is better than only Tampa Bay’s MLB-worst mark of minus-$2625. The pitching matchup: Jonathon Niese (8-6, 5.20 ERA) takes the hill for New York in the rubber match of this three-game series, opposed by Arizona’s Zack Godley (3-2, 5.24 ERA). Niese will be making his first start since rejoining the Mets, after making 18 starts for Pittsburgh prior to the recent trade (Pirates were 9-9).  He replaces the struggling Logan Verrett (he was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas), after making four relief appearances in a New York uniform. Zach Godley is also making a return to Arizona’s starting rotation, taking the place of Patrick Corbin. Godley’s seasonal record (see above) comes from making five starts in July and August, before moving to the bullpen. The pick: Niese does not own a good history against Arizona, going 4-3 but with a 6.94 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts / team is 4-4). Godley’s not much of a mound opponent and Arizona’s season-long record speaks for itself but Arizona has beaten the Mets in four of five games this year. What's more, the Mets have won back-to-back games just once since the All Star break. Arizona is a 10* play.

The set-up: Chase Utley enjoyed a fairytale return to Philadelphia on Tuesday night, with two HRs, including his 7th career grand slam. LA’s 15-5 win, coupled with yet another San Francisco loss (Giants are now a MLB-worst 9-20 since the All Star break), gives the Dodgers a half-game lead over the Giants in the NL West. As for Philadelphia, the loss snapped a four-game winning streak, although the Phillies can’t possibly still harbor any serious playoff hopes (Philadelphia sits 7 1/2 games out of the NL’s second wild card spot, with four teams ahead of them). The pitching matchup: Scott Kazmir (9-6, 4.44 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers on Wednesday, opposed by Philadelphia rookie Jake Thompson (1-1, 8.68 ERA). Kazmir pitched well against the Phillies in Los Angeles last week, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out six and walking three. However, he suffered a 6-2 loss, dropping to 1-3 (5.46 ERA) in six career starts vs. the Phillies (teams are 2-4). The loss was the third in a row for Kazmir, who had been 9-3 through his first 20 starts of 2016. Thompson’s major league debut came back on August 6, when he allowed six ERs on seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings at San Diego. He did rebound though last Friday, allowing three runs on two hits in five innings in a 10-6 win over Colorado The pick: The Dodgers have finally caught the Giants and will be buoyed by the fact that Kazmir is 5-0 on the road in 2016, while while limiting the opposition to a .207 batting average. The Dodgers are an 8* play.

The set-up: There’s a logjam at the top of the AL East, as the Blue Jays currently own the division’s best record at 68-52, with the Orioles and Red Sox in a tie at 66-52, one game back of the front runners. The Blue Jays and Yankees will play the rubber match of this three-game series Wednesday afternoon. The Yankees won 1-0 on Monday but Toronto came back from a 6-0 deficit for a 12-6 victory on Tuesday. The meltdown by New York's bullpen (allowed 11 hits, three walks and 12 runs in just four innings) dropped the Yankees to 5 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot The pitching matchup: Toronto’s surprising J.A. Happ (16-3, 2.96 ERA) goes for a major league-leading 17th win this afternoon, opposed by the disappointing C.C. Sabathia (7-9, 4.20 ERA) of the Yankees. The former Cy Young winner (C.C. won it in 2007) has been in a slump for two months, going 2-5 with a 6.41 ERA in 10 starts (Yanks are 5-5) since June 22. Finding for a positive in that span is the fact that he has followed up an ugly six-start winless drought (7.46 ERA) by posting a pair of victories in his last four outings. As for Happ, he’s already fashioned a “career year” in 2016. His best previous season came back in 2009 with the Phillies when he went 12-4 (2.93) in 35 appearances (23 starts). He will enter this game as MLB’s top winner at 16-3 (tied with Porcello), while his moneyline mark ranks 4th (18-5, plus-$1179). The pick: Toronto has had five pitchers get to 20 wins in team history and the only southpaw to do so was David Wells, winning 20 games in 2000. Happ is making a strong run at 20 wins by going 10-0 with a 2.66 ERA in his last 11 starts (team is 11-0). Happ and Sabathia have squared off twice already in 2016, with Happ pitching well both times and Toronto winning 3-1 and 4-1. What changes here? Nothing! 8* play on Toronto.

 The set-up: The Pittsburgh Pirates aim for their fifth win in six outings as they continue their six-game road trip with the middle contest of their three-game set against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Pittsburgh posted an 8-5 victory in the series opener to remain one game behind Miami and St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the NL. Meanwhile the loss by the Giants leaves them just a half-game up on the Dodgers in the NL West and San Francisco is now a pathetic 9-19 since the All Star break. The Giants blew a 7-1 lead in an 8-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday and last night lost 8-5, despite pounding out 12 hits, as they fell to 1-3 on their current 10-game homestand. The pitching matchup: Jameson Taillon (3-2, 2.85 ERA) will take the ball for the Pirates and Jeff Samardzija (10-8, 4.23 ERA) will start for the Giants. Taillon was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 draft and is now two years removed from Tommy John surgery. Pittsburgh has watched his pitch counts closely for most of the season but he’s topped 100 pitches for the first two times in his career in 3-2 and 4-0 wins over the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres in his last two starts. Taillon has made 10 starts since his 2016 debut back on June 8 with the Pirates going 7-3 (Pirates are 5-1 in his last six starts, while Taillon owns a 1.89 ERA). Samardzija has once again disappointed a team, as the Giants are 12-11 in his 2016 starts, losing $187 vs. the moneyline. The pick: San Francisco's starting rotation has produced only eight quality starts in 28 games since the All-Star break (that’s how a team goes 9-19). Samardzija was dubbed a "Pirate killer" in winning his first four career decisions against them in dominating fashion (1.09 ERA) but he owns a 4.34 ERA against the Pirates over his last 45 2/3 innings against them, leaving him 3-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 career stars vs. Pittsburgh (teams are 4-7). Taillon’s pitching better coming in but I’m concerned he’s getting “too much work.” Handicapping is often about “feel” and that has me on the Giants in this one as a 10* play.

The set-up: The Chicago White Sox visit Progressive Field for the first game of a three-game series with the AL Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. Chicago's early good start has been long-forgotten, as the 56-61 White Sox open the series 11 1/2 games back in the division and hardly much closer in the wild card race, sitting nine games out. Meanwhile, the 67-49 Indians lead the division by five games and the team's 35-21 home, where Cleveland has averaged 5.93 RPG, has been a big part of the team's postseason push. The pitching matchup: Jose Quintana (9-8, 2.85 ERA) will take the mound for Chicago and Corey Kluber (12-8, 3.21 ERA) goes for Cleveland. Quintana has pitched well the last few seasons but earning wins has always been a huge challenge for this lefty. Quintana is 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last seven starts (team is 5-2 ) and in 16 career appearances vs. Cleveland (14 starts / team is 6-8), he is 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA. In six career starts at Progressive Field he owns a 1.17 ERA. Kluber won the AL Cy Young award in 2014 but despite a decent 3.49 ERA in 2015, fell to 9-16 plus finished the season with MLB’s worst moneyline mark (11-21, minus-$1747). However, Kluber hasn't lost a game since July 3. He is 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in those six starts (team is 4-2), while holding opposing hitters to a .200 BA. In 13 career starts vs. the White Sox, Kluber is 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA (team is 6-7). The pick: The White Sox are really just playing out the string plus as noted earlier, always seem to have trouble backing Quintana on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Kluber is having an excellent bounce-back season and enters this contest with five consecutive winning home starts, while posting a 1.00 ERA. Throw in the fact that the Indians have won six straight contests between these division rivals while limiting the White Sox to a total of 12 runs, and the Indians are an 8* play. 

The set-up: Chase Utley returns to Citizens Bank Park for the first time in an opposing uniform as the LA Dodgers visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series. Utley spent his first 13 seasons with the Phillies until he was shipped to the Dodgers at last year's trade deadline and he’ll return to the City of Brotherly Love with a team that is now just a half-game back of the SF Giants in the NL West, as the slumping Giants fell to 9-19 since the All Star break with an 8-5 home loss Monday against the Pirates. The 56-63 Phillies have never really been in the playoff race at any point this season but bettors are well aware of Philadelphia, as the Phillies rank 4th-best in the moneyline standings at plus-$788 (note: the overpriced Dodgers may be 13 games over .500 but their moneyline mark is minus-$414). The pitching matchup: Rookie Kenta Maeda (11-7, 3.31 ERA) gets the call for LA and Vince Velasquez (8-4, 3.94 ERA) goes for Philadelphia. Maeda enters on a four-start unbeaten streak and looks looks to beat the Phillies and Velasquez for the second time in a span of eight days (allowed three runs over five innings in a 9-3 win on August 9). In contrast, Velasquez is winless in five starts since the All-Star break, including allowing nine runs on 11 hits (both season-highs) over just 4 2/3 innings in that August 9 meeting. However, he does own a 1.72 ERA in nine home starts here in 2016. The pick:  Velasquez suffered a biceps strain that has caused him to miss several starts in June and July but he hasn’t missed any starts lately. As for LA, the Dodgers need Maeda to pitch deep into Tuesday's contest, after their last two starters failed to get through the second inning, taxing the bullpen for 15 1/3 innings Saturday and Sunday. Expect that to happen, as we note that Maeda is an impressive 7-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 11 road starts in 2016 (team is 8-3). Add in Velaquez's 1.72 home ERA this season and I can smell an under on Tuesday. Make it a top-rated 10* play. 

The set-up: The Pirates flew to San Francisco on Sunday night on the heels of taking two of three from the Giants' NL West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pittsburgh opens this three-game series at AT&T Park in a four-way race for the NL’s second wild card spot. The Cards lead the Marlins by a half-game, the Pirates by 1 1/2 games and the Mets by 2 1/2. The Giants lead the Dodgers by just one game in the NL West, after Sunday’s stunning 8-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The Giants took a 7-1 lead into the 7th inning with Cueto on the mound. He didn’t make it out of the 7th but SF still led 7-3 entering the 8th. However, the Orioles scored five times in the last two innings to come away with the victory. That game is indicative of the Giants’ struggles since the All Star break, which has seen them go a woeful 9-18. The pitching matchup:  Ex-Giant Ryan Vogelsong (1-2, 2.67 ERA) starts for the Pirates and the newly-acquired (from Tampa Bay) Matt Moore (7-8, 3.99 ERA) gets the nod for the Giants. Vogelsong played seven seasons for the Giants and went 48-49 with a 3.93 ERA over two stints. That includes 2012 and 2014, when he started seven games and went 3-0 in the postseason as the club was winning a pair of World Series. Vogelsong has spent most of the season working out of the bullpen but entered the starting rotation following the trade of Francisco Liriano to the Toronto Blue Jays. He's allowed just one ER in 12 innings over two starts against Atlanta and San Diego, although the Pirates lost both games (5-2 to the Braves and 4-0 to the Padres).Moore is seeking his first win with the Giants after allowing a total of four runs in two starts covering 12 innings since being traded from Tampa Bay for infielder Matt Duffy. Moore has never faced the Pirates. The pick: Vogelsong last faced the Giants as a starter back on August 12, 2004, when he was the losing pitcher for the Pirates in a 7-0 home loss. He expects a warm welcome Monday at AT&T Park but I’m not convinced he’ll have all that much success. As for Moore, while this looks like it’s going to be first fully healthy season since 2012 (his rookie year), it’s hardly been a dominant one. This over/under just feels too low. 10* play on the Over.

The set-up: The 63-54 Mariners open a four-game series in Anaheim against the Angels on a 10-2 run which has moved the team into second place in the AL West (5 1/2 games back of Texas). The team’s current hot streak also has them within two games of the Boston Red Sox for the AL’s second wild card spot. As for the Angels, coming off an 85-77 season in 2015 and a ML-high 98-win season in 2014, this year’s team is in a ‘free-fall!’ LA currently owns a 10-game losing streak, the team's worst since 1999 and the longest in manager Mike Sciocia's 17-year tenure. That finds them 49-68, just barely ahead of the AL’s two-worst teams, the 47-69 Rays and the 47-71 Twins. The pitching matchup: “King Felix” (6-4, 3.39 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle and Ricky Nolasco (4-9, 5.14 ERa) gets the ball for LA. Hernandez won the American League's Cy Young Award in 2010 and entered this season having made 30-plus start in each of the last 10 seasons,  totaling 139 wins. However, injuries have limited him to just 15 starts this season (he missed seven weeks because of a strained right calf), leaving him with only six wins and the team with a 9-6 (plus-$128) record in those outings. Nolasco will be making his third start since coming from the Minnesota Twins for left-hander Hector Santiago in a four-player trade back on August 1. He allowed two runs and one walk in six innings while conceding six hits and striking out six last Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs but took a loss in the 3-1 defeat. In his first start, he allowed five ERs in six innings of a no decision. The pick: The bottom line is, the Angels are a total mess plus Nolasco takes the mound having not won since July 9 and in 11 previous home starts this season, owns a 5.30 ERA. Hernandez has not pitched like a ‘king’ in 2016 but Seattle has won four of his five starts since he came off the DL. Seattle has posted an AL-low 2.83 ERA in August, while Los Angeles has recorded an MLB-worst 6.84 ERA this month. You do the math! Seattle is a 10* play. 

The set-up: The Kansas City Royals have gone 12-17 since the All Star break and now, at 57-60, sit 7 1/2 games back in the wild card race, with four teams ahead of them. It’s all but certain KC will not make a third straight postseason trip, no less a return to the World Series in 2016. Meanwhile, the Tigers pulled out of a five-game skid over the weekend with back-to-back shutouts of the Texas Rangers on Saturday and Sunday. Detroit remains in the thick of the AL’s wild card race at 63-54, currently 1 1/2 games out of the final spot. The pitching matchup: Ian Kennedy (6-9, 3.91 ERA) takes the mound for KC and Daniel Norris (1-0, 4.00 ERA) will be handed the ball for Detroit. Kennedy signed a five-year, $70 million contract during the offseason as a free agent but as he gets set to make his 24th start of 2016, the Royals are 10-13 (minus-$308) in his first 23. Kennedy is 0-3 with a 4.34 ERA in five career starts vs. Detroit (teams are 0-5!), including two starts against them this season in which Kennedy has a loss and a no-decision (team is 0-2), despite allowing a combined three ERs. Daniel Norris will make his second start since returning from Triple-A. Norris went on the 15-day DL in early July with a right oblique strain and gave up one run and seven hits in five innings at Seattle on Tuesday. He was in line for a victory before the Mariners rallied for an extra-innings win. The Royals have won six of their last eight but the Tigers are MLB’s second-best moneyline team at plus-$1479, including $1051 at home where they are 33-21 and averaging 5.06 RPG. 8* play on the Tigers.

The set-up: The Boston Red Sox will embark on an 11-game road trip after Sunday’s game and could use the positive mojo a three-game sweep of Arizona would provide. Boston will play 30 of its final 46 games on the road and its upcoming road trip will pit the 63-52 Red Sox against teams it is challenging for playoff spots in the American League, namely Cleveland, Baltimore and Detroit. While Boston currently owns the AL’s No. 2 wild card spot, four teams are right behind them, none being more than 3 1/2 games back. As for the 48-68 Diamondbacks, only the 44-73 Atlanta Braves own a worse record in the National League. The pitching matchup: Zack Greinke (11-3, 3.67 ERA) takes the mound for Arizona and Rick Porcello (15-3, 3.40 ERA) for the Red Sox. Greinke was placed on the disabled list June 24 with an oblique strain but returned Tuesday and gave the struggling D’backs six solid inning to pick up his ninth consecutive win and his 11th victory of 2016. He’s now 30-6 over the last two seasons. Porcello’s 2016 season has been one of the year’s biggest surprises, as he was 9-15 with a 4.92 in 2015, his first season with Boston. However, after defeating the New York Yankees 5-3 this past Tuesday, Porcello is 15-3 on the season, with Boston going 17-6 in all of his starts. That gives him the 11th-best moneyline mark among all starters (plus-$953).  The pick: Never an easy choice to go against Greinke but he’s backed by a team which is headed nowhere. Porcello will attempt to become the first Red Sox pitcher to begin a season 12-0 at home since Dave Ferriss started 1946 at 13-0. He enters this game 11-0 in 12 Fenway starts in 2016 (team is 12-0) and in his ‘lucky’ 13th home start of the season, takes down Greinke and the D’backs. Boston is an 8* play.

The set-up: The SD Padres made a move to “win now” prior to the 2015 season but the team’s key FA acquisitions never delivered as hoped and San Diego had pretty much ‘cleaned house’ by this year’s trade deadline. The 50-66 Padres will will take on the Mets Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of this three-game series at Citi Field, after New York snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday night with a 3-2, 11-inning win. Last year’s NL champs celebrated as if it clinched a postseason berth after a fielder's choice grounder in the 11th gave them the win. It came two innings after closer Jeurys Familia surrendered a tying two-run homer with two outs in the ninth. The Mets are only 11-20 since the team last won back-to-back games, yet at 58-58 are still only 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the NL's second wild card. The pitching matchup: Clayton Richard (0-1, 6.46 ERA) will get the start for San Diego and Steven Matz (8-8, 3.60 ERA) get the nod of New York. Clayton Richard made 25 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs before being designated for assignment back on July 26. The Padres signed Richard, who pitched for the club from 2009 through 2013, on August 5. Richard has allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings over two relief appearances for San Diego and now is being given a start. The Padres are trying to limit the innings of their starters during a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Only two current San Diego starters, Christian Friedrich and Luis Perdomo, have made 10 starts for the club this season and only one, right-hander Jarred Cosart, started a game in the majors last season. Matz lost his first start of 2016 but then won seven consecutive ones. However, he has earned just a LONE victory over his last 13 trips to the mound and will be seeking his first home win since May 20. The pick: The Padres can’t expect much from Richard in this one, while Matz has five quality starts in his last seven outings. He’s deserved a better fate than his 1-5 record in that stretch (team is 1-6) but New York has scored a modest total of just 17 runs in those seven starts. The Mets have not won consecutive games since July 6-7 and last won a series back on July 22-24. Mets win today, ending both droughts. NY Mets are an 8* play. 

The set-up: The Marlins, not the White Sox, opened this three-game IL series with 2016 postseason hopes but it’s Chicago which finds itself on the verge of a sweep in Sunday’s series finale at Marlins Park. Sunday’s game was expected to be a matchup of All Stars, Chris sale vs. Jose Fernandez but Miami has decided to rest Fernandez, skipping him until next Friday to afford him more rest. The 56-60 White Sox are 7 1/2 games out of the AL’s second wild card spot and have four teams ahead of them. However, that’s not the case with the 60-56 Marlins, who despite back-to-back loses Friday and Saturday, are only a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second and final NL wild-card playoff berth. The pitching matchup: Chris Sale (14-5, 3.16 ERA) takes the mound as intended for Chicago, while Tom Koehler (9-8, 3.83 ERA) will take the place of Fernandez, who famously owns a 26-2 (1.62 ERA) career record at Marlins Park. Sale opened the season 9-0 (1.59) but his ERA is now almost double that, as he’s just 5-5 over his last 13 starts (team is 6-7). Koehler’s no Fernandez but he is coming off a gem this past Tuesday against the Giants. He scattered just two hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings and struck out six in the 2-0 win. He’ll take the mound 3-0 with an 0.27 ERA (two ERs allowed in 27 innings!) over his last four starts (team is 3-1) The pick: "He's been our best starter the past month," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Koehler but the Marlins seem to be buckling under the pressure. Miami had a chance to gain some ground in the wild card race but head into the finale of its six-game homestand just 1-4. Sale notably used a knife to cut up several of his team's throw-back uniforms, costing him a five-day suspension. He is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts since that incident (team is 1-2) but let’s not forget that he still owns nasty stuff.  He is a five-time All-Star and entered this season having finished in the top-10 in the American League in ERA and strikeouts four years in a row and has a shot to extend that streak in 2016. Make it a 10* play on the White Sox to complete the sweep.

The set-up. The Mariners opened a three-game series vs. the A’s last night, entering on a six-game overall winning streak, as well as having won their last seven games in Oakland. However, “the going nowhere” A’s won 6-3, dropping Seattle 7 1/2 games back of Texas in the AL West plus leaving them two back in the race for the AL’s second wild card spot. The 52-64 A’s can only play a spoiler role, the rest of the way. The pitching matchup: Hisashi Iwakuma (13-7, 3.79 ERA) and Kendall Graveman (8-7, 4.29 ERA) square off on Saturday night. Both have become their respective teams’ ace here in 2016. Iwakuma leads Seattle in wins with 13 (no one else owns more than seven!) and makes his team-high 24th start Saturday, at least nine more starts than any other Mariner, including “King Felix.” The Mariners have used 12 starting pitchers this season. Graveman’s eight wins is tops on the A's and he makes his team-high 23rd start (that’s two more than Sonny Gray, who's on the DL, and at least six more than every other Oakland starter). Graveman is the only member of the A's original rotation who is on the active roster and the only one who hasn't spent time on the disabled list. The pick: Graveman is 7-1 with a 3.67 ERA in his past 13 starts (team is 10-3) and he's 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his past five home starts, all Oakland wins. However, after opening 1-4 through his first eight starts (team was 3-5), Iwakuma is 12-3 over his last 15 starts, earning a decision in each outing! He’s 7-4 with a .89 ERA in 12 career starts vs. Oakland (team is 7-5). Graveman has allowed 17 hits over 10 2/3 innings in two starts this year against Seattle (5.06 ERA) and this total is too low. 10* on the over.

The set-up: It’s first (Washington leads the NL East at 67-47) vs. worst (Atlanta’s 44-72 record is not only the worst in the NL East but also the worst in all of MLB) when the Nats host the Braves on Saturday. However, it was the sad-sack Braves who won 8-5 last night, KO’ing 15-game winner Stephen Strasburg (allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings). The Braves victory snapped a 14-game losing streak at Nationals Park, giving Atlanta seven wins in its last 10 games. Want a larger sample size? The Braves are 26-26 in their past 52 games. That’s .500 baseball, after starting 18-46 (.281) The pitching matchup: A pair of 22-year-old rookies will each be making their third starts tonight, as Atlanta’s Rob Whalen (1-0, 5.73 ERA) squares off against Washington’s Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 9.35 ERA). Whalen had a poor MLB debut, giving up four runs (all in the first inning) in five innings of an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh. After giving up four walks in that first outing, he bounced back to strike out seven with just one walk in seven innings but settled for a no decision in a 4-3 win (he allowed three ERs). Lopez is said to be the No. 3 prospect in Washington’s organization but he gave up six runs on 10 hits with nine strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings during his major-league debut July 19 against the Dodgers. He then walked five in his other start July 30 at San Francisco but limited the Giants to three runs on four hits. Lopez went 5-6 with a 3.17 ERA in 18 starts in Double and Triple-A stints this season. The pick: We haven’t seen enough of these two pitchers to make them a factor, so will back the much better team, looking to rebound off last night’s ‘spanking.’ The Braves have played much better over the summer (see above) but they still own the worst record in the majors, while the Nationals sit atop the NL East with only the Cubs owning a better record in the entire National League. Also, let’s not ignore that the Nats have won 14 of their last 15 at home vs. the Braves. Washington is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 56-60 Rockies and 54-63 Phillies own similar records but while Philly has zero playoff hopes, Colorado still owns long-shot hopes, sitting 4 1/2 games out of the NL’s second wild card spot. Colorado’s playoff chances sure weren’t helped by its 10-6 loss last night, as the Rockies have now lost seven of nine following an 11-2 run. Philadelphia is ‘sneaky good’ as sports bettors are aware, as despite the team’s record (nine games below .500), the Phillies moneyline mark of plus-$588 ranks fifth-best in all of MLB! The pitching matchup: Tyler Anderson (4-3, 3.04 ERA) will start for the Rockies and  Jerad Eickhoff (7-12, 3.78 ERA) for the Phillies. Anderson has gone seven innings each of his last two starts, matching his career high (he’s made 11 starts this season, with Colorado going 6-5). He owns the lowest ERA for a Rockies starter through 11 games in club history and his road ERA (3.06) is more than respectable, although he is 0-2 in three starts away from Coors Field (team is 1-2). Eickhoff beat the San Diego Padres last Sunday, his first victory since he beat the Atlanta Braves on July 4. He ended a five-start winless stretch, in which he owned a 5.08 ERA (he was 0-3 and the team 1-4). The pick: Here’s the thing. Yes, Anderson looks like the better pitcher right now but he’s had little luck on the road, with Colorado scoring just one run in his three starts. Meanwhile, Eickhoff owns a 2.92 ERA in 11 starts at home 2016. The Phillies have averaged 6.1 runs per game in August, after battering Jon Gray and four Colorado relievers for 11 hits in Friday’s 10-6 victory. Second verse, same as the first. 10* play on Philadelphia.

The set-up: The Astros were one of MLB’s biggest surprises last season, earning a wild card berth by winning 86 games. They beat the Yanks in that one-game playoff and then lost in the ALDS to KC (no shame, as the Royals captured the World Series). However, the team’s “encore season” has been a struggle, after a slower than expected start. Houston opened its its three-game series at Toronto with a 5-3 win last night, giving them team four consecutive wins following a stretch in which the Astros had lost six of seven. Houston remains 7 1/2 games back in the AL West but is one of three teams within two games of the AL’s final wild card spot. The loss dropped Toronto a half-game back of Baltimore in the AL East but the Jays are two games ahead of Boston for the top wild card spot, 3 1/2 games clear of the postseason ‘cut line.’ The pitching matchup: Collin McHugh (7-9, 4.69 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros and Aaron Sanchez (11-2, 2.85 ERA) does so for the Blue Jays. Joe Musgrove gave Houston a much-needed lift with seven strong innings last night (allowed just one run), in earning his first-ever  major league win in his third career start. Houston could use another start like that from McHugh. He comes in with a three-game losing streak but has allowed three or fewer ERs in nine of his last 10 starts. He’ll face a tough opponent in Sanchez, who is coming off his first loss since April 22 last Saturday at Kansas City. He allowed four ERs on nine in six innings of a 4-2 defeat. He had not allowed more than two runs in his previous eight starts, a span in which he went 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA. The pick: Note that in the above eight-start stretch just referred to, the Blue Jays lost all three of Sanchez’s no decisions, which means the team is a modest 5-4 over his last nine starts. Toronto is concerned about his work load. Sanchez has pitched a career-high 145 1/3 innings this season (previous high was 133 1/3) and, initially, the Blue Jays wanted to put him in the bullpen to control his innings. However, they’ve instead gone to a six-man rotation and with a day off in the schedule this past Thursday, Sanchez will be pitching on six days' rest against the Astros (is he out of rhythm?). That’s good news and the season Toronto is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Rays visit Yankees Stadium Friday for the opening of a three-games series. Tampa Bay resides in the basement of the AL East at 46-67 (18 games back) and the 58-56 Yankees reside in fourth-place but are 11 1/2 games better than the rays. Tampa Bay has dropped out of postseason long ago and while New York remains in striking distance (31/2 games out of the second wild card spot), the team’s trade deadline player ‘dump’ leaves few believing anyone in the front office has moved on to future seasons. Friday’s game will be notable for one and only one reason. A-Rod will be making his last appearance for the Yankees in front of a crowd that will include his mother and two daughters. The Yankees made that official last Sunday when they announced Rodriguez would be released and join the team as an advisor in the 2017 season. The pitching matchup: Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer (6-15, 4.26 ERA) will take on New York veteran C.C. Sabathia (6-9, 4.18 ERA). Archer is 5-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 11 career starts against New York (Rays are 7-4) and I’ll also note that he owns a 3-1 (2.18) record at Yankee Stadium. However, how does one overlook the fact that Archer is MLB’s biggest ‘money-burner’ among starters in 2016, with the Rays going 7-17 or minus-$1217 in his 24 starts here in 2016. Sabathia’s season has been heading ‘south’ as of late, going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts (Yanks are 2-3) all seaosn long he’s struggled at Yankees Stadiium. It’s hard to fathom that this once dominant pitcher is 1-6 with a 4.82 ERA in nine home starts (Yanks are 3-6) in 2016. The pick: Unlike the farewells to Derek Jeter in 2014 and Mariano Rivera the previous year, Rodriguez's career is concluding quietly. Although he will be honored with a ceremony before the game, the mood does not figure to be celebratory. Yes, archer has had a poor season but he ws an All Star last season and few who follow MLB believ this guy is ‘done.’ Note that since the all Star break, while Archer is just 2-3, he owns a 2.94 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings in five starts! In stark contrast, Sabathia has registered just one quality start in his last nine outings, going 1-5 (team is) in that stretch. 10* play on Tampa Bay.

The set-up: The Chicago White Sox jumped out to an early lead in the AL Central but that’s a thing of the past these days, as they check in at 54-60 as they open a three-game interleague series in Miami. While the White Sox have fallen well off the pace in the AL Central and find themselves 7 1/2 games back in the wild card race, the 60-54 Marlins (60-54) own a half-game lead over the Cards for the NL’s second wild card spot. Word is that the Marlins a very serious about chasing down a playoff spot and reportedly have had internal discussions about pushing all their chips to the center of the table in a bid to sign veteran Alex Rodriguez, who will be released by the New York Yankees on Friday. Then again, would that be a good thing? The pitching matchup: Carlos Rodon (2-8, 4.49 ERA) will get the ball for the White Sox and the newly-acquired Andrew Cashner (4-8, 4.96 ERA) gets the nod for the Marlins. Rodon made his major league debut last year, going an impressive 9-6 with a 3.75 ERA. However, he’s suffered from the proverbial “sophomore jinx” in 2016. His season has been interrupted by a July 9th stint on the DL due to a sprained wrist, not returning until July 31. The White Sox are 6-12 in all of his starts and he has notwon a road game since April 13. Cashner made a brief appearance by facing one batter in Miami's 14-inning game versus San Francisco on Monday, which was just two days removed from a brutal outing in Colorado. While making just his second start since being acquired from San Diego, he allowed seven runs on eight hits in only five innings of a 12-6 loss to the Rockies. The pick: Rodon’s home town is Miami but as noted, he’s been awful on the road, as the White Sox are a woeful 1-7 in his eight road starts in 2016. No reason for that to improve here against a Miami team right in the hunt for a playoff berth. Cashner is a much better pitcher than he’s shown in 2016 and he just may help the Marlins to the team's first playoff berth since winning the World Series back in 2003. 10* play on Miami.

The set-up: The Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels will meet Friday night at Progressive Field in the second game of their four-game series. The Indians won 14-4 last night, moving to 64-48 on the season and extending their lead over the idle Tigers to four games in the AL Central. As for the Angels, LA falls to 49-65 on the year (in last-place in the AL West and ‘buried’ with the AL’s third-worst record), while losing for the seventh straight time. LA takes the field with MLB’s longest active losing streak. The pitching matchup: Tyler Skaggs (1-0, 2.04 ERA) takes the mound for LA, up against Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco (7-6, 3.17 ERA). Skaggs had Tommy John surgery back in 2014 and has just recently returned to the mound in 2016. His third start on the heels of that surgery did not go as well as the previous two, as he followed two scoreless outings by allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision at Seattle on Saturday. Skaggs has faced Cleveland only once but pitched well, allowing three ERs on four hits in seven innings of a no-decision (Angels won the game). Carrasco comes of a third straight loss in last Sunday’s 3-2 setback at the Yankees. However, he didn’t pitch poorly, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings. The pick: Skaggs is tasked with ending the Angels’ longest losing streak in six years (LA last lost seven in row in April and May of 2010) but that’s unlikely. He faces an excellent Cleveland team which ranks third in runs scored (5.03 RPG) and 8th in team BA (.262). The Indians are even more dangerous offensively at home, averaging 5.9 RPG. Cleveland’s staff owns the 8th-best ERA in MLB (3.86 ERA) and Carrasco owns impressive career numbers vs. the Angels. He owns a 1.36 ERA and 0.79 WHIP while limiting LA to just a .151 batting average in seven all-time appearances (just three starts). 8* play on Cleveland.

The set-up: The Royals have represented the AL in each of the last two World Series, winning last year’s “Fall Classic” in 2015 over the NY Mets. However, it’s become fairly obvious that the only October baseball in KC’s future in 2016 will end on October 2 (final day of the regular season). KC currently sits 10 games back of Cleveland in the AL Central (in third-place), as well as finding themselves 7 1/2 games out in the wild card race (tied with the White Sox) with four teams ahead of them. Those very White Sox and the Royals meet tonight in the rubber match of a three-game series. Chicago enters just 27-41 since opening the season by going 27-18 in its first 45 games of 2016. The pitching matchup: Miguel Gonzalez (2-6, 4.09 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago and Danny Duffy (8-1, 2.97 ERA) goes for Kansas City. Gonzalez seemed as if he was earning a regular spot in Baltimore’s starting rotation from 2012-2014 but he had a poor 9-12 (4.91 ERA) season in 2015. After an awful spring, he was released. He has hardly “found himself" here in Chicago in 18 appearances, including 17 starts (White Sox are 8-9). Gonzalez has not won in his last five starts (he’s 0-2 and the team is 2-3 ). In stark contrast, Duffy has won his past seven decisions. The Royals are 13-3 in his 16 starts this season, earning him MLB’s fifth-best moneyline mark (plus-$1072). The pick: Both teams are now playing out the string but the pitching matchup in this one greatly favor Kansas City. Duffy has not lost a home start since September 5, 2015 and here in 2016, is 4-0 in nine starts at Kauffman Stadium (Royals are in 8-1 those games). The Royals are an 8* play. 

The set-up: The Rangers and Rockies complete their four-game, home-and-home IL series this afternoon in Texas. The Rangers have won the first three games with each win coming in their last at-bat. The most recent victory was a 5-4, come-from-behind victory Wednesday, when Adrian Beltre's two-run, eighth-inning single was the game-winner. Texas has now won five in a row and the Rangers have scored the winning run after the seventh inning in all five games. Texas is 26-8 in one-run games this season plus owns a major-league-best 36 come-from-behind victories. Texas is solidifying its AL West lead (currently seven games over second-place Seattle), while the 55-59 Rockies have just about ‘kissed’ any 2016 playoff hopes goodbye! The pitching matchup: Chad Bettis (10-6, 5.13 ERA) takes the mound for Colorado in this one, opposed by Lucas Harrell (3-2, 3.46 ERA), who Texas recently acquired from the Braves. The Rockies are 14-9 (plus-$699) in Bettis’ starts this season, including winning eight of his last 10. However, while Colorado is 8-2 this season when Bettis starts at Coors Field, the Rockies are a much more modest 6-7 in his road starts. I’m not quite sure what to make of Harrell just yet, he lasted only 3 2/3 innings at Houston on Saturday in his second start for Texas after being acquired from Atlanta. He took a no decision in that game, as he allowed just one run, despite yielding five hits and five walks. His Texas debut saw him allow three runs on four hits (including two HRs) over six innings against Kansas City on July 31. The pick: I’m looking past the starting pithing matchup in this one, as it does slightly favor Colorado. However, the acquisitions of Beltran and Lucroy have made an already potent Texas lineup even more ‘lethal.’ The numbers don’t lie. At plus-$2690 on the season, Texas’ moneyline mark is a MLB-best, more than double that of the Tigers, who at plus-$197 rank second. Texas is an 8* play.

The set-up: The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one-and-done each of the last three seasons, losing the NL wild card one-game playoff three straight years. With the Cubs firmly in control of the NL Central in 2016, the Pirates only hope is a return to the  that one-game ‘crapshoot’ again this season. However, that will not be easily attained, as Pittsburgh and the NY Mets are currently 2 1/2 games back of the Marlins and Cards, who are tied for the NL’s second wild card spot. To that end, the Pirates and the “wait until next year (or beyond)” Padres (San Diego is 49-64) play the rubber match of a three-games series early this afternoon at PNC Park.   The pitching matchup: Christian Friedrich (4-7, 4.76 ERA) and Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.29 ERA) will take the mound today and both are former first-round picks. Friedrich is one of 13 starters the Padres have used in 2016 and he matched his longest start of the season with seven innings against Philadelphia this past Friday. However, he lost 5-4 and in his 15 starts this season, the Padres are 7-8. He’s really had trouble on the road as of late, posting a 7.71 ERA in his last five road appearances. He’sallowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings across four career games (one start) versus Pittsburgh. The Pirates have waited six years for former No. 2 overall draft pick Jameson Taillon to make the major leagues. Pittsburgh didn’t call up Taillon until two months into the season but after more than just a few changes to the team’s rotation, Taillon finds himself as the team’s No. 2 man in Pittsburgh’s rotation. The pick: Taillon hasn't won since June 29 at Seattle but in his nine big league starts, he owns a solid 3.29 ERA with a 43-6 KW ratio over 52 innings. He’s winless in five home starts (0-0) but the Pirates are 4-1 in those games. He comes into this contest having seen the Pirates win four of his last five starts overall (six innings in each with no more than three ERs allowed in any of them!), a stretch which has included a stay on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue from July 5-19. He owns a 2.70 ERA in that span, along with a spectacular 28-1 KW ratio. 8* play on the Pirates. 

The set-up: The Mets lost 5-3 to the D’backs last night, failing to follow up Sunday’s win over the Tigers. New York has not won consecutive games since July 7-8. The team is 10-17 since its last "winning streak" and the 57-55 Mets are now 2 1/2 games behind the Miami Marlins in the race for the National League's second wild card spot. Meanwhile, the 46-66 D’backs are dead-last in the NL West (17 1/2 games out) and only the Braves owns a worse record among all NL teams. Good news for Arizona was the return of Zack Greinke came off the DL on Tuesday (1st appearance since June 28), as he posted a quality start (6 IP / 5 hits / 3 ERs) in earning his 11th win. The pitching matchup: Arizona’s Robbie Ray (5-11, 4.83 ERA) will square off against New York’s ageless Bartolo Colon (10-6, 3.46 ERA). The 43-year-old Colon earned his 10th victory in his most recent start last Thursday, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings as the Mets beat the New York Yankees 4-1. He now owns four seasons of double-digit wins since turning 40. The only other pitchers with many such seasons are Phil Niekro (7), Jamie Moyer and Jack Quinn (6), and Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan (4). In this start vs. Arizona, he is looking to become the 17th player to beat all 30 teams (note: he has made just two career starts against the Diamondbacks, who began play in 1998). Ray comes into this start battling a rough stretch with losses in three straight starts. He was lit up for six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a pair of walks in six innings against Washington on August 2. His ERA over those three losses is 7.02. The pick: New York’s lineup should have little trouble against Ray and while Colon continues to defy his age,  I don’t see him shutting down the D’backs, either. 10* play on the over. 

The set-up: Cleveland pitchers struggled badly with the Indians losing four of five to open August, allowing 60 runs in those five games from August 1 through April 5. However, Cleveland pitchers have righted the ship the last three games, allowing just six runs. The 63-47 Indians own a 3 1/2 game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central and the Nats, despite an offensive slump that has seen the team manage just three runs in the last three contests, owns a sizeable 6 1/2 game lead in the NL East. Bauer (6 1/3 innings scoreless innings) outdueled Scherzer (three runs, two earned in seven innings) in last night’s 3-1 Cleveland win and the teams conclude this two-game IL series late this afternoon in Washington. The pitching matchup: Josh Tomlin (11-4, 3.81 ERA) of the Indians will face off against Gio Gonzalez (7-9, 4.13 ERA) of the Nats. Tomlin has struggled some recently (5.70 ERA over his last five starts) but it’s hard to take issue with the fact that the Indians are 15-5 in his starts, giving him a plus-$1041 money line mark (8th-best among all starters). Gonzalez is having a tough overall year (team is 9-13 and minus-$822 in all of his starts) but he’s enjoyed a resurgence as of late, going 3-1 record with a 2.03 ERA over his last five starts (team is 3-2). He has allowed three ERs or less in each of his last six starts plus owns an impressive 5-0 career record against the Indians, posting a 1.07 ERA in eight starts (teams are 6-2). The pick: This is Tomlin’s first career appearance against Washington but he is 7-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 13 all-time interleague starts. That said, on recent form, Gonzalez is the better pitcher, making Washington the play is this one. 10* play on the Nats.

The set-up: The Giants have struggled since the All Star break and it was more of the same on Tuesday. After a great comeback win Monday night, the Giants were shut out 2-0 last night, producing only three hits (note: Brandon Crawford has seven hits himself, in Monday’s 14-inning win). San Francisco has now blown all of its pre-All Star game lead in the NL West, as the Giants and Dodgers are both 64-49. The 60-53 Marlins own the No.2 wild card spot in the NL (four games back of either the Dodgers or Giants, while leading the Cards by just one game and the Mets and Pirates by 2 1/2 games). The pitching matchup: Jeff Samardzija (9-8, 4.40 ERA) takes the mound for San Francisco and David Phelps (5-5, 2.45 ERA) gets the ball for the Marlins. Samardzija has all the pitches but once again, his record never seems to match his talent (maybe it’s perceived talent?). He lost his third straight start the last time out (Friday at Washington), allowing five ERs over seven innings of a 5-1 defeat. So what else is new? Samardzija has allowed at least four runs in seven of his last eight outings, going 1-4 mark with a 7.19 ERA in that span (Giants are 2-6, having lost his last four starts). David Phelps began his career with the NY Yankees back in 2012 and throughout his career, he’s been used as a starter (60) and as a reliever (101). His role for Miami in 2016 has been that of a set-up man and after three straight years of ERAs well over 4.00, Phelps had a 2.65 ERA in 50 relief appearances, before making his first start of this season on August 5. The pick: Phelps had a strong effort in that first start, scattering four hits on 70 pitches over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Colorado (Marlins won 5-3). Phelps is back in a starting role again this afternoon, taking the ball in Wednesday's rubber match of the series. San Francisco has now lost 16 of 23 since the All-Star break and that slide doesn’t figure to end this afternoon, behind the struggling Samardzija. 8* play on Miami.

The set-up: Manny Machado homered on Monday (he had three on Sunday!) but it couldn't stop Baltimore from suffering a 3-2 defeat at Oakland, as the 63-48 Orioles fell into a virtual tie for first place in the AL East with the 64-49 Toronto Blue Jays. This four-game series continues Tuesday in Oakland, whose Monday win was just its second in the last 10 games. The 49-63 Athletics have scored only six runs over their first four contests of a 10-game homestand. Oakland in last place in the AL West, 16 1/2 games back and is hardly much closer in the wild card standings (12 games back). The pitching matchup: Newly-acquired Wade Miley (7-9, 5.08 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore, while the A’s counter with rookie Zach Neal (1-1, 5.25 ERA). Miley was recently acquired from Seattle and lost his Baltimore debut with he gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings this past Thursday. That defeat continued his recent decline, which has seen him lose seven of his last eight decisions after a 6-2 start. Neal, at least for the moment, has moved into the rotation with Sonny Gray getting placed on the disabled list. This start will be just his second of the season. He has made 10 relief appearances and just that one spot start over four stints with the A's this season. His first start (way back on May 25) didn't go well, as he was ripped for seven runs (all earned) on eight hits in four innings at Seattle in a 13-3 loss. The pick: Neal hasn't been scored on in 9 1/3 innings over his last four appearances (all in relief) but as we saw back in late May, a start is a ‘horse of a different color.’ Miley had a rough debut for the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday against the Rangers but in two career starts against the Athletics (both last year), he’s 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA. The Orioles have had their struggles on the road but in Oakland (and in the inexperienced Neal), they are in a very winnable situation. 8* play on the Orioles. 

The set-up: The Astros looked to this four-game series with the Twins as a chance to make up some ground in their playoff chase but Monday's 3-1 loss was their 11th in the last 14 games. They are now 8 1/2 games back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West and sit four games behind Boston and Detroit for the AL's second wild-card spot. The 46-66 Twins do not have the worst record in the American League for the first time all season, after Monday’s win. "August 8th, we passed somebody. How long has it been?" Twins manager Paul Molitor joked on Monday. "It's been a long time." Note that the Twins have won seven of their last nine games, giving them a 21-12 record since July 2. The pitching matchup: Mike Fiers (7-5, 4.34 ERA) takes the mound for Houston, while Hector Santiago (10-5, 4.37 ERA) makes his second start with Minnesota. Santiago allowed four runs on five hits and a pair of walks in five innings at Cleveland in his first game with the Twins this past Thursday. Santiago was acquired from the Angels on August 1 (in exchange for Ricky Nolasco and a prospect) and is no stranger to the Astros, owning a 3.56 ERA in eight career starts against Houston (teams are 4-4).Fiers has rebounded form a pair of ‘ugly’ starts by posting a 2.33 ERA over his last three. He struggled early on in 2016 but owns a 3.56 ERA in 11 starts since June 1. Fiers is 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Minnesota (team is 4-1 in his starts, with Fiers posting a 2.79 ERA). The pick: Yes, we lost with the Astros last night but we’ll come right back with them here behind the solid Fiers. 10* play on Houston. 

The set-up: The Braves won 4-3 (12 innings) on Monday night, as these two also-rans, the Braves (42-70) and Brewers (49-61), opened a four-game series in Milwaukee. The Braves are on a mini-roll, having won FIVE of six (including three straight), while the Brewers have now lost FIVE of seven, following a stretch in which they had won SEVEN of nine. The pitching matchup: Tyrell Jenkins (1-2, 4.33 ERA) gets the nod for Atlanta while the Brewers have recalled Wily Peralta (4-7, 6.68 ERA) from the minors, to make his first start since June 11. Jenkins settled for a no decision last Thursday, despite allowing just one run on three hits versus Pittsburgh. It was the third time in his last four starts in which he’s pitched pitched six innings. The 24-year-old rookie has made nine starts, with the Braves going 4-5. He’s struggled with a lack of control, issuing four walks against the Pirates, which marks the fourth straight game he has permitted at least four walks (a total of 17 over 21 1/3 innings). Peralta was Milwaukee's 2016 Opening Day starter but never found a groove. He was 4-7 with a 6.68 ERA (Milwaukee was 5-8 in his starts) when he was sent down to Triple-A on June 12. The pick: Peralta hardly “found himself” in Colorado Springs, as he was 1-3 in 10 starts, posting a 6.31 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. He was recalled by the Brewers only because they had to place Junior Guerra on the disabled list, yesterday. That said, Peralta has made five career starts against Atlanta, posting an excellent 1.65 ERA (he’s 2-1 and the Brewers 4-1). Meanwhile, this marks Jenkins’ sixth MLB start. We’re taking the veteran in this one (Peralta is 39-44 with a 4.32 ERA in his career), looking to get back in Milwaukee’s good graces. The Brewers are a 10* play.

The set-up: The Houston Astros shocked everyone last season with their playoff run, winning a one-game wild card playoff over the Yankees, before losing to the Royals in the ALDS. The team's “encore season” has not gone as planned, as the 57-54 Astros are currently 7 1/2 games back in the AL West (in third place, as well as four games out of a wild card berth, with two teams between them and the second AL wild card spot). As for Minnesota, the Twins haven’t been in contention all year but as of late, seem to be playing with an eye to the future. In fact, the Twins open this four-game home series with the Astros in search of a fifth straight series win. Minnesota let its GM go and sold as many pieces off as it could at the trade deadline but in winning four consecutive series, has gone 8-3. Meanwhile, Houston is 3-10 in its last 13 games, averaging a puny 2.4 RPG in that span. The pitching matchup: Collin McHugh (7-8, 4.73 ERA) gets the nod for Houston, opposed by Minnesota's Tyler Duffey (6-8, 6.21 ERA). McHugh has seen the Astros go 13-9 (plus-$285) in his 22 starts this season and enters having allowed three ERs or less in eight of his last nine starts. What’s more, he’s 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four career starts against the Twins (team is 4-0). In contrast, Duffey is on the verge of losing his spot in the rotation. He’s allowed five or more runs in three of his last four outings (allowed four in the other one), lasting only 16 innings in that stretch, giving him an abysmal 11.25 ERA. The pick: The Astros are beginning to”lose touch” in not only the AL West but the wild card chaseas well, and need to take advange of a four-game series with a team (Minnesota) which owns the AL’s worst record at 45-66. McHugh over the struggling Duffey makes it a 10* play on the Astros.

The set-up: Ichiro Suzuki got hit No. 3,000 on Sunday in Miami's 10-7 win over the Colorado Rockies and with that out of the way, Miami gets a chance to fully focus on its playoff chances. Those chances are very real, as the 59-52 Marlins currently own the NL’s second wild card spot, although four teams are “on their heels,” no more than four games back. The Giants still lead the NL West but just barely, having lost 15 of 21 games since the All Star break. At 63-48, San Francisco’s division lead is down to just one game over the hated-Dodgers. San Francisco wasted a great effort from Madison Bumgarner in Sunday’s 1-0 loss and the win gave the Nationals the season series 4-3. If the teams finish with identical records and meet in the playoffs as division champs, the Nationals would get home-field advantage. The pitching matchup: Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.73 ERA) starts for the Giants on Monday, while the Marlins send Jose Fernandez (12-6, 2.87 ERA). The Giants won 16 of Cueto's first 18 starts this season but San Francisco has since lost three of his last four. The team is 17-5 (plus-$901) in all of his starts this season, including 10-2 in his road starts (he’s 8-2 with a 2.82 ERA ). Miami’s Fernandez has lost two games in a row for the first time since his rookie year of 2013 but as most are aware, he’s a brilliant 26-2 record and 1.62 ERA in 38 career starts at Marlins Park. The pick: Not only are the Giants in a funk since the All Star break (6-15), Cueto‘s winless streak reached four starts when he settled for a no-decision Wednesday in Philadelphia, after giving up four runs and seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. The Giants are 1-3 in that stretch, with Cueto posting a 4.18 ERA. Meanwhile, Fernandez’s home record speaks for itself. He’s not just 26-2 in his career home starts but the Marlins are a sweet 32-6 (.842 win percentage) in each one of them! Miami is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 63-49 Toronto Blue Jays are one game behind the first-place Baltimore Orioles (63-47) in the AL East. The Jays return home to begin a six-game homestand on Monday, looking to find their offense. Toronto has scored just 19 runs over their last eight games (2.38 per), after scoring just three runs in back-to-back loses over the weekend in Kansas City. Meanwhile, the last-place Tampa bay Rays enter this series having won six of their last eight contests against the Blue Jays, including a three-game sweep May 16-18 in Toronto. The Rays are well removed from postseason contention at 45-65 overall but have played better since the All Star break, going 11-11. The pitching matchup: Tampa Bay sends Jake Odorizzi (6-5, 3.70 ERA) to the mound and the Blue Jays counter with R.A. Dickey (8-12, 4.49 ERA). Toronto made a big trade with the Mets after R.A. Dickey after he won the NL Cy Young award back in 2012, a season in which he went 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA. However, he has not been “that pitcher,” having entered the 2016 season 39-37 overall, with the Jays going 51-50 (minus-$474) in all of his starts. His 2016 season has been his worst since coming to Toronto. Dickey did snap a three-game losing streak last Tuesday (allowed one run on six hits in seven innings) in beating Houston 4-1 but he remains 8-12 with a 4.49 ERA on the season (he’s 8-15 in team starts, minus-$864 vs. the moneyline). His mound counterpoint is Odorizzi, who has been one of the league’s best pitchers since the All-Star break. He’s 3-0 over four starts (team is 3-1), allowing just two ERs over 26 2/3 innings (0.68 ERA) with 23-3 KW ratio. The pick: I realize that Dickey has struggled at home all season, going 2-8 with a 5.40 ERA in 12 games at Rogers Centre (Jays are 2-10) and that Odorizzi has not allowed a run in his last three starts, over 20 2/3 innings. However, while starting pitchers are always a key, let’s not forget that the Rays are a team undergoing a rebuilding process while the Jays are looking to nail down a second straight playoff berth. The Rays swept a three-game series at Rogers Centre back on May 16-18 and I believe the Jays will remember that well. 8* play on the Blue Jays.

The set-up: LA Dodgers pitching ace Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) went on the 60-day disabled list earlier this week and isn't expected back until September. Bud Norris, who was recently acquired from the Atlanta Braves in a trade, was put on the 15-day DL on Saturday with a mild back strain. The rotation took another hit Saturday before the team’s game with Boston, when newly acquired starter Rich Hill was bumped from his scheduled start Sunday when "remnants" of another blister were found on his middle pitching finger after the left-hander played catch Friday, manager Dave Roberts said. However, the Dodgers took the field and bested the Red Sox 3-0, after losing 9-0 on Friday night. The Red Sox are two games back of first-place in the AL East and just a half-game out in the wild card race. The Dodgers have closed to within two games of the Giants in the NL West and own the NL’s No. 1 wild card spot, four games clear of missing out on the postseason. The pitching matchup: David Price (9-7, 4.30 ERA) gets the start for Boston and replacing Rich Hill for LA will be Brandon McCarthy (2-2, 2.76 ERA). Price was cruising through seven innings in his last outing (no runs thru seven innings) but then surrendered a leadoff HR in the eighth plus allowed three more runs in that inning without recording an out. The former Cy Young Award winner is just 9-7 (4.30 ERA) on the season and the Red Sox are now 11-12 in his 2016 starts, losing $937 at $100 per game (NOT what the team expected). McCarthy, coming off Tommy John surgery, didn’t return to the mound in 2016 until July 3 and has made a modest six starts.  He’s taken the loss in each of his last two, failing to record an out in the fifth inning of either outing. The pick: The Red Sox rank first in all of MLB in runs scored (5.44 per), batting average (.284) and OPS (.817). Coming off a shutout, they should be dangerous. As for Price, his “consistent inconsistency” is giving Boston management fits. The over/under number is too low. 10* play on the over. 

The set-up: The Colorado Rockies lost 5-3 on Friday to Miami but rebounded with a dominating 12-6 win last night, pounding out 17 hits. The Marlins and Rockies meet in the rubber match of this series on Sunday afternoon. Both teams believe they remain in the playoff ‘hunt,’ as the Marlins are 58-52 (tied with the Cardinals for the NL’s second wild card spot), while the 55-55 Rockies find themselves three games out (although the field is crowded). ‘Hanging over’ the outcome of this game is the fact that Ichiro Suzuki is one hit shy of becoming the 30th player in major league history to reach 3,000 hits. Miami manager Don Mattingly would not say whether he plans to start Suzuki on Sunday afternoon. The pitching matchup: Adam Conley (7-6, 3.41 ERA) takes the mound for the Marlins with Jon Gray (8-4, 3.77 ERA) getting the call for the Rockies. Conley is having a solid season, as Miami is 12-10 (plus-$125) in his 22 starts. He was outstanding in July, posting a 1.82 ERA in five starts (3-0 / team was 4-1) but opened August with a dud, lasting only four innings. He allowed just two runs but was pulled after allowing five hits, six walks and hitting a batter in that span. Gray is a rookie in his first full season and he’s been impressive. He’s 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA over his last seven starts (team is 4-3), including allowing just two ERs over 26 innings in his four starts (0.69 ERA) since the All Star break (he’s 3-0 and the team is 3-1). The pick: These two young pitchers met back on June 17 in Miami, with the Marlins winning 5-1. Gray took the loss in that one, despite allowing two ERs in six innings. The “re-hook” is here in Colorado and it should be noted that Gray is 5-0 with a 3.83 ERA in nine starts at Coors Field (team is 6-3). Throw in Colorado’s 16-8 record against NL East teams and it’s a 10* play on the Rockies.

The set-up: The Orioles and White Sox meet in the rubber game of a three-game series Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Baltimore won 7-5 on Friday but Chicago got the better of Baltimore’s 14-game winner Chris Tillman 4-2 on Saturday, as Tillman lost his perch atop the moneyline standings for all MLB starters with the defeat. The 62-47 Orioles lead Toronto by percentage points in the American League East race, while the 53-57 White Sox are third in the AL Central (10 games back), as well as eight games out of a wild card berth. Chicago’s win was just its third in 10 outings, while Baltimore continued its Jekyll and Hyde persona in 2016. The Orioles fell to 23-30 on the road, in stark contrast to the team's 39-17 home record. The pitching matchup: Dylan Bundy (4-3, 3.05 ERA) gets the nod for Baltimore while the hugely disappointing James Shields (5-13, 4.92 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago. Shields opened the season in San Diego but the Padres shipped in east back in early June. The change of locations has not helped, as in his two ‘stops’ this season, Shields owns a moneyline mark of minus-$977 (teams are a combined 6-16). Shields, after a career in Tampa Bay, is no stranger to the Orioles, going 11-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 27 career starts against the Orioles (teams are 16-11). Rookie Dylan Bundy pitched in two major league games before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013 and dealing with shoulder soreness in 2015. Bundy joined the 2016 rotation after he threw 38 relief innings and is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts. The pick: Shields seemed to thrive in July, posting a 1.78 ERA in five starts but even so, he went just 2-3. His run of six consecutive quality starts entered dramatically in his first August start, as he allowed six ERs on nine hits in just five innings of an 11-5 loss to Detroit. Shields is not someone I have any interest in backing. As for Bundy, he’s taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning in each of his last two starts. He now owns a 2-1 mark with a 1.53 ERA and 15 strikeouts in his last three starts (over 17 2/3 innings) and I’ll confidently back the rookie over the so-called “Big Game James.” The Orioles are an 8* play.

The set-up: The Baltimore Orioles own MLB’s best home record (39-17) but have struggled away from home. However, the Orioles earned a 7-5 win Friday night vs. the White Sox in Chicago, as that team’s slide continued. The White Sox were 23-10 in games played through May 9 but now find themselves five games under .500 at 52-57, having suffered through a 29-47 stretch. 62-46 Baltimore is locked in a virtual tie with the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the American League East, while the White Sox are now 10 games back in the AL Central, as well as 8 1/2 games back of the final wild card spot, with five teams ahead of them (say goodbye to the postseason!). The pitching matchup: Chris Tillman (14-3, 3.46 ERA) takes the mound for the Orioles with the White Sox countering with Carlos Rodon (2-8, 4.67 ERA). It hardly seems like a ‘fair fight.’ Tillman is just two wins shy of matching his career high from 2013, and he has limited opponents to a .219 batting average since July 5. What’s more, Baltimore is 19-4 in his 23 starts, giving him MLB’s No. 1 moneyline mark at plus-$1592. In stark contrast, Carlos Rodon is hoping to snap a streak of eight consecutive starts without a win. Rodon’s last win came back on May 22, with him going 0-4 (team is 2-6) with a 4.89 ERA in that span. It hardly inspires confidence that he‘s lost both career starts vs. Baltimore, posting a 5.25 ERA. The pick: The Orioles obviously enjoy playing behind Tillman and he takes the mound having allowed just two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. As noted, Rodon’s winless since late May and Chicago has lost seven of its past nine games and going back further, 15 of its last 22. Baltimore is a 10* play.

The set-up: Justin Verlander was able to beat the Mets 4-3 Friday night, as the former Cy Young and MVP winner continues his strong comeback. After opening 2-3 with 6.49 ERA after six starts, Verlander has now won his last five decisions and his record stands at 12-6 record, while cutting almost three full runs off his ERA (down to 3.52). Speaking of surging, that’s exactly what the Tigers are doing, winning nine of 10 games while the Indians have cooled off. Detroit is now within two games of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central. Meanwhile, the Mets have fallen into third-place in the NL East, nine games back of the Nats. However, the Mets are a modest two games out for the NL’s second wild card spot, so no one in that organization is giving up. The pitching matchup: Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.20 ERA) takes the mound for New York, while Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.71 ERA) is Detroit’s choice. Verrett’s a second-year pitcher with 28 appearances in 2016 (just 10 starts). Injuries have forced his transition from the bullpen to the rotation and he’s made four starts since the All-Star break. He owns a 3.86 ERA but has four no decisions (Mets are 1-3). In fact, Verrett has gone more than three months without a victory (last win came back on April 26 in relief). Detroit’s Boyd will be making his 10th start in 11 appearances with the Tigers this season. He has done a decent job of filling in while Zimmermann and Norris recuperated but his spot in the rotation is hardly secure. The pick: Verrett hasn’t pitched all that poorly, often keeping his team in the game, but the results don’t lie. The Mets won his first two starts of 2016 (both in mid-April) but over his last eight starting assignments, the Mets are 1-7! Meanwhile, Boyd was unbeaten in four July starts (he was 2-0 and Detroit 3-1) plus he has been more than solid at Comerica Park with a 2.63 ERA in five appearances (four starts). The Tigers are an 8* play.

The set-up: The small-market Indians are the team in first-place and Cleveland is also the team which made some trade deadline moves, while the biggest market team of all (NY Yankees), moved quality veterans with a an eye to the future. However, it was the the rebuilding Yankees who struck first in this three-game series, jumping out to leads of 6-0 and 11-4, before walking a way with a 13-7 victory on Friday. The win give the Yanks a 55-54 record but still leaves them 7 1/2 games out in the AL East, as well as 5 1/2 games out in the wild card race. The Indians remain atop the NL Central but Cleveland has lost four of five games (outscored 50-32) and its lead has been to cut to two games over the Tigers. The pitching matchup: Corey Kluber (10-8, 3.27 ERA) takes on CC Sabathia (6-8, 4.15 ERA) in a meeting of former Cy Young winners. Kluber won recently (in 2014), while C.C’s win was back in 2007. Kluber threw seven shutout innings in his last start, an 8-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics. He has now allowed one run or fewer in three of his last four starts, a stretch in which he's lowered his ERA from 3.79 to a season-low 3.27. In contrast, Sabathia is hoping to snap out of a prolonged slump. He has failed to deliver a quality start in seven of his last eight outings, a stretch in which he's gone 1-4 with a 6.85 ERA that has seen his overall ERA has increase from 2.20 to 4.15. The pick: The Indians have stayed at the top of the AL Central for most of the season because of its pitching but as noted, Cleveland has allowed 50 runs over its last five games, with its starters having allowed 30 runs in just 17 1/3 innings! Cleveland’s staff has been solid for most of this season plus Kluber comes in pitching well (1.24 ERA over his last four) but the Yankees lineup has been unfazed by the Indians in 2016, averaging 7.6 RPG in five meetings. Remembering that Sabathia has given up five runs or more in six of his last eight starts and that the Indians rank 4th in runs scored (5.02 per game), the play here is on the over (10*).

The set-up: The 50-60 Phillies visit the 47-61 Padres in San Diego for a three-games series, as both clubs play out the 2016 season. San Diego continues its nine-game homestand after splitting six contests with Milwaukee and Cincinnati. Philadelphia continues with an eye toward the future and San Diego has joined them. The Padres traded Matt Kemp prior to the deadline plus had already dumped high-priced free agents James Shields and Justin Upton earlier this season. The Padres decided to "go for it" prior to the 2015 season but now executive chairman Ron Fowler told reporters the Padres are beginning to rebuild. “The chemistry wasn’t there. But we took a run at it. It was a bad experiment,” he told those reporters. Jeremy Hellickson (8-7, 3.70 ERA) will start for the Phillies and Christian Friedrich (4-6, 4.72 ERA) gets the nod for the Padres. Phillies GM Matt Klentak decided having a veteran on a young staff was better than acquiring another prospect and in the end, Philadelphia to not move at the trade deadline. "There's a huge value in having a veteran starter who can give us six and seven innings every start on a staff of young pitchers," said Klentak of Hellickson's value as the trading deadline passed Monday. Added Hellickson, "I'm glad to still be with the Phillies." He’s made 22 starts in 2016 and the Phillies are 12-10. Friedrich settled for a no-decision after allowing one run and five hits in six innings of the Padres' 2-1 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday.  However, it was his quality start in eight outings. The pick:  Friedrich hasn't won since June 23 and in his seven straight non-quality starts (prior to his last outing), posted a 7.86 ERA. In contrast, the Phillies are 12-10 in Hellickson’s starts this year (plus-$709 vs. the moneyline). Hellickson is 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA over his last seven starts (team is 6-1 ) and that leaves us with a 10* play on the Phillies.

The set-up: The 49-59 LA Angels are clearly not thinking playoffs with the season entering its final two months and the 54-53 Mariners’ playoff hopes have to be fading quickly (Seattle is eight games back in the AL West five games out of the second wild card spot with two teams in front of them). The two AL West rivals open a three-games series at Safeco Field, where the Mariners are barely above .500 (27-25) and have been a losing proposition against the moneyline (minus-$578). As for the Angels, it should be noted that Los Angeles is a 12-7 since the All-Star break entering Friday's opener. The pitching matchup: Tim Lincecum (2-5, 8.49 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels and Felix Hernandez (5-4, 3.46 ERA) is on the mound for the Mariners. Both are former Cy Young winners (Lincecum is a two-time winner) but neither player is pitching like one lately. It would kind to say that Lincecum’s star has faded and truthfully, he may not get many more chances to prolong his career. He made a successful Angels debut back on June 18 (6 IP / 4 hits / 1 ER) but has struggled badly since that time. The numbers speak for themselves. He’s allowed 59 hits (10 HRs) over 35 innings for an 8.49 ERA, 2.29 WHIP and opponents are batting .381 against him. However, “King Felix” has not exactly been wearing his crown proudly these days. He has shown plenty of signs that he is not the dominant pitcher he once was. His fastball has lost a few ticks, from the mid- to low-90s, and he has gone past the seventh inning only once in his past eight starts. A recent DL stint with a strained calf cost Hernandez a month and a half and he owns a 5.60 ERA in his three starts since returning from that calf injury. The pick: Clearly, Hernandez has a long way to go to return to the form which made him an annual Cy Young contender but few doubt that he is still one of the better pitchers in the American League. However, no one believes that Lincecum is even a marginal MLB pitcher these days. Easy choice to take Hernandez in this one, as the Mariners still hope to make up ground in the American League wild-card race. This series begins a stretch in which seven of their next 13 games are against the Angels. 8* play on the Mariners.

The set-up: The Washington Nationals began the week with a three-game sweep at Arizona, outscoring the D’backs 32-8. They got a much-deserved day off Thursday and return home to host a three-game series with the slumping Giants. San Francisco entered Thursday’s game with the worst record in MLB since the All-Star break at 4-13 but eked out a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Phillies. The Giants had to be happy that Matt Moore gave then a solid six-inning effort in his first start for his new team (two ERs allowed). The pitching matchup: Jeff Samardzija (9-7, 4.30 ERA) takes the mound for the Giants and the Nationals go with Gio Gonzalez (6-9, 4.29 ERA). Samardzija continues to be an underachiever, a pitcher with great stuff but his record never seems to match his potential. The Giants are 11-10 in all of his starts in 2016, leaving him minus-$184 vs. the moneyline. August has hardly been a good month for him in his career, as he’s 7-16 with a 4.92 ERA in 57 games (25 starts) during the month. Gonzalez had a strong start in 2016 (allowed two ERs or less in seven of his first eight starts for a 1.86 ERA) but he enters this game having seen his season derail since late May. Gonzalez owns a 5.89 ERA in 13 starts since May 23. The pick: Samardzija was scheduled to start Thursday's series finale at Philadelphia but was pushed back one day following the acquisition of Matt Moore from Tampa Bay. Will the extra rest help? It can’t hurt, as Samardzija, has allowed 14 ERs over 16 2 /3 innings (7.56 ERA) while going 0-2 over his last three outings (Giants are 0-3). Getting too excited about Gonzalez seems foolish but he does own a 2.93 career ERA against the Giants in 11 starts. Even with Thursday’s win, the Giants have lost nine of their last 11 games away from home. Expect Samardzija to disappoint once again. Washington is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 61-45 Orioles lead the AL East by one game and the 63-46 Rangers own a 5 1/2 game lead in the AL West. The two first-place teams conclude a three-game series in Baltimore tonight, with the Orioles looking to complete a sweep. Baltimore won 5-1 on Tuesday and eked out a 3-2 win last night. The Rangers added Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy to an already potent offense on Monday’s final trading day but have managed just three runs in two games with the two new All-Stars in the lineup. The conventional wisdom was that the Orioles needed major upgrades to its pitching staff in order to hold off the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox in the AL East but in winning three in a row, Baltimore pitching has surrendered a total of five runs. The pitching matchup: A.J. Griffin (4-1, 3.99 ERA) takes the mound for Texas and the newly acquired Wade Miley (7-8, 4.98 ERA) gets the nod for Baltimore. The Orioles managed to get lefty Wade Miley from Seattle and he’ll make his Baltimore debut in Thursday’s series finale. Miley returns to the AL East, as he was a member of the Boston Red Sox rotation last season. Miley opened the season 6-2 over his first 11 starts with Seattle going 9-2, despite a 5.27 ERA. However, while his ERA fell slightly (to 4.98), he was 1-6 over his final seven outings with the Mariners. Griffin has seen the Rangers go 9-4 in his starts this season (plus-$686) and is making just his second career start against Baltimore. The pick: This marks Griffin’s eighth start since coming off the DL back on June 25 and he has yet to complete six innings in that span. As for Miley, he has already seen Texas three times this season (is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA / team is 1-2) and in his career, is 1-4 with a 5.55 ERA against the Orioles in six starts (teams are 2-4). That said, the Orioles own the best home record in the majors at 39-16 (plus-$1960), meaning Miley is in the right place at the right time. 10* play on the Orioles.

The set-up: The Giants sent Madison Bumgarner to the mound Tuesday and Johnny Cueto on Wednesday at Philadelphia but were not able to come away with a win in either contest. The Phillies used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Giants 13-8 on Tuesday and then erased a 4-0 deficit to win 5-4 in 12 innings last night. San Francisco is now a MLB-worst 4-13 since the All-Star break and leads the Dodgers by only two games in the NL West. The Phillies may be just 50-59 (14 1/2 games out in the NL East and eight games back in the wild card race) but the team’s moneyline mark reveals an overachieving team. Despite being nine games under .500, the Phillies are plus-$464 on the season, compared to the Giants’ plus-$175 moneyline mark, despite being 15 games over .500! The pitching matchup: Matt Moore (7-7, 4.08 ERA) takes the mound this afternoon for the Giants, his first outing since coming in a trade from Tampa Bay. For the Phillies, it’s Vince Velasquez (8-3, 3.32 ERA). Moore was an All-Star in 2013 when he went 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA but he underwent Tommy John surgery the following season. He returned in 2015 to compile a 3-4 record with a 5.43 ERA in 12 starts (team was 5-7). The Rays have gone 9-12 (minus-$308) in Moore’s starts this year but he and the Giants believe that his future in San Francisco is bright. “It's hard to keep a smile off my face when I think about the things to come and being part of this group," Moore told reporters Tuesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Phillies reportedly discussed trading Velasquez to the Texas Rangers before Monday's deadline but ultimately held on to the 24-year-old right-hander. His 8-3 record is better than his team’s moneyline mark with him on the mound (10-8, plus-$314) but all in all, it’s been a solid season for the young pitcher. The pick: Moore has begun to regain his old form lately (4-2 with a 1.99 ERA in his last six outings with Tampa Bay) but waiting for the Giants to turn things around, has been VERY costly (again: just 4-13 since the break). Meanwhile, since returning from the DL, Velasquez owns a 2.75 ERA over six starts, allowing two ERs or less in FIVE of those starts. Make it an 8* play on the Phillies

The set-up: The Minnesota Twins limped into Cleveland on Monday with a 40-64 record while the Indians led the AL Central with a 60-42 mark. However, as The Twins and Indians get set to meet Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field in the final game of the series, the Twins have won each of the first three games. Incredibly, Minnesota has reached double figures in all three contests, outhitting the Indians 48-27 and outscoring them 35-16. Indians starting pitchers Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer own a combined 22.68 ERA the last three days, allowing 21 ERs on 23 hits in 8 1/3 innings. The result being that Cleveland is in danger of falling out of first place in the AL Central for the first time in two months. The Indians have been alone in first place since June 4 but in losing seven of their last 11 games (coinciding with the Tigers’ eight-game winning streak), Cleveland’s lead in the division has been cut from 7 1/2 games back on July 20 to just two games over the Tigers prior to the first pitch of Thursday’s game. The pitching matchup: Hector Santiago (10-4, 4.25 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota, his first start since coming from the Angels in a trade deadline move. The Indians will send Mike Clevinger (0-1, 7.71) ERA to the mound. Santiago switched losing teams at the deadline but is coming off a spectacular July. He made six starts last month, going a perfect 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA. The Indians will turn to rookie right-hander Mike Clevinger, who is being recalled from Triple-A to make Thursday’s start. Clevinger is taking Danny Salazar's spot in the rotation, after Salazar was placed on the DL Tuesday with an inflamed right elbow. He’s appeared appeared in four MLB games in 2016, three of them starts. He is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA overall, with Cleveland going 1-2 in his three starts. The pick: Looking a little closer into Santiago’s July starts we find that while he has allowed three or fewer ERs in his last three starts, he did not complete six innings in any of those turns. In fact, Santiago’s worst start this season came against Cleveland on June 10, when he was ripped for six runs (five earned) on seven hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. As for Clevinger, he is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Cleveland organization. Note that Clevinger was 11-1 with a 3.00 ERA at Columbus. No sweep here for the twins. It’s an 8  * play on the Indians.

The set-up: The Royals won the first two of this four-game series, before the Rays struck back with a 12-0 rout last night. Jake Odorizzi threw six scoreless innings, extending his scoreless innings run to 20 2/3, over three starts. It was a reminder of the strong starting pitching Tampa Bay was supposed to have this season but the truth is, starts like Odorrizi’s last night, have been few and far between. The Royals are the two-time defending AL champs (World Series winners last year) but it’s been a struggle in 20916 and currently, the Royals are just 51-56. That’s 10 games out in the AL Central plus KC is almost as far back of the AL’s second wild card spot (eight games back with four teams in front of them, not to mention the White Sox, who are also eight games out in the wild card chase). The pitching matchup: Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.23 ERA) takes the mound for KC and Drew Smyly (3-11, 5.29 ERA) for the Rays. Kennedy allowed just one run over seven innings in his last start at Texas but settled for a no decision, extending his winless streak to SIX starts. He’s not just without a win in that stretch, KC is 0-6 in those contests. A look at Drew Smyly’s record shows it’s been a long season for the left-hander but the Rays are hoping to see more of what he showed his last time out, when he allowed two runs on four hits over six innings of a 6-3 win against the Yankees. The pick: Royals manager Ned Yost has tried nearly everything in an effort to solve his starting pitchers’ woes but little has worked. As noted, the Royals have lost Kennedy’s last six outings and why should that change here vs. Tampa Bay, a team he owns a 1-4 record against in seven starts, posting a 5.40 ERA? Smyly’s better than his record and against KC, is 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA in six career starts (teams are 4-2). It’s an 8* play on the Rays. 

The set-up: The Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros have traded 2-1 victories in the first two of this important four-game series. The Astros needed 14 innings to win on Monday with the Blue Jays riding a pair of solo HRs to win last night. Toronto trails the Baltimore Orioles by one game in the AL East but leads the AL wild-card race by one game over Boston while Houston is 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox for that final playoff spot. The Astros have been injury-free over the last 2 1/2 months (no players placed on the DL in that span) but have been besieged by injuries over the past week. Third baseman Luis Valbuena and center fielder Carlos Gomez suffered right hamstring strains in consecutive games against the Yankees, with Valbuena landing on the DL and Gomez returning to the lineup Tuesday clearly hampered. The pitching matchup: Marco Estrada (6-4, 3.02 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto matched up against Houston’s Collin McHugh (7-7, 4.75 ERA). Estrada owns just six wins on the season but ended a four-start winless stretch by beating Baltimore in his last outing. Don’t overlook the fact that he’s allowed three or fewer ERs in 11 straight starts and 16 of 18 overall on the season. It seems eminently unfair that the Blue Jays are just 10-8 in his starts and minus-$93 vs. the moneyline. Estrada is 1-0 with a 3.13 ERA in 10 career appearances (four starts / team is 2-2) against Houston and his counterpart in this game McHugh takes the mound off an effort in which he allowed  eight ERs on 10 hits in only 1 2/3 innings while losing to Detroit on Friday. The Astros are 13-8 in McHugh’s 21 starts in 2016, going plus-$390 vs. the moneyline. 

The pick: Estrada has pitched MUCH better than his record indicates but  all season long, the team has underachieved when he’s been on the mound. Things like that have a tendency to wear on a pitcher.  Yes, McHugh is off an awful effort but that performance followed consecutive victories in which he allowed only two runs and struck out 16 in 12 innings! Also note that McHugh owns a 2.79 ERA in three career starts against the Blue Jays. Toronto's bats have produced just three runs in the first two games of this series and Estrada figures to be ‘shaking his ahead’ and asking, “Where’s the help?”again, after this one. 10* play on the Astros

The set-up: The Cards and Reds play the middle game of a three-game series on Wednesday, as Cincinnati hosts a brief three-game homestand. It’s been said that the absence of Jay Bruce is already being felt in the home clubhouse, as SS Zack Cozart took over Bruce's locker space, albeit with mixed emotions. "He's one of my best friends, if not my best friend, Cozart said of Bruce. I'm going to miss him for sure. I'm happy to be here. I want to be with Reds. We both wanted to be here." Then again, maybe Tuesday’s dramatic walk-off win will help temper emotions. In contrast, the Cardinals will need to rebound from last night’s tough 7-5 loss, when the Reds won on a three-run HR in the bottom of the ninth. St. Louis has now dropped three straight and has fallen nine games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central (Cardinals also trail the Marlins by a half game for the second wild card spot). Pitching matchup: Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.38 ERA) gets the nod for the Cards and Cody Reed (0-5, 7.07 ERA) for the Reds. Wacha has begun to get his act together in 2016, going 4-1 with a 3.75 ERA over his last 10 starts (Cards are 7-3). Also, Wacha is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 11 appearances vs. Cincinnati, including 10 starts (Cards are 7-3). Reed was one of three left-handers acquired from the Kansas City Royals last season in exchange for Johnny Cueto but is still looking for his first career victory in his eighth start. He continued to offer few reasons for remaining in the starting rotation after he was battered for six runs (five earned) and nine hits in a loss at San Francisco last time out. He has failed to pitch beyond five innings in five of his last six turns and the Reds are 0-7 in his previous seven starts, posting a 1.79 WHIP to go along with that 7.07 ERA, while opponents are batting .325 against him. The pick: Historically, the Cards have gone 31-4-2 in 37 series between the two teams, including winning 18 of the last 22 series played in Cincinnati. The Reds own the upper hand in this three-game series after winning Tuesday’s opener but Wacha puts his seven-start unbeaten streak on the line tonight up against a pitcher still searching for his first-ever MLB win. No contest! A 10* play of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The set up: Washington has scored 24 runs while pounding out 34 hits in winning the first two games of this three-game series at Arizona. Ryan Zimmerman has not played the last two games after being hit in the left wrist by a pitch in the ninth inning of Sunday's game in San Francisco and the struggling Bryce Harper (7-for-59 since July 10) was a late scratch because of illness on Tuesday. The Nats have cruised over the D’backs, who have now lost 11 of their last 14 games and the team’s 43-64 record is worse than any team in the NL other than the Atlanta Braves (37-69).

Pitching match-up: Max Scherzer (11-6, 2.85 ERA) takes the mound for Washington Wednesday afternoon, as the Nats look to sweep the D’backs. Arizona counters with Zack Godley (3-1, 5.63 ERA). Scherzer’s ERA stood at 4.05 at the end of May but as the calendar turns to August, it’s down to 2.85. He’s 6-2 with a 1.67 ERA over his last 11 starts and owns a 1.09 ERA with a 49-9 KW ratio over his last six starts. Scherzer is 7-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 13 road starts this season and against the team which drafted him with its first pick of the 2006 draft (before being traded to Detroit), he’s 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts vs the D’backs (teams are 3-0). Godley’s appeared in only nine games in 2016 (five starts) and is in the rotation  now only because Zack Greinke is on the DL (oblique). He’s 2-1 in that four-start span (team is 2-2) but it’s hard to ignore his 6.23 ERA in that stretch, allowing 28 hits in 21 2/3 innings and lasting as many as six innings just ONE time.

The pick: Not a single reason to support the D’backs in this one, a team which is a woeful 17-37 at home this season (owns a MLB-worst minus-$2613 home moneyline mark), having allowed 84 runs its last 10 games at Chase Field (that’s over EIGHT runs per game). Lay the 1 1/2 runs with the Nats for an 8* play.

  The set-up: The LA Angels and Oakland Athletics are both 47-58 as the two teams open up the post-trade deadline portion of their season Tuesday in Anaheim. Before the deadline, the Angels traded Hector Santiago (10-4, 4.25 ERA) to Minnesota, even though he has won seven decisions in a row. He will likely win AL Pitcher of the Month honors for July after going 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA in six starts. As for the A’s, they traded Rich Hill (9-3, 2.25 ERA) to the Dodgers. Hill is currently on the disabled list with a blister on his finger (he missed all of June with a groin injury). I think it’s safe to opine that both clubs have given up on contending for a playoff spot in 2016.

The pitching matchup: Sean Manaea (3-5, 4.57 ERA) gets the call for the A’s and Matt Shoemaker (5-11, 4.17 ERA) for the Angels. Manaea has struggled mightily on the road, posting an 0-3 mark with a bloated 6.99 ERA while allowing the opposition to bat .328 against him this season in five starts (team is 1-4). Shoemaker hasn’t come close to looking like the 16-4 pitcher he was in 2014, going 7-10 (4.46 ERA) last year and 5-11 (4.17) so far this season. The Angels are 6-14 in his 20 starts, losing $854 vs. the moneyline.

The pick: Manaea comes in off four straight no decisions but has struck out 26 batters in that span (26 2/3 innings), while not issuing a SINGLE walk! Meanwhile, Shoemaker has looked much better after a terrible start, but LA’s record of 6-14 in his starts speaks for itself and taking 1 1/2 runs makes sense. The Oak A’s are an 8* play on the run line.  

The set-up: Stephen Strasburg made it look easy on the mound and the Washington Nationals did the same with the bats (19 hits) as the Nats crushed the D’backs 14-1 on Monday night. Strasburg allowed a run and three hits in six innings, moving to 15-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 0.98 WHIP while opponents are hitting just .194 against him on the season (Nats are 18-2 in his starts, giving him MLB’s 2nd-best moneyline mark at plus-$1442). The Nationals’ win (now 62-44) increased their lead in the NL East to five games over the Marlins and 7 1/2 over the defending NL champion Mets. As for 43-63 Arizona, the D’backs have now lost 15 of their last 20 games.

The pitching matchup: Tanner Roark (10-6, 2.96 ERA) gets the nod for Washington and Robbie Ray (5-10, 4.70 ERA) takes the mound for Arizona. Roark is one of three 10-game winners on the Nationals (Strasburg and Scherzer beings the others) and after making just 12 starts (40 appearances) in 2015, has a chance to approach or surpass his fine 2014 season when he went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA in 31 starts (Nats were 18-13). Ray will be facing the Nationals for the first time in his career and hardly enters with a feeling of confidence. He’s 1-5 over his last seven starts (D’backs are 1-6), posting a 5.18 ERA.

The pick:  Arizona is a woeful is 17-36 at home, giving them MLB’s worst home moneyline mark at minus-$2513. In contrast, Washington has 31 road victories, tied with St. Louis for the most in MLB. Roark has been solid all season while Ray owns a 5.17 home ERA and overall, has seen the D’backs go 6-15 in his 21 starts for a moneyline mark of minus-$1049 (3rd-worst of ANY starter). The Washington Nationals are a 9* play.

The set-up: The Blue Jays and the Astros met in last year’s ALDS with Toronto rallying from an 0-2 deficit to win in five games. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff picture again in 2016. Toronto won 2-1 (14 innings) in the first of this four-game series last night and at 59-47, are in a virtual tie with the Red Sox for the AL’s two wild card spots. Houston’s loss leaves them at 56-49, 2 1/2 games back of Toronto and Boston, with the Tigers in between. Toronto made news before Monday’s trade deadline by acquiring relievers Scott Feldman (Astros) and Mike Bolsinger (Dodgers) plus left-handed starter Francisco Liriano from the Pirates. Getting back to Houston, by moving Feldman to Toronto, Houston opened a spot on its staff for right-hander Joe Musgrove, the organization's seventh-best prospect, according to MLB.com.

The pitching matchup: Toronto’s R.A. Dickey (7-12, 4.66 ERA) will take on Houston’s Lance McCullers (6-4, 3.18 ERA). Dickey became the first knuckleball pitcher to win the Cy Young Award back in 2012, going 20-6 (2.73 ERA) for the Mets in 2012. He was traded to the Blue Jays  before the start of the 2013 season and over the previous three seasons, has been a major disappointment with Toronto. He entered the 2016 season with a three-year 39-37 record for Toronto, which went 51-50 (minus-$474) in his 101 starts. Things have ‘gone south’ in 2016, as Dickey checks in 7-12 (4.66 ERA), while Toronto is 7-15 in his starts (minus-$1007 vs. the moneyline). He’s 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA over 13 games (11 starts) vs. Houston. McCullers owns a solid 3.18 ERA over 13 starts in 2016 (Houston is 8-5) and comes off two excellent outings in his last two turns, winning both with a 1.29 ERA and a 20-6 KW ratio.

The pick: Dickey is having an AWFUL season and comes in having lost three consecutive starts, allowing 17 ERs (as well as six HRs) in just 14 2/3 innings (10.43 ERA) during that stretch. Meanwhile, McCullers owns a 5.57 road ERA in 2016 but it’s 2.28 at home over nine starts (Astros are 6-3). 10* play is on the Houston Astros.

The set up: The Yankees and Mets met for the 105th time in regular season on Monday but for the first time in the month of August. Also noteworthy was that each team made a key trade prior to the first pitch. The Yankees continued their “rebuilding theme” by trading Carlos Beltran to the Texas Rangers and Ivan Nova to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Meanwhile, the Mets look like a team that believes it’s going to be in a playoff fight into late September. The Mets acquired Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds and brought back Jonathon Niese from the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the Mets then went out and coughed up a 5-3 eighth-inning lead in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees in 10 innings.

The pitching matchup: Masahiro Tanaka (7-3, 3.16 ERA) starts for the Yankees and Jacob deGrom (6-5, 2.56 ERA) for the Mets. Tanaka has just seven wins after 21 starts but more importantly, the Yankees are 15-6 in his starts, going plus-$884 vs. the moneyline (11th-best mark among starters). Tanaka will be making his third Subway Series start and has held the Mets to a total of two runs on nine hits in 15 innings in the first two while going 1-1. The Mets’ deGrom owns an excellent ERA (2.56) but checks in at only 6-5 in 18 starts (Mets are 9-9 and minus-$366). In two previous starts vs. the Yankees he’s winless, having giving up seven runs on 12 hits over 12 innings.

The pick: The recent fallout from the past week gives the Yankees one of MLB’s top farm systems while the Mets’ addition of Jay Bruce (25 HRs & 80 RBI) was one the bigger deals made in front of the trade deadline. The Mets’ gave away last night’s game but a Miami loss keeps them just 2 1/2 games out of the NL’s final wild card spot. With this series moving to the Bronx Wednesday and Thursday, this is one the Mets need BADLY! 10* play on the NY Mets.

The set up: The original Subway Series was the Yankees taking on first the the-New York Giants and then later on, the then-Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series, when those three franchises seemed to ‘rule’ the MLB world. This year’s edition hardly has those ‘chops,’ as the Mets sit 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Nationals in the NL East and 2 1/2 games behind the Marlins in the race for the second National League wild card spot. Meanwhile, with the recent trades of first-class relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miler, most seem to believe the Yankees have turned an eye to the future. The standings say the Yankees are in fourth place in the AL East (seven games out), as well as 5 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot with three teams ahead of them. The pitching matchup: The Mets send Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.12 ERA) to the mound while the Yankees counter with C.C. Sabathia (6-8, 3.95 ERA). Verrett has never faced the Yankees while Sabathia is 4-2 with a 3.22 ERA in seven career starts against the Mets (teams are 5-2). Verrett’s made 27 appearances in 2016 but just nine have been starts. That said, he’s made three starts since the All Star break, posting a 3.44 ERA. As for C.C, he did pitch well in his most recent start (allowed only two earned runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 6-3 win last Tuesday) but in his six previous turns, owned a 7.46 ERA (had allowed four earned runs or more in each). The pick: I buy into the argument that the Yankees have turned their attention to “the future” while in the case of the Mets, I’m not ready to give up on the defending NL champs just yet in 2016. “The price” is cheap on the home team. 10* play on the NY Mets.

The set up: The 60-42 Indians are one of four MLB teams with 60-plus wins as the month of August opens, while the 40-64 Twins are one of five teams with 60-plus losses. Cleveland’s plus-$927 moneyline mark ranks fourth-best among MLB’s 30 teams, while Minnesota’s minus-$1,685 mark ranks 28th. All Star reliever Andrew Miller will make his debut in an Indians uniform on Monday night, as the two teams open a four-game series in Cleveland. Miller fills a major hole in the Indians' bullpen, as he’s not only an All Star but he’s also a lefty. The Indians have gone most of this season without a left-hander in their bullpen but now they have arguably the best left-handed reliever in the game. The Twins did just complete a 15-11 July but it’s their first winning month of the season and Minnesota opens the series 21 games back of the Indians. The pitching matchup: Tyler Duffey (5-8, 6.12 ERA) was scheduled to start for the Twins but Minnesota has recalled Jose Berrios from Triple-A on Monday and it looks as if he will get the nod. That said, Berrios was 1-1 with a awful 10.20 ERA in four starts with the Twins earlier this season but his 2.44 ERA in 16 starts  at Rochester has caught Molitor’s attention. There is no indecision as to who will make the start for Cleveland, as Terry Francona is happy to pencil in the name of Danny Salazar. He’s 11-3 with a 2.97 ERA, despite suffering through a ‘rocky’ July in which he posted 6.14 ERA in four starts. The pick: Here’s the bottom line. The Indians are 13-6 (plus-$522) in Salazar’s 19 starts this season and welcome the Twins to Cleveland where the team is averaging a healthy 5.70 RPG. The Indians may not need their new left-handed relief pitcher tonight, as this game won’t be close. The Indians are a 6* play.

The Chicago Cubs will host the Seattle Mariners on Sunday Night Baseball. The teams have split the first two meetings of the series, but I think the Cubs will prove to be stronger side in the rubber match.   Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Cubs hand the ball to left-hander Brian Matusz (0-0, 12.00) who will make his first appearance for the club and first start in the majors since 2012. Matusz has posted a 1.93 ERA in two starts at Triple-A Iowa most recently and should be keen to make the most of this spot start. The Mariners counter with Felix Hernandez (5-4, 3.45 ERA) who has struggled since coming off the 15-day disabled list. The Seattle ace has conceded a combined nine runs on 19 hits in 12 2/3 innings in his last two outings.  2. Road Woes - The Cubs are 7-2 in their last nine interleague home games and the Mariners are 1-6 in their last seven road games vs. a left-handed starter. 3. X-Factor - The Cubs managed just three hits in Saturday's 4-1 defeat, but they're 4-0 in their last four after scoring two runs or fewer in their previous game. Selection: This is a play on the Chicago Cubs (8*)

The Giants will try to salvage a split in this home series versus Washington on Sunday, but they've seized the momentum after a 5-3 win yesterday afternoon. The Dodgers are sneaking up on San Francisco in the NL West, now trailing by just two games. The Giants can't afford to give up anymore ground, and I expect them to take care of business here on Sunday.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Gio Gonzalez will be on the hill for the visitors, and this looks like a tough spot for the struggling southpaw. Gonzalez (6-8, 4.44 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and a pair of walks over 6.1 innings in a 7-6 loss to Cleveland in his last start. He's been clobbered in day games, going 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA in five starts in the afternoon.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Gonzalez has been hammered for seven runs on 10 hits over 10 innings in his last two starts at San Francisco. Angel Pagan has owned the lefty, going 4-for-8 in previous encounters.

3. X-Factor - Hunter Pence returned to the lineup yesterday, and he was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Selection: This is a play on the San Francisco Giants (10*)

The Cleveland Indians are coming off back-to-back wins against the Oakland Athletics to remain top of the AL Central despite the Tigers surge behind them. The A's might as well start looking towards the next season as we find them bottom of the AL West, and I think the Tribe will sweep the series Sunday afternoon.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Tribe hand the ball to Corey Kluber (9-8, 3.44) who has allowed only a total of four earned runs in 22 innings in his last three starts combined. Kluber is 0-4 in his career against the A's despite a respectable 3.80 ERA, but he should be able to outduel Oakland's Sonny Gray (5-9, 5.43 ERA) today. Gray is having a terrible year and has served up a pair of home runs in each of his last two starts while conceding 10 runs on 11 innings.  2. Home Cookin' - Cleveland is 17-5 in its last 22 home games while Oakland is 1-4 in Gray's last five road starts. 3. X-Factor - The Indian's Tyler Naquin is a hot candidate for Rookie of the Year and the 25 year old enter Sunday riding a four-game hitting streak. Selection: This is a play on the Cleveland Indians (6*)

The Houston Astros have lost four of their last five including back-to-back losses here at Comerica Park. The Tigers are on a roll as they seek to chase down Cleveland at the top of the AL Central, and I think the Tigers can record an upset today.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Astros hand the ball to Dallas Keuchel (6-10, 4.57 ERA). The left-hander has turned the season around after a rocky start and enter this game on the back of seven consecutive quality starts. Lookat at batter versus pitcher stats we can see that several Tigers have good numbers against Keuchel though, among them Ian Kinsler who is 8-for-26 so Keuchel might be in for a sweaty afternoon. Detroit counters with Mike Pelfrey (3-9, 4.98) who held Cleveland to just one run on five in six innings when he tossed opposite Kechuel back in April. 2. Situational - The Tigers have won seven of their last nine games when coming up against a left-handed starter and 16 in their last 21 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Keuchel has struggled with his command and has a 1.33 WHIP on the year. 3. X-Factor - Astros are 4-13 in the last 17 meetings in Detroit. Selection: This is a play on the Detroit Tigers (10*)

The Colorado Rockies are red hot and recorded their eighth win in nine games when they defeated the New York Mets 6-1 last night. The reeling Mets have dropped three straight but they look good to get back on track with a win in Saturday's contest.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Mets hand the ball to Bartolo Colón (9-5, 3.35). The 43 year old handcuffed the Cardinals through seven innings last start, surrendering just one run on three hits. He's 4-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts home at Citi Field this season. The Rockies counter with Jorge De La Rosa (6-7, 5.70 ERA) who is 2-4 with a 5.74 ERA in eight road starts this season.  2. The Relievers - Colorado's bullpen has the second worst ERA in the National League with a 4.76 mark. The Mets' have the third most effective in the league holding a 3.19 ERA. 3. X-Factor - New York's James Loney is 8-for-18 with a home runs and seven RBIs in previous meetings with De La Rosa.  Selection: This is a play on the New York Mets (10*)

The Milwaukee Brewers have won four of their past five after a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game set Friday night. The Pirates are looking good to tie the series on Saturday.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Pirates hand the ball to Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.60 ERA). The 24 year old rookie has done well in the big leagues and Pittsburgh has won each of his last four starts. That includes a 3-2 home victory against Milwaukee on July 19 when Taillon held Milwaukee to one run in six innings. The Brew Crew counter with Chase Anderson (5-10, 5.40) who was reached for three runs on six hits in four innings against the Pirates only 10 days ago and he has a 5.89 ERA in four career starts against Pittsburgh. 2. Situational - The Pirates may have lost last night, but they're 4-0 in their last four games following a loss and 7-2 in their last nine during Game 2 of a series. 3. X-Factor - Pittsburgh's Starling Marte is on fire going 9-for-18 over the past five contests. He's 3-for-7 with a double and a home run off Anderson.  Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates (8*)

The Houston Astros have lost three of their last four after an embarrassing 14-6 defeat to the Detroit Tigers last night. That marked the Tigers fourth consecutive win, but I think they're in for a tough game against the revenge-seeking Astros Saturday night.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Astros hand the ball to Mike Fiers (7-4, 4.69 ERA) who picked up the decision his last start when he held the Angels to three runs in seven innings of a 13-3 victory. Fiers beat the Tigers earlier this season in Houston and his career ERA against the club is a respectable 3.24. The Tigers counter with Justin Verlander (10-6, 3.64). He's posted a 1.60 ERA in five starts so far in July, but the veteran's arm must be exhausted soon and the Astros' bats can be quite dangerous.   2. Situational - The Astros are 10-3 in their last 13 games following a loss and 13-5 in their last 18 during Game 2 of a series. 3. X-Factor -  Jose Altuve launched a two-run homer yesterday to extend his road hitting streak to 20 games. He's 4-for-8 with a double in previous meetings with Verlander.  Selection: This is a play on the Houston Astros +1.5 (8*)

The Washington Nationals managed to work themselves out of a bases loaded with one out situation at the bottom of the ninth last night to claim the opener of a four-game set with the Giants 4-2. I think we're getting a great price on the Nats here in Game 2.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Nats hand the ball to Max Scherzer (10-6, 2.92 ERA) who has allowed a total of four earned runs in his last five starts while logging seven or more innings four times. The Giants counter with Jeff Samardzija (9-6, 4.22) who has allowed four runs or more in five of his last six starts and a total of 10 in 10 2/3 innings in his last two combined.  2. The Reeling Giants - San Francisco entered the All Star break with the best record in baseball, but it has won just two of its past 10 games.   3. X-Factor - Washington's Trea Turner was 2-for-4 with a walk last night and he's 8-for-17 with a pair of doubles and a triple in his past four games.  Selection: This is a play on the Washington Nationals (8*)

The Chicago White Sox will visit Minnesota Twins for the opener of a three-game set at Target Field Friday night. Recent meetings in Minnesota have been low-scoring affairs, and I think that will be the case tonight as well.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The White Sox hand the ball to Jose Quintana (8-8, 2.97 ERA) who has been excellent all season long. He tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings against the Tigers his last start and he has held three of his last four opponents to one run or fewer.  The Twins counter with Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.40) who had allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his three starts in July before getting lit up at Fenway Park his last turn. 2. The White Sox's Bats - Chicago has mustered only one run in each of its last two games and the team is averaging a lowly 3.94 runs per game on the road this season.  3. X-Factor - Quintana has posted a 2.70 ERA in three meetings with Minnesota this season.  Selection: This is a play on CHW@MIN to go UNDER the total (10*)

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-5 in the opener of a four-game set at Turner Field on Thursday. They've struggled to string wins together though, and I think the Braves can record an upset and tie the series tonight.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Phillies hand the ball to Vince Velasquez (8-2, 3.34 ERA). He was reached for four runs on seven hits at Pittsburgh his last start and he gave up four runs on six hits in six innings against the Braves back in May. Alanta counters with Tyrell Jenkins (0-2, 6.17), a 24 year old rookie who held the Phillies to one run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings earlier this month. 2. Situational - The Phillies have lost each of their last seven games following a win and they've lost four of their last six overall.  3. X-Factor - The Phillies and the Braves are tied near the bottom of the standings for batting average with a .240 mark.  Selection: This is a play on the Atlanta Braves (8*)

The Blue Jays are only 1.5 games back of Baltimore in the AL East, and they host the Orioles in Game 1 of a three game series at Rogers Center Friday. The Orioles are coming off three straight losses, and they face a tough Toronto pitcher here north of the border. My money is on Toronto at home.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Marco Estrada will be on the mound for the Jays, and he's been great all year. Estrada (5-4, 2.94 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on seven hits over six innings in a 2-1 loss to Seattle his last time out. He's pitched well in two previous meetings with Baltimore, surrendering four runs on 10 hits, while striking out 17 in 11 innings. The Orioles hand the ball to Kevin Gausman, who is 0-6 on the road.

2. Home Cookin' - The Orioles have the best home record in baseball, but they are 22-53 in the last 75 meetings in Toronto. They've lost five of their last six away from Camden Yards.

3. X-Factor - The Orioles are 0-5 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.

Selection: This is a play on the Toronto Blue Jays (10*)

The Cubs lost both of the first two games in this home and home series versus the White Sox, and they wrap things up at home Thursday. The White Sox have lost five of their last six road games, and I don't like their chances in the series finale at Wrigley.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Chris Sale will be the scheduled starter for the visitors, and his name has been the subject of trade rumors. He was sent home last week after an incident in the clubhouse, adding fuel to all the trade talk. The Cubs counter with John Lackey, who boasts a respectable 2.84 ERA at Wrigley.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - The White Sox have not been able to solve Lackey, striking out 40 times and managing just 36 hits while batting .232 over 155 at bats.

3. X-Factor - The Cubs are 55-26 in their last 81 home games, and 11-5 in their last 16 home games vs. a left-handed starter.

Selection: This is a play on the Chicago Cubs (10*)

The St. Louis Cardinals have played some decent baseball since the All Star break in winning eight of 13 games. Two of the defeats came in a three-game set with the Marlins to open the second half of the schedule, and I think the Fish will get the better of the Cards home at Marlins Park Thursday night as well.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Marlins hand the ball to Jose Fernandez (12-4, 2.54 ERA) who held the Mets to a pair of runs in seven innings of a 7-2 win his last start. He's 9-1 with a 1.63 ERA in 11 starts home at Marlins Park this season. The Cardinals counter with Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.37 ERA). He was lucky to allow only two runs against the Dodgers his last start as he gave up 10 hits and a walk.   2. Night Games - The Fish are a solid 40-27 under the lights this season while the Cards are barely .500 with a 35-34 record.  3. X-Factor - Dee Gordon will return to the Marlins' lineup after serving an 80-game ban for using performance-enhancing drugs. He led the NL in steals and batting average last year and will add another threat to the Marlins already dangerous offense.  Selection: This is a play on the Miami Marlins (6*)

 The Arizona Diamondbacks picked up a rare win on Wednesday when they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8-1. They've still lost six of their last eight games and 19 of their past 25, and I think the Brew Crew will deal them another defeat in the series-finale of a four-game set today.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The D'Backs hand the ball to Robbie Ray (5-9 , 4.53 ERA) who is 1-4 with a 4.72 ERA in his past six starts. He surrendered six runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings at Cincinnati his last outing and the left-hander is 2-5 on the road this season. The Brewers counter with Zack Davies (7-4 , 3.64 ERA) who has allowed only a total of three runs on 16 hits in 20 innings in his last three starts combined.  2. Road Woes - The D'Backs were one of the best road teams in baseball not too long ago, but they've lost nine of their past 11 on the road and six of their last eight when coming up against a right-handed starter.  3. X-Factor - Ryan Braun had reached base safely in 11 straight contests before going 0-for-3 in yesterday's matchup. I like his chances of making up for it with a big performance today.  Selection: This is a play on the Milwaukee Brewers (10*)

The New York Mets have struggled with consistency as they've alternated wins and losses ever since the All Star break. With a 5-4 loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, I think that trend will continue and the Mets to come out ahead in this opener of a four-game series with the Rockies.    Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Mets hand the ball to Jacob deGrom (6-5 , 2.73 ERA) who will be looking to bounce back from his worst start of the season. deGrom was reached for five runs on 10 hits in 3/2 innings at Miami last Saturday but had tossed nine shutout innings of one-hit ball at Philadelphia his previous turn. The 28 year old is 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA in nine home starts this season. The Rockies counter with left-hander Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.56 ERA). The 26 year old rookie has lost each of his two road starts while conceding five runs in 11 2/3 frames.  2. Home Cookin' - The Rockies swept a three-game series with the Mets back in May, but the Mets have won seven straight meetings at Citi Field.  3. X-Factor - The Colorado Rockies have upped the pace and won six of their last seven to move into playoff contention, but they'll be working on short rest in this afternoon game after traveling overnight from Baltimore.  Selection: This is a play on the New York Mets (8*)

 The Houston Astros entered this three-game set against the New York Yankees in great spirit after opening a six-game homestand by sweeping the Halos over three games. They're now looking to deny the Yankees to sweep this set in the series-finale Wednesday night, and I think the Astros will come up with a big performance.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Yankees hand the ball to Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 3.00 ERA) who leads the majors with a 1.50 ERA on the road. He conceded seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a pair of walks in 4 2/3 innings at Cleveland his last start away from home though. The Astros counter with Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.33 ERA) who is 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA in eight home starts this season. McCullers recorded 10 strikeouts while tossing eight innings of one-run ball against the Halos here at Minute Maid Park his last start.  2. Situational - The Astros are 4-1 in their last five games after losing the first two games of a series and 12-0 in their last 12 Wednesday games. 3. X-Factor - Carlos Correa is 3-for-6 with a pair of home runs in previous meetings with Tanaka.  Selection: This is a play on the Houston Astros (10*)

The Arizona Diamondbacks misery knows no end as they've now lost six of their last seven games and 19 of their past 24 contest after back-to-back defeats to the Milwaukee Brewers. I think they'll struggle once again here on Wednesday and my money is on the Brewers to set themselves up to sweep the series tomorrow.   Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Brewers hand the ball to Jimmy Nelson (6-8, 3.40) who is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Diamondbacks. He's posted a 2.54 ERA in 11 home starts this season. The Diamondbacks counter with Archie Bradley (3-6, 4.44 ERA) who will make his first career start against Arizona. The 23 year old right-hander is winless with three losing decisions through his last six starts and he has struggled big time with his command lately, giving out a total of 13 free passes in his last four outings.  2. Road Woes - The D'Backs were one of the best road teams in baseball not too long ago, but they've lost nine of their past 10 on the road and each of their last seven when coming up against a right-handed starter.  3. X-Factor - Ryan Braun has reached base safely in 11 straight contests after going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks last night.  Selection: This is a play on the Milwaukee Brewers (8*)

After the Giants won 9-7 in a slugfest in San Francisco last night, I expect to see a pitcher's duel at AT&T Park Wednesday afternoon. The Giants have gone under in four straight following a win, and that's a trend that should continue here today.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Madison Bumgarner will get the start for San Francisco, and the Giants ace is 5-1 with a 1.64 ERA in 11 home starts in 2016. His last start in San Francisco was a complete game, one hit shutout. He struck out a whopping 14 batters in that game.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Bumgarner is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA in his last three starts versus the Reds. Jay Bruce and Zack Cozart are a combined 4-for-29 with seven strikeouts versus the Giants ace.

3. X-Factor - The Giants have failed to reach the total in eight of Bumgarner's last 10 starts.

Selection: This is a play on the Reds@Giants to go UNDER the total (10*)

The Detroit Tigers will be looking to complete the sweep of this set Wednesday afternoon after back-to-back victories against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Boston is still boasting a solid 34-24 home record, and I don't think they'll allow that to happen.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Red Sox hand the ball to Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4, 6.70). He's been excellent since returning from a stint with Triple-A Pawtucket to fix mechanical issues and has allowed only a total of three runs in 12 1/3 frames in his last two turns. Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in one career start against the Tigers who counter with Michael Fulmer (9-2, 2.41 ERA). The 23 year old is no doubt enjoying a terrific rookie season, but he's off one of his worst starts in the big leagues when he conceded five runs (four earned) in five innings at U.S. Cellular Field.  2. Situational - The Red Sox are 4-1 in their last five games after losing the first two games of a series and 5-1 in their last six after allowing five runs or more in their previous game, which they did in yesterday's 9-8 defeat.  3. X-Factor - The Tigers are 0-5 in their last five games with CB Bucknor behind home plate. Selection: This is a play on the Boston Red Sox (10*)

The Nationals blew a two run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 1 here in Cleveland, and they might have a tough time bouncing back in Game 2. Both teams will send aces to the mound this afternoon, but I think the home team will prevail.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Stephen Strasburg will be on the mound for the visitors, and he's coming off his first loss of the season. Strasburg (13-1, 2.83 ERA) allowed six runs on seven hits over six innings in a home loss to the Dodgers. The Indians counter with Carlos Carrasco, who is 3-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his last four starts.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Strasburg hasn't fooled the Indians, who have hit .313 against him over 48 at bats. Rajai Davis is 2-for-2 lifetime, while Carlos Santana is 2-for-4 with an RBI versus the right-hander.

3. X-Factor - Bryce Harper is below the Mendoza Line in July, batting a woeful .187.

Selection: This is a play on the Cleveland Indians (10*)

The San Francisco Giants entered the All Star break with the best record in baseball, but they've won just one game since the festivities. The Dodgers are now just 2 1/2 games back in the NL West, and I think the desperate Giants will do whatever it takes to get back to their winning ways tonight.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Giants hand the ball to Matt Cain (1-6, 5.88) who's coming off one of his worst starts of the year when he was shelled for three home runs in just 2 1/3 innings in an 11-7 loss at Boston last Wednesday. He's posted a respectable 3.21 ERA in 11 career starts against the Reds though. Cincinnati counters with Cody Reed (0-4, 6.75 ERA), a left-handed rookie that is still searching for his first big-league win. The Reds have lost each of his previous six starts.   2. Situational - For all their recent struggles, the Giants are still 6-0 in their last six home games vs. a left-handed starter and 29-10 in their last 39 games when facing a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Reed's WHIP is a staggering 1.73.  3. X-Factor - The Reds' bullpen ranks dead last in the Majors with a 5.34 ERA.  Selection: This is a play on the San Francisco Giants (10*)

 The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost five of their last six games and 18 of their past 23 contest to drop all the way down to the bottom of the NL West. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated them 7-2 last night, and my money is on the Brew Crew to get the job done Tuesday night as well.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The D'Backs hand the ball to left-hander Patrick Corbin (4-9, 5.23 ERA) who is 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Milwaukee, but he has experience with only four of its current hitters. The left-hander has lost three straight starts and he's failed to get out of the fifth inning in each of his last five while posting a 7.50 ERA. The Brewers counter with Matt Garza (1-4, 5.94) who has struggled lately as well, but he's 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts) versus Arizona.  2. Home Cookin' - The Brewers are 7-2 in their last nine home games vs. a left-handed starter and they've won four straight when hosting a team with a losing record. 3. X-Factor - Jonathan Lucroy is 5-for-8 in previous meetings with Corbin.  Selection: This is a play on the Milwaukee Brewers (8*)

The Indians were one of the hottest teams in the majors heading into the All Star break, but they've since lost five of nine. They were swept in Baltimore over the weekend, but a home series versus the Nationals looks like a good spot to get back on track.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Danny Salazar will be on the mound for Cleveland, and he's been great at home. Salazar (11-3, 2.75 ERA) gave up three runs on eight hits, striking out seven in 6.2 innings in a win over the Royals. He's 5-1 with a 2.83 ERA in eight starts at home.

2. Home Cookin' - Gio Gonzalez will start for Washington, and he's been brutal on the road. He's lost four of his last five away from home, and he surrendered a total of 20 runs in those four losses.

3. X-Factor - The Indians have won eight of Gonzalez's last nine starts.

Selection: This is a play on the Cleveland Indians (8*)

The MIami Marlins are losers of three of their past four games after getting shut out by the Philalphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game set last night. They're still rocking a solid 25-22 record home at Marlins Park for the season and I think they'll tie the series with a win tonight.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Phillies hand the ball to Jerad Eickhoff (6-11, 3.98 ERA). The 26 year old surrendered six runs (five earned) on nine hits in five innings of a 9-3 home loss against Miami his last start. He's 2-6 with a 5.51 ERA in nine road starts this season so he's likely find it tough to bounce back with a solid outing tonight. The Marlins counter with Tom Koehler (7-8, 4.42 ERA) who held the Phillies to three runs (one earned) on two hits when he went toe-to-toe with Eickhoff last week.  2. Situational - The Phillies have lost each of their last six games following a win while the Marlins are 7-1 in their last eight games following a loss. 3. X-Factor - The Marlins have gone 19 consecutive innings without scoring a run. Considering the power they have in the lineup an offensive surge must be imminent.  Selection: This is a play on the Miami Marlins (8*)

The Blue Jays defeated San Diego by a score of 4-2 last night, and we might see another pitcher's duel here in Game 2. Marcus Stroman appears to have his swagger back, and he faces a light hitting Padres lineup. We see an inflated number, and my money is on the total to go under.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Stroman (8-4, 4.90 ERA) gave up one run on eight hits over eight innings in a win at Arizona in his last start. He's held the opposition to just three runs on eight hits over his last two home starts. The Padres will counter with former ace Andrew Cashner, who has held opponents to just one run in three of his last four starts.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Toronto has hit a combined .148 in previous meetings with Cashner. They managed just four hits while striking out eight times over 27 at bats.

3. X-Factor - The Jays have failed to reach the total in eight of their last nine home games.

Selection: This is a play on the Padres@Jays to go UNDER the total (10*)

The San Francisco Giants have had a rough schedule since the All Star break and managed just one victory during an eight-game road trip. I think they're looking good to record a well needed win as they return home to AT&T Park for the opener of a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds Monday night.   Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Giants hand the ball to Jake Peavy (5-8, 5.15 ERA). The veteran was knocked around for a season-high seven earned runs at Cincinnati on May 4, but he's 4-0 with a 1.90 ERA in seven meetings with the Reds at home. Peavy has pitched much better home in San Francisco than on the road all season with a 4-2 record and a 3.98 ERA in 10 starts. The Reds counter with Anthony DeSclafani (5-0, 2.50 ERA). The 26 year old right-hander conceded six runs over three innings in his lone career meeting with the Giants last year.  2. Road Woes - Cincinnati is 14-32 on the road this season, the worst mark in the major leagues. The Giants have won each of their last four home games against teams with a road winning % of less than .400. 3. X-Factor - The Giants batted just .125 (9-for-72) with runners in scoring position during their miserable road trip. They're obviously so much better than that and the law of averages suggests that an offensive explosion for the Giants is imminent.  Selection: This is a play on the San Francisco Giants (10*)

The Los Angeles Angels opened the second half of the schedule with six consecutive wins, but they were swept by the Astros at Houston over the weekend and outscored by 20-5 over the last two games. They'll visit a motivated opponent Monday night in the defending World Series champs Kansas City Royals who have dropped below .500 for the first time in more than two months after back-to-back losses to Texas, and I think the Royals will prove too much to handle for Los Angeles in this contest.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Royals hand the ball to Ian Kennedy (6-8, 4.28 ERA) who's coming off one of his worst starts of the year when he conceded seven runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings against the Tribe. Kennedy still has a solid 3.38 ERA in seven starts home at the K despite that outing, and I think he'll bounce back with a strong performance tonight. The Halos counter with Hector Santiago (8-4, 4.32 ERA). He conceded three runs on five hits and three walks in five innings against Texas his last start. Santiago has struggled with his command lately and yielded three walks or more in four of his last five starts.  2. Road Woes - The Halos have lost five straight on the road and they're just 21-29 away from home this season. They've dropped five of the last six meetings with the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.  3. X-Factor - Alcides Escobar was 4-for-11 over the weekend and he's 5-for-15 in previous meetings with Santiago.  Selection: This is a play on the Kansas City Royals (10*)

The Oakland Athletics finished last week in style with three consecutive one-run victories over the Rays. The Texas Rangers are off back-to-back impressive wins at Kansas City though, and they'll be extremely pumped up for their first home game since the All Star break. I think the Rangers will prove to be the stronger of the two teams tonight.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The A's hand the ball to Daniel Mengden (1-5, 5.52 ERA), a 23 year old rookie who is set to make his ninth start in the big leagues. He pitched well in his first four games but has unraveled completely of late, going 0-2 with a 9.33 ERA in four starts here in July. The Rangers counter with 25 year old southpaw Martin Perez (7-7, 4.37 ERA) who despite his fairly young age is in his fifth year in the majors. He has thrived with a 6-1 record with a 2.48 ERA in nine starts home at Arlington this year.  2. Oakland vs. Southpaws - The A's have lost 10 of their last 13 when coming up against a left-handed starter and their .307 on base percentage against southpaws this season is the worst mark in the American League.  3. X-Factor - Keep an eye on Ian Desmond who is hitting .376 at home for the year and has been a major factor in Texas' excellent 29-15 home record.  Selection: This is a play on the Texas Rangers (8*)

The Marlins lost two of three in their home series versus the Mets over the weekend, but they should be able to get back on track here against the Phillies. Philadelphia has lost seven of it's last nine overall, while Miami has won six of it's last eight at Marlin's Park.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Jeremy Hellickson will be on the hill for the visitors, and he's had his fair share of struggles on the road. He's given up nine runs on 14 hits over 12 innings in his last two road starts. The Marlins counter with Jaret Cosart, who will be looking to prove himself here after a stint in the minors. Cossart has pitched well against the Phillies in the past.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - The Phillies have hit a combined .212 in previous meetings with Cosart. Only the Braves have scored fewer runs than Philadelphia this season.

3. X-Factor - Christian Yelich is swinging a hot bat, hitting .387 with three home runs over the last seven days. He's 6-for-14 lifetime versus Hellickson.

Selection: This is a play on the Miami Marlins (8*)

This contest will follow Saturday's rain suspended game which will resume Sunday afternoon. This is a situation likely to favor the home team, and my money is on the White Sox in the finale of this series.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The White Sox hand the ball to José Quintana (8-8, 3.13) who struck out seven while holding the Mariners to one run over six innings at Seattle his last start. Quintana will be looking to revenge his last meeting with the Tigers when he was knocked around for five hits in 4 2/3 frames, a rare subpar performance from the left-hander. The Tigers counter with Anibal Sanchez (5-11, 6.60 ERA) who has struggled all season long. He's been particularly poor in his two most recent outings on the road giving up a combined 12 runs while failing to get past 4 1/3 frames in either game. He's 2-6 behind a 5.26 ERA in 10 career meetings with Chicago.  2. Situational - Chris Sale was scratched from Saturday's contest due to "a clubhouse incident". The ace have been the subject of trade rumors and is possibly looking to force himself away from the club before the trade deadline as Chicago has played itself out of postseason contention. I think the rest of the Sox will come together as a group and enter this contest determined to better their disappointing results following the All Star break.  3. X-Factor - The Tigers are 1-12 in Sanchez's last 13 starts and 0-7 in his last seven on the road. Selection: This is a play on the Chicago White Sox (8*)

The Pirates have split the first two games of this home series versus Philly, and I like Pittsburgh in the rubber match Sunday. This looks like it could be a pitcher's duel between a couple of young right-handers. My money is on the home team.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Jameson Taillon will be on the hill for the Bucs, and he's coming off consecutive gems. The 24 year old gave up just one run on five hits over six innings in a 3-2 home win over the Brewers in his last outing. Before that he went six innings, allowing one run on six hits in an 8-1 win at Seattle. The Phillies counter with Vincent Valasquez who has been far better at home (1.50 ERA) than on the road (4.74 ERA).

2. Bullpens - The Pirates relief pitchers have done well, posting a respectable 3.66 ERA this season. The Phillies bullpen continues to struggle, ranking 22nd in the majors with a 4.37 ERA.

3. X-Factor - The Pirates have won 12 of their last 16 meetings with Philadelphia.

Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates (8*)

The Cincinnati Reds have won six of eight home at Great American Ballpark following the All Star break. The Arizona Diamondbacks have put up little resistance in back-to-back defeats here in Cincinnati, and I think the Reds will complete the sweep of the series Sunday afternoon.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Reds hand the ball to Brandon Finnegan (5-7, 4.66), a 23 year old left-hander who's won back-to-back starts. He held the Braves to a pair of runs in five innings of an 8-2 victory his last outing. The D'Backs counter with Zack Godley (2-1, 5.31 ERA), a 26 year old right-hander who's in his second year in the big leagues. He's conceded a total of eight runs (seven earned) on 14 hits and four walks in a combined 10 innings in his last two turns.  2. The Reeling D'Backs - Arizona has scored just eight runs through four consecutive defeats and it has now lost 17 of its last 21 overall. The D'Backs boast a winning record on the road, but perhaps not for much longer as they've dropped seven straight outside of Arizona.  3. X-Factor - The Reds' Jay Bruce was 2-for-4 with a double and a homer yesterday to extend his hitting-streak to five games.  Selection: This is a play on the Cincinnati Reds (10*)

The Seattle Mariners are edging closer to the top spot in the AL West after winning five of eight since the All Star break and each of their last three. They'll be looking to complete the sweep of this three-game set at Rogers Centre Sunday afternoon, and I would not be surprised to see Seattle win this one outright as a dog.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Blue Jays hand the ball to J.A. Happ (12-3, 3.43) who spent the better part of last season with Seattle, but he's 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in his career against the Mariners. Current members have a .376 batting average over 85 at bats against the left-hander and they'll be very familiar with him after last season. The Mariners counter with another left-hander in Wade Miley (6-7, 5.36 ERA). He's 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA in four career starts against Toronto, but 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in the last two.  2. Seattle's Bats - The Mariners exploded for 14 runs and a season-high 19 hits in yesterday's blowout win. They've sure enjoyed playing in Toronto lately where they've won five of the past six meetings.  3. X-Factor - Toronto has lost six of its last eight when facing a left-handed starter.  Selection: This is a play on the Seattle Mariners +1.5 (8*)

The Atlanta Braves will take on Colorado Rockies for the third contest of a three-game set Saturday night. None of the previous games in the series have been fairly low-scoring affairs, but I think the crowd at Coors Field will see plenty of action over home plate in this contest.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Braves hand the ball to Matt Wisler (4-9, 4.67 ERA) who's been knocked around for 12 runs (11 earned) in 10 innings through his past two starts, both on the road. Wisler has a 5.23 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) outside of Atlanta for the season and is likely to struggle at the most hitter-friendly park in baseball. The Rockies counter with 26 year old rookie Tyler Anderson (2-3, 3.43) who will make his eighth start in the big leagues. Anderson is off his worst start of his brief career when he conceded four runs on five hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings against the Rays here in the Rocky Mountains.  2. Mark Wegner Behind Home Plate - The over is 17-5-2 in Wegner's last 24 games calling the shots and 5-2 in his last seven games involving Colorado. 3. X-Factor - Colorado's bullpen has a 4.97 ERA for the season and Atlanta's is only slightly better with a 4.30 mark.  Selection: This is a play on ATL@COL to go over the total (10*)

The Los Angeles Angels second half of the season surge came to an end with a 2-1 loss here at Minute Maid Park on Friday. The Halos had won six straight prior to yesterday's defeat, but I think they better prepare for another setback today against a team they've dropped nine straight to. 
Here are my keys to the game: 
1. Pitching - The Astros hand the ball to Collin McHugh (6-6, 4.25) who tossed six scoreless innings of four-hit ball at Seattle his last outing. McHugh has allowed a total of just 10 runs over his last six turns and he's held the Halos to four runs in 13 innings in two meetings this season. The Angels counter with Jered Weaver (8-7, 5.02 ERA) who's not been nearly as successful against Houston this year, surrendering a total of 10 runs on 13 hits and seven walks in 11 1/3 innings of work in losing two meetings. 
2. Situational - Facing division opponents brings out the best of this Houston team which is 21-8 in their last 29 vs. American League West and 22-4 in McHugh's last 26 starts against division foes. The Angels are 4-10 in their last 14 vs. AL West.
3. X-Factor - Jose Altuve's .358 batting average is the best mark in baseball and he's 14-for-21 over his last five games. 
Selection: This is a play on the Houston Astros (6*)

The Toronto Blue Jays had won three consecutive games prior to a 2-1 setback against the Seattle Mariners on Friday. The game marked the opener of a three-game series at Rogers Centre, and I think the home team will tie the series with a victory today.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Blue Jays hand the ball to R.A. Dickey (7-10, 4.11). The veteran knuckleballer has been excellent in his last two starts in front of the home fans, holding Kansas City and Detroit to a combined three runs with 13 strikeouts in 14 innings. Dickey is 5-3 with a 4.22 ERA in 13 career meetings with Seattle which counters with Hisashi Iwakuma (10-6, 4.01 ERA). The 35 year old Japanese must have unpleasant memories from Rogers Centre, posting a 5.63 ERA in two games there, including one start. 2. Situational - The Jays are 8-2 in their last 10 home games and 9-2 in their last 11 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Mariners have dropped five of their past six following a win and they're 2-8 in their last 10 when their opponent allows two runs or fewer in their previous game. 3. X-Factor - Toronto's Josh Donaldson is 8-for-18 over the last four games.  

Selection: This is a play on the Toronto Blue Jays (8*

The San Francisco Giants entered the All Star break with a major leagues best 57-33 record, but they've lost five straight following the festivities. I don't think they'll end the skid when visiting the New York Yankees in the Bronx Friday night.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Giants hand the ball to Madison Bumgarner (10-5, 2.12 ERA). The All Star pitcher allowed four runs on seven hits with a pair of homers in six innings of a 4-1 loss at Petco Park his last start. Mad Bum's ERA on the road is more than one full run higher than his ERA home in San Francisco and he's allowed 10 homers in nine road starts on the season. The Yankees counter with Masahiro Tanaka who held Boston to one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 3-1 win his last start. The Yankees are 8-1 in Tanaka's last nine home starts. 2. Starlin Castro - The Yankees' slugger is 11-for-26 (.423) in previous meetings with Bumgarner. He's batting .304 with six RBIs over the past seven days.  3. X-Factor - The Giants are 5-24 in their last 29 road games vs. a team with a winning record. Selection: This is a play on the New York Yankees +1.5 (8*)

The Cleveland Indians started the week by scoring a total of 22 runs while taking two of three from their division rival Kansas City. The O's have struggled to score runs since the All Star break but put four on the board in a 4-1 win against the Yankees yesterday. I think we'll see a high-scoring contest between the Birds and the Tribe Friday night.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Orioles hand the ball to Dylan Bundy (2-2, 3.70) who'll make his second career start in the majors. His first was a forgettable one when he conceded four runs on five hits and three walks with three homers in just 3 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay. Cleveland counters with Trevor Bauer (7-3, 3.36) who's struggled in his two most recent starts, surrendering a total of nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits and five walks in 11 2/3 innings of work.  2. The Orioles Are Getting Healthy - Baltimore has been hit hard with injuries and illness lately, but Manny Machado who has been knocked out by a virus was back in the lineup Thursday and Mark Wieter and Adam Jones could be back for tonight's contest.  3. X-Factor - The over is 8-2-2 in the Indians last 12 overall. Selection: This is a play on CLE@BAL to go OVER the total (10*)

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened an eight-game homestand by taking two of three from the Brew Crew. They'll host the Philadelphia Phillies for the opener of a three-game series Friday night. The Phillies are 3-11 in the last 14 meetings and I like the Pirates to claim the opener.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Pirates hand the ball to Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.11). The Pirates have lost each of his last four starts and Cole did not look particularly sharp in a 6-0 loss at Washington on July 16 in his first game back after missing more than a month with a strained triceps. Cole should be able to turn in a better performance tonight, and he's 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA in his career against the Phillies who counter with rookie Zach Eflin (2-3, 4.14 ERA) who has posted a 5.66 ERA in four road starts.   2. Road Woes - The Phillies are 21-25 on the road this season and they've lost nine of their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning record. The Pirates are 11-4 in Cole's last 15 home starts vs. a team with a losing record. 3. X-Factor - Motivation should be on Pittsburgh's side as it has won 12 of 17 to contend again in the NL Central.  Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates (6*)

The Chicago White Sox have dropped five of six since the All Star break and will be looking to turn their fortune around when hosting division rival the Detroit Tigers for the opener of a four-game series on Thursday. The Tigers are off back-to-back losses to the lousy Twins, and I don't like their chances here against Chicago.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The White Sox hand the ball to James Shields (4-11, 5.10). The right-hander had an extraordinary poor start to his career with Chicago, but he's pitched considerably better lately with a 1.91 ERA over his last four outings. Shields was excellent in his last start when he surrendered just one run and two hits in eight innings at Anaheim. The Tigers counter with Mike Pelfrey (2-9, 4.95 ERA) who is 1-5 with a 5.81 ERA lifetime against the White Sox.  2. Road Woes - The Tigers are 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and Pelfery is 0-6 on the road this season.  3. X-Factor - The Tigers have totaled four runs in their past three games. The White Sox meanwhile have scored 14 in their last three.  Selection: This is a play on the Chicago White Sox (10*)

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers have split the first two of this three-game set at PNC Park. The Brewers are 0-8 in their last eight during Game 3 of a series and this looks like a reasonable price on the home team. Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Pirates hand the ball to Francisco Liriano (5-9, 5.11) who was pretty sharp his last start in front of the home fans when he held the Cubs to a pair of runs (one earned) on three hits in five innings. His 3.67 ERA at home is almost three full runs better than his 6.52 ERA on the road. The Brewers counter with Matt Garza (1-3, 5.74 ERA) who conceded four runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings at Cincinnati on Friday. He's 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA in five road starts for the season.  2. Home Cookin' - The Pirates are 9-2 in Liriano's last 11 home starts vs. a team with a losing record and 6-2 in the last eight meeting with Milwaukee at PNC Park.  3. X-Factor - Milwaukee's All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy drove in three runs in Wednesday’s 9-5 victory, but he's just 5-for-26 in previous meetings with Liriano.  Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates (8*)

 The New York Yankees will be looking to complete the sweep of a four-game series with their division rival the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. The Birds have struggled to score runs lately and I think the Yankees will clinch this contest.  Here are my keys to the game:  1. Pitching - The Yankees hand the ball to CC Sabathia (5-7, 3.94). The left-hander has struggled lately going 0-3 in his last five turns. He's had good success against the Orioles throughout his career though as he seeks his 20th career win against the Birds and his 15th while with the Yankees. He held Baltimore scoreless on two hits in five innings at Camden Yards in the last meeting. The Orioles counter with Chris Tillman (13-2, 3.29 ERA) who is enjoying a career best year so far. Tillman is 4-6 with a 4.87 ERA in 18 career starts against the Yankees though and he was tagged with five runs in 5 2/3 innings on June 3 in the most recent meeting.  2. Baltimore's Bats - The Birds have scored just 10 runs in six games since the All Star break. The flu-ridden Manny Machado and Chris Davis missed Wednesday's contest, and although they're likely to play today one must wonder if they'll still not feel the effect of the illness.  3. X-Factor - A-Rod is 7-for-19 with five homers off Tillman.  Selection: This is a play on the New York Yankees +1.5 (8*)

The Orioles have lost three straight, and they've scored a total of just four runs during that span. Wednesday's Game 3 in the Bronx looks like another tough matchup, and my money is on the Yankees to make it three straight wins.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Baltimore will send Yovani Gallardo to the mound, and the veteran has been flirting with disaster in most of his starts this season. Gallardo (3-1, 5.77 ERA) allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings in a no-decision versus Tampa in his last appearance. He's surrendered nine runs on 20 hits over 14 innings while failing to win his last three starts.

2. Yankees Bullpen - The Yankees boast one of the better bullpens in the American League, and studs like Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman could be on the move before the trade deadline.

3. X-Factor - Michael Pineda is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four career starts at home versus Baltimore.

Selection: This is a play on the New York Yankees (8*)

The Pirates have won 11 of their last 15, and they trail the Cardinals by just a half a game in the NL Central. Pittsburgh defeated the Brewers 3-2 in Game 1 of this home series last night, and I like the Bucs to stay hot here at PNC Park tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

Pitching - Jeff Locke will be on the mound for the Pirates, and he's undefeated in his last five appearances. Locke (8-5, 5.26 ERA) worked 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in the Pirates final game before the All Star Break. The Brewers counter with Chase Anderson who has lost five straight starts.

2. Home Cookin' - Locke is 5-1 with a 2.81 ERA in seven starts at home in 2016, and the Pirates have won six of their last eight in Pittsburgh. Milwaukee has lost seven of Anderson's last eight starts on the road.

3. X-Factor - The Pirates have owned Anderson, batting .410 over a combined 39 previous at bats.

Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates (8*)

The Indians have split the first two games of this series in Kansas City, and they are a favorite in the rubber match Wednesday. The Royals have won four of the last five in this series, and they've won 38 of their last 52 home games. My money is on Kansas City on the runline.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Carlos Carrasco will be on the hill for Cleveland, and he's struggled in two previous meetings with the Royals this season. The right-hander gave up a pair of runs on 10 hits over six innings in a loss at Kansas City, and he allowed three runs on nine hits over five innings in a no-decision at home versus the Royals. Kansas City counters with Ian Kennedy, who is 3-1 with a 2.11 ERA in six starts at home in 2016.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Kennedy is 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA in three previous starts versus Cleveland, and the Indians are batting .248 with 32 strikeouts and just 24 hits over 137 bats against Kennedy.

3. X-Factor - The Indians are 0-5 in the last five meetings in Kansas City.

Selection: This is a play on the Kansas City Royals +1.5 (8*)

The Rockies have won six of their last 10 overall, while the Tampa Rays have lost nine of their last 10. The two teams meet in Game 2 of this series at Coors Field tonight, and my money is on the home team.   Here are my keys to the game:   1. Pitching - The Rays will hand the ball to rookie Blake Snell, who is coming off back-to-back losses. Snell (1-4, 3.69 ERA) gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks over 6.2 innings in a 6-0 loss at Cleveland in his last start on the road. The Rockies counter with Tyler Chatwood, who has pitched well in 2016. The right-hander has a respectable 3.29 ERA while going 8-5 so far this season.   2. Tampa's Offense - The Rays have scored fewer runs than any other team in the American League, and they rank 28th overall with a team batting average of .238.   3. X-Factor - The Rockies have won nine of their last 13 home games versus Tampa Bay.   Selection: This is a play on the Colorado Rockies (10*)