Cappers Sports Picks

My free play is on the Oak A's at 10:05 ET. The Seattle Mariners made a HUGE statement by sweeping a four-game series against the division-leading Houston Astros from Thursday through Sunday. They are now 69-50 and just four games back of the 73-46 Astros and 1 1/2 back of the 70-58 A's for the AL's second wild card spot. However, there is no rest for the weary, as Seattle gets set to visit the Oakland A's on Monday for the opener of a three-game series. Oakland enters the series having won nine of its last 11, not to mention having going an impressive 36-12 since mid-June.

The surprising Marco Gonzales (12-7, 3.79 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle, looking to snap out of a slump that has seen him suffer the loss in each of his last two outings. He has been ripped for 11 runs on 19 hits over 12 innings in losses to Toronto and Texas. However, that 'ugly' two-game stretch has come on the heels of Gonzales winning five consecutive starts from June 29 through July 29. Gonzales is 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in three games (two starts) against Oakland in his career (Seattle is 2-0 in his starts vs the A's).

Lefty LH Sean Manaea (10-8, 3.50 ERA) goes for the A's and is coming off a start in which he last just 2 2/3 innings against the LA Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks in a 4-2 loss. and thon five hits and three walk. That said, Manaea did manage to keep alive his streak of 12 straight starts with three or fewer ERs allowed (The A's are 8-4 in that stetch). Manaea is 1-1 in two starts against Seattle (3.46 ERA) this season, giving him a career 4-4 record with a 4.12 ERA in nine career starts against the Mariners.

I see this as a very tough spot for Seattle, as a let down off a four-game sweep of the defending champs could hardly be seen as a surprise. All of a sudden, Gonzlaes has lost some of his 'magic' in his last two outings (8.25 ERA) and I just noted that Manaea enters on a 12-start run of allowing three or less ERs. Oakland's been on an eight-week surge and I won't buck them here. Play the A's.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Wipeout Winner is on the St. Louis Cardinals (8:10 EST).

The Cards won big on the road in Kansas City over the weekend and I think they carry that momentum over here at home against the visiting Nationals, who were in action on Sunday night.

Washington hands the ball to Tommy Milone (1-1, 5.50 ERA) who gave up one run off three hits over seven innings in a victory over the anemic Mets on Monday. So far he’s looked sharp since getting the call up from Triple-A, allowing just four runs over 12 innings of work. However, there’s no question that this represents his most difficult outing so far.

The home side counters with Miles Mikolas (12-3, 2.74) who gave up two runs over seven innings in a victory over the Marlins on Tuesday. To go along with his highly respectable ERA, note that Mikolas also sports an elite 1.07 WHIP (additionally note that he’s been especially tough at home with the 5-3, 2.01 ERA record thus far.)

I’m banking on Mikolas continuing his steady play at home, while all signs point to Milone showing some regression after his decent start. Lay the price, play on the Cards.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Cleveland Indians (7:10 EST).

Ultimately I believe that Mike Clevinger and the hard-hitting visiting side could in fact be much larger favorites in this particular matchup.

Clevinger (7-7, 3.38 ERA) most recently gave up three runs off five hits while striking out six over six innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Friday. It was a big step in the right direction after a three-game slump and I think the right-hander carries that momentum over here. Note that he owns a sharp 1.22 WHIP and he has 139 K’s over 139.2 innings of work this season.

The home side counters with Homer Bailey (1-9, 6.19) who was most recently rocked for five runs off 11 hits over three innings in a loss to the Mets on Monday. With a 1.59 WHIP and just 54 K’s over 80 innings of work, Bailey can only be viewed as a complete disaster at this point.

Note that Bailey is 0-5 with a 6.85 ERA at home as well.

I like Clevinger to carry over his recent momentum, while recent form displayed by Bailey suggests he has another long night in store for him against the Tribe’s big bats. Lay the price, play on Cleveland.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the New York Mets (7:05 EST).

For the most part MLB handicapping comes down to the starting pitching and that’s what I’m basing this particular selection on.

And that’s because I absolutely believe that Mets’ ace Jacob DeGrom can easily match Yanks’ ace Luis Severino inning for inning. And in a scenario like that, I in turn believe that the value swings to the hungry underdog.

DeGrom (6-7, 1.77 ERA) gave up two runs off six hits with nine K’s over eight innings in an unfortunate setback to Atlanta on Friday. He now has 14 straight quality starts and note that he’s been particularly effective on the road by posting a 1.91 ERA thus far.

Severino (15-5, 3.11) gave up four runs off seven hits with three walks over 5.1 innings in a loss to Boston on Friday. Severino comes in with zero momentum, having posted a deplorable 8.28 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 21/7 K/W over his last 25 innings of work.

For the most part MLB handicapping comes down to the starting pitching and when trying to properly asses a hurler, often “recent form” is the best indicator we have in doing that.

Recent form displayed by these two starters suggests that Severino is in the wrong place at the wrong time tonight. Bank on the Mets finally giving DeGrom some support vs. the struggling Severino.

Good luck…Larry