My 10* LEGEND Play is on the Min Twins at 2:10 ET.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. Chicago ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance and then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. However, it's the Twins who have had the slightly better season. The Twins were having a bounce-back 2022 season, owning a 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Central on May 24. However, that division lead has turned into a one-game deficit in the Central behind Cleveland. as the Twins are just 40-48 since that high mark. The Twins enter the final game of their three-game series in Chicago on a three-game slide. Chicago is the defending American League Central champions and were the presumed favorites to repeat coming into the 2022 season. However, as the calendar shows September, it's time to put up or shut up for the White Sox. Are the White Sox finally going to make the "big push" everyone has been waiting for? The White Sox take a four-game winning streak into Sunday's game, after they won 13-0 last night, with Cease almost pitching a n0-hitter.

Sunday's starters are Dylan Bundy (7-6, 4.53 ERA) and Lucas Giolito (10-8, 5.27 ERA).  I've NEVER been a fan of Bundy and was shocked when he opened 3-0 with an 0,50 ERA in April. Bundy quickly returned to earth, as the Twins lost NINE of his next 10. However, in five August starts, he hasn't allowed more than two ERs in any of them, posting a 2.63 ERA. More notably, in EIGHT career starts vs Chicago, he's 5-0 (teams are 8-0) with a 3.61 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. That includes going 2-0 in three starts this season (team is 3-0) with a 2.30 ERA. Giolito was 14-9 (3,41 ERA) in 2019 and then went 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts during 2020 (COVID) plus 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts in 2021. He has NOT been consistent at all in 2022 and what stands out is his 6.86 home ERA, with a BAA of .315!

I loved Cease last night (10* win) but I am still not ready to trust the White Sox. Pitching dynamics here call for a "signature" LEGEND Play in Minnesota.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Chi White Sox at 7:15 ET.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. Chicago ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance and then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. However, it's the Twins who are having the better season. Minnesota opened a three-game series in Chicago last night, but the White Sox delivered a 4-3 comeback win. It marked Chicago's third straight win and was much needed. Chicago is now 66-66 and two games behind Minnesota, as well as two games behind the division-leading Guardians. Chicago was the presumed favorite to repeat coming into the 2022 season but as the calendar shows September, it's time to put up or shut up for the White Sox.

Tyler Mahle (6-7, 4.17 ERA) starts for Minnesota and Dylan Cease (12-6, 2.27 ERA) for Chicago. Mahle was just 13-25 with a 4.42 ERA in his first four seasons with the Reds but went 13-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 starts (team was 20-13). he was 5-7 with a 4.40ERA for Cincy in 2022, before being traded to Minnesota. The Twins have won his first three starts but Mahle hasn't pitched since leaving an Aug 17 start against Kansas City after pitching 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings. The Twins say he's ready but who really knows. Cease is having a memorable season, one in which he set a major league-record of 14 consecutive starts without allowing more than ONE earned run. Cease didn't exactly come out of nowhere in 2022, finishing 2021 with a 3.91 ERA and a league-leading 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings in going 13-7 in 2021.

Cease pitched a career-high eight innings, allowing two solo HRs while walking one and striking out eight in a no-decision.in his last outing (this past Sunday ve Arizona) and I believe  is ready to go on another tear. He's the 'key' to Chicago's playoff hopes in 2022 and I'm banking (betting) that.he proves just that tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* NL Pitching Mismatch of the Week is on the Phi Phillies at 4:05 ET.

The Philadelphia Phillies opened the season having failed to make the playoffs in each of the last 10 years, the second-longest streak in MLB. The Phillies fired Joe Giradi in early June and interim manager Rob Thompson has led them to a 51-30 record since. The Phillies are currently dueling the 74-59 San Diego Padres for the second National League wild-card playoff spot. The San Francisco Giants won a franchise-record 107 games in 2021 while also winning the National League West but it's been a steady drop in the standings for Gabe Kapler's squad since mid-June, when the Giants were a season-best 10 games over .500 and just three games out of first place. The Giants have gone just 25-41 (.379) since their peak. However, the Giants snapped a 7-game losing streak with a 13-1 win last night over the Phillies, in the first of a 3-game series.

Noah Syndergaard (8-9, 3.98 ERA) will get the start for Philly on Saturday, while the Giants counter with Jacob Junis (4-4, 4.04 ERA). Syndergaard was a budding star for the Mets but during spring training in 2020, he began to experience elbow discomfort. An exam revealed that Syndergaard had torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an injury which required Tommy John surgery. He didn't pitch in 2020 and made just two starts in 2021. He joined the Angels to begin this season and was 5-8 with a 3.83 ERA before being traded to the Phillies. He seems revived and is 3-1 (Philadelphia is 4-1) in five starts with his new team. Jacob Junis spent his first five seasons with KC, going 29-35 with a 4.82 ERA. He just completed August 0-2 (team was 2-3) with a 7.13 ERA. He allowed six ERs in two of those starts, including this past Sunday in an 8-3 loss at Minnesota.

A 13-1 win last night does NOT mean that the Giants are set to turn things around. Syndergaard owns a 2.44 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in seven career starts vs the Giants and has never lost in San Francisco, going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts, I view this as a pitching mismatch and will 'jump all over' the Phillies behind a rejuvenated Syndergaard.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Hou Astros at 9:38 ET.

The Houston Astros entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Astros haven't disappointed. Thye open a three-game series in Anaheim against the Angels, owners of the AL's best record at 84-47 and with an 11-game lead over Seattle in the division. Los Angeles came out strong to open the current season and through May 24th, was 27-17. That left them just ONE game behind the Astros in the AL West. However, the Angels began a 14-game losing streak on May 25 that lasted through June 8. The Angels have never really recovered and at 57-74, are well on their way to missing the postseason for the 12th time in the last 13 years.

Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 1.69 ERA) will make the start for Houston, while LA counters with Reid Detmers (5-4, 3.47 ERA).  McCullers was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA for Houston in 2021 over 28 starts. The Astros were 17-11 in those starts and then he held the White Sox to one ER in two postseason starts (10.2 IP), with Houston winning both games. This marks just his fourth start since joining the active roster after missing the first four months of the season with a strained right flexor tendon in his forearm. He's posted an excellent 1.69 ERA in his first three. Detmers will be on the mound for the Angels to make his 21st start of the season. Detmers pitched just 20.2 innings last year (7.74 ERA / 1.79 WHIP) but has been effective for most of the season (pitched a no-hitter back on May 10).

The Angels are playing well, having won five of six, but don't be fooled. Houston is BY FAR the better team and I have really liked the way McCullers has pitched since returning to the rotation.

Good luck...Larry 

My 10* Division Game of the Month (AL Central) is on the Min Twins at 810 ET.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. Chicago ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance and then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. However, it's the Twins who are having the better season. Minnesota visits Chicago for a three-game weekend series at 67-62, while the White Sox are only 65-66. The Twins are just one game behind division leading Cleveland and three games ahead of the White Sox. Chicago is the defending American League Central champions, and they were the presumed favorites to repeat coming into the 2022 season. However, as the calendar shows September, it's time to put up or shut up for the White Sox.

Friday's starting pitchers are Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.04 ERA) for the Twins, while the White Sox will turn to rookie Davis Martin (2-4, 4.62 ERA). Gray won 14 games in back-to-back seasons (2014 and '15) with Oakland but has been an underachiever since. He began this season 82-72 with a career ERA of 3.61. He strained his right hamstring in his second start of 2022 (Apr 16) but returned May 7 after a three-week absence. He also missed the first two weeks of June but takes the mound tonight with a 1.91 ERA and 42-15 KW ratio in his last seven starts. Martin will be facing the Twins for the first time in his debut season. He has split his time between the rotation and the bullpen, with three of his last four outings coming as a starter. His last start was a struggle, lasting just three innings and allowing five runs (three earned).

Many (most) have expected Chicago to finally break through but that just doesn't seem to be the case Minnesota lost its last game but had won SIX in a row prior to that. Meanwhile, the White Sox have lost SEVEN of 10. I'll take the veteran Gray 'in a BIG way" over the rookie Martin.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Sea Mariners at 7:10 ET.

Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. There is barely a month left in the season and the Seattle Mariners might be clicking at just the right time. They cooled off right after the break but open this three-game series in Cleveland having won SIX of seven, including FOUR straight. The 73-58 Mariners are currently in a virtual tie with Tampa Bay for the AL's No. 1 wild card spot!

Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021. The Guardians have rebounded in 2022, as they are 68-61, one game up on Minnesota in the AL Central and four games up on the defending champion White Sox. That said, Cleveland enters the series having lost FIVE of seven.

Tonight's starting pitchers are Luis Castillo (5-5, 2.85 ERA) for Seattle and Cleveland sends Zach Plesac (3-11, 4.39 ERA) to the mound. Castillo was 15-8 in 2019 but is coming off a 2021 season in which he was 8-16 in 33 starts. The Reds were 11-22 in those starts, giving Castillo the worst moneyline mark of ANY starter (-$1,265). Castillo missed spring training and the first 28 games of the 2022 season with a right shoulder strain and didn't make his 2022 debut until May 9. He was on quite a role with the Reds, going 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts (Reds were 5-), before being traded to the Mariners just before the deadline. He's made five starts for Seattle going a modest 1-1 (Seattle is 3-2) but he owns a 2.84 ERA with a 39-8 KW ratio. Simply put, Plesac is NOT having a good season (see above), with Cleveland just 9-14 in his 23 starts.

It's beginning to feel like this is FINALLY the year in which Seattle's 20-year postseason drought ends. Castillo was an excellent addition and I'll take him over Plesac with NO reservations.

Good luck...Larry 

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the NY Mets at 7:10 ET.

The Dodgers have made the postseason the last NINE years and after edging the Mets 4-3 last night in the opener of this three-game series at Citi Field, check in with MLB's best record (90-39). The Mets last made the playoffs back in 2015 but if the season ended today, the 82-48 Mets would be the No. 2 seed in the NL's postseason (currently lead the Braves by three games in the NL East). Tyler Anderson (13-2, 2.69 ERA) takes the mound tonight for LA, while the Mets counter with Jacob deGrom (3-1, 2.15 ERA). It's a classic pitching showdown.

Anderson entered the 2022 season just 29-38 with a 4,64 ERA through his first six seasons, but he made the All-Star team for the first time this season and ranks among the NL's top 12 in wins and ERA. deGrom needs no introduction. He was the NL ROY in 2014 and won back-to-back Cy Youngs in 2018 and 2019. When healthy, he's among the VERY best pitchers in MLB. Only some hard-luck and injuries have kept his records from being more impressive, He didn't make his 2022 until August 8, but in five starts, he's allowed just seven ERs on 14 hits over 29.1 innings for a 2.15 ERA. He also owns an 0.55 WHIP and 46-2 kW ratio in that span.

Nothing NOT to like about Anderson (or surely the Dodgers) but if the Mets are going to hold off the Braves in the NL East, they NEED deGrom to win this type of game. Book it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the Tex Rangers at 2:05 ET.

Houston entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Astros are on pace to do that, as they own the AL's best record at 83-47, giving them an 11 1/2-game lead over Seattle. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. The best we can say about the Rangers' 2022 is that their current 58-70 record puts them on pace to win 73 games (13 more than last season).

The Astros will go for a 2-0 sweep Thursday afternoon in Arlington, after winning 4-2 on Wednesday. Christian Javier (7-9, 2.97 ERA) will take the mound for Houston, while Martin Perez (10-4, 2.69 ERA) goes for Texas. Javier is in his third season and his numbers are good, despite his sub-.500 record. He owns an excellent 1.01 WHIP and .181 BAA to go along with his sub-3.00 ERA It sure doesn't reflect poorly on his pitching that he's 1-3 in five August starts (Houston is 1-4), as his ERA is 2.00 in August. Perez spent his first seven seasons with Texas but the last three seasons, he had a one-year stint in Minnesota, then pitched for Boston in 2020 and 2021. In that three-season span, he posted a 4.88 ERA. Perez signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Texas Rangers in March and he has turned into a 'different pitcher' in 2022. He opened April 0-2 in four starts (team was 1-3) but then made 17 starts from May through the end of July. He went 9-0 with a 2.42 ERA in that span, with the Rangers going 15-2! He's just 1-2 (team is 2-3) in Five August start and a close look reveals a poor seven-run outing has been surrounded by allowing only four ERs in 24 innings of his other four starts (1.50 ERA).

Here's the bottom line. Perez has one of the biggest difference makers in 2022, The Rangers are 17-8 (.680) when he starts but just 41-62 (,398) when he doesn't. I'm 'jumping all over" Perez as a home dog.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Arz D'backs at 9:40 ET

The Philadelphia Phillies opened the season having failed to make the playoffs in each of the last 10 years, the second-longest streak in MLB. The Phillies fired Joe Giradi in early June and interim manager Rob Thompson has led them to a 50-28 record since. The 72-57 Phils currently hold down the NL' No. 2 wild card spot. The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941). There will be no postseason for Arizona in 2022 but the 60-67 D'backs are on pace to win 74 games, or 24 more than in 2021.

Arizona crushed Philadelphia 13-7 last night in the opener of this three-game series and tonight's starters will be Aaron Nola (9-10, 3.08) and Zac Gallen (9-2, 2.66 ERA). Nola has been 'living off' his 2018 season (17-6, 2.37) in my view, as from 2019 through the current 2022 season, he's just 35-31. As for Gallen, he takes the mound looking for his FIFTH straight scoreless effort. He hasn't allowed a run since Aug 2 and has given up just 12 hits over 27.1 innings during his stretch of zeros. Over his last seven starts, Gallen is 5-0 with a microscopic 0.80 ERA over his last seven starts (D'backs are 6-1) and hasn't been taken a loss in his last 13 outings.

The Phillies are looking like a team ready to break its 10-year playoff drought but there is NO way Nola should be a rod favorite over the blistering hot Gallen. This home dog 'bites' loudly in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month is on the SF Giants at 9:45 ET.

The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants Here in 2022, the Padres have long ago lost touch with the Dodgers and at 70-59, own a slim 1 1/2-game lead over the Brewers for the NL's third wild card spot. The San Francisco Giants won a franchise-record 107 games in 2021 while also winning the National League West but head into this three-game home series with the Padres at 61-65, 7 1/2-games behind the Padres for that final wild card spot. It's been a steady drop in the standings for Gabe Kapler's squad since mid-June, when the Giants were a season-best 10 games over .500 and just three games out of first place. The Giants are coming off getting swept in a three-game series at Minnesota this past weekend, having gone 24-38 (.387) since their peak.

Monday's starters are Mike Clevinger (4-5, 3.59 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (12-6, 2.81 ERA), Clevinger was 38-18 for Cleveland from 2017-2019 but then made only eight starts in 2020 (four with Cleveland and four with San Diego), before missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. His 2022 season is a "mixed bag," as he has only SIX quality starts in his 15 starts. Rodon was 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and BAA of .186 last season, making his first All-Star team. He signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the San Francisco Giants back on March 14, 2022, and has been the Giants best pitcher, leading with 12 wins, posting the lowest ERA among starters, leading the team with 189 Ks and holding opponents to a .206 BAA.

This is a HUGE series for the Giants and who better to have on the mound than Rodon? He's 4-0 over his last five starts (team is 4-1), having allowed just five ERs over 31.1 innings, for a 1.44 ERA. He also owns 41 Ks in that 31.1-inning stretch.

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Min Twins at 7:40 ET.

Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. Here in 2022, the Red Sox were 11 games over .500 through June 26 (42-31) but the team is only 20-35 (.364) since. That leaves them 62-66 on the season, SEVEN games behind the third wild card spot, with THREE teams between them and that final playoff spot. The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. However, the Twins were having a bounce-back 2022 season, owning a 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Central on May 24. However, that division lead has turned into a two-game deficit in the Central behind Cleveland. The Twins are also THREE games behind the final AL wild card spot.

It's the beginning of a three-game series between the Red Sox and Twins Monday night at Target Field. Rookie Brayan Bello (0-3, 7.36 ERA) gets the start for Boston, while Minnesota counters with Dylan Bundy (7-6, 4.56 ERA). Bello is the third-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization according to MLB Pipeline but he takes the mound for his fifth start of 2022, still looking for "W." He's 0-3 in his first four starts (team is 0-4) and to go along with his sky-high ERA (see above), he owns a 2.09 WHIP with opponents' batting .362 against him. I've NEVER been a fan of Bundy and was shocked when he opened 3-0 with an 0,50 ERA in April. However, Bundy quickly "returned to earth," as the Twins lost 11 of his next 15 starts. Entering August, he was 6-5 with his ERA up to 5.04. However, in his four August starts, he's posted a 2.33 ERA.

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the StL Cards at 7:08 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season), before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York through the end of May but has gone 56-21 (.727) since, after splitting the first two of this three-game series at St Louis against the Cards. That gives them an 79-48 record, just THREE games behind the Mets in the NL East. The Cards have been a postseason regular this century, making the playoffs 15 times since 2000. It's impossible to be as 'hot' as the Braves but the Cardinals had won 10 of their last 12 games entering the series (21 of 27), The Cards rebounded nicely form Friday's 11-4 loss, to win 6-5 on Saturday (rallied from a four-run deficit), That gives 73-54 St Louis a SIX-game lead over the Brewers, who won last year's NL Central Division.

Jake Odorizzi (5-5, 3.95 ERA) will take the mound tonight for the Braves, while the Cards counter with veteran Adam Wainwright (9-9, 3.11 ERA). Odorizzi was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline and in four starts, is 1-2 (team is 2-2) with 3.76 ERA. This has not been Wainwright's best season, but the 40-year-old enters having allowed just three ERs on 11 hits in 22 innings over his last three starts (1.23 ERA). Wainwright has made 16 career starts vs Atlanta, going 10-4 with a 3,41 ERA (Cards are 11-5).

It seems like more than a few teams have waited on Odorizzi to fulfill his potential, but it just HASN'T happened. Meanwhile, Wainwright has carved out an excellent career and I'll back him in this rubber match of the series.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Sea Mariners at 4:10 ET.

Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just TWO games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. The Guardians opened a four-game series in Seattle this Thursday with BOTH teams squarely in the postseason 'picture.' Seattle won the first two games, but Cleveland earned a 4-3 comeback win (more later) Saturday night. Cleveland is now 65-58, giving them a three-game lead in the AL Central, while 69-58 Seattle owns the AL's No. 3 (and final) wild card spot.

Taking the mound for the series final will be Cleveland's Aaron Civale (2-5, 5.37 ERA), with Seattle countering with Robbie Ray (10-8, 3.75 ERA). Civale had a nice season for Cleveland in 2021, going 12-5 with a 3.84 ERA in 21 starts / team was 14-7). However, as while he owns a 2.45 ERA in three August starts (Guardians are 3-0), his ERA on the season is about 1 1/2-runs higher than in 2021. Opponents are batting .273 against him (last year it was just .236). Most notably, he hasn't earned a win since May 29. Ray won the AL Cy Young award in 2021 for Toronto (13-7, 2.84 ERA) and Seattle was hoping for a "big season" in 2022, after signing him to a HUGE contract. That hasn't been the case. However, he owns a 2.08 ERA in four August starts (Seattle is 3-1) and a game like this is exactly why Seattle signed him.

Seattle had a 3-1 lead through seven innings last night, before Cleveland came back to win 4-3. That's notable because the Mariners were 51-0 when taking a lead into the eighth inning, the LONE undefeated team in that situation in the major leagues. Seattle (with Ray) is the play over Cleveland and Civale.

My 8* Weekend Wipeout is on the Mil Brewers at 2:10 ET.

The Cubs and Brewers will play the rubber match of their three-game series today in Milwaukee. The Cubs enter the game just 55-72 but they've been relying on a host of young players and take the field having gone 21-15 since July 17. Meanwhile, the 66-59 Brewers have fallen SIX games behind the Cards for the NL Central lead, as well as 2 1/2-games behind the NL's final wild card spot. Adrian Sampson (1-4, 4.04 ERA) will start for the Cubbies and Eric Lauer (9-5, 3.44 ERA).

Sampson doesn't have much of a resume, as he owns an 8-18 career record with a 4.88 ERA. He looks to rebound after he allowed five runs and eight hits, including two homers, over just 3.1 innings this past Tuesday's 13-3 home loss to the St Louis Cardinals. It was the shortest start of 2022 for Sampson, who also yielded his most earned runs of the season. In stark contrast, Eric Lauer has been terrific over his last 10 starts, although his record does not reflect it. He's only 3-2 in that span, withe Brewers going a modest 6-4, A closer look reveals he's posted a 2.86 ERA in that 10-start stretch, including a 2.16 ERA in four August starts.

Here's the rub. Milwaukee is 8-10 against the Cubs and will lose the season series to a club that's 17 games under .500. That could haunt them come season's end, but the Brewers need to (and WILL) "take care of business in the one. Lauer's made three starts vs Chicago in 2022, allowing just four ERS over 17 innings (2,18 ERA). Shockingly, the Cubs have a chance to win a THIRD straight road series. NOT on Lauer's watch. Cubs Lose! Cubs Lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Arz D'backs at 7:10 ET.

The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941).Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance and then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland (BTW...Chicago won 41 more games than Arizona). Little was expected from Arizona in 2022 but note that the team's current 57-67 record puts them on pace to win 74 games, 22 more than last year. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the AL Central in 2022 but that hasn't been the case. The White Sox are just 63-63, leaving them FOUR games behind first-place Cleveland, as well as SIX games behind the AL's final wild card spot.

Who could have imagined back in April, that the D'backs would be the small favorite in this road game at Chicago here in late-August? However, that's the case and there is a GOOD reason for that. Friday's 7-2 Arizona victory stretched the Diamondbacks' winning streak against the White Sox to SIX games as Arizona improved to 5-2 all-time at Guaranteed Rate Field. Then there is tonight's pitching matchup. Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.87 ERA) gets the nod for Arizona, while the White Sox can only counter with Davis Martin (2-3, 4.25 ERA). Kelly was just 23-27 with a 4.27 ERA in his first three seasons with Arizona but he's already won 10 times this season and has pitched well enough to have deserved to win more. He's made 10 starts since July 1 and while he hasn't lost a decision (4-0), the D'backs are just 5-5. That despite him posting a 1.90 ERA in that 10-start span. In stark contrast, Martin last pitched in the majors on Aug 9 at Kansas City, when he earned the victory behind 5.2 innings of one-run, three-hit ball with one walk and three strikeouts. Saturday will mark Martin's first career interleague appearance.

The baseball world has waited for Chicago to go on a run but at this point, that seems like 'Fool's Gold.' Arizona and Kelly are the situational play in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the TB Rays at 4:10 ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances, having won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. The two AL East rivals opened a three-game series Friday night in Fenway, with each trending in opposite directions. Tampa Bay entered Friday having won SIX consecutive games and 11 of 13. No AL East team is seriously thinking of catching the Yankees, so it's 'wild card or bust.' As for Boston, the Red Sox were 11 games over .500 through June 26 but the team was only 18-34 (.346) since. However, Boston ended Tampa's six-game winning streak with a 9-8 victory. As the teams get set to play Saturday, the 69-56 Rays hold down the AL's No. 1 wild card spot, while the 61-65 Red Sox sit EIGHT games behind the third wild card spot, with THREE teams between them and that final playoff spot. Boston's eight-game deficit in the AL wild-card race is daunting, so every game means more at this stage of the season.

Taking the mound on Saturday will be Jeffrey Springs (6-3, 2.46 ERA) for Tampa Bay and Rich Hill (5-5, 4.68 ERA) for Boston. Springs entered this season having made just TWO starts in 102 career appearances and was coming off his best season in 2021. He was 5-1 in 43 relief appearances, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Springs joined the Rays' rotation on May 9 and has been a solid member of the rotation ever since. He's having an outstanding August, going 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in four starts (team is 3-1). Rich Hill began his career way back 2005 and he's played for 11 teams (this is his third stint with Boston). Hill owns a career record of 79-57 and a 3.86 ERA. However, his 2022 ERA is 4.63, almost a full run higher than his career mark. Hill saw Boston lose his July 1 start 6-5 vs the Cubs (three ERs in 4.2 innings) and then was sidelined for the remainder of the month. He returned on August 3 from that sprained left knee and in three August starts, has allowed 10 ERs in 12 innings, for a 7.50 ERA.

Springs is the MUCH better pitcher right now and the Rays are 8 1/2-game better than Boston in the standings. Boston had a pretty nice pitching mismatch Friday (Wacha over Chargois and Yarbrough), but that DOESN'T 'fly' here.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the StL Cards at 8:15 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season), before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York through the end of May but has gone 53-21 (.762) since. That gives them a 78-48 record, just TWO games behind the Mets in the NL East.  The Cards have been a postseason regular this century, making the playoffs 15 times since 2000. It's impossible to be as 'hot' as the Braves but the Cardinals have won 10 of their last 12 games and 21 of their past 27 entering this three-game series. That gives St Louis a SIX-game lead over the Brewers, who won last year's NL Central Division,

The Braves will open the series by starting rookie Spencer Strider (7-4, 2.95 ERA), while the Cards counter with veteran Jose Quintana (4-5, 3.45 ERA). Strider who has held opponents to one run in FOUR of his last five starts but has nothing on Jose Quintana. The Cards 'rescued' Quintana from the Pirates at the trade deadline and the Cards have won all FOUR of his starts with St Louis. I'm NOT going to 'overthink' this. I'm taking the veteran OVER the rookie, getting a nice price as a home dog!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Min Twins at 8:10 ET.

The Giants and Twins are two slumping teams that find their postseason hopes 'drifting away,' as they open a crucial three-game series on Friday night at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Giants won a franchise-record 107 games in 2021 while also winning the National League West but head into this series one game below .500 at 61-62. It's been a steady drop in the standings for Gabe Kapler's squad since mid-June, when the Giants were a season-best 10 games over .500 and just three games out of first place. San Francisco now sits 25 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and 5 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL wild-card spot with just 39 games remaining. The Giants have gone just 24-35 since their peak.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. However, the Twins were having a bounce-back 2022 season, owning a 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Central on May 24. Now, the 62-61 Twins open this series having lost a season-worst SIX in a row. Minnesota's 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Central back on May 24 is gone, as it trails the first-place Cleveland Guardians by FOUR games and is FIVE games out of the final AL wild-card spot. Trying to turn their team's fortunes around will be Alex Wood (8-10, 4.54 ERA) of San Francisco and Joe Ryan (9-6, 3.86 ERA) for Minnesota.

Wood is in his 10th season and owns a career record of 71-58. He had a terrific 16-3 season with the Dodgers in 2017 but his only other notable year was 2021, going 10-4 for the Giants. He will make his 239 career appearances and 189th start on Friday but will face the Twins for the FIRST time. Ryan is a rookie and along with his team-best NINE wins and acceptable 3.86 ERA, he owns a 1.13 WHIP and BAA of .222. One team will break its negative mojo this series and I think that will be the Twins. However, I won't get ahead of myself. Tonight, Minnesota is the play.

Good luck...Larry 

My 10* AL Pitching Mismatch of the Week is on the Bos Red Sox at 7:10 ET (Note: This side play is listed as action).

The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances, having won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. The two AL East rivals open a three-game series Friday night in Fenway, with each trending in opposite directions. Tampa Bay visits Boston having won SIX consecutive games (the longest active streak in the majors) and 11 of 13.  No AL East team is seriously thinking of catching the Yankees, so it's 'wild card or bust.' The Rays are currently 69-55, giving them the No. 1 wild card spot, FOUR games clear of "the last team out" (Baltimore). As for Boston, the Red Sox were 11 games over .500 through June 26 but the team is only 18-34 (.346) since. That leaves them 60-65 on the season, EIGHT games behind the third wild card spot, with THREE teams between them and that final playoff spot.

JT Chargois (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will open Friday's game for Tampa Bay, with Ryan Yarbrough (1-7, 4.43 ERA) expected to work the bulk of the innings. Chargois returned this week after he was on the injured list since April 9 due to left oblique tightness. He has worked only 2.2 innings in 2022, so don't expect much. Who knows, maybe Yarbrough will start (the reason I'm making this play action). Yarbrough went a combined 27-12 with a 4,02 ERA in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, but we've seen NOTHING like that since then. He's made 15 appearances (nine starts) with a 1-7 record and 4.43 ERA. 

Taking the mound for Boston will be Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.28 ERA). Wacha made a big 'SPLASH' for the Cards back in 2013 as a rookie and then went 17-7 in 2015. However, from 2016-2021 he had gone just 37-34, while battling injuries. Wacha has had a bounce-back season so far in 2022 but just returned August 14, after missing two months because of right-shoulder inflammation. Wacha has pitched 12.2 scoreless vs the NYY and Baltimore in his return. Wacha's been dominant at home this season, posting 1.14 ERA and BAA of .174.

It's clear that the Rays are the better team BUT, Wacha is the 'difference-maker' over ANY combination of Chargois and Yarbrough.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Sea Mariners at 4:10 ET.

Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just TWO games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. The Guardians open a four-game series in Seattle this afternoon with BOTH teams squarely in the postseason 'picture.' Cleveland has won 12 of 16 games and at 66-56, owns a four-game lead in the AL Central over the Twins and White Sox. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-42. The Mariners are only 16-15 since returning from the break but at 67-57, own the AL's No. 3 wild card spot. They are just 1 1/2-games behind the No. 1 wild card team and 2 1/2-games ahead of the Orioles, who represent the 'last team out" (No. 4 among wild card contenders). Cleveland and Seattle meet for the first time this season and give us a pretty good pitching matchup in the series opener.

Triston McKenzie (9-9, 3.11 ERA) takes the mound for the Guardians up against the Mariners Marco Gonzales (8-12, 4.08 ERA). McKenzie is coming off a career-best, 14-strikeout performance in a 5-2 victory against the Chicago White Sox last Friday. He's made nine starts since July 1, going 5-3 (team is 6-3) while posting a 1.91 ERA. Gonzales went 46-30 for Seattle from 2018-21 and remains a mainstay in Seattle's starting rotation in 2022, despite his losing record. Seattle is just 10-14 in his starts this season, but Gonzales has allowed more than three ERs in just FOUR of those 24.

Cleveland's the 'hotter' team at the moment but there is no real advantage in the pitching matchup. However, I believe this series is much more important to the Mariners, who enter having dropped three of their last four games, to Oakland and Washington, which have the worst records in the American and National leagues, respectively. Seattle owns a slightly better record than Cleveland and I'm 'jumping all over them' as a small home dog.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Arx D'backs at ET.

Arizona joined the NL in 1998 and made the playoffs in THREE of the team's first five seasons (won 2001 World Series). However, since 2003, Arizona has missed the postseason in 16 of the last 19 years. The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941). The KC Royals began the current season having missed the postseason in each of the previous SIX years, after making back-to-back World Series in 2014 (lost) and 2015 (won). The two teams opened a two-game series last night in KC, with the D'backs 7-3. Neither team will be playing postseason baseball in 2022, as Arizona sits 56-66 and KC 50-75. However, it is worth noting that the D'backs are on pace to win 74 games, 22 more than in 2021.

Zac Gallen (9-2, 2.78 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona, while KC counters with Brady Singer (6-4, 3.27), Gallen opened the season 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA through the end of May in nine starts (D'backs were 7-2). However, he went winless over his next EIGHT starts (team was 2-6). The All-Star break seemed to rejuvenate him, as he's gone 5-0 in six starts (team is 6-0), allowing just four ERs in 39 innings (0.92 innings). Gallen enters this contest has not allowed a run in his last three starts covering 21.1 innings. Singer has had only one bad month as a starter this season. He went 1-3 in five starts in June with a 5.97 ERA and is 2-0 in his last three starts (KC is 3-0), having allowed only three ERs over 19.1 innings (1.40).

All of the above noted, I'll ride Gallen here in what I expect to be a comfortable win.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the Tex Rangers at 3:10 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. As for the Colorado Rockies, they are coming off three straight losing seasons. The teams complete a brief two-game series this afternoon at Coors Field, after the Rockies took Tuesday's game 7-6. Texas comes in 56-67 and Colorado at 54-70, so neither team will be playing postseason baseball in 2022.

Perez (9-4, 2.80 ERA) will face Colorado's Jose Urena (2-4, 4.71 ERA) in the fourth and final game between the teams this season. The Rockies are 3-0 against the Rangers heading into the finale. Perez spent his first seven seasons with Texas but the last three seasons, he had a one-year stint in Minnesota, then pitched for Boston in 2020 and 2021. In that three-season span, he posted a 4.88 ERA. Perez signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Texas Rangers in March and he has turned into a 'different pitcher' in 2022. He opened April 0-2 in four starts (team was 1-3) but then made 17 starts from May through the end of July. He went 9-0 with a 2.42 ERA in that span, with the Rangers going 15-2! He is 0-2 (team is 1-3) in his four August starts but he's had just ONE poor showing. He allowed seven ERs in a game at Houston but in the other three, he's allowed four ERS over 18 innings (2.00 ERA).

Urena is a journeyman who owns a career record of 38-58 with a 4.77 ERA. he was acquired from Milwaukee at the beginning of July and in nine starts, is 2-4 with a 4.89 ERA in nine starts (Rockies are 2-7). Perez owns a significant edge over Urena here and it is noteworthy that while the teams are pretty much in the same boat, Texas owns a run differential of plus-4, while Colorado's run differential in -113. Better team with the better pitcher makes Texas the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on SD Padres at 9:40 ET.

Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021. The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. The 64-56 Guardians have clawed their way to the top of the tightly contested AL Central and are two games up on Minnesota and three games up on Chicago, as they open a brief two-game IL series tonight in San Diego, As for the 68-56 Padres, they 'hung' with the Dodgers early on but despite a slightly better record than Cleveland, San Diego is a WHOPPING 7 1/2-games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Aaron Civale (2-5, 5.63 ERA) will get the nod for Cleveland tonight, while San Diego counters with Mike Clevinger (4-4, 3.63 ERA). Civale had a nice season for Cleveland in 2021, going 12-5 with a 3,84 ERA in 21 starts / team was 14-7). However, as he gets set to face the Padres, his ERA is up more than TWO runs (it was 3.84 in 2021) and opponents are batting ,277 against him (last year it was just .236). Most notably, he hasn't earned a win in THREE months! Civale has recorded five no-decisions and two losses since defeating the Tigers back on May 20. Nagging injuries have dogged Civale all season. Clevinger was 38-18 for Cleveland from 2017-2019 but then made only eight starts in 2020 (four with Cleveland and four with San Diego), before missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. His 2022 season is a "mixed bag," he has only FIVE quality starts in 14 starts, but the Padres are 10-5 when Clevinger pitches (includes one relief appearance).

Take note that Clevinger enters this contest with San Diego having gone 4-1 in his last five starts, as he's posted 3.86. San Diego has given up catching the Dodgers a long time ago, but the Padres are in a virtual tie with the Phillies for the NL's No. 2 wild card spot. Expect Clevinger to rise to the challenge of facing his ex-teammates in this one, especially against a struggling Civale.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:05 ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East in 2022. Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros As the two AL East rivals meet for the opener of a three-game series in Fenway tonight, the 65-55 Jays are battling the 66-55 Rays and 66-56 Mariners for the top-three wild card spots (all three teams are virtually tied), Meanwhile, the Red Sox come in 60-42 in LAST place in the AL East, SIX games out of the No. 3 wild spot with THREE teams between and that final playoff berth,

Ross Stripling (5-3, 2.93 ERA) gets the call in tonight's contest for Toronto, while Boston counters with Josh Winckowski (5-6, 5.19 ERA). Stripling was acquired from the Dodgers during the 2020 season and went 5-7 with a 4.80 ERA in 24 appearances (19 starts) in 2021. He's vastly improved in 2022, going 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA (almost TWO runs lower) over 24 appearances (16 starts), He'll take the mound with Toronto winning each of his last four starts (1.69 ERA). That includes a terrific outing last Wednesday in which he took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Orioles. He exited after 6.1 scoreless innings having given up just one hit and no walks with seven strikeouts. Winckowski is a rookie and in his 12 starts (team is 6-6), owns a 1.50 WHIP to go along with his plus-5.00 ERA. More notable here is that he's NOT pitched well at home in Fenway, posting a 5.94 ERA, while allowing opponents to hit .311 against him.

Toronto likely won't catch the Yankees but they are in a good position to earn one of the AL's three wild card spots. Meanwhile, since opening June 19-4, Boston has gone 18-31 and hardly look like a postseason contender, Back the Jays and Stripling in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* AL pitching Mismatch of the Week is on the Chi White Sox at 7:05 ET.

The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but that hasn't been the case. As for the Baltimore Orioles, they entered the season having missed the playoffs in each of the last FIVE seasons, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. The White Sox open a three-game series Tuesday in Baltimore with a 62-60 record, which leaves them behind both Minnesota and Cleveland in the AL Central (Guardians own a three-game edge on the White Sox). The 63-59 Orioles own a slightly better record than Chicago but are 11 games behind the first place Yankees in the AL East. However, the Orioles are 2 1/2-games behind the third AL wild card spot, while the White Sox are four games back.

Chicago's Dylan Cease (12-5, 2.09 ERA) will take the mound tonight to take on Baltimore's Austin Voth (3-1, 4.86 ERA). Cease was scheduled to pitch Sunday but the series finale against the Guardians was postponed because of unplayable field conditions. Then they went to Kansas City on Monday afternoon for a one-game stopover, and they lost 6-4 to the Royals. Cease's turn was pushed back to tonight. Cease is having a remarkable season but didn't exactly come out of nowhere in 2022, finishing 2021 with a 3.91 ERA and a league-leading 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings in going 13-7. Cease's major league-record string of 14 consecutive starts without allowing more than ONE earned run came to a halt last Tuesday in a no-decision against the Houston Astros. "I was disappointed," Cease said after yielding three runs in five innings of Chicago's 4-3 win. "It wasn't my sharpest outing. But it was close enough to keep us in it." Let me make note that during his record streak, he allowed just SIX earned runs over 82 innings for an 0.66 ERA (White Sox were 11-3). Cease is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in three career starts against the Orioles (team is 3-0).

Voth pitched in parts of the last five years with Baltimore and entered this season with 92 appearances (just 22 starts) and a 5.70 ERA. In 2020 and 2021, he made only ONE start over 68 appearances, while posting an 'ugly' 6.51 ERA, He was traded to Baltimore in early June and in 14 appearances (14 starts) owns a 3-1 record and 2.81 ERA. Voth has done a nice job since arriving in Baltimore and has contributed to the surge that has made the Orioles playoff contenders. That said, Cease owns a clear pitching mismatch in this one and that's my bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (AL East) is on the Bos Red Sox T 7:10 ET.

Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. As for the Baltimore Orioles, they entered the season having missed the playoffs in each of the last FIVE seasons, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. However, when the two AL East rivals opened a three-game series Friday night in Baltimore, both were battling for an AL Wild card spot. The Orioles took Friday night's game 15-10 but the Red Sox rebounded with a 4-3 win on Saturday, as Wacha continued his strong pitching (5.2 scoreless innings)! The two AL East rivals play the rubber match of the series tonight on ESPN. The Red Sox are now 60-61, FIVE games behind the AL's third wild card spot, with THREE teams between them and that final spot. Baltimore is ONE of those three teams, as its 62-58 record leaves the Orioles 2 1/2-games back of the AL's final wild card spot.

Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.28 ERA) will get the nod for Boston, while Baltimore counters with Dean Kremer (5-4, 3.58 ERA). Pivetta was acquired (along with prospect Connor Seabold) from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020 in exchange for pitchers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree. His 2022 season started off as a disaster, as he was 0-4 with a 6.08 ERA after six starts (team was 0-6) but from May 13 through the end of June, he allowed two ERs or less in EIGHT of his 10 starts going 8-1 with a 2.12 ERA (Boston was 9-1). However, Pivetta was winless since the start of July, going 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in seven starts (Boston was 2-5), before breaking through this past Tuesday. He pitched SEVEN scoreless innings, allowing just ONE hit in a 5-3 win at Pittsburgh (more on him in a bit).

Kremer made just four starts in 2020 but had 13 in a disastrous 2021 season. He finished 0-7 with a 7.55 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and a BAA of .292 (Orioles were 2-11 in his starts). Nonetheless, Kremer was poised to earn a spot in the bottom of the rotation out of spring training but he suffered a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen during the team’s third game on April 10 at Tampa Bay. He was finally ready to go in June and he made his 2022 debut on June 5 against Cleveland. He'll take the mound tonight having made 13 starts in 2022, going 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA (team is 8-5).

However, here's the bottom line. I'm NOT about to give up on Boston and for all of their improved play, I'm not 'sold' on the Orioles. Pivetta is a vet and is 7-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 career starts vs Baltimore (teams are 8-2), while Kremer has made just THREE career starts vs Boston, going 0-3 with a 9.45 ERA and1.72 WHIP. Boston can earn a third straight series win with a victory tonight and that's my bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Situational Stunner is on the Mil Brewers at 2:20 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. The Brewers topped the NL Central at the break but after beginning the second half 7-1, they've lost 12 of 18 to fall FIVE games behind St Louis in the division race. Milwaukee's skid includes losing 8-7 and 6-5 (11 inn) Friday and Saturday in Wrigley against the Cubs. The Cubs were coming off a 71-91 season in 2021, with little expected. Basically, the Cubs have lived up to their low expectations, as they enter this contest 52-67, 16 games behind the first place Cards in the NL Central. However, the Cubs host the Brewers this afternoon on a FIVE-game winning streak (have also won EIGHT of 10).

Sunday's starters will be Brandon Woodruff (9-3, 3.53 ERA) of Milwaukee and Justin Steele (4-7, 3.43 ERA) of Chicago. Woodruff was 11-3 with 3.62 ERA back in 2019 (team was 18-4 in his starts) but even though his ERA drooped to 3.05 in 2020 and 2.56 last season, the Brewers were only 6-7 (COVID season) and 16-14 in his starts, respectively. A high right ankle sprain kept Woodruff sidelined for a month but since his June 28 return, he's 4-0 in nine starts (team is 6-3) with a 2.53 ERA. Steele made 20 appearances (nine starts) in 2021, going 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA. ALL of his 22 appearances this season have been starts and while he's just 4-7 (Cubs are 10-12), he has cut his ERA by almost a full run. He hasn't picked up a win in three August starts but does own a 1.08 ERA with a 24-3 KW ratio in those starts.

I guess one could make a case to go against the struggling Brewers with Chicago's Steele but during Milwaukee's current slide, the Brewers have won FOUR of Woodruff's five starts, with him posting a 2.64. Let's NOT forget that Milwaukee is only TWO games behind in the race for the NL's final wild card space, so there is PLENTY to play for down the stretch, even if they can't catch the Cards. Cubs Lose! Cubs Lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the Bos Red Sox at 4:05 ET.

Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. As for the Baltimore Orioles, they entered the season having missed the playoffs in each of the last FIVE seasons, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. However, when the two AL East rivals opened a three-game series last night in Baltimore, both were battling for an AL Wild card spot. The Orioles took last night's game 15-10, as Boston had 19 hits and Baltimore 18, The Red Sox are now 59-61, FIVE games behind the AL's third wild card spot, with THREE teams between them and that final spot. Baltimore is ONE of those three teams, as its 62-57 record leaves the Orioles 1 1/2-games back of the AL's final wild card spot. 

Boston opened June by going 19-4 (.826) but after reaching 42-31 through June 26, the Red Sox have won just 17 of 47 games. In contrast, Baltimore was 24-35 through June 10 but has since gone 38-22! Michael Wacha (7-1, 2.44 ERA) will get the start for Boston on Saturday, while Baltimore counters with Kyle Bradish (1-4, 6.38 ERA). Wacha made a big 'SPLASH' for the Cards back in 2013 as a rookie and then went 17-7 in 2015. However, from 2016-2021 he had gone just 37-34, while battling injuries. Wacha has had a bounce-back season so far in 2022 but just returned last Sunday, after missing two months because of right-shoulder inflammation. The Red Sox were a season-high 11 games over .500 on June 26 but two days later, Wacha took the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays and was tagged for three runs in a 6-5 loss. He was scratched from his next start on July 4 because of shoulder tightness and, shortly afterward, the spiral began for the Red Sox.

Bradish has made 14 starts here in his rookie season and his numbers are VERY unimpressive. He owns a 1.66 WHIP to go along with his 6.38 ERA plus has allowed opponents to hit ,314 against. Somehow, the Orioles have gone 9-5 in his starts. Wacha is the 'key' here, as he pitched seven scoreless innings last Sunday against the Yankees, allowing two hits with a KW ratio 9-1. That was his first start since June 28. I'm issuing a B-L-O-W-O-U-T Alert on Boston.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Sea Mariners at 9:40 ET.

Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Oakland A's began 2022 coming off their fourth consecutive winning season (85-76) but missed the playoffs in 2021, after playing in three consecutive postseasons (2018-2020). The two AL rivals open a three-game series Friday night in Oakland. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-42. The Mariners have gone just 16-12 since returning from the break but at 65-54, own the AL's No. 1 wild card spot. As for the A's, it's been a miserable season, one in which they own MLB's worst record (43-75), as well as its worst home record (17-38).

Friday's starters will be Marco Gonzales (7-12, 4.18 ERA), for Seattle and Cole Irvin (6-10, 3.13 ERA) for Oakland. Gonzales went 46-30 for Seattle from 2018-21 but remains a mainstay in Seattle's starting rotation in 2022, despite his losing record. Seattle is just 9-14 in his starts this season, but Gonzales has allowed more than three ERs in just FOUR of those 23 starts. Irvin has made 21 starts this season (A's are just 7-14) but has really shown improvement from last season. He was 10-15 in 2021 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and BAA of .275. He's cut his ERA to 3.13 here in 2022, while his WHIP is down to 1.05 and his BAA down to .230.

Gonzales is 9-4 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 games, including 17 starts, against the A's in his career. He will face them for the FOURTH time this season, having pitched a pair of wins, including 8-2 on June 21 in his only outing in Oakland this year. As for Irvin, while the A's and Mariners have dueled 10 times this season, he hasn't started any of those games. Maybe that's a good thing. After all, he has never beaten the Mariners in his career, losing all FIVE starts while producing an 8.69 ERA and 2.29 WHIP. Hard NOT to back the Mariners in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Tex Rangers at 8:10 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. Texas manager Chris Woodward was fired at the beginning of the week and longtime president of baseball operations Jon Daniels was shown the door two days later. Interim manager Tony Beasley was able to gain a split of the Rangers' four-game series at home vs the A's, after rolling to a 10-3 victory on Thursday afternoon. The Rangers had managed just FIVE runs and were 4-for-22 with runners in scoring position in the first three games against the A's. Texas opens a six-game road trip with four games at Minnesota tonight, just 53-65. The best one can say about Texas' current season is that the Rangers are on pace to win 73 games, 13 more than in 2021.

Minnesota has led the AL Central for most of the season but has recently been passed by Cleveland. Minnesota got a much-needed three-game sweep over Kansas City to begin a seven-game homestand and had Thursday off. The Twins are 61-55 on the season, just ONE game behind the Guardians in the division and are also just 1 1/2-games behind the AL's third wild card spot. Taking the mound for tonight's series opener will be Martin Perez (9-3, 2.79 ERA) for Texas and Dylan Bundy (6-5, 4.76 ERA) will start for Minnesota.

Perez spent his first seven seasons with Texas but the last three seasons, he had a one-year stint in Minnesota, then pitched for Boston in 2020 and 2021. In that three-season span, he posted a 4.88 ERA. Perez signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Texas Rangers in March and he has turned into a 'different pitcher' in 2022. Texas lost THREE of Perez's first four starts in 2022 but he went 4-0 over six starts in May (Texas was 6-0!) with an 0.64 ERA to earn American League Pitcher of the Month. He'll take the mound tonight with Texas having won 15 of his last 19 starts (Perez has allowed two ERs or less in 14 of those 19 starts). I've never thought much of Bundy, but he surprised most (me, for sure!) by opening 3-0 with a 0.58 ERA in 2022. However, he's gone just 3-5 with a 5.53 ERA over his last 17 starts (Twins are 5-12).

I've played 'on' Perez often this season and will do so again here. Yes, Bundy is 7-2 with a 3.68 RA in 10 career starts vs Texas (teams are 7-3), but he's hardly been consistent in 2022.

God luck...Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Hou Astros at 2:10 ET.

Houston entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but that hasn't been the case. The Astros are running away with the AL West (division lead is 11 games), as they have caught and passed the Yankees for the AL's best record. Meanwhile, the White Sox have hovered around the .500 mark for the better part of this season but after taking the first two contests of this four-game series found themselves in a virtual tie with the Twins, ONE game behind the first place Guardians (White Sox and Twins were also just ONE game behind the AL's third wild card spot). 

The Astros won 3-2 last night, after squandering late leads in each of the first two games of the series. Houston maintained its 11-game lead over Seattle with the win, while Chicago's loss saw them fall one game behind Minnesota and two games behind Cleveland. Houston will send right-hander Luis Garcia (9-8, 4.03 ERA) to the mound on Thursday, while Lucas Giolito (9-6, 4.92 ERA) will get the nod for Chicago. Garcia was 11-8 with a 3.30 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 30 appearances (28 starts) in 2021, finishing as the American League Rookie of the Year runner-up. Garcia was 5-0 in six starts (Houston was 6-0) from June 17 through July 12. However, he enters tonight's contest just 1-3 over his last four starts, posting a 5.47 ERA. Giolito was 14-9 (3.41 ERA) in 2019 and then went 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts during 2020 (COVID) plus 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts in 2021. He comes in having gone 3-0 in August (3.71 ERA) but in his previous NINE starts, he was only 2-4 with a 6.75 ERA (team was 2-7).

That poor stretch included a June 17 outing vs Houston when he was bludgeoned for a season-high EIGHT runs on seven hits (2 HRs) while lasting five-plus innings in a 13-3 thrashing. He owns a 5.46 ERA in seven career starts vs Houston, going 2-4 (team is 2-5). I had Houston last night and will come right back with them here, noting that while Garcia's home ERA is 4.88, his road ERA is 3.07 (Houston's 37-25 road record is the best in the AL).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Mil Brewers at 2:10 ET.

The Dodgers opened a four-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers. LA won 4-0 Monday, Milwaukee bounced back with a 5-4 (11 inn) win on Tuesday and then the Dodgers won 2-1 last night. Los Angeles is now 36-7 since June 29, and with MLB's best record, are headed to 10th consecutive postseason come October (LA is 81-35 and leads SD in the NL West by 17 games!). The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. The Brewers topped the NL Central at the break but after beginning the second half 7-1, they've lost 10 of 15 since to fall three games behind St Louis in the division race. Milwaukee is also TWO games behind the Padres for the NL's final wild card spot.

Andrew Heaney (1-0, 1.16 ERA) will get the start for LA, while Milwaukee counters with Corbin Burnes (8-5, 2.39 ERA). Heaney has been sidelined much of the season due to left-shoulder inflammation and will make his eighth start of the season, but just his FIFTH since coming off his second injured-list stint in late July. The Dodgers are 4-0 in his first four starts, without Heaney getting a decision. The reason being that he's not lasted more than 4.2 innings in ANY of those four starts. Burnes won the National League Cy Young Award last season, posting an 11-5 record with a league-leading 2.43 ERA. He had 234 strikeouts and a 0.94 WHIP. He's a more modest 8-5 in 2022 (team is 14-9 in his 23 starts) but note that since June 15, Burnes is 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA over 11 starts (Brewers are 8-3).

I'll back last year's Cy Young winner over Heaney, who basically serves as an "opener!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Hou Astros at 8:10 ET.

Houston entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but that hasn't been the case. The Astros are running away with the AL West (division lead is 11 games), as they have caught and passed the Yankees for the AL's best record. Meanwhile, the White Sox have hovered around the .500 mark for the better part of this season but have taken the first two contests of this four-game series and at 61-56, are in a virtual tie with the 60-55 Twins, ONE game behind the first place Guardians (White Sox and Twins are also just ONE game behind the AL's third wild card spot).

Wednesday's starters are Framber Valdez (11-4, 2.73) of Houston and Michael Kopech (4-8, 3.18 ERA) of Chicago. Valdez is in his fifth season. He was 11-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts (team was 14-8) in 2021 but then 'blew up' in the postseason (17 ERs on 28 hits over 19.2 IP for a 7.78 ERA). However, after a slow start in 2022 (Astros were 1-4 in his first five starts), Valdez has gone 10-2 over his last 17 starts (Astros are 13-4). Kopech made 44 appearances (just four starts) for Chicago last season, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and .210 BAA. That earned him a spot in the starting rotation this season. His ERA is down slightly, and he's again been tough to hit (.195 BAA). However, he owns just FOUR wins in 21 starts (team is 9-12).

Valdez owns a 2.21 ERA on the road, more than a run lower than his 3.51 home ERA, plus takes the mound having made 19 consecutive quality starts. If he delivers a quality start against the White Sox, he will tie Mike Scott's franchise record of 20 in a row, established in 1986. My bet says he does just that!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the NY Mets at 7:20 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years, The Mets got off to a great start this season and were 34-17 through the end of May. As for the Braves, Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that time. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and ended the month 21-6. The 'battle' for the NL East was "ON!"

A week ago, the Mets won four-of-five against the Braves to expand their division lead. However, the Braves followed the poor showing against the Mets by winning SIX in a row and as the two rivals opened a four-game series in Atlanta, the 75-40 Mets led the 70-46 Braves by 5 1/2-games. As the teams get set to play the third contest of this series, the Braves have extended their winning streak to EIGHT in row, closing to within 3 1/2-games of the Mets. Max Scherzer (8-2, 1.93 ERA) will start for New York tonight, opposed by Atlanta Jake Odorizzi (4-4, 3.80 ERA). With Atlanta having won the first two games of the series, the Mets need a big finish and the one-two punch of Scherzer (Wed) and deGrom (Thu) give them a great shot.

Scherzer is having a typical year for him (1.93 ERA, 0.93 ERA, 126-17 KW ratio and .209 BAA), while the Braves are hoping the recently acquired Odorizzi will provide depth for the team's young starting rotation. Odorizzi's best days are behind him, while Scherzer is still 'Scherzer!' The Mets lost their starting pitcher after two innings for the second straight game against the Braves on Tuesday. Taijuan Walker left with back spasms after throwing only 32 pitches. Carlos Carrasco exited with a left oblique strain that landed him on the injured list on Monday. NO such bad luck here. The Mets get a much-needed win and then turn it over to deGrom.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the SD Padres at 4:10 ET

The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. The Padres and Marlins opened a three-game series Monday in Miami, with San Diego having fallen WAAY off the pace in the NL West and Miami, which was actually 43-45 through July 14 (sniffing a wild card spot), having gone just 7-20 since that time to drop out of wild card contention.

The Marlins welcomed the Padres to Miami having lost 13 of their previous 14 home games but have won the first two games of the series, 3-0 and 4-3. The Padres are now only 7-8 since acquiring All-Stars Soto and Bell at the trade deadline August 2, but still hold the NL's final wild-card playoff spot. Mike Clevinger (4-4, 3.47 ERA) will get the start on Wednesday for San Diego, while Miami counters with Pablo Lopez (7-7, 3.55 ERA). Clevinger was 38-18 for Cleveland from 2017-2019 but then made only eight starts in 2020 (four with Cleveland and four with San Diego), before missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. This season, the Padres are 9-5 when Clevinger pitches, though he has just four quality starts in 14 outings (13 starts). Lopez was 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in four April starts (Miami was 4-0), earning NL Pitcher of the Month. However, by the end of June he owned a 5-4 record, and his ERA was up to 2.98. His troubles have continued by posting a 4.75 ERA in eight starts since the start of July, including posting an ERA of 8.10 in his last three (he's 0-2 and Miami 0-3).

Miami was a 'mess' coming into this series, having scored three runs or less over their previous 15 games. Yes, they've won consecutive games for the first time since July 13-14, but Miami scored three and four runs in those wins, respectively. No reason to expect Lopez to suddenly find his early season form, so I'm backing the Padres to avoid the three-game sweep with a Wednesday win.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* NL Pitching Mismatch of the week is on the Arz D'backs at 9:45 ET,

Arizona joined the NL in 1998 and made the playoffs in THREE of the team's first five seasons (won 2001 World Series). However, since 2003, Arizona has missed the postseason in 16 of the last 19 years. The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double,' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941). The Los Angeles Dodgers had won EIGHT straight NL West titles heading into 2021 but despite winning 106 games, the Dodgers finished ONE game behind the 107-win SF Giants. It was quite a 'leap' by San Francisco, which had last made the postseason back in 2016. Heading into last season, the Giants had finished 40, 18.5, 29 and 14 games (60-game season) behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Here in 2022, the D'backs are playing better at 53-62, which puts them on pace to win 20-plus games more than in 2021. The Giants enter on a four-game winning streak but are only 58-57, 22 1/2-games behind the Dodgers. The Giants still have wild card hopes, as they sit 5 1/2-games back of the final spot with 47 games remaining.

The Giants won 6-1 in the opener of this four-game series Monday night and send Jakob Junis (4-3, 3.78 ERA) to the mound against the Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.95 ERA). Kelly was just 23-27 with a 4.27 ERA in his first three seasons with Arizona but he's already won 10 times this season. He comes in pitching VERY well. He has settled for three consecutive no-decisions to extend his streak of unbeaten starts to eight, going 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA (Arizona is 5-3). Kelly has made 13 career starts against the Giants with a 2.79 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Junis spent five seasons with KC and in his last three (2019-2021), was 11-20 with a 5.36 ERA. He has pitched much better than that for the Giants in 2022, going 4-3 with a 3,78 ERA over 14 appearances (11 starts).

Yes, Junis has been better than he was with KC but he is coming off his worst outing of the season, when he was bombed for six runs and seven hits in 2.1 innings of a 13-7 loss at San Diego last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Kelly comes in without a loss in his last EIGHT starts, posting a 1.86 ERA. That is a pitching mismatch to me.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Mil Brewers at 8:10 ET.

The Dodgers came to Milwaukee last night for the openers of a four-game series. LA won the series opener 4-0 on Monday night for their 13th victory in 14 games! The Dodgers own MLB's best record (80-34, .702), its best road record (40-19) and its best run differential mark (plus-251). It's safe to predict that the Dodgers will play in their 10th consecutive postseason come October (LA leads SD in the NL West by 17 games!). The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. The Brewers topped the NL Central at the break but after beginning the second half 7-1, they've lost NINE of 13 since to fall two games behind St Louis in the division race. Milwaukee is also TWO games behind the Padres for the NL/s final wild card spot.

The Dodgers will send rookie Ryan Pepiot (1-0, 3.92 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night, while the Brewers counter with Brandon Woodruff (9-3, 3.52 ERA). Walker Buehler will have season-ending elbow surgery, so Pepiot has a chance to join the rotation. Pepiot has been up and down between the minors and Dodgers this season. He will make his sixth big league start and second since being recalled on August 10. Opponents are batting just .203 against Pepiot, but he has walked 15 in 20.2 innings. Pepiot allowed four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings Wednesday but did not get the decision in an 8-5 victory over Minnesota.

Woodruff was 11-3 with 3.62 ERA back in 2019 (team was 18-4 in his starts) but even though his ERA drooped to 3.05 in 2020 and 2.56 last season, the Brewers were only 6-7 (COVID season) and 16-14 in his starts, respectively. A high right ankle sprain kept Woodruff sidelined for a month but since his June 28 return, he's 4-0 in eight starts (team is 5-3) with a 2.42 ERA. It's NEVER easy to go against the Dodgers but I'll back Woodruff here over Pepiot, who is making just his SIXTH major league start.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* IL Game of the Month is on the Bos Red Sox at 7:05 ET.

The Red Sox will be in Pittsburgh tonight to face the Pirates in the opener of a three-game iL series. Both are last place teams, but Boston's 57-59 record is 11 1/2-games better than Pittsburgh's 45-70 mark. Boston surprised most by going 92-70 in 2021 and made it to the ALCS before losing 4-2 to the Astros. As for Pittsburgh, the Pirates finished 61-101, missing the playoffs for the SIXTH straight year. Boston's weekend series started a season-ending stretch during which 34 of its final 49 games are against divisional opponents. This is a rare break from playing an American League East Division opponent and the Pirates could just play the perfect foil.

Nick Pivetta (8-9, 4.51 ERA) takes the mound for Boston, while Pittsburgh counters with Mitch Keller (4-8, 4.25 ERA). Pivetta was acquired (along with prospect Connor Seabold) from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020 in exchange for pitchers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree. His 2022 season started off as a disaster, as he was 0-4 with a 6.08 ERA after six starts (team was 0-6) but from May 13 through the end of June, he allowed two ERs or less in EIGHT of his 10 starts going 8-1 with a 2.12 ERA (Boston was 9-1). However, Pivetta is winless since the start of July, going 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in seven starts (Boston is 2-5). Pittsburgh's Keller went 7-17 with a 6.02 ERA and here in his fourth season, he's 4-8 with a 4.25 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 22 appearances (20 starts).

Boston opened June by going 19-4 (.826) but after reaching 42-31 through June 26, the Red Sox have won just 15 of 43 games. After taking two of three from the Yankees, the Red Sox are FIVE games back of the AL's final wild card spot, with THREE teams between them. Boston almost NEEDS a three-game sweep and that's not really a stretch. The Pirates have lost four straight games and EIGHT of 10 after being swept in San Francisco over the weekend. Boston starters have pitched at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs in five consecutive games and note that Pivetta worked six innings of three-run ball last Wednesday against Atlanta in his 23rd start of the season. He leads the Red Sox in innings pitched (129.2) and strikeouts (124).

Expect Pivetta to help Boston to a win in this series opener against the sad-sack Pirates. Boston is just 15-30 (.333) against AL East opponents but 42-29 (.592) against the rest of MLB.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* West Coast Crusher is on the LA Angels at 9:38 ET.

Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners' 14-game winning streak was the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break. However, the Mariners have gone only 11-12 in the second half. Los Angeles came out strong to open the current season and through May 24th, was 27-17. That left them just ONE game behind the Astros in the AL West. However, the Angels began a 14-game losing streak on May 25 that lasted through June 8. The Angels have never really recovered and at 51-64, are well on their way to missing the postseason for the 12th time in the last 13 years.

Seattle opens a three-game series tonight in Anaheim. sending Luis Castillo (5-4, 2.71) to face LA's two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (10-7, 2.68 ERA). Castillo was 15-8 in 2019 but is coming off a 2021 season in which he was 8-16 in 33 starts. The Reds were 11-22 in those starts, giving Castillo the worst moneyline mark of ANY starter (-$1,265). Castillo missed spring training and the first 28 games of the 2022 season with a right shoulder strain and didn't make his 2022 debut until May 9. He was on quite a role with the Reds, going 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts (Reds were 5-), before being traded to the Mariners just before the deadline. This marks his third start with Seattle (1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in the first two / Mariners are 2-0) and just the second time in his career facing the Angels.

Castillo's "opposite number" is Ohtani. He won 5-1 last Tuesday against Oakland, while also becoming the first player since Babe Ruth (1918) with at least 10 wins and 10 HRs in the same season (not bad company). Getting back to his pitching, the reigning American League MVP is 7-3 with a 1.70 ERA and 92 strikeouts over his last 10 starts, covering 63.2 innings (that includes him allowing six ERs in six innings back on July 22). He is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in four career starts against Seattle (Angels are 3-1).

As noted, Seattle is just 11-12 since the break and let me note that after winning back-to-back series over Oakland and Minnesota (5-1 in games), the Angels are actually 12-11 since the break. Castillo looks good but I'm taking the 2020s version of Babe Ruth.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Hou Astros at 8:10 ET.

Houston entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but that hasn't been the case. The 75-41 Astros are running away with the AL West, as they have caught and passed the Yankees for the AL's best record and own a 13-game lead over Seattle. Meanwhile, the White Sox have hovered around the .500 mark for the better part of this season and will welcome Houston to Chicago for a four-game series at 59-56 (in a virtual tie with the 58-55 Twins), 2 1/2-games back Cleveland in the AL Central.

Jose Urquidy (11-4, 3.85 ERA) will take the mound in Monday's opener for the Astros, while the White Sox counter with Johnny Cueto (4-5, 2.91 ERA). Urquidy had a nice 2021 season for Houston, going 8-3 with a 3.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 20 starts (team was 14-6). His ERA is up slightly this season, but the Astros are 15-6 in his 21 starts. He enters this game having not allowed more than three ERs in 10 of his last 12 starts. Cueto's All Star years are behind him (last notable season was 2016 when he was 18-5 with 2.79 ERA for the Giants) but he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in April. The White Sox promoted Cueto to the major leagues on May 16 and he's been a pleasant surprise. He allowed five ERs in his third start of 2022 but has not allowed more than three ERs in ANY of his other 14 starts this season.

It's hard to argue with Urquidy's success and I will point out that Cueto has looked shaky in his two August starts, allowing 21 hits over 14 innings. However, the opposition has only turned those 21 hits into five ERs. Don't expect the Houston bats to be that 'friendly!' Houston's run differential is plus-141, while Chicago's run differential is minus-14.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Mia Marlins at 6:40 ET.

The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. The Padres initially stayed close to the Dodgers but the Dodgers now own MLB's best record (79-34) and have opened a 16-game lead over the 65-52 Padres. However, Padres do own the NL's No. 2 wild card spot. Miami was actually 43-45 through July 14 (sniffing a wild card spot) but has gone just 7-20 since, to fall to 50-65 (now 13 1/2-games games back of the final wild card spot).

Tonight's pitching matchup features San Diego's (8-5, 2.91 ERA) going up against Miami's Sandy Alcantara (10-5, 2.01 ERA). Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history a year ago and his 11 wins, 3.18 ERA and 31 starts were San Diego's best marks in what was a disappointing 2021 season for the team. However, let me note that 2021 was the first winning year he's had in his six MLB seasons. Musgrove leads Padres starters in ERA and has 15 quality starts out of his 20 appearances, but we need to look CLOSER. Musgrove was 8-0 and the Padres were 11-1 in his first 12 starts, with his 1.59 ERA and 0.92 WHIP showing marked improvement from his career numbers (3.85 ERA and 1.16 WHIP). However, Musgrove was sidelined because of COVID-19 protocols and when he returned, he was a different pitcher. He's gone 0-5 (SD is 2-7) over his last nine starts with a 5.06 ERA.

Sandy Alcantara is the current favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award. He is having a special season. He allowed just three ERs in a six-start stretch (May 11 through June 8). It was the first time a pitcher had allowed three ERs or less over a six-start stretch spanning at least 48 innings since Jake Arrieta did so for the Chicago Cubs during his NL Cy Young Award-winning season in 2015. Talk about CONSISTENCY! Here are his ERA numbers month-by-month. 1.78 in April, 2.13 in May, 1.89 in June, 2.12 in July and 2.10 in two August starts.

Maybe I'm 'spitting into the win' here, as the Marlins have scored three runs or less over their last 15 games but that said, 'In Alcanara I trust!'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Sunday Night Game of the Month is on the NY Yankees at 7:05 ET.

The Yankees opened the season having made the postseason in each of the last five years and in 23 of the past 27 seasons. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004 but Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season, before surprising most by going 92-70 in 2021. The Red Sox made it to the ALCS but lost 4-2 to the Astros? The Yankees have been at or near the top of the overall MLB standings for almost the entire season but there is no doubt it's been a real struggle since the All-Star break. New York entered the break 64-28 (.696) but returned to go just 7-13 (.350), heading into a three-game series with the hated-Red Sox which began Friday. Boston opened June by going 19-4 (.826) but after reaching 42-31 through June 26, the Red Sox won just 13 of 40 games (.325), prior to welcoming the Yankees to Boston. Boston won Friday (3-2 in 10 innings) but the Yankees rebounded with a 3-2 victory over Boston on Saturday.

The rubber match of this series will be played under the lights tonight at Fenway, as ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball crew will be on hand. The Yankees will send Jameson Taillon (11-2, 3.95 ERA) to the mound Sunday night, while the Red Sox will counter with Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.69 ERA). Taillon was a modest 8-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 2021 (first season with New York) but is 11-2 in 2022, with the Yankees going 17-5 in his 22 starts. Wacha made a big 'SPLASH' for the Cards back in 2013 as a rookie and then went 17-7 in 2015. However, from 2016-2021 he had gone just 37-34, while battling injuries. Wacha has had a bounce-back season so far 2022 (see above) but he hasn't pitched for Boston since June 28 because of right-shoulder inflammation. Wacha made his second rehab start on Tuesday with Double-A Portland, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five in 4.1 innings. He will be activated and start Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Who knows what Wacha's limitations may be and while Taillon has struggled some lately, his season-long consistency is hard to question. Reminder, the Yankees are 17-5 in his 22 starts! By splitting the first two games of this series, Boston is still just 14-28 (.333) in its last 42 games and is now 4 1/2-games behind the third wild card spot, with THREE teams in between them and the No. 3 wild card team. The Yankees are looking to leave a recent skid in the past when they conclude this three-game series against Boston and note that New York still holds a commanding 10-game lead in the AL East.

The Yankees run differential of plus-204 runs is second to only the Dodgers plus-251 mark, plus is 'light-years' ahead of Boston, which is minus-35 runs on the season. WATCH and WIN with the Yankees.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Min Twins at 4:07 ET.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. The Twins have had a nice bounce-back season in 2022 but after being swept in a two-game series against the Dodgers this week, the Twins fell out of first place in the AL Central. Los Angeles came out strong to open the current season and through May 24th, was 27-17. That left them just ONE game behind the Astros in the AL West. However, the Angels began a 14-game losing streak on May 25 that lasted through June 8. The Angels are well on their way to missing the postseason for the 12th time in the last 13 years.

The Twins opened a three-game series Friday night in Anaheim, winning 4-0. However, Shohei Ohtani hit a homer in the eighth inning to get the Angels' offense started, and Taylor Ward hit a game-ending two-run blast in the 11th inning as Los Angeles completed a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Twins on Saturday night. The rubber match is Sunday afternoon, with Chris Archer (2-5, 4.02 ERA) toeing the rubber for Minnesota up against LA's Tucker Davidson (1-3, 7.91 ERA). Archer was two-time All Star with Tampa Bay (2015 and 2017) but his last winning season was back in 2014! He's NEVER fulfilled his promise and despite a sub-4.00 ERA in his career (3.88), owns a 63-86 (,423) career mark. As for Davidson, he was just recently acquired from Atlanta, In his first start for LA, he allowed six ERs in four innings of a 6-3 loss to Seattle (last Sunday). He's only made 10 career appearances (nine starts) in his career and is 1-4 with a 5.93 ERA and 1.68. Here in 2022, he has made five appearances (four starts), posting a 7.91 ERA, 2.02 WHIP and a BAA of .333!

I've NEVER 'bought into' Archer but he takes the mound for a team that is just 1 1/2-games behind Cleveland in the AL Central plus is just ONE game behind in the race for the third AL wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Angels take the field having gone 23-47 (.329) since their 27-17 start. The Twins are the play!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekend Wipeout is on the StL Cards at 2:15 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. As for St Louis, the Cards have been a postseason regular this century, making the playoffs 15 times since 2000. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Cards and Brewers are in a fierce battle for the NL Central title in 2022. The Cards opened this three-game series Friday with a 3-1 win, giving them 11 wins over their last 14 games. The Brewers opened the second half 7-1, but the loss dropped them to 3-7 since that fast start. However, the Brewers moved within a half-game of the NL Central-leading Cards, ending the Cardinals' NINE-game home winning streak. Adam Wainwright took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and ended up finishing nine, allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in his 109-pitch outing. The Brewers came up with just FOUR hits but won 3-2 in 10 innings.

The rubber match of the series Goes Sunday with 62-51 St Louis clinging to a half-game lead over 61-51 Milwaukee. Aaron Ashby (2-10, 4.32 ERA) starts for Milwaukee, while Miles Mikolas (8-9, 3.50 ERA) gets the nod for St Louis. Ashby mad 13 appearances (four starts) in 2021, going 3-2 with a 4.55 ERA. He's made 21 appearances in 2022, including 15 starts). Things have NOT worked out well for him. Since the beginning of June, he has just ONE win in 10 starts (over the 45-69 Pirates), posting a 1-7 record with a 5.76 ERA (Brewers are 1-9!). Mikolas had a breakout season in 2018 (18-4, 2.83 ERA) but from 2019 through 2021 (he missed the entire 2020 season due to undergoing surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his right arm), was just 11-17 with a 4.17 ERA. His record may be just 8-9 but he owns a respectable 3.50 ERA and it can't go unmentioned that his home ERA (2.48) is TWO full runs lower than his road ERA (4.59).

Don't forget that the Cards had won NINE straight at home prior to wasting Wainwright's terrific effort in Saturday's 3-2 (10 inn) loss. Looking for some motivation for Mikolas. He has lost each of his last two meetings with the Brewers in St Louis, with the Cardinals getting shut out in each game. Let's also note that Mikolas last took the mound at Coors Field this past Tuesday, lasting just 2.2 innings while allowing 10 ERs! "B-L-O-W-O-U-T Alert on the Cardinals in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* NL Pitching Mismatch of the Month is on the Arz D'backs at 8:10 ET.

The 51-61 Arizona Diamondbacks and 51-64 Colorado Rockies aren't competing to reach the playoffs this season but that doesn't mean individual players are on 'cruise' control.' The Rockies won the first game of this three-game set 6-3 last night but will have a MUCH tougher time Saturday night, as they go up against Arizona's Zac Gallen (7-2, 3.12 ERA). As for Colorado, the Rockies will counter with veteran Jose Urena (1-3, 4.63 ERA).

Gallen has pitched well against the Rockies in his career, going 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 10 starts. Gallen has been on 'FIRE' since the All-Star break, going 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts (Arizona is 4-0). In contrast, Urena was acquired from Milwaukee earlier this season. He's made seven starts for Colorado, going 1-3 (team is 1-6) with a 4.86 ERA. That fits right in with his career record of 37-57 (4.76 ERA) going back to 2015. Simply put, this is a MAJOR pitching mismatch!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* NL Central Showdown is on the Mil Brewers at 7:15 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. As for St Louis, the Cards have been a postseason regular this century, making the playoffs 15 times since 2000. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Cards and Brewers are in a fierce battle for the NL Central title in 2022. The Cards opened this three-game series last night with a 3-1 win and have now won 11 of 14, The "W" pushed their lead over the Brewers in the NL Central to 1 1/2 games, as after opening the second half 7-1, Milwaukee has now lost SEVEN of 10.

Corbin Burnes (8-5, 2.45 ERA) gets the nod tonight for Milwaukee, while St Louis counters with Adam Wainwright (8-8, 3.42 ERA). Burnes won the National League Cy Young Award last season, posting an 11-5 record with a league-leading 2.43 ERA. He had 234 strikeouts and a 0.94 WHIP. He's a more modest 8-5 in 2022 (team is 13-9 in his 22 starts). Wainwright is now 40 years old and is coming off a 17-7 (3.05 ERA) season last year and received Cy Young Award votes for the FIFTH time in his career, finishing seventh in voting. He finished 3rd in 2009, 2nd in 2010, 2nd in 2013 and 3rd in 2014. The Cards are also 13-9 in Wainwright's starts in 2022. However, I much prefer Burnes' current form. The brewers had won SEVEN of his previous eight starts entering August, but he had a poor outing (5.1 IP / 4 ERs) in a loss at Pittsburgh, before rebounding by allowing one ER over 6.1 innings in a no-decision against the Reds. That marked his 16th quality start this season (of 22). Wainwright's last four starts have seen him allow 13 ERs over just 9.1 innings in two of them, but one ER over 14 innings in the other two.

Burnes has DOMINATED St Louis in two wins this season, pitching 14 scoreless (innings (went 7 innings in both cases), allowing a total of just FOUR hits with a 21-3 KW ratio. Wainwright has made 45 career starts vs Milwaukee, going 20-14 with a 2.87 ER and 1.14 WHIP but in three starts vs the Brewers this season, he's allowed 11 ERs over 14 innings (7.07 ERA). The Cardinals lead the 2022 series over their NL Central rivals 7-6. The teams will play six more times. The winner of the regular-season series will get the nod as the division winner in the case of a tie, adding more importance to the next six games. Yes, the Cardinals have won NINE straight at home, the longest streak since a nine-game run June 2-29, 2015, but Burnes amd the Brewers get the 'CA$H" tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Sea Mariners at 7:15 ET.

Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season.

The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but the Mariners have gone just 11-10 since returning from the break (more in a bit). Meanwhile, the best one can say about the Rangers' season is that the team's 49-63 (.438) record has them on pace to win 71 games, 11 more than in 2021. Marco Gonzales (7-11, 3.98 ERA) will get the start for Seattle, while Texas counters with Dane Dunning (2-6, 4.04 ERA).

Gonzales went 46-30 for Seattle from 2018-21 but remains a mainstay in Seattle's starting rotation in 2022, despite his losing record. Seattle is just 9-13 in his starts this season, but Gonzales has allowed more than three ERs in just FOUR of those 22 starts. Dunning recorded his first win since April 30 in his most recent outing. He allowed one hit and struck out six over seven scoreless innings of an 8-0 romp over the Chicago White Sox last Saturday. He has allowed four runs on 12 hits in 18 innings since returning from the injured list with a right-ankle impingement in July. That said, it's impossible to ignore that in between his two wins in 2022 (April 30 and August 6), he was 0-5 in 14 starts with the Rangers going 1-13.

What is also IMPOSSIBLE to ignore is that while Seattle is 11-10 since the break, a closer look reveals that while the Mariners are 1-1-6 vs Houston, they are 10-4 in their other 14 games. Then there is Seattle's dominance of Texas, The Mariners posted their NINTH straight win vs the Rangers and the 12th in 14 encounters (86% win percentage) this season with a 6-2 victory in the series opener on Friday. In turn, Texas has lost EIGHT of its last 11 contests overall, to drop a season-low 14 games under .500. What changes here? NOTHING!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month is on the NY Yankees at 7:10 ET.

The Yankees opened the season having made the postseason in each of the last five years and in 23 of the past 27 seasons. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004 but Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season, before surprising most by going 92-70 in 2021. The Red Sox made it to the ALCS but lost 4-2 to the Astros? The Yankees have been at or near the top of the overall MLB standings for almost the entire season but there is no doubt it's been a real struggle since the All-Star break. New York entered the break 64-28 (.696) but returned to go just 7-13 (.350). Boston opened June by going 19-4 (.826) but after reaching 42-31 through June 26, the Red Sox have won just 13 of 40 games (.325).

MLB's fiercest (best?) rivalry gets underway Friday night at Fenway for a three-game series. Domingo German (1-2, 5.09vERA) is set for the series opener for New York, while Boston counters with Nathan Eovaldi (5-3, 4.23 ERA). German was placed on administrative leave by MLB, pending an investigation of suspected domestic violence back on September 19, 2019. It was confirmed that he would not be eligible to participate in any baseball action for the remainder on September 25. His 18-4 record that season was the best win–loss percentage of any MLB pitcher in 2019, at .818. German was suspended for the first 63 games of 2020, which was cut to 60 games because of COVID. German made 22 appearances last season (18 starts), finishing with a 4–5 record and a 4.58 ERA. He began the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list due to right shoulder impingement syndrome. He returned on July 21, 2022, making the start against the Houston Astros, where he gave up five ERs in just THREE innings. However, he allowed two ERs in 4.2 innings in his second start, two ERs in five innings in his third and just one ER over five innings in his most recent start.

Eovaldi began his career back in 2011 and Boston's is his fifth team. He's really nothing more than a journeyman, as his career record is 66-68 (4.19 ERA), and that includes him going 14-3 back in 2015 with the Yankees. Eovaldi is NOT in good form, as while he did pitch well in a 3-2 win at Houston (6.1 scoreless, in his other three starts since July 22, he's allowed 17 ERs in just 14.2 innings (10.43 ERA). Despite their recent struggles, the Yankees still own a 10-game lead in the AL East. As for 55-58 Boston, the Red Sox have fallen 4 1/2-games behind the AL's third wild card spot plus has THREE teams between them and that third spot.

It's my opinion the German is rounding into form, while Eovaldi takes the Fenway mound owning a 6.81 ERA at home this season (his away ERA is 2.64). The Yankees earn the "W" in tonight's series opener.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the TB Rays at 7:10 ET.

The Baltimore Orioles entered 2022 having missed the postseason in each of the last FIVE years, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. In contrast, the Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). However, as the AL East rivals get set to open a three-game series tonight at Tropicana Field, Baltimore is 37-23 since the start of June (7-2 since the start of August), while Tampa Bay is just 7-11 since returning from the break. The Orioles and Rays currently are in a tight battle for the AL's final wild-card spot (Rays own a half-game edge at 58-52 to the Orioles' 58-53 record), with a few teams right behind them.

Friday's starters are Austin Voth (2-1, 5,53 ERA) for Baltimore and Corey Kluber (7-6, 4.05 ERA) for Tampa Bay. Voth pitched in parts of the last five years with Washington and entered this season with 92 appearances (just 22 starts) and a 5.70 ERA. In 2020 and 2021, he made only ONE start over 68 appearances, while posting an 'ugly' 6.51 ERA, He made 19 relief appearances for Washington this season (0-0, 10.13 ERA) before being traded to Baltimore. He's been a different pitcher for Baltimore, making 12 appearances (eight starts) with a 3.19 ERA. Kluber is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, but he has dealt with a variety of injuries over the past few years that have limited his availability. The Rays took a chance on him by signing him to a one-year, $8 million deal, hoping he could provide leadership as well as some productive innings on the mound. Kluber hasn't been great, but he has been steady. He takes the mound Friday with the Rays having won FIVE of his last six starts, with the lone loss coming at Baltimore on July 25 opposite Voth.

The Rays keep pointing to the end of August or early September for the return of two offensive leaders, Wander Franco and Harold Ramirez but their top three pitchers, Corey Kluber, Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen, will get starts against Baltimore. First things first. I want the Rays with veteran Kluber on the mound in Friday's game.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Field of Dreams Blockbuster is on the Chi Cubs at 7:15 ET.

The Chicago Cubs were postseason participants in FIVE of six years from 2015-2020, highlighted by their World Series title in 2016, the franchise's first since 1908. Cincy's "Big Red Machine" ruled more than FOUR decades ago and the franchise's only World Series title since the mid-70s came in 1990. The Reds broke a six-year postseason drought in 2020 but missed the playoffs in 2021. The 2022 season has gone poorly for BOTH teams, as the Cubs are 45-65 and the Reds are 44-66. Throw in the 45-66 Pirates and you have a three-way 'battle' for last place in the NL Central, a division dominated by the Cards and Brewers.

The Cubs play the Reds in the second annual "Field of Dreams" game Thursday night in Dyersville, Iowa. The Reds will bat last and serve as the "home" team while the Cubs will be the designated visiting team. Here's the bottom line. The playing field will be the star of this contest.  The White Sox beat the Yankees in the inaugural game in 2021 at the stadium built next to the iconic site of the 1989 movie. The White Sox won the game last year, 9-8, in Hollywood fashion when Tim Anderson drilled a two-run HR into the corn fields in right field in the bottom of the ninth.

The Cubs will send Drew Smyly (4-6, 3.97 ERA) to the mound in Dyersville, while the Reds will counter with rookie Nick Lodolo (3-3, 4.40 ERA). Smyly is coming off a World Series title with Atlanta last season, as 2021 was the best season of his career. He was 11-4 (despite a 4.48 ERA), making 29 appearances, including 23 starts in which Atlanta went 14-9. Smyly and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a contract worth $4.25 million for the 2022 season. He's been a disappointment for the Cubs in 2022 with just FOUR wins in 14 starts (he missed all of June due to an oblique strain). Lodolo will be making his 10th career start, and his first career appearance against the Cubs. The rookie will take the mound tonight 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 20 Ks in 16.2 innings over his last three starts (Reds are 3-0).

Earlier in the week, Reds manager David Bell confirmed with Lodolo that he would be given the unique opportunity to start the special game. "He's like, ‘You know you're pitching, right?'" Lodolo said. "I was like, ‘Yeah, I kind of figured. It just lined up.' It's going to be cool. I'm excited for it." That said, we will see if he's up to the moment. TWO of Smyly's four wins in 2022 have come in his last three starts, games in which he allowed just two ERs over 12.2 innings. What's more, Smyly is 4-0 in his five career starts against Cincinnati with a 3.46 ERA and 1.08 WHIP (teams are 5-0). Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Chi White Sox at 8:10 ET.

The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but the White Sox have so far underachieved (more in a bit). The KC Royals began the current season having missed the postseason in each of the previous SIX years, after making back-to-back World Series in 2014 (lost) and 2015 (won). The White Sox and Royals are playing a four-game series in KC, with KC winning Monday and Chicago last night. The 56-54 White Son trail Cleveland and Minnesota (both 57-52) for first place in the AL Central, while the 45-66 Royals are headed for a SEVENTH consecutive playoff-less season.

The White Sox will send Johnny Cueto (4-5, 2.91 ERA) to the mound to face KC's Kris Bubic (2-6, 5.27 ERA). Cueto's All Star years are behind him (last notable season was 2016 when he was 18-5 with 2.79 ERA for the Giants) but he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in April. The White Sox promoted Cueto to the major leagues on May 16 and he's been a pleasant surprise. He allowed five ERs in his third start of 2022 but has not allowed more than three ERs in ANY of his other 16 starts this season. Bubic was just 7-13 with a 4,40 ERA in his first two seasons with KC owns just TWO wins in his 18 starts this season, with a 1,54 WHIP to go along with his plus-5.00 ERA.

Cueto owns a clear edge in the pitching matchup and despite its 'choppy' season so far, Chicago is right in the thick of a VERY crowded wild card field. SIX teams are separated by only FOUR games! Chicago wins "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Mia Marlins at 7:05 ET.

The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. Miami was actually 43-45 through July 14 (sniffing a wild card spot) but has gone just 6-15 since, to fall to 49-60 (now 11 games back of the final wild card spot). The Philadelphia Phillies opened the season having failed to make the playoffs in each of the last 10 years, the second-longest streak in MLB. The Phillies fired Joe Giradi in early June and interim manager Rob Thompson has led them to a 39-19 record since taking over. The Phillies own a current SIX-game winning streak (have won 11 of 12) as they host the Marlins in the middle contest of this three-game series. The 61-48 Phillies own the No. 2 wild card spot (three behind Atlanta) and one game up on San Diego (Milwaukee is just two games behind Philly in the 4th spot).

Sandy Alcantara (10-4, 1.88 ERA) will get the nod for Miami, while Noah Syndergaard (6-8, 4.02 ERA) will get his second start since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels. Alcantara threw his third complete game of the season in his previous start against the Cincinnati Reds, giving up just six hits in a 3-0 win. Alcantara is having a special season. He allowed just three ERs in a six-start stretch (May 11 through June 8). It was the first time a pitcher had allowed three ERs or less over a six-start stretch spanning at least 48 innings since Jake Arrieta did so for the Chicago Cubs during his NL Cy Young Award-winning season in 2015. In 10 of his 22 starts this season, he's pitched at least EIGHT innings (no other pitcher is close to matching that!)

Syndergaard has returned in 2022 from the Tommy John surgery that cost him most of two seasons. he was 4-2 with 3.08 ERA through his first seven starts for LA (Angels were 4-3) but then went 1-6 with a 4.50 ERA over his next eight starts (team was 1-7). Syndergaard allowed four ERs in five innings of his first start with Philly, getting the "W' in a 5-4 Philadelphia victory (final came in 5 innings). However, let's point out that the win came over Washington, which owns MLB's worst record! Sure, Philly's the better team and OBVIOUSLY the 'hotter' team but Alcantara is a "difference-maker" Before the All-Star break, Alcantara lasted at least seven innings in 13 straight starts. After the break, he lasted just 11 innings combined in his first two starts before refocusing.in his last start a week ago (see above). I'm taking the price.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the Oak A's at 3:37 ET (this side play is listed as "action").

The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. The Oakland A's began 2022 coming off their fourth consecutive winning season (85-76) but missed the playoffs in 2021, after playing in three consecutive postseasons (2018-2020). The two AL rivals opened a three-game series Monday night in Oakland, with both teams "going nowhere" in 2022. The Angels have never recovered from the team's 14-game losing streak from May 28-June 8, while the A's have been non-competitive since Opening Day. The A's took two of three in Anaheim to open last week (Aug 2-4) but the Angels have won the first two contests of this series (1-0 and 5-1). The series finale is this afternoon with Touki Toussaint (1-0, 4.32 ERA) slated to get his first Angels start when the visitors go for the sweep, while the A's will counter with Paul Blackburn (7-6, 4.28 ERA.

Toussaint has faced the A's just once in his career, in relief last Thursday when he allowed two runs in 4.1 innings of an 8-7 loss. Blackburn was Oakland's lone representative at the recent All-Star game and started against LA last Thursday. He was 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA through his first 13 starts (A's were 9-4) but he took the mound last Thursday looking to halt a seven-start winless stretch. He got the "W" but was hardly sharp, allowing four solo HRs in five innings. However, here's the 'dope.' Blackburn is 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in four career starts vs LA. The A's are 4-0 in his starts, including THREE wins here in 2022.

The Angels are saying this morning that Toussaint will start but I'll list this side play as "action, " just in case there is a switch. Oakland avoids the home sweep behind Blackburn.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the NY Yankees at 10:10 ET.

The Yankees opened the season having made the postseason in each of the last five years and in 23 of the past 27 seasons. New York was 64-28 at the All-Star break, giving them MLB's best record. However, after a 6-6 start in the second half, the Yankees lost FIVE straight games before ending their slide with a 9-4 win last night against the Mariners. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but opened the second half 10 games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West. The Mariners are now just 8-10 since the break and now sit 11 1/2-games back of Houston. 59-52 Seattle does currently own the AL's third wild card spot, but THREE teams are with 2 1/2-games of them.

New York's Gerrit Cole (9-4, 3.56 ERA) takes the mound for New York, while Seattle counters with Luis Castillo (5-4, 2.95 ERA), who was acquired from Cincinnati right before the trade deadline. Cole left Pittsburgh after the 2017 season and enters this contest 67-25 (.728) over the last four-plus seasons for Houston and New York. His ERA is 3.56 in 2022, his WHIP is 1.04, his KW ratio is 170-33 and his BAA is .212. Castillo is in his sixth season and his LONE standout season was back in 2019 (15-8, 3.40 ERA).  He was only 4-6 (3.21) in the COVID season of 2020 and then was an abysmal 8-16 (3.98 ERA) in 2021. The Reds were 11-22 in his 33 starts in 2021, giving him the WORST moneyline (-$1,265 at $100/game) of ANY starter in MLB. He was 4-4 with 2.86 ERA for Cincinnati in 2022 in 16 starts (Reds were 8-8). His first start for Seattle came last Wednesday when he beat the Yankees 7-3 in New York (allowed three ERs in 6.2 IP).

Cole started that game for the Yankees and allowed six ERs in six innings. In this quick 're-hook,' expect Cole to bring his "A-Game" and for the Yankees to win for the second consecutive night.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Atl Braves at 7:10 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004 but Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season, before surprising most by going 92-70 in 2021. The Red Sox made it to the ALCS but lost 4-2 to the Astros? Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York through the end of May. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and by the All-Star break, had closed within 2 1/2-games of the first-place Mets. The Braves opened the second half 7-3 but will open this two-game series at Fenway losers of FIVE of six, falling 6 1/2-games behind the Mets. As for Boston in 2022, ever since a 19-4 run in June got the Red Sox 11 games over .500, they have gone 12-25, dropping 4 1/2-games behind the final AL wild-card spot with a 54-56 record.

Charlies Morton (5-5, 4.09 ERA) will get the start for Atlanta, while the Red Sox counter with Rich Hill (4-5, 4.52 ERA). Morton turned his career around beginning in 2017. Excluding the COVID season of 2020, he has gone 49-22 in the last four full seasons, playing on teams that have played in THREE World Series (winning twice) in that span (with Houston in 2017 and Atlanta in 2021). Morton allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in 5.1 innings against the Cincinnati Reds on April 8, earning a "W" in Atlanta's 7-6 victory. However, over his next four starts, he allowed 16 ERs in 18.1 innings (7.85 ERA) in going 0-3 (Braves lost all four). The Braves then won EIGHT of his next 10 starts, with Morton posting a 3.83. He's just 1-2 in six starts since July 1 (Braves are 2-4) but note his ERA is 2.70 in that span.

Rich Hill Began his career way back 2005 and he's played for 11 teams (this is his third stint with Boston). Hill has made 340 appearances (211 starts) with a career record of 78-57 and his ERA is a respectable 3.85. He's 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA in 16 starts (team is 8-8) but spent a month on the injury list due to a left knee strain. He returned to the team on August 1 and started on 8/3 at Houston, allowing four ERs on six hits in just three innings of a 6-1 loss. His star tonight is just his THIRD since late June. Some positive news is the fact that Hill is 5-0 with a 2.32 ERA in nine career starts vs Atlanta (teams are 8-1).

However, Moron checks in 7-1 with a 3.88 ERA in 14 career starts vs Boston (teams are 10-4). The Braves have cooled somewhat but remain safely atop the NL wild-card standings. It's also noteworthy that they're 18 games above .500 (64-46), which is 18 games better than they were after 110 games last season. Meanwhile, as noted above, the Red Sox has been in a near 40-game slump. Atlanta takes the field tonight on a three-game losing streak for the FIRST time this season. Atlanta, behind Morton is the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division (AL West) Game of the Month is on the Oak A's at 9:40 ET.

The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. The Oakland A's began 2022 coming off their fourth consecutive winning season (85-76) but missed the playoffs in 2021, after playing in three consecutive postseasons (2018-2020). The two AL rivals open a three-game series Monday night in Oakland, with both teams "going nowhere" in 2022. The Angels never recovered from the team's 14-game losing streak from May 28-June 8, while the A's have been non-competitive since Opening Day. The A's took two of three in Anaheim to open last week (Aug 2-4) and hope to take this home series as well.

The starting pitching matchup is a 're-hook' from last Tuesday's game in Anaheim, when Jose Suarez (3-4, 4.55 ERA) outdueled Cole Irvin (6-8, 3.04 ERA). Suarez has made 13 appearances this season (11 starts) with the Angels going 5-6 in his starts. Irvin has made 19 starts this season (A's are just 7-12) but has really shown improvement from last season. He was 10-15 in 2021 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and BAA of .275. He's cut his ERA to 3.04 here in 2022, while his WHIP is down to 1.06 and his BAA down to .220. Getting back to Suarez, he was 1-4 with a 5.60 ERA through July 16, before throwing 10.1 scoreless in his last two outings. That includes 5.1 scoreless innings in last Tuesday's 3-1 win over the A's (Irvin allowed two ERs over six innings).

I will note that Suarez's two previous starts saw him allow 10 ERs over 7.1 innings and I will back Irvin in this quick turnaround. I noted the overall improvement of Irvin's numbers above but add here that he's REALLY pitched well at home this season. He owns a road ERA of 4.58 and a BAA of .266 but in 10 home starts, his ERA is 1.73 and BAA is .195.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the StL Cards at 7:15 ET.

The Yankees opened the season having made the postseason in each of the last five years and in 23 of the past 27 seasons. The Cards have been a postseason regular this century, making the playoffs 15 times since 2000. Most know that the Yankees lead all of MLB by a wide margin, having won 27 World Series titles. However, I'm not sure all that many (outside of Cardinal fans) know that the Cards have won 11 World Series titles, second to the Yankees. The teams opened a three-game series last night in St Louis with the Yankees dominating the AL East with a 10 1/2-game lead. The Cards were expected to challenge Milwaukee in the NL Central and/or make a strong run at one of the NL's three wild card spots and that's been the case so far. 57-48. St Louis took the field last night tied with Milwaukee for first in the NL Central plus in a three-way tie (Phillies joined the Cards and Brewers) for the NL's third wild card spot.

The Cardinals won 4-3 Friday night for their FIFTH win in a row and their seventh victory in eight games. Meanwhile, the Yankees have now lost three straight games and four of their last five. The 70-37 Yankees have fallen behind the Dodgers for MLB's best record but still own a 10 1/2-game lead over Toronto in the AL East. The Cards moved to 58-48 with the Friday win but Milwaukee and Philadelphia also both won, so there is no change in the Cards' status. Domingo German (1-1, 6.39 ERA) will get the call for New York, while Jordan Montgomery (3-3, 3.69 ERA) will make his Cardinals debut, after being acquired from the Yankees just ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.

German was placed on administrative leave by MLB, pending an investigation of suspected domestic violence back on September 19, 2019. It was confirmed that he would not be eligible to participate in any baseball action for the remainder on September 25. His 18-4 record that season was the best win–loss percentage of any MLB pitcher in 2019, at .818. German was suspended for the first 63 games of 2020, which was cut to 60 games because of COVID. German made 22 appearances last season (18 starts), finishing with a 4–5 record and a 4.58 ERA. He began the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list due to right shoulder impingement syndrome. He returned on July 21, 2022, making the start against the Houston Astros, where he gave up five ERs in just THREE innings. He followed by allowing two ERs in 4.2 innings of a 3-2 loss to the Mets on July 27 (he took a no-decision) but he is coming off a 7-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday 1. He allowed two ERs on six hits and three walks in five innings.

Montgomery's record with the Yankees was 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA over 98 appearances (97 starts). He entered July with the Yankees having won his previous SEVEN starts but in six July starts, posted a 4.91 ERA in going 0-2 with the Yankees losing ALL six games! However, the Cardinals believe he can settle into the middle of their starting rotation as they battle the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central title. I do as well, and the Cards take the field having outscored their opponents 38-18 during their 7-1 run. Meanwhile, the Yankees were 64-28 at the break, but are only 6-9 to open the second half, with THREE of the wins coming against the sad-sack Royals (42-65).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:10 ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East in 2022. The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. The Yankees have blown away the competition in the AL East, so Toronto will need to make the postseason via the wild card route. As for the Twins, they currently lead the AL Central, but Cleveland and Chicago are right on their tail. The Jays won the opener of this four-game series on Thursday (9-3) but the Twins rebounded with a 6-5 (10 inn.) win last night. The series continues Saturday with Mitch White making his debut for Toronto. The 27-year-old White (1-2, 3.70 ERA) was picked up on Tuesday's trade deadline from the Dodgers with the intent that he could help strengthen the back end of Toronto's rotation, which has seen Yusei Kikuchi struggle in the fifth spot. Minnesota will counter with veteran Dylan Bundy (6-5, 5.04 ERA).

White has never faced the Twins and gained his lone win this season in relief in a 7-6 victory over Arizona on May 17. He moved into the Dodgers' starting rotation after that. He's averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 10 starts and five relief appearances for Los Angeles this season. Over his most recent eight starts (pitching between 4 and 8 innings), he allowed more than three ERs once (six ERs in a July 12 loss at St Louis). In the other seven, he allowed only nine ERs over 39.1 innings for a 2.06 ERA. I've never thought much of Bundy but he surprised most (me, for sure!) by opening 3-0 with a 0.58 ERA in 2022. However, he's gone just 3-5 with a 5.96 ERA over his last 15 starts (Twins are 4-11). 

Toronto went through a 1-9 slide (July 2-10) but are 13-5 under new manager John Schneider, including 9-4 since the All-Star break. Toronto owns the No. 1 wild card spot at 59-47, FOUR games clear of the playoff 'cut line.' Meanwhile, the Twins stumbled into the break losing SEVEN of 10 and have returned to go just 6-6. Minnesota leads the Guardians and White Sox by just two games in the AL Central and could easily fall into battling for a wild card spot come late September. I think White will be a nice 'fit' at the back end of Toronto's rotation, while Bundy is "back to being Bundy" since his improbable 3-0 start.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* AL Pitching Mismatch of the Month is on the Chi White Sox at 7:05 ET.

The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but the White Sox have so far underachieved (more in a bit). The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season.

The White Sox arrived in Arlington Thursday for a four-game series with the Rangers, having won SEVEN of their last 10.and at 53-51, had climbed within TWO games of the AL Central-leading Twins. Chicago was also just two games back for the AL's third wild card spot, in what has become a crowded field. Texas was 41-49 at the break, putting them on pace to win 74 games, 14 more than in 2021. However, after splitting their first four games of the second half, the Rangers had lost SEVEN of 10, including just getting swept in a three-game series at home by Baltimore (Texas scored just SEVEN runs in the three games). The Rangers prevailed 3-2 on Thursday, while the White Sox won 2-1 last night, behind the OUTSTANDING pitching of Dylan Cease. He was selected the AL pitcher of the month for June and July. He gave up a run and two hits to lower his earned run average to 1.98, second in the AL, and won his fifth straight start. Cease hasn't given up more than one earned run in any of his last 13 starts. It's the longest such stretch since the ERA entered baseball in 1913, breaking a tie with Jacob deGrom's 12-game run last season.

Saturday's starters are Michael Kopech (4-7, 3.12 ERA) for the White Sox and Dane Dunning (1-6, 4.30 ERA) for the Rangers. Kopech made 44 appearances (just four starts) for Chicago last season, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and ,210 BAA. That earned him a spot in the starting rotation this season and despite his poor W-L record (W Sox are also just 8-11 in his 19 starts), he's pitched MUCH better than his record indicates. His ERA is down almost a half-run from 2021 and he's holding opponents to a .199 BAA. He's NO Cease but compare him to Texas' Dunning. Dunning was just 5-10 with a 4.51 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a rookie last season in 25 starts (team was 9-16). He opened the season 1-1 (Texas was 3-2) in his first five starts of 2022, posting a 3.81 ERA. However, Dunning's LONE win of 2022 came all the way back on April 30, with the Rangers owning just TWO wins over his last 15 starts, going 2-13!

All the pieces are in place for the Chicago White Sox to make a run at winning the AL Central Division. It's just a matter of keeping everyone on the field. Chicago NEEDS to win series against teams like Texas, especially when facing an opposing starter like Dunning. I believe Kopech gives them a HUGE pitching mismatch here and will note that Kopech has faced the Rangers four times in his career (two starts) with a 1-0 record and 1.17 ERA.

Good luck...Larry

The third play of my STP is an 8* on the NY Yankees at 8:15 ET.

The Yankees opened the season having made the postseason in each of the last five years and in 23 of the past 27 seasons. The Cards have been a postseason regular this century, making the playoffs 15 times since 2000. Most know that the Yankees lead all of MLB by a wide margin, having won 27 World Series titles. However, I'm not sure all that many (outside of Cardinal fans) know that the Cards have won 11 World Series titles, second to the Yankees. The teams open a three-game series tonight in St Louis with the Yankees dominating the AL East with a 10 1/2-game lead while owning MLB's best record (70-36). The Cards were expected to challenge Milwaukee in the NL Central and/or make a strong run at one of the NL's three wild card spots and that's been the case so far. 57-48. St Louis is tied with Milwaukee for first in the NL Central plus is in a three-way tie (Phillies join the Cards and Brewers) for the NL's third wild card spot.

Tonight's starting pitchers will be New York's Nestor Cortes (9-3, 2.53 ERA) and St Louis' Dakota Hudson (6-6, 4.10 ERA). Cortes entered this season having made 64 appearances (16 starts) with a 7-5 record and 4.66 ERA, However, he has been consistent all season (made the All Star team and pitched a scoreless inning), as the Yankees are 14-5 in his starts, while he owns a 1.01 WHIP and .214 BAA to go along with his 2.53 ERA. Hudson went 16-7 back in 2019 but needed Tommy John surgery toward the end of 2020 and opened this season having made only 10 appearances (nine starts) in 2020 and 2021 combined. He has 19 starts in 2022 but after the Cards went 6-4 in his first 10, they are just 2-7 over his last nine with Hudson posting a 5.29 ERA.

Better team and better pitcher has me on the Yankees in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the KC Royals at 8:10 ET.

The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004 but Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season, before surprising most by going 92-70 in 2021. The Red Sox made it to the ALCS but lost 4-2 to the Astros. The KC Royals began the current season having missed the postseason in each of the previous SIX years, after making back-to-back World Series in 2014 (lost) and 2015 (won). Boston beat Tampa Bay 4-0 on July 4th and stood 45-35. However, the Red Sox would end the first half on a 3-10 run. Boston lost 7-3 last night in KC (opener of a four-game series) and is now just 5-9 to open the second half. Doing the math, Boston has gone 8-19 from July 5 through August 4 to fall to 53-54 (more later). As for KC, the Royals are headed for a SEVENTH straight non-playoff season at 41-64. That's the second worst record in the AL and KC also owns the AL's worst run differential mark at -132.

The Red Sox have decided to go with rookie Josh Winckowski (4-5, 5.00 ERA), while KC counters with veteran Zack Greinke (3-6, 4.41 ERA). Winckowski will be facing the Royals for the first time in his career, after making nine starts since his MLB debut back on May 28. The 24-year-old owns a decision in ALL of his nine starts (rare, these days), but after going 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA in his first four starts, he takes the mound tonight 1-4 with a 6.12 ERA in his last five. Most (all?) are familiar with Greinke, who won the AL Cy Young award for KC back in 2019 (16-8, 2.16 ERA). He then won 129 games over a seven-year span (that's 18.4 per season) pitching for the Brewers, Dodgers, D'backs and Astros. He returned to KC for the 2022 season, signing a one-year, $13 million contract on March 16, 2022. He was the Royals' Opening Day starter this season, allowing just one ER over 5.2 innings in a 3-1 KC win (he settled for a no-decision). Greinke enters this contest just 3-6 in 17 starts but look at his away/home breakdown. He's 0-5 (team is 2-7) in nine road starts with a 7.16 ERA. However, in his eight home starts, he's 3-1 (team is 6-2) with a 1.65 ERA.

The Red Sox have fallen all the way into last place in the AL East and currently sit FOUR games out of the third wild card with THREE teams ahead of them for that third wild card. Here, they face Greinke, who has posted a 1.30 ERA over his last five home starts, with the Royals winning ALL five. "Batten down the hatches" and W-I-N with KC!

Good luck...Larry

The second play of my STP is a 9* on the Tor Blue Jays at 8:10 ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East in 2022.  The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. The Yankees have blown away the competition in the AL East, so Toronto will need to make the postseason via the wild card route (more later. As for the Twins, they currently lead the AL Central with a 55-50 record but lead Cleveland by just ONE game and Chicago by just TWO.

Jose Berrios (8-4, 4.96 ERA) will get the start for Toronto and Tyler Mahle (5-7, 4.40 ERA) for Minnesota, in the second game of this four-game series (Jays won Thursday's opener 9-3). Berrios won 40 games for the Twins from 2017-19 but was traded last July to Toronto during the 2021 season. The Blue Jays went 5-0 in his April starts, despite Berrios posting a less-than-spectacular 4.13 ERA. However, by the end of June, Berrios was just 5-4 with a 5.86 ERA after 15 starts (note: Toronto was 10-5 in his starts). Berrios enters this contest coming off a 3-0 July in which the Blue Jays went 6-0, as he posted a 3.00 ERA. Doing the math, Toronto is a MONEY-MAKING 16-5 in his 2022 starts.

Tyler Mahle will make his Minnesota Twins' debut on Friday night, after arriving in Minnesota on Wednesday in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. I'm not sure what the Twins see in Mahle, who in his 5 1/2-years with Cincy was 31-38 with a 4.35 ERA. Let me point out that he somehow went 13-6 last season (was 5-7 in 19 starts this season / Reds were 8-11) and if one subtracts that aberration, Mahle's record falls to 18-32.

Toronto went through a 1-9 slide (July 2-10) but are 13-4 under new manager John Schneider, including 9-3 since the All-Star break. Toronto owns the No. 1 wild card spot at 59-46, FIVE games clear of the playoff 'cut line.' Meanwhile, the Twins stumbled into the break losing SEVEN of 10 and have returned to go just 5-6. Toronto is surging and has regularly won when Berros gets the start (see above for a reminder).

Good luck...Larry

The first play of my STP is a 9* on the NY Mets at 7:10 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years, Are we headed for a similar scenario in 2022? The Mets got off to a great start this season and were 34-17 through the end of May. As for the Braves, Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that time. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and ended the month 21-6. The 'battle' for the NL East was "ON!"

The Mets welcomed the Braves to Citi Field Thursday for the first contest of a four-game series owning a 3 1/2-game lead over the Braves in the NL East race. The Mets were 8-3 since the break (had won EIGHT of nine since opening the second half 0-2), while the Braves were 7-4. The Mets took last night's game 6-4 (a top-rated 10* win for me) and will take the field tonight with a 4 1/2-game lead over the Braves. Atlanta's Ian Anderson (9-6, 4.99 ERA) will get the nod for the Braves Friday night, opposed by New York's Taijuan Walker (9-2, 2.79 ERA). 

The Braves really like Anderson and why not? He's 4-0 the last two postseasons, posting a 1.28 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. Atlanta is 13-7 in Anderson's 20 starts but note his near-5.00 ERA (it was 3.58 in 2021). His WHIP is up from 1.35 to 1.50 and his BAA from .221 to .262. Anderson's month-by-month ERA looks like this;4.66 in April, 4.13 in May, 6.91 in June and 4.01 in July. This is Walker's 10th season but just his second with the Mets. He was only 7-11 (4.47 ERA) last season, meaning he has already surpassed his win total from 2021 here in 2022. With deGrom finally making his 2022 debut this past Tuesday and Scherzer sidelined from May 19 through July 4, Walker has been an important cog in the rotation. He's cut his ERA from 4.47 last season to 2.79 this season, after posting a 238 ERA over his most recent NINE starts. He's 6-0 in that span, with the Mets going 7-2.

I noted the following in taking the Mets in the first contest of this four-game series last night. The Mets have won BOTH series against Atlanta since June 1 plus impressed many (me, for sure), by sweeping the Yankees in a two-game series July 26 and 27. No 'el foldo' for the Mets in 2022. I'll follow up with the Mets again tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Chi White Sox at 8:0 ET (this side play is listed as "action").

The Chicago White Sox ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance. They then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. Chicago was a heavy favorite to win the division in 2022 but the White Sox have so far underachieved (more in a bit). The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season.

The White Sox head to Arlington for a four-game series with the Rangers, having won SEVEN of their last 10.and at 53-51, have climbed within TWO games of the AL Central-leading Twins. Chicago is also just two games back for the AL's third wild card spot, in what has become a crowded field. Texas was 41-49 at the break, putting them on pace to win 74 games, 14 more than in 2021. However, after splitting their first four games of the second half, the Rangers have lost SEVEN of 10, including just getting swept in a three-game series at home by Baltimore (Texas scored just SEVEN runs in the three games).

Thursday's pitching matchup features Chicago's Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.86 ERA), while Texas has lined up left-hander Cole Ragans (0-0, 0.00) to be the starter. Ragans will be making his major league debut after splitting the season at Triple-A Round Rock and Double-A Frisco. Cueto's All Star years are behind him (last notable season was 2016 when he was 18-5 with 2.79 ERA for the Giants) but he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in April. The White Sox promoted Cueto to the major leagues on May 16 and he's been a pleasant surprise. He is looking to build on a solid July where he won both his decisions and had five solid outings (team was 3-2) in which he posted a 2.12 ERA.

Chicago just may be "finding itself," and Cueto sure owns a HUGE edge of Ragans, in his MLB debut. Ragans is a complete unknown and will likely be on a pitch count. Then again, we can't be sure if he'll actually take the mound, which is why I'm listing this play as "action."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL East) is on the NY Mets at 7:10 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years, Are we headed for a similar scenario in 2022? The Mets got off to a great start this season and were 34-17 through the end of May. As for the Braves, Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that time. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and ended the month 21-6. The 'battle' for the NL East was "ON!" 

The Mets welcome the Braves to Citi Field Thursday for the first contest of a four-game series owning a 3 1/2-game lead over the Braves in the NL East race. The Mets are 8-3 since the break (have won EIGHT of nine since opening the second half 0-2), while the Braves are 7-4. Thursday's game features two of MLB's hottest pitchers, Atlanta's Kyle Wright (13-4, 2.93 ERA) and New York's Carlos Carrasco (11-4, 3.79 ERA). Wright had made only 21 appearances (14 starts) for Atlanta prior to this season, going 2-8 with a 6.56 ERA. However, he's been Atlanta's best starter in 2022 (see above), as the Braves have won 15 of his 20 starts. He enters this contest 9-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 11 starts since the beginning of June (Braves are 10-1).

As for the Mets' Carrasco, he went 60-36 for Cleveland from 2015-2018, but the previous three seasons, was just 10-16 with a 4.69 ERA. He was hardly a 'shut down' starter to open 2022 with a 4.85 ERA through the end of June, but he was 8-4. However, Carrsaco has been near 'untouchable' in his five July starts, going 3-0 (Mets are 5-0), allowing three ERs over 30 innings for an 0.90 ERA He'll take the mound having not allowed a single ER over his last three starts (18.2 IP).

Atlanta has the best record in the majors at 40-15 since June 1, a span in which it has shaved seven games off the Mets' division lead. That said, the Mets have won BOTH series against Atlanta in that span (took two of three in each, one in Atlanta and one in New York) plus impressed many (me, for sure), by sweeping the Yankees in a two-game series July 26 and 27. No 'el foldo' for the Mets in 2022. At least, NOT tonight!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* AL Game of the Week is on the LA Angels at 4:07 ET. 

The Oakland A's began 2022 coming off their fourth consecutive winning season (85-76) but missed the playoffs in 2021, after playing three consecutive postseasons (2018-2020). The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. These two AL West teams will play the rubber march of this three-game series Thursday afternoon, after LA won 3-1 on Tuesday and Oakland won by an identical score Wednesday. The A's are 40-66 (owners of the A's worst record), while the HUGELY disappointing Angels are 44-60.

Paul Blackburn (6-6, 4.15 ERA) will start for Oakland, while LA counters with Janson Junk (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Blackburn was Oakland's lone representative at the recent All-Star game and the fact that he'll take the mound looking to halt a seven-start winless stretch, pretty much "says it all.". He is 0-4 with an 8.05 ERA during that span (A's are 1-6). Junk is set to make his third appearance and second start of the season. He has given up five hits and one walk while striking out nine in six scoreless innings. Clearly, neither team is going anywhere this season but while the A's own a minus-112 run differential, LA's is minus-39. Blackburn's in a funk and I'll back the rookie (Junk made four appearances last season with a respectable 3.86 ERA). Let's call it "Junk over Funk!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Getaway Day Game of the Week is on the Tex Rangers at 2:10 ET.

The Baltimore Orioles have missed the postseason in each of the last FIVE years, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. Both teams have improved this season and opened a three-game series in Arlington.  The Orioles completed July 16-9, after a 14-12 June. That gave them consecutive winning months for the first time since April-June, 2016. Baltimore was 51-51 (three games behind the AL's third wild card team) as the Orioles opened a three-game series on Monday. Texas returned home after taking THREE of four in Anaheim over the Angels and were 46-55. The Rangers were 7 1/2-games back of the final wild card spot but were on pace to win 74 games, 14 more than in 2021. 

Baltimore's first baseman Trey Mancini was traded to the Houston Astros on Monday, and closer Jorge Lopez was dealt to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. However, the Orioles didn't flinch, winning 7-2 on Monday and 8-2 on Tuesday. The Orioles will go for a three-game series sweep of the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon. 53-51 Baltimore has closed within 1 1/2-games of the third wild card spot in the AL, while the back-to-back losses have dropped the Rangers to 46-57 (Texas has lost EIGHT of 13 since the break). Rookie Kyle Bradish (1-4, 7.01 ERA) will get the nod on Wednesday, while the Rangers counter with Martin Perez (9-2, 2.52 ERA).

Bradish has made 11 starts in 2022, after returning from a stint with Triple-A Norfolk to hold the host Cincinnati Reds to two runs in five innings in his first game back on Friday. However, in his two most recent road games with Baltimore before that, he was shelled for a total of 11 runs and 15 hits across six innings in games against the Red Sox and the Blue Jays. Baltimore is actually 6-5 in his starts this season, but one wonders how. He not only owns a 7.01 ERA but also a 1.69 WHIP and .332 BAA! The Rangers have allowed seven or more runs in three of their past four games, but Perez expects to be "just what the doctor ordered" for Texas today. Perez spent his first seven seasons with Texas but the last three seasons, he had a one-year stint in Minnesota, then pitched for Boston in 2020 and 2021. In that three-season span, he posted a 4.88 ERA. Perez signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Texas Rangers in March and he has turned into a 'different pitcher' in 2022. He went 4-0 over six starts in May (Texas was 6-0!) with an 0.64 ERA to earn American League Pitcher of the Month. He's made 20 starts this season, allowing two ERs or less 14 times! Texas lost THREE of Perez's first four starts in 2022 but since May 1, Texas is 14-2 over his last 16 starts! 

I've been on the Perez 'train' for many of his last 16 starts and will 'hop aboard' again here, expecting him to help Texas avoid a three-game home sweep.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the TB Rays at 7:10 ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East in 2022. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team had won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021) and was again predicted to be a playoff team in 2022. The Yankees have blown away the competition in the AL East with a MLB-best 70-34 record but as the Jays and Rays open a two-game series Tuesday night at St Petersburg, Fl, the 57-45 Jays are the No. 1 wild card team and the 54-48 Rays own the No. 2 position. However, the Jays open the series on an uptick, while the Rays are struggling. Toronto went through a 1-9 slide (July 2-10) but are 11-3 under new manager John Schneider. They are 7-2 since returning from the All-Star break with a plus-37 run differential. In stark contrast, since reaching the All-Star break at 51-41, the Rays have lost SEVEN of 10 games and THREE consecutive series.

Toronto's Kevin Gausman (7-8, 3.30 ERA) will get Tuesday's start against Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen (6-3, 3.17 ERA). Gausman was nothing more than a journeyman prior to last season, when he was a key part of a San Francisco starting rotation that helped the Giants go from FOUR consecutive losing seasons to a MLB-best 107 wins. Gausman was 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.04 WHIP (Giants went 21-12 in his 33 starts). Gausman opened 5-3 with a 2.51 ERA through his first 10 starts (Jays were 7-3), He then went 1-3 with a 3,96 ERA in five June starts (Jays were 1-4).  Gausman left his July 2 start after he was hit in the right ankle by a 100 mph line drive in the second inning against Tampa Bay (2 IP / 0 runs) and since his return, he's 1-2 in three starts with a 5.74 ERA. In 17 career starts vs Tampa Bay, Gausman owns a 3.76 ERA, going 6-7 (teams are 7-10).

Rasmussen overcame two Tommy John surgeries to secure a spot in the Rays' starting rotation late last season and finished it strong (4-0 with a 2.44 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 20 appearances, including 10 starts). He has made 17 starts in 2022 and the Rays are 12-5 in those starts. I'm surprised the Rays are not a little better than that, as Rasmussen has only allowed more than three ERs in just TWO of his 17 starts. In five July starts, the Rays went 4-1 with Rasmussen posting a 2.59 ERA. The Jays are playing better baseball right now but I'm backing the Rays behind Rasmussen. His home ERA is two runs LESS than his road ERA (2.09-to-4.12) and in four starts vs Toronto, Rasmussen is 1-0 but the Rays are 3-1, as Rasmusen owns a 1.77 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. That includes the Rays winning both of Rasmussen's starts against the Blue Jays in 2022 (1.74 ERA).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* IL Game of the Week is on the Cle Guardians at 7:10 ET.

Arizona joined the NL in 1998 and made the playoffs in THREE of the team's first five seasons (won 2001 World Series). However, since 2003, Arizona has missed the postseason in 16 of the last 19 years. The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double,' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941). Cleveland began a new era in 2022 (no longer the Indians, now the Guardians). Cleveland lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series (led 3-1, before losing the final three games) and followed with THREE more postseason appearances in the next four years (exception was in 2019 when the team won 93 games). However, Cleveland would go just 80-82 in 2021. The teams opened a three-game IL series last night, with the Guardians escaping with a 6-5, 11-inning victory. The D'backs are playing MUCH better in 2022, although they've lost four in a row. At 45-57, the D'backs are on pace for 71 wins, 19 wins more than in 2021. The 53-49 Guardians are just ONE game behind the AL Central-leading Twins and also sit only ONE game back in the race for the AL's No. 3 wild card spot.

Zac Gallen (5-2, 3.24 ERA) gets the start for Arizona Tuesday night, while Cleveland counters with Triston McKenzie (7-7, 3.24 ERA). Gallen went 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA in nine April and May starts (D'backs were 7-2). However, his ERA ballooned to 5.26 ERA in five June starts (he was 0-2 and the team 2-3). He opened July with three consecutive no-decisions and a 4.58 ERA, as Arizona lost all THREE games. However, last month's All-Star break came at just the right time for Gallen, who has returned to form since the season's second half began. He is 1-0 (Arizona is 2-0), allowing one ER over 12 innings (0.75 ERA) with a 12-KW ratio. "I just had a chance to reset over the break," Gallen said. "Sometimes the break will be good or bad. In this case so far, it's been pretty good." Gallen will be making his first career appearance against Cleveland, 

McKenzie made nine starts in April and May but despite a 2.65 ERA, was only 3-4 (Cleveland was 5-4). He had a rough June (6.44 ERA in five starts), going 1-2 with Cleveland going 3-2. However, he was 3-0 (team was 4-0) in his first four starts in July, allowing just one ER over 26.2 innings (0.34 ERA). His final start in July came last Thursday, when he lost 4-2 to Boston, allowing four ERs in six innings. It seems like many are making a lot over Galen's last two starts but remember, he'll take the mound for an Arizona team which owns one of MLB's worst road records (18-30) in 2022. As for McKenzie, he 'quietly' owns the lowest ERA of any Cleveland starter this season and owns a 2.89 home ERA with the Guardians going 5-1 in his six home starts in 2022.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* NL Rivalry Game of the Month is on the SF Giants at 9:45 ET.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had won EIGHT straight NL West titles heading into 2021 but despite winning 106 games, the Dodgers finished ONE game behind the 107-win SF Giants. It was quite a 'leap' by San Francisco, which had last made the postseason back in 2016. Heading into last season, the Giants had finished 40, 18.5, 29 and 14 games (60-game season) behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Here in 2022, the Dodgers own MLB's second-best record (68-33), giving them a 12-game lead in the division. That lead is over the Padres, not the Giants, who at 51-51, are a whopping 17 1/2-games behind their longtime rivals.

The teams opened the second half with a four-game series at Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers winning all FOUR games, outscoring the Giants 25-13. The Giants will surely be hoping for a different result, as they welcome the Dodgers to Oracle Park for a four-game series beginning tonight. Andrew Heaney (1-0, 0.47 ERA) will start for LA, while SF counters with Logan Webb (9-4, 2.91 ERA). Heaney has made four starts for the Dodgers this year, two in April and one apiece following lengthy stints on the injured list with pain in his left shoulder. The 31-year-old has made one start since his second IL stint, shutting out the Washington Nationals over four innings on one hit in a 7-1 win on Wednesday. Heaney did not pitch for Los Angeles in the last series and has never faced the Giants as a member of the Dodgers. He has made three starts against San Francisco in his career, going 1-2 with a 7.02 ERA.

Webb went 11-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.11 WHIP for the Giants in 27 appearances (26 starts) last season. The Giant won 21 of his 26 starts, giving him MLB's second-best moneyline mark at +$1,229 at $100/game. However, he had entered the 2021 season just 5-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 21 appearances (19 starts) in his first two years. How is he doing this season? His nine wins are tied for a team high, as are his 21 starts. However, the Giants are a more modest 12-9 in those starts. That said, he's allowed three ERs in 19 of his 21 starts (has allowed four ERs in his other two). The Giants are a modest 4-7 over Webb's last 11 starts but in that span, he's allowed only 18 ERs over 68.1 innings for a 2.37 ERA.

The Giants will NOT challenge the Dodgers in the NL West the rest of the season, but with 60 games remaining, are FOUR games behind the NL's third wild card spot. That's a legitimate (and doable) goal for San Francisco. Winning here and taking this home series from the Dodgers could jump-start things. I'm on Webb and the Giants Monday night as a VERY 'live' underdog.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the LA Angels at 4:07 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. The Rangers have been much better this season but are hardly playoff contenders. The Rangers visited Anaheim for a four-game series with the Angels at 43-54 (.443). That put them on pace to win 72 games, 12 more than last season. The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. Los Angeles came out strong to open the current season and through May 24th, was 27-17. That left them just ONE game behind the Astros in the AL West. However, the Angels began a 14-game losing streak on May 25 that lasted through June 8. LA welcomed Texas to town at 42-56, as the Angels had gone 15-39 (.278) in their last 54 contests! The Rangers won 2-0 and 7-2 to open the series but the Angels used a five-run 8th to win 9-7 last night.

Dane Dunning (1-6, 4.38 ERA) will start Sunday's game for the Rangers, while the Angels counter with Reid Detmers (3-3, 3.84 ERA). Dunning was just 5-10 with a 4.51 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a rookie last season in 25 starts (team was 9-16). He opened the season 1-1 (Texas was 3-2) in his first five starts of 2022, posting a 3.81 ERA. However, Dunning's LONE win of 2022 came all the way back on April 30, with the Rangers owning just ONE win over his last 14 starts, going 1-13!  Detmers pitched just 20.2 innings last year (7.74 ERA / 1.79 WHIP) but will make his 16th start of the season on Sunday. He's had an up-and-down season, considering it includes a no-hitter against Tampa Bay on May 10 and then a demotion to the minors on June 22. Detmers has been sharp since returning to the big club, going 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three starts in July. He has allowed two ERs in 17 innings with 19 strikeouts.

It's NOT very often (these days) that I've played on the Angels, but Detmers has looked good in his three starts since his return (see above), while the Rangers just continue to lose (see above) with Dunning on the mound since April 30. The Angels win "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Sea Mariners at 2:10 ET.

Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. Houston entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. Seattle hosted Houston last Friday-Sunday to open the second half and got swept at home, leaving them 13 games behind. However, while the Mariners opened this week with a 3-0 home sweep of the Rangers, the Astros got swept by the A's in a three-game series in Oakland. The two AL West rivals opened a four-game series in Houston on Thursday, with the Astros winning the first two, before the Mariners rallied with two runs in the 9th inning last night for a 5-4 win, The series concludes today, with George Kirby (2-3, 3.50 ERA) taking on Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 4.25 ERA).

This is Kirby's rookie season, and he will make just his second start since July 8, as he was optioned to the minors before the All-Star break in an attempt to control his innings. Kirby's been VERY good over his last nine starts, save a single poor outing June 27 in a 9-2 home loss vs Baltimore. He allowed seven ERs (4 HRs) in just four innings in that one but over his other EIGHT starts since May 31, the Mariners are 7-1 with Kirby posting a 1.99 ERA. Odorizzi began his career back in 2012 and won 40 games with Tampa Bay from 2014-17, but also lost 36. His carer record is 72-66 (3.96) with only ONE string season (he went 15-7 with the Twins in 2019). he was 3-2 (3.13 ERA) through seven starts in 2022 (Houston was 4-3) but then missed 42 games from mid-May through July 4th, sidelined by a left leg injury. He's made four starts since his return, one vs KC (2nd worst team in the AL) and three vs Oakland (worst team in the AL). He is 1-1 with a 4.53 ERA over those four starts.

Seattle won't catch the 66-36 Astros in the AL West but after a 26-8 run, they are 55-47, good enough for the AL's second wild card spot (three games clear of the playoff 'cut line'). Kirby has shown real signs of being a solid (maybe even better) starting pitcher, while Odorizzi has settled into the role of 'journeyman.' He's lucky to be pitching for Houston but I'm taking Seattle (with Kirby) at this "nice price!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Mia Marlins at 1:40 ET.

The New York Mets haven't made the playoffs since 2015 but seem determined to end that drought here in 2022. The Mets have had a good week. They were off Monday, swept the Yankees Tuesday and Wednesday in a Subway Series matchup and then had Thursday off as well. They are well rested heading into a three-game series with the Marlins in Miami and have won the first two games, 6-4 and 4-0. The 63-37 Mets are currently three games ahead of the Braves in the NL East (note: Atlanta is on a 38-14 run). The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. Miami is currently 47-54 but with more than 60 games remaining in the season, the Marlins have not given up on 'sneaking' into the playoffs as a wild card team. That may be a 'reach,' as the Marlins are SEVEN games out of the final wild card spot with two teams in between.

The Mets will start Taijuan Walker (8-2, 2.67 ERA), while the Marlins counter with Pablo Lopez (7-5, 3.03 ERA), This is Walker's 10th season but just his second with the Mets. He was only 7-11 (4.47 ERA) last season, meaning he has already surpassed his win total from 2021 here in 2022. With deGrom yet to pitch in 2022 (update: deGrom is due to rejoin the rotation on Tuesday) and Scherzer sidelined from May 19 through July 4, Walker has been an important cog in the rotation. He's cut his ERA from 4.47 last season to 2.67 this season, after posting a 2.12 ERA over his most recent EIGHT starts. Walker is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three starts (Mets are 2-1) against the Marlins this year and i seven career starts against Miami, his teams are 3-4 with Walker posting a 3.19 ERA.

Lopez was named NL Pitcher of the month in April, going 3-0 with an 0.39 ERA in four starts (Miami was 4-0). He made six starts in May and despite a 2.78 ERA, was 1-2 and the Marlins 1-5.  Still, after 10 starts through the end of May, Lopez had a 1.83 but the team was only 5-5 in his starts. This marks his 21st start of the season and over his last 10, it's been "all or nothing" for Lopez. The Marlins are 7-3 in those starts, with Lopez posting a 9.39 ERA in the three losses but a 2.38 ERA in the seven wins. Lopez beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, on Tuesday. He struck out a career high-tying 11 batters, allowing just two hits and no walks. He retired 21 of the final 22 batters he faced. "It's been a while since I felt that good," said Lopez after the game. No wonder, as it was Lopez's first quality start since July 3. He did the Mets in his most starts against him, allowing one ER over five innings of a 5-2 win back on July 8.

The Mets enter on a five-game winning streak and Walkers has pitched VERY well but I expect Miami to avoid the home sweep behind Lopez, who has a career 2.98 ERA at home as opposed to his 4.77 ERA on the road. Go Fish!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the SF Giants at 9:05 ET.

The Chicago Cubs were coming off a 71-91 season in 2021 and here's how one preseason magazine summed up the Cubs' situation entering 2022. "Highly successful early in the 20th century, followed by 100 years of mediocrity, then a six-year burst of winning and now back into the abyss." Things looked much brighter for the Sf Giants in 2022, as the Los Angeles Dodgers had won EIGHT straight NL West titles heading into 2021 but despite winning 106 games, the Dodgers finished ONE game behind the 107-win SF Giants. It was quite a 'leap' by San Francisco, which had last made the postseason back in 2016. Heading into last season, the Giants had finished 40, 18.5, 29 and 14 games (60-game season) behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Giants have had a much better season than the Cubs here in 2002 but as the teams opened a four-game series at Oracle Park on Thursday, the Cubs had a SIX-game winning streak, while the Giants had lost SEVEN in a row. That represented a season-worst streak for San Francisco. The Cubs had outscored their opponents 35-12 in their winning streak, while the Giants had been outscored 44-19 in their losing streak.

The Giants won 4-2 on Thursday (ending streaks for both teams) but the Cubs rebounded last night with a matching 4-2 win. The series continues tonight in San Francisco, as Drew Smyly (3-5, 3.93 ERA) gets the nod for the Cubs and Jakob Junis (4-2, 2.98) ERA) gets the call for the Giants. Smyly is coming off a World Series title with Atlanta last season, as 2021 was the best season of his career. He was 11-4 (despite a 4.48 ERA), making 29 appearances, including 23 starts in which Atlanta went 14-9. Smyly and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a contract worth $4.25 million for the 2022 season.  However, he's been a disappointment for the Cubs in 2022 since pitching 9.2 scoreless innings in his first two starts (Cubs won both games). He takes the mound tonight with the Cubs having lost EIGHT of his last 10 starts, with Smyly posting a 4.76 ERA (he just recently returned after a month-long absence due to an oblique strain).

Junis is no star, as he spent his first five seasons with KC, going 29-35, while posting ERAs of 5.24, 6.39 and 5.26 from 2019-2021. He opened 2022 in the bullpen but produced two five-inning relief stints without allowing a run and giving up just seven hits (had a 10-1 KW ratio). He's stated EIGHT of his last nine appearances and has allowed two ERs or less in SEVEN of those eight starts, The 41-58 Cubs are going nowhere but despite the Giants' recent woes, they remain just FOUR games out of the NL's final wild card spot after 100 games at 49-51. Doing the math, the Giants have 62 games to recover. Cubs Lose! Cubs Lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Underdog of the Week is on the Min Twins at 7:15 ET.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. Here in 2022, the Twins have been atop the AL Central for a good part of the season but last night's 10-1 loss in San Diego was their third in a row and leaves them just ONE game up on Cleveland. The Padres challenged the Dodgers to open the 2022 season, but the Dodgers have opened a 12-game lead in the NL West. However, at 56-45, the Padres own the No. 2 wild card spot, 6 1/2-games clear of the playoff 'cut line! Saturday's pitching matchup will feature Sonny Gray (5-3, 3.52 ERA) starting for the Twins against Padres All-Star starter Joe Musgrove (8-3, 2.63 ERA).

Gray won 14 games in back-to-back seasons (2014 and '15) with Oakland but has been an underachiever since. He began this season 82-72 with a career ERA of 3.61. He strained his right hamstring in his second start of 2022 (Apr 16) but returned May 7 after a three-week absence. He also missed the first two weeks of June but takes the mound tonight with the Twins having won NINE of his last 12 starts, as he's posted a 3.30 ERA. Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history a year ago and his 11 wins, 3.18 ERA and 31 starts were San Diego's best marks in what was a disappointing 2021 season for the team. However, let me note that 2021 was the first winning year he's had in his six MLB seasons. Musgrove was just TERRIFIC at the opening of his seventh big league season, as he was 8-0 and Padres were 11-1 in his first 12 starts, with his 1.59 ERA and 0.92 WHIP showing marked improvement from his career numbers (3.77 ERA and 1.16 WHIP). However, Musgrove was sidelined because of COVID-19 protocols and when he returned, he was a different pitcher. He's gone 0-3 (SD is 1-4) over his last five starts, allowing 18 ERs over30.1 innings for a 5.34 ERA.

Musgrove is on the cusp of receiving a five-year, $100 million contract from his hometown San Diego Padres that would start next year. The Padres won't check with me but if they did, I'd say, "You may want to rethink that offer!" Musgrove hasn't been sharp since mid-June and in his only two career starts vs the Twins, was pounded for nine ERs on 14 hits over only 8.1 innings (9.72 ERA and 2.52 WHIP!). Take the Twins. Bow Wow!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the TB Rays at 1:10 ET.

Cleveland is 51-48 after its series opening 4-1 win last night over Tampa Bay at "The Trop."  The Guardians are now just ONE game behind the AL Central-leading Twins, while the Rays lost for the SIXTH time in eight games since the break. The defeat drops the Rays to 53-47 and with the Yankees running away from everyone in the AL East, will need to earn one of three AL wild card spots to make the team's fourth playoff appearance in the last four seasons. Tampa Bay currently holds down the No. 3 spot, 1 1/2-games ahead of the Guardians. Saturday afternoon's starting pitchers will be Zach Plesac (2-8, 4.09 ERA) for Cleveland and Corey Kluber (6-6, 3.91 ERA) for Tampa Bay.

As his W-L record indicates, Plesac is NOT having a good year. Cleveland is 7-11 in his 18 starts and his road ERA (in 10 starts) is 4.97, compared to a home ERA of 3.02. That's basically two FULL runs higher and no wonder the Guardians are 3-7 in those games. In a small sample size of two games, Plesac is 0-1 (team is 0-2) with a 6.17 ERA and 1.46 WHIP against the Rays. Kluber spent the first NINE seasons of his career in Cleveland. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2014 and '17 and finished third two other times. Before joining the Rays this year, Kluber spent one year with the Texas Rangers and another with the New York Yankees. Kluber's numbers (see above) haven't matched up with his past, but a closer look reveals the following. Kluber is one of only three Tampa Bay pitchers who has been healthy all season. He's given the Rays a lot of innings (99) but he has also been the victim of some tough luck. In fact, in FIVE of his losses, Tampa Bay has scored two or fewer runs.

Kluber gets the "W" over his former team, as Plesac's road woes continue.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Late Breaker is on the Tex Rangers at 9:38 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. The Rangers have been much better this season but are hardly playoff contenders, They visit Anaheim to take on the Angels to open a three-game series tonight at 44-54 (.449). That puts them on pace to win 73 games, 13 more than last season. The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. Los Angeles came out strong to open the current season and through May 24th, was 27-17. That left them just ONE game behind the Astros in the AL West. However, the Angels began a 14-game losing streak on May 25 that lasted through June 8. and LA welcomes Texas to town at 42-57, as they've gone 15-40 (.273) their last 55 contests!

Martin Perez (8-2, 2.59 ERA) will be on the mound tonight for Texas, while LA counters with Patrick Sandoval (3-6, 3.64 ERA). Perez spent his first seven seasons with Texas but the last three seasons, he had a one-year stint in Minnesota, then pitched for Boston in 2020 and 2021. In that three-season span, he posted a 4.88 ERA. Perez signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Texas Rangers in March and he has turned into a 'different pitcher' in 2022. He went 4-0 over six starts in May (Texas was 6-0!) with an 0.64 ERA to earn American League Pitcher of the Month. He's made 19 starts this season, allowing two ERs or less 13 times! Texas lost THREE of Perez's first four starts in 2022 but since May 1, Texas is 13-2 over his last 15 starts! Sandoval opened the current season having made a modest 36 appearances (29 starts), going 4-15 with a 4.42 ERA. However, the Angels would win SIX of his first seven starts in 2022, with Sandoval posting a 1.79 ERA. However, he's 0-5 (team is 1-8) over his last NINE starts, while posting a 5.36 ERA. His last win came way back on May 22 and he takes the mound 0-4 with a 7.11 ERA in four July starts.

Nothing is ever a "given" but Perez over Sandoval seems like a 'no-brainer,' especially considering that the Angels will be without Anthony Rendon (wrist / out for the year) and Mike Trout (back and rib cage / out indefinitely)!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

The Philadelphia Phillies opened the season having failed to make the playoffs in each of the last 10 years, the second-longest streak in MLB. The Phillies fired Joe Giradi in early June and interim manager Rob Thompson has led them to a 30-18 record since taking over. Philadelphia is 9 1/2-game behind the first-place Mets in the NL East but at 52-47, is tied with St Louis for the third (and final) wild card spot. The Phillies open a three-game series Friday in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. The Pirates are 40-59 and well on their way to a SEVENTH consecutive playoff-less season.

Bailey Falter (0-3, 5.18 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Pittsburgh's Jose Quintana (3-5, 3.70 ERA) in Friday's series opener. Falter will be making his 11th appearance and seventh start this season. After four straight no-decisions, Falter took a loss in his most recent outing, a start Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed four runs and five hits in five innings while striking out five and walking two. He is essentially serving Philadelphia's No. 5 starter while Zach Eflin is sidelined because of a knee injury. That is, unless the Phillies make some trade noise that could affect Falter's spot.

Quintana has been around since 2012 and had 13-win seasons in 2016, 2018 and 2019, However, he made just 33 appearances (only 11 starts) in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined, going 0-3 with 6.16 ERA. Quintana was brought in at least in part to add a veteran presence to the Pittsburgh rotation. He did not allow more than three ERs in ANY of his first 10 starts but over his last nine, he's allowed four runs or more FOUR times.

That said, I still give Quintana a HUGE edge in this pitching matchup, as while his road ERA is 5.22, his home ERA is 2.65! He faces a Philadelphia team tonight that recently went through a stretch of scoring three runs or fewer in 11 of 14 games, before scoring 15 runs over their last two.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Mia Marlins at 6:40 ET.

The New York Mets haven't made the playoffs since 2015 but seem determined to end that drought here in 2022. The Mets have a good week. They were off Monday, swept the Yankees Tuesday and Wednesday in a Subway Series matchup and had Thursday off as well. They are well rested heading into a three-games series with Marlins in Miami beginning tonight. The 61-37 Mets are currently three games ahead of the Braves in the NL East. The Marlins overcame all sorts of team COVID issues to end a 16-year postseason drought in 2020 but the 2021 team finished 67-95. Miami is currently 47-52 and with more than 60 games remaining in the season, the Marlins have not given up on 'sneaking' into the playoffs as a wild card team (are FIVE games back of the third spot).

Chris Bassitt (7-7, 3.72 ERA) will start for the Mets, while Miami counters with their ace, Sandy Alcantara (9-4, 1.81 ERA). Bassitt was traded to the Mets prior to the start of this season, coming off a 12-4 (3.15 ERA) 2021 season with the A's (team was 17-10 in his starts). Bassitt, new to the Mets this year, had never faced the Marlins prior to this season. He is now 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA in three starts vs them. New York is a modest 10-8 in his starts and it's notable for this contest that while Bassitt owns a 3.06 ERA at home, it's 4.67 ERA.

Alcantara is a leading candidate to win the NL Cy Young Award. He leads the league in ERA, and he tops everyone in the majors -- hitters and pitchers -- in wins above replacement (5.5). He has pitched at least six innings in 14 consecutive starts. He takes the field having posted a 1.24 ERA in four July starts and his ERA in 10 home starts this year is 1.66.

Alcantara is having a special season. He allowed just three ERs in a six-start stretch (May 11 through June 8). It was the first time a pitcher had allowed three ERs or less over a six-start stretch spanning at least 48 innings since Jake Arrieta did so for the Chicago Cubs during his NL Cy Young Award-winning season in 2015. Getting Alcantara at this price is a bargain.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the SF Giants at 9:45 ET.

The Chicago Cubs were coming off a 71-91 season in 2021 and here's how one preseason magazine summed up the Cubs' situation entering 2022. "Highly successful early in the 20th century, followed by 100 years of mediocrity, then a six-year burst of winning and now back into the abyss." Things looked much brighter for the Sf Giants in 2022, as the Los Angeles Dodgers had won EIGHT straight NL West titles heading into 2021 but despite winning 106 games, the Dodgers finished ONE game behind the 107-win SF Giants. It was quite a 'leap' by San Francisco, which had last made the postseason back in 2016. Heading into last season, the Giants had finished 40, 18.5, 29 and 14 games (60-game season) behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Giants have had a much better season than the Cubs here in 2002 but as the teams get set to open a four-game series at Oracle Park, the Cubs own a SIX-game losing streak (longest active in MLB), while the Giants have currently lost SEVEN in a row. That represents the longest active losing streak in MLB, as well as season-worst streak for San Francisco. The Cubs have outscored their opponents 35-12 in their winning streak, while the Giants have been outscored 44-19 in their losing streak.

A pair of left-handers will take the mound tonight, Justin Steele (4-6, 4.02 ERA) of the Cubs (in just his second MLB season) and Alex Wood (6-8, 4.21 ERA) of the Giants, who began his career back in 2013. Steele is 27 years old and enters this contest having been charged with just ONE loss in his last nine starts, going 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA (Cubs are just 4-5 in that nine-start span and 7-11 in his 18 starts this season). Wood had that memorable 2017 season with the Dodgers, going 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA. He joined the Giants last season and was a solid member of the team's rotation, going 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 26 starts (Giants went 19-7!). However, the Giants are just 9-10 in his 19 starts this season.

I didn't expect the Giants to repeat their 2021 success, but they were 37-27 through June 18, before going 11-23 their last 34 games to fall two games under .500. That said, the Giants are still in the wild card hunt, as they sit 3 1/2-games behind the No. 3 spot in the NL with 64 games remaining. That's hardly the case for the Cubs, who are 11 games back of that third wild card spot and catcher Willson Contreras plus OF Ian Happ are both rumored to be traded before the rebuilding club returns home on August 5. Cubs Lose! Cubs Lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Hou Astros at 8:10 ET.

Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but the Mariners opened the second half 10 games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West. Houston entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. Seattle hosted Houston last Friday-Sunday to open the second half and got swept at home, leaving them 13 games behind. However, while the Mariners opened this week with a 3-0 home sweep of the Rangers, the Astros got swept by the A's in a three-game series in Oakland. Figure that one out. Even after the sweep, the A's own the AL's worst record at 38-63.

The two AL West rivals begin a four-game series tonight in Houston with Houston 10 games up on Seattle. The series will mark the last chance for the Mariners to directly narrow the Astros' division lead, as it will complete the 19-game season series between the clubs. Houston has won nine of 15 meetings thus far. Logan Gilbert (10-4, 2.77 ERA) will get the nod for the Mariners, while the Astros will counter with Jose Urquidy (9-4, 3.93 ERA). Gilbert was just 6-5 with a 4.68 ERA in his rookie season but the Mariners went 16-8 in his 24 starts. That gave him a moneyline record of +$1,106 (3rd-best in MLB). Gilbert made four starts in a dominating April, which included victories over reigning division champions Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox. He was 3-0 (team was 4-0) with an 0.44 ERA, a showing that earned him the American League Pitcher of the Month Award for April. He opened May with a 7-3 win (5.2 IP / 1 ER) and was 4-0 (team was 5-0) with an 0.64 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a BAA of .180. Seattle then lost his next FOUR starts, as he was 0-2 with a 4.84 ERA. However, Gilbert is 6-2 over his last 10 starts (team is 9-2) and is once again a formidable presence on the mound. He was outdueled in Seattle last Saturday by Verlander, as the Mariners lost 3-1 (Gilbert pitched six innings, allowing two ERs).

Urquidy had a nice 2021 season for Houston, going 8-3 with a 3.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 20 starts (team was 14-6). His ERA is up slightly this season, but the Astros are 12-6 in his 18 starts. He enters this game having not allowed more than three ERs in any of his last SEVEN starts Each of the seven have been quality starts, with him going 4-1 with a 2.58 ERA and an opponent OPS of .523 during that stretch. Urquidy has averaged more than six innings per start while recording a 0.79 WHIP. On the season, while his road ERA is an 'unhealthy' 4.83, his home ERA is "quite fine' (2.63). There is a lot to lie about Gilbert but Urquidy has 'flown under the radar' the last two seasons and after fellow Houston starters Jake Odorizzi, Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier finished a combined 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA in the series with the Athletics, the unheralded Urquidy could be "just what the doctor ordered for Houston.

Remember, Houston ended the first half on a 22-8 run and had opened the second have with FIVE straight wins (two over the NYY and three at Seattle), before the team's inexplicable performance in Oakland. Expect Houston to remind Seattle just which team is the 'top dog' in the AL West, by taking Game 1 of this important series.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the TB Rays at 7:05 ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). The Baltimore Orioles have missed the postseason in each of the last FIVE years, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. The Rays and Orioles are currently in the midst of a four-game series at Camden Yards, with Baltimore having won the first two, 5-1 and 5-3. 

The Rays returned from the break to win their first game but have now lost FOUR in a row. At 52-45, the Rays currently own the AL's third wild card spot, 2 1/2-games clear of Cleveland, three games ahead of Baltimore and Chicago, plus 3 1/2-games ahead of Boston. The 49-48 Orioles improved to 14-6 in July by winning the first two games of this series, following a 14-12 June. That guarantees them consecutive winning months for the first time since April-June, 2016.

Drew Rasmussen (6-3, 3.13 ERA) gets the nod for the Rays tonight, while Tyler Wells (7-6, 3.69 ERA) takes the mound for the Orioles. Rasmussen overcame two Tommy John surgeries to secure a spot in the Rays' starting rotation late last season and finished it strong (4-0 with a 2.44 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 20 appearances, including 10 starts). He has made 16 starts in 2022 and the Rays are 11-5 in those starts. He has only allowed more than three ERs in just TWO of his 16 starts. In four July starts, the Rays are 3-1 with Rasmussen posting a 2.29 ERA.

Wells made 44 appearances last season (all in relief) but ALL his 18 appearances this season have been starts. He opened 1-4 over his first nine (Baltimore was 2-7) but then went 6-0 over his next eight (Baltimore 8-0!), while posting a 2.36 ERA. Tyler had gone 17 straight starts allowing three runs or less before giving up FIVE runs on five hits in five innings of a loss against the Yankees this past Friday night.

OK, the Rays are NOT the Yankees but while Wells is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in seven games against the Rays (three starts), Rasmussen is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in four games (two starts) in his career against Baltimore. I still believe Wells has pitched "over his head" this season, while since overcoming his two Tommy John surgeries, Rasmussen is a "front of the rotation" starter. Tampa Bay is the play!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Getaway Day Play is on the SF Giants at 3:40 ET.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had won EIGHT straight NL West titles heading into 2021 but despite winning 106 games, the Dodgers finished ONE game behind the 107-win SF Giants. It was quite a 'leap' by San Francisco, which had last made the postseason back in 2016. Heading into last season, the Giants had finished 40, 18.5, 29 and 14 games (60-game season) behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Arizona Diamondbacks entered 2022 knowing WAAY too much about losing. Arizona joined the NL in 1998 and made the playoffs in THREE of the team's first five seasons (won 2001 World Series). However, since 2003, Arizona has missed the postseason in 16 of the last 19 years. The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double,' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941).

The two NL West teams wrap up a three-game series this afternoon at Chase Field, with the D'backs having won the first two, 7-0 and 7-3 The Giants have now lost all SIX games since returning from the break (outscored by a 39-16 margin), matching their season-worst slide. The 48-49 Giants are now 11-22 since reaching their season high of 10 games over .500 back on June 18. The D'backs are hardly a playoff contender but they come in winners of FIVE of their last six and at 44-53 are on pace to win 73 or 74 games (remember, the D'backs won just 52 times in 2021!).

It's an excellent starting pitching matchup on Wednesday, as Logan Webb (9-3, 2.77 ERA) takes on Zac Gallen (5-2, 3.31 ERA). Webb went 11-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.11 WHIP for the Giants in 27 appearances (26 starts) last season. The Giant won 21 of his 26 starts, giving him MLB's second-best moneyline mark at +$1,229 at $100/game. However, he had entered the 2021 season just 5-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 21 appearances (19 starts) in his first two years. How is he doing this season? His nine wins are a team high, as are his 20 starts. However, the Giants are a more modest 12-8 in those starts. That said, let me note that while the Giants are only 4-5 in his last nine stars, Webb has allowed only 10 ERs over 57.2 innings during that span, for a 1.56 ERA!

Gallen was among MLB's best pitchers over his first nine starts, going 4-0 (Arizona was 7-2) with a 2.32 ER through May. However, he posted a 5.26 ERA in five June starts, plus the D'backs lost his first three starts of July. Gallen then halted an eight-start winless stretch this past Friday when blanked the Washington Nationals on two hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked none while picking up his first victory since May 30. Please note that the Nats own MLB's worst record!

Gallen received a no-decision against the Giants on July 13 when he allowed two runs and four hits over 6.2 innings. Overall, he is 1-4 with a 5.05 ERA in eight career starts against San Francisco with the D'backs going 1-7! In contrast, Webb is 3-0 with 1.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in four career starts vs Arizona (Giants are 4-0). Yes, the Giants are in a 'funk,' but San Francisco won 17 of 19 meetings against Arizona in 2021. NO sweep here. Take the Giants!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Sea Mariners at 10:10 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Rangers and Mariners opened a three-game series last night in Seattle with the Rangers coming in at 43-51, 20 games behind Houston in the AL West and SEVEN games out of the final AL wild card spot (FOUR teams are between them and that No. 3 seed). The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but the Mariners opened the second half 10 games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West, after Houston began the second half by sweeping the Yankees in a doubleheader on Thursday. Seattle couldn't handle the Astros this past weekend, getting swept at home in the three-game series by losing 5-2. 3-1 and 8-5. Seattle began the week 51-45, good enough for the third wild card spot but FOUR teams are within 3 1/2-games of them. 

Seattle held on to win 4-3 Monday night, using the formula of good starting pitching, key baserunning and some more hot hitting from Ty France. Chris Flexen allowed just two ERs over six innings and is now 5-0 over his last six starts (Seattle is 6-0). France hit his 13th HR as part of a three-hit night (he has homered in three of his past five games) and closer Erik Swanson escaped a ninth-inning jam. Seattle won for the 15th time in 18 games, a stretch of success interrupted over the weekend when the Mariners were swept at home by AL West-leading Houston following a 14-game winning streak. I had Seattle last night and noted that with a four-game series at Houston beginning on Thursday, 'taking care of business' against Texas' was almost a MUST. Texas is a welcome visitor, as the Mariners have now won SIX straight over the Rangers and improved to 9-2 against them this season.

Taking the mound tonight will be Dane Dunning (1-6, 4.42 ERA) for Texas and George Kirby (2-3, 3.78 ERA). Dunning was just 5-10 with a 4.51 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a rookie last season in 25 starts (team was 9-16). He opened the season 1-1 (Texas was 3-2) in his first five starts of 2022, posting a 3.81 ERA. However, Dunning's LONE win of 2022 came all the way back on April 30, with the Rangers owning just ONE win over his last 13 starts, going 1-12! Dunning will make his first start since July 10, when he lasted just 2.1 innings and allowed four runs against Minnesota before landing on the injured list. This is Kirby's rookie season, and he will make his first start since July 8, as he was optioned to the minors before the All-Star break in an attempt to control his innings. Kirby's been VERY good over his last eight starts, save a single poor outing June 27 in a 9-2 home loss vs Baltimore. He allowed seven ERs (4 HRs) in just four innings in that one but over his other SEVEN starts since May 31, the Mariners are 6-1 with Kirby posting a 2.23 ERA.

The Mariners caught a break last night as the Rays lost at Baltimore, allowing Seattle to move within a half-game of Tampa Bay for the No. 2 wild card spot. Toronto owns the No. 1 wild card spot (1 1/2-games ahead of Seattle) but the Mariners are THREE games clear of Cleveland and Boston for the third wild card spot. Kirby has shown signs of being a solid (maybe better) starting pitcher, while Dunning has shown NO such signs. There is no reason to think the Mariners won't win again tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month (NY/NY) is on the NY Mets at 7:10 ET.

The Subway Series reconvenes for the first time this season when the Mets host the Yankees on Tuesday in the opener of a two-game series. Both teams are in first place in their respective divisions, so the Mets and Yankees appear headed for the playoffs for the first time in the same season since 2015 (FYI...That's the last time the Mets have made the postseason). As for the Yankees, they will be in the postseason for the SIXTH straight season in 2022, which will give them playoff appearances in 24 of the last 28 seasons! The Mets enter the series at 59-37, two games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East (the Braves have gone 35-13 since June 10). The Yankees are 66-31 (.680) and own a 12 1/2-game lead in the AL East. However, they are only 10-10 in July, which has allowed the Dodgers to climb with percentage points of them for MLB's best record (Dodgers are 64-31, .674).

Jordan Montgomery (3-2, 3.24 ERA) will get the nod for the Yankees, while the Mets counter with Taijuan Walker (7-2, 2.55 ERA). Montgomery was 19-17 (4.01 ERA) in his first five seasons for the Yankees. He opened the season holding opponents to three ERs or less in his first 13 appearances, before allowing nine ERs over 12.2 innings in his final two starts of June (despite his 6.39 ERA, the Yankees won both of those starts). Montgomery will take the mound tonight with a 3.13 ERA in four July starts but he's 0-1 and the Yankees are 0-4! This is Walker's 10th season but just his second with the Mets. He was only 7-11 (4.47 ERA) last season, meaning he has already matched his win total from 2021 here in 2022. With deGrom yet to pitch in 2022 and Scherzer sidelined from May 19 through July 4, Walker has been an important cog in the rotation. He's cut his ERA from 4.47 last season to 2.55 this season, after posting a 1.80 ERA over his most recent SEVEN starts.

Walker is a modest 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees (teams are 2-4) but Montgomery is 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three starts against the Mets (Yanks are 0-3), posting a 7.11 ERA and 1.90 WHIP. Mets grab the "W" tonight!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* AL Pitching Mismatch of the Month is on the Sea Mariners at 10:10 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. Texas is playing better in 2022 at 43-51 (.457) but sits 20 games behind Houston in the AL West and SEVEN games out of the final AL wild card spot (FOUR teams are between them and that No. 3 seed). The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but the Mariners opened the second half 10 games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West, after Houston began the second half by sweeping the Yankees in a doubleheader on Thursday. Seattle couldn't handle the Astros this past weekend, getting swept at home in the three-game series by losing 5-2. 3-1 and 8-5.

Seattle is now 51-45, good enough for the third wild card spot but FOUR teams are within 3 1/2-games of them. The Mariners welcome the Rangers to Seattle for three games beginning tonight. The starting pitcher matchup will be Glenn Otto (4-6, 5.40 ERA) and Chris Flexen (6-8, 3.79 ERA). Otto made six starts last season, going 0-3 (team was 1-5) with a 9.26 ERA and 1.71 WHIP. He's been better this season (how could he be worse?), with the Rangers going 5-8 in his 13 starts. Flexen was 14-6 (3.61 ERA and 1.25 WHIP) in 2021 and with the Mariners going 22-9 in his starts, owned MLB's best moneyline mark at +$1,597. He began the 2022 season poorly, as he owned just TWO wins in his 13 starts (he was 2-8 and Seattle was 3-10). However, he's gone 4-0 over his last five starts (Seattle is 5-0), posting a 2.63 ERA.

This is a clear "pitching mismatch" based on current form but what "seals the deal," is Flexen's career record of 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.01 WHIP is six starts (Mariners are a perfect 6-0!). This is a HUGE series for Seattle, as after three games with Texas, the Mariners have to travel to Houston for FOUR games. Better get some wins Mon-Wed!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the TB Rays at 7:05 ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). The Baltimore Orioles have missed the postseason in each of the last FIVE years, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. The Rays hosted the Orioles in a three-game series right before the break and took two of three but returned from the break to lose TWO of three at the lowly Royals. The Orioles had won 10 straight games heading into that series at Boston (Baltimore's longest since a 13-game run in 1999). but lost two of three and then returned from the break to lose two of three at New York to the Yankees. The Rays and Orioles begin a four-game series in Baltimore on Monday night with 52-43 Tampa Bay currently owning the second wild card spot while 47-48 Baltimore is one of FOUR teams within 3.5 games of the final wild-card spot.

Monday's pitching matchup features Corey Kluber (6-5, 3.73 ERA) of Tampa Bay and Austin Voth (1-1, 6.38 ERA) of Baltimore. Kluber is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, but he has dealt with a variety of injuries over the past few years that have limited his availability. The Rays took a chance on him by signing him to a one-year, $8 million deal, hoping he could provide leadership as well as some productive innings on the mound. Kluber hasn't been great but he has been steady. He's made three July starts going 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA, including beating the Orioles back on July 17th (his most recent start). Voth pitched in parts of the last five years with Baltimore and entered this season with 92 appearances (just 22 starts) and a 5.70 ERA. In 2020 and 2021, he made only ONE start over 68 appearances, while posting an 'ugly' 6.51 ERA, He's made nine appearances this season (five starts) but hasn't gone more than FIVE innings in any start.

Baltimore 'caught fire' right before the All-Star break but take away the team's 11-2 closing run into the break and the Orioles are only 36-46 (.439). As noted above, the Rays have made THREE straight postseasons and after opening just 6-6, have gone 46-37 (.554). Tampa Bay is much more the "complete" team, while Kluber owns a HUGE edge over Voth.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the NY Mets at 7:08 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years. The San Diego Padres ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2020's 60-game season and were expected to contend for the NL West title in 2021. However, the Padres would finish 79-83, 20 games behind the first-place Giants. 

Here in 2022, the Mets got off to a great start this season and were 34-17 through the end of May. Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that point but as of this morning, the 58-37 Mets own just a half-game lead over the Braves (Uh Oh!). The Padres challenged the Dodgers to open the 2022 season, but the Dodgers have opened a 10 1/2-game lead in the division. 54-42 San Diego currently owns the No. 2 wild card spot, four games clear of the 'cut line!' It's Sunday Night Baseball from Citi Field tonight, as the Mets look to avoid being swept in this three-game series, after losing 4-1 and 2-1. The Padres will send Joe Musgrove (8-2, 2.42 ERA) to the mound to face New York's Carlos Carrasco (10-4, 4.27 ERA).

Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history a year ago and his 11 wins, 3.18 ERA and 31 starts were San Diego's best marks in what was a disappointing 2021 season for the team. However, let me note that 2021 was the first winning year he's had in his six MLB seasons. He was just TERRIFIC at the opening of his seventh big league season, as he was 8-0 and Padres were 11-1 in his first 12 starts, with his 1.59 ERA and 0.92 WHIP showing marked improvement from his career numbers (3.77 ERA and 1.16 WHIP). However, Musgrove was sidelined because of COVID-19 protocols and when he returned, he was a different pitcher. He's gone 0-2 (SD is 1-3) over his last four starts, allowing 14 ERs over 25 innings for a 5.04 ERA. Carrasco went 60-36 for Cleveland from 2015-2018, but the previous three seasons, was just 10-16 with a 4.69 ERA. However, he has generally pitched well in 2022 with 10 wins. In contrast to Musgrove, Carrasco is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in three July starts, with the Mets winning ALL three games. 

New York will look to stay atop the NL East and avoid being swept in a three-game series for the FIRST time this season. I 'love' their chances here against a struggling Musgrove, who has made four career starts vs New York, going 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA and 1.43 WHIP.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Sea Mariners at 4:10 ET.

The Houston Astros entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Astros, the team everyone "loves to hate' was 59-32 at the break, giving them a NINE-game lead in the AL West. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but the Mariners opened the second half 10 games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West, after Houston began the second half by sweeping the Yankees in a doubleheader on Thursday. However, Seattle's recent surge has them right in the mix of the wild card race, but SEVEN teams are battling for just THREE open spots.

Houston and Seattle opened a three-game series Friday night and the Astros have won the first two, 5-2 and 3-1. The back-to-back Houston wins have upped its lead over Seattle to 12 games in the AL West, while Seattle has fallen to 51-44. The Mariners currently own the AL's No. 3 wild card spot, with Cleveland, Boston, Baltimore and Chicago right on their heels. Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.66 ERA) and Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.54 ERA) are Sunday's starters, as Houston goes for the road sweep, while the Mariners look to avoid the home sweep. Valdez is in his fifth season. He was 11-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts (team was 14-8) in 2021 but then 'blew up' in the postseason (17 ERs on 28 hits over 19.2 IP for a 7.78 ERA). However, after a slow start in 2022 (Astros were 1-4 in his first five starts), Houston won 10 of his next 13 starts and Valdez made the AL All-Star team. 

Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray (13-7 with a 2.84 ERA in 32 starts in 2021) away from the Toronto Blue Jays to a five-year, $115 million contract in the off season to be the team's ace. However, he was just 4-6 after 11 starts (team was 5-6) with a 4.93 ERA.  Manager Scott Servais, pitching coach Pete Woodworth and catcher Cal Raleigh suggested whatever Ray was doing wasn't working and that they should change things up. Ray went back to a two-seam fastball he hadn't used in six years and finally began to turn his season around with a June 6 win over Houston. He enters Sunday's contest 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA over his last eight starts (Seattle is 7-1).

This is a HUGE game for Seattle. The Mariners open next week with three home games vs struggling Texas but then finish the week with FOUR games in Houston. I'll ride Ray in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the Tex Rangers at 4:07 ET.

The Texas Rangers appeared in back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) but continued to be competitive, making the playoffs in THREE of the next five seasons. However, it's been FIVE consecutive losing seasons for Texas since 2017, including going 60-102 (.370) last season. The Oakland A's are coming off their fourth consecutive winning season (85-76) but missed the playoffs in 2021, after playing three consecutive postseasons (2018-2020). As the two AL West rivals get set to play the series finale of a three-game set in Oakland, NEITHER club is 'thinking' playoffs in 2022. The A's have won each of the first two games (5-4 and 3-1) but at 35-62, own the AL's worst record. Meanwhile, the Rangers were 'flirting' with .500 back in late June (were 36-37 through June 28), but they take the field today losers of 14 of their last 20. Neither team is 'thinking' playoffs in 2022

Texas will send Martin Perez (7-2, 2.68 ERA) to the mound on Sunday, while the A's counter with Paul Blackmon (6-5, 3.62 ERA). Perez spent his first seven seasons with Texas but the last three seasons, he had a one-year stint in Minnesota, then pitched for Boston in 2020 and 2021. In that three-season span, he posted a 4.88 ERA. Perez signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Texas Rangers in March and he has turned into a 'different pitcher' in 2022. He went 4-0 over six starts in May (Texas was 6-0!) with an 0.64 ERA to earn American League Pitcher of the Month. He's made 18 starts this season, allowing two ERs or less 12 times! Texas lost THREE of Perez's first starts in 2022 but since May 1, Texas is 12-2 over his last 14 starts.

Blackburn entered the current season with a five-year record of 6-11 in 30 appearances (27 starts), posting a 5.74 ERA. He began the season looking like a "new man!" After 13 starts, he was 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA and 1.07 WHIP (Oakland is 9-4 in his starts). However, Blackburn has gone 0-3 over his last five starts (A's have lost ALL five), allowing 21 ERs in 25.1 innings for a 7.46 ERA. Both starters made the All-Star team this past week, but Perez is BY FAR, having the better year. He faced the A's twice in 2022, winning both games while allowing one ER over 13 innings (0.69 ERA). Blackburn has faced the Rangers just three times in his career, including once in 2022 (allowed five ERs in six innings. In his previous two starts vs Texas, he lasted only 2.2 innings (4 ERs) and three innings (5 ERs). Doing the math, his ERA in the three starts is 10.80, while his WHIP is 1.89. Texas wins "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the Arz D'backs at 8:10 ET.

The Nationals arrived in Washington back in 2005 (via Montreal) and in their first seven seasons, finished in 5th-place (last) FIVE times. However, in a six-year span from 2012-17, the Nats made the postseason season FOUR times, but in each instance, couldn't make it past the NLDS. That all changed in 2019, when the Nats won the World Series over the Astros. That said, the Nats finished in last place the next two seasons and at 31-64 this season, are again LAST in the NL East, 27.5 games behind the Mets. Arizona joined the NL in 1998 and made the playoffs in THREE of the team's first five seasons (won 2001 World Series). However, since 2003, Arizona has missed the postseason in 16 of the last 19 years. The D'backs hit 'rock bottom' in 2021, earning the dreaded 'daily double,' as owners of MLB's worst record (52-110) and its worst moneyline mark (-$3,941). Arizona has played better in 2022, as its 41-52 record gives them a .441 winning percentage (it was .321 last season!).

The two last-place teams opened a three-game series last night at Chase Field with the D'backs rolling to a 10-1 victory with Zac Gallen tossing 5.2 no-hit innings and allowing just two singles over seven scoreless frames. Anibal Sanchez (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will start Saturday night's game for Washington, while Arizona counters with Madison Bumgarner (5-9, 3.83 ERA). Sanchez is one of the few remaining members of the Nationals’ 2019 World Series team, However, he didn't pitch in 2021, before signing a minor league deal in March. He had been sidelined the entirety of his 16th Major League season after sustaining a cervical nerve impingement after the team flight at the end of camp. Following a lengthy recovery and four Minor League rehab starts, he was cleared to make his season debut on July 14th at home vs Atlanta. His final line in five innings: four hits, four earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

Bumgarner was one of the cornerstones of a San Francisco team that won three World Series (2010, 2012, 2014) and was named the 2014 World Series MVP for the Giants, producing a legendary postseason ("You can look it up" as the saying goes!). Bumgarner has made 19 starts in 2022 with Arizona going 8-11. In his recent six starts, three have come against San Diego and he's 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in those starts. However, in the other three, he is 3-0 (wins over Min, SF and Col) with a 3.50 ERA. Notably, all three of those wins have come at home, where Bumgarner owns a 3.15 ERA in 2022, compared to a 4.71 ERA on the road.

Bumgarner is no longer the star he once was but is certainly more reliable than Sanchez, whose last start prior to July 14th came back in September of 2020. What's more, the Nats take the field tonight having lost 16 of their last 18 games.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the TB Rays at 7:10 ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). The KC Royals began the current season having missed the postseason in each of the previous SIX years, after making back-to-back World Series in 2014 (lost) and 2015 (won). The Rays and Royals opened the second half with a three-game series in KC, with Tampa Bay winning 7-3 last night. The Rays are currently 52-41, giving them the AL's top wild card seed, while the Royals fell to 36-57, giving them the AL's second worst record.

Luis Patino (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will take the mound for Tampa Bay, while KC counters with Brady Singer (4-3, 4.02 ERA). Patino's in his third season, including the last two with Tampa Bay. He's made just 19 appearances (15 starts) with 5-3 record and 4.31 ERA in that span. He opened the season with an April 11th start vs Oakland but faced only three batters before leaving with a left oblique strain. He just returned from a three-month rehab stint due to that injury on July 15, pitching 3.1 innings (allowed two runs on two solo HRs) in a 6-5 Tampa Bay win that snapped Baltimore's 10-game winning streak. This is Singer's third season (all with KC) and he entered the 2022 season 9-15 with a 4.62 ERA over 39 starts. He takes the mound having gone 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA in three July starts (Royals are 3-0) but two of the wins have come over the 38-56 Tigers. What's more, he came off a June in which he was 1-3 in five starts (team was 1-4), when he posted a 5.97 ERA. Singer will make his second start against Tampa Bay this season, after the Rays rocked him for SIX runs on four hits in just 2.2 innings of a 7-2 romp over the Royals back on May 27, 2021.

This selection has little to do with the starters, as the Rays are just the superior team and one that has won 17 of the past 22 meetings between the clubs dating back to August 30, 2017. The "PRICE is sure Right" (a bargain) on a Tampa Bay team headed for its FOURTH straight postseason against an opponent headed for its SEVENTH consecutive year on the "outside, looking in" come playoff time.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Sea Mariners at 10:10 ET.

The Houston Astros entered the season having won the NL West in FOUR of the previous five seasons (three WS appearances in that span) and were preseason favorites to repeat as AL West champs. The Astros, the team everyone "loves to hate' was 59-32 at the break, giving them a NINE-game lead in the AL West. Houston opened the season's second half by sweeping a doubleheader with the visiting New York Yankees on Thursday, winning 3-2 and 7-5. Seattle finished second in the American League West in 2021 with a 90-72 record, just two games out of a wild-card berth. That extended Seattle's postseason drought to 20 years, as the Mariners last made the playoffs back in 2001. Ironically, that team won 116 games, tying a MLB record for most wins in a single season. The Mariners were headed 'nowhere' with a 29-39 record through June 19 but then went 22-3 to close the first half to reach 51-29. The Mariners won 14 in a row, the longest ever winning streak heading into the All-Star break but the Mariners will open the second half 10 games behind the first-place Astros in the AL West. However, their recent surge has them right in the mix of the wild card race, but SEVEN teams are battling for just THREE open spots. 

Seattle opens its second half by hosting the Astros in this three-game series. Jose Urquidy (8-4, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to go up against Marco Gonzales (5-9, 3.50 ERA) Friday night in the series opener. Urquidy had a nice 2021 season for Houston, going 8-3 with a 3.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 20 starts (team was 14-6). His ERA is up about a half run (4.09) and his WHIP has 'jumped' to 1.25 in his 17 starts in 2022 (Astros are 11-6). I like Urquidy but one can't ignore that his home ERA is 2.63 this season, while his road ERA is 5.20. Gonzales went 46-30 for Seattle from 2018-21 and remains a mainstay in Seattle's starting rotation in 2022, despite his losing record. Seattle is just 7-11 in his starts this season, but Gonzales has allowed more than three ERs in just TWO of those 18 starts.

Seattle has the lowest ERA (2.45) in the majors during its 22-3 run. The starting rotation is 12-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 14 quality starts, PLUS the bullpen has gone 10-0 with 12 saves and a 1.49 ERA and has allowed opponents to bat just .167 during that same stretch, The Mariners' franchise record for most consecutive victories is 15, set in 2001 when they tied a MLB mark by winning 116 games. Is this the year Seattle breaks its 20-year postseason drought? Do you believe in karma? As noted above, Seattle ended the first half on a 14-game winning streak and the only other teams to have a 10-plus game winning streak heading into the All-Star break were the 1935 Tigers and the 1975 Reds. BOTH teams would go on to win the World Series!

There is a LONG way to go but sticking to the present, Seattle gets win No. 15 in a row tonight over Houston.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Underdog of the Month is on the LA Angels at 7:20 ET.

The LA Angels were 77-85 in 2021 and the franchise's only World Series title came back in 2002. I'm sure it seems like even more than two decades ago to Angel fans, as the team has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 12 years. Los Angeles came out strong to open the current season and through May 24th, was 27-17. That left them just ONE game behind the Astros in the AL West, who owned a 28-16 record on the same date. However, the Angels began a 14-game losing streak on May 25 that lasted through June 8. The Angels return from the break at 39-53, having lost eight of their last nine and stand 21 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West. The Braves were just 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place, Atlanta started 2022 just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that time. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and ended the month 21-6. They have followed by going 10-5 in June, closing to within 2 1/2-games of the 58-35 Mets at 56-38.

The Angels and Braves open a three-game IL series Friday night at Truist Park with LA turning to Shohei Ohtani (9-4, 2.38 ERA) in the opener, while Atlanta counters with Charlie Morton (5-4, 4.45 ERA). Let me cut right to the chase. Ohtani started the All-Star Game as the American League's designated hitter and batted leadoff. He singled and drew a walk in his two plate appearances before being replaced. He was also named to the team as a pitcher but did not take the mound. He takes the mound tonight having allowed only three runs (two earned) and 20 hits in 39.2 innings with 58 strikeouts and 11 walks over his last six starts in going 6-0! He continues to set milestones. In his last start on July 13, when he allowed one run and struck out 12 against Houston, Ohtani became the fourth pitcher all-time to go 6-0 with 58-plus strikeouts and two or fewer ERs in a six-game span. The others are Johan Santana in 2004, R.A. Dickey in 2012 and Clayton Kershaw in 2014. FYI...ALL won the Cy Young Award in those seasons.

Morton turned his career around beginning in 2017. Excluding the COVID season of 2020, he has gone 49-22 in the last four full seasons, playing on teams that have played in THREE World Series (winning twice) in that span (with Houston in 2017and Atlanta in 2021). Morton allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in 5.1 innings against the Cincinnati Reds on April 8, earning a "W" in Atlanta's 7-6 victory. However, over his next four starts, he allowed 16 ERs in 18.1 innings (7.85 ERA) in going 0-3 (Braves lost all four). However, over his next 12 starts, Morton was 4-0 and the Braves 9-3 in that span. That said, he did lose his most recent start (July 13), allowing five ERs on six hits (3 HRs) over six innings of a 7-3 defeat against the Mets.

Morton is 4-1 with a 4.34 ERA in nine career starts vs the Angels (teams are 7-2) but he hasn't faced them since 2019. This marks Ohtani's first-ever start vs the Braves and the bottom line is this. Ohtani's current six-game winning streak began back on June 9 but the Angels are just 7-30 in games started by another pitcher during that span. "In Ohtani We (I) Trust!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the TB Rays at 7:10 ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). The Rays open the second half at 51-41 and are owners of the AL's No. 1 wild card spot. The KC Royals began the current season having missed the postseason in each of the previous SIX years, after making back-to-back World Series in 2014 (lost) and 2015 (won). KC opens the second half at 36-56, the AL's second worst record. Tampa Bay finished up the first half of the season by winning SIX of its last seven games before the break, while KC concluded the first half by losing four of six games, including three of four in Toronto.

Drew Rasmussen (5-3, 3.22 ERA) will be on the mound Friday for Tampa Bay and Kansas City announced that Brad Keller (5-9, 3.96 ERA) will be the starting pitcher for Friday's series opener. Rasmussen overcame two Tommy John surgeries to secure a spot in the Rays' starting rotation late last season and finished it strong (4-0 with a 2.44 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 20 appearances, including 10 starts). He has made 15 starts in 2022 and the Rays are 10-5 in those starts. He has only allowed more than three ERs in just TWO of his 15 starts. Keller is just 34-44 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in his career, including his 5-9 mark in 2022. KC lost 10 of his first 14 starts this season but Keller is 3-0 in three July starts (2.41 ERA). That said, note that two of those wins have come over the 38-56 Tigers. Keller is 1-3 with a 6.86 ERA in five career appearances against the Rays, including four starts.

KC is almost guaranteed to complete a SEVENTH straight losing season, while Tampa Bay is likely headed to a FOURTH straight postseason. This is the first meeting of 2022 between the two teams but note that the Rays have won 16 of the past 21 meetings between the clubs dating back to August 30, 2017. Rays win "with room to spare!'

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:10 ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays missed a wild card spot by ONE game in 2021 but were a 'sexy' preseason pick to best the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees in the brutally tough AL East in 2022. That has NOT been the case but even at a disappointing 50-43, the Jays are right in the wild card mix. The Red Sox have won four World Series titles since 2004 but Boston struggled to a 24-36 record in the 2020 season, before surprising most by going 92-70 in 2021. The Red Sox made it to the ALCS last season but lost 4-2 to the Astros. Boston is currently 48-45 and like the Rays and Jays, battling for one of THREE wild card spots.

The Red Sox conclude a 17-game stretch against American League East opponents when they begin a three-game home series Friday against the Blue Jays. The Red Sox have at least nine games left this season against each of their divisional opponents and will be looking to bounce back after dropping two of three at Toronto from June 27-29. The Blue Jays won their last three games during a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals to end the first half and are 5-1 after a 1-9 stretch that led to the firing of manager Charlie Montoyo. Kevin Gausman (6-7, 2.87 ERA) will get the nod tonight for Toronto, while Boston counters with Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.34 ERA). 

Gausman was nothing more than a journeyman prior to last season, when he was a key part of a San Francisco starting rotation that helped the Giants go from FOUR consecutive losing seasons to a MLB-best 107 wins. Gausman was 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.04 WHIP (Giants went 21-12 in his 33 starts). Gausman opened 5-3 with a 2.51 ERA through his first 10 starts (Jays were 7-3) but despite a decent 3.55 ERA, he's 1-4 over his last seven (Jays are 1-6). Gausman left his July 2 start after he was hit in the right ankle by a 100 mph line drive in the second inning against Tampa Bay (2 IP/ 0 runs). His next start came 12 days later and Gausman allowed just two runs over six innings of a 3-1 loss to KC.

Eovaldi returned from the 15-day injured list (back) and pitched 4.1 innings in Boston's eventual 5-4 extra-innings win at New York last Friday. He allowed three runs on six hits in a no-decision. The Red Sox are 5-5 in his 10 starts this season. It's worth noting that except for his 14-3 record for the NYY in 2015, Eovaldi's career record is 47-62 (4.18 ERA). I believe Toronto IS the better team and will note that while Gausman is 5-8 with a 3.87 ERA in 18 career starts vs Boston (teams are 8-10), he's made three starts vs the Red Sox in 2022, going 2-0 (team is 3-0) allowing one ERs over 21 innings (0.43 ERA) with a 27-2 KW ratio. Toronto gets the "W."

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Bal Orioles at 4:10 ET (this side play is listed as "action").

The Baltimore Orioles have missed the postseason in each of the last FIVE years, losing 100-plus games in THREE of the four full seasons, including tying Arizona for MLB's worst record in 2021 at 52-110. The Tampa Bay Rays entered the current season off three straight postseason appearances (the team has won the AL East in both 2020 and 2021). Few could have predicted that an Oriole visit to "The Trop" to take on the Rays the weekend before the All-Star break would have had any significance at the start of the 2022 season. However, Baltimore carried a 10-game winning streak into the series and at one game above .500 (45-44). The Orioles had gone 21-9 since falling a season-worst 11 games under .500 at 24-35 on June 10, and incredibly, found themselves a legitimate wild card contender. Tampa Bay entered this series off a four-game home sweep of the Red Sox, giving them a 49-40 record, which ranked third best in the AL.

Tampa Bay's 5-4 Friday victory ended the Orioles' winning streak at 10 games, Baltimore's longest since a 13-game run in 1999. "The feeling of losing after winning 10 straight is not the feeling we want," said Tyler Wells, who went 5.2 innings as Baltimore's starter Friday. "It sucks. It sucks a lot. But I think the guys are going to come back stronger." The win marked Tampa Bay's 50th of the season and at 50-40, the Rays own a 2 1/2-game edge on division rivals Toronto and Boston plus a 1 1/2-game edge on Seattle, which has won 12 straight and 20 of 23. Baltimore will attempt to bounce back on Saturday behind Dean Kremer (3-1, 2.15 ERA), while Ryan Yarbrough (0-4, 5.82 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Durham to start for the Rays on Saturday.

Kremer made just four starts in 2020 but had 13 in a disastrous 2021 season. He finished 0-7 with a 7.55 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and a BAA of .292 (Orioles were 2-11 in his starts). Nonetheless, Kremer was poised to earn a spot in the bottom of the rotation out of spring training but he suffered a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen during the team’s third game on April 10 at Tampa Bay. He was finally ready to go in June and he made his 2022 debut on June 5 against Cleveland. He'll take the mound today for his EIGHTH start and over his first seven, he allowed five ERs in a July 4th start vs Texas (Orioles would win in extra-innings) but a total of just five ERs in the other six starts covering 33 innings (1.36 ERA). What a difference a year can make!

Yarbrough has been with Tampa Bay since 2018, making 115 appearances, including 56 starts. He's 37-27 with a 4.40 ERA but in eight appearances this season (six starts), he' 0-4 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.56 WHIP (both categories represent career season worsts!). I'm hoping Yarbrough gets the start but as we all know, Tampa's Cash 'invented' the idea of using an "opener," so I'll list this side play as "action."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NL Game of the Month is on the Col Rockies at 3:10 ET.

The Pittsburgh Pirates last made the playoffs in 2015, posting sub-.500 records in FIVE of the last six seasons. Pittsburgh came into the 2022 season off three losing seasons, including going 61-101 in 2021. The Pirates are headed for another playoff-less (and losing) season, as they check in at 38-43 after losing 13-2 last night at Coors Field to the Rockies (opener of a three-game series). Colorado snapped a long playoff drought in 2020 (13 straight playoff-less years) but fell to 79-83 in 2021. The Rockies are "going nowhere" in 2022, as they take the field tonight at 42-49. However, the suddenly hot Rockies are looking to record a season best FIFTH straight victory when they face the Pirates Saturday night in Denver. Colorado has won SEVEN of its last nine games while playing some of its best baseball of the season.

Mitch Keller (3-6, 4.88 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates on Saturday against the Rockies' Jose Urena (0-1, 2.66 ERA). This is Keller's fourth season with Pittsburgh and in 56 appearances (54 starts), he is 10-23 with a 5.65 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and BAA of .301 (OUCH!). He'll face a Colorado team that matched its season best for runs and racked up 17 hits last night and has scored 31 runs over its last three contests (Good luck!). Urena began his career with Miami back in 2015 and even with him him going 14-7 in 2017, his career record stands at 36-55 (4.71 ERA and 1.38 WHIP). Urena made four relief appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season before being designated for assignment. The Rockies claimed him, and he made five Triple-A starts while building up his arm strength prior to his recent recall. Urena is making his third start for Colorado since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and he has pitched at least six innings in both outings (12.2 IP / 3 ERs / 2.12 ERA).

The Rockies have lost both of his starts, but he's looked pretty good. He now gets a chance to face a Pittsburgh team that has dropped three straight after winning a season-best four games in a row. The Pirates are only 18-30 on the road and as noted above, the Rockies offense is 'en fuego!'

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the NY Mets (Game 1) at 2:20 ET.

The Braves were 51-53 in late-July of 2021 but went 37-20 the rest of the way and won the NL East (for the FOURTH straight season) before capturing the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. In stark contrast, the Mets went 22-38 down the stretch to finish in third place at 77-85, 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Mets made the 2015 World Series (lost 4-1 to KC) and made a one-game wild card appearance in 2016, but they've been playoff-less the last five years. As for the Cubs, who were coming off a 71-91 season in 2021, here's how one preseason magazine summed up the Cubs' situation entering 2022. "Highly successful early in the 20th century, followed by 100 years of mediocrity, then a six-year burst of winning and now back into the abyss."

The Mets got off to a great start this season and were 34-17 through the end of May. As for the Braves, Atlanta was just 23-27, 10 1/2-games behind New York at that time. However, the Braves opened June by winning their first 14 games and ended the month 21-6. They then began July 8-2. They opened a three-game home series with the Mets at 52-35. The Mets came in 19-16 since June 1, with their lead having been cut to 1 1/2-games. However, the Mets took the series 2-1 and headed off to Wrigley at 54-36, 2 1/2-games up on Atlanta. The Cubs welcomed the Mets to Chicago on a SIX-game losing streak and an overall record of 34-54, going a pathetic 17-29 at home.

The Cubs are a 'mess,' but they had dominated the Mets during the regular season since the start of the 2014 campaign, winning 19 of 23 games. However, as noted, "The Friendly Confines" have NOT been 'friendly' to the Cubs this season, while the Mets owned a 27-19 road mark in 2022 (second-best in the NL). I took the Mets in Thursday's game and they won handedly, 8-0. Friday's game was rained out and that sets up Saturday's doubleheader. Chicago needs to see some positive results after batting .198 and being outscored 43-20 during its second-longest losing streak of 2022. The Cubs managed only eight hits, all singles, while falling 8-0 on Thursday in the series opener. Chicago now faces stiff tests against Taijuan Walker (7-2, 2.63 ERA) in Game 1 and Scherzer (6-1, 2.15 ERA) of New York.

Walker has already matched his win total from 2021 and has not allowed a run in TWO of his last three starts. He's won his last four decisions (over six starts with two no-decisions), last losing back on June 7. Marcus Stroman (2-5, 4.91 ERA) will try to help the Cubs snap a seven-game losing streak in Game 1 of the doubleheader. Stroman was traded to the Mets from Toronto prior to the 2019 deadline. Stroman went 14-15 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.15 WHIP during 44 starts for New York, after opting out of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. When the Mets successfully pursued Max Scherzer, it left Stroman on the outside looking in. Somewhat bitter about that, Stroman signed a three-year, $71 million contract with the Cubs in December. I've always believed Stroman is HIGHLY overrated and his record says it all. He's just 63-65 in a career that began back in 2014 with Toronto. The Cubs can't be pleased with his efforts so far in 2022, especially here at Wrigley, where he is 0-3 with a 9.33 ERA in four home starts (Cubs are 0-4).

On top of all of the above, this marks just Stroman's second start since June 3, after missing more than a month due to shoulder inflammation. Cubs Lose! Cubs lose! Then they get to face Scherzer later in the day.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Late Breaker is on the Mil Brewers at 10:15 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers entered the current season having made the last four postseasons, winning the NL Central in 2021 and were favorites to do so again in 2022. The San Francisco Giants finished with the best record in the majors last season (107-55, .660) while finishing one game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Brewers and Giants opened a four-game series in San Francisco last night and both teams have struggled lately. Milwaukee was 32-18 through May 30 but had gone 17-22 since, leaving them at 49-40 (still led the Cards by two games in the NL Central, three in the loss column). The Giants were 37-27 through June 18 but were 8-15 since, falling to 45-42, 12 games behind the first-place Dodgers. However, the Giants were ONE game behind the Cards, who owned the third and final wild card spot. The Brewers took last night's game 3-2 in 10-innings, moving to 50-40 and THREE games up on the Cards, who lost to the Dodgers (the Cards are now four games back in the loss column). The Giants' loss dropped them to 45-43but with St Louis losing, they remained just one game behind the Cards for that third wild card spot.

Taking the mound for Milwaukee will be Brandon Woodruff (7-3, 4.01 ERA) and he'll be opposed by Alex Wood (6-7, 4.43 ERA). Woodruff was 11-3 with 3,62 ERA back in 2019 (team was 18-4 in his starts) but even though his ERA drooped to 3.05 in 2020 and 2.56 last season, the Brewers were only 6-7 (COVID season) and 16-14 in his starts, respectively. Woodruff is coming off a no-decision in a 4-3 home loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, a start in which he allowed three runs in six innings. He had won his previous two starts with 10 and eight strikeouts, respectively. He added nine against Pittsburgh.

Wood has been around since 2013 and had that memorable 2017 with the Dodgers, going 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA. He joined the Giants last season and was a solid member of the team's rotation, going 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 26 starts (Giants went 19-7!). The Giants are just 8-9 in his 17 starts this season, although he's coming off a 12-0 road win over the San Diego Padres in his most recent start on Sunday.  Neither Woodruff nor Wood have lost to their respective opponents. Woodruff is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in three career appearances against the Giants, two of which were as a starter. Wood has never lost to the Brewers in six career appearances, just two of which have been starts, going 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA. However, Woodruff's two starts both came last season two runs allowed with 16 Ks in 12 innings), Wood hasn't faced Milwaukee since 2018 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I took the Brewers over the Giants and won last night and I'll repeat part of what I wrote. "Milwaukee's 28 road wins are the most in the NL, while the Giants check in at just 23-21 at home. That's after going 54-27 at home in 2021, when they had MLB's second-best home record. Milwaukee is likely headed to a FIFTH straight postseason, while San Francisco's 2021 season may have just been an outlier, as the Giants entered 2021 off FOUR consecutive losing seasons. Make that 29 road wins for Milwaukee and the Giants are now just 23-22 at home. "Second verse (game), same as the first!' 

Good luck...Larry