My 10* Interleague ‘GAME OF MONTH’ is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

Pittsburgh swept a two-game series at Texas last week before hosting the Oakland Athletics over the weekend and taking two of three (the Pirates won Sunday with a four-run rally in the bottom of the 13th, after allowing two runs in the top of the inning!). The 16-15 Pirates get set to play their THIRD straight interleague set on Tuesday, when the Rangers arrive at PNC Park tonight for the first contest of a two-game series. The Rangers come to Pittsburgh off back-to-back wins, in which they totaled 18 runs. Sunday's 10-2 triumph over Toronto got them back to .500 (16-16) for the season.

Tuesday's pitching matchup features Adrian Sampson (0-1, 3.58 ERA) vs Steven Brault (0-1, 8.31 ERA). Sampson had little trouble with Pittsburgh last Tuesday, scattering five hits over 5.2 scoreless innings and striking out five before exiting and watching the bullpen serve up SIX runs. He will be making his fourth start in eight total 2019 appearances. Each of Sampson's previous three starts have come at home, so this marks his first road start. Pittsburgh has had to revamp its rotation with Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer hurt. So Brault will get the start Tuesday, with his four appearances here in 2019 coming out of the bullpen.

Brault has spent time with the Pirates and in Triple-A Indianapolis this season and his last start was April 27, 2018. Obviously, I'm NOT backing Pittsburgh because of Brault. Rather, I'm taking Pittsburgh because the Pirates are 6-1 vs AL opponents to open 2019, after going 15-5 against AL clubs in 2018. That's 21-6, a 78% winning rate.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the NY Yankees at 6:35 ET.

The Seattle Mariners have no problem hitting HRs and hit two more Monday. However, it was not good enough to beat the Yankees last night in the Bronx, as New York won 7-3. The Yanks have suffered through all sorts of well-documented injury woes but after opening 2019 at 6-9, they are the AL's hottest team, by reeling off wins in 14 of 19 to close within two games of Tampa Bay for the top spot in the AL East.As for Seattle, the Mariners opened the season 13-2 but enter tonight's contest just 19-18. Doing the math is pretty easy. Seattle is on a sad-sack 6-16 run.

Marco Gonzales (5-1, 3.28 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle and Masahiro Tanaka (2-3, 3.92 ERA) for New York. Gonzales finished the 2018 season strong and picked up where he left off to open the 2019 season. In fact, after he was charged with six runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks over just 1.2 innings in last Wednesay's 11-0 loss at Wrigley, the outing represented his first loss in 12 starts dating back to last August. He had gone 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA during his undefeated stretch, never allowing more than three earned runs.

Tanaka opened the season 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA over his first five starts of the season but then surrendered six runs (five earned) across 5.2 innings at the Los Angeles Angels on April 25 and three runs over four innings in Arizona on Wednesday, taking the loss in each contest. However, he's dominated the Mariners in his career, going 7-0 with a 2.02 ERA in eight starts versus them (Yanks are 7-1). Looking deeper, Tanaka's ERA against the Mariners is his lowest against any AL team and he has held Seattle hitters to a .199 BAA. He also owns a 64-5 KW ratio. Getting back to Gonzales, Tuesday will be the left-hander's second career start against the Yankees. He took the loss on June 19, 2018, in New York when he allowed six runs on eight hits (three home runs) in 6.1 innings.

Wrapping up, the Mariners have been outscored 60-25 in dropping SEVEN of it their last eight, while the Yankees have gone 14-5 over their last 19. The Yankees set their sights on a sixth straight home win against the Mariners, after beating them Monday for the 13th time in the last 16 meetings (81% winning situation). The Yankees have not lost a season series to Seattle since 2003 (12-0-4).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the NY Mets at 10:10 ET.

The Mets suffered a 3-2 loss in Milwaukee on Sunday, completed a three-game sweep during which they scored a total of just six runs (New York entered the series with a road record). The Mets continue their six-game road trip tonight in San Diego, which avoided a home sweep at the hands of the Dodgers on Sunday when pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe hit a walk-off grand slam for an 8-5 victory.

Monday night's opener of a three-game series offers one of the best possible pitching matchups at the moment, as Jacob deGrom (2-3, 3.82 ERA) takes Chris Paddack (2-1, 1.91 ERA). DeGrom won last year's NL Cy Young award (despite a 10-9 record) but he quickly staked a claim on a second straight Cy Young by opening the 2109 season in dominating fashion. He struck out 24 batters over 13 scoreless innings to start 2-0 but he then stumbled with three straight rocky outings (14 ERs allowed over 13 innings), which was interrupted by a stint on the injured list due to an elbow issue.However, deGrom bounced back from that rough three-start stretch by scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings against Cincinnati on Wednesday but was forced to settle for a no-decision (Reds would win, 1-0).

The Padres expected big things from Paddack, as in 37 career appearances in the minor leagues, he had a 1.82 ERA with 230 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 177.2 innings. So far, he's been as good as advertised (actually, even better) in his first six major league starts. Paddack has posted deGrom-like numbers, limiting opponents to a .126 batting average while registering 35 strikeouts against only nine walks in 33 innings (1.91 ERA and 0.70 WHIP).

Paddack will be facing New York for the first time but deGrom has posted a 1.66 ERA in six career starts vs San Diego (Mets are 4-2). A pitching stand-off? Maybe so but deGrom is the vet and I expect him to "want this one" pretty badly. The clincher is the following. The Padres are a WOEFUL 1-8 (that's an 89% "go-against") vs right-handed starters in home night games in 2018, averaging a puny 2.8 RPG.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the StL Cardinals at 8:05 ET.

St. Louis owned 10 wins in an 11-game stretch, including three straight to start a seven-game road trip, when they rolled into Chicago's Wrigley Field on Thursday. However, the Cards 'limp' back home Monday, on a four-game losing streak. The Cubs completed a four-game sweep of the Cards with Sunday's 13-5 victory, as the Cards were outscored 23-10 in the series. Sunday's verdict led to the teams trading places atop the NL Central, with the 20-14 Cardinals now a half-game behind the 19-12. Cubs. The 19-14 Philadelphia Phillies reside in first place in the NL East, with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies completed a 6-3 homestand with a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

Vince Velasquez  (1-1, 2.73 ERA) takes the ball for the Phillies and will be opposed by the Cards' Miles Mikolas (3-2, 4.73 ERA).  Velasquez hopes  to bounce back from his first loss of the season. He threw 99 pitches in just 3.2 innings while falling 3-1 to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. He struck out seven while giving up three runs, six hits and three walks.His first four starts resulted in one win and three no-decisions but the Phillies won THREE of those four starts, as Velasquez allowed just five ERs over 21.2 innings (2.08 ERA).

Mikolas resurrected his career in Japan after flaming out in his first stint in the majors and returned last season to tie for the NL lead in victories, while finishing fourth in ERA (he was 18-4, 2.83 ERA). He walked just 29 batters in his 32 starts and went 10-1 over the final three months of the season. Mikolas was also among MLB's top money-makers last season, as the Cards were 24-8 (+$1,1418) in all of his starts. He had an awful 2019 debut (March 28), allowing five ERs in five innings at Milwaukee but the Cards are 5-1 in his last six starts, as he's allowed three ERs or less in ALL five of the wins.

Mikolas has looked much more like the pitcher who went 18-4 for the Cardinals last season, with strong efforts in two of his past three starts. He beat the Washington Nationals 5-1 last Wednesday when he gave up a season-low one run and seven hits over six innings and two starts earlier, gave up two runs on four hits in a season-long eight innings while beating the New York Mets 10-2. In contrast, I'm not about to trust Valesquez, who has made 45 starts the last two seasons, going 11-19 with a 4.94 ERA. The Cards are back home where they are 12-4, averaging 5.69 RPG. Want more? The Cards are 10-2 (83%) at home vs right-handed starters in 2019, averaging 6.3 RPG. Enough said.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the NY Yankees at 4:05 ET.

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, who homered twice Friday, hit another one Saturday. It was his fifth blast in eight games since returning from the disabled list. Speaking of getting back on the field, 3rd baseman Miguel Andujar played his first game since injuring his shoulder back on March 31 and was 1-for-2 but also committed a pair of errors. The result was that New York lost for just fourth time in its last 14 games, 7-3. Mitch Garver had three hits (including a HR) plus Nelson Cruz went deep for the second straight game and C.J. Cron homered, a thse Minnesota Twins ended a nine-game road losing streak to the Yankees (playoffs included). Minnesota now has a chance to earn a series victory in the finale of a three-game set on Sunday afternoon, a contest that will now start three hours later (at 4:05 p.m.) due to heavy rain in the forecast.

Michael Pineda (2-2, 6.21 ERA) gets the ball for Minnesota and Domingo Germán (5-1, 2.56 ERA) for New York.Pineda, who spent his previous four seasons with New York, opened the season with three straight solid outings (3.00 ERA), including victories over Philadelphia and Detroit (Twins were 3-0). However, the 6-7 pitcher has allowed 15 ERs on 24 hits over 14 innings in the past three outings (2-0 with a 9.64 ERA / team is 0-3). Pineda's lone start against New York came as a rookie back in 2011. German has a decision in each of his six appearances of 2019 (five starts / one relief) and enters this contest having worked at least six innings in his last four outings. Along with his excellent 2.56 ERA, he owns a 32-9 KW ratio, 0.85 WHIP and opponents are batting just .157 against him.

Will the Twins earn their first series win at Yankee Stadium since May 30-June 1, 2014? You can't get me on Minnesota in this one, as the Yanks are 51-15 (77%) against the Twins in the Bronx (including the postseason) since 2002!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Pit Pirates at 1:35 ET.

The Oakland Athletics opened their nine-game road trip with SIX straight losses. Oakland dropped three straight at Toronto to begin the trip, before falling in three in a row at Boston and watched the pitching staff surrender an average of 6.2 RPG in the six contests The A's limped into Pittsburgh for the final three games of the trip on Friday and the Pirates knew a little about how they felt. Pittsburgh rode a red-hot pitching staff to a 12-6 start to the 2019 season but then suffered an eight-game losing streak from April 21 through April 28. However, the Pirates opened this series off back-to-back wins Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas (Pittsburgh was also well-rested, with off days Monday and Thursday).

Pittsburgh would send Joe Musgrove to the mound in the series opener and he had been OUTSTANDING, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and .192 BAA. What's more was that he was a righty and Oakland checked in a 'money-burning' 6-15 vs right-handed starters in 2019, including 2-9 on the road. Getting back to Pittsburgh, the Pirates were 4-0 vs AL teams in 2019, following the team's 15-5 record in IL games in 2019. So what happened? Oakland ended its longest losing streak of the season  (also snapped a seven-game road slide) with a season-high 16-hit attack in Friday's 14-1 win. Meanwhile, the Pirates managed only a run-scoring groundout by Josh Bell in the first inning and stranded 10 runners.

I had the Pirates on Friday but was undeterred. I came right back with them Saturday against Oakland, as my Game of the Week. Josh Bell, the lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster Pittsburgh Pirates offensive attack, hit two HRs and drove in three runs in Saturday's 6-4 victory. Oakland followed up its 14-1 victory in the series opener with three runs in the first inning on Saturday, but faded in the final eight innings to fall to 1-7 on its current nine-game road trip. The Athletics will turn to Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.97 ERA) in the series finale, while the Pirates hand the ball to Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.42 ERA).

Montas gave up a season-high seven runs in a season-low 4.1 innings at Boston (9-4 Red Sox win) on Monday but only ONE of the runs was earned. Montas has fared MUCH better as a starter, going 9-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 19 career starts, compared to 1-1 with a 5.66 mark in 30 games out of the bullpen. As for Pittsburgh's Lyles, he opened the season 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA through his first three starts (Pittsburgh was 3-0) but he's had back-to-back shaky outings. He allowed four ERs in five innings of an 11-2 home loss to Arizona, before walking a season-high four in four innings (allowed three hits and two ERs) of a no-decision at Texas this past Tuesday (Pittsburgh won, 6-4).

Here's the bottom line. The Pirates have won FOUR of Lyles' five starts in 2019 (plus-$350) plus Pittsburgh win on Saturday ups the team's IL record to 5-1 in 2019 and 20-6 since the start of 2018. Meanwhile, there is "no getting way" from these numbers for the A's. Oakland wraps its nine-game road trip here having gone 1-7 so far and on the season, is just 7-16 vs right-handed starters, including 3-10 on the road. Why NOT Pittsburgh again? ESPECIALLY at this price!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Det Tigers at 1:10 ET.

The Kansas City Royals limped into Detroit on Friday to open a three-games series with the Tigers. KC came to town with an 11-21 record, including owning the worst road record in the major leagues at 3-10. The Royals lost 4-3 on Friday night but posted season highs in runs and hits (19) in Saturday's 15-3 victory (where did that come from?). Kansas City now has a chance to post back-to-back road wins for just the second time in 2019 and capture its first series win away from home on the year, as well. Could Detroit play the perfect foil? After all, the Tigers have dropped SIX of eight, allowing at least seven runs in five of those losses.

Sunday's pitching matchup will feature KC's Brad Keller (2-3, 4.07 ERA) going up against Detroit's Spencer Turnbull (2-2, 2.53 ERA). Keller will be making his second start since returning from a five-game suspension for throwing at the White Sox's Tim Anderson. Keller returned from that suspension to make his second straight start against Tampa Bay and suffered his second straight loss against the Rays this past Monday. He gave up five runs over five innings of an 8-5 loss (he also allowed five ERs over 6.1 innings in losing to the Rays 6-3 on April 22). He opened the season with four consecutive quality starts, but one of them was a 3-1 loss at Detroit when he surrendered three runs on five hits over six innings on April 7.

Turnbull put together his third straight strong start last time out at Philadelphia, matching his season high with six innings and earning his second victory in a row by giving up one run on three hits, as the Tigers won 3-1 Tuesday over the Phillies. Turnbull enters this game having allowed just two runs (one earned) on eight hits over 17 innings in his last three starts (0.53 ERA). Turnbull faced Kansas City in his second start of the season on April 4, striking out 10 batters and allowing three runs in six innings of a 5-4 Detroit win.

Keller started the season 2-1 with a 2.64 ERA over his first five starts but has allowed 10 ERs and 13 hits over his last two starts, covering 11.1 innings (7.94 ERA). Meanwhile, Turnbull has not allowed more than three ERs in ANY of his six 2019 starts and as noted above, comes in with an 0.53 ERA over his last three. As I mentioned at the top, where did KC's 15-run, 19-hit effort come from on Saturday? KC lands 'back on earth' with a THUD on Sunday!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Division Dominator (NL West) is on the LA Dodgers at 8:40 ET.

Kenley Jansen struck out the side for his 11th save, while Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor each homered in Friday’s 4-3 win over San Diego. The Dodgers improved to 10-4 against NL West opponents in 2019 and leads the league in runs scored (179). However, the Padres are showing why they could be a contender in the National League West for years to come, with the addition  Manny Machado’s, the youngest starting rotation in the majors plus they feature rookie of the year candidate Fernando Tatis Jr. (currently out with a strained left hamstring).

Rich Hill (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will get the nod for LA and Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 4.94 ERA) for San Diego. Hill is finally recovered from a sprained right knee and made his season debut Sunday at home against Pittsburgh. He allowed five runs but only ONE earned over six innings, as the Dodgers won, 7-6. Hill may be just 6-4 n 11 careers starts vs San Diego (teams are 6-5) but owns a 2.89 ERA in those 11 starts! Lucchesi was staked to an early lead against Washington last Sunday but received a no-decision after giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits over four innings, as teh Padres fell 7-6 in 11 innings. So far, he has posted 34-10 KW ratio over six 2019 starts covering 31 innings, which is good news. What is not so good news is that Lucchesi faced the Dodgers three times as a rookie last season, going 0-3 with 8.53 ERA while failing to pitch past the fifth inning in ALL three outings.

Hill over Lucchesi is a fairly easy choice, especially when one considers that Los Angeles was14-5 against San Diego last year and has won the season series EIGHT straight times. 

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the Mil Brewers at 7:10 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers have been without the services of the reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich's for nearly a week but Lorenzo Cain hit his fifth career leadoff HR and Ryan Braun had a tie-breaking two-run shot in the fifth inning, sending the Brewers to a 3-1 victory on Friday. Milwaukee pulled into a tie with Seattle for the league lead with 61 homers and Milwaukee has recorded at least one HR in all 19 of its home games. That sets a club record and leaves the Brewers two shy of matching the 2000 Toronto Blue Jays for the longest such run to begin a season in major-league history. Yelich could return to the lineup Saturday night. He exited last Sunday's game with a sore lower back and has sat out the last five games. However, he told reporters Friday he felt good after participating in a series of pre-game baseball activities

The 16-16 Mets have hovered around that break-even mark lately, mostly due to an offense that has been in a slump for the better part of two-plus weeks. New York has scored just two runs in its last three contests and is averaging 3.3 over its last 16 games. That's a far cry from the 6.1 average it produced in its first 16 contests, when the Mets sat 10-6. The Mets entered Friday with the second-worst ERA in the NL (4.90), but the rotation has allowed just eight runs over 32.2 innings over its last five games. That's good news but the etam's slumping offense is NOT!

Zack Wheeler (2-2, 5.05 ERA) takes the mound for New York and Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 3.60 ERA) for Milwaukee. Wheeler comes off a Monday start at home vs the Reds in which he allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings in a no-decision (Reds won 5-4). He was unable to build off a dominant 11-strikeout effort in his previous start. Wheeler is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers (Mets are 2-2). Gonzalez is a two-time All-Star who began the year in the New York Yankees organization, before opting out of his minor-league contract. He returned to the Brewers last week, after going 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts (Brewers were a perfect 5-0) with them down the stretch last year. He made his season debut against the Mets last Sunday, settling for a no-decision while allowing two runs on six hits and a walk in five innings (Brewers lost 5-2).

With or without Yelich, I'm playing on the Brewers in this one. The Brewers have taken three of the four meetings this season against the Mets and are now 9-1 in their last 10 home games vs them. As for Gonzalez, he's 15-6 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 career starts against the Mets (teams are 17-10). He's faced and defeated the Mets more than any opponent. Nothing changes here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

The Oakland Athletics opened their nine-game road trip with SIX straight losses. Oakland dropped three straight at Toronto to begin the trip, before falling in three in a row at Boston and watched the pitching staff surrender an average of 6.2 RPG in the six contests The A's limped into Pittsburgh for the final three games of the trip on Friday and the Pirates knew a little about how they felt. Pittsburgh rode a red-hot pitching staff to a 12-6 start to the 2019 season but then suffered an eight-game losing streak from April 21 through April 28. However, the Pirates opened this series off back-to-back wins Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas (Pittsburgh was also well-rested, with off days Monday and Thursday).

Pittsburgh would send Joe Musgrove to the mound in the series opener and he had been OUTSTANDING, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and .192 BAA. What's more was that he was a righty and Oakland checked in a 'money-burning' 6-15 vs right-handed starters in 2019, including 2-9 on the road. Getting back to Pittsburgh, the Pirates were 4-0 vs AL teams in 2019, following the team's 15-5 record in IL games in 201. So what happened? Oakland ended its longest losing streak of the season  (also snapped a seven-game road slide) with a season-high 16-hit attack in Friday's 14-1 win. Meanwhile, the Pirates managed only a run-scoring groundout by Josh Bell in the first inning and stranded 10 runners.

Saturday's pitching matchup will be Oakland's Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.75 ERA) and Pittsburgh's Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.38 ERA). Bassitt came off the injured list on April 22 and pitched five scoreless innings in a win 6-1 home win against Texas, then worked seven solid innings at Toronto on Sunday, striking out nine while allowing just one run on three hits in a no-decision (A's lost 5-4 in 11 innings). Williams had given up three ERs or fewer in each of his first five starts of 2019, before he was tagged for five in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers this past Sunday. Still, Williams has pitched at least six innings in all six of his 2019 starts, after doing so in seven of his final nine starts in 2018.

Williams was 8-3 with a 1.68 ERA in 16 outings since last year's All-Star break,before his last two starts, a 2-1 loss to Arizona on April 23 and the above-mentioned poor outing vs the Dodgers. However, let me note that his has allowed  more than three runs only TWICE in his 18 starts since last year's All Star break. What's more, he owns a superb 1.93 ERA in his nine career interleague starts. Yes, Pittsburgh got destroyed Friday but the Pirates are still 19-6 their last 25 IL games and while Oakland EXPLODED' for 14 runs last night, they are still just 7-15 vs right-handed starters in 2019, including 3-9 on the road. I'm "all in" on Pittsburgh in this bounce-back situation.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Pitch Perfect Play is on the NY Yankees at 1:05 ET.

New York has been decimated by injuries but third baseman Miguel Andujar is expected to return to the lineup Saturday for the first time since injuring his right shoulder in the third game of the season. Gary Sanchez hits two HRs (4 HRs & 9 RBI in a five-game hitting streak) Friday night, as the Yankees beat the Twins 6-3. Despite the team's injury woes, New York has now won 10 of 13 overall. Minnesota arrived at Yankee Stadium owning the AL's best record but bumbled made a pair of errors and added a wild pitch that led to three unearned runs while falling behind 4-0 by the fourth inning..

The middle contest of the three-game series goes Saturday afternoon, as Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.34 ERA) will take on lefty J.A. Happ (1-2, 4.68 ERA). Odorizz starred in his season debut back on March 30 (11 Ks and one run allowed in six innings) but then allowed seven ERs over just 5.1 innings of his next two starts. However, he's back in a groove and takes a three-start winning streak into Saturday's game (1.47 ERA). Happ has also turned things around after struggling out of the gate. He posted his third consecutive quality start the last time out, earning his first victory with seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball at San Francisco in a 6-4 New York victory.

Happ getting things turned around shouldn't be a surprise, as he is one of just NINE pitchers in MLB to earn at least 10 wins in each of the past five seasons! That said, let's get to the 'meat' of this selection. The Yanks are playing well and face Ordorizi, who owns a 2-4 record and 'ugly' 6.20 ERA at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees were 14-7 (5.6 RPG) in home day games vs righties in 2018 and are 4-2 (5.8) in that spot so far in 2019. As for the Twins, last night's defeat was their EIGHTH consecutive loss at Yankee Stadium, as Minnesota has now lost 51 of 65 meetings in the Bronx (including the postseason) since 2002. If that's NOT enough, the lefty Happ will face a Minnesota team that has faced just ONE lefty all season (a road loss at night), after going 0-7 vs left-handed starters in road day games in 2018!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

The Oakland Athletics have opened their nine-game road trip with SIX straight losses. Oakland dropped three straight at Toronto to begin the trip, before falling in three in a row at Boston and watched the pitching staff surrender an average of 6.2 RPG in the six contests The A's limp into Pittsburgh for the final three games of the trip this weekend and the Pirates know a little about how they feel. Pittsburgh rode a red-hot pitching staff to a 12-6 start to the 2019 season but then suffered an eight-game losing streak from April 21 through April 28. However, the Pirates open this series off back-to-back wins Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas (Pittsburgh is also well-rested, with off days Monday and Thursday).

Brett Anderson (3-2, 4.35 ERA) takes the mound  tonight for Oakland and will be opposed by Pittsburgh's Joe Musgrove (1-2, 1.54 ERA). Anderson got off to a solid start in 2019, allowing three or fewer runs in each of his first five outings. He won the first three of those starts but then the A's lost his next two (a loss and no-decision for Anderson). However, the vet was knocked around for six runs on 10 hits and a pair of walks over 4.1 innings at Toronto last Saturday in his last start, a 7-1 loss. Could that poor effort been affected by the fact that he had sprained his left ankle coming off the mound to field a grounder in his previous outing? Musgrove is winless in his last four outings but he posted a quality start in each one. Musgrove has been OUTSTANDING all season, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and .192 BAA.

Pittsburgh "stopped the bleeding" with two wins in Texas and so what else is new? The Pirates are 4-0 vs AL teams in 2019, following the team's 15-5 record in IL games in 2018. Doing the math, that's 19-5, a 78% winning mark. Want more? The A's visit Pittsburgh and draw righty Joe Musgrove (re-visit his numbers above). Oakland checks in a 'money-burning' 6-15 vs right-handed starters in 2019, including 2-9 on the road, an 82% "go-against" winning spot. "Case closed," as Archie Bunker liked to say!

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Cle Indians at 7:10 ET.

The Seattle Mariners begin a 10-game road trip by visiting the Cleveland Indians on Friday. Seattle comes in having dropped its last four games by a combined score of 46-7, as its pitching staff was pounded by the Rangers and Cubs, while the team' bats were mostly "silent.'  The Indians know all too well about 'quiet' bats, as Cleveland's team batting average dropped to an American League-worst .215 after a 4-2 loss at Miami on Wednesday. Adding insult to injury, the Indians lost ace Corey Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, when he was hit by a 102-mph line drive from Miami's Brian Anderson in the sixth inning of Wednesday's loss.

Yusei Kikuchi (1-1, 4.54 ERA) gets the ball for Seattle, while Shane Bieber (2-1, 3.68 ERA) takes the mound for Cleveland. Kikuchi pitched just one inning against Texas last Friday (in relief), as Seattle watches his workload in his first major league season. He last start (April 20) was his worst of the season. He allowed four runs on 10 hits over five innings at the Los Angeles Angels, even though he managed to escape with his first win. Kikuchi allowed three ERs in his first two starts over 10.2 innings (2.53 ERA) but over his last four, has allowed 14 ERs in 22 innings (5.73 ERA). Shane Bieber turned heads in his rookie season (2018), going 11-5 in 20 appearances, including 19 starts (Cleveland was 13-6). He's made five starts in 2019 and has pitched well in four of them. He allowed seven runs (five earned) in an 11-5 loss to the Braves on April 21 (lasted just 2.1 innings) but in his other four, has gone at least six innings, posting a 2.16 ERA.

Here's the rub. Seattle's 13-2 start to the season is now a distant memory, as the Mariners have lost 13 of their last 18 games. Seattle batted .295 as team and averaged 7.8 runs in opening 13-2 but is batting .202 with 4.0 RPG in going 5-13. That hardly bodes well with this 10-game road trip on tap, featuring visits to Cleveland, the New York Yankees and Boston, all playoff teams in 2018. What's more, I really like Bieber over Kikuchi.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Division Dominator (NL East) is on the Atl Braves at 7:10 ET.

The Atlanta Braves surprised many (all?) by winning the NL East by eight games in 2018, posting a 90-72 record (Braves had averaged 92.7 losses per season the previous three! ). Atlanta opened the 2019 season by getting swept in Philadelphia but promptly won NINE of 12. However, Thursday’s 11-2 loss was Atlanta's 10th in its last 16, since that early April stretch.a HUGE issue in the team's last 10 games has been that, the team that led the National League in hitting with runners in scoring position a season ago, is batting .149 in those situations in that stretch. The Braves open a 10-game road trip tonight in Miami. The Marlins saw their four-game losing streak end with Wednesday’s 4-2 home victory over Cleveland but Miami checks in at 9-21, owners of MLB's worst record.

Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.80 ERA) steps to the mound for Atlanta and will be opposed by Jose Urena (1-4, 5.08 ERA). Gausman was just 5-8 (4.43 ERA) in 21 starts for Baltimore last season (Orioles were 6-15, -$967 in his 21 starts) but after getting 'rescued' by the Braves, went 5-3 (2.87 ERA) in 10 starts (Atlanta went 7-3). Gausman has struggled in his last two starts, giving up five ERs in back-to-back appearances with 13 total hits allowed in 10.1 innings (8.71 ERA). Meanwhile, Urena has pitched better lately, after a rough start to the season. He's given up just five ERs in 20 innings over his last three starts (2.25 ERA), after surrendering 14 ERs in his opening three outings over 13.2 innings (9.22 ERA).

However, Gausman expects similar results from his season debut against the Marlins on April 5, a game in which he allowed two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven shutout innings of 4-0 win. That gives him a 3-1 lifetime mark with a 1.52 ERA against the Marlins. In stark contrast, Urena is 2-6 with a 5.91 ERA in 14 career games (11 starts) against the Braves. He's 2-5 in those 11 starts (5.54 ERA), with Miami going 2-9! These division rivals are meeting for the first time in 2019, after Atlanta won 14 of 19 games last season. I noted above that Miami checks in with MLB's worst record and add here that the Marlins rank last in scoring (2.87 RPG), 29th in OPS (.622) and 25th in team BA (.228). Gausman and Atlanta 'get healthy' in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Pitching Mismatch is on the NY Yankees at 7:05 ET.

The Central Division-leading Minnesota Twins own the best record in the American League (19-10), after completing a 6-1 homestand. The Twins just took three of four from the Astros, improving to 10-3 over their last 13 games. “If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best," second baseman Jonathan Schoop said. "We believe we're the best team in the league, so we're going to go out there and have fun and compete."The Twins visit Yankee Stadium to open a three-games series Friday night. New York was in the midst of its best stretch of the season, winning nine of 10, but closed out a nine-game road trip by getting swept in Arizona by the D'backs in a two-game IL series. The 17-13 Yankees (2 1/2 games back of the Rays in the AL East) get set for a stretch of 30 games in 31 days.

Kyle Gibson (2-0, 4.88 ERA) will step to the mound for Minnesota and James Paxton (3-2, 3.38 ERA) for New York.Gibson stumbled badly out of the gate in 2019, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) over 14.2 innings (7.36 ERA) but managed to escape with a no-decision each time (Twins were 2-1). He earned his first win with six innings of two-run ball against Baltimore on April 21 and was even better in a rematch seven days later, allowing one run and three hits in seven innings. Paxton just missed a third straight quality start in his last outing, pitching 5.2 innings and giving up three runs on five hits while striking out eight in a 7-3 win at San Francisco on April 26. He was overpowering in his previous two turns, striking out 12 over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus Kansas City and dominating Boston with 12 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball of an 8-0 win.

Now to why I'm calling this a "pitching mismatch." Paxton comes in with a 1.37 ERA in his last three outings (Yanks are 3-0) and he's 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA in five starts vs the Twins. Yes, Gibson's won his last two starts but BOTH have come over 11-21 Baltimore. In his other three starts this season, he owns 7.36 ERA. Then there is the fact that he's an abysmal 1-5 with a 6.86 ERA in eight career starts against the Yanks (Twins are 1-7). That fits perfectly with the Yankees' domination of the Twins here in the Bronx since 2002. The Yanks have won 50 of 64 meetings (playoffs included) vs the Twins in that span. Enough said.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Getaway Day Romp is on the Was Nats at 4:05 ET.

The St Louis Cardinals opened the week coming off a 7-2 homestand as they began a seven-game road trip with four games in Washington against the Nationals. The Cards have won each of the first three to extend their current streak to five in a row and 10 of their last 11 games to claim the best record in the majors at 20-10. The visiting Cardinals look to complete a four-game sweep on Thursday at Washington, which has lost SIX of its last seven, falling to 12-17.

Dakota Hudson (2-1, 5.63 ERA) takes the mound for St Louis and Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82 ERA) for Washington. Hudson made 26 relief appearances last season but five of his six appearances in 2019 have been as a starter. He's won the last two, overcoming three solo HRs to work five innings in a 6-4 victory versus the New York Mets on April 21, before again allowing three runs in a season-high 5.2 innings of a 6-3 triumph against Cincinnati on April 27. Strasburg allowed four ERs or more in THREE of his first four starts of 2019 but he's been sharp in his most recent two. He beat Miami 5-0 on April 21, allowing two hits with 11 Ks. Six days later he allowed two runs over seven innings in a no-decision against San Diego.

The jury is still out on Hudson and considering his longest effort this season (in five starts) is 5.2 innings, I'm part of that jury. This will be his first start against the Cards but in four career appearances against the Nationals as a reliever, he owns a 7.71 ERA (troublesome, right?). As for Strasburg, while he hasn't faced the Cards since 2016, he owns a 2.56 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six career starts against them (Nats are 4-2). NO sweep here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Daytime Dominator is on the Mil Brewers at 1:10 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers opened the season 8-2 but then went 5-11 over their next 16 games. Milwaukee did win last Friday (10-2) and Saturday (8-6) at Citi Field against the Mets but could not complete the sweep, falling 5-2. Milwaukee opened a 10-game homestand at 15-14 on Monday against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies opened the 2019 season 3-12 but Colorado then won 10 of its next 13. Milwaukee took Monday's game 5-1 and Tuesday's contest 4-3, before Colorado earned an 11-4 victory on Wednesday. The 14-17 Rockies will try for a four-game series split against the 17-15 Brewers on Thursday afternoon.

The pitching matchup will feature Jon Gray (2-3, 3.65 ERA) going up against Freddy Peralta (1-0, 7.13 ERA). Gray was not on his game last Saturday in Atlanta, allowing five runs, eight hits (including two HRs) and three walks in 4.2 innings of Colorado's 9-5 victory. However, he had allowed just a combined two runs on 10 hits over 19.1 while going 2-1 in his previous three starts. Gray has made four career starts vs the Brewers and while he has 35 strikeouts in 23.1 innings, he owns a 5.40 ERA (0-1 / team is 2-2).

Freddy Peralta (shoulder) will be activated from the 10-day IL to start Thursday. Peralta made a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Biloxi, striking out seven over 4.2 innings. Peralta has had an 'ugly' start to teh 2019 season, as he did not get out of the fourth inning in three of his first four starts. However, he allowed two hits and struck out 11 in eight innings of a 1-0 victory at Cincinnati on April 3 in the other.

I've always believed Gray has been overrated and his 5.40 ERA in four starts vs Milwaukee hardly breeds confidence. Neither does Colorado's struggles vs Milwaukee, as the Rockies were just 2-12 in their previous 14 meetings (including the postseason), prior to Wednesday's 11-4 win. Milwaukee has homered in each of its first 17 home games this season, a club record and the third-longest such streak in baseball history behind the 2000 Blue Jays (21) and the 2002 Athletics (18). The Brewers are averaging 5.41 RPG here at Miller Park, while the once-feared Colorado lineup ranks 21st in scoring (4.39 RPG) and in OPS (.708), while ranking 22nd in team BA (.234).

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the Cle Indians at 7:10 ET.

The Cleveland Indians recorded a 7-4 victory last night in Miami, as Carlos Gonzalez (an offseason free agent) hit a go-ahead three-run HR in a four-run third inning. He had a pair of multi-hit games in the previous series and is 5-for-15 with two HRs and five RBI in the last four games.The Indians are 16-12, 1 1/2 games back of the first-place Twins in the AL Central. Cleveland looks for sweep of this two-game IL series with the Marlins, who suffered their fourth straight loss on Tuesday, falling to 5-12 at home and 8-21 overall (that's MLB's worst record).

Corey Kluber (2-2, 5.81 ERA) gets the start for Cleveland and will be opposed by Miami's Caleb Smith (2-0, 2.17 ERA). Kluber won a career-high 20 games in 2018 but has just two wins in six starts in 2019. He not only has a high ERA (see above) but he's got a 1.68 WHIP and a .287 BAA. Meanwhile, Smith has four straight quality starts, including last Thursday when he limited Philadelphia to one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision. He has surrendered just two total runs over his last three starts, with a 22-4 KW ratio. He not only owns a 2.17 ERA but his WHIP is 0.83 and opponents are batting just .167 against him.

So why Kluber and the Indians? First off, don't be two quick to dismiss Kluber. He's won two CY Youngs over the past five years (2014 and 2017) plus won a career high 20 games last season. He has piled up 56 wins over the past three seasons and enters this contest with Cleveland winning THREE of his last four trips to the mound (note: Cleveland's bullpen ERA is 3.32, tied for 2nd-best in all of MLB). Yes, Smith's off to a great start but he entered 2019 having made a modest 25 appearances (18 starts), with a 4.88 ERA. Hold off on any All-Star talk just yet. What's more, Miami pitchers have given up 28 runs in the team's current four-game slide (Marlins' bullpen owns a 5.29 ERA). Miami takes the field against Kluber, owners of MLB's lowest-scoring offense (2.83 RPG) and with the worst OPS (.618) of any team as well (not a good 'daily double!'). I'll take the two-time Cy Young winner in this one.

Good luck...Larry

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

The New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks open a two-game interleague series Tuesday night at Chase Field. The Yankees have won 11 of 13 since sweeping a two-game series from Boston on April 16-17, while the D'backs have won 10 of 14. The Yankees are coming off a three-game sweep of the Giants in San Francisco, the team's fourth straight series win. New York has played well while playing through multiple injuries, including those to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Gary Sanchez has two HRs in four games since returning after missing two weeks with a left calf strain. First baseman/DH Luke Voit has been healthy all year and has reached base in 39 straight games. As for Arizona, the Diamondbacks could not outlast the Cubs in a 6-5, 15-inning setback on Sunday, their second consecutive loss following a five-game winning streak. Red-hot third baseman Eduardo Escobar hit two HRs on Sunday (he's batting .480 with 8 RBI his last six games).

CC Sabathia (1-0, 2.40 ERA) will get the nod for New York and Zach Greinke (4-1, 3.72 ERA) gets the ball for Arizona. Sabathia underwent angioplasty and right knee surgery which delayed the start of his season but his is 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA in three starts, with 11 strikeouts in 15 innings, as the Yankees have won all three of his starts. The 38-year-old is set to retire after this season but needs just three strikeouts to reach 3,000 for his career(note: he will become the 17th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts). Merrill Kelly was expected to start this game but he was pushed back because Arizona used all of its relievers Sunday. Greinke was moved up to start tonight but he is on regular rest. Greinke had an awful 2019 debut, allowing seven ERs vs the Dodgers on March 28, in just 3.2 innings. However, he's posted FIVE straight quality starts (he's 4-0 and the team 5-0).

CC will get his three Ks (tonight or later) but I believe he is vulnerable here. After two outstanding outings (he did not allow an earned run in either of his first two starts), he roughed up for five runs (four earned) on six hits across five innings at the Los Angeles Angels this past Wednesday. Meanwhile, as noted above, Greinke has been in "top form" in each of his last five outings (all Arizona wins). Even despite his season-opening 'disaster,' Greinke owns an 0.99 WHIP and .218 BAA on the season. Over his last five starts, he's got a 2.20 ERA with a 37-5 KW ratio. He enters off back-to-back starts in which he's thrown 13 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and 11 Ks.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* MLB Game of the Month is on the Atl Braves at 7:20 ET.

The Atlanta Braves were 90-72 last season (won NL East) but last night's 3-1 win over the visiting Padres leaves them at just 14-14 to open 2019. Meanwhile, the surprising Padres are 16-13 to open the season, including 9-5 on the road. I say surprising because San Diego won just 66 games last year, the team's EIGHTH consecutive losing season (most wins in any season over that span was 77).

The pitching matchup for Tuesday's contest (second of a four-game set) will be San Diego's Chris Paddack (1-1, 1.67 ERA) going up against Atlanta's Julio Teheran (2-3, 5.40 ERA). The Padres expected big things from Paddack, as in 37 career appearances in the minor leagues, he had a 1.82 ERA with 230 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 177.2 innings. So far, he's been a s good as advertised in his first five major league starts. Paddack has held opponents to one run or less four times, while issuing one walk or fewer in four games. Amazingly, the 23-year-old just earned his first major-league victory in his last start (his fifth of the season!) last Wednesday against Seattle (note: Padres are 4-1 in his starts). He owns a 30-8 KW ratio, an .067 WHIP and a BAA of .112.

Teheran gave five runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings against Cleveland on April 20 (8-4 Atlanta loss), after giving up three runs or less three times in his first four starts. He rebounded from that poor outing at Cleveland by striking out seven while surrendering three runs on five hits with three walks in six innings last Thursday at Cincinnati. However, he took a 4-2 loss.

So why go against the red-hot Paddack? First off, let's not give him the NL Cy Young just yet. Let me also note that Teheran is a sold vet and in 10 career starts against San Diego, owns a  respectable 3.73 ERA. I believe the Padres have played well over their heads so far plus San Diego felt the absence of rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who suffered a hamstring injury Sunday, as replacement Greg Garcia recorded one of three errors in Monday’s loss. The Padres are hopeful Tatis, who led San Diego in hits (30) and steals (six) entering Monday and has reached base in 14 of his previous 15 games, will avoid the injured list but he WON'T play here. Speaking of Monday's loss to the Braves, San Diego has won only ONE game in Atlanta since 2016, going 1-11 in that time. I'll back the Braves in this 92% winning situation.,

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Mil Brewers at 7:40 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers opened 8-2 but then went 5-11 over their next 16 games. Milwaukee did win Friday (10-2) and Saturday (8-6) at Citi Field against the Mets but could not complete the sweep, falling 5-2. Milwaukee sits 15-14 as it open a 10-game homestand with the first of four against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. The Rockies opened the 2019 season 3-12 but Colorado has won 10 of its past 13, although its three-game winning streak came to an end with Sunday’s 8-7 loss to Atlanta.

Monday's pitching matchup will feature Kyle Freeland (2-3, 4.23 ERA) of Colorado squaring off against Milwaukee's Zach Davies (2-0, 1.65 ERA). Freeland began last season as the team’s fifth starter but evolved into an ace after the All-Star break, posting a 9-1 record and 2.49 ERA in 14 starts. Freeland set the franchise ERA record last season (2.85) and finished with MLB's second-best moneyline mark (23-10, plus-$1,486). Freeland is set to return to the rotation after missing one start due to a blister on his left middle finger. He has battled blister issues in the past, and he's hoping skipping a start will help. He threw a couple of bullpen sessions, including one Friday at SunTrust Park in Atlanta. Davies has put last year's injury-plagued season behind him (2-7, 4.77 ERA in 13 starts / team was 5-8), having not allowed more than two ERs in any of his five starts this season. Also, let's NOT forget that he was 17-9 in 33 starts in 2017, as the Brewers went 20-13 (+$880).

These teams are meeting for teh first time in 2019, after Milwaukee swept Colorado 3-0 in the 2018 NLDS (Brewers outscored the Rockies, 13-2). Yes, Colorado has won 10 of 13 but the team's offense is still averaging a modest 4.32 RPG (20th), while batting only .238 (21st). Davies is pitching well, while Freeland is a question mark.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Bos Red Sox at 7:10 ET.

The defending champion Red Sox opened the season with an 11-game road swing and went 3-8 and since then, every time they look as if they are about to turn a corner, they step on their own toes. Boston swept three games on the road vs Tampa Bay (April 19-21) but returned to Fenway and promptly lost FOUR of six, after scoring just three runs Saturday and Sunday in two losses to the Rays. Boston has three game left on its current homestand and will welcome the Oakland A's to Fenway starting tonight. Oakland went 97-65 in 2018 and finished as MLB's best moneyline team (+$3,663). However, the A's are just 14-16 in 2019 (-$418), after losing their first three on their nine-game road trip (Oakland is coming off getting swept by the Blue Jays over the weekend).

Monday's pitching matchup will feature Frankie Montas (4-1, 3.10 ERA) against Eduardo Rodriguez (2-2, 5.88 ERA). Montas alowed a season-hihgh nine hits in 5.2 innings in his last start but gave up only three runs, as he earned an 11-4 win over Texas. He was coming off two solid starts in which he had allowed four runs on just six hits over 12.1 innings while winning his previous two starts. Like Montas, Boston's Rodriguez  has pitched well lately, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts (team is 3-0), after getting rocked for 11 ERs on 14 hits in eight innings over his first two starts of 2019. One of those poor starts came at Oakland on April 4, when Rodriguez was knocked around for six runs on eight hits in just 3.2 innings.

Boston was held to two runs or less for the eighth time this year on Sunday. The Red Sox struck out 21 times and went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position against Tampa Bay. However, let me note that in home night games vs right-handers in 2019, Boston is 4-1, while averaging 6.6 RPG. This marks Montas' first career start vs Boston, although he made a pair of relief appearances against Boston in 2017 and struck out six while scattering three hits in 3.2 scoreless innings. I don't like his chances here in his first start at Fenway against a Boston team long overdue to break out. Boston has won Rodrigue's last three starts (see above) and let's NOT forget that the Red Sox went 19-4 in his starts in 2018, giving him MLB's sixth-best moneyline mark (+$1,387).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* MLB Game of the Week is on the Sea Mariners at 4:10 ET.

Seattle followed Thursday's 14-2 rout of Texas with a 5-4 win Friday night in 11 innings. Texas is an impressive 10-4 at home to open the current season but Friday's loss dropped the Rangers to 2-9 on the road, including 0-5 on its current seven-game road trip. The Rangers and Mariners met Saturday night, with the Rangers sending Mike Minor to the mound. Minor had made five career starts vs Seattle, going 0-3 with a 5.33 ERA (teams were 0-5!). The Seattle lineup he would face entered the contest leading MLB in scoring (6.28 RPG) and ranked 2nd in OPS (.834). What's more, Minor took the mound for a 2-9 road team, allowing 6.18 RPG. So what happened? Minor registered a career-high 13 strikeouts on Saturday, allowing just three hits and on e run in Seven innings, while the Rangers scored a season high in runs in a 15-1 victory (also banged out 15 hits)

Texas attempts to earn a split of its four-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Sunday, a day after snapping its five-game slide. Lance Lynn (2-2, 6.51 ERA) gets the ball for Texas and Erik Swanson (0-2, 4.61 ERA) for Seattle. Lynn just allowed eight runs on nine hits in just 3.1 innings of an 11-5 loss at Oakland on Tuesday. Lynn's only career start vs the Mariners occurred when he permitted two runs in six innings of a 4-2 victory in Seattle last year while pitching for the New York Yankees. Swanson was originally selected by Texas in the eighth round of the 2014 draft and will take the mound against the Rangers at T-Mobile Park in search of his first major league victory. He was one of three players traded by the Rangers on July 31, 2016, to the New York Yankees in exchange for Carlos Beltran. The Mariners acquired him in the offseason in the deal that sent James Paxton to New York. Swanson is expected to stay in the rotation until Wade LeBlanc (oblique) returns sometime next month. The marks Swanson's third start but he allowed just one one on two hits (including a solo HR) in six innings of a 1-0 loss to Cleveland on April 17 in his only previous home start.

Pitchers always like to beat one of their former teams and I really like Swanson's chances here. Sure, Seattle flopped last night but they still enter this game leading MLB in scoring (6.10 per) and with 59 HRs, plus own MLB's third-best OPS (.821). Seattle's lineup faces a struggling Lynn in this contest (1.55 WHIP and .302 BAA to go along with his 6.51 ERA) and let's not forget that Texas had allowed 42 runs in the first five contests of their seven-game road trip.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the Bos Red Sox at 1:05 ET.

The Red Sox swept a three-game series from teh Rays last weekend at Tropicana Field, winning 6-4, 6-5 and 4-3 (11 inn), The AL East rivals are back at each other this weekend in Fenway Park. Boston opened the series having scored 18 runs in back-to-back wins over Detroit but after Friday's series opener was wiped out by rain, managed just five hits and scored their only run Saturday on a solo HR by Mookie Betts in a 2-1 loss. The Rays were able to make teh most out of only four hits, including a solo HR by Yandy Diaz, to scratch out the one-run victory. However, it marked just Tampa's third win in its last eight contests. The Rays enter Sunday 17-9, 6 1/2 games better than Boston, which checks in 11-16 (Red Sox started the season 3-9).

Sunday's pitching matchup features Tyler Glasnow (4-0, 1.53 ERA) and Chris Sale (0-4, 7.43 ERA). Go figure? Sale is winless in his first five starts (Boston is 0-5), while  Glasnow has already matched his victory total from parts of his first four seasons with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. He won his first four starts before settling for a no-decision with 5.1 innings of two-run ball against the Red Sox last Sunday, when Boston won 4-3 in 11 innings. No doubt, Glasnow has been one of the best pitchers in the majors in April. In stark contrast, Sale lost his first four starts of 2019 (8.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a .311 BAA) but finally showed some signs of 'life' in his last outing. He struck out a season-high 10 while giving up just two runs on five hits over five innings against Detroit on Tuesday (Tigers won 7-4, with Sale taking a no-decision).

Maybe I'm 'spitting into the wind' here but I just can't believe that Sale WON'T get things turned around. He is 9-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 18 career appearances (16 starts / teams are 10-6) against the Rays, including 1-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay last season when he fanned 18 in 13.2 innings. Meanwhile, Glasnow will be making just his 17th start since being acquired from Pittsburgh and prior to 2019, the Rays had won just 4 of his 11 starts in 2018. He is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against Boston, both Tampa losses. Make that 0-3, as Boston and Sale win "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the Sea Mariners at 9:10 ET.

The Mariners have done most of their damage on the road in the early part of 2019, going 11-4 away from Seattle in an 18-11 start to the season. However, they have won the first two of this current four-game homes series with the Rangers, following Thursday's 14-2 rout with a 5-4 win last night in 11 innings. Texas is an impressive 10-4 at home to open the current season but the Rangers are only 2-9 on the road after last night's loss, with the team falling to 0-5 on its current seven-game road trip.

The Rangers will send lefty Mike Minor (2-2, 3.21 ERA) to the mound tonight, opposed by Seattle's  Mike Leake (2-2, 4.30 ERA). Minor has been a pleasant surprise for Texas. He missed all of 2015 and 2016 with arm troubles and then made 65 relief appearances in 2017 with KC. He was a nice surprise with Texas last season, going 12-8 in 28 starts. He's made five 2019 starts and has worked at least six innings in each of his last four outings. Seattle's Leake served up three HRs for the second time in a three-start span when he lost to the Angels in his last outing, giving up four runs and six hits over six innings of an 8-6 loss (he did not get a decision). He has allowed eight HRs in just 29.1 innings this season but they all have come during his three road starts.

Leake is 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six career starts against Texas (teams are 3-3) which looks downright Cy Young-like next to Minor's record vs the Mariners. Minor has made five career starts vs Seattle, going 0-3 with a 5.33 ERA (teams are 0-5!). The Seattle lineup Minor will face tonight leads all of MLB in scoring (6.28 RPG) and ranks 2nd in OPS (.834). What's more, Minor takes the mound for a 2-9 road team, allowing 6.18 RPG. Easy choice, here.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* play is on the Col Rockies at 7:20 ET.

The Rockies stumbled out of the gate losing 12 of their first 15 games. Colorado's bats were uncommonly 'quiet' in that stretch but the Rockies won for the NINTH time in 11 games last night, 8-4 over the Braves in Atlanta (Colorado is now 12-14). SS Trevor Story struggled offensively in the early days of the season (like many of his teammates), but he has found his form entering Saturday’s middle contest of a three-game series in Atlanta. He extended his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games in Friday’s victory, going 2-for-5 with a HR, a double and two runs scored in his sixth multi-hit game in his streak. As for the Braves, they fell for the seventh time in their last 10 games and are now just 12-13 on the season. Atlanta pitchers have allowed five or more runs FIVE times in the last seven games, while the team's hitters are 4-for-41 with runners in scoring position and have left 32 runners on base in its last four contests.

The pitching matchup for Saturday's contest will feature Jon Gray (2-3, 2.78 ERA) vs Mike Foltynewicz (13-10, 2.85 in 2018). Gray, like the entire Colorado team, had a shaky beginning to the season (0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in his first two starts). However, he's rebounded with three excellent starts. He has surrendered only two runs on 10 hits across 19.2 innings in his past three games (0.92 ERA). He lost the first contest 1-0 of that three-game stretch but has notched back-to-backs wins, since.

Atlanta's Foltynewicz will be making his 2019 season debut for the Braves, after only pitching two innings in spring training due to right elbow soreness. He made the All-Star team while helping pitch the Braves to the N East title in 2018. Last year's record is noted above and I'll add that he finished eighth in NL Cy Young award voting while placing sixth in strikeouts (202) and ERA. However, he posted a 6.11 ERA while going 1-1 in four minor-league rehab starts for Triple-A Gwinnett.

The bad news for Foltynewicz and the Braves is, Foltynewicz is 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA in eight career games (six starts) against the Rockies, with Atlanta losing all SIX of his starts against Colorado. More bad news comes Atlanta's way in the fact that Colorado's Gray is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a .213 BAA in five career starts against Atlanta (Rockies are 4-1.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* play is on the NY Mets at 7:10 ET.

Milwaukee opened the 2019 season 8-2 but came into last night's game at Citi Field with the Mets having dropped FOUR in a row and SEVEN of eight. However, a five-run third inning jump-started the Brewers to an eventual 10-2 victory, as four players registered multiple RBI. With the lopsided loss, New York has now dropped SIX of its last nine games, getting outscored 16-2 the past two contests The 14-13 Brewers and the 13-12 Mets (just 4-5 at home) meet in the middle contest of this this three-game series Saturday night.

Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 5.81 ERA) will get the ball for Milwaukee, opposed by New York's Noah Syndergaard (1-2, 5.90 ERA). Woodruff is coming off allowing five runs on seven hits across 5.2 innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday (LA won 6-5). He's now allowed four or more runs in three of his past four starts and  both of his 2019 wins have come in games against the Cardinals (3.38 ERA).  He will face the Mets tonight, for the first time in his career. Syndergaard has been a big disappointment in 2019 and comes in struggling in his last two trips to the mound, after winning his ONLY game of 2019 back on April 10. He's allowed 11 runs (nine earned) on 17 hits over 10 innings in his last two. However, he does have 34 strikeouts across 29 innings in 2019 and completed at least six innings in his first three starts of the campaign.

Milwaukee is in search of back-to-back wins for the first time in almost two weeks and considering Woodruff owns a 7.47 ERA in 2019 over three starts when NOT facing the Cards, I do not see the Brewers adding another "W," tonight. Syndergaard posted a 2.38 ERA in two starts vs Milwaukee last season, giving him a 1.48 ERA over four career starts vs the Brewers (Mets have won THREE of four). Make that FOUR of five.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the StL Cards at 2:15 ET.

The Card welcomed the Reds to St Louis for a three-game series on Friday, having won FIVE in a row overall and 10 of their last 11 home games. The Reds arrived in St Louis early Friday morning, following a rain-delayed 4-2 home win Thursday night over Atlanta,  Cincy began the game just 3-8 on the road in 2019, averaging just 2.73 RPG in their 2019 road games, while the Cards had averaged 6.08 RPG in their 13 home contests. So naturally, the Reds looked nothing like a last-place team or a fatigued team by tying a season high with five HRs in a 12-1 rout of St. Louis in the series opener. Cincinnati got HRs from Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winkler, Joey Votto, Yasiel Puig and Jose Peraza among 14 hits, while the Cardinals, who lead the National League Central in runs scored, had eight hits and just one run!

Tyler Mahle (0-2, 3.52 ERA) will take the mound for Cincy and Dakota Hudson (1-1, 5.89 ERA) for the Cards. Mahle showed some good stuff last Sunday in San Diego, striking out nine without walking a batter over six innings However, he also allowed four runs in a 4-3 loss. He still searching for his first win in 2019, as the Reds have lost THREE of his four starting assignments. Mahle made one start against St. Louis in his 2018 rookie campaign and allowed five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings to suffer a loss. Hudson allowed three runs (on three solo shots) last Sunday vs the Mets but earned his first big league win as a starter, as the Cards prevailed 6-4. Hudson tossed two hitless innings of relief against Cincinnati in his 2018 rookie campaign.

Friday night's blowout was Cincy's SIXTH win in eight games but I won't overreact. After all, the Reds did enter last night's contest averaging just 2.73 RPG in their first 11 road games of 2019. As for the Cards, they can be forgiven a blip, as they enter this game having won 10 of their last 12 home contests. Let me add that Hudson has allowed just three ERs at home, in 24 career innings (1.13 ERA).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the SF Giants at 10:15 ET.

The NY Yankees saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with Thursday’s 11-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. New York moves up the coast for this weekend three-game series with the Giants, continuing what will be a nine-game road trip (it concludes with two games in Arizona vs the Diamondbacks). It's a well-reported fact that the Yankees have 13 players on the injured list but the Yanks have won EIGHT of 10 to reach 14-11 and close withing two games of the first-place Rays (16-9) in the AL East. The 11-14 Giants welcome the Yankees to AT&T Park, returning home off a 4-4 eight-game road trip. However, the Giants won their final THREE games of that trip, after sweeping a two-game IL series in Toronto.

It's a showdown of lefties in Friday's pitching matchup, as James Paxton (2-2, 3.10 ERA) takes on Madison Bumgarner (1-3, 3.66 ERA). With Luis Severino shut down with a lat strain, the Yanks are really counting on Paxton, acquired in an offseason trade with Seattle. Paxton did little in his first three starts but has not allowed allowing a single run on just five hits with 24 strikeouts in 14 innings while lowering his ERA from 6.00 to 3.10 in his last two starts (Yanks won both). He is just the second pitcher in franchise history to record 12 or more strikeouts in back-to-back starts and will face the Giants for the first time in his career.

Bumgarner gave up four runs in the first inning last Friday against Pittsburgh but then settled in to blank the Pirates over the next five innings. The former World Series MVP has pitched at least six innings in each of his first five starts while posting a 30-to-5 KW ratio over 32 innings but has just ONE win (team is just 1-4). Bumgarner is making just his second career start against the Yankees. He didn't get a decision when he pitched at Yankee Stadium in July of 2016, allowing seven hits and two runs in seven innings in a 3-2 loss. What's more, no one currently on the New York roster has ever batted against Bumgarner as a member of the Yankees.

Here's the rub. Bumgarner has looked good in his first five starts of 2019 and deserves better than his one win. Overall, the Giants pitching staff has been outstanding (3.20 ERA ranks second in all of MLB) plus Bumgarner and the other starters are backed by a bullpen that owns MLB's best ERA at 2.48 (in comparison, the Yanks own a 4.45 bullpen ERA). If the Giants bats ever 'wake up'... The Yankees have a long history of struggling on the west coast and I believe Bumgarner is LONG overdue for some run support and I expect the Giants to 'bark loudly' as a home dog.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the StL Cardinals at 8:15 ET.

The St. Louis Cardinals have won five in a row overall and 10 of their last 11 home games. They open a weekend three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at 15-9 and now own a 2 1/2 game lead in the NL Central over the Cubs and Pirates, plus a three-game lead over last year's division champ, Milwaukee. Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina each homered as part of a four-run fourth inning in Wednesday's 5-2 victory over Milwaukee, with Ozuna (9 Hrs and 21 RBI) pushing his on-base streak to 14 games while Molina pushed his hitting streak to 12 consecutive contests. Paul Goldschmidt (9 HRs and 19 RBI) is riding an 11-game hitting streak overall. The Reds come in just 10-14 on the season but Thursday's 4-2 home win over Atlanta was the team's FIFTH win in seven outings (remember, the Reds opened the season 1-8).

Anthony DeSclafani (0-1, 5.59 ERA) will get the nod for the Reds and will be opposed by the Cards' Miles Mikolas (2.1, 4.97 ERA). DeSclafani made a solid season debut in a no-decision vs Milwaukee on April 2 (5 IP / 3 hits / 1 ER) but followed with two 'ugly' starts, allowing 12 hits and 10 ERs at Pittsburgh and home to St Louis in team losses. He answered those two disastrous starts with a strong outing in his last start, allowing just one run on two hits in six innings at San Diego on April 19 (he settled for a no-decision in a 3-2 Cincy win).

Mikolas became the first St Louis starter this season to record an out beyond the sixth inning, as he permitted two runs on four hits in eight innings of a 10-2 victory vs the New York Mets on Saturday. Mikolas was St. Louis' Opening Day starter, after resurrecting his career in Japan. He had flamed out in his first stint in the majors but returned last season to tie for the NL lead in victories in going 18-4. He finished fourth in ERA (2.83) and walked just 29 batters in his 32 starts. Mikolas went 10-1 over the final three months of the season, as the Cards finished 24-8 (+$1,1418) in all of his starts.

After the Cards lost with Mikolas on teh mound back on March 28 (Opening Day), the Cards have won each of his last four starting assignments. He's made four career starts vs the Reds, going 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA, as the Cards are a PERFECT 4-0. He takes the mound tonight for a St Louis team which is 10-1 its last 11 at home to face a Cincy team which opened 0-7 on the road in 2019, before winning THREE of four at San Diego from April 18-21. The Reds have averaged just 2.73 RPG in 11 road games in 2019, while the Cards are averaging 6.08 RPG in their 13 home contests. This on has B-L-O-W-O-U-T written all over it.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Pitch PERFECT Play is on the Cle Indians at 8:10 ET.

The Astros opened 2-5 before winning 10 in a row. Houston is just 3-4 since that winning streak ended but enters this series with the Indians having scored 17 runs in back-to-back wins over the Twins. Meanwhile, Cleveland is coming off a 6-2 win over the visiting Miami Marlins that halted a three-game slide. The 13-10 Indians will open a four-game series Thursday with the 15-9 Astros tonight in Houston.

Thursday's pitching matchup will feature to former UCLA teammates, Trevor Bauer (2-1, 2.20 ERA) of Cleveland and Gerrit Cole (1-3, 5.22 ERA) of Houston. Bauer is coming off a game in which he struck out a season-best 10 and gave up two runs on three hits over 6.1 innings although he failed to earn a decision against the Atlanta Braves in his last star. Bauer is off to a strong start in 2019, having allowed five or fewer hits in four of his five starts and is holding opposing batters to a .167 average, while owning an 0.98 WHIP. Cole went 15-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 2018, produced his best ERA since 2015 with Pittsburgh and had the top winning percentage of his career last season,while finishing fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting  He is looking to bounce back from what may have been the worst outing of his career in his last outing, as he allowed NINE runs (eight earned) on nine hits in 4.1 innings of a 9-4 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Cole should pitch better here (how couldn't he?) but why go against Bauer, who is 7-0 in eight career starts (team is 8-0!) with a 3.18 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 51 innings against Houston. PERFECT is PERFECT!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Chi Cubs at 8:05 ET.

The Dodgers opened the season 8-2 but then lost SIX in a row. However, LA had won SEVEN of its last eight before losing 7-2 at Chicago on Tuesday. The Cubs opened 3-8 but Tuesday's win makes it EIGHT wins in the team's last 10 games, as the Cubs moved to 11-10 one game over .500 for the first time since winning their season opener. Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez both homered for Chicago, supporting Jose Quintana’s third straight strong outing. The loss was just the second in nine games for the Dodgers but they failed to hit a HR for only the fourth time in 25 games this year.

Wednesday's starters are Walker Buehler (2-0, 5.40 ERA) for LA and Cole Hamels (3-0, 2.77 ERA) for Chicago. Buehler was taken 24th overall in the 2015 MLB Draft and exploded on the MLB scene late last season. Buehler finished 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 24 appearances (23 starts) on the season but was "something special" the last two months of the year. Buehler took the mound in Game No. 163 against the Rockies last October and allowed just one hit in 6.2 scoreless innings as LA clinched a sixth straight NL West title with a 5-2 win. That game was the 12th time in Buehler's final 13 regular season starts in which he had held an opponent to two ERs or less. However, Buehler has been inconsistent through his first four starts of 2019 (note his 5.40 ERA), although he’s coming off his best outing of the season. He registered a season-high eight strikeouts while limiting Cincinnati to an unearned run and three hits over 6.1 innings on Wednesday in a 3-2 win. This marks his first start vs the Cubs.

The veteran Hamels had a poor 2019 debut (5 ERs allowed over 5 IP vs Texas) but has been dialed in during his last three starts, with 19 strikeouts over 21 innings without issuing a walk (he's 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA). He comes off a dominant effort last Wednesday at Miami, fanning a season-high eight batters while limiting the Marlins to three hits over seven scoreless innings. Hamels is 3-2 with an outstanding 1.86 ERA in nine career regular season starts against the Dodgers.

I had the Cubs yesterday, noting that they had outscored the Dodgers 35-23 in seven meetings last season. The Cubs have won or split six straight home series dating to last year and can clinch another one when they host the Dodgers for the middle contest of their three-game series. The Dodgers average a National League-best 5.52 runs per game but they have scored two or less runs in six of the team's 10 losses. Up against the red-hot Hamels, the Dodgers could have trouble scoring again (note: The Cubs are allowing opponents just 2.44 runs in nine Wrigley games in 2019). Meanwhile, Buehler has allowed five ERs in TWO of his four starts here in 2019. It does mark his first-ever start vs the Cubs but it CAN'T be good news that he faced the Cubs in his lone relief appearance last season, getting ripped for five runs on five hits in one inning! Not sure why this game is basically a pick'em. Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Tor Blue Jays at 4:07 ET.

The San Francisco Giants hit a season-high four HRs in snapping Toronto's four-game winning streak by earning a 7-6 victory. The Giants conclude an eight-game road trip (3-4 so far) with a chance to complete a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon. Pablo Sandoval had three hits and a HR, while Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria and Joe Panik also homered for the Giants, who entered the series with the third-fewest runs scored in the majors. An eighth-inning grand slam by Toronto's Rowdy Tellez made it a one-run game but coming off a 6-1 road trip, the Blue Jays fell to Toronto just 4-7 at Rogers Centre on the season.

Lefty Drew Pomeranz (0-2, 4.82 ERA) will take the mound for San Francisco, while Toronto hands the ball to Clay Buchholz (0-0, 3.38 ERA). The two pitchers have 12 1/2 years of experience with the Red Sox between them, but played together at Fenway Park for just a half season, in 2016, after Pomeranz was traded from the San Diego Padres. Pomeranz had a season-high seven strikeouts at Washington in  his last start but took the 4-2 loss after giving up four runs on six hits over just 4.2 innings. It marked the fourth time in as many outings that he has failed to go beyond five innings. Pomeranz has 10 career appearances (eight starts / teams are 5-3) against the Blue Jays, going 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA.

Buchholz started the season on the injured list as he continued to recover from a flexor tendon injury in his right elbow, his third flexor tendon injury since 2015. He has made just two starts this season. He turned in a strong season debut in his first start with Toronto (April 13), but settled for a no-decision despite limiting Tampa Bay to one run on six hits over six innings, although the Jays won 3-1. However, he labored some in a no-decision at Minnesota last time out (April 18), allowing three runs and three walks on six hits in 4.2 innings of game the Jays also won, 7-4..

The Giants did have those four HRs while scoring seven runs on Tuesday but the San Francisco remains 29th in scoring (3.08 RPG) and OPS (.616), while ranking 28th in team BA (.212). The Giants face Buchholz, who enjoyed success against San Francisco with Arizona last season, posting a 1-0 record and 1.89 ERA in three starts (he's faced the Giants just four times in his career but owns a 1.80 ERA over 20 innings). Let me add that he also owns an 11-3 record at Rogers Centre in his career and that in his lone home start this season, held Tampa Bay to one run on six hits in six innings. The left-handed Pomeranz has not gone more than five innings in any of his four 2019 starts and will face a Toronto lineup which is 5-1 (+$615) vs lefties so far in 2019.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* play is on Chi Cubs at 8:05 ET.

The Dodgers opened the season 8-2 but then lost SIX in a row. However, LA has won SEVEN of its last eight and now is back atop the NL West by 2 1/2 games at 15-9. As for the Cubs, they opened the 2019 season 1-6 but are back to .500 (10-10), climbing back into contention in the NL Central, where the division's top-four teams are within two games of each other. Both teams come into this three-game series at Wrigley, playing like the NL pennant contenders they were expected to be.

Kenta Maeda (3-1, 3.80 ERA) takes the mound for LA and Jose Quintana (2-1, 3.43 ERA) goes for Chicago. Maeda posted a quality start his last time out against Cincinnati, holding the Reds to one run on four hits over 6.2 innings in a 6-1 win last Tuesday. He's won three of his first four starts, allowing three runs or less in all three victories. Maeda is 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs (Dodgers are 2-2). Quintana had a 'nightmare' 2019 debut (allowed 8 ERs in 3 IP vs Milwaukee on April 5), but has been dominant in his last two starts. He has 18 strikeouts over 14 scoreless innings, allowing just 10 hits and one walk in wins over Pittsburgh (2-0) and Miami (4-0).

The Dodgers have won seven of their last eight games, outscoring opponents 34-21 since April 14. However, after a 3-8 start, the Cubs have won seven of nine games. Better pitching has fueled the Cubs' turnaround, as they have allowed two runs or less in five of their last six contests (see above for a reminder of Quintana's part in that). The Cubs outscored the Dodgers 35-23 in seven meetings last season and I'll back them here in the teams' first meeting of 2019. Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

The Arizona Diamondbacks meet the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second contest of their four-game series on Tuesday. Pittsburgh entered Monday's opener with a major league-best 2.54 ERA and appeared ready to hold an opponent to three runs or less for an 11th straight game after taking a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning. However, Arizona exploded for 11 unanswered runs to cruise to a 12-4 victory. The victory helped the Diamondbacks improve to 5-2 on their 10-game road trip and give them a 12-11 mark on the season (2 1/2 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West). The Pirates fell to 12-8 (.600). leaving them percentage points ahead of the 13-9 (.591) Cards in the NL Central.

Luke Weaver (1-1, 3.92 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona, while Trevor Williams (1-0, 2.59 ERA) gets the nod for the Pirates. Weaver is coming off his first victory since coming over from St Louis in the trade involving Paul Goldschmidt. He beat Atlanta 4-1 last Thursday, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing only four hits with a season high nine Ks against just one walk. Weaver is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts / teams are 3-1) vs the Pirates. Williams has posted quality starts in each of his four 2019 appearances and while he owns just one win, the Pirates are a perfect 4-0 in his starts. That's really not something new. Including this year's four starts, Williams is 8-3 with a 1.68 ERA in 16 outings since last year's All-Star break, allowing more than three runs only ONCE!

Expect the Pirates to bounce back off Monday's late-game collapse, as nearly a month into the season, the team's pitching staff has arguably has been the best in the majors. Williams has been great and it's good news that Gregory Polanco's return to the heart of the Pittsburgh Pirates' lineup figures to be a spark for what has been a lackluster offense. Polanco was 2-4 in his season debut on Monday,scoring twice. He's completed his recovery from shoulder surgery in September, coming off a season in which he hit 23 HRs and drove in 81 runs.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* play is on the SD Padres at 4:10 ET.

The Cincinnati Reds beat the Pirates 5-3 on Opening Day but then lost EIGHT in a row. They came to San Diego to open a four-game series with a 5-12 overall record, including an 0-7 record on the road. However, Cincinnati has won each of the first three contests of this four-game series, outscoring the Padres 11-5. The Reds are sure streaky (won their season opener, lost eight consecutive games and then won four in a row, before dropping four straight right before arriving in San Diego), the Padres have now lost SIX straight, after a surprising 11-5 start.

Tyler Mahle (0-1, 2.65 ERA) gets the nod for the Reds lefty Joey Lucchesi (2-2, 5.06 ERA) for the Padres. Mahle allowed just one run, seven hits and four walks while striking out 12 in 11 innings of his first two starts this season ( two no-decisions / Reds were 1-1). However, he allowed four runs in six innings of a 6-1 loss at Dodger Stadium this past Tuesday. Mahle's two career starts vs the Padres came last season, when he allowed two runs on 10 hits and five walks with 10 strikeouts over eight innings (1-0, 2.25 ERA / team was 1-1). Lucchesi pitched a career-high seven innings but allowed five runs and seven hits (including two HRs) in a 5-2 loss to Colorado on Monday. Lucchesi is in his second major league season and opened 2019 by allowing seven hits and three walks with 13 strikeouts over 10.1 scoreless innings in his first two starts (both wins). However, he is 0-2 in his last two starts while giving up 12 runs on 14 hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 11 innings. Lucchesi has never faced the Reds.

I know the Reds have won the first three but a four-game road sweep for a team that entered 0-7 on the road in 2019? I just can't 'buy' that. Lucchesi has 166 strikeouts in 151.1 career innings, which shows his potential. The Reds were just 30-51 on the road last season and I'm on San Diego to snap its six-game slide in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the Oak A's at 4;07 ET.

The Toronto Blue Jays opened the season 5-11 but are steamrolling through a seven-game road trip. The Blue Jays have won the first two games of this series at Oakland by a combined 15-2 margin, improving to 10-12 on the season by going 5-1 on the trip. They hope to finish it on a high note with a three-game sweep of the A's Sunday afternoon. The A's bats have gone silent as of late, as Oakland has been held to two runs or less in four straight games and is 1-4 in its last five contests.

Aaron Sanchez (2-1, 2.86 ERA) gets the nod for the Jays and Brett Anderson (3-0, 2.63 ERA) for the A's. Sanchez will be making his fourth straight road start and will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday's start at Minnesota. He did hold the Twins to just four hits in six innings but he also gave up a season-high four earned runs while walking four and allowing his first two HRs of the year. Anderson has three quality starts among his first four outings, including six innings with two earned runs allowed at Texas last Sunday, although the A's lost 8-7 (in had a no-decision).

Yes, Toronto comes in red-hot but even after the etam's recent surge, the Blue Jays are averaging a modest 4.09 RPG (22nd) and batting just .225 (23rd) with an OPS of .674 (24th) in 2019. Toronto was just 33-48 on the road in 2018 and I want no part of them here, looking for the road sweep. Sanchez has been knocked around for 10 runs in 10.1  innings through his first two career starts versus the Athletics (10.05 ERA), while Anderson owns a 2.57 ERA in two career starts vs Toronto. More importantly, Anderson has been sharp this season (has allowed two ERs or less in THREE of his four starts / 3 ERs in the fourth) plus owns a 3.44 career ERA in home games.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Daytime Dominator is on the NY Mets at 2:15 ET.

The St. Louis Cardinals had to be glad when they heard that Jacob deGrom's elbow was "barking" when he began throwing early on Saturday. The 2018 NL Cy Young Award winner was placed on the 10-day injured list and the Mets had to call up Chris Flexen from Triple-A Syracuse to start him in deGrom's pace. The Cardinals took advantage and won 10-2, setting up the rubber match of the series in Sunday's contest. St Louis has scored at least four runs in each game during its 6-1 surge at home, which goes back to April 7 (Cards will play their next six at home after the Mets leave town). The loss was New York's FIFTH in seven games but the day was not all bad for New York, as after more throws on Saturday, deGrom said his arm "felt completely normal" and he was back on track to start Friday.

Noah Syndergaard (1-1, 5.63 ERA) will take the mound for New York and be opposed by the Cards' Dakota Hudson (0-1, 6.08 ERA). Syndergaard posted season highs in runs allowed (five), hits allowed (nine) and strikeouts (nine) in a no-decision at Philadelphia on Monday, a game the Mets won 7-6 in 11 innings. He has a 7.36 ERA in two road starts in 2019 but he owns a 3.08 ERA in four career starts against St Louis. Hudson has allowed 10 runs in eight innings on 15 hits (including five HRs) in two starts at Milwaukee this year, but has also posted a total of 5.1 scoreless innings in his other two outings (one start / one in relief).

This marks Hudson' fourth career start (all coming in 2019). He threw 4.2 innings without giving up a run in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in his only prior home start (April 9) and the former first-round pick has not allowed an earned run at home. That sound impressive but he's totaled just 19 career innings at home, allowing 13 hits while allowing a troubling 12 walks. My bet says that Hudson's first appearance against the Mets does not go well, while Syndergaard should be up to the task off a poor last outing.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the TB Rays at 2:10 ET.

The defending World Series champions are just 8-13 to start 2019, although yesterday's win gave the team back-to-back wins for the second time this season. However, Boston can't be happy that it let the Rays back in the game after taking 5-0 lead with a five-run 2nd inning. Tampa Bay chipped away and eventually tied the score at 5-5, before Andrew Benintendi's sacrifice fly brought in the winning run in the ninth inning (Benintendi's grand slam capped the five-run 2nd-inning). The Rays sit at 14-7 (lead the AL East by 3 1/2 games) but Thursday's loss to Baltimore (6-5 in 11 innings) Plus back-to-back losses to Boston on Friday and Saturday, give the team its first losing streak of 2019.

David Price (1-1, 3.79 ERA) takes the mound for Boston and Tyler Glasnow (4-0, 1.13 ERA) for Tampa Bay. Price has been Boston's most consistent starter (not saying much, as Boston's 5.81 team ERA of ranks 29th). He has worked at least six innings in each of his first three starts and ic s coming off his best outing against Baltimore last Sunday, when he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out seven without issuing a walk to earn the 4-0 win. Price was the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 2007 and went 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts (Boston was 4-1) against the Rays last season. However, he's a more modest 5-3 (3.33 ERA) in 13 career starts vs the Rays (teams are 7-6).

Glasnow has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first four starts and worked a season-high seven innings against Baltimore on Tuesday, allowing two runs and seven hits to earn the 4-2 win. Obtained in a trade with Pittsburgh last July 31 that sent pitcher Chris Archer to the Pirates, Glasnow leads the staff in wins (four), owns a 1.13 ERA and an 0.88 WHIP plus batters have hit just 2.05 against him. His production has been even more significant since staff ace Blake Snell was place on the injured list with a broken toe. Tampa Bay's pitching staff owns a 2,83 ERA (2nd) and the Rays are allowing opponents an average of just 2.67 RPG in Tropicana Field. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are allowing 6.27 RPG away from home. NO sweep here!

Good luck...Larry

My MLB 10* Game of the Week is on the SD Padres at 8:40 ET.

The Cincinnati Reds beat the Pirates 5-3 on Opening Day but then lost EIGHT in a row. They came to San Diego to open a four-game series with a 5-12 overall record, including an 0-7 record on the road. However, Cincinnati won its first road game of 2019 on Thursday (4-1) and followed with its second straight road win on Friday, when the Reds outlasted the Padres 3-2 in 11 innings (Derek Dietrich snapped a 1-1 tie in the top of the 11th with a two-run HR). While the Reds look to be "turning things around," the Padres have lost FIVE straight, after a surprising 11-5 start.

Luis Castillo (1-1, 1.46 ERA) will take the mound for Cincy and will be opposed by San Diego lefty Eric Lauer (2-2, 4.91 ERA). Castillo not only owns a 1.46 ERA but he's struck out 32 in 24.2 innings this season (at least seven in each of his four starts). However, he has yet to defeat San Diego in his career, going 0-2 with a 5.17 ERA in three starts (team is 1-2). Lauer, a former first-round pick, will be making his fifth start of the season and first against a non-division opponent (He's beaten the Giants twice and lost twice to the D'backs). Lauer made two starts against Cincinnati as a rookie last year, going 1-0 while allowing one run and registering 12 strikeouts over nine innings (1.00 ERA / SD won both games).

Castillo has pitched very well but I believe he's been "over his head." In his first two ML seasons, he's just 13-19 (3.89 ERA) in 46 starts (team is 23-23). He steps to the mound for a team averaging just 3.42 RPG (26th) and batting a MLB-low of .192 (note: Reds have averaged just 2.56 RPG on the road). Speaking of Cincy's road record, the Reds were 30-51 on the road last season and in road night games vs lefties, went 3-10 while averaging a woeful 2.9 RPG. The Reds face a young lefty tonight (Lauer), who has the makings of a being a solid (good?) ML pitcher. San Diego breaks its five-game slide right here.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Division Dominator (AL East) is on the TB Rays at 6:10 ET.

It's a "first vs worst" matchup in the AL East on Saturday, as the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Rays square off at Tropicana Field. In a "role reversal," the defending champion Red Sox sit 7-13 and in the AL East 'cellar,' while the 14-6 Rays sit atop the division, 4 1/2 games clear of the second-place Yankees (SEVEN games up on Boston). Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts had gone SEVEN straight games without an extra-base hit and was 2-for-23 in that span, before leading off the sixth inning with a double on Friday and clubbing a go-ahead solo HR in the eighth to lead Boston to a 6-4 victory, snapping a three-game slide. As for Tampa Bay, the Rays lost Thursday night to Baltimore (6-5 in 11 innings), making Friday's loss the team's first set of back-to-back defeats this season.

Rick Porcello (0-3, 11.12 ERA) will get the ball for Boston and Charlie Morton (2-0, 2.18 ERA) for Tampa Bay. Porcello issued five walks in four innings and was charged with three runs on six hits in a 9-5 loss to Baltimore last Saturday. The scary thought is that the effort 'lowered' his ERA from 13.50 to 11.12! The former AL Cy Young Award winner has issued a total of 12 walks to go with 22 hits allowed in 11.1 innings over his first three outings (owns a horrific 3.00 WHIP). Morton arrived in Tampa Bay after registering his best two seasons in the majors with Houston, going 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 starts. He's proving to be an excellent addition, allowing two or fewer runs in each of his first four outings (team is 3-1 in his starts).

Porcello has faced Tampa Bay 28 times as a starter, going 14-10 with a 3.42 ERA (team is 17-11). He made five starts against Tampa Bay last season and went 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA, with both losses coming at Tropicana Field. Boston is just 4-10 on the road this season, allowing 6.36 RPG. The pitching staff owns a team ERA of 5.85, which ranks 29th of 30 teams. Meanwhile, the Rays are allowing just 2.36 RPG in 11 home games this season and the pitching staff owns the AL's best team ERA (2.67). NO three straight losses here for the Rays.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Oak A's at 10:07 ET.

Khris Davis just signed a two-year contract for a reported $33.5 million heading into the Oakland Athletics' opener of a three-game series vs the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. He led the majors with 48 HRs in 2018 and holds an early lead in 2019 with 10, to go along with 20 RBI. Davis has hit 143 HRs since being acquired in a trade with Milwaukee in 2016, with his three seasons of at least 40, tying him with Mark McGwire and Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx for the most in Athletics' history. However, it was Mark Chapman who launched his third HR in six games, as Oakland posted its fifth win in seven outings with 2-1 triumph over Houston on Wednesday. The 11-10 A's will welcome the 8-12 Blue Jays to Oakland tonight, after Toronto recorded its third win in four contests with a 7-4 victory over Minnesota on Thursday.

Friday's pitching matchup will feature Marcus Stroman (0-3, 1.99 ERA) of Toronto and Aaron Brooks (2-1, 4.24 ERA) of Oakland. Stroman is winless in four 2019 starts, despite a 1.99 ERA. He was done in by an error from second baseman Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the third inning, as well as his own throwing error in the fourth to go along with four free passes, in his last outing. After getting a no-decision in his first start of 2019, he's now lost three straight outings. Oakland's Brooks rebounded from a poor outing at Houston on April 6 (5 IP / 9 hits / 5 ERs) with a strong one in Baltimore five days later, allowing three runs on as many hits in six innings of an 8-5 win. Brooks has worked himself back to the majors after a 3 1/2-year absence due to injuries and poor performance. In his two 2019 wins, he's allowed just three ERs on five hits in 12 innings (2.25 ERA).

Stroman will be making his fifth attempt at a first win of the season against the A's, against whom he's 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career starts (Jays are 1-3). Brooks not only owns a 2.25 ERA in his two wins this season but he's gotten 15 runs of support in those wins. He should expect excellent support here, as the A's were 35-15 (+$1,950) at home vs righties in 2018, including going 21-6 in night games, averaging 5.3 RPG. The A's have opened 7-3 at home in 2019 (no counting those two 'home' games in Japan) and Brooks will face a Toronto team averaging 3.75 RPG (22), batting just .217 (24th) with an OPS of .648 (24th) in 2019 and one which went 33-48 on the road in 2018.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Mil Brewers at 8;10 ET.

The Los Angeles Dodgers opened the 2019 season 8-2 but then lost SIX in a row, before snapping their slide last Sunday with a 7-1 win over the Brewers in LA. The Dodgers have since swept a three-game home series with Reds, extending their winning streak to four and at 12-8, are back atop the NL West (note: LA has won six straight NL West titles). A.J. Pollock hit a three-run HR that was the decisive blow in LA's 3-2 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing the Dodgers to tie the major league record with a homer in their 32nd straight home game. The Dodgers will hope to continue to flex their muscles when they open a seven-game road trip at the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

Like LA, Milwaukee opened 8-2, before losing three games in Anaheim to the Angels. The Brewers then took two of three in LA vs the Dodgers and two of three at home vs the Cards. The Brewers open this series 12-7 and atop the NL Central. Milwaukee has been facing a lot of familiar opponents lately. The Brewers, who ended last season with a seven-game loss to the Dodgers in the NLCS, will play either the Dodgers or St. Louis Cardinals in 17 of their first 26 games this season, as they head to St Louis for three games after this weekend series at home vs LA.

Julio Urias (0-1, 5.27 ERA) will get the nod for LA and Zach Davies (2-0, 1.53 ERA) for Milwaukee. Urias will need a better effort than he had last Friday against Milwaukee, when he worked five innings and gave up for six runs in six innings of an 8-5 loss. He did strike out seven in five scoreless innings of three-hit ball in his season debut (got a no-decision in a 4-2 loss to SF), but then lasted only 3.2 innings while giving up three runs in a no-decision at Colorado on April 7 (Rockies won 12-4). In stark contrast, Davies has improved in each of his three starts and went a season-high seven innings against the Dodgers, earning the 4-1 victory after permitting one run on eight hits while striking out six last Saturday. He also won his previous start against the Chicago Cubs, allowing just two runs (neither earned) on five hits over 5.2 innings, which followed five innings of two-run ball in a no-decision at Cincinnati on April 1.

The Dodgers are 0-3 in Urias' three 2019 starts and he could be headed to the bullpen. Meanwhile, the Brewers are 3-0 in Davies' three starts of 2019, as he looks to put last year's injury-plagued season behind him (2-7, 4.77 ERA in 13 starts / team was 5-8). Let's NOT forget that Davies was 17-9 in 33 starts in 2017, as the Brewers went 20-13 (+$880). Davvies is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five career starts vs the Dodgers. The Dodgers just swept the Reds but that was in LA vs a team which is just 5-12. Wns will NOT come as easily here in Milwaukee, which is 7-3 at home in 2019, after going 51-30 at Miller Park in 2018. No reason at all for Milwaukee NOT being the favorite in this game!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Det Tigers at 1:10 ET.

The Detroit Tigers dropped back-to-back extra-inning games at home Tuesday (4-3 in 10 inn) and Wednesday (3-2 in 10 inn) against the Pirates and have now lost FIVE in a row, after a surprising 8-4 start to 2019. The Tigers remain home and welcome the 7-10 Chicago White Sox to Comerica Park on Thursday, for the beginning of a four-game series. The White Sox had a three-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss at home to Kansas City, a game which was marred by a benches-clearing incident.

Chicago will hand the ball to Ivan Nova (0-2, 5.28 ERA) and the Tigers have decided on Tyson Ross (1-2, 3.50 ERA). Nova bounced back from a rocky outing against Seattle on April 7 (7 ERs allowed in just 2.1 innings), to spin six outstanding innings in a hard-luck 4-0 loss at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, allowing a run and four hits with five strikeouts. Nova has allowed just two runs in 13 innings through his first two road starts of 2019 but owns a 7.33 ERA in his career at Comerica Park and is winless (0-4) in seven prior regular season starts against the Tigers, allowing giving up 59 hits in 43.2 innings. Ross gave up four runs on five hits with four walks across six innings of a 4-3 loss at Minnesota his last time out. He has issued nine walks in 18 innings on the season but owns a decent ERA (3.50) in three starts, while holding opponents to a .222 average. He is also 3-0 with a 3.51 ERA in his career against the White Sox.

Detroit was homerless for the 11th time in its last 16 games on Wednesday, to remain stuck on seven for the year, six fewer than any other team in the majors. The Tigers are averaging just 2.65 RPG (29th), are batting .203 (28th) and own a .591 OPS (30th). However, the Tigers own MLB's third-best team ERA (3.00), including a 2.76 ERA from their bullpen (4th-best). Detroit will NOT be facing a Pittsburgh pitching staff in this series (Pirates own MLB's second-lowest team ERA at 2.63) but rather a Chicago staff that owns a 5.51 team ERA (27th of 30 teams). Throw in Nova's poor lifetime mark vs the Tigers and Ross's solid career mark vs Chicago and the bet is Detroit.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Min Twins at 7:40 ET.

Teoscar Hernandez's three-run HR in the eighth inning, rallied Toronto to a 5-3 victory in Monday night's opener of a four-game series at Minnesota. He followed that up with a two-run single in the seventh inning last night, to break a 4-4 tie in an eventual 6-5 Blue Jays win. The contest ended with Hernandez throwing out the tying run at the plate for the game's final out. The 7-11 Blue Jays and 8-6 Twins continue their four-game set Wednesday night at Target Field, as first-year Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli will try to put an end to the first losing streak of his managing career.

Trent Thornton (0-1, 4.61 ERA) will take the mound for Toronto, opposed by Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 6.35 ERA).Thornton is a rookie who allowed five runs on eight hits (three HRs) in just three innings of an 11-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday. He was much better in his first two starts of 2019, allowing a total of only two runs, five hits and two walks while striking out 15 over 10.2 innings without earning a decisions in either contest. Odorizzi allowed three runs on just one hit but walked four in 4.2 innings of a 9-6 loss to the Mets in New York on April 10. He struggled with his command for the second straight start, after allowing five runs (four earned), two hits and three walks in just .2 innings of a 10-4 setback at Philadelphia on April 4.

So why the Twins? First off, the Jays are 0-3 in Thornton's first three career starts and Odorizzi has shown flashes of being a solid starter while having three double-digit win season while with Tampa Bay from 2014-17. Odorizzi was sharp in his lone home start this season (6 IP / 1 ER / 11 Ks!) plus he's made 15 career starts games vs the Blue Jays, while posting a solid 3.21 ERA. As noted at the top, Minnesota's has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season on Monday and Tuesday but let me note that the Twins were an impressive 49-32 (+$1,345) at Target Field last season. Twins win "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Was Nationals at 7:05 ET.

The San Francisco Giants showed a rare power display by hitting a season-high three HRs in their series-opening 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. Evan Longoria extended his hitting streak to six games with a solo HR in the fifth inning of Tuesday's win for San Francisco, which had hit a National League-worst 10 HRs in the team's first 17 contests. Making some early 'noise' for the Nats is Anthony Rendon, who had an RBI single in the seventh inning to extend his career-best hitting streak to 14 games (Rendon is batting .397 on the season),

The pitching matchup features Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 1.62 ERA) of the Giants and Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 2.25 ERA) of the Nationals. Samardzija has been a career-long underachiever but has pitched well in 2019 (1.08 WHIP and ,203 BAA to go along with his 1.62 ERA in three starts / team is 2-1). However, Samardzija is is 2-8 with a 4.63 ERA in 17 career appearances vs the Nats (more later). Hellickson is Washington's fifth starter and due to the Nats' early season schedule, ace Max Scherzer made three starts this year before Hellickson made his first. Hellickson made his first 2019 start on April 10 in Philadelphia (only start, so far). He had made a relief appearance against the Phiilies on April 2, allowing two ERs on three hits in just two innings. However, he avenged a tough relief outing against Philadelphia by besting his former team in scattering three hits and overcoming four walks in six innings of a 15-1 romp last Wednesday.

I'm NO fan of Samardzija and let me note that he is 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA in his last six starts against the Nationals. He has not beaten them since 2013 and is 2-8 with a 4.99 ERA against Washington in 10 career starts. I can't back him here on the road, as the Gaints were only 31-50 away from home last season, going 10-24 in away night games vs right-handers (averaged just 3.6 RPG). Yes, the Giants won 7-3 last night (with three HRs) but even after that outburst, the Giants enters this contest 28th in scoring (3.00 RPG), 29th in team BA (.204) and 30th in OPS (.591).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the StL Cards at 1:40 ET.

Christian Yelich won last year's National League Most Valuable Player award and he's led the Brewers with four HRs and 10 RBI in the first two games of the series with Cards (Milwaukee has won 10-7 & 8-4) and he is 11-for-21 with eight HRs and 18 RBI in six games overall against St Louis this season.  The Brewers have won FIVE of six against their NL Central rival this season but Christian Yelich is not the team's only red-hot player. Catcher Yasmani Grandal. He's hitting .512 (21-for-41) in 12 April games to raise his overall average .404. The 12-6 Brewers look for a three-game sweep of the 9-8 Cards in Wednesday's afternoon contest.

The pitching matchup will feature a "re-hook" from March 31 in Milwaukee, as Michael Wacha (0-0, 5.28 ERA) takes on Corbin Burnes (0-1, 10.05 ERA). Wacha is coming off an injury-interrupted 2018 season but it was one in which he still manged an 8-2 record with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  Wacha opened the season with six solid innings in that March 31 no-decision at Milwaukee, striking out seven while allowing just one run in a game the Cards lost 5-4. However, he has regressed in two subsequent starts, walking eight in 5.2 innings of one-run ball vs San Diego, before he was shelled for three HRs and seven runs over 3.2 innings by the Dodgers in his last start. Burnes is off to an 'ugly' start in 2019. When he was matched up against Wacha last month, he did have 12 strikeouts but he also allowed HRs to Matt Carpenter, Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong. Burnes has also given up gave up seven runs over five innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on April 6 and five runs and nine hits over 4.1 innings last time out against the Dodgers. The long ball is killing Burnes, who will look to avoid becoming the first pitcher in major league history to surrender at least three HRs in four consecutive starts!

The 24-year-old Burnes hardly looks "ready fro primetime," as he enters this contest with a 10.05 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and a .339 BAA. The Cards WILL get to him (again). Meanwhile, Wacha is 5-0 with a 3.92 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) vs Milwaukee. An issue is that the Cards are just 5-6 in those starts, as he's not been helped by his bullpen (March 31 contest is a good example). Another example is the fact that Wacha has just ONE loss in his last 17 starts going back to last season (Cards are a more modest 11-6 in those starts)! That said, Wacha over Burnes makes sense.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (AL East) is on the Bos Red Sox at 6:35 ET.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees own MLB's most-storied rivalry (although Dodgers/Giants fans may disagree). However, it would be hard to argue when one considers that  Boston and New York have combined for 17 division titles over the previous 20 seasons. As the two rivals open a two-game series in The Bronx, neither team has played anywhere close to that level in 2019. Boston combined the majors' highest-scoring offense with a top-10 pitching staff en route to winning its fourth World Series title in 15 seasons last year, but Boston is averaging only 4.35 RPG in 2019 (19th), while it's pitching staff's ERA is 5.99 (29th of 30 teams). Both the offense and the pitching held true to form Monday, as the Red Sox were pounded 8-1 by Baltimore on Monday, leaving Boston without a series win in five tries this season (Red Sox are 6-11, overall). New York has better numbers, despite dealing with a host of notable injuries. The Yanks are scoring 4.87 RPG (16th) and their team ERA is 4.04 (10th). However New York enters this series having lost five of six. The Yankees' most recent loss came in New York on Sunda,y when they mustered only four hits and gave up five stolen bases to the Chicago White Sox in a 5-2 defeat.

It's a battle of struggling lefties in the series opener, as Chris Sale (0-3, 9.00 ERA) takes on James Paxton (1-2, 6.00 ERA). Sale is easily off to the worst start of any season in his career. He's giving up at least five runs in two of his first three starts, while having lasted no more than four innings in those same outings. The seven-time All-Star was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings at home last Tuesday against Toronto, after road losses at Seattle and Oakland. With Luis Severino shut down for six weeks with a lat strain, the Yanks are really counting on Paxton, acquired in an offseason trade with Seattle. However, Paxton has done little in three starts and struggled through his worst outing in three tries as a Yankee on Wednesday, giving up five runs on eight hits (including two HRs) over four innings in an 8-6 loss at Houston last Wednesday.

It's quite a surprise to see Boston as MLB's worst moneyline team (-$1,320) at this stage and New York as MLB's second-worst (-$1,160) but that's the current 'state of the union!' Paxton is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four career starts vs Boston (teams are 3-1) but that's NOTHING compared to the numbers Sale has produced against the Yankees. He's 6-4 in 18 career appearances (15 starts / teams are 8-7) against the Yankees. Confused? The record doesn't sound all that good, right? Well look closer. He owns a 1.84 ERA vs the Yanks, including going 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA in two starts against the Yankees during last year's regular season. What's more, Sale boasts a 1.86 ERA in eight career regular season appearances (seven starts) at Yankee Stadium.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* MLB "Late-Breaker" is on the LA Angels at 8:05 ET.

The LA Angels opened 2019 losing FIVE of six on their season-opening six-game road trip. LA returned to Anaheim for its home opener on April 4 and lost 11-4 to the Rangers. However, LA has since won SEVEN of eight games (outscoring opponents 42-26), despite Mike Trout missing the team's last three. Trout (.406 BA / 5 HRs / 12 RBI) has been sidelined with a groin injury, but is expected to rejoin the team in Texas and could be back in the lineup soon. Texas opened its season by taking two of three from first the Cubs and then the Astros. However, after moving to 5-2 with that 11-4 win at the Angels on April 4, Texas lost five of its last six before rallying for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to steal an 8-7 triumph over Oakland on Sunday. The AL West rivals open a three-game series tonight in Arlington and the Rangers sure hope that Trout misses a few more contests after the two-time MVP hit five HRs and drove in nine in that four-game series against Texas in Anaheim from April 4-7.

Monday's starting pitchers will be Trevor Cahill (1-1, 3.50 ERA) and Shelby Miller (0-1, 9.53 ERA). Cahill was LA's Opening Day starter (the second Opening Day start of his career) and has lasted exactly six innings in each of his first three starts, allowing a total of just three runs over his last two, after allowing four in a 4-0 Opening Day loss to Oakland. Cahill made only 20 starts last season while with Oakland, as he spent the first month in the minors and also made a visit to the disabled list. That said, Cahill's seven wins were his most since going 8-10 for Arizona in 2013. It's seems like a lifetime ago that he was 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA (it was actually, 2010). Miller was 15-9 for St Louis back in 2013 but he's never reached those heights, since. He left for Atlanta and went 6-17 in 2015 and then 3-12 in 2016. In 2017 and 2018, he made just nine appearances (eight starts). Miller has stumbled out of the gate with Texas, allowing six runs in 5.2 innings through his first two starts, issuing eight walks while fanning only three as a Ranger. He's now 0-5 with a 10.38 ERA in seven games (six starts) over the last two seasons for Texas. Miller has not pitched since he was chased after two innings at Los Angeles back on April 7, when he allowed four ERS on four hits and three walks. That left him 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA lifetime v the Angels (two starts).

LA handled Texas last season, wining 13 of 19 games and has opened 3-1 against the Rangers in 2019. Doing the math, that's 16-7 (plus-$766 @ 100/game). Even more to a support a play on LA is the fact that Cahill, who has thrown 123.0 innings against the Rangers (more than against any other team), will take a career 11-4 record with a 3.22 ERA against Texas in 20 starts (teams are 16-4). "Gotta" play LA in this one, even without Trout!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Phi Phillies at 7:05 ET.

MLB's fourth week opens with the 9-5 Philadelphia Phillies a half-game up on the Mets and Braves (both 9-6) plus two games clear of the 7-7 Nationals (it figures to be a four-team race well into September). The Phillies outlasted Miami 3-1 in 14 innings on Sunday to take two of three in that road series and return home for a three-games series with the Mets. New York began its 10-game road trip with a pair of victories in Atlanta but settled for a split of the four-game series after reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom produced his second straight sub-par performance in Sunday's 7-3 setback (Mets lost Saturday, 11-7).

Noah Syndergaard (1-1, 4.74 ERA) will get the ball for New York, opposed by the Phils' Aaron Nola (1-0, 6.46 ERA). Syndergaard picked up his first win of the season on Wednesday, despite surrendering four runs over seven innings against Minnesota. Syndergaard has 20-2 KW ratio in three 2019 starts (19 innings) . He is 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 10 career starts vs Philadelphia (Mets are 6-4). Nola developed into Philadelphia's ace last season, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA ()Phils were 22-11 in his starts, plus-$983 vs the moneyline). However, after an impressive effort against Atlanta in his season debut (he did walk five in the 10-4 win), he's struggled in back-to-back starts vs Washington. He allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (including 5 HRs) vs the Nats over just 9.1 innings. He did escape both outings without suffering a loss but Philly lost both games.

However, there is every reason to expect Nola to bounce back here, as he he is 6-1 with a 3.35 ERA in nine career starts against the Mets (Phils are 7-2). That includes a 4-0 record with a 2.15 ERA in six starts last season (he struck out 46 in 37.2 innings) against New York. Yes, the Mets have won two of Syndergaard's three 2019 starts, but in those two team wins, he's allowed eight ERs on 12 hits over 13 IP (5.54 ERA). While Nola was shutting down the Mets in 2019 (see above), Syndergaard owned a 5.75 ERA in four starts against the Phillies.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the LA Dodgers at 4:10 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers came to LA to exact a bit of revenge from the Los Angeles Dodgers,  who beat them in the 2018 NLCS. Bothe teams opened the current season 8-2 and then faltered. The Brewers lost three staright in Anaheim to the Angels to open the week but have won teh first two of this three-game series with the Dodgers (Brewers are 10-5). LA opened the week by suffering a four-game sweep at St Louis and has yet to 'stop the bleeding' back in LA, losing 8-5 on Friday to Milwaukee and then 4-1 last night (Dodgers are now 8-8). Los Angeles starters allowed 21 runs over 21 innings in the first five contests of the team's now six-game slide, before reliever Caleb Ferguson allowed just one run in 2.2 innings while serving as "the opener" on Saturday.

Jhoulys Chacin (2-1, 4.24 ERA) gets the nod for Milwaukee and Ross Stripling (0-1, 3.78ERA) for the Dodgers. Chacin finished 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 2018, the best overall season in his 10-year major league career (Brewers were 23-12 in all of his starts, +$1,079 vs the moneyline). He allowed five runs over 10.2 innings in winning his first two starts of the season and then allowed three runs, three hits (two HRs) and three walks in 6.1 innings of a 5-2 loss at the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. It could be noteworthy that Chacin was 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA after three starts a year ago before finishing with a career year!  Stripling allowed four runs, five hits and three walks while striking out seven in five innings of 4-0 loss at St Louis on Tuesday, after allowing three runs over 11.1 innings in his first two starts in a pair of no-decisions (team was 1-1).

Chacin faced the Dodgers twice in the NLCS last October. He threw 5.1 shutout innings in a 4-0 win in Game 3 and then came back five days later for Game 7 and only went two innings, allowing just a two-run HR to Cody Bellinger before handing the game over to the bullpen in the 5-1 loss. Chacin spent the first seven years of his career in the NL West with the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks, so he has faced the Dodgers more than any other major league team. He's 11-9 in 26 regular-season appearances (25 starts / teams are 14-11) against Los Angeles with a 4.41 ERA. Stripling has made three appearances against the Brewers in his career, including one start. He does not have a decision, NOR has he allowed a run in five total innings against Milwaukee.

The Dodgers haven't lost seven in a row since an 11-game losing streak from Sep. 2-11, 2017, which was the longest skid since the team arrived in Los Angeles in 1957. "We're going to be fine," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the loss on Saturday night. "It's not how you want to get to 8-8, but I'm really not too concerned with the results that have happened. I just think we have to continue to pitch well, get ahead, play defense like we've been playing and take those good at-bats, and it'll turn." I'm 'betting' with Dave.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Arz D'backs at 4:10 ET.

The San Diego Padres have won four straight and sit atop the NL West standings with an 11-5 record. It represents San Diego's best start to a season since 1998 (Padres made the World Series that year!). San Diego now looks to complete a four game sweep of the 6-9 D'backs in Arizona. San Diego won 5-4 last night, using six relievers in the victory. Its bullpen is second in the National League in innings pitched (relievers are 6-0 and have 10 saves in 13 chances). As for Arizona, the D'backs have lost four in a row (and five of six), after going 3-for-16 with RISP.

San Diego lefty Eric Lauer (2-1, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound opposite Arizona's Zack Greinke (1-1, 7.16) ERA). Lauer is a former first-round selection and despite allowing five runs over six innings against San Francisco on Monday, he earned his second victory after the Padres rallied from that early deficit to win 6-5. This marks Lauer's fourth career start against the Diamondbacks (he 1-1 with a 2.76 ERA in his first three outings / team is 2-1). Greinke received a no-decision Tuesday, after allowing four runs (three earned) with nine strikeouts over 6.2 innings against Texas. The five-time All-Star (and former Cy Young winner) has struggled early in his first three starts, giving up NINE of the 14 runs he’s allowed in the first two innings. Greinke has served up four HRs and seven runs in just 3.2 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first start and then San Diego tagged him for two more on April 2 (Arizona won 8-5)' He has allowed six HRs in 16.1 innings this season, with a 7.16 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and .324 BAA.

All that said, I still have to look to Arizona to avoid a four-game home sweep. Despite some 'ugly' numbers (see above), let me note that Greinke also owns a 22-3 KW ratio in his 16.1 innings this season. What's more, he's an impressive 12-2 with a 2.29 ERA in 23 career starts vs San Diego (teams are 17-6). As for Lauer, "big innings" have been a problem, as he not only allowed five runs in the fourt inning in his last start but he allowed four runs in the fourth inning of an 8-5 loss to Arizona on April 2. Greinke "gets it right" and the D'backs avoid the sweep.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Cle Indians at 2:15 ET.

The Kansas City Royals began the 2019 season with back-to-back wins over the White Sox but then lost 10 in a row. FIVE of those 10 losses came by just one run and finally KC's 'luck' turned, as the Royals have taken the first two of a three-game home series wit the Indians (8-1 and 3-0). The 5-0 Royals now look to complete a the sweep on Sunday, vs a Cleveland team which entered this series on a 6-1 tear. The same pitching staff that had served the Indians so well during that 6-1 stretch leading into this series, has been roughed up for 11 runs on 20 hits by the Royals Friday and Saturday. Cleveland's offense has gone dormant, scoring just one in the two games, managing only two hits in Saturday's shut out loss (both by Brad Miller).

Sunday's pitching matchup will feature Cleveland's Corey Kluber (1-2, 3.86 ERA) and KC's Jakob Junis (1-1, 5.74 ERA). Kluber was a hard-luck loser in his season debut against Minnesota after permitting only two runs on four hits over seven innings but he lasted only 3.1 innings and was ripped for six runs (four earned) in an 8-3 home loss to the Chicago White Sox in his second start. However, he had a strong winning effort Tuesday in Detroit, allowing two runs (just one earned) while striking out eight across six innings in an 8-2 Cleveland victory. Junis had made 50 appearances (46 starts) the last two seasons for KC with an ERA of just over 4.00. Junis continued to record strikeouts at an impressive rate in his last outing (Tuesday in a loss against Seattle) but he allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings. He fanned six batters in the four-inning outing and has recorded 20 strikeouts over 15.2 innings, yet he has surrendered at least three runs in each of his starts, hence the 5.74 ERA

Kluber owns a 3.26 ERA in 25 career starts vs the Royals and the two-time Cy Young winner (who has piled up 56 wins over the past three seasons), is 7-2 with a 2.70 ERA in his last 11 starts against Kansas City. I'm not sure why people are so high on Junis, who is 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) versus Cleveland. I'm sure not and I'll note that he's backed by a bullpen, that even after 4.1 shutout innings on Friday and Saturday, owns an 0-6 record with a 5.64 ERA . The KC lineup which will face Kluber went 39-74 vs righties last year, averaging a poor 4.0 RPG (went 5-12 in home day games vs righties). Kluber and the Indians get the "W."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Atl Braves at 7:20 ET.

I've said from the start that the NL East figures to be a four-team race for most, if not all, of 2019. The 9-4 Mets lead the 8-4 Phillies at the moment and New York is taking advantage of an early-season schedule full of games against its NL East rivals. The Mets won in Atlanta 6-3 on Thursday and followed last night with a 6-2 victory. They are now 8-3 against division competition and EIGHT of their next 11 games will come against division rivals. In the process, the Mets have been scoring runs in bunches, as Friday's 6-2 win allowed them to match a franchise record by scoring at least six runs in their sixth straight game. In contrast, 7-6 Atlanta (2018's division winner) dropped to 2-6 against NL East foes after Friday’s defeat.

Saturday's pitching matchup will feature a battle of lefties, Jason Vargas (1-0, 9.00 ERA)  for New York and Sean Newcomb (0-0, 1.64 ERA) for Atlanta. Vargas signed with the Mets for two-years and $16 million plus an $8 million option for a third year in Feb of 2018 but he suffered a broken right hand in March of 2018 and missed the first month of the season. He was once again placed on the disabled list in July with a calf injury and finished a disappointing 7-9 (5.77 ERA). He won his one start so far this season, getting the win on April 2 at Miami in allowing two runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in five innings. However, he saw his next start skipped in the rotation as a means to keep reigning NL Cy Young Award recipient Jacob deGrom on schedule. Vargas was on the mound this past Tuesday for his first relief appearance since 2009, surrendering FOUR runs on four hits in just one inning against Minnesota. So much for coming out of the bullpen!

Newcomb was a solid 12-9 (3.90 ERA) for Atlanta last season, allowing just 137 hits in 164 IP. He had a shaky first start in 2019 (allowed six hits and four walks in four innings but ZERO runs) but Atlanta would win, 8-0 over the Cubs. He then pitched very well Sunday against Miami, giving up two runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings of a 4-3 Atlanta win. He's yet to earn a decision but the Braves are 2-0 in his 2019 starts. Vargas is 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in six career appearances, five starts (teams are 3-2), against Atlanta. I'm expecting those Atlanta bats to wake up here. As for Newcomb, he went 1-0 in three starts against the Mets a season ago, posting an ERA of 1.00 with eight walks and 21 strikeouts in 18 innings, giving him a 1.82 ERA against the Mets in six career starts. No six runs in this game for the Mets, as Newcomb leads Atlanta to the win.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Oak A's at 8:05 ET.

The Texas Rangers were 67-95 in 2018, finishing a whopping 36 games back of the division-winning Astros. However, the Rangers took two out of three games in its first two home series of 2019 against two recent world champions, the Chicago Cubs (Mar 28-31) and Houston Astros (Apr 1-3). However, Texas needed a 5-2 win Wednesday at Arizona to wrap its six-game road trip at 2-4 (victory snapped a four-game slide). Texas now opens a nine-game homestand, as the Oakland A's visit Arlington Friday to continue their 10-game road trip. Oakland dropped the first four contests of its trip (0-3 at Houston), before breezing to three consecutive victories in Baltimore, while scoring 31 runs on 38 hits after losing 12-4 on Monday.

Mike Fiers (2-1, 5.94 ERA) gets the ball for Oakland and he'll be opposed by the Rangers' Drew Smyly (0-1, 7.11 ERA). Fiers is already making his fifth start of the season (A's are 2-2). He's had a Jekyll & Hyde start to 2019, allowing 11 ERs over just five innings in the two losses, while not allowing a single run in tossing six scoreless innings against both Boston and the LA Angels in his two 2019 wins. Texas has scored just one run in each of Smyly's first two starts but run support is not his biggest problem. The lefty, who made a career-high 30 starts last year, lasted just three innings in his 2019 debut vs Houston and then got roughed up for four runs on six hits over 3.1 innings in a loss at the Angels in his second start. Smyly (7.11 ERA / 2.37 WHIP / .345 BAA) has not faced Oakland since July 2016 and is 1-2 (4.09 ERA) in four career starts vs Oakland (teams are 1-3).

Smyly faces an Oakland team which comes in having just amassed 31 runs on 38 hits (12 HRs) in the final three games of their series against the Orioles. Oakland was 15-7 against lefties in road night games last year, averaging 6.1 RPG. Texas was just 20-31 at home vs right-handers last season, losing $1,270 vs the moneyline. Yes, Fiers allowed six runs on seven hits in only 1.2  innings at Houston last Sunday but let's not be too quick to forget what he accomplished last season. After Fiers was acquired by the A's from Detroit last August for two players to be named later, he helped pitch the A's into the playoffs, as the A's went 8-1 in his nine starts. Throw in his team record of 13-8 with Detroit and Fiers was 21-9 in team starts in 2018, giving him MLB's top moneyline mark of plus-$1,897! Oakland is the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the NY Mets at 7:20 ET.

The 7-4 Mets open a four-game series in Atlanta against the 7-4 Braves. The two teams enter the series tied atop the NL East with the 7-4 Phillies, while the 6-5 Nats lurk. This could very well be a four-team battle for a good part of the 2019 season in the NL East. This series begins a daunting 10-game road trip for the Mets, with the first four contests coming against the defending National League East champion Braves, who won 13 of 19 encounters last season against the Mets. The Mets ended a two-game skid Wednesday with a 9-6 home victory over Minnesota, as rookie 1B Pete Alonso finished with two walks, a run scored and an RBI in the victory (he's batting .366 with 5 HRs, with 15 RBI through 11 games). RF Michael Conforto has at least one hit in nine of his past 10 games with seven multi-hit games in that span, and has driven in eight runs in his past four contests.

The Braves opened the season by losing all three games of their series at Philadelphia but have rebounded to win SEVEN of their eight, before the scheduled series finale at Colorado was postponed Wednesday due to snow. Atlanta pitchers allowed 23 runs in three games at Philadelphia but have allowed only 22 during the team's 7-1 run (team ERA of 2.63). SS Dansby Swanson is showing why he was an overall No. 1 draft pick. As the Braves open a four-game home series Thursday against the New York Mets,  Swanson has a .324 BA with 4 HRs and 15 RBI through 11 games.

New York lefty Steven Matz (0-0, 0.87 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets and will go up against Kevin Gausman (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Matz struggled with control in his last start Saturday against Washington, walking four hitters in five innings, but has only allowed just one run (an unearned one at that) over a total of 10.1 innings with 11 strikeouts in two winless starts, although the Mets are 2-0 in his starts. That said, Matz should enter this contest with confidence, knowing he is 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves (Mets are 5-2). Gausman was just 5-8 (4.43 ERA) in 21 starts for Baltimore last season (Orioles were 6-15, -$967 in his 21 starts) but after getting 'rescued' by the Braves, went 5-3 (2.87 ERA) in 10 starst (Atlanta went 7-3). Gausman battled shoulder soreness that forced him to miss the first week of the season, but he held Miami to just two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings last Friday.

Matz not only has a solid career record against Atlanta but he'll face an Atlanta lineup which went 2-11 at home last season vs lefties in night games, while averaging just 3.0 RPG. Meanwhile, Gausman lost his only start against the Mets last season, surrendering three runs on six hits in five innings. That leaves him 0-2  with a 4.91 ERA in two career outings against them. Matz has gone a team-record eight straight starts without getting a decision but New York is a profitable 6-2 in those starts. I have a feeling Matz gets the "W" here but either way, expect the Mets to get that "W!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the LA Dodgers at 1:15 ET.

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the NY Yankees at 7:40 ET.

The  Houston Astros opened the season on the road, finishing a seven-game road trip just 2-5. However, Houston has turned things around at home by winning FIVE straight. Houston's bullpen has been a key, owning a 2.20 ERA, which is the second best in the majors in the early going. The Houston lineup has 14 HRs in 12 games overall and the Astros have produced 28 runs in the team's first five home games. New York's bullpen has let the Yankees down in the first two games of the series, as New York has owned leads into the seventh inning the first two games, before its bullpen allowed four runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined both nights. The Yankees currently sit 5-6, 3 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East. The Bronx Bombers will try to avoid a sweep as they take on the Astros in the finale Wednesday night. The Y

James Paxton (1-1, 4.09 ERA) gets teh ball for New York and Collin McHugh (1-1, 2.45 ERA). New York has been saddled with several key injuries early on and got more bad news that ace right-hander Luis Severino would be shut down for six weeks with a lat strain after an MRI on Tuesday. Paxton earned the win last time out at Baltimore, despite allowing four runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts across 5.1 innings, after losing his first start while pitching better. He limited the Orioles to two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5.1 innings on March 30 in a 5-3 loss. McHugh spent all of 2018 in the bullpen and appeared in 58 games, posting 94 strikeouts in 72.1 total innings. He actually earned Cy Young votes while going 19-7 with a 3.89 ERA in 2015 but last worked as a full-time starter in 2017, going 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 12 starts.That said, McHugh has been solid in his first two starts since returning to the starting rotation, allowing three runs on six hits with 13 strikeouts across 11 innings combined. The 31-year-old lost his debut at Tampa Bay but then limited Oakland to one run over six innings on 94 pitches to get the win.

With Severino out, the Yankees will be really counting on Paxton. They need him to step up in situations like this and it sure bodes well that Paxton won all FOUR starts against Houston last season while pitching for the Seattle Mariners (2.05 ERA). Let's also add that he is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA in seven starts at Minute Maid Park. Paxton will work on extended rest, having last pitched on April 2. Yanks avoid the sweep.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Was Nationals at 7:05 ET.

Rhys Hoskins hit  a go-ahead HR in the sixth and adding an insurance run with another solo shot in the eighth, leading the Phillies to a 4-3 home win over the Nats last night.It marked Hoskins' fourth career two-HR game. Hoskins has done virtually all of his damage at home, batting .500 while hitting all five of his homers and accounting for 14 of his 15 RBI at Citizens Bank Park.The loss dropped the Nats to 4-5 and the Phillies moved to 7-2 with the win. The teams play the second contest of  the three-game set tonight.

Taking the mound for Washington will be Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.84 ERA) and for Philadelphia it will be Aaron Nola (1-0, 7.00 ERA). Strasburg rebounded from a shaky no-decision in his season debut vs the New York Mets on March 30 (4 ERS in 6 IP) with a dominant victory against them Thursday, allowing three singles and a walk while striking out nine over 6.2 innings of a 4-0 win. That latest outing was the three-time All-Star's 53rd straight start in which he allowed eight or fewer hits, good for the longest such streak in franchise history. Nola is coming off a career season in 2018, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA (Phils went 22-11 in all of his starts, going +$983 vs the moneyline). Nola struggled to get untracked in the early going of his second straight Opening Day start, surrendering an RBI single in the second inning and issuing a career-high five walks before settling down to pick up the win in a 10-4 victory against Atlanta. However, he then suffered a rough no-decision Wednesday at Washington, allowing six runs on five hits (including three HRs) in only three innings.

Considering the fact that Strasburg is 1-2 (2.24 ERA) vs Philly in 24 career starts (Nats are 19-5) and that Nola is 4-5 (4.07 ERA) in 16 career starts vs Washington (team is 5-11), this sets up as a solid play on the underdog Nationals.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Daytime Dominator is on teh Cle Indians at 1:10 ET.

The Cleveland Indians opened but the season 2-3 but the team's starting staff was brilliant in a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays, permitting a just SIX runs while amassing 57 strikeouts. After an off-day on Monday, the Indians open a nine-game road trip against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday afternoon. The Tigers also opened 2-3 but have recovered to win FIVE in a row and at 7-3, sit atop the AL Central (Tigers' plus-$634 moneyline mark is second among all MLB teams, behind only the 10-2 Mariners, who are plus-$972). The Tigers are coming off a three-game home sweep of Kansas City.

Taking the mound this afternoon will be Cleveland's two-time CY Young winner Corey Kluber (0-2, 5.23 ERA), going up against Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 0.66 ERA). Kluber was a hard-luck loser in his season debut against Minnesota after permitting only two runs on four hits over seven innings but he lasted only 3.1 innings and was ripped for six runs (four earned) in an 8-3 home loss to the Chicago White Sox last time out. In stark contrast, Zimmermann has had two stellar outings, blanking Toronto on one hit over seven innings in his season debut, before allowing just one run on 6,2 innings at Yankee Stadium last time out. However, he has yet to earn a win (team is 2-0).

Zeroing in on this contest, it's hard NOT to see that the Indians have been a real nemesis for Zimmermann. He lasted only a combined 3.2 innings in a pair of starts last season against them, dropping him to 0-5 with an 'ugly' 11.08 ERA in seven career starts against Cleveland (teams are 1-6). As for Kluber, he has lost each of his first two starts but he's piled up 56 wins over the past three seasons. He's 11-7 (3.37 ER) in 24 career starts vs Detroit (team is 14-10) but dominated the Tigers in 2018, winning all THREE starts against the Tigers. He allowed only three ERs on 12 hits over 23.1 innings (1.16 ERA), while striking out 26 and walking just two. Good enough for me. Kluber gets his first win of 2019.

Good luck...Larry

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

The San Francisco Giants finished last season 73-89, 18 1/2 games back of the division-winning Dodgers. 2019 seems head in the same direction, as the Giants have opened with three straight series losses, including a four-game set at San Diego to begin the year (lost THREE of the four contests). It's a chance here for some revenge, as the 3-7 Giants host the  6-4 Padres for three games beginning Monday night. The Padres took the first two contests of their three-game series in St Louis this past weekend but the Cards salvaged Sunday's series finale, 4-1

Monday's pitching matchup is a rematch of the teams' 2019 season opener, as Eric Lauer (1-1, 3.27 ERA) squares off against Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 1.38 ERA). Lauer tossed six scoreless innings in San Diego's 2-0 home win over the Giants back on March 28 but struggled five days later against the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up four runs on nine hits over five innings of an 8-5 loss. Lauer, a former first-round selection, has a 2.86 ERA in four career starts against San Francisco but the team is just 1-3 (lone "W" came on Mar 28 of this season). Bumgarner allowed two runs in seven innings while striking out nine opposite Lauer on Opening Day and then gave up five runs in six innings against the Dodgers on Tuesday (all unearned!) to sustain another hard-luck loss, 6-5. Bumgarner is 11-10 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 career starts vs San Diego (Giants are 17-15).

Taking Bumgarner in this "re-hook" seems like a no-brainer. He has a 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 13-3 KW ratio in 13 innings this year. He owns a stellar 2.69 ERA in 121 career starts at home and faces a San Diego team which was a woeful 9-20 on the road in 2018 against left-handed starters,  averaging only 3.0 RPG.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Chi Cubs at 2:20 ET.

The Chicago Cubs opened the 2019 season on the road and it's fair to say it did not go as planned. As the Cubs ready for their 2019 home opener, Chicago returns to "The Friendly Confines" with a 2-7 record, the team's worst start to a season since losing 14 straight to begin the 1997 campaign. The Cubs finally got some quality work from their bullpen on Sunday (four scoreless innings) but still lost or the SEVENTH time in eight games, 4-2. Visiting Wrigley Field for the first of three games on Monday will be the Pittsburgh Pirates, who after a four-game home sweep of the pathetic Reds, are 5-3 to begin 2019. The Pirates won four games over the Reds by a total of just SEVEN runs, helping make up for back-to-back one-run losses in extra innings against the Cards earlier in the week.

Taking the mound at Wrigley this afternoon will be Jameson Taillon (0-1, 3.46 ERA) and Jon Lester (1-0, 3.00 ERA). Taillon had a breakout season a year ago (14-10, 3.20 ERA), but is looking for his first win in 2019 in his third start. Taillon gave up four ERs on five hits in six innings in the season opener at Cincinnati back on March 28 but rebounded last Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings against the Cardinals. The Pirates have lost both of Taillon's 2019 starts. Taillon is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA in eight career starts against the Cubs, (team is 5-3), including a 2-1 record and 2.50 ERA in three starts at Wrigley Field. Jon Lester got the win in on Opening Day (12-4 at Texas) and a no-decision in Chicago's 6-4 loss last Wednesday at Atlanta. He gave up two runs in six innings in both games, getting 'burned' by Chicago's bullpen in Atlanta (left with a 4-2, before the Braves came back to win, 6-4 with a four-run eighth). Lester is 9-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 18 career starts against the Pirates (teams are 10-8).

I HAVE to like the Cubs here in their season opener, with veteran lefty Lester on the hill. The Cubs were 24-8 (+$1,415) in all of Lester's 2018 starts and he enters this contest with a 32-18 record (3.34 ERA) in 71 career starts at Wrigley. The fact that the Pirates went just 6-16 on the road vs lefties in 2018, also adds to my confidence. Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* play is on the StL Cards at 2:15 ET.

Manny Machado signing a club-record 10-year, $300 million contract was the biggest news coming out of San Diego before the opening of the 2019 season. However, the Padres' 6-3 start has been fueled by a  pitching staff that boasts a team ERA of 3.22 (11th), with the starters at 2.77. The Padres beat the Cards 5-4 on Saturday when Machado and Austin Hedges belted two-run HRs in the eighth inning off Andrew Miller. The left-handed reliever's first season in St Louis isn't going well, as he's saddled with a 10.80 ERA in 3.1 innings.San Diego looks to complete a three-game road sweep of St Louis on Sunday.

San Diego lefty Matt Strahm (0-1, 16.88 ERA) will square off against St Louis vet Adam Wainwright (0-0, 9.00 ERA) in Sunday's finale of the three-game set. Strahm started only eight of 86 career games over his first three seasons but earned a spot in the rotation out of spring training,. However, in his season debut last Monday, he allowed five ERs on eight hits with three walks in just 2.2 innings of a 10-3 loss to Arizona. on Monday.  Retirement rumors surrounded Wainwright after the 37-year-old was limited to eight starts which totaled just 40.1 innings last season. Wainwright is a the three-time All-Star and has finished in the top three in Cy Young Award voting four times. However, Wainwright has added pitches to his repertoire, as he tries to transition from a power pitcher to a more finesse approach. Wainwright received a no-decision last Monday at Pittsburgh, after yielding four runs, four hits and four walks in four innings of the Cardinals' 6-5 victory.

Strahm has almost no history vs St Louis (he's pitched four scoreless innings over two games against the Cards), while Wainwright is  6-4 with a 2.24 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 14 games (11 starts) against the Padres. St Louis is 7-4 in Wainwright's 11 starts against the Padres, as he's posted a 2.08 ERA. I'll back the vet over the virtual unknown in this one, as the Cards avoid the dreaded home sweep!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* play is on the Was Nats at 1:10 ET.

The Nats ruined the Mets home opener on Thursday with a 4-0 victory but New York earned a come-from-behind 6-5 win on Saturday, by hitting five HRs, one more than in the team's previous seven games. The 3-4 Nats will take on the 6-2 Mets Sunday afternoon at Citi Field in the rubber match of this three-game series between NL East rivals (note: the NL East figures to be a hotly-contested division all season long)

Max Scherzer (0-2, 2.13 ERA) goes up against Zack Wheeler (0-0, 7.20 ERA) on Sunday. Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner but despite his 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .191 BAA and 21 Ks in 12.2 innings, all he has to show for his efforts are a pair of losses. Scherzer looks to break into the win column and avenge a season-opening loss to the New York Mets, a game in which the Mets scratched out only two hits off him. Scherzer, who is 9-5 with a 2.43 ERA in 17 career starts vs the Mets but his teams are just 9-8 in those contests. Wheeler has been hampered by injuries for much of his career but made 29 starts in 2018 and ranked second on the team in victories with 12. The former first-round pick was 10-1 with a 2.21 ERA over the final three months of the season but he posted a 4.80 ERA in five spring training starts. He struggled in his season debut vs Washington last Sunday, falling into an early hole by serving up a three-run HR during a five-inning stint (Mets lost 6-5).

Wheeler is  just 4-8 with a 4.32 ERA in 14 career starts vs Washington (Mets are 5-9) plus while he was  7-2 away from home last season, he was just 5-5 at Citi Field in 15 starts (team was 6-9). A series of off-days in late March and early April has allowed Washington Nationals manager Davey Martinez to arrange his rotation so that perennial Cy Young Award candidate Max Scherzer will make his THIRD start in the team's first eight games. In fact, if all goes according to plan, Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg will each have made three starts by the time fifth starter Jeremy Hellickson takes the mound Wednesday.  Isn't about time that a pitcher with a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .191 BAA and 21 Ks in 12.2 innings get a win? That's my bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the Phi Phillies at 1:05 ET.

Philadelphia won FIVE of its first six games in 2019 (first 5-1 start since 2011), including a PERFECT 4-0 record at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia had outscored its opponents 49-26  through six games, while scoring five or more runs in each of its first six games for the first time since 1898!  However, the Phillies finally saw their offense bottled up Saturday in their first home loss of the season, falling 6-2 to the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota went deep three times and has five HRs in the series, after managing only one in its first five games. Both teams sport 5-2 records as they meet in Sunday's rubber match of a three-game interleague series.

Jose Berríos (1-0, 1.84 ERA) gets the ball for the Twins, opposed by the Phillies' Zach Eflin (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Berrios is Minnesota's ace and thanks to three off days, will be making his third start in just eight games. The 2018 All-Star struck out a Minnesota Opening Day record 10 batters over 7.2 innings in a 2-0 victory over the Indians (and Corey Kluber) but came away with a no decision in his second start on Tuesday, a 5-4 win in 10 innings at Kansas City (he allowed three runs on seven hits). Berrios will be making his first start against the NL Phillies. Eflin struck out nine and allowed just three hits and a walk over five scoreless innings in his season debut, an 8-2 win Tuesday at Washington. Like Berrrios, Eflin will be making his first career start against the AL Twins.

While Berrios is considered Minnesota's ace, I believe he still has a long way to go to really earn that title. He really struggled away from Target Field last year, going 3-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 15 road starts (Twins were 4-11). Is that an ace? Meanwhile, Eflin thrived at Citizens Bank Park last season by compiling an 8-3 record with a 3.33 ERA in 12 home starts (Phils were 8-4). Take Philly in this rubber match.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Bos Red Sox at 8:10 ET.

The reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox have lost SIX of their last seven games to fall to 2-7 on the season. Boston lost 15-8 last night in Arizona (actually trailed by 13 runs at one point!) and still have two more games with the D'backs before the team's brutal 11-game West Coast road trip is completed. Boston’s starting pitchers are 0-7 with a 9.60 ERA, as the Red Sox are allowing 7.44 RPG with a team ERA of 7.18. The Diamondbacks pounded out 18 hits in their home opener on Friday, including five HRs. This after they had finished 3-4 on their season-opening road trip through California.

David Price (0-1, 6.00 ERA) gets the nod for Boston and Luke Weaver (0-0, 8.31 ERA) for Arizona. The Red Sox were 22-8 in Price's 30 regular season starts in 2018, giving him MLB's eight-best moneyline mark (+$1,294).  However, Price contributed to a rough first week of the season for the team’s starting pitchers by permitting four runs on five hits (including three HRs) over six innings in a 7-0 loss at Oakland. Some good news comes Boston's way in that while Price has just two career starts vs Arizona, he is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA. Luke Weaver played the first three years of his career with St Louis before being dealt to Arizona in the off-season trade for Paul Goldschmidt. He did not last through five innings in his first game with Arizona on Sunday, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits along with two walks across 4.1 innings while throwing 97 pitches.

Weaver was 7-2 in 2017 but dropped to 7-11 with the Cardinals last year, posting a 4.95 ERA in 30 appearances (25 starts). His first start of 2019 was hardly encouraging. Price was an ALCS and World Series hero for the Red Sox last October (picked up three wins), after a career filled with postseason horrors. Boston's too good of a team to keep playing this way. The Red Sox were 87-38, while averaging 5.5 RPG vs right-handed starters last season and Weaver is a righty they should handle. Meanwhile, Arizona was losing moneyline team at home in 2018, going 40-41 (-$1.359). Let me add that Arizona was just 28-30 vs lefties last season, averaging only 4.0 RPG. Off an 18-hit, 15-run effort last night, expect the Arizona bats to be quieted by Price.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the LA Angels at 4:05 ET.

The 2-6 LA Angels ended a six-game slide with a 3-1 victory last night at home vs the Texas Rangers. Some guy named Mike Trout hit two solo HRs, for the 15th multi-homer performance of his career. Trout is 4-for-7 with three HRs in the first two contests of the four-game series and is hoping Friday's win will be the start of a hot stretch for the Angels. "We needed a 'W,'" Trout said in a postgame television interview. "I got some pitches I could hit, and I hit them. Hopefully, we get some momentum heading into (Saturday)." The Rangers had scored 21 runs during a three-game winning streak, before being limited to six hits in Friday's3-1 loss. Texas enters Saturday's play at 5-3, coming off an 'ugly' 2018 season in which it finished 67-95, 36 games behind the division winning Astros.

A pair of lefties square off in today's contest, Drew Smyly (0-0, 3.00 ERA) of Texas and Tyler Skaggs (0-1, 3.86 ERA) of LA. Smyly missed two full seasons -- 2017-18 -- while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and his first start of the season last Monday was his first in the majors since Sep 26, 2016. He allowed just one run and four hits against Houston but was pulled after three innings and 73 pitches. Rangers manager Chris Woodward, said that Smyly had a "stressful" first two innings, which required 58 pitches. Skaggs know all about injuries, as well. He suffered a torn ligament in his pitching elbow in August of 2014, had Tommy John surgery, and didn't return to a major league mound until July of 2016. A groin injury during the second half of last year limited him to just four starts in the final two months of the season. Still, his 24 starts in 2018 were a career high by six, even though he first broke into the big leagues in 2012. Skaggs was limited to just three Cactus League starts, pitching 9.2 inning, as he was diagnosed with "forearm fatigue." He seemed to hit a wall in his first start of the season last Sunday against Oakland. Yes, he retired the first eight batters of the game,but needed 33 pitches to get out of the third inning. Finally, with two outs in the fifth, Angels manager Brad Ausmus yanked Skaggs from the game after 86 pitches.

So what' the 'diagnosis' in this one? Smyly is 0-3 in four career starts vs the Angels (5.30 ERA), with his teams going 1-3. As for Skaggs, the hope is that he can manage his pitch count and maintain his stamina. That's my bet and note that in two starts vs Texas last season, he was 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA, striking out 13 in 11 innings. LA's bats should get to Smyly, making Skaggs' job easier (note: LA's bullpen owns a 1.95 ERA, second-best in all of MLB).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on the StL Cards at 2:15 ET.

The San Diego Padres opened the season by going 4-3 at home and began the team's longest road trip of the season (10-game trip) by spoiling the home opener for the St Louis Cardinals, with a 5-3 Friday afternoon win. The victory gives San Diego its best eight-game start (5-3) in 10 years. The Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt homered on Friday for the fifth time in his last six games but it wasn't enough, as their two-game winning streak came to an end, as they dropped their home opener for the second year in a row. (StL sits 3-4)

The pitching matchup for Saturday features Chris Paddack (0-0, 1.80 ERA) and Michael Wacha (0-0, 1.50 ERA). The much-heralded Paddack put forth a very sharp debut in the majors Sunday against San Francisco, limiting the Giants to one run and two hits while striking out seven in five innings, which came on the heels of a dominant spring. Wacha is coming off an injury-interrupted 2018 season  but it was one in which he still manged an 8-2 record with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  Wacha opened the season with six solid innings in a no-decision at Milwaukee. He struck out seven and allowed one run in a game the Cards lost 5-4.

San Diego pitchers have given up just six runs on 24 hits and nine walks with 45 strikeouts in 45 innings (1.20 ERA and a 0.733 WHIP) in the team's five wins but have surrendered 21 runs on 36 hits and 10 walks in 27 innings for a 7.00 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in the team's three losses. Paddock is expected to be a star but it's WAY too early to be SURE.  Meanwhile, Wacha is 3-0 with 2.32 ERA in five career starts vs the Padres, as well as a 1.13 WHIP and 216 opponents' batting average. He also owns a career record of 29-13 in 72 appearances (66 starts) with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in the Cardinals' home park. Want more? Wacha has just ONE loss in his last 15 starts going back to last season (Cards are 11-4 in those starts)!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* play is on the Pit Pirates at 1:35 ET.

The Pirates beat the Reds 2-0 last night, as Cincinnati has now been shut out three straight times (four times in seven games this season). The 1-6 Reds hope to snap a six-game losing streak as they remain in Pittsburgh for a Saturday afternoon contest with the 3-3 Pirates. Cincy's offensive issues are VERY real, as the Reds have recorded just 13 hits during their stretch of three straight shut out losses, getting limited to three in Friday's contest. The Reds are averaging 1.57 RPG on the season, while batting .157 as a team with a .497 OPS (all three rank 30th of 30 MLB teams). The Pirates aren't tearing the cover off the ball, averaging just 3.50 RPG (19th), but Pittsburgh pitching ranks 3rd with a 2.25 ERA and 5th with a 1.00 WHIP.

Tanner Roark (0-0, 6.23 ERA) starts for the Reds andT revor Williams (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Pirates. Roark's first start of the season (and first with Cincinnati after being acquired from Washington in December) didn't go nearly as well as he hoped. Roark gave up three runs, three hits and three walks in the first inning  (threw 37 pitches!) of a 4-3 loss to Milwaukee. He exited after 4.1 innings of game that wasn't decided until the ninth. Roark is 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts / 3-1 with a 4.21 ERA) against the Pirates. Williams blanked the Reds 5-0 on three hits over six innings while winning his first start of 2019 last Sunday. He struck out six and walked one in the outing, throwing 59 of his 80 pitches for strikes. Williams is 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA in six starts against Cincinnati (Pirates are 5-1).

The Reds have scored a major league-low 11 runs in their first seven games and face the up-and-coming Williams,  who was 7-3 with a 1.38 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP after the All-Star break. He has since expanded his repertoire to include more curveballs, but his fastball is still his go-to pitch. If his first start of the season is any indication (see above), Williams just may be ready to top that second-half performance. Pittsburgh pitchers have shut out the Reds for 28 consecutive innings. Should anything really change, here?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL Central) is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

Cincinnati opened the season with a 5-3 home win against Pittsburgh but has scored a total of just SIX total runs in losing FIVE straight games. The Reds are the only team averaging less than two per game (1.83 per ranks last),  batting .164 as a team with a .519 OPS (28th). The 2-3 Pirates are tearing the cover off the ball (Pittsburgh is averaging 3.80 RPG which ranks 19th) but Pittsburgh owns a 2.68 team ERA (5th-best). Leading the way is a starting staff that leads all National League rotations with a 1.55 ERA and 0.86 WHIP, despite Jameson Taillon allowing four ERs on six innings on Opening Day. Jordan Lyles was the latest Pittsburgh starter to take advantage of the Reds' offensive woes in Thursday's 2-0 victory, allowing three hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in his team debut.

Sonny Gray (0-1, 6.75 ERA) gets the ball for Cincy and Joe Musgrove (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for Pittsburgh. Gray was seen as a rising star at Oakland but was traded to the NYY in 2017 and in his time with New York, flopped. He had a dominant showing during spring training in which he posted a 0.90 ERA while limiting opponents to a .143 batting average  but his team debut was a forgettable one, as he failed to record a strikeout while allowing three runs(two earned) on five hits and four walks over just  2.2 innings in Sunday's 5-0 home loss to Pittsburgh. Musgrove is in his fourth season in the majors. His turn in the rotation was skipped when the Pirates-Reds game on March 30 was rained out but he volunteered to pitch in relief and threw two shutout innings after Trevor Williams went the first six on Sunday in the Pirates' 5-0 win at Cincinnati. The relief outing was his first in that role since Game 6 of the 2017 World Series while with the Houston Astros. He's faced the Reds just twice in his career (both last year), going 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA.

Musgrove should not have much trouble with Cincy's lineup ,as the Reds have lost FIVE consecutive games (three of them shutouts) and own a majors-worst .164 team BA. In fact, it took until Thursday's loss for two of their outfielders, Jesse Winker and Scott Schebler, to get their first hits, after going 0-for-15 and 0-for-18, respectively. Gray came out of Vanderbilt with HUGE expectations but he looks like nothing more than a journeyman. He is 0-2 with a 7.59 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) versus the Pirates and just why should he be any different (better) here?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Col Rockies at 4:10 ET.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a 5-2 start and sit atop the NL West, despite the absence of ace land three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers are averaging 7.86 RPG (1st), scoring 49 runs in their five victories and they lead all of MLB with 18 HRs. LA has played its first seven at home but will play the next seven on the road, beginning with Friday afternoon's game at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. 3-4 Colorado is set to plays its home opener, after snapping a four-game slide in the finale of a seven-game road trip with a 1-0 victory in 11 innings at Tampa Bay. Chris Iannetta 11th-inning HR accounted for only Colorado's second run in four games, snapping a 22-inning scoreless streak.

Kenta Maeda (1-0, 4.05 ERA) gets the ball for the Dodgers and Tyler Anderson (0-1, 9.00 ERA) for the Rockies. The Dodgers scored 18 runs in Maeda's first start of 2019, as he worked 6.2 innings while allowing three runs on five hits, with all the runs coming via solo HRs. Maeda made eight appearances (three starts) against Colorado last season and posted a 1-1 record with a 1.96 ERA.  Anderson made a career-high 32 starts and finished 7-9 in 2018. He struggled in his 2019 debut at Miami, lasting just five innings and permitting five ERs on nine hits. He saw plenty of the Dodgers last season, making five starts and while he was just 1-1 (team was 1-4), he had a decent 3.58 ERA and held LA bats to a collective .228 batting average.

The Rockies came within a game of ending the NL West reign of the Los Angeles Dodgers last season (Dodgers have captured SIX straight NL West titles), so expectations are high for this year. The Rockies haven't been quite as dominant at home in recent years but this game sets up perfectly. It's Colorado's 2019 home-opener and the high-flying Dodgers play away from home for teh first time.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the LA Angels at 10:07 ET.

The Los Angeles Angels may have MLB's best player in Mike Trout (he recently signed a record-setting 12-year, $426.5 million contract) but they are off to their worst start since 1961. However, new manager Brad Ausmus isn’t pushing the panic button, even though the Angels will bring a 1-5 record into Thursday’s home opener against the Texas Rangers. Shohei Ohtani (elbow) and Justin Upton (turf toe) are on the injured list and the Angels' offense has struggled, scoring just 13 runs in six games (SIX of those runs came in the team's lone win). Texas, coming off a 67-95 season in which it finished 36 games back of NL West-winning Houston, has opened 4-2 after winning its first two series of the year.

Edinson Volquez (0-0, 9.00 ERA) takes the mound for Texas and Matt Harvey (0-0, 3.00 ERA) for LA. Volquez made his first start since July 5, 2017 (missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery) on Saturday. He allowed four runs, six hits and four walks in four innings against the Chicago Cubs. He began his career with the Rangers 14 years ago and owns a 1-4 record and 10.71 ERA in six career games (four starts / teams are 1-3) vs the Angels. Harvey signed a one-year, $11 million contract in December, after splitting last season between the New York Mets and Cincinnati. He was able to salvage a decent season by going 7-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 24 starts with the Reds, after he'd had a disastrous first eight appearances (four starts) with the Mets, going 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA. Harvey carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of his Angels debut against Oakland on Friday and settled for a no-decision after allowing two runs over six innings. Harvey is making his first career start against Texas and first appearance at Angel Stadium.

I've already noted LA's offensive woes and will add that the Angels are hitting .178 as a team (27th) with a .240 on-base percentage and an OPS of .481 (29th).  However, getting to Volquez is hardly a stretch. He looked shaky Saturday in his first start since July of 2017 and his 10.71 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Angels HAS to give the LA bats some confidence. Making their 2019 home opener, the Angels  should draw on the fact that they were 13-6 against the Rangers last season, including 7-2 at Angel Stadium. LA gets the win "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Was Nats at 1:10 ET.

New York Mets continued their hot start with a three-game sweep in Miami, after a 6-4 Wednesday win over the Marlins. The Mets are 5-1 for the second consecutive year but for only the fifth time in history. The Mets play their first home game of the 2019 season on Thursday afternoon, as they welcome the Washington Nationals to Citi Field. Washington opened the season by losing two of three to the Mets at Nationals Park and then were able to salvage a split of its two-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nats lost 8-2 on Tuesday but earned a 9-8 walk-off win Wednesday, after the bullpen once again failed miserably (bullpen ERA of 11.02 is a MLB-worst!)..

Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 6.00 ERA) and Noah Syndergaard (0-0, 6.00 ERA) take the mound in a rematch of last Saturday's game in Washington. Neither pitchers was involved in the decision during the Mets' 11-8 victory. Starsburg did strike out eight but also allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. He is 8-5 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mets, with the Nats going 12-6. Syndergaard also allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings in an up-and-down season debut in which he struck out seven. Syndergaard is 3-5 with a 3.65 ERA in 13 meetings against the Nationals (Mets are 5-8).

Washington relievers Tony Sipp, Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough combined to blow a 6-4 advantage in the seventh, when the Phillies scored four runs. The trio has combined for a 24.75 ERA in five innings this season. If the Washington bullpen continues to falter, the Nats are in big trouble but it's hard to draw too many conclusions after one week. That said, the Mets have scored 17 runs in the eighth inning or later (most in the majors), while the Nationals have allowed 14 runs in the eighth inning and three in the ninth.Why I like the Nats is the quick "re-hook" between Strasburg and Syndergaard. Not only are the Nats 13-7 the last three season sat Citi Field but Strasburg is 7-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 10 outings at Citi Field, where he hasn’t lost since 2013. What's more, the Nats are 20-5 the last three seasons in Strasburg's road starts. Underdog barks loudly in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Chi Cubs at 7:20 ET.

Ronald Acuna Jr. has made a tremendous impact for the Atlanta Braves since making his major league debut last April, and he will take the field for Wednesday’s home contest against the Chicago Cubs with his future secured. The Braves and the National League Rookie of the Year reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $100-million contract extension on Tuesday's off day after the 21-year-old launched his first homer of the season in Atlanta’s 8-0 home-opening victory.

The Braves were outscored 23-11 in a season-opening sweep at Philadelphia but behind HRs from Ronald Acuna and Ender Inciarte, three hits from 2b Ozzie Albies and five scoreless, walk-free innings from their bullpen in Monday's 8-0 victory over the Cubs. After a day off, the three-game series continues tonight. The Cubs won their season opener 12-4 at Texas on March 28 but after Monday's loss, enter Wednesday on a three-game slide in which their pitching staff has allowed 27 runs on 34 hits across 24.1 innings during thee skid.

Jon Lester (1-0, 3.00 ERA) starts for Chicago and Julio Teheran (0-1, 5.40 ERA) gets the nod for Atlanta. Lester gave the Cubs a solid effort on Opening Day, holding Texas to two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Lester shared the National League lead with 18 wins a season ago, as the Cubs went in 24-8 in all of starts, earning a profit of $1,415 (6th-best among all starters). He did not face Atlanta in 2018 but is 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves. Teheran made his sixth consecutive Opening Day start for the Braves last Thursday in Philadelphia and took the loss (allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts across five innings). Teheran is 3-1 with a 3.44 ERA in eight lifetime starts against the Cubs, winning his only start against Chicago last season.

Expect Lester to give Chicago a much-needed good start and note that the Braves were an 'ugly' 2-11 at home in night games against lefties in 2018. As for the Cubs, expect their bats to 'wake up,' as well. The Cubs were 27-18 while averaging 5.0 RPG in road night games against righties in 2018. What's more, the Cubs lead the NL and rank second in the majors in road victories since the start of the 2015 campaign (183). Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Was Nationals at 1:05 ET.

Bryce Harper hit a  two-run HR to highlight his three-hit performance as the Philadelphia Phillies easily bested his former team (Washington Nats)  8-2 last night. Philly is 4-0 for the first time since 1915 and looks to sweep the Nats this afternoon in the finale of this brief two-game series. Harper's addition (as well as fellow off-season acquisitions Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura among others), has ignited a Phillies' offense that has erupted for 31 runs this season (7.75 per). Washington fell to 1-3 with the loss and more bad news came the Nats way as SS Trea Turner suffered a non-displaced broken right index finger when he was hit attempting to bunt in the first inning. What's more, 1B Matt Adams (back) is day-to-day after going over the railing attempting to make a catch in the first inning. Starter Max Scherzer (0-2) was solid for five innings on Tuesday, but the Phillies padded their lead against Washington's struggling bullpen (12.71 bullpen ERA is a MLB-worst).

Aaron Nola (1-0, 1.50 ERA) starts for the Phillies and Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA in 2018) makes his Washington debut for the Nats. Nola is coming off a career season in 2018, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA (Phils went 22-11, +$983). Nola struggled to get untracked in the early going of his second straight Opening Day start, surrendering an RBI single in the second inning and issuing a career-high five walks before settling down to pick up the win in a 10-4 victory against Atlanta last Thursday. Nola was terrific against Washington last season, striking out 35 batters in five starts (33.2 innings) en route to posting a 3-1 mark while limiting the club to a .200 batting average. Sanchez struck out 135 batters in 136.2 innings in 2018  with a 2.83 ERA, one year removed from posting a 3-7 record with a gaudy 6.41 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with Detroit. He parlayed that strong comeback 2018 season with the Braves into a two-year, $19 million contract with Washington in 2019.

Yes, the Phillies have opened well but I will urge caution here. The Phillies were just 26-41 on the road inn 2018 vs right-handed starters (-$1,550), including 9-17 in day games, averaging only 3.4 RPG. As for Nola's excellent numbers vs Washington in 2018, let me add that he's just 4-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 15 career starts vs the Nats (Phils are only 5-10 in those games). Can Sanchez repeat his 2018 effort? Time will tell. For today, I'm backing the Nats.

Good luck...Larry

Jay Bruce 's mammoth HR (he's homered in four consecutive games) was the biggest blow of a 10-hit attack as Seattle beat the LA Angels   its third straight game6-3 on Monday. The victory gives the Mariners an American League-best 6-1 record. As for the Angels.they may have MLB's bedst player in Mike Trout, who was recently signed to a record-setting 12-year, $426.5 million contract, but they are also the not so proud owners of a 1-4 record. The Angels have scored just six runs during a three-losing streak and have tallied just 12 overall (six runs came in the team's lone win!) during a 1-4 start. As for Trout, has yet to homer and is batting .286 with three RBI.

Seattle hosts the Angels tonight in the finale of a two-game series, as Trevor Cahill (0-1, 6.00 ERA) takes the mound for LA and Marco Gonzales (2-0, 4.76 ERA) for teh Mariners. Cahill went 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 2018, as he returned to Oakland for a second stint last season but made only 20 starts as he spent the first month in the minors and also made a visit to the disabled list. That said, Cahill's seven wins were his most since going 8-10 for Arizona in 2013. He made the second Opening Day start of his career on March 28, giving up four runs in six innings. He allowed two HRs, one triple and one double. He didn't allow multiple HRs in any of his 20 starts in 2018. Cahill is 5-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 14 career starts against Seattle (teams are 7-7). Gonzales has allowed three ERs in each of his first two starts. He's allowed 16 hits over 11.1  innings during the outings but managed to defeat both Oakland and Boston. Gonzales went 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA in six starts versus the Angels last season  and has made eight career starts vs LA (team is 5-3 and he owns a 3.32 ERA)

Seattle went 15-6 in Gonzales' first 21 starts last season but he then struggled down the stretch, as the Mariners went 1-8 over his final eight starts. However, he's been solid so far and faces an LAA team which lost three of four against the Oakland A's to start the season, scoring just one run in the first seven innings in all four games combined. LA enters this contest batting .188 as a team, averaging 2.4 RPG (both rank 27th) and remember, SIX of LA's runs came in its lone win.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the KC Royals at 8:15 ET.

Kansas City pounded out 16 runs in taking two of three from the Chicago White Sox in its season-opening series and had a chance to sweep before dropping the finale 6-3 on Sunday. The Royals will host the Twins on Tuesday, in the opener of a two-game series. Minnesota split a pair of pitching duels with the Cleveland Indians in the first two games, winning 2-0 and losing 2-1, before busting out in a 9-3 victory on Sunday.  The Twins begin an eight-game, three-city road trip with tonight's contest.

Tonight's pitching matchup features Jose Berrios (1-0, 0.00 ERA) and Brad Keller (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Berrios struck out 10 and walked one while scattering two hits over 7.2 scoreless innings to earn the win on Opening Day over two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber of Cleveland. The 24-year-old posted his first 200-strikeout campaign in 2018 (202 in 192.1 innings) and became the team's youngest Opening Day starter since Brad Radke in 1996. Berrios went 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts against Kansas City last season, striking out 28 in 26 total innings, but more on that later. Keller earned his first Opening Day assignment as well and was nearly as sharp, striking out five with one walk and two hits allowed in seven scoreless innings (KC won 5-3). The 23-year-old split time between the bullpen and the rotation in his 2018 rookie campaign, surrendering just seven HRs in 140.1 total innings last season. Keller went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts against Minnesota in 2018 (KC was 2-0).

Berrios was very impressive on Opening Day but note that in his nine career starts vs KC, the Twins have gone 2-7. The Royals counter with Keller, who went 9-6 with a 3.08 ERA in his rookie season of 2018. As noted above, this contest kicks off an eight-game road trip for theTwins and while they were 49-32 (+$1,345) at home in 2018, they were a pathetic 29-52 (-$2,121) on the road. The team's $3,466 difference between home and road games represented MLB's biggest dichotomy in 2018. I'm not sure Minnesota even deserves being the favorite here, no less by -$1.41 (opening number).

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Bos Red Sox at 10:07 ET.

The reigning champion Boston Red Sox opened the 2019 season seeking a fourth World Series title in 15 years. However, the Red Sox lost THREE of four in Seattle last week, with the team's lone win coming Friday night when a three-run HR in the ninth inning gave them a 7-6 victory. The pitching staff struggled mightily against the Mariners, serving up 11 HRs while surrendering 34 runs. (team ERA of 7.26). Boston will try to bounce back from a rough season-opening series when they begin a four-game road set against the Oakland Athletics on Monday. In stark contrast to Boston's struggling pitching staff, Oakland has received vastly different results from its staff. Oakland pitchers gave up a total of just nine runs as the team won three of four vs the visiting LA Angels (SIX of the nine runs came in the team's lone loss in the series!).

Monday's pitching matchup will see Boston lefty David Price (6-7, 3.58 ERA in 2018) square off against Oakland's Aaron Brooks (0-0, 0.00 ERA in 2018). Price will be making his 300th appearance in the major leagues (290th start) , after being limited to two during spring training due to norovirus. He was pounded in those outings, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and four walks over 6.2 innings. However, Boston feels like Price is ready. The Red Sox were 22-8 in Price's 30 regular season starts in 2018, giving him MLB's eight-best moneyline mark (+$1,294). He has made 10 career starts against Oakland, going 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA (teams are 5-5). Brooks has not made a major-league start since 2015 when he went 3-4 in nine starts for the Athletics. He did not resurface in the majors until last season, when he allowed one hit over 2.2 scoreless innings for Oakland out of the bullpen. Brooks was tagged for three runs and six hits over 3.1 innings while with Kansas City in his only career appearance against Boston back on June 21, 2015.

Price was an ALCS and World Series hero for the Red Sox last October, after a career filled with postseason horrors! I'll back him here to 'stop the bleeding' for a Red Sox staff. Let's NOT forget that Boston was 87-38 vs right-handers in 2018 (+$3,060), averaging a healthy 5.5 RPG. Brooks could very well be over his head in this one. That's the bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Chi Cubs at 7:10 ET.

The Chicago Cubs scored a 12-4 win at Texas in their season opener (Thursday) but then saw their pitching implode in back-to-back losses on Saturday and Sunday. Chicago scored three first-inning runs on Saturday by Yu Darvish walked seven of the first 13 batters he faced, failing to make it out of the third inning in his first meeting with his former team. (Texas would win, 8-6). The Cubs then squandered leads of 4-0 and 8-5 in Sunday’s 11-10 setback at Texas, with the winning run scoring on Pedro Strop’s wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap a two-day stretch in which Chicago pitchers gave up 19 runs on 22 hits and 18 walks! The Cubs now head to Atlanta for three games, part of the team's season-opening nine-game road trip.

The Atlanta Braves are the only team in baseball without a win, as their pitching struggled in their season-opening three-game series with Philadelphia. Atlanta pitchers allowed 23 runs, 20 walks and eight HRs (8.63 team ERA). Freddie Freeman collected six hits against the Phillies and owns a 1.492 OPS but Atlanta's offense generated just 11 runs in the tree games. Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte and 3B Josh Donaldson, the top two hitters in the lineup, have gone a combined 2-for-22 to start the season.

Monday's starters are Chicago's Kyle Hendricks (14-11, 3.44 ERA in 2018) and Atlanta's Sean Newcomb (12-9, 3.90 ERA in 2018). The Cubs rewarded Hendricks with a four-year contract extension ($55 million) last month, after he recorded the second double-digit win season of his career. He made 33 starts and threw a career-high 199 innings, with an impressive 161 strikeouts and only 44 walks. Newcomb got bumped back in the rotation, so he could start the home opener against Chicago. The lefty pitched well in the first half of 2018 (8-5 with a 3.51 ERA,) but struggled in the second half when his ERA soared to 4.58 in his final 11 starts.

Hendricks is 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four career appearances (three starts / team is 2-1) against the Braves but did not face them last year. As for Newcomb, he's 0-2 with a 5.17 ERA in three career games against the Cubs (Braves are 0-3). Atlanta won its division last year so an 0-3 sweep at Philly is a bit of a shock. I'll note that the Braves did not lose three in a row last season until games 31-33, a three-game sweep by San Francisco in early May. Yes, the Cubs are in the midst of a nine-game road trip but is that really bad news? After all, the Cubs lead the NL and rank second in the majors in road victories since the start of the 2015 campaign (183).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Pit Pirtaes at 1:05 ET.

The St. Louis Cardinals lost THREE of four at Milwaukee to open the 2019 season, despite off-season acquisition Paul Goldschmidt having a great series with four HRs (note: Goldschmidt is the first St Louis player with four HRs in the team’s first four games since Mark McGwire in 1998). Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates split two games in Cincinnati over the weekend, losing 5-3 on Thursday, getting rained out on Saturday and then winning 5-0 on Sunday. St Louis has finished ahead of Pittsburgh in the division standings for 19 consecutive years and the Central rivals meet for the first time this season in a quick two-game set starting Monday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

Adam Wainwright (2-4, 4.46 ERA in 2018)  will take on Chris Archer (6-8, 4.31 ERA in 2018). Retirement rumors surrounded Wainwright after the 37-year-old was limited to eight starts which totaled just 40.1 innings last season. Wainwright is a the three-time All-Star and has finished in the top three in Cy Young Award voting four times. Chris Archer had a rough start with the Pirates following last year’s trade from Tampa Bay but was dominant in September, posting a 2.70 ERA  and a 1.07 WHIP while holding opponents to a .217 average over his last five starts of 2018 and racking up 36 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Wainwright has added pitches to his repertoire as he tries to transition from a power pitcher to a more finesse approach but the bottom line is that he is  older now and has been limited by injuries. Wainwright is 13-7 with a 4.36 ERA in 37 games (31 starts) against the Pirates. As for Archer, he has faced the Cardinals twice without a decision, throwing seven innings of one-run ball in 2017 and getting roughed up for five runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings last season. Wainwright has never pitched well in Pittsburgh (even during his best years), as he checks in with a 5.54 ERA in 18 games (14 starts) at PNC Park. Archer received a rousing reception from the Pirates and their fans after he came over in a trade from Tampa Bay last season and it's time to "put up or shut up" in 2019. We'll see but right here, I'm giving this so far underachiever a shot, as I have little faith in Wainwright.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Underdog Shocker is on the SF Giants at 4:10 ET.

San Francisco opened the season by losing back-to-back games by a combined score of 6-1 but secured a 3-2 victory on Saturday behind its bullpen, which held the Padres scoreless over the final four innings. San Diego was seeking its first 3-0 start since 1984, but came up short. The series final is Sunday, as veteran Jeff Samardzija (1-5, 6.25 ERA in 2018) of the Giants faces San Diego's Chris Paddack, who is making his MLB debut.

Samardzija sat out most of last season due to a shoulder injury but recorded a 3.97 ERA over 22.2 innings during spring training. “We’re really excited by where he’s at and how he’s thrown the ball,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “He’s got a good four-pitch mix going and command. He’s throwing the ball with a lot of confidence, too.” Samardzija is 8-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 17 career games (15 starts / teams are 10-5) against San Diego. Paddack is the second straight Padres starting pitcher to be making his major league debut Sunday afternoon (Nick Margevicius did so Saturday).  He had a great spring (gave up three ERs over 15 .1 innings in five starts), following a triumphant 2018 minor league return from Tommy John surgery. Paddack dominated at the Single-A and Double-A levels last season, posting a 2.10 ERA with 120 strikeouts against only eight walks in 90 innings.

We will find out about Paddock come April but how is he this big of a favorite over a vet like Samardzija? He had made at least 32 starts in five straight seasons, before being sidelined by shoulder woes last season. "I feel healthy again, and that's a huge plus," Samardzija said during a strong spring training. Let's NOT forget that  just two teams won fewer home games than San Diego (30) last year and just two lost more money (-$1,760) at home than the Padres. I'm betting this dog barks LOUDLY!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the Oak A's at 4:07 ET.

The Oakland starters Fiers and Estrada  flopped in Japan in back-to-back losses to the Mariners but back at home, Oakland's starters have been terrific. Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada and Brett Anderson each pitched six shutout innings in the first three games of this series, turning over 4-0, 2-0 and 4-0 leads, respectively, to the Oakland bullpen. However, the A's have been able to only hold hold to two of those leads., as Oakland's bullpen has allowed eight late runs. The Angels look for a split of the series in Sunday's finale, while the A's look to take THREE of the four.

Tyler Skaggs (8-10, 4.02 ERA in 20918) will square off against Frankie Montas (5-4, 3.88 ERA in 2018). Skaggs makes his season debut, coming off career highs in wins, starts (24), innings (125 1/3) and strikeouts (129) last year while posting his lowest ERA in six major-league seasons. Montas made 11 starts last year (team was 7-4), after strictly working out of the bullpen the previous season.

Skaggs has not fared well against Oakland in his career, going 2-6 with a 5.19 ERA in 10 starts plus he battled forearm fatigue during spring training, where he surrendered nine runs - eight earned - and 11 hits over 9.2 innings in three starts (7.45 ERA). Montas has faced the Angels out of the bullpen three times in his career, yielding one run and eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk over 5.1 innings. The good news for Oakland fans is that Montas had a strong spring, as he allowed just two runs - one earned - and 11 hits over 16 innings in two starts and three relief appearances (0.56 ERA). Oakland was MLB's top earner last season (+$3,663, going 51-30 at home, +$1,680). The A's were 22-12 at home in day games in 2018, including 8-3 vs lefties, averaging 5.0 RPG. Look out Mr Skaggs!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Was Nats at 1:35 ET.

DeGrom out-dueled Scherzer in Thursday's opener (2-0) and Saturday, the Mets won an 11-8 slugfest. Can the Mets complete a three-game sweep and open 3-0 for the first time in six years? Zack Wheeler (12-7, 3.31 ERA in 2018)  gets the nod, coming off his best campaign for New York, while Washington newcomer Patrick Corbin (11-7, 3.15 ERA in 2018) goes for the Nats (Corbin signed a $140 million deal this off-season).

Wheeler has been hampered by injuries for much of his career but made 29 starts in 2018 and ranked second on the team in victories. The former first-round pick was 10-1 with a 2.21 ERA over the final three months of the season and he defeated Washington twice in three matchups. Corbin earned his big deal after a spectacular 2018 in which he struck out 246 batters in 200 innings while holding opponents to a .218 average.

While Wheeler pitched well down the stretch for the Mets, he posted a 4.80 ERA in five spring training starts. What's more, he's just 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 13 career starts vs Washington (Mets are 5-8). Corbin does not have a good history vs the Mets (1-4 with a 5.32 ERA in eight starts  / team is 3-5) but I expect him to come up big in his Washington debut, as the Nats avoid the dreaded home sweep to a division rival.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Pitch Perfect Play is on the Tex Rangers at 8:05 ET.

The Cubs beat the Rangers 12-4 on Thursday, as every Chicago starter had a hit except for catcher Willson Contreras. Elvis Andrus had three hits - including a two-run HR- for the Rangers, but the rest of the lineup combined for just three hits. The teams had Friday off and resume the three-game series Saturday night, when Yu Darvish (1-3, 4.95 ERA in 2018) makes his first start against his former team  up against Edinson Volquez, who making his first start since July 5, 2017 (missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery).

Darvish pitched his first 4 1/2 seasons in the majors for the Rangers and was 31-19 with a 3.60 ERA in 65 starts at Globe Life Park. However, his win total of 16 in his rookie season with Texas has diminished in nearly every season since. The Rangers eventually gave up on Darvish, sending him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2017 trade deadline. Darvish struggled that postseason, and in February 2018, the Cubs outbid the Dodgers for the top pitching free agent on the market, handing him a six-year, $126 million contract to, in essence, replace the departed Jake Arrieta. The 35-year-old Volquez is beginning his second stint in Texas, where he made 20 appearances (17 starts) across three seasons to begin his big-league career. He went 4-8 with a 4.19 ERA nback in 2017 with Pittsburgh).

Darvish was a major disappointment in his first season with the Cubs, making only eight starts due to injury. He delivered erratic performances during his eight-start 2018 season, rarely getting past the fifth inning, while earning just ONE win in eight starts before being lost for the season with a stress reaction on his right pitching elbow, as well as a triceps strain. He appeared to be back to form this spring, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts, but he has been bothered by a blister on his right ring finger. No way I trust him here. Regarding Volquez? The former NL Central (Reds, Pirates) pitcher has been a common foil for the Cubs, going 8-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 13 career appearances, including 12 starts in which his teams a PERFECT 12-0! Enough said.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Cle Indians at 2:10 ET.

The Twins won the season opener Thursday, when Jose Berrios allowed just two hits over 7 2/3 innings and earned the victory in a 2-0 win over the visiting Indians. Berrios out-dueled two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, and the three-game series continues Saturday at Target Field. Cleveland's Trevor Bauer (12-6, 2.21 ERA in 2018) is scheduled to oppose Jake Odorizzi (7-10, 4.49 ERA in 2018).

Bauer suffered a broken leg after being hit by a line drive against the Chicago White Sox last Aug 11. He did returned to make three appearances (two starts) totaling 9 1/3 innings in late September, but the injury derailed what could have been an award-winning season for the 28-year-old . He finished second in the AL in ERA behind Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who only threw 4 2/3 innings more than Bauer. Odorizzi posted a career-high ERA last year but he enters his final season prior to free agency as one of the most durable starters in the game. The just turned 29-year-old is one of just FIVE pitchers to make at least 28 starts in each of the past five seasons. Two members of that group include Kluber and Scherzer, who have combined to win five Cy Youngs.

That said, it's safe to say that Odorizzi reminds NO ONE of Kluber and Scherzer, who posted a 13.50 ERA in limited spring training action. Odorizzi is 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians (teams are 2-7) and he faces a Cleveland lineup which averaged 5.2 RPG vs right-handers in 2018. Bauer is eligible for free agency after the 2020 season and has no interest in signing a long-term deal saying, "If players are willing to take more risk and shorter term, they can really drive the value up." Saturday will serve as Bauer's first true regular-season start since he suffered a broken leg last August. Bauer is just 6-7 with a 4.46 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts / team is 8-10) against the Twins but he's faced then more than any other opponent.Look for Cleveland's bats to 'wake up' vs Odorizzi.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Oak A's at 10:07 ET.

The Oakland Athletics opened with a pair of loses in Japan to Seattle (Mar 20 & 21) but posted an impressive 4-0 win yesterday at home against the LA Angels. Khris Davis hit his second HR of the young season (note: Davis is coming led the major leagues with 48 HRs and finished second with 123 RBI in 2018) and Marcus Semien also went deep, while Mike Fiers bounced back from a poor start in Japan to combine with three relievers on a three-hitter. The Angels lost their sixth consecutive season opener, managing just one hit over the first seven innings, before recording back-to-back two-out singles in the eighth.

Matt Harvey (7-9, 4.94 ERA in 2018) signed a one-year, $11 million contract in December and will be making his debut with the Angels, after splitting last season between the New York Mets and Cincinnati. Marco Estrada (0-0, 5.40 ERA) gets the nod for Oakland. He spent the last four years with Toronto and escaped with a no-decision after surrendering three runs and five hits in five innings against Seattle in Japan on March 21. Harvey turned 30 on Wednesday and was able to salvage a decent season by going 7-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 24 starts with the Reds, after he'd had a disastrous first eight appearances (four starts) with the Mets, going 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA. Harvey has never pitched in the American League and has never faced the A's. Estrada has made five career starts against the Angels, going 1-3 with a 5.90 ERA (teams are 1-4).

Estrada is sure not 'money' but I can easily go against the overrated Harvey. Note that in his last 11 road starts in competitively-priced games (-125 to +125), his teams are an abysmal 1-10! I played on Oakland yesterday, noting that the A's were MLB's top money-earners in 2018  at plus-$3,667. Oakland was 35-15 at home vs righties last season (+$1,950), including 21-6 in night games, while averaging 5.3 RPG. Expect them to 'light up' Harvey!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:07 ET.

The Detroit Tigers lost 98 games last year in a weak division but had an impressive season-opening 2-0 win at Toronto. Jordan Zimmermann carried a perfect game into the seventh and then three Detroit relievers finished the combined two-hitter. Christin Stewart's two-run HR in the top of the 10th inning was the difference as the Tigers won their opener for the seventh time in the last eight years. Toronto had only two singles and one walk in the shutout loss, as it has now dropped its opener in three straight seasons for the first time since 1984-86.

Lefty Matthew Boyd (9-13, 4.39 ERA in 2018) gets the ball for Detroit, while Matt Shoemaker (2-2, 4.94 ERA in 2018) gets the nod for Toronto. Boyd is a former Blue Jay (he was dealt to the Tigers as part of the deal that sent David Price to Toronto during the 2015 season) and he went 4-4 with a solid 3.20 ERA through his first 12 starts in 2018, before falling off. That said, Boyd set career highs in virtually every category last year while posting the lowest ERA of his four-year career. Shoemaker was signed to a one-year contract during the off-season, after he had pitched for the LA Angels from 2013-18. He was limited to 14 starts in 2017 and seven starts in 2018 because of a forearm injury.

However, Shoemaker has 'had his moments" with LA. What's more, he looked strong in spring training by limiting opponents to 12 hits while striking out 20 in 18 innings. He is 3-1 with a sparkling 0.83 in five career starts against the Tigers (Angels went 4-1), allowing just 21 hits (not a single HR) in 32.2 innings. In contrast, Boyd had a 5.00 ERA in five spring training starts and gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 13 innings against Toronto last season (he's 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA vs Toronto in five career starts / team is 3-2). Throw in the fact that Detroit was 7-26 (while averaging 3.6 RPG) in road night games vs righties in 2018 and the Jays are the play!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Col Rockies at 4:10 ET.

The Colorado Rockies went 91-72 last season, which landed them in the playoffs as a wild card. The Rockies beat the Cubs in the knockout game but then lost 3-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. It was just the Rockies' fifth playoff appearance and the first time they had qualified in consecutive seasons. They have yet to win a World Series, although they reached the Fall Classic in 2007. Colorado does have its eyes on the 2019 World Series with potentially its best starting rotation ever and a deep lineup.  Daniel Murphy was signed to take over at 1B and Colorado handed Nolan Arenado a fat contract extension (he leads the majors with 564 RBI since the start of the 2014).

Miami went 63-98 in 2018, landing the Marlins in last place in the National League and out of the playoffs for the 15th consecutive year. However, the last time the Marlins made the playoffs, they won the 2003 World Series. Incredibly, the only other time they made the playoffs was in 1997 and they won the World Series that year, too (what a history!). The Marlins engineered yet another sell-off after the 2017 season, dumping salaries of most of their best players, including league MVP Giancarlo Stanton. One of the players they traded, Christian Yelich, went on to win NL MVP honors in 2018. So what did the Marlins do for an encore this winter? They dumped yet another salary, of course, trading catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies, who has become one of the best all-around catchers in the game.What's the plan?

The starting pitchers for Thursday are Colorado lefty Kyle Freeland (17-7, 2.85 ERA) and Miami righty Jose Urena (9-12, 3.98 ERA). Freeland began last season as the team’s fifth starter but evolved into an ace after the All-Star break, posting a 9-1 record and 2.49 ERA in 14 starts. Freeland, who set the franchise ERA record last season and finished with MLB's second-best moneyline mark (23-10, plus-$1,486). He is making his first career start against the Marlins. Urena is making an Opening Day start for the second consecutive season, after leading the team in starts (31) and innings (174) last year. The team hopes he picks up where he left off last September, when he went 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his final five starts. Urena is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five career starts vs the Rockies (team is 3-2).

However, while Colorado used o be a poor road team (Coors Field or Bust!), the Rockies were 44-38 on the road in 2018, earning $1,497 at $100/game. As for Miami, the Marlins face a tough lefty in Freeland in this one and they averaged just 3.6 RPG against left-handers in 2018, going 12-26 (-$580). Freeland and Colorado it is!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Daytime Dominator is on the Oak A's at 4:07 ET.

The Oakland Athletics went 97-65 last season and finished the regular season as MLB's top money-earner (plus-$3,667). However, the A's came up empty in Japan, losing 9-7 to the Mariners on Mar 20 and then 5-4 on the following day.The A's hope that more familiar surroundings will help on Thursday, as they host the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a four-game series. The Angels (80-82 in 2018) kick off their first season without Mike Scioscia as manager since 1999. Brad Ausmus was brought in to replace the retired Scioscia and will open his first campaign with the club without left fielder Justin Upton, who will start the year on the injured list due to turf toe. Of course you may have heard, Mike Trout recently signed a record-setting 12-year, $426.5 million contract.

Trevor Cahill (7-4, 3.76 ERA in 2018) will be making the second Opening Day start of his career, when he faces the team with which it began. He returned to Oakland for a second stint last season but made only 20 starts as he spent the first month in the minors and also made a visit to the disabled list. That said, Cahill's seven wins were his most since going 8-10 for Arizona in 2013. His lone career start against the Athletics came back in 2012, earning  the win for Arizona after allowing two runs and seven hits in 7.1 innings.

Mike Fiers hopes to bounce back from a rough outing in Oakland's season opener, as he was ripped for five runs and four hits in just three innings. However, it should be noted that after he was acquired by the A's from Detroit last August for two players to be named later, he helped pitch the A's into the playoffs, as the A's went 8-1 in his nine starts. Throw in his team record of 13-8 with Detroit and Fiers was 21-9 in team starts in 2018, giving him MLB's top moneyline mark of plus-$1,897! I'll throw out his start in Japan and back him here vs the Angels, as the A's were an impressive 50-31 at home (plus-$1,680).

Good luck...Larry.

My 9* MLB "First Look" is on the StL Cards at 2:10 ET.

The St. Louis Cardinals 88 wins were not enough in the NL Central last season, as the Cubs and Brewers each won 95. Milwaukee required an additional game to win the Central Division, then pushed the Dodgers to seven games in the NLCS, falling just short of making its first World Series appearance since 1982.Getting back to the Crads, owners of one of MLB's proudest traditions, the team's failure to reach the postseason for three consecutive years was the first time that had happened since 1997-99.  The two NL Central rivals open a four-game series this afternoon at Miller Park.

St Louis' marquee addition was Paul Goldschmidt. He signed a five-year, $130 million contract and will add a big bat to an already imposing lineup featuring Matt Carpenter, Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina.Goldschmidt hit 209 HRs in eight years with Arizona and joins a team which hit 205 HRs last season, fourth-best in the NL. Reigning NL Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich recorded team-leading totals in HRs (36), RBI (110) and BA (.326) to lead an offense that received a significant upgrade with the signing of catcher Yasmani Grandal, a former All-Star who hit 73 HR in his last three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cards will send RH Miles Mikolas (18-4, 2.83 ERA) to the mound, while the Brewers counter with Jhoulys Chacín (15-8, 3.50 ERA). Mikolas resurrected his career in Japan after flaming out in his first stint in the majors and returned last season to tie for the NL lead in victories,  while finishing fourth in ERA. He walked just 29 batters in his 32 starts and went 10-1 over the final three months of the season. Chacin found a home in his first season with Milwaukee, posting a career high in wins and notching a pair of victories in the postseason.

Mikolas was 3-0 with a 4.01 ERA in four starts against the Brewers in 2018 (Cards were 3-1), winning both decisions in Milwaukee, Meanwhile, Chacin went 2-2 with a 5.26 ERA last seasonvs the Cards. That's nothing new, as he's 2-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 10 career starts vs St Louis (teams are 3-7). Mikolas was among MLB's top money-makers last season, as the Cards were 24-8 (+$1,1418) in all of his starts, with St Louis going 13-3 in his road starts. Want more? The Cards were 12-1 in Mikolas' day starts, while the Brewers were terrible in afternoon contests vs right-handers, going 18-25, -$1010.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Dodgers at 8:15 ET.

Boston's 24-inning offensive slumber threatened to reset the World Series and turn it into a best-of-three affair, but the Red Sox found life again, right after Yasiel Puig's three-run HR in the sixth put the Dodgers up 4-0. Boston's surge began with pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland's three-run HR in the seventh, followed by Steve Pearce's game-tying HR in the eighth inning. Pearce added a three-run double in Boston's five-run ninth, as the Red Sox emphatically rallied for a 9-6 victory on Saturday. Boston now owns a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup. LA's normally reliable bullpen imploded, as six relievers allowed eight runs (plus an inherited runner) in just 2 2/3 innings, putting their championship hopes (dreams?) on 'life support.' Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts told reporters, “We’re in a situation where it’s do or die. Now we have to bow are necks and win a game. It's one at a time. … Our guys are not done. We’ve got our best going (Sunday).”

The conventional wisdom immediately following the Red Sox's comeback win in Game 4 was that lefty ace Chris Sale would remain on schedule and start the potential clincher Game 5 on Sunday night. However, Boston manager Alex Cora made the surprise announcement during his postgame remarks that David Price would start Game 5 of the World Series. The decision to move away from Sale was based on the fact that he has struggled with velocity loss and faltering command in recent start, and of course. he dealt with shoulder issues throughout the latter half of the season. Circling back to Cora's presser before Game 4, he was asked about Sale's and Price's status for Saturday night. "Not Chris," he said. "Not Chris." If that sounds emphatic, that's because it was. This could be a simple matter of advance planning being in place, or it could be a hint that Sale is, at the very least, in need of more time off. Whatever ails Sale is obviously not grave enough to merit a roster move, at least yet, but his unavailability out of the pen on three days' rest in Game 4 and then getting bumped from his scheduled Game 5 start run some red flags up the pole.

So on to the Game 5 starters, David Price of Boston and Clayton Kershaw of LA. Price's postseason numbers have haunted him his entire career but all of a sudden, he's given his fans hope. Price has posted back-to-back strong six-inning outings in Game 5 of the ALCS (Bostons won 4-1 and clinched the pennant) and again in Game 2 of the World Series (4-2 Red Sox win). He's struck out 14 in those 12 innings, allowing just two ERs (1.26 ERA). Price also got two outs in relief during Friday’s Game 3 (threw 13 pitches) and was up in the bullpen Saturday, Kershaw's postseason woes have always been "front and center," as the three-time Cy Young winner is an underachieving 9-9 with a 4.28 ERA in 29 appearances (23 starts).

So why take LA? For one, I'm not even close to being sold on Price and while I'm a HUGE Kershaw detractor as well, this is the perfect situation for Clayton to "come up big," in what figures to almost surely be a Boston win in the series. Kershaw can claim "he came through witb LA facing elimination" but in the end, it figures to be a "nothing burger." In support of Kershaw I will note that he has registered two brilliant performances in the postseason at home. Kershaw has given up one just run on only five hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts in 15 innings at Dodger Stadium (0.60 ERA) during the playoffs. Sandy Koufax he's NOT but in this situation, LA with Kershaw is the play!

Good luck…Larry

My 10* MLB Game of the Year is on the LA Dodgers at 8:05 ET.

The Boston Red Sox have won the first two games of the World Series at home in impressive fashion (8-4 & 4-2) and are now 9-2 in the postseason, after winning a MLB-high 108 games during the regular season. Note that the Dodgers won "just" 92 games during the regular season (played 163), 16 games fewer than Boston. The Dodgers return home (for three games?) with a 7-6 postseason record, while batting only .212 as a team and averaging just 3.77 RPG.

Game 3's pitching matchup will feature Boston vet Rick Porcello and LA rookie Walker Buehler. Porcello's made four postseason appearances in 2018, including two starts. Porcello allowed one run in a total of 6 2/3 innings over his first three postseason appearances (just one start) but was roughed up in his ALCS Game 4 start at Houston on Oct. 17, surrendering four runs on seven hits (including two HRs) in just four innings (Red Sox would win, 8-6). Porcello owns just one postseason win, as he's 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 16 appearances (six starts).

Buehler finished the regular season strong (allowed just 13 ERs over his final 12 starts) but Buehler stumbled in his first two postseason starts, allowing nine ERs in 12 innings for a 6.75 ERA. However, he stepped up in Game 7 of the NLCS and struck out seven while allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, as LA clinched the series with a 5-1 win. LA has to like its chances with Buehler here, as he held hitters to a .193 batting average during the regular season while striking out 151 in 137 1/3 innings (even in a so-so postseason, he has 22 Ks in 16 2/3 innings). What's more, Buehler posted a 1.93 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) at Dodger Stadium during the regular season, despite allowing five runs in a one-run stint in that lone relief appearance against the Cubs back on June 28. 

Boston's 5-0 this postseason on the road and the team's timely hitting (36 of the team's 68 runs have come with two outs), makes them a 'beast' but this is LA's "game to win." Porcello is VERY vulnerable (see above for his postseason record!) and the Dodgers intend to put up as much resistance as possible in Game 3 with their left-handed power lineup going against the right-hander. After facing lefties Sale and Price, the change will mean starts for Dodgers lefty power hitters like Max Muncy, Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger. As Churchill once said, "If not when, now? If not us, who?" That's LA's mantra and my bet, in Game 3.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* NLCS Game 7 Decider is on the Mil Brewers at 8:05 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers came home from LA down 3-2 in the NLCS, after scoring just three runs in losing Games 4 and 5. The Brewers had managed only 16 runs (3.20 per) while batting .219 with a .653 OPS in the first five games of the series but 'exploded' for four-run first in Game 6, on their way to a series-tying 7-2 win. Milwaukee had 11 hits plus received six walks from LA pitchers. More importantly, Milwaukee finally got some timely hitting, going 5-16 with RISP.  David Freeze led off the game with a HR for LA but the team had just four more hits the rest of the way, scoring just one more run on an RBI double by Freeze. LA bats have been very quiet this series, as the Dodgers have scored a modest 18 runs through six games (3.00 per), while batting .210 with a .585 OPS.

The Game 7 pitching matchup is a 're-hook' from Game 3 of this series, LA's Walker Buehler and Milwaukee's Jhoulys Chacin. Buehler has had a terrific rookie season, making 24 regular season appearances (23 starts), posting a 2.62 ERA, an 0.96 WHIP and a .193 BAA. Buehler posted a 1.58 ERA over his last 11 starts of the regular season but has allowed nine ERs over just 12 innings in two playoff starts (6.75 ERA).  He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings to suffer the loss in Game 3 on Monday, opposite Chacin.

Speaking of Jhoulys Chacin, the 10-year vet signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in January, hoping to pitch in the postseason for the first time in his major league career. He has done more than his part to help fulfill that dream with an impressive regular-season in which he went 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA in a major league-best 35 starts. He even held the Cubs to a single run over 5 1/3 innings in the Game 163 tiebreaker that gave Milwaukee the Central Division title and the NL's No. 1 seed.  Chacin has been outstanding in his two postseason starts, allowing six hits and five walks across 10 1/3 scoreless innings, while recording a pair of wins.

Both teams came into Game 6 struggling offensively but it was Milwaukee which broke out of its slump. Why Not? After all, the Brewers finished with an NL-best 51-30 record at home during the regular season and have won four of five at Miller Park in the playoffs. Is Buehler up to the task? He's certainly shown no indication he is in his two postseason starts, so far. Plus, he posted a 3.45 ERA on the road as opposed to a 1.93 mark at home, during the regular season.Chacin has been 'MONEY' for Milwaukee all season, finishing 11th in the moneyline standings with a 23-12 team record in his starts (includes his Game 163 win), earning a profit of $1,079. He comes into this "winner-take-all" game having pitched 10 1/3 scoreless innings this postseason plus Milwaukee left-handed relief ace Josh Hader never entered Game 6's win thanks to a much-needed breakout performance by Milwaukee's offense. Hader's made six appearances during Milwaukee's 2018 playoff run and hasn't allowed a run while striking out 12 over seven innings. That's not reassuring news for the Dodgers, who have managed only four hits while striking out eight times in 18 at-bats over 4 2/3 innings against Hader during the NLCS!

This will be the 10th Game 7 in NLCS history, with the home team winning six of the previous nine matchups. Make that SEVEN of 10, after tonight's game!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NLCS Game 6 Eliminator is on the Mil Brewers at 8:35 ET.

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed a Game 163 to capture their sixth straight NL West crown but are now just one win away from a second straight trip to the World Series. The Dodgers will try to close out the best-of-seven NLCS when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday for Game 6. The Dodgers fell behind 2-1 in the series after dropping Game 3 at home but turned up the pitching over the next two contests and limited the Brewers to a total of three runs in 22 innings in back-to-back Game 4 & 5 victories.According to Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell , he told reporters "We were unable to score enough runs, really, I think that was the bottom line of the three games here. We gave ourselves a chance through obviously 12 innings (Tuesday) and six innings (Wednesday) to try to put ourselves in a good spot, but they've done a good job of holding us down offensively."

Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the mound for LA in Game 6, opposite Milwaukee's Wade Miley. Ryu tossed seven scoreless innings to earn a 6-0 win over the Atlanta Braves during the NLDS but was not quite as sharp in Game 2 at Milwaukee in this series. He was reached for two runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision (LA overcame a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3). Ryu has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last five starts going back to the regular season and has yet to be reached for more than three ERs in any of his 17 starts this season (including the playoffs)!

Wade Miley started Game 5 for Milwaukee but threw only five pitches, issuing a walk to Cody Bellinger, before being replaced by right-hander Brandon Woodruff in a surprise move designed to give Milwaukee a matchup advantage. Miley's start in this contest makes him the first pitcher to start consecutive games for his team in the same postseason since George Earnshaw of the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1930 World Series against the Cardinals (according to STATS).  Incredibly, Milwaukee starters have tossed just 14 innings in the NLCS, the lowest total ever through five games, according to Elias Sports Bureau. However, Miley dominated Los Angeles in Game 2, scattering two hits over 5 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision. 

Miley's pitched 10 1/3 innings this postseason, without allowing a run while giving up five hits and two walks. I will also note that Milwaukee navigated Game 5 without using relievers Josh Hader, Corey Knebel or Jeremy Jeffress. All three should be ready to go Friday. However, pitching hasn't been Milwaukee's problem. The Brewers have managed only 16 runs  (3.20 per) while batting .219 with a .653 OPS. Then again, the Dodgers haven't done much better. They've also scored only 16 total runs in the series while batting .220 with a .599 OPS.

Something has got to give. Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich have been the table-setters all season long but have "gone silent" against the Dodgers. Yelich is 3-for-20 while Cain is 6-for-24 in the series and just 7-for-36 with 10 strikeouts during the postseason.The Brewers are 5-for-35 with RISP for the series, with just one hit in their last 11 tries. My bet is that the Miller Park surroundings will wake up Milwaukee's bats. Get ready for a Game 7 on Saturday.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* PERFECT STORM is on the Hou Astros at 8:05 ET.

The 108-win Boston Red Sox took out the hated Yankees in four games in the ALDS and now, after last night's thrilling 8-6 win, can clinch a berth in the World Series for the first time since 2013 when they remain in Houston for Thursday's Game  5 of the ALCS with the Astros. The excitement started early in Game 4, as the Astros were hurt by a controversial fan-interference call that turned Jose Altuve's would-be two-run HR to right field into an out as Boston's Mookie Betts reached above the fence to try and catch the ball (I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder). Jackie Bradley Jr. followed up his grand slam in Game 3 with a go-ahead, two-run HR in the sixth inning last night. The drama didn't end until Andrew Benintendi made a diving play in left field with the bases loaded for the final out (all three runners might have scored if the ball had gotten past him).

The Game 5 pitching matchup features David Price (0-1 with a 9.95 ERA in two 2018 postseason starts) vs Justin Verlander (2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two 2018 postseason starts). Price warmed up during the final two innings of Game 4 but wasn't used. He now draws the start in Game 5, after ace Chris Sale (stomach) was ruled out as a possibility on Wednesday. Verlander defeated the Red Sox in Game 1, giving up two runs on two hits over six innings but walked four. It wasn't a classic Verlander outing but it did result in a 7-2 Houston win.

Frankly, I don't see any other way to go but to take Verlander. Price comes back on three days' rest and as ALL know, he remains winless over 11 career postseason starts (0-9, 6.16 ERA). He did not factor in the decision in Game 2, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. However, with their 7-5 win, the Red Sox became the first team to claim victory in a postseason start made by Price. Meanwhile, Verlander is a remarkable 13-2 with a 2.49 ERA in ALDS and ALCS matchups in his career.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Hou Astros at 8:35 ET.

Jackie Bradley Jr. broke Game 3 open with a grand slam in the eighth inning, as Boston pulled away for an 8-2 victory. The win gives the Red Sox a 2-1 series lead, meaning Boston would take a 3-1 lead by winning Game 4, tonight. The defending World Series champion Astros have been challenged before in the last two postseasons, needing to win the final two games of the 2017 ALCS to knock out the New York Yankees plus captured Game 7 in LA to win last year's World Series against the Dodgers.

Rick Porcello, who was 17-7 with a 4.28 ERA in the regular season, starts for Boston and Charlie Morton (regular season of 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA) takes the mound for Houston. Porcello won his lone start of the ALDS, allowing one run on four hits over five innings against the Yankees in a 4-3 victory. However, it was Porcello's lone win in 14 career postseason appearances (five starts). He's 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in his postseason career.

Morton posted career highs for victories (15) and strikeouts (201) in 2018 but this will be his first appearance of the postseason. In fact, he has pitched just four innings over the last month. Morton started the regular-season finale against the Baltimore Orioles for Houston, working just three innings by design. That capped an odd final month that saw him limited to 15 innings in four starts because of lingering right shoulder discomfort.

Porcello has been used out of the bullpen twice this postseason, including a scoreless inning of relief in Game 2 of this series. He says that he has adjusted to the dual role. "I think as a starter you're trying to cover the course of a whole ballgame, so you're kind of trying to keep your emotions in check just because you've got a lot of baseball to pitch," Porcello said at his press conference. "You don't want to get too high, too low, whatever it is." I don't believe it's a positive and will take the well-rested Morton. Let's not forget Morton's performance in the 2017 World Series, when he appeared twice (started Houston's Game 7 win), pitching 10 1/3 innings with a 1.74 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 11-0 KW ratio. Houston CAN'T afford to go down 3-1 and don't forget, last night's home loss was just the Astros' SECOND at home in 12 games the last two postseasons. 

Good luck…Larry

My 7* PERFECT STORM is on the LA Dodgers at 9:05 ET.

Despite owning the NL's best record at 96-67, the Milwaukee Brewers continue to 'fly under the radar' as far as national recognition goes. However, after shutting out the Dodgers 4-0 in Monday's Game 3 of the NLCS, Milwaukee has a chance to take a 3-1 lead in the series when they take the field tonight in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. FIVE pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Brewers became just the third team to toss three shutouts in the first six games of a postseason, joining the 1905 New York Giants and 1966 Baltimore Orioles (note: the record for shutouts in a single playoffs is five by the Cleveland Indians in 2016). The Dodgers entered the postseason off their sixth consecutive NL West title but LA's bats have been 'quiet' through three games in teh NLCS, hitting .220 as a team, while scoring a total of just nine runs.,

The Game 4 pitching matchup will feature a pair of lefties, Milwaukee's Gio Gonzalez and LA's Rich Hill. Gonzalez was struggling through a frustrating season with the Nationals and was 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA (Nats were 11-16 in all of his starts, minus-$$1181 vs the moneyline) when the Brewers acquired him from Washington just before the deadline to trade for players and have them eligible for postseason play. Gonzalez "turned back the clock" with the Brewers, going 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts after being acquired from Washington, as the Brewers went a perfect 5-0, plus-$502 vs the moneyline in his starts. However, he hadn't pitched since Sep 30. when he was tabbed to start Game 1 of this series. He was pulled after allowing one run and one hit (a HR by Manny Machado) in two innings. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell didn't announce Gonzalez as the starter until after Monday's victory but said starting the 33-year-old always was the preferred plan. "We laid out some scenarios, kind of going into (Monday's) game, what the possibilities were for (Tuesday)," Counsell said in his post-game press conference. "And if we got a good start and we're in good shape, Gio was always going to be the guy."

Rich Hill started Game 4 of LA's NLDS with Atlanta, a game the Dodgers won 6-2 to clinch that series 3-1. Hill pitched 4 1/3 innings against the Braves, allowing two runs. However, he gave up four hits and also five walks, so it was far from an encouraging outing. Hill is 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in nine career postseason starts but note that he was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 12 innings in two regular-season starts against the Brewers in 2018 (LA was 2-0).  

Yes, Gonzalez went just two innings in Game 1 (threw just pitches) but he is coming back on just three days' rest. However, more importantly, he has yet to earn a decision in seven career postseason starts, while posting a 4.76 ERA. LA didn't score in their Game 3 loss but the Dodgers sure had their chances. LA fizzled by going 0-for-10 with RISP and left EIGHT men on base. The Dodgers are a woeful 4-11 all-time when trailing 2-1 in a seven-game series, so it goes without saying, they CAN'T afford to fall behind 3-1 to the Brewers. I have to believe Gonzalez is vulnerable, as his two-inning stint in Game 1 (Oct 12), represents his only game-action since Sep 30. This 'perfect storm' goes to LA.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* ALCS Game 3 Tie-Breaker is on the Hou Astros at 5:0 5 ET.

The Boston Red Sox were able to even their best-of-seven series with the Astros by taking Game 2, 7-5. Boston's offense, which led the majors in batting average and runs scored during the regular season, woke up after a quiet Game 1, with nine hits and seven runs. However, for some unexplainable reason, Boston seemed to think David Price's 4 2/3-inning, four-run effort was worthy of praise. The Red Sox had better hope Nathan Eovaldi does better. The Astros have to be happy with getting a split in Fenway and now return home for the next three games.

The Game 3 pitching matchup features Nathan Eovaldi and Dallas Keuchel. Eovaldi owns the only quality start among Boston pitchers in the postseason, after dominating the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the AL Division Series. He scattered one run and five hits over seven innings while striking out five and not walking a batter. Eovaldi started the season with Tampa Bay and made 12 appearances (11 starts) for the Red Sox, going 3-3 with a 3.33 ERA (Boston was just 5-6 in his starts). Keuchel surrendered two runs and four hits in five innings at Cleveland in Game 3 of the ALDS but did not factor in the decision of a game the Astros went onto win 11-3. The former Cy Young Award winner won his lone start against Boston in the 2017 ALDS but was not sharp against the Red Sox on Sep 9, when he was knocked around for five runs on nine hits in six innings of a 6-5 loss.

Is Eovaldi really ready for "primetime?" Boston points to his Game 3 effort but let me note that the Red Sox provided him with 11 runs of support while he was on the mound (no real pressure). Eovaldi started at Houston as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays on June 20 and was knocked around for four runs on seven hits (including four solo HRs) in six innings of a 5-1 loss. We haven't seen Keuchel's "Cy Young form": in 2018 but his teammates have homered in a postseason-record 14 consecutive games, while going 10-1 at home the during the 2017 and 2018 playoffs, combined. Houston goes up 2-1 in this series with a victory here.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* MLB Game of the Week is on the Hou Astros at 8:05 ET.

Both the Red Sox (108 wins) and the Astros (103 wins) finished with franchise-best wins totals. Boston led MLB in runs scored (5.41 per), BA (.268) and OPS (.792). Houston averaged a healthy 4.92 RPG (6th) but was able to led all MLB teams in run-differential (plus-263) due to a pitching staff that led in overall ERA (3.11), bullpen ERA (3.03), WHIP (1.10) and Ks (1,687). Boston took out the hated-Yankees in four games, while Houston swept the Indians, outscoring Cleveland 21-6. These two juggernauts will square off to decide which team gets to represent the American League in the World Series when the Red Sox host the Astros on Saturday in Game 1 of the best-of-seven ALCS. The Red Sox will well-remember the Astros eliminating them 3-1 in an ALDS matchup in 2017, as Houston then went on to win the franchise's first-ever World Series title. Boston owns the homefield edge and was a MLB-best 57-24 at Fenway during the regular season but Houston was a MLB-best 57-24 away from home.

The pitching matchup is first-rate, as Justin Verlander (1-0, 3.38 ERA) takes on Chris Sale (1-0, 2.84 ERA. Verlander was16-9 in the regular season, posting a 2.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a .200 BAA. Sale was 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and .181 BAA. Verlander started Game 1 of the ALDS against Cleveland and held the Indians hitless through the first five innings before allowing two runs and coming away with a 7-2 win. Sale struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings to earn a win in Game 1 of Boston's ALDS but needed to sweat, as Boston's bullpen has been shaky down the stretch as of late. He also tossed a perfect inning of relief during Boston's clinching Game 4 win over New York.

This is a game in which it is highly likely that the best starting pitcher will give bettors the "W." This will be the eighth time Sale and Verlander will face each other as starters and Verlander has the clear advantage over the first seven matchups. Verlander is 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP and .207 opponents' batting average against Sale's teams. while Sale is 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP and .261 batting average against when pitching against Verlander's teams (STATS gets the credit here)

Verlander earned a pair of wins against Boston during the 2017 ALDS, including a victory out of the bullpen in the clinching Game 4 at Fenway Park. Meanwhile, Sale was 0-2 against Houston in that series, pitching only 9 2/3 innings while allowing 13 hits and nine ERs (8.38 ERA). Sale has had little playoff experience, going 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA in the postseason in his career. In stark contrast, Verlander is 12-6 with a 3.08 ERA lifetime in the postseason. His woes have come in the World Series (0-4) but in ALDS and ALCS matchups, he's made 18 appearances (17 starts), going 12-2 with 2.46 ERA and a 127-32 KW ratio. Verlander makes Houston the play.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* NLCS Opener is on the Mil Brewers at 8:05 ET.

The Los Angeles Dodgers won their sixth straight NL West title in 2018 (needed a Game No. 163 home win over Colorado to do so) and get set to play in their third consecutive NLCS when they visit Milwaukee on Friday night to take on the Brewers. Milwaukee ended a six-year playoff drought by winning the NL Central title in 2018 by beating the Cubs in another Game No. 163 (3-1 at Wrigley) and return to the NLCS for the first time since losing to the Cardinals in 2011. Milwaukee's previous deepest foray in the postseason came way back in 1982, when the Brewers represented the AL in the 1982 World Series, ironically also losing to the Cardinals.

The Dodgers opened the season just 16-26 but including the postseason, have gone 79-46 (.632) since, including taking out the Braves. Clayton Kershaw, LA's three-time Cy Young winner in the NL (2011, 2013 and 2014) will get the ball in Game 1. Kershaw put together one of his top postseason performances in the win over Atlanta in Game 2 of the team's NLDS (8 IP / 2 hits 0 runs). However, that win leaves him with just an 8-7 (4.08 ERA) postseason record in 25 career appearances (20 starts). Kershaw was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee this season and owns a 6-5 record with a 2.86 ERA in 14 career starts against Milwaukee.

Starting opposite Kershaw will be Gio Gonzalez. Quite understandably, the last thing Gonzalez expected six weeks ago was to be the Game 1 starter in the NLCS. The veteran left-hander was struggling through a frustrating season with the Nationals and was 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA (Nats were 11-16 in all of his starts, minus-$$1181 vs the moneyline), when the Brewers acquired him from Washington just before the deadline to trade for players and have them eligible for postseason play. Gonzalez has "turned back the clock" with the Brewers, going 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts after being acquired from the Washington Nationals (Brewers are a perfect 5-0, plus-$502 vs the moneyline). However, he hasn't pitched since Sep 30. Let me also point out that he hasn't earned a decision in six career postseason starts (4.78 ERA) but the Nats were 3-3 in those starts.

It's been a less-than-stellar season for Kershaw (injuries limited him to 26 starts and he went just 9-5) but the Dodgers have won each of his last NINE starts (including the playoff game vs Atlanta). Is his performance against the Braves evidence that his postseason 'blues' are behind him? I'm not convinced even a little and note that Kershaw's biggest playoff problems have come in NLCS matchups. In five previous NLCS matcups, he's 2-4 with 4.75 ERA in 10 appearances (seven starts). Gonzalez has looked excellent since coming to the Brewers and he takes an excellent history against the Dodgers into this game, having gone 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six career outings. Oh, by the way, have I mentioned that the Brewers take the field on an 11-game winning streak. The play is on the home team.

Good luck…Larry