SUPER EARLY CARDINALS @ CUBS DAYTIME DESTROYER

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.41 ERA) limited the Chicago Cubs to one run over seven innings last week. He is 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in seven career games against them and the Cardinals are 16-5 in Mikolas' last 21 road starts.

Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.62 ERA) owns a solid 2.48 ERA in 15 career starts against St. Louis, but I don't think the Cubs should be this big of a favorite in this matchup. 

The teams have split the first two three-game sets of the season with the home team winning sweeping each series. I think the Cards will snap that streak today. 

8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

SUPER EARLY MLB DAYTIME DESTROYER

I like the Atlanta Braves to come through with a win here in the finale of this three-game set Thursday afternoon. 

The Pirates hand the ball to Chris Archer (2-5, 5.66 ERA) who has allowed three runs or more in each of his last six starts. He was tagged with four runs on five hits (two homers) in seven innings of a 9-4 win over Milwaukee last time out but the Pirates had lost each of his last seven starts prior to that. 

Atlanta hands the ball to Mike Foltynewicz (1-4, 6.10 ERA) who was knocked around by the Tigers his last start, but had allowed just two earned runs over 12 innings in his last two starts prior to that outing. 

The Pirates are scoring an average of 4.24 runs on the year, placing them 23rd in the major leagues while Braves average 5.05 rpg, ranking them 10th.

Pirates are 6-20 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning record. Braves are 13-3 in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.

8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Toronto Blue Jays had won just one of their last 11 games prior to Tuesday's 4-3 win over the NY Yankees in the opener of this three-game series. I expect the Bronx Bombers to be fired up here after dropping back-to-back games for the first time in over a month, and runs surely won't come easy for Toronto with left-hander James Paxton on the mound for the visitors. 

Paxton (3-2, 2.81 ERA) tossed four hitless and scoreless innings against San Diego last time out. The Yankees have won each of his last five starts and covered the runline in four of those games. Paxton held the Jays to three runs on eight hits over 16 innings of work while with Seattle last year. 

Toronto hands the ball to right-hander Trent Thornton (1-4, 4.53) who will be making his 13th start. Thornton is 0-3 behind a 6.23 ERA in six starts home at Rogers Centre and was tagged with three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays last time out.

The Yankees are 7-1 SU and 6-2 against the runline as a road favorite of -155 or more this season.

10* play on NY Yankees -1.5. 

MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Texas Rangers have won five of their last six and 13 of their last 18 to make it 30-27 for the season good for 2nd place in the American League West. Here they'll host a Baltimore Orioles side is an MLB-worst 18-41 on the season. I think we're getting a great price on the home team. 

Dylan Bundy (2-6, 4.58 ERA) will toe the slab for the Orioles. They're 2-9 in Bundy's last 11 road starts and  5-21 in his last 26 starts overall. He owns a sparkling 0.78 ERA in five career outings (three starts) against Texas, but the current Rangers roster is batting a combined .255 over 51 at-bats against him. 

The Rangers counter with Drew Smyly (1-3, 6.98 ERA). The left-hander is having a rough season, but he is well familiar with Baltimore since his time with Tampa Bay. Smyly is 4-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 games (seven starts) against the Orioles. Only three players on the current Baltimore roster have any experience of Smyly; Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo and Jonathan Villar. They're a combined 6-for-33 with 18 strikeouts.

8* play on Texas Rangers. 

TWINS @ INDIANS BOOKIE BLASTER

The Minnesota Twins are 13-3 in their last 16 road games, and here they'll visit a Cleveland Indians team that has dropped six of its last seven home at Progressive Field. 

Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.67 ERA) was tagged with six runs on eight hits (three homers) over five innings against the Red Sox last time out. Minnesota left-hander Devin Smeltzer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) fanned seven through six shutout innings of three-hit ball against Milwaukee in his major leagues debut last Tuesday. 

I think this is a terrific price on a Twins team that owns the best record in baseball this season at 40-18.

8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB HEAVY HITTER

The New York Yankees have won 15 of 19 games since May 11, and I don't think they'll have any trouble to take care of business here in the opener of a three-game series against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto has lost 10 of its last 11 games and it is 0-2 in left-hander Clayton Richard's (0-1, 3.38 ERA) two starts on the season. Richards has struggled with his command issuing six walks through his eight innings on the mound. 

The Yankees will counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (3-4, 3.20 ERA) who had allowed just two runs through his last three starts before getting charged with five (four earned) in a 5-4 loss to San Diego last time out. Tanaka rarely has two poor games in a row though, and we can note that he's 11-4 with a 2.69 ERA in 17 career starts against the Blue Jays.

The Yankees are 7-0 SU and 6-1 against the runline as a road favorite of -155 or more this season.

10* play on New York Yankees. 

10*

METS @ DIAMONDBACKS BANKROLL BUILDER

The New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks enter the finale of this three-game set tied at 1-1. 

I like the visitors to get the better of their opponent today with Steven Matz (4-3, 3.55 ERA) on the mound. Matz is coming off back-to-back quality starts and he has not given up more than three runs in any of his past six starts. Matz 1-0 with a 3.78 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks who counter with Merrill Kelly (4-6, 4.83 ERA). Kelly has lost four of his past five starts while surrendering 18 runs over 24 2/3 innings of work. 

Mets are 9-3 in Matzs last 12 starts. Diamondbacks are 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a left-handed starter and 2-12 in their last 14 Sunday games. 

8* play on New York Mets. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Texas Rangers have won six of their last seven and nine of their last 11 games home at Globe Life Park. I like the price we get on the home team to pick up another win here in the finale of a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals. 

The Royals hand the ball to Brad Keller (3-6, 4.56 ERA) who was tagged with four runs on 10 hits in six innings at Chicago White Sox last time out. The Royals have lost six of his last seven starts overall and Keller is 1-4 with a 4.79 ERA in seven road starts on the season. 

The Rangers counter with Adrian Sampson (3-3, 4.53 ERA). He has picked up the W in each of his last three outings while posting a 2.87 ERA over 15 2/3 innings of work. Sampson has been at his best at home this season, entering this contest with a 3.52 ERA ovr six outings (three starts). 

The Rangers have won 21 of the last 26 meetings, dating back to July 2016. 

10* play on Texas Rangers. 

INDIANS @ WHITE SOX DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Chicago White Sox had their five-game winning streak snapped 5-2 by Cleveland on Saturday, but I like them to bounce back here against an inexperienced rookie right-hander. 

Indians' Zach Plesac (0-0, 1.69 ERA) will make just his second start in the majors. He held the Red Sox to one run on four hits through 5 1/3 innings in his debut on May 28, but here he'll face a hot White Sox team that has scored a total of 18 runs through the first three games of this series. 

Lucas Giolito (7-1, 2.85 ERA) will toe the slab for the White Sox. He matched a career high with 10 strikeouts as he held the Royals to three runs over eight innings last time out. The White Sox have won each of his last six starts, and he blanked Cleveland over 7 1/3 frames of a 2-0 triumph on May 7. 

Indians are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter. White Sox are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.

8* play on Chicago White Sox. 

MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Toronto Blue Jays have won just four of Marcus Stroman's 12 starts this season. Stroman (3-6, 2.74 ERA) is 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA in four starts on the road and the Blue Jays are 7-16 in their last 23 road games vs. a team with a winning record.

The Rockies have won six of right-hander Jon Gray's (4-4, 4.52 ERA) last eight starts and he limited Arizona to a pair of runs over five innings last time out.

The Rockies have won seven of the last nine meetings at Coors Field and seven of their last eight overall in front of the home town crowd. 

8* play on Colorado Rockies. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Cincinnati Reds opened this series with a 9-3 triumph and look good to put another beating on the Washington Nationals on Saturday. 

Nats right-hander Erick Fedde (1-0, 2.18 ERA) has made just two starts this season. He blanked Miami over five innings of work last time out, but the Reds have way better bats than the Fish and have scored at least eight runs in four of their last six games. We can also note that Fedde is unlikely to pitch more than 5-6 innings only for the worst bullpen in baseball to take over. The Nationals are 1-4 in Fedde's last five starts.

The Reds hand the ball to Tanner Roark (4-3, 3.20 ERA) who fanned nine over five scoreless innings of a 10-2 win against the Cubs last time out. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 11 starts on the season. 

10* play on Cincinnati Reds. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The St. Louis Cardinals were on the wrong side of a three-game sweep at Chicago during the first week of May, and I think they'll be fired up here in the opener of a three-game set against their NL Central rival. 

The Cards hand the ball to right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.76 ERA). He fanned nine while allowing three runs through seven innings against Atlanta last time out. Mikolas has compiled a 3.15 ERA in six home starts on the season and the Cards are 10-4 in his last 14 home starts. In six career games (four starts) against the Cubs, Mikolas is 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA.

Chicago turns to right-hander Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.40 ERA) who was charged with six runs on 12 hits against Cincinnati last time out. He gave up five runs in four innings against St. Louis on May 4. 

The Cubs are 31-23 on the season, but note that the Cardinals are a solid 10-2 in Mikolas' last 12 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

10* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Atlanta Braves have won 12 of their last 18 contest and look like a solid home favorite here in the opener of a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers. 

Mike Foltynewicz (1-3, 5.67 ERA) will toe the slab for the home team. The 26-year-old right-hander posted an 8.02 ERA over his first four starts on the season, but in his last two, he has held the Brewers and the Cardinals to a combined two earned runs on eight hits with 10 Ks through 12 innings of work. "It looked like the old Folty," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said after the St. Louis game last Friday. "I told him, 'You're getting back to where you were.' That's good to see."

The Tigers hand the ball to Spencer Turnbull (2-4, 2.97 ERA) who has had a solid year, but in his last two starts, he's been tagged with a total of seven runs on 14 hits through 12 innings. Detroit has lost his last three starts and is just 3-12 in its last 15 overall.

8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

THURSDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Texas Rangers are playing their best baseball of the season with wins in 10 of their last 14 contests while the Kansas City Royals have lost six of their last seven overall. 

Tonight Texas hands the ball to left-hander Mike Minor (5-3, 2.55 ERA) who held the Angels to one run on five hits in six innings of a no-decision last time out. He has permitted just four runs in his last three starts and is 2-1 behind a 3.52 ERA in four career starts against the Royals. 

Jakob Junis (3-5, 5.58 ERA) will toe the slab for the visitors. Junis is 0-3 in his last four trips to the mound and has allowed a total of 16 runs during that four-game stretch. 

The Royals are 1-5 in Junis' last 6 road starts. The Rangers are 7-1 in Minor's last 8 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.

8* play on Texas Rangers. 

TWINS @ RAYS BOOKIE BLASTER

The MLB-best Minnesota Twins are a solid 18-8 on the road this season and will have fresh minds and bodies after getting Wednesday off. They are 6-0 in their last six games following an off day and should have a significant rest advantage as the Tampa Bay Rays went 11 innings against Toronto yesterday. 

Minnesota southpaw Martin Perez (7-1, 2.95 ERA) has allowed just seven runs through his last six outings and the Twins have won six of his last seven starts. 

Tampa Bay right-hander Charlie Morton (5-0, 2.54 ERA) has allowed six runs (four earned) over 10 innings of work in his last two starts combined. We can note that while Morton owns a blistering 1.88 ERA in seven road starts this season, he has posted a more modest 3.68 ERA home at the Trop. 

The price is right to back Minnesota. 

8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Colorado Rockies have opened this series with a pair of wins, but I like the Arizona Diamondbacks to get the W here with Robbie Ray (4-1, 3.26 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in six career starts at Coors Field and 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts for the month. 

Colorado counters with Jeff Hoffman (0-1, 8.10 ERA) who was tagged with five runs and seven hits over five innings against Baltimore last time out. Hoffman is 0-2 with a bloated 10.38 ERA in four career outings (two starts) against Arizona.

Diamondbacks are 5-1 in Rays last six starts.

8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Philadelphia Phillies have won nine of their last 12 games while the St. Louis Cardinals are just 7-17 in the month of May. 

Tonight the Phillies hand the ball to Aaron Nola (5-0, 4.53 ERA) who has posted a 2.59 ERA in five career starts versus the Cardinals. He's been red hot since a slow start to the season, compiling a 2.76 ERA over his last six starts with Philadelphia winning each of the last five. 

The Cardinals counter with Genesis Cabrera who will make his major league debut. The 22-year-old southpaw was 2-3 with a 6.35 ERA at Triple-A Memphis before getting called up to take Michael Wacha's spot in the rotation. 

The Phillies are 27-11 in their last 38 home games vs. a left-handed starter and 9-3 against the runline as a home favorite of -150 or more this season. The Cardinals are 6-14 in their last 20 games vs. a right-handed starter.

10* play on Philadelphia Phillies RL.  

MLB 3-PACK

The Seattle Mariners snapped a six-game slide with a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday. I think they'll make it two on the bounce here with Marco Gonzales (5-4, 3.41 ERA) on the mound. The 27 year old southpaw limited Texas to a pair of runs through seven frames last time out and is 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA in seven career starts vs. the Rangers.

Texas will open with right-hander Jesse Chavez (0-1, 4.55 ERA) followed by right-hander Adrian Sampson (2-3, 4.44 ERA). Sampson has good career numbers against the Mariners, but he has compiled a poor 6.19 ERA on the road this season.  

The Rangers are just 2-6 in the last eight meetings in Seattle following yesterday's loss, and I'm happy to back the home team in this matchup. 

8* play on Seattle Mariners. 

Minnesota is the best team in baseball if we are to believe the standings. It should be eager to bounce back from a 5-4 loss to the Brew Crew on Monday to earn a split of this two-game interleague series. 

The Twins have won six of left-hander Martin Perez's (7-1, 2.95 ERA) last seven starts and Perez himself is 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA in five outings (four starts) home at Target Field. The Brewers counter with Zach Davies (5-0, 2.43 ERA) who's off to a blistering start this season, but he struggled last time out when he gave up six runs in just three innings against Cincinnati. 

The Twins are 13-3 in their last 16 after allowing five runs or more in their previous game and 19-7 in their last 26 games following a loss.

Edit: the Twins have made a pitching change as they give Devin Seltzer his big-league debut. The left-hander has posted a 1.15 ERA in nine starts between Double-Pensacola and Triple-A Rochester in the minors this season. I still like Minnesota to win this game. 

8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Houston Astros beat the visiting Chicago Cubs on Monday in the opener of a three-game interleague series, and I think they'll get the better of the visitors again here on Tuesday. 

Tonight rookie right-hander Corbin Martin (1-1, 4.97 ERA) will take the ball for the home team. The Astros had won each of his first two starts in the big leagues prior to a 4-0 loss to the White Sox on May 23. 

Martin was charged with all four runs (three earned), but even so, he's still done better lately than Cubs' left-hander Jon Lester (3-3, 2.68 ERA) who has compiled a 9.72 ERA over his last two trips to the mound. Lester has made just two career starts against Houston (4.50 ERA) but the current Astros roster is batting a combined .270 over 63 at bats against the veteran. 

The Astros are 6-1 in their last seven interleague games vs. a left-handed starter and 8-2 in their last 10 interleague home games.

10* play on Houston Astros. 

LATE NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Texas Rangers had won five on the bounce prior to dropping back-to-back games at LAA over the weekend. The winning streak included a three-game sweep of Seattle, and I think they'll open this series with another win over the Mariners Monday night. 

Texas right-hander Lancy Lynn (6-3, 4.67 ERA) is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners and has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his 10 starts this season. The Mariners counter with left-hander Tommy Milone (0-1, 3.60 ERA) who has made just one start this season. He is 3-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 career starts against Texas. 

The slumping Mariners have won just eight of their last 40 games since a red hot 13-2 start. The Rangers are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.

8* play on Texas Rangers. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (MLB): MIKE'S TOP RATED RUNLINE FOR MAY

The slumping Cleveland Indians have dropped six of their last seven games and have scored more than three runs just once during that span. This looks like a very tough matchup with Boston Red Sox and right-hander Rick Porcello. 

Porcello (3-4, 4.45 ERA) held Toronto to one run over six innings in a no decision last time out. The Red Sox have won six of his last seven starts and Porcello is 10-5 with a 3.57 ERA in 24 career starts against the Indians who counter with Jefry Rodriguez. Rodriguez (1-4, 4.08 ERA) was tagged with five runs (four earned) in four innings against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday and Cleveland has lost four of his six starts on the season. 

The Red Sox are a perfect 3-0 SU and against the runline in Porcello's last three starts as a -170 favorite or larger.

10* play on Boston Red Sox -1.5. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The red hot Oakland Athletics are going for a ninth consecutive triumph when they host the Seattle Mariners for the finale of this three-game set Sunday afternoon. 

The A's have averaged 7.3 rpg during the winning streak and should have no trouble to pile up the runs here against right-hander Mike Leake (3-5, 4.73 ERA) who was tagged with seven runs on 11 hits (three home runs) in five innings at Texas last time out. Seattle has lost six of his last seven starts. 

Oakland hands the ball to left-hander Brett Anderson (5-3, 4.14 ERA) who limited Cleveland to one run in 5 1/3 frames of a 6-4 win last time out. Anderson is 4-1 behind a 3.00 ERA in six day starts on the season and 5-1 in his last six home starts.

The Mariners are 0-6 in their last six road games vs. a left-handed starter and 6-20 in their last 26 overall.

10* play on Oakland Athletics -1.5. 

SUPER EARLY MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Los Angeles Dodgers have outscored the Pittsburgh Pirates 17-4 over the first two games of this series. I expect another easy win for the Dodgers here to complete the three-game sweep. 

Pittsburgh right-hander Chris Archer (1-4, 5.55 ERA) has been tagged with a total of 15 runs while covering just 12 2/3 innings through his last three starts. The Pirates have lost six of his seven starts on the season, including a 6-2 loss to the Dodgers in LA on April 26 when Archer conceded six runs in his four frames on the mound. 

The Dodgers counter with Kenta Maeda (5-2, 3.51 ERA) who has blanked the opposition in three of his last four starts. He struck out 12 in 6 2/3 shutout innings of three-hit ball against San Diego last time out. 

Dodgers are 17-4 in the last 21 meetings with Pittsburgh and 25-10 in their last 35 overall.

8* play on Los Angeles Dodgers. 

SUPER EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON RIPPER

The Toronto Blue Jays have dropped 10 of their last 12 games at home and they've lost right-hander Marcus Stroman (2-6, 2.81 ERA) 11 starts on the season.

The Padres, on the other hand, have won seven of right-handed rookie Chris Paddack's (4-2, 1.93 ERA) nine starts, and he fanned even through six innings of a 2-1 win over Arizona last time out.

The Padres have won five in a row and claimed the opener of this series 6-3 on Friday followed by a 19-4 rout on Saturday.

Edit: Robbie Erlin will replace Paddack on the mound for the Padres, and I think he'll keep this low scoring Toronto team in check. 

8* play on San Diego Padres.

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB): TOP RATED MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Los Angeles Dodgers put a 10-2 beating on the Pittsburgh Pirates here at PNC Park Friday night to make it eight straight wins in the head-tó-head series. 

This looks like it should be another comfortable win for the visitors with Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-1, 1.52 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander enters this contest riding a 31-inning scoreless streak and he is 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA in five career starts against the Pirates. 

Joe Musgrove (3-4, 3.67 ERA) will toe the slab for the home team. He was tagged with four runs (three earned) over 6 1/3 innings of a 6-4 win at San Diego last time out. Musgrove was reached for seven runs (five earned) in just 2 2/3 frames his last home start. 

The Pirates are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Dodgers are 36-16 in their last 52 games vs. a right-handed starter.

10* play on Los Angeles Dodgers. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Texas Rangers enter Friday riding a season high-tying four-game winning streak, but I think it'll come to an end here with Drew Smyly on the mound. 

Smyly (0-3, 6.51 ERA) is 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) against the Angels who turn to Griffin Canning (2-1, 3.80 ERA). The rookie right-hander fanned five through seven scoreless innings against Kansas City last time out and owns a solid 24/7 K/BB ratio through his first 21 1/3 innings in the big leagues. 

The Rangers are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings in Los Angeles and 6-22 in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

8* play on LA Angels. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB NO-BRAINER

The Cleveland Indians have surrendered 11 homers and 25 runs during a four-game losing streak, and I think they'll take another L here against the Rays Friday night. 

Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber (3-2, 3.22 ERA) struck out 15 in a complete game shutout of Baltimore on Sunday. He had however been tagged with 17 earned runs over 28 2/3 inning in his last five starts prior to that. He boasts a very respectable 1.01 WHIP but, we can note that the Rays are 14-2 in their last 16 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.

The Rays hand the ball to reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell who has allowed just three earned runs over his last three starts, covering 17 2/3 frames. Snell is 2-1 behind a 1.69 ERA in four career starts against the Indians.

8* play on Tampa Bay Rays. 

SUPER EARLY ROCKIES @ PIRATES AFTERNOON ANNIHILATOR

I like the price we get on the Colorado Rockies to complete the sweep of this three-game series Thursday afternoon. 

Pirates' right-hander Jordan Lyles (4-1, 1.97) is off to a hot start to the campaign, but he's just 1-3 with a 4.86 ERA in 11 games (five starts) against Colorado. The Rockies know him well after spending several seasons on the team while this will be Colorado right-hander Antonio Senzatela's (3-3, 4.89 ERA) first start against Pittsburgh. 

The Pirates are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter and they've lost five of the last six when hosting Colorado.

8* play on Colorado Rockies. 

SUPER EARLY NATS @ METS DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Washington Nationals are losers of four in a row including three straight to the Mets, but they look like a solid favorite here in the finale of this four-game set Thursday afternoon.  

Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.32 ERA) will toe the rubber for the visitors. He is 8-1 behind a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts at Citi Field and held the White Sox to a pair of runs through eight frames last time out. 

The Mets counter with left-hander Steven Matz (3-3, 3.96 ERA) who was tagged with two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 2-0 loss at Miami last Saturday. He's fresh off a two week stint on the injured list and Matz is 1-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 11 starts against the Nationals.

Nationals are 16-2 in Strasburg's last 18 starts during game 4 of a series. Mets are 1-6 in Matz's last 7 starts during game 4 of a series.

8* play on Washington Nationals. 

WEDNESDAY MLB MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

The San Francisco Giants tied this four-game series at 1-1 by scoring three runs with two outs in the ninth inning on Tuesday. I like the Atlanta Braves to bounce back from that heartbreaker here on Wednesday with left-hander Max Fried on the mound. 

Fried (6-2, 2.86 ERA) is coming off six scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Milwaukee. He is 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA under the lights this season and the Giants are hitting just .220 as a team against southpaws this season. 

Jeff Samardzija (2-2, 3.69 ERA) will toe the slab for the home team. He has allowed a total of 10 runs on 15 hits and six walks through 14 1/3 innings in his last three starts combined and the Giants are just 7-16 in Samardzija's last 23 starts

Giants are 1-6 in their last seven games following a win and just 10-13 home at Oracle Park this season. The Braves are 7-1 in their last eight road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

SUPER EARLY REDS @ BREWERS DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off their first scoreless outing of the season as they took 3-0 loss to the Reds on Tuesday. They were 9-3 (+62.5% ROI) following a shut out defeat in 2018 and I think they'll roar back with a big performance today.  

Zach Davies (5-0, 1.54 ERA) will toe the slab for Milwaukee. He has allowed just two earned runs over 23 2/3 innings of work home at Miller Park this season and has posted a 1.40 ERA through four day starts. 

Reds right-hander Luis Castillo (5-1, 1.90 ERA) has also had a terrific start to the year, but his ERA in day games is higher than under the lights. We can also note that his lone loss on the season came against the Brewers back on April 3. 

Brewers are 6-2 in Davies' last eight Wednesday starts and 4-0 in his last four home starts vs. the Reds who are 3-13 in their last 16 Wednesday games. We can also note that the Reds are just 5-13 in day games this season. 

8* play on Milwaukee Brewers. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off their first scoreless outing of the season as they took 3-0 loss to the Reds on Tuesday. They were 9-3 (+62.5% ROI) following a shut out defeat in 2018 and I think they'll roar back with a big performance today.  

Zach Davies (5-0, 1.54 ERA) will toe the slab for Milwaukee. He has allowed just two earned runs over 23 2/3 innings of work home at Miller Park this season and has posted a 1.40 ERA through four day starts. 

Reds right-hander Luis Castillo (5-1, 1.90 ERA) has also had a terrific start to the year, but his ERA in day games is higher than under the lights. We can also note that his lone loss on the season came against the Brewers back on April 3. 

Brewers are 6-2 in Davies' last eight Wednesday starts and 4-0 in his last four home starts vs. the Reds who are 3-13 in their last 16 Wednesday games. We can also note that the Reds are just 5-13 in day games this season.

Under is 16-5 in Castillos last 21 starts overall and 39-14-1 in Reds last 54 road games. Under is 27-8-1 in Davies' last 36 starts overall and 8-3 in Brewers last 11 overall.

8* play on UNDER.

TOP RATED 10* TUESDAY NIGHT BASES BIG HITTER

The Milwaukee Brewers are a solid 16-8 home at Miller Park on the season. They had Monday off following a lengthy road trip and are 22-6 in their last 28 games following an off day.

Tonight they'll hand the ball to Gio Gonzalez (2-0, 1.69 ERA) for his fifth start of the season. The veteran southpaw has held opponents to a combined two runs over 16 1/3 frames through his last three starts (Brew Crew won all three games). 

The Reds counter with Sonny Gray (0-4, 4.30 ERA). The Reds are just 3-6 in his nine starts on the season and the right-hander has yet to earn a W. Gray has allowed three earned runs in three straight starts without making it past the fifth inning in any of those outings. 

The Brewers are 16-5 in the last 21 meetings with Cincinnati. 

10* play Milwaukee Brewers. 

$20 TUESDAY SPECIAL

The Boston Red Sox put a 12-2 beating on the Toronto Blue Jays Monday afternoon, and I predict another Red Sox win here in Game of the series. 

Toronto hands the ball to Marcus Stroman (1-6, 2.95 ERA). It has lost eight of his 10 starts on the season and Stroman himself has been tagged with 13 runs over 20 1/3 frames through his last four starts. Boston counters with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 4.89 ERA) who is 4-0 with a 3.46 ERA in his past seven starts this season. Red Sox are 13-3 in Rodriguez's last 16 road starts.

The Blue Jays are 14-37 in their last 51 games vs. a left-handed starter and 1-5 in Stroman's last six starts vs. the Red Sox.

8* play on Boston Red Sox. 

MONDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Texas Rangers look like a solid moneyline favorite here against the Seattle Mariners Monday night. 

Texas hands the ball to Mike Minor (4-3, 2.61 ERA) who held the Royals to one run through five innings of a 6-1 win at Kansas City last time out. He has not allowed a single run in any of his last three starts home at Globe Life Park, covering a total of 24 innings of work. 

We can also note that the Mariners are 1-7 in their last eight games vs. a left-handed starter and that Minor fanned 13 through seven innings of a 15-1 win over Seattle on April 27. Seattle's Mike Leake (3-4, 4.00 ERA) on the other hand was ripped for nine runs on 10 hits in five innings in that very same contest. 

8* play on Texas Rangers. 

MONDAY NIGHT UNDERDOG DELIGHT

The Oakland Athletics are coming off a three-game sweep of the Tigers (Game 4 on Sunday got canceled due to weather), and I like the price we get on the visitors as an underdog at Cleveland Monday night. 

Oakland left-hander Brett Anderson (4-3, 4.41 ERA) is 3-0 with an 0.82 ERA in five career encounters with the Tribe who hand the ball to Carlos Carrasco (4-3, 4.18 ERA). Carrasco has tossed a total of 12 scoreless innings against the White Sox in his last two starts, which no doubt is driving up the price on the home team. 

Athletics are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.

8* play on Oakland Athletics. 

CUBS @ NATS SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL (LIVE ON ESPN)

The Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals enter the rubber match of this three-game set tied at 1-1 following a 5-2 Nats win on Saturday. The Cubs are a solid 9-2 in their last 11 games following a loss while the Nats are 6-20 in their last 26 games following a win.

Tonight the Cubs hand the ball to Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 2.86 ERA) who has allowed just one earned run on 12 hits and one walk while covering a total of 25 innings through his last three starts. Hendricks owns a 2.61 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals who counter with Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 6.00 ERA).

Hellickson (2-2, 6.00 ERA) was charged with five runs on six hits and five walks in five frames of a 6-2 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday. He has not made it out of the fifth inning in any of his last six starts, something the Cubs should be able to take advantage of as the Nats bullpen has been the worst in baseball this year with a 6.82 ERA.

Cubs are 4-0 in Hendricks' last four starts vs. Nationals who are 5-11 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter. 

8* play on Chicago Cubs. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners combined for 20+ runs on Saturday, and with depleted bullpens (particularly for the home team) I expect Sunday's matchup to turn into another high-scoring affair. 

Minnesota hands the ball to right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-1, 4.26 ERA). He was tagged with three runs on six hits and a pair of walks through 5 2/3 innings against the Halos last time out. Gibson has allowed 29 hits and eight walks in 26 1/3 innings of work through five road starts on the season (over is 4-1 in those games). 

The Mariners counter with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.64 ERA) who served up three home runs in six innings against Oakland last time out. The 27-year-old rookie has made just one day starts in the big leagues, at Chicago White Sox on April 5 when he was tagged with six runs (four earned) through five frames. Over is 7-1-1 in Kikuchi's last nine starts overall.

Over/under is 34-12-2 in games involving the Mariners this season. Minnesota and Seattle rank 2nd and 3rd respectively in slugging percentage this season (prior to Saturday's slate of games). 

We can also note that the Twins are 9-2 in Gibsons last 11 starts and 7-1 in his last eight starts vs. Seattle. 

8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners combined for 20+ runs on Saturday, and with depleted bullpens (particularly for the home team) I expect Sunday's matchup to turn into another high-scoring affair. 

Minnesota hands the ball to right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-1, 4.26 ERA). He was tagged with three runs on six hits and a pair of walks through 5 2/3 innings against the Halos last time out. Gibson has allowed 29 hits and eight walks in 26 1/3 innings of work through five road starts on the season (over is 4-1 in those games). 

The Mariners counter with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.64 ERA) who served up three home runs in six innings against Oakland last time out. The 27-year-old rookie has made just one day starts in the big leagues, at Chicago White Sox on April 5 when he was tagged with six runs (four earned) through five frames. Over is 7-1-1 in Kikuchi's last nine starts overall.

Over/under is 34-12-2 in games involving the Mariners this season. Minnesota and Seattle rank 2nd and 3rd respectively in slugging percentage this season (prior to Saturday's slate of games). 

10* play on OVER. 

SUPER EARLY DODGERS @ REDS DAYTIME DESTROYER

The over/under is 15-30-1 in games involving the Cincinnati Reds here in 2019 and 6-1-1 in Dodgers last eight overall. I think we'll see a low-scoring affair here in the rubber match of this three-game series Sunday afternoon. 

The Dodgers hand the ball to left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-1, 1.72 ERA) who has allowed just one run with 21 Ks through 25 innings of work in his last three starts combined. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his eight starts this season, and we can note that under is 27-11-2 in Ryu's last 40 road starts and 16-5 in Cincinnati's last 21 games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Reds counter with Tanner Roark (3-2, 3.50 ERA) who was tagged with three runs in five innings of a 3-1 home loss to the Cubs last time out. Roark has compiled a 2.45 ERA in day games this season.

8* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (MLB): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL FOR MAY

The over/under is 31-14-2 in games involving the Seattle Mariners this season, and I think Saturday's matchup with the Minnesota Twins will fly over the total. 

Twins right-hander Jose Berrios (6-2, 3.05 ERA) was tagged with five runs on 12 hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Angels last time out. Over is 5-0 in Mariners last five games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Mariners turn to left-hander Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 4.50 ERA) who will make his first start since April 12 after a stint on the injured list. LeBlanc has made three starts in 2019 with 21 hits allowed over 16 innings of work. Over is 7-2-1 in Twins last 10 games vs. a left-handed starter.

We can also note that Minnesota and Seattle rank 2nd and 3rd respectively in slugging percentage this season. 

10* play on OVER. 

SATURDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Los Angeles Angels enter this contest as a sizable favorite, but I still think they'll prove well worth the money coming up against a Kansas City Royals team that has found wins hard to come by on the road. 

The Halos hand the ball to Griffin Canning (1-1, 5.65 ERA) who was hurt by the long ball last time out when he served up three homers at Baltimore. The 23 year old rookie has recorded 19 Ks through his first 14 1/3 innings of work in the big leagues. 

The Royals counter with Jakob Junis (3-4, 5.77 ERA) who has lost back-to-back start while allowing 10 runs (nine earned) over 9 2/3 frames. Junis is 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in two career starts against the Angels and their current roster is batting a combined .400 with four home runs through 35 at bats against the rigtht-hander. 

The Angels are 12-2 in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400 and had won eight of the last 10 meetings with KC entering Friday.

8* play on LA Angels. 

SUPER EARLY WHITE SOX @ BLUE JAYS DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a 10-2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox Friday night, but such high-scoring performances have been few and far between for the Jays this season.

Here they'll come up against White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (4-1, 3.55 ERA) who has allowed just one run on seven hits with 16 Ks through 14 1/3 innings of work in his last two starts combined.

Toronto will hand the ball to 33 year old knuckleballer Ryan Feierabend for the first time this season. Its bullpen is however expected to take over relatively early, and we can note that the Jays' relievers rank 5th in baseball with a 3.39 ERA on the season. 

8* play on UNDER. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

Both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants will enter the opener of this three-game series coming off a rest day. Note that the Diamondbacks are a perfect 5-0 in their last five games following an off day while the Giants are 3-7 in their last 10 games in the same situation. 

Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (3-4, 4.70 ERA) has compiled a respectable 3.20 ERA through 25 1/3 innings of work home at Chase Field on the season. His last outing was decent with three runs allowed and five Ks through seven innings of work. 

The Giants turn to Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 3.51 ERA) who was tagged with three runs on five hits and three walks over just four innings against the Reds last time out. He has posted a 4.43 in four road starts on the season and the Giants are 5-18 in the veteran right-hander's last 23 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.

Arizona is one of the top hitting teams in the National League (.260 AVG, 64 home runs) and I think the D'Backs will put enough runs on the board to get the win here. 

8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off back-to-back wins and enter Thursday looking to deny the Philadelphia Phillies to tie this four-game series. 

They've been streaky for most of the season (7-1 in their last eight games following a win) and I like the Brew Crew to get the job done here with Zach Davies on the mound. Davies (4-0, 1.54 ERA) has held opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his eight starts on the season with all going under the total. 

Philadelphia counters with Zach Eflin (5-3, 2.47 ERA) who is 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA in his last and is coming off his second career shutout. There's not much negative to say about Eflin, but I think the price is right to go against him in this contest as the Brewers are 14-6 in the last 20 meetings in Philadelphia.

Additionally I also like the under as under is 13-3 in Davies' last 16 road starts and 4-0-1 in Eflin's last 5 starts overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

SUPER EARLY METS @ NATS TOTAL

The first two games of this series have been relatively low-scoring affairs, but I think that's about to change here in the finale as we'll see two unreliable pitchers on the mound. 

The Nats hand the ball to Anibal Sanchez (0-6, 5.27 ERA) who was tagged with three runs and six hits with a pair of homers through just 4 1/3 innings against the Dodgers last time out. Sanchez has compiled a 4.13 ERA in 14 career starts against the Mets who turn to Zack Wheeler (3-2, 4.35 ERA). The right-hander is 4-9 with a 5.01 ERA in 15 career starts against the Nationals and has been tagged with 11 runs on 10 hits and eight walks in 9 2/3 innings of work against them this season. 

Over is 7-3-2 in Wheeler's last 12 starts overall. Over is 7-3-2 in Wheeler's last 12 starts vs. Nationals.

8* play on OVER. 

EARLY TOP RATED BREWERS @ PHILLIES BIG HITTER

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off back-to-back wins and enter Thursday looking to deny the Philadelphia Phillies to tie this four-game series. 

They've been streaky for most of the season (7-1 in their last eight games following a win) and I like the Brew Crew to get the job done here with Zach Davies on the mound. Davies (4-0, 1.54 ERA) has held opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his eight starts on the season with all going under the total. 

Philadelphia counters with Zach Eflin (5-3, 2.47 ERA) who is 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA in his last and is coming off his second career shutout. There's not much negative to say about Eflin, but I think the price is right to go against him in this contest as the Brewers are 14-6 in the last 20 meetings in Philadelphia.

10* play on Milwaukee Brewers. 

TOP RATED 10* WEDNESDAY NIGHT MLB BIG HITTER

The Texas Rangers enter this game looking to snap a five-game losing streak after taking an 11-5 beating here at the K on Tuesday. I think the visitors will bounce back tonight with left-hander Mike Minor (3-3, 2.68 ERA) on the mound. Minor has more than two runs just twice through his last seven starts with three scoreless outings in that span. 

The Royals counter with Jorge Lopez (0-4, 6.07 ERA) who has had a poor start to the season. He has allowed at least four runs in each of his last five outings and was tagged with six runs (three homers) in just 2 1/3 innings of a 9-0 loss at Houston last time out. 

Royals are 9-24 in their last 33 games vs. a left-handed starter. Rangers are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Kansas City.

10* play on Texas Rangers. 

EARLY DAYTIME DESTROYER TOTAL

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Pittsburgh Pirates enter the finale of this series tied at 1-1 following a 6-2 victory for the visitors on Tuesday. I think we'll see a low-scoring contest here in the finale with two very capable pitchers on the mound. 

Arizona hands the ball to Zack Greinke (5-1, 3.16 ERA) who has allowed just five earned runs through his last five starts. He threw seven scoreless innings against Pittsburgh on April 25 and owns a 2.22 ERA in four starts home at Chase Field this season. 

Right-hander Chris Archer (1-2, 4.33 ERA) will toe the slab for the Pirates as he makes his first start since landing on the injured list on  April 27 due to right thumb inflammation. Archer was knocked around by the Dodgers his last time out, but the rest should have him fit for fight today. 

Under is 6-2 in Diamondbacks last 8 home games. Under is 20-7 in Pirates last 27 road games vs. a right-handed starter.

8* play on UNDER. 

EARLY ANGELS @ TWINS BOOKIE BLASTER

The under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings between the LA Angels and the Minnesota Twins, and I think this will be another low-scoring affair. 

Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi (5-2, 2.32 ERA) is tied for second in the American League with his ERA and conceded just one hit through seven scoreless frames last time out. Under is 9-2 in Odorizzi's last 11 starts during Game 3 of a series and under is 2-0-2 in Angels last four road games vs. a right-handed starter.

Halos right-hander Trevor Cahill (2-3, 6.35 ERA) has had a poor start to the season, but he limited Baltimore to two runs and four hits over six innings his last trip to the mound. Under is 6-1 in Twins last seven games vs. a right-handed starter.

8* play on UNDER. 

EARLY INDIANS @ WHITE SOX DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Chicago White Sox are coming off four straight victories. I think we're getting good value on the home team as an underdog here against a Cleveland Indians side that has dropped three of its last four, including a 5-2 setback here at Guaranteed Rate Field Monday night.

Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco (3-3, 4.91 ERA) is just 1-3 with a bloated 7.71 ERA in four road starts on the season. White Sox southpaw Manny Banuelos (2-2, 6.67 ERA) has been lit up on the regular since compiling a 2.70 ERA in his first six appearances of the season, but I still don't think he should be this big of an underdog. "I’m focused on the control, command of the fastball especially. Breaking ball is there. Figure out the command of my fastball," Banuelos told the team’s official website. "Hopefully they still have confidence in me. It was back-to-back bad outings, but I’m going to improve."

We can also note that the Indians are 3-8 in their last 11 road games vs. a left-handed starter.

8* play on Chicago White Sox. 

TOP RATED 10* MONDAY NIGHT MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Indians and the White Sox split a four-game series at Cleveland last week. In Game 3 of that series we saw the same pitching matchup we will see tonight. The Tribe won that contest 5-3, and I expect a comfortable win for the visitors tonight. 

Indians right-hander Shane Bieber (2-1, 3.32 ERA) owns a solid 48/13 K/BB ratio in 43 1/3 innings on the season and has delivered a quality start in six of his last eight outings. Bieber is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four outings away from home on the season. He limited the White Sox to three runs over six innings last time out and held them scoreless through 12 2/3 innings of work last season. 

The White Sox counter with Reynaldo Lopez (2-4, 6.38 ERA) who was tagged with three runs on nine hits across six innings against the Tribe last time out. The current Indians' roster is batting a combined .328 over 58 at bats against Lopez who has posted a 7.18 ERA in five starts home at Guaranteed Rate Field this season. 

Indians are 8-1 in Bieber's last 9 road starts. White Sox are 4-12 in Lopez's last 16 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

10* play on Cleveland Indians. 

MONDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Minnesota Twins enter Monday with the best record in baseball. Right-hander Jose Berrios (6-1, 2.53 ERA) is coming off seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball at Toronto and has won a career-best five consecutive starts. Berrios has recorded 51 Ks against eight walks through 53 1/3 innings this season and the Twins are 24-5 in his last 29 home starts.

The Los Angeles Angels counter with left-hander Tyler Skaggs (3-3, 4.70 ERA) who surrendered eight runs (seven earned) in 4 2/3 innings of a 10-3 loss at Detroit on Wednesday. Skaggs owns a solid 2.08 ERA in two career starts against Minnesota, but the current Twins roster is batting a combined .283 over 60 at-bats against him. Marwin Gonzalez has owned Skaggs with seven hits through 12 at-bats. 

Twins are 14-2 in Berrios' last 16 home starts vs. a team with a losing record. Angels are 1-4 in Skaggs' last 5 road starts.

8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

I like the price we get on the Cincinnati Reds here as they try to make it four wins in a row. They've outscored opponents 15-4 during their current three-game winning streak, and runs surely won't come easy for their opponent here with Tyler Mahle on the mound.

Mahle (0-5, 3.69 ERA) has allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk with 15 Ks while covering 11 innings in his last two starts combined. 

The Giants hand the ball to Madison Bumgarner (2-4, 3.99 ERA) who gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings at Colorado his last time out. Over his last three starts, Bumgarner has been tagged with nine runs on 23 hits and he has just a 3-5 record and 4.21 ERA in nine career starts against the Reds (Giants are 1-5 in Bumgarner's last six home starts vs. Cincinnati). 

8* play on Cincinnati Reds. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The San Diego Padres tied this series with a 4-3 triumph Saturday night, but I like the Colorado Rockies to bounce back with a win here in the rubber match Sunday afternoon. 

Rockie's right-hander Antonio Senzatela (2-2, 5.67 ERA) is 5-1 behind a 3.18 ERA in 11 career meetings (five starts) with San Diego. The most recent matchup took place on April 15 when he held the Friars to one run through 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 victory.

The Padres counter with rookie left-hander Nick Margevicius (2-3, 3.47 ERA) who has made just seven career starts. One of those was against the Rockies when he was lit up for five runs on seven hits in four innings of an 8-2 loss. 

The Padres are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a win. The Padres are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings with Colorado. 

10* play on Colorado Rockies. 

SUPER EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON MLB TOTAL

The Chicago White Sox are coming off a 7-2 triumph on Saturday, but their bats have been rather cold of late and they have scored three runs or fewer in seven of their last nine games. The Blue Jays have struggled at the plate all season and average just 3.59 runs per game overall, which drops to 3.30 rpg in front of the home town crowd. 

Today they'll face Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez (3-3, 3.21 ERA) who owns a 3.07 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox. Sanchez has yielded just three earned runs over 17 innings of work home at Rogers Centre this season.  

Right-hander Lucas Giolito (3-1, 4.06 ERA) will take the ball for the visitors. Giolito recorded eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings as part of a 2-0 win over the Indians last time out to improve to 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA over his past three starts.

Under is 20-5-1 in Blue Jays last 26 after allowing five runs or more in their previous game. Under is 17-6 in Sanchez's last 23 starts during game 3 of a series.

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Colorado Rockies have scored at least eight runs in six of their last eight games following a 12-2 rout of the San Diego Padres in the opener of this three-game set Friday night.

Here the Rockies will face San Diego left-hander Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 5.00 ERA) who was tagged with three runs in five innings versus the LA Dodgers last time out. The Rockies counter with Jon Gray (3-3, 4.22 ERA) who has been roughed up in recent starts, but he's been solid home at Coors Field and is 9-3 with a 2.59 ERA in 16 career starts versus the Padres.

The Rockies are 12-4 in Gray's last 16 starts vs. a team with a winning record. The Rockies are 4-0 in Gray's last 4 starts vs. Padres. Padres are 1-4 in Lucchesi's last 5 starts vs. the Rockies.

10* play on Colorado Rockies. 

SATURDAY AFTERNOON MLB TOTAL

The Toronto Blue Jays have averaged just 3.63 runs per game on the season, and I think we'll see a low-scoring affair when they host the Chicago White Sox Saturday afternoon. 

Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman (1-5, 2.96 ERA) has been tagged with 11 runs (nine earned) through his last couple of starts. He had however been solid in the previous outings, unfortunately without much to show for as a victim of poor run support (just eight runs in as many starts). Stroman has the current White Sox roster limited to a .200 AVG over 75 at bats. 

The White Sox counter with Ivan Nova (1-3, 7.04 ERA) who has held teams to one run in three of his seven starts. He is coming off his best start of 2019, seven innings of one-run ball at Cleveland. "I try to talk to him and say, 'What went well, what didn't go well, what did you feel out there?' Then it's easier to be on the same page when a day like today comes," catcher James McCann told the Chicago Sun Times. 

Under is 4-0 in White Sox last 4 overall. Under is 10-4 in Blue Jays last 14 overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The St. Louis Cardinals are a solid 14-6 home at Busch Stadium on the season following a 17-4 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. 

They're 12-3 in their last 15 home games vs. a right-handed starter and here the Cards will face Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.74 ERA) who they have plenty of experience against. He has posted a 6.10 ERA in 12 appearances, including nine starts against St. Louis, and Matt Carpenter is 8-for-19 with three home runs off Williams. 

The Cards counter with Adam Wainwright (3-3, 4.71 ERA) who is 13-7 with a 4.45 ERA against the Pirates. Wainwright is 2-1 behind a 3.00 ERA at home this season. 

Pirates are 2-8 in their last 10 games following a loss. Cardinals are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a win.

8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

LATE THURSDAY MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

The LA Dodgers are coming off a 3-0 sweep of the Atlanta Braves. I think they'll keep the momentum going with another win here against a Washington Nationals team that has lost four in a row and eight of its last 10. 

Tonight the Dodgers hand the ball to Rich Hill (0-0, 3.60 ERA) who will make his third start of the season. They have won both his first two starts, despite Hill serving up four homers through 10 innings of work. The veteran southpaw must enter this contest feeling pretty confident though considering he is 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA against the Nats who have scored just seven runs through their last four games. We can also note that the Nationals are 0-5 in their last five road games vs. a left-handed starter

Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.71 ERA) will toe the rubber for the visitors. The 29-year-old left-hander was has surrendered nine runs on 12 hits and seven walks through 11 innings in his last two starts combined. Dodgers are 5-2 in their last seven games vs. a left-handed starter.

8* play on LA Dodgers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB): MIKE'S TOP RATED RUNLINE RIPPER

The Colorado Rockies are just 3-3 through their last six games despite having scored 45 runs during that stretch. I think they'll continue to swing hot bats and get the win here against San Francisco Giants' left-hander Derek Holland. 

Holland (1-4, 5.34 ERA) has not had much success in previous meetings with the Rockies, posting a 6.18 ERA in five career starts. He's been particularly poor in meetings at Coors Field where he has a 10.00 ERA. 

Colorado counters with left-hander Kyle Freeland (2-5, 5.90 ERA) who has been tagged with 13 runs through two starts since returning from a left middle finger blister. He is however 5-3 with a 2.87 ERA and 32 strikeouts in nine starts against the Giants and I expect a big outing from Freeland today. 

The Rockies are 14-3 in Freeland's last 17 home starts. The Rockies are 4-1 in Freeland's last 5 home starts vs. Giants.

10* play on Colorado Rockies RL. 

ANGELS @ TIGERS BANKROLL BUILDER

The Los Angeles Angels opened this series with a 5-2 triumph Tuesday night, and I think we'll see another low-scoring affair here with two hot hurlers on the mound. 

LAA left-hander Tyler Skaggs (3-2, 3.12 ERA) has posted a 1.64 ERA through his last two starts while Tigers southpaw Matthew Boyd (3-2, 3.05 ERA) held Kansas City to two runs through seven innings his last time out. 

Under is 6-0-1 in Skaggs' last 7 starts overall. Under is 5-2 in Boyds last 7 starts overall. Under is 15-5-1 in Angels last 21 road games vs. a left-handed starter. Under is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Detroit.

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The New York Yankees have dominated recent meetings with the Mariners and look good to defeat Seattle for an eighth straight time at Yankee Stadium here in Game 3 of a four-game set Wednesday night. 

Jonathan Loaisiga (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will toe the slab for the Yankees for his third start of the season. The 24-year-old right-hander, considered the team's top pitching prospect, has been called up from Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre to fill the rotation spot of injured James Paxton. So far, Loaisiga has posted a respectable ERA with 10 Ks through 10 innings of work in the big leagues. 

The Mariners counter with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (1-1, 3.98 ERA) who has been at his best home at Safeco Field. On the road, Kikuchi has posted a 4.34 ERA with a .266 BAA through 27 2/3 innings of work. 

Mariners are 1-7 in their last 8 road games and 6-20 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record. Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter and 8-1 in their last 9 games with umpire Angel Hernandez behind home plate.

10* play on New York Yankees. 

SUPER EARLY NATIONAL LEAGUE TOTAL 

The Philadelphia Phillies put an 11-1 beating on the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Under is 8-0 in Phillies last eight after scoring five runs or more in their previous game and I think runs will be harder to come by for both teams Wednesday afternoon. 

Jack Flaherty (3-2, 4.17 ERA) will take the ball for St. Louis. He has posted a 1.88 ERA in four starts home at Busch Stadium on the season and a 1.53 ERA in three day starts. In one career start against Philadelphia, Flaherty is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA The Phillies will counter with Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 2.05 ERA). Apart from a subpar outing at Colorado, Eickhoff has been solid with just one earned run allowed through his other three outings (16 innings) this season.

Under is 6-2-1 in Cardinals last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter. Under is 5-1 in Phillies last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The A's have had one day of rest since a 5-3 loss in 13 innings to Pittsburgh on Sunday while the Cincinnati Reds travel to Oakland off a 12-4 triumph over San Francisco on Monday. Note that the Reds are 1-10 in Tyler Mahle' (0-4, 4.09 ERA) last 11 starts and that he has served up a home run in each of his last five starts. I think this looks like a good spot to fade the Reds and the 24 year old right-hander. 

Oakland counters with Mike Fiers (2-3, 6.81 ERA) who has been knocked around plenty here at the start of the season, but he usually delivers the goods home at Oakland Coliseum where the A's are 8-2 in his last 10 starts. We can also note that Fiers owns a respectable 2.60 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) versus Cincinnati and he has the current Reds roster limited to a .154 AVG over 39 at bats. 

Oakland is just 15-21 overall on the season following a 1-8 road trip, but it has won 10 of 18 at home while the Reds are a poor 6-12 on the road. 

10* play on Oakland Athletics. 

$20 TUESDAY MLB MONEYMAKER

The Miami Marlins opened this four-game series at Wrigley Field with a 6-5 triumph Monday night.

"It's good," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said postgame. "I know how it looks when you're ... not winning and it looks like you're not playing with energy or effort, but these guys have been working and continuing forward. Everyone did a nice job tonight."

I really like the price we get on the Fish to pick up another win here in Game 2. 

Cubs' left-hander Jon Lester (2-1, 1.73 ERA) has posted a 5.01 ERA in six career starts against the Marlins who will hand the ball to a left-hander of their own in Caleb Smith (3-0, 2.00 ERA). Smith has walked nine and struck out 45 in 36 innings during an absolutely blistering start to the season. He has faced the Cubs once before when he held them to one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings last season. We can also note that the Marlins are 4-0 in Smith's last four starts.

8* play on Miami Marlins. 

LATE NIGHT MLB MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a solid 12-4 home at Dodger Stadium on the season and 7-2 in their last nine games overall. Tonight they'll hand the ball to right-hander Walker Buehler (3-0, 5.22 ERA) who has settled down after a rocky start to the season, allowing just six runs through his last three starts.

The Braves hand the ball to Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.83 ERA) who was ejected in the second inning after throwing just 28 pitches on Friday. Gausman had been tagged with five earned runs in back-to-back starts prior to that outing and I don't think pitching on two days rest will help the right-hander to find his rhythm.

The Dodgers will be eager to bounce back with a win after surrendering four runs in the bottom of the ninth of Sunday’s 8-5 loss to the Padres in San Diego. The Braves are in a letdown spot following a three-game sweep against the lowly Miami Marlins.

8* play on LA Dodgers.

MONDAY NIGHT MLB BANKROLL BUILDER

The New York Mets were ice cold at the plate while dropping three at Milwaukee over the weekend. I'm not confident their bats will catch fire here at San Diego Monday night either, but I don't think they need to either with Jacob deGrom on the mound. 

deGrom (2-3, 3.82 ERA) tossed seven scoreless frames against Cincinnati last time out and he is 3-2 behind a minuscule 1.66 ERA in six career starts against the Padres who counter with Chris Paddack (2-1, 1.91 ERA). The 23-year-old Paddack has had a blistering start to the season, but outdueling deGrom will be too tough of a task IMO. 

Mets are 5-1 in their last 6 Monday games. Padres are 9-23 in their last 32 Monday games. Padres are 1-7 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing record.

We're getting good value on the visitors here at Petco Park Monday night. 

8* play on New York Mets. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON RUNLINE RIPPER

The Toronto Blue Jays +1.5 look like great value here in the rubber match of this three-game series with the Texas Rangers. 

Rangers left-hander Drew Smyly (0-2, 7.80 ERA) has not pitched since April 19 when he went on the injured list because of fatigue in his left arm. Texas has lost each of his four starts on the season and Smyly has been tagged with four runs in each of his last three outings. 

Toronto turns to Clay Buchholz (0-1, 4.79 ERA) who conceded three runs through five innings of work against the LA Angels his last time out, but I expect a solid outing from the 34 year old today. Keep in mind that this is a pitcher that posted a 2.01 ERA in 2018 so it's just a matter of getting the confidence back. 

Blue Jays are 18-8 in the last 26 meetings in Texas.

8* play on Toronto Blue Jays +1.5. 

3-GAME HIGH ROLLER REPORT PICK

The Milwaukee Brewers will be looking to complete the sweep of this three-game series after opening the set with a 3-1 triumph on Friday followed by a 4-3 win on Saturday. The reeling NY Mets have dropped seven of their last 10 and I think they'll come up short once again in this matchup. 

Milwaukee hands the ball to Zach Davies (3-0, 1.38 ERA) who has had an excellent start to the year. Davies has held each of his six opponents to two or fewer runs and limited the Rockies to one unearned run through 5 1/3 innings of a 5-1 win last time out.  

The Mets counter with Jason Vargas (1-1, 5.75 ERA) who has settled down since a rocky start to the season. Vargas has held three straight opponents to one run each, but he has, however, walked eight batters through 14 innings of work in those starts and owns a bloated 1.72 WHIP on the season.

The Brewers are 19-9 in their last 28 games vs. a left-handed starter. and they've won 10 of the last 11 meetings at Miller Park. Under is 9-2 in Davies' last 11 home starts. Under is 8-3 in Brewers last 11 home games. Under is 5-0 in Mets last 5 overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

EARLY TOP RATED 10* MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Milwaukee Brewers will be looking to complete the sweep of this three-game series after opening the set with a 3-1 triumph on Friday followed by a 4-3 win on Saturday. The reeling NY Mets have dropped seven of their last 10 and I think they'll come up short once again in this matchup. 

Milwaukee hands the ball to Zach Davies (3-0, 1.38 ERA) who has had an excellent start to the year. Davies has held each of his six opponents to two or fewer runs and limited the Rockies to one unearned run through 5 1/3 innings of a 5-1 win last time out.  

The Mets counter with Jason Vargas (1-1, 5.75 ERA) who has settled down since a rocky start to the season. Vargas has held three straight opponents to one run each, but he has, however, walked eight batters through 14 innings of work in those starts and owns a bloated 1.72 WHIP on the season.

The Brewers are 19-9 in their last 28 games vs. a left-handed starter. and they've won 10 of the last 11 meetings at Miller Park.

10* play on Milwaukee Brewers. 

ASTORS VS. ANGELS BASEBALL BONANZA @ MEXICO

The LA Angels have won seven of their last eight, but I don't like their chances here in the opener of a two-game series against the Houston Astros at Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey in Mexico. 

The Angels are 1-6 in their last seven games vs. a left-handed starter, and here they'll face Wade Miley (1-2, 3.24 ERA) who will toe the rubber for Houston. Miley made a strong start last Sunday when he held Cleveland to one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He is 2-0 with a solid 2.01 ERA in three career starts against the Halos who hand the ball to Trevor Cahill (1-2, 5.93 ERA). The right-hander is 2-1 in six career games (five starts) against Houston, but behind a not particularly impressive 4.61 ERA. 

Both teams got Friday off, and we can note that the Astros are 10-1 in their last 11 games following an off day while the Angels are 1-4 L5 in the same spot. 

8* play on Houston Astros.

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB): TOTAL MAJOR WAGER ALERT

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland Athletics will clash for the second game of a three-game set Saturday night. The A's put on a show at the plate in the series opener Friday night, but I think runs will be harder to come by for both teams in this matchup. 

The A's hand the ball to Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.75 ERA). He will make his third start of the season and has been dominant through the first two, allowing just one run with 16 Ks while logging 12 innings of work. Bassitt will take on the Pirates for the first time, a spot usually favoring the pitcher.

Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.38 ERA) will toe the slab for Pittsburgh. The 27 year old right-hander was tagged with five runs through six innings at LA Dodgers last time out. Williams has been rather solid in most starts this season though, holding four of six opponents to two or fewer runs. He will make his first career apperance against Oakland and we can note that under is 16-5-2 in the A's last 23 interleague games and 39-14-1 in Williams' last 54 starts overall.

Under is 6-3 in the last 9 meetings. Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings in Pittsburgh.

10* play on UNDER. 

FRIDAY NIGHT D'BACKS @ ROCKIES BOOKIE BLASTER

The Colorado Rockies have been swinging hot bats in recent games, coming off back-to-back 11 run performances against Milwaukee. 

I think the Rockies will keep their scoring touch when taking on NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks and Robbie Ray Friday night. Note that Ray (1-1, 4.18 ERA) owns a 5.77 ERA in 12 career starts against Colorado and the current Rockies roster is batting a combined .353 over 136 at bats against the left-hander. 

Tyler Anderson (0-2, 11.34 ERA) will toe the slab for the Rockies. The left-hander has had a terrible start to the season and served up three homers in 4 2/3 innings of an 8-7 Rockies loss at Atlanta last time out. He has allowed more than five runs in each of his first four starts on the season and owns a 5.77 ERA in eight career outings (six starts) vs. the D'Backs. 

Over is 6-2-1 in Ray's last 9 starts vs. Rockies. Over is 4-1-2 in Diamondbacks last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter. Over is 8-2-1 in Andersons last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB): MIKE'S TOP RATED MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The New York Mets will face the Milwaukee Brewers for the opener of a six-game road trip Friday night.

I really like the price we get on the visitors here as they hand the ball to Steven Matz (3-1, 3.68 ERA). The left.hander is 4-1 behind a 3.16 ERA in five career starts against the Brew Crew and held them to a pair of runs through seven innings of a 5-2 victory last week. The Mets are 7-1 in Matz's last eight starts overall.

The Brewers counter with Brandon Woodruff (3-1, 5.17 ERA) who held the Mets to one run on six hits in five innings during an 8-6 win last week. Woodruff has otherwise had a rather poor start to the season, as evidenced by his bloated ERA and 1.47 WHIP. 

The Mets are 6-5 SU for a +16.2% ROI as underdogs on the road this season. 

10* play on New York Mets. 

THURSDAY MLB BOOKIE BLASTER

The Washington Nationals have lost six of their last seven games and have scored just a total of six runs through the first three contests of this four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Nats are still a sizable favorite for this matchup, almost solely because they'll trot out their ace Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82) on the mound. Strasburg has fanned 20 while allowing just a pair of runs through his last two starts, covering 15 innings of work. 

Strasburg owns a 2.56 ERA in six career appearances against the Cards who counter with Dakota Hudson (2-1, 5.63 ERA). The 24-year-old right-hander was tagged with three runs in 5 2/3 frames of a 6-3 win against Cincinnati last time out but should not have much to fear from a Nats lineup that is ice cold at the plate. 

8* play on UNDER. 

THURSDAY MLB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Washington Nationals have lost six of their last seven games and have scored just a total of six runs through the first three contests of this four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Nats are still a sizable favorite for this matchup, almost solely because they'll trot out their ace Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82) on the mound. Strasburg has fanned 20 while allowing just a pair of runs through his last two starts, covering 15 innings of work. 

Strasburg owns a 2.56 ERA in six career appearances against the Cards who counter with Dakota Hudson (2-1, 5.63 ERA). The 24-year-old right-hander was tagged with three runs in 5 2/3 frames of a 6-3 win against Cincinnati last time out but should not have much to fear from a Nats lineup that is ice cold at the plate. 

The Cards are red hot with five wins in a row and they've been victorious in 10 of their last 11 games. This is too good of a price on the visitors to pass up on. 

8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

SUPER EARLY MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Atlanta Braves defeated the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Wednesday for their third triumph in four games. I think they'll come through with another win here in the finale of this four-game set. 

Braves' right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (0-0, 6.00) will make his second start for the season after starting the campaign on the injured list. He gave up four runs in six innings against Colorado in his season debut, but also fanned five. Foltynewicz posted a 2.40 ERA in seven day starts last season and I expect a sharp outing from the 27 year old today. 

The Padres hand the ball to left-hander Matt Strahm (0-2, 3.04 ERA) who has been dominant in most of his starts, but with little to show for it. He is still looking for his first W, and San Diego has lost three of his five starts while providing him with just 15 runs of support. We can also note that the Braves are 6-2 in their last eight games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Braves have won four of the last five meetings overall and 21 of the last 28 as a home team.

8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYMAKER

The two teams enter the finale of this three-game series tied at 1-1 following a 10-3 Dodgers victory on Tuesday. I like them to come through again in the rubber match where we'll see a couple of left-handers battle it out on the mound. 

Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1, 2.96 ERA) is 6-6 lifetime through 16 starts against the Giants behind a 2.94 ERA. He held them to a pair of runs over seven frames when he pitched opposite Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 4.30 ERA) on April 2. Bumgarner conceded five runs (none earned) over six innings in the 6-5 Dodgers win. The Giants are 1-7 in Bumgarner's last eight starts while the Dodgers are 17-5 in their last 22 road games vs. a team with a losing record.

The Giants possess the second-worst record in the league at 12-18 and have dropped seven of the last nine meetings with the Dodgers.

8* play on LA Dodgers. 

YANKEES @ DIAMONDBACKS BOOKIE BLASTER

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed the opener of this two-game interleague series at Chase Field with a 3-1 triumph last night. I like the price we get on the home team to complete the sweep with another win here Wednesday afternoon.

Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (2-2, 3.94 ERA) limited Pittsburgh to a pair of runs on six hits through seven innings of an 11-2 win last time out. This will be the 30-year-old rookie's first meeting with the New York Yankee who will counter with Masahiro Tanaka (2-2, 3.60 ERA). Tanaka has not been particularly sharp in recent starts and has surrendered 12 runs (11 earned) through his last 16 2/3 innings of work. He has given up three free passes in each of his last three starts and served up a pair of homers in an 11-5 loss at Los Angeles Angels his last time out. 

Diamondbacks are 10-1 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record and 4-1 in the last 5 meetings with the Yankees. 

8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

SUPER EARLY MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Oakland Athletics enter this contest on a five-game slide, including back-to-back setbacks to the Red Sox. They've scored only a total of 12 runs during their losing streak, and I think they look like a good fade here with Mike Fiers on the mound. 

Fiers (2-2, 7.03 ERA) owns good career numbers against Boston, but he has been lit up on the regular this season. Note that Fiers had been rocked for 18 runs through his last three starts prior to a strong outing against Toronto. 

The Red Sox turn to right-hander Hector Velazquez (0-2, 3.86) who will make his fourth start of the season and is in need of a strong outing to justify his spot as a starter. Velazquez has faced Oakland twice as a reliever this season already, limiting them to one run over 2 2/3 innings of work. 

Athletics are 3-14 in their last 17 vs. a team with a losing record. Red Sox are 38-15 in their last 53 vs. a team with a losing record.

8* play on Boston Red Sox. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB PLAY OF THE DAY

The Milwaukee Brewers have won 11 of the last 13 meetings with the Colorado Rockies following a 5-1 triumph here at Miller Park Monday night. I like the visitors to bounce back with a win tonight with German Marquez on the mound. 

Marquez (3-1, 2.54 ERA) has been one of the best pitchers in baseball here in the early goings, particularly on the road where he's 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA in three starts. He has fanned 23 strikeouts in those road games through 22 innings of work. 

The Brewers turn to Jhoulys Chacin (2-3, 6.35 ERA) who's had a tough start to the year, even more so in recent outings as he's 0-3 over his last four starts with a 7.64 ERA. Chacin has served up seven homers in 28 1/3 innings of work this season and has compiled a poor 1.41 WHIP. 

The Rockies had scored 79 runs during a 10-3 stretch prior to their current two-game skid. I think their bats will come alive again here against a struggling Chacin. 

10* play on Colorado Rockies. 

$20 TUESDAY MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Cincinnati Reds opened this series with a 5-4 triumph Monday night and I think they'll pick up another win here the next day with their ace on the mound. 

Luis Castillo (3-1, 1.23 ERA) has had an outstanding start to the season. The right-hander owns the lowest ERA in the majors and has allowed more than one run just once. Castillo tossed six shutout innings of a 4-2 victory against Atlanta last time out. 

The Mets turn to left-hander Jason Vargas (1-1, 7.20 ERA) who has had a very different start to the campaign. His ERA is the ninth-highest among pitchers with at least four starts even though he has pitched better of late, allowing only a pair of runs through 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts. Odds are Vargas is about to get lit up again here though as he owns a bloated 7.98 ERA in four career starts versus the Reds. 

8* play on Cincinnati Reds. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

The Tampa Bay Rays 18-9 mark is the best in baseball and they and took two of three against the American League-worst Kansas City Royals home at Tropicana Fields last week.

In that series, the Rays reached KC's Brad Keller (2-2, 3.41 ERA) for five runs on seven hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings of a 6-3 win and I expect them to put another beating on the right-hander tonight. 

Tampa Bay hands the ball to Ryne Stanek (0-0, 1.32 ERA) who will act as the "opener" in today's contest. He has not allowed a run in his six starts through 9 1/3 innings of work. Stanek has made three career appearances against the Royals, holding them to three hits and no runs through 4 2/3 frames. 

Rays are 7-1 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series. Rays are 20-7 in their last 27 road games. Royals are 2-6 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series. Royals are 8-44 in their last 52 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

10* play on Tampa Bay Rays. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs have split the first two games of the series at Chase Field. The visitors came through with a dominant 9-1 triumph on Saturday and I think they'll pick up another victory here in the rubber match. 

Chicago left-hander Jose Quintana (3-1, 3.21 ERA) has pitched very well lately. He has allowed a pair of runs with 25 Ks against just three walks over his last three contests covering 21 innings of work. 

Arizona right-hander Luke Weaver  (2-1, 3.33 ERA) has been almost as sharp lately, holding his last three opponents to three runs total while covering 17 2/3 innings, with 24 strikeouts and two walks. We can, however, note that the current Cubs roster is batting a combined .407 in 91 at-bats against Weaver. 

Cubs are 11-5 in their last 16 Sunday games. Diamondbacks are 1-8 in their last 9 Sunday games.

8* play on Chicago Cubs. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (MLB): MIKE'S BEST MONEYLINE BET FOR APRIL

The San Diego Padres are going for a sixth straight win when they visit the Washington Nationals for the finale of this three-game series Sunday afternoon. 

San Diego left-hander Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 4.33 ERA) allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings of a Padres win over the Reds last time out. "My mindset was the right spot," Lucchesi told the San Diego Union Tribune. "I told myself I was going to attack the zone, get in there, throw through (catcher Austin Hedges) with my fastball and my fastball command was there. I've been working on that in my last pen."

The Nats counter with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 4.34 ERA) who was tagged with five runs on nine hits in five innings against Colorado his last start. Also keep in mind that even if the Padres can't get to Hellickson, they must like their chances against a Nats bullpen that is dead last across the major leagues with a 7.34 ERA. A six-run 10th inning earned the Padres an 8-3 win yesterday. 

Nationals are 2-7 in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600 and 2-5 in Hellickson's last seven starts vs. a team with a winning record.

10* play on San Diego Padres. 

TOP RATED 10* MARLINS @ PHILLIES MLB PLAY OF THE DAY

The Philadelphia Phillies have scored just 13 runs through its last five games. They and the Miami Marlins have combined for a total of eight runs over the first two contests of this four-game series, and I think we'll see another low-scoring affair here in Game 3 on Saturday. 

Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta (3-2, 2.65 ERA) was tagged with four runs (three earned) in six innings at New York Mets last time out. Under is however 6-1 in his last seven starts overall, and Arrieta had posted a 2.25 ERA through his first four starts of the season. He is 6-1 with a 2.78 ERA nine career starts against the Marlins. 

Trevor Richards (0-3, 3.72 ERA) will toe the slab for the visiting Marlins who have have lost each of Richards' first five starts of the season, but most of the time to little fault of his own. Miami has provided Richards with just eight runs of support, and it was blanked in a 5-0 loss to Washington on April 21. Under is 9-2 in Richards' last 11 starts with five days of rest.  

Philadelphia has scored just 13 runs through its last five games and under is 10-1 in Marlins last 11 road games.

10* play on UNDER. 

SUPER EARLY MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

We won with the Minnesota Twins on the runline as a free pick Friday night when they put a solid 6-1 beating on the Baltimore Orioles. I think they'll come through with another easy win here in this early Saturday afternoon matchup. 

The Twins hand the ball to Jose Berrios (3-1, 2.97 ERA) who had posted a 2.30 ERA through his first four starts of the season before surrendering four runs in six innings at Baltimore last Sunday. The Twins still won that contest 6-5, and I expect a better performance from Berriors here at Target Field where the right-hander usually is at his very best.  

The Orioles counter with Dan Straily (1-1, 8.59 ERA) who pitched opposite Berrios last Sunday. Straily was tagged with three runs through five frames and was charged with the loss. Minnesota homered five times last night to make it 42 on the season; extremely discomforting news for Straily who has served up seven dingers through 14 2/3 innings of work here in 2019. 

8* play on Minnesota Twins -1.5. 

CUBS @ D'BACKS FRIDAY NIGHT NO-BRAINER

The under is 8-3-1 in the last 12 meetings between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs, and I think we'll see a relatively low-scoring affair here in the opener of a three-game series Friday night. 

The Cubs hand the ball to Kyle Hendricks (1-3, 3.54 ERA) who tossed seven shutout innings in a 5-1 victory over Arizona last Friday. Over his career, Hendricks owns a 1.95 ERA in five starts against the D'Backs who counter with Robbie Ray (0-1, 3.95 ERA). The left-hander has compiled a 1.80 ERA in five career starts against the Cubs and held them to four hits and one run through six innings last Sunday. The Cubs won that contest 2-1, and runs are likely to come at a premium for both sides here as well. 

Under is 7-2 in Diamondbacks last 9 overall and 8-2 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter. Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 overall and 8-3 in their last 11 games vs. a left-handed starter.

8* play on UNDER. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The St. Louis Cardinals are on a roll coming off five straight victories. They've managed to combine solid pitching with good hitting during that stretch, and I think that will continue here against a Reds team they've beaten in 20 of the last nine meetings. 

Anthony DeSclafani (0-1, 5.59 ERA) will take the ball for visiting Cincinnati. Matt Carpenter has owned the Reds right-hander, hitting 9-for-22 (.409), and DeSclafani gave up four runs through four innings (three homers) when he faced the Cards on April 14. 

St. Louis turns to Miles Mikolas (2-1, 4.97 ERA) who held the Mets to a pair of runs through eight innings of a 10-2 win over the Mets last time out. He was not particularly sharp when he pitched opposite DeSclafani on April 14, but the Cards still won the game 9-5 and Mikolas is 2-0 behind a 3.60 ERA in six career appearances against the Reds.  

Cardinals are 14-2 in Mikolas' last 16 starts vs. a team with a losing record. Cardinals are 16-2 in Mikolas' last 18 starts with 5 days of rest. Reds are 1-7 in DeSclafanis last 8 starts. Reds are 2-10 in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

8* play on St. Louis Cardinals. 

THURSDAY NIGHT MLB TOTAL

The under is 18-5 in games involving the Cincinnati Reds here in 2019 following a 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. We cashed in BIG with the under as our MLB Total of the Week on that contest, and I expect another low-scoring affair here in the finale of this three-game series. 

Cincinnati right-hander Luis Castillo (2-1, 1.47 ERA) has been on fire through the first couple of weeks this season. His 1.27 ERA is best among all starters across the major leagues and he has not given up more than two runs in any of his five starts.

The Braves turn to right-hander Julio Teheran (2-2, 5.61 ERA) who's not been quite as sharp, but he's shown some good stuff and has recorded 29 Ks through 25 2/3 innings of work. Teheran has alternated good and bad starts, and I like him to bounce back with a solid performance after surrendering five runs at Cleveland last time out. 

Under is 11-3 in Braves last 14 when their opponent scores two runs or fewer in their previous game and 9-1 in Castillo's last 10 starts overall.

8* play on UNDER. 

EARLY D'BACKS @ PIRATES DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Arizona Diamondbacks are playing great baseball at the moment and an 11-2 rout of the Pirates on Wednesday marked their eighth win in 10 games. Pittsburgh on the other hand is trending in the opposite direction with four straight defeats, and here it'll face D'Backs righty Zack Greinke (3-1, 4.60 ERA) who owns a 1.03 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Pirates. We can also note that Greinke has posted a 2.81 ERA through four quality starts in a row.

Jameson Taillon (1-2, 3.12 ERA) will toe the slab for the Pirates. He's coming off a solid outing, but I don't see him being able to shut down an Arizona team which has scored 25 runs through the first three games of this series. 

Pirates are 1-7 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record. Diamondbacks are 8-0 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.

Diamondbacks are 11-1 in the last 12 meetings and a perfect 9-0 in the last 9 meetings in Pittsburgh.

8* play on Arizona Diamondbacks. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB): WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOTAL MAJOR WAGER ALERT

The Atlanta Braves picked up a 7-6 triumph here at Great American Ball Park in the opener of a three-game set Tuesday night. It was a rare slugfest involving the Cincinnati Reds who are 17-5 to the under on the season, and I think runs will come at a premium here in Game 2 of the series. 

Reds' right-hander Tanner Roark (1-0, 3.60 ERA) has allowed just two runs with 10 Ks over 10 2/3 innings over his last two starts. He owns a respectable 3.09 ERA in 23 career matchups with the Braves who counter with Mike Soroka (0-1, 1.80 ERA). The 6-foot-4 Canadian has made just one start this season, but it was a solid one when he held the D'Backs to one run in five innings of a 4-1 loss on Thursday. Soroka started the season with Triple-A Gwinnett and will be eager for another solid outing in order to earn a spot in the rotation. 

Under is 8-3 in Reds last 11 home games. Under is 16-5 in Braves last 21 road games vs. a team with a losing record.

10* play on UNDER. 

EARLY WEDNESDAY MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Colorado Rockies took a 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. They have been hot lately though winning seven of their last nine, and I like the price we get on the home team to bounce back with a big win here at Coors Field Wednesday afternoon. 

The Rockies hand the ball to German Marquez (2-1, 2.25 ERA). The 24-year old right-hander allowed 10 hits and a pair of walks against the Phillies last time out but managed to limit the damage to two runs over five innings. He had been much sharper in previous turns here in 2019 with just 13 hits and six walks allowed over 27 frames and owns a 0.97 WHIP. Marquez has a total of 30 Ks over 32 innings on the season and I expect him to have a solid outing here. 

The Nats turn to Anibal Sanchez (0-2, 4.91 ERA) who has yet to earn a victory this season. Sanchez gave up four walks in five frames last time out and has struggled with his command all season. The 24-year old right-hander has a bloated 1.55 WHIP which could spell big trouble at a hitters park like Coors Field.

8* play on Colorado Rockies. 

LATE NIGHT RUNLINE RIPPER

The San Diego Padres snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Cincinnati on Sunday. They got Monday off, but I think they'll keep the momentum going with a win here against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night. 

The Mariners had won three on the bounce before taking an 8-6 loss to the Halos at LA on Sunday. Tonight they'll hand the ball to rookie right-hander Erik Swanson (0-1, 3.38 ERA) for his third major league appearance and second major league start. Swanson was solid last time out when he held Cleveland to one run two hits through six innings, but Seattle still lost 1-0. Let down game for the 25 year old tonight?

Swanson will be opposed by Padres left-hander Nick Margevicius (1-2, 3.60 ERA) who was roughed up by Colorado in his last start, but he had been excellent through his first three outings posting a 1.69 ERA through 16 innings of work. Margevicius owns a 19-2 K/BB ratio through 20 frames in the big leagues. "When he's hitting his spots, Nick is difficult to square up," Padres manager Andy Green said recently of Margevicius. "And he's pretty good at hitting his spots."

Padres are 10-2 in their last 12 games following an off day. Mariners are 1-5 in their last 6 games following an off day.

8* play on San Diego Padres. 

LATE NIGHT MLB MIDNIGHT MASSACRE (TOTAL)

The Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics combined for seven runs with the total closing at 8.5 runs on Monday. I think this will be another relatively low-scoring affair. 

Rangers' right-hander Lance Lynn (2-1, 4.44 ERA) have conceded just five runs through his last three starts, covering a total of 18 2/3 innings. This will be his first career meeting with the A's who counter with right-hander Frankie Montas (3-1, 2.70 ERA) who held Houston to one run over 6 1/3 frames last time out. Under is 5-1 in Montas' last six starts overall.

Under is 7-2-1 in Athletics last 10 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game. Under is 5-1 in Rangers last 6 road games.

8* play on UNDER. 

BREW CREW @ CARDS $20 TUESDAY SPECIAL

The reeling Milwaukee Brewers have dropped five of their last six games and took a 13-5 beating here at St. Louis in the opener of this three-game series on Monday. 

Milwaukee right-hander Zach Davies (2-0, 1.19 ERA) has enjoyed a strong start to the season. He has allowed one earned run over his past three outings, but that could change fast here against a Cards team that owned him in 2018. Through two starts againts the Cards last year, Davies was tagged with 11 earned runs over 10 2/3 innings for a bloated 9.28 ERA.

The Cards hand the ball to rookie right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon for his season debut. He compiled a respectable 2.73 ERA in 11 outings (four starts) covering 33 innings of work last season.

Cardinals are 8-1 in their last 9 home games. Brewers are 2-7 in Davies' last 9 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

8* play on St. Louis Cardinals.

MONDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Baltimore Orioles are just 1-9 home at Camden Yards on the season, and I think they'll take another L here with struggling right-hander David Hess on the mound. 

Hess (1-3, 5.57 ERA) was tagged with  six runs (including three homers) in two-plus innings on April 17 against the Rays. He has served up seven home runs in 21 innings already this season and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in his only career start against the White Sox. He might not be able to count on much help from a depleted bullpen followinga double-header against Minnesota yesterday.  

Manny Banuelos (1-0, 3.48 ERA) will take the ball for the visitors. The left-hander should we well up for this contest as he'll make his first start of the season after pitching 10 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. 

Orioles are 4-18 in Hess' last 22 starts and 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.

8* play on Chicago White Sox.