Cappers Sports Picks

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Bos Red Sox at 10:10 ET.

The Boston's wild card hopes took a hit when the Red Sox dropped two games at home Tuesday and Wednesday to the Philadelphia Phillies. However. Boston managed to pick up a win on Thursday afternoon, when it finished off a suspended game against the Kansas City Royals by pushing a run across in the 10th inning to grab a 5-4 victory and avoid a three-game slide. The 68-61 Red Sox are currently SEVEN games back of the AL's second wild card spot, as they open an eight-game road trip by visiting the San Diego Padres on Friday. The Padres return home off back-to-back losses at Cincinnati on Tuesday and Wednesday. San Diego's wild card chances are clearly on 'life-support,' as the Padres are not only NINE games back of the second wild card spot but SIX teams are ahead of them!

Eduardo Rodriguez (14-5, 4.10 ERA) will take the mound for Boston, opposed by San Diego rookie Chris Paddack (7-6, 3.44 ERA). Rodriguez snapped a three-start winless streak with a strong effort against Baltimore this past Saturday, scattering four hits over 7/1 scoreless innings to earn a 4-0 win. With Sale and Price hurt (both have been HUGE underachievers in 2019, as well), the Venezuela native has been a staff mainstay (more later). Rodriguez is making his first career start against San Diego but is 6-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 13 interleague starts. Paddock is making his first start against Boston. He started strong in 2019, going 4-2 with a 1.93 ERA thru May 20 (San Diego was 7-2 in his nine starts). However, the season has taken a toll on the 23-year-old, who has just THREE wins in his last 12 starts. He's looked 'lost' lately, allowing 13 ERs on 20 hits over 14.2 innings in his last three outings (7.98 ERA).

Paddack will face a Boston lineup which is 25-16 on the road vs righties, averaging 5.5 RPG. Meanwhile, the left-handed Rodriguez faces a San Diego lineup which is just 10-17 vs lefties on the season, averaging only 3.9 RPG. Getting back to Rodriguez, he's been Boston's biggest money-maker for the SECOND straight year. He was 19-4 in team starts in 2018 (+$1,387) and here in 2019, his team record is 19-7 (+$1,128). Getting him at pick'em vs a slumping Paddack is a bargain.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Pitch-Perfect Play is on the LA Dodgers at 10:10 ET.

The 85-44 Los Angeles Dodgers enter a crucial three-game series against the visiting 83-46 New York Yankees on Friday, owning a two-game lead for the best record in the majors f(home-field advantage throughout the postseason will go to the team with MLB's best record). LA is coming off back-to-back walk-off home victories over Toronto (giving them a major league-best 12 on the year) and will open the series with MLB's best home record (51-16, outscoring opponents on average, 5.43-to-3.10 RPG). Meanwhile, the Yankees have matched a season worst by losing FOUR in a row, after opening a nine-game West Coast trip by losing all three contest in Oakland (Tue-Thu).

The first game of the series features two lefties, New York's James Paxton (9-6, 4.53 ERA) and LA's Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-3, 1.64 ERA). Paxton was just 5-6 with a 4.72 ERA through his first 18 starts of 2019. However, he has won each of his last four starts, although his ERA is just a so-so 3.80 in that span. Ryu allowed four runs on six hits (including two HRs) over 5.2 innings while losing 4-3 to Atlanta in his last outing (Aug 17). To put it mildly, that start was an outlier for Ryu in 2019. He entered last Saturday's outing having allowed just TWO runs over a six-start span (39.2 innings / 0.45 ERA). Almost unbelievably, Ryu has allowed two ERs or less in all but TWO of his 23 starts in 2019. Read that again, S-L-O-W-L-Y! He owns a 1.64 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and .223 BAA for the season, with the Dodgers going 17-6, +$815 in his starts (11th-best moneyline mark).

However, let me now get to "the good stuff!" Here in Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers are a PERFECT 11-0 in Ryu's starts and no wonder. He owns an 0.81 ERA, has allowed just 52 hits over 77.2 innings (.189 BAA) plus has 74-10 KW Ratio (0.80 WHIP). He'll take the mound against a dangerous New York lineup but one which totaled just NINE runs in three straight losses at Oakland to start a six-game trip plus one that has managed just 27 runs in its last seven games (3.86 per), FIVE of which have been losses.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Tex Rangers at 8:10 ET.

The Rangers and White Sox opened a four-game series last night in Chicago, with the White Sox cruising to a 6-1 victory. Texas entered the series having won THREE of four at home (all in walk-off fashion) but the loss dropped Texas to just 25-39 away from home on the season. The White Sox are now just 31-31 at home but they have dominated the Rangers lately here at Guaranteed Rate Field, winning 11 of the last 13 meetings. The teams continue their series tonight but both are just "playing out the string." The 63-66 Rangers are 12 games back of the second AL wild card spot, while the 58-69 White Sox are 16 games back.

Veteran Lance Lynn (14-8, 3.60 ERA) takes the mound for Texas, opposed by Chicago rookie Dylan Cease (2-6, 5.93 ERA). Lynn won 71 games for the Cards in a five-year span from 2012-17 (he missed the 2016 season) but his 2018 season, split between the Twins and Yanks, was a flop (10-10, 4.77 ERA). However, he has "settled in" with Texas. He made the 2019 All Star game and while he is winless in his last three outings, he allowed just 12 hits over 17 innings in that span, posting a 2.65 ERA. Chicago's Cease won his MLB debut back on July 3rd but he has lost SIX of seven starts since the All Star break. The 23-year-old has served up at least one HR in each of his eight major-league starts (10 on the season) and issued 21 walks in 44 innings. Cease may be one of the White Sox's prized young arms but the reality is he comes into this contest with a 1-6 record (6.00 ERA) in his last seven starts, up against a veteran pitcher who has held opponents to three ERs or less in 20 of his 26 starts in 2019. I've got Lynn and Texas in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Oak A's at 10:07 ET.

The Oakland Athletics opened a nine-game homestand last Thursday by taking THREE of four against the AL West-leading Houston Astros. After a Monday "off day," the A's got off to a good start vs another division leader, posting a 6-2 victory over the AL East-leading New York Yankees. Oakland now seeks its SEVENTH victory in its last nine contests when it hosts the Yankees on Wednesday for the middle contest of a three-game series. The 83-44 Yankees own a dominating 10-game lead in their division, while the 72-53 A's find themselves EIGHT games back of the Astros in their division. However, Monday's win pulled Oakland even with Tampa Bay for the AL's second wild-card spot.

Tonight's pitching matchup will feature J.A. Happ (10-7, 5.40 ERA) going up against Mike Fiers (11-3, 3.46 ERA). Happ's been a disappointment for New York but did deliver his best performance in nearly a month last Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings of a 6-5 victory over Baltimore. Then again, it was against the Orioles! Let's note that his 5.40 ERA is almost 1 1/2 runs higher than his career ERA (4.01) and his .276 BAA is 25 points higher than his lifetime mark (.251). I guess one could point to his 4-1 record and 3.96 ERA in nine starts (teams are 7-2) and two relief appearances against Oakland in his career but one could easily file that under "old news," just as easily.

Fiers escaped with a no-decision against Houston last Thursday, after surrendering five runs and six hits (including 4 HRs!) over six innings but the A's would win, 7-6. Fiers will take the mound tonight looking to claim his 10th consecutive winning decision. He is unbeaten in his last 18 starts, a stretch that began with a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds back on May 7. The A's are 13-4 in those 18 starts, with one suspended game (Qakland led 5-3 at the time). Most impressively, Fiers had allowed three ERs or less in ALL 17 of those starts (had allowed two ERs or less 13 times) , prior to his last outing! Fiers is 9-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 18 starts since throwing that no-hitter vs the Reds.

Let me remind everyone here that Fiers was acquired by the A's (from Detroit) in early August of 2018 and Oakland went 8-1 (+$812) in his nine starts. Add that to his 13-8 (+$1,085) moneyline record with the Tigers and Fiers was MLB's top MONEY-MAKER among all starters in 2018 (21-9, +$1,897). He's followed that season with the one I just detailed above, including a 16-9 record in team starts (+$766). Pretty impressive, right? What's more, the A's are an impressive 21-10 at home vs lefties in 2019, averaging 5.5 RPG. That includes a 9-3 (75%) record in night games. Oakland should have little trouble here vs Happ, who hasn't won on the road since June 6 at Toronto (note: Happ owns a 4.31 ERA in six games, including five starts in Oakland).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Pitching Mismatch Of the Month is on the Tex Rangers at 7:05 ET.

The Texas Rangers edged the LA Angels 8-7 (11 inn.) on Monday and then split a doubleheader with them on Tuesday, with a 3-2 win in 11 innings Tuesday night.The team's second straight 11-inning win moved the 62-65 Rangers into a virtual tie with the 63-66 Angels for third place in the AL West but both teams are 19 games back of the Astros. As for any wild card hopes, that 'ship has left port' as well, as both teams are 11 games back of the final spot. At stake is nothing more than this. The Rangers haven't won a series since sweeping Detroit to open August and have not taken a series from a team other than the Tigers since June 21-23 against the Chicago White Sox.

Taking the mound tonight will be LA's Patrick Sandoval (0-1, 5.79 ERA), squaring off against the Rangers' Mike Minor (11-7, 2.94 ERA). Sandoval pitched a solid five innings of relief in his MLB debut back on August 5 (2 ERs) but has struggled in back-to-back starts, allowing seven ERs over nine innings (7.00 ERA), with almost as many walks (5), as Ks (7). There was lots of talk that Minor would be moved by the trade deadline but he's still in Arlington. He did see his personal three-game winning streak come to an end Friday against Minnesota, giving up four runs (three earned) in seven innings. However, he's had some season for Texas, allowing three ERs or less in 19 of his 25 starts.

Minor recorded his first career shutout with a three-hitter against the Angels back on April 16 and is 3-0 in six career starts vs LA (teams are 4-2), while posting a 2.55 ERA. Minor over Sandoval is a clear "Pitching Mismatch."

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Cin Reds at 12:25 ET.

The San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds have opened their three-game series by splitting a pair of 3-2 contests. San Diego won Monday and Cincinnati returned the favor last night. The one-run loss ended the Padres' modest three-game road winning streak, while the Red won for just the THIRD time in their last 10 contests. Each 59-66 team has less than 40 games remaining in their seasons and each sit EIGHT games behind the second wild card spot with FIVE teams ahead of them. The rubber game of the series goes early this afternoon, with the Reds looking to clinch their first season series over the Padres since 2012.

Wednesday's pitching matchup will feature Matt Strahm (5-8, 5.21 ERA) and Luis Castillo (11-5, 3.10 ERA). Strahm began the season in the starting rotation, going 3-7 with a 5.42 ERA prior to the All Star break (15 games) but has been used exclusively out of the bullpen since. He hasn't pitched more than two innings in 14 relief appearances since the break and will likely serve as "an opener" in this one. Castillo has already set a career high for wins and boasts a strong 3.10 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and .201 BAA during his All-Star 2019 campaign. However, he was roughed up at home Friday night when he allowed a career-worst eight runs, allowing three HRs among the nine hits he gave up (in just 4.1 innings). Then again, Castillo entered that contest 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in his previous three starts

As noted above, Strahm "wont be around long," before turning it over to a San Diego bullpen which owns a 4.68 ERA (19th in MLB) and has a MLB-high 24 blown saves (tied with the Nats). Expect a strong "bounce-back" effort from Castillo, who has allowed three ERs or less in 20 of his 25 starts in 2019 and here at Great American Ball Park, owns a 2.97 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .195 BAA.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Cin Reds at 7:10 ET.

The 59-65 San Diego Padres beat the 58-66 Cincinnati Reds 3-2 last night and the teams meet in the second contest of this three-game series tonight at Great American Ball Park. The Padres have won three straight (all on the road) and are one win shy of matching a season high for consecutive victories on the road. Meanwhile, Cincinnati has now lost SEVEN of its last nine. The season has less than 40 games remaining and both teams are all but out of any serious playoff consideration, as San Diego is SEVEN games back and Cincinnati EIGHT games back of the NL's final wild card spot.

On the mound tonight will be San Diego's Cal Quantrill (6-3, 3.23 ERA) and Cincy's Sonny Gray (8-6, 2.98 ERA). Quantrill is having an impressive rookie season. This marks his 18th appearance, and his 13th start. The 24-year-old has lost just ONCE in his last 14 outings (nine starts). His MLB debut was May 1 and the Padres lost his first three starts (Quantrill was 0-2), posting a 5.40 ERA. However, in the above-mentioned span, he's shaved more than TWO runs off his ERA. He owns a 61-19 KW ratio, 1.12 WHIP and .230 BAA on the season. As for Cincy's Gray, he's pitched MUCH better than his won-loss record reflects. He's allowed two ERs or less in SIX of seven starts since his All-Star appearance (Reds are 6-1) and going back over his last 16 starts, he is 8-2 and the Reds have gone 13-3. That's quite a turnaround from him going 0-4 with a 4.15 ERA over his first NINE starts of 2019 (Reds were 3-6).

As noted, Quantrill has been impressive but Gray is on quite a roll. He's allowed just 98 hits in his 132.2 innings this season, posting a 154-50 KW ratio. That gives him a 1.12 WHIP and he boasts a .206 batting average against. He enters tonight's game 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA in his last nine outings (Reds are 7-2). Gray gets the Reds "even" in this series.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Bos Red Sox at 7:10 ET.

The Boston Red Sox welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Fenway for a two-game IL series tonight. Boston currently owns MLB's longest-active winning streak (a modest five in a row) but at 67-59, find themselves a WHOPPING 16 games back of the hated-Yankees in the AL East. There are still 36 games left in Boston's season, so at least the Red Sox can hope (dream?) about a wild card berth. Boston is SIX games back of that second AL card spot. The Phillies are coming off Saturday and Sunday home losses to the Padres leaving them 64-60. Their division hopes are fading VERY quickly, as Philadelphia is NINE games back of Atlanta in the NL East. However, the disappointing Philies (along with the Mets), are just TWO games back of the Cubs for the NL's second wild card spot.

Tuesday's pitching matchup will be Philly's Aaron Nola (11-3, 3.56 ERA) and Boston lefty Brian Johnson (1-1, 6.45 ERA). Nola was Philly's Opening Day starter, coming off a 17-6 (2.37 ERA) season in which the Phils went 22-11 in his starts, giving him MLB's 12th-best moneyline mark of +$983. He enters this contest 11-3 in 26 starts on the season (team is 17-9 but a modest plus-$385), although he's lost just ONE decision since June 21. He's 5-1 over his last 10 starts (team is 8-2), allowing one ER or less in SEVEN of those 10 starts. Johnson takes the mound tonight in place of Chris Sale, who reportedly received positive news on Monday after his meeting with Dr. James Andrews confirmed a previous diagnosis of inflammation on his ailing left elbow. Johnson last pitched Wednesday, when he allowed one unearned run on three hits in 2 .2 innings of a no-decision at Cleveland (Red Sox won, 5-1). This marks his 11th appearance of 2019 (sixth start).

One can easily make the argument that Phily owns a pitching edge here with Nola over Johnson but note that Nola's road ERA (4.63) is more than 1 1/2 runs higher than his home ERA (2.94). Nola will take the mound against a Boston lineup which has scored 38 runs during its five-game winning streak (7.6 per) and one which has averaged 6.05 RPG in Fenway this season. Yes, Johnson is hardly a quality starter, but the lefty faces a Philly lineup which has gone just 5-15 against left-handed starers on the road in 2019 (that's a 71% "go-against), while averaging a WOEFUL 3.4 RPG. Boston makes it SIX straight wins, tonight!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the StL Cardinals at 7:45 ET.

The St Louis Cardinals came out of the All Star break by losing to Arizona but then won 12 of their next 14 to take over the top spot in the NL Central at 56-47. The Cardinals still held a slim lead in the division at 58-50 in games played through August 1 but a winless five-game West Coast trip in which the team totaled just SEVEN runs (two losses to Oakland and three against the LA Dodgers), left the Cards at 58-55. However, the Cards rebounded to win FIVE in a row, before splitting a four-game series at Cincinnati this past weekend. As the Cards get set to welcome the Brewers to St Louis (for three games), they are 66-57 (.533), a mere percentage point ahead of the 66-58 (.532) Cubs for the NL Central lead. Milwaukee comes to town off a 15-14 (14 inn) win at Washington on Saturday, followed by a 16-8 loss on Sunday. The 64-60 Brewers are two games back of the Cards and Cubs in teh division. They are also tied with the Phillies and Mets, two games back of the final wild card spot and 3 1/2 games back of the No. 1 wild card spot (held by the Nats).

That sets the stage is set for this important three-game series. Zach Davies (8-5, 3.74 ERA) will take the mound for Milwaukee, opposed by the Cards' Dakota Hudson (11-6, 3.82 ERA). Davies will come off the injured list to make his first start since August 2. He opened the season 7-0 (2.41 ERA) after 13 starts (team was 9-4) but he has since gone 1-4 over his last 10 outings (team went 4-6). Davies lost THREE in a row, allowing 17 ERs on 20 hits over just 13 innings in a three-start stretch before back spasms landed him on the DL. How will he fare here?

Hudson rebounded from a rough three-outing stretch to deliver six scoreless innings in a 6-0 win at Kansas City on Wednesday. He was 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA over his previous three outings (team was 1-2) , while giving up 19 hits and seven walks in just 11.2 innings. However, the rookie had posted an 8-1 record and 3.13 ERA over a two-plus month stretch from mid-May to late July (Cards won 11 of his 12 starts in that stretch).

Here's what Davies had to say regarding his back stiffness. "I think I'll be tight and sore in between starts. That's the nature of it," he told MLB.com. "But we can manage it. We can work on it and be good to go for each start from here on out. I've talked to a lot of people, and it's kind of based on my mechanics. I think it blocked me out and put a lot of stress on my lower back. Getting back to the last couple of months of 2017 with my motion and mechanics is where I want to be, and where I think I'll be healthy." That's hardly a convincing argument to me plus let me add that Milwaukee used 10 pitchers in Saturday's extra-inning affair and four in the series finale, as the staff combined to give up 30 runs and 37 hits with 14 walks over the two games. Instead, Ill back Hudson, who has remarkably allowed three ERs or less in 22 of his 24 starts in 2019. Blowout alert!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* LEGEND Play is on the Tex Rangers at 3:05 ET.

The Twins boosted their major league-leading total to 240 HRs in Saturday's 12-7 victory, getting two-run shots from Miguel Sano and C.J. Cron. Minnesota began the week in Milwaukee on Tuesday, a half-game behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central but the Twins enter Sunday's contest with a 2 1/2-game lead. They go for a four-game sweep in Texas today, looking to cap their current trip at 5-1. Minnesota is 39-22 on the road this season, percentage points better than the 40-23 TB Rays for MLB's best road mark. Texas has now lost NINE of its last 11 to fall three games under .500 for the first time since May 18. By opening 0-3 in this series, Texas falls to 1-10-3 in its last 14 series.

Martin Perez (8-5, 4.57 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota, while Lance Lynn (14-8, 3.54 ERA) gets the ball for Texas. Both pitchers will be matched up against their former teams, as well as one another. Perez spent the bulk of his career with the Texas Rangers before joining Minnesota this year, while Lance Lynn made 20 starts for the Twins a year ago. Perez was signed as an undrafted free agent with Texas in 2007 and went 43-49 with a 4.63 ERA for the Rangers. However, Texas let him leave after a 2018 season in which he went just 2-7 with a 6.22 ERA in 22 appearances, including 15 starts. His most recent 2019 win came against Texas, 15-6 on July 5th in Minnesota. The lefty is coming off a solid outing in his last start (6 IP / 1 unearned run) but in his previous four, had given up 19 ERs over just 21 innings (8.14 ERA).

Lynn won 71 games for the Cards in a five-year span from 2012-17 (he missed the 2016 season) but his 2018 season, split between the Twins and Yanks, was a flop (10-10, 4.77 ERA). However, he has "settled in" with Texas. Lynn opened the second half with a 5-0 win over the Astros but then lost B2B starts with a 6.23 ERA (note: he did strike out 18 in 13 innings). Lynn has rebound from that two-start 'hiccup,' allowing just one ER in each of his last four outings. He may be just 2-2 but don't blame him, as his ERA is 1.44 in that span and he's struck out 32 in 25 innings.

Perez spent seven seasons pitching in Globe Life Park in Arlington but Sunday afternoon will mark the first time the left-hander makes a start for the visiting side. Despite the Rangers' struggles, I don't want any part of Perez in this one. His 7-1 (2.95 ERA) start to the 2019 season (through May 23) is "in the rear-view mirror." He owns just ONE win in his last 13 starts, as his ERA has ballooned almost two full runs, from 2.95 to 4.57. As for his mound opponent, Lynn is 9-1 at home in 12 starts (team is 10-2). Lynn beat Toronto 8-5 back on May 4 (allowed five ERs in six innings) but since then, he's allowed three ERs or less in 15 of his last 18 starts! There's a reason that the slumping Rangers are the favorite against MLB's best road team and that reason is Lynn over Perez!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Phi Phillies at 1:05 ET.

The Phillies have brought back former manager Charlie Manuel as their hitting coach and it provided immediate dividends. However, Phildelphia came up short in its fifth attempt at a season-high five-game winning streak last night. The Phillies squandered an early three-run lead in Saturday's 5-3 setback to the Padres but can still earn a series win with a victory in Sunday's rubber match. The 64-59 Phillies are EIGHT games back of the Braves in the NL East but are tied with the Brewers, just ONE game back of the Cubs for the NL's second wild card spot. The Padres won for the just the SECOND time in six games, giving the team a 12-20 record since the break. San Diego is all but out of wild card consideration, as the Padres are 7 1/2 games back of the final berth, with a 'TON' of teams ahead of them.

A pair of lefties will take the mound on Sunday, Joey Lucchesi (7-7, 4.25 ERA) for San Diego and Jason Vargas (6-6, 4.03 ERA) for Philadelphia. Lucchesi has not won since before the break (July 7), going 0-3 (team is 0-6) in that span (5.23 ERA). His struggles actually go back further, as he's got just ONE win in his last nine outings (Padres are 1-8), posting a 5.10 ERA. Vargas will make his fourth appearance for the Phillies, since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Mets. He remains in search of his first win with the Phillies, although he has recorded two quality starts in his first three tries.

Here's the bottom line. The Phillies have clearly underachieved in 2019 but the team is still "right in" the wild card race. Meanwhile, the Padres lost touch with the Dodgers in the NL West long ago and as noted earlier, the team's wild card chances are on 'life-support.' Vargas has had in moments during a career which began in 2005 (this is his SEVENTH team), while Lucchesi has looked 'lost' for EIGHT weeks. What's more, while he owns a 2.91 ERA and 1.08 ERA in Petco Park, his road ERA is a bloated 6.15 in 10 away starts (Padres are 3-7). Philadelphia with Vargas is the bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Phi Phillies at 7:05 ET.

Bryce Harper hit a walk-off grand slam against the Chicago Cubs in Thursday's 7-5 win, then launched a three-run shot Friday in Philadelphia's 8-4 victory over San Diego. Bringing back former manager Charlie Manuel as hitting coach earlier this has provided immediate dividends. The Phillies have scored 26 runs in three games since Manuel rejoined the club and Harper, in particular, has 'lit it up.' He's 6-of-12 with four HRs and 10 RBI in his last three games. The Philies continue their series with the Padres tonight, going their season-high fifth straight win. Philadelphia is SEVEN games back of the Braves in the NL East but at 64-58, is tied with the Cubs for the NL's second wild card spot.As for the Padres, they are 11-20 since the break and at 56-65, are all but out of the wild card hunt (sit 7 1/2 games back of that second spot with a plethora a teams in betwen). Adding insult to injury, the team's fading playoff hopes (I'm being kind here) took a major 'hit' when rookie sensation Fernando Tatis Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with a stress reaction in his back that is expected to end his season.

Tonight's pitching matchup features Dinelson Lamet (1-2, 3.86 ERA) and Zach Eflin (7-11, 4.49 ERA). Lamet returned from Tommy John surgery on July 4 (he hadn't pitched since 2017) and has struck out 49 and walked 16 in 35 innings over seven starts. He's got a solid ERA and his WHIP is 1.26 plus he's holding opponents to a .214 BAA. Those numbers are fine but he has pitched more than five innings in just ONE of his seven starts. Turning to Eflin, he was banished to the bullpen after losing four successive starts in July, while posting a 12.64 ERA. However, he is getting another shot at the rotation with Jake Arrieta expected to undergo season-ending elbow surgery.

Here's the bottom line. Eflin didn't like being demoted to the bullpen but he took responsibility. "It's ultimately not my decision," Eflin said. "If I don't like it, I should pitch better. I hadn't been really doing my job. Going to the bullpen is another opportunity for me. It's a challenge. I'm a fan of challenges." Eflin allowed just one run in 5.2 innings over four relief appearances and now gets another chance to start. He'll take the mound for a team "on a roll' and with a great opportunity to "make hay" vs the slumping Padres. His mound opponent will likely go no more than five innings (if he's lucky) and will then turn it over to a bullpen with a 4.80 ERA (ranks 22nd in MLB) and one which owns 24 blown saves, the MOST on any big league club. So how is this game a pick'em???

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Was Nats at 7:05 ET.

The Washington Nationals sat 19-31 back on the morning of May 24 but ended the first half on a 28-11 run. Washington split its first 22 games back from the break but have now won EIGHT of 10 (including FIVE straight), after last night's 2-1 win over Milwaukee. The Nats had just THREE hits but the team's five-game winning streak matches its longest of the season. At 66-55, the Nats improved to 11 games over .500 for the first time since June 9, 2018, closing within 4 1/2 games in the NL East of Atlanta. Washington holds down the top wild-card spot in the National League, while the 63-58 Brewers are one game back of the second wild card spot (two games back of the 1st-place Cards). Milwaukee lost for just the third time in its last nine contests on Friday, going 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving 13 on base (don't win many games that way!)..

Saturday's pitching matchup is Jordan Lyles (7-8, 4.71 ERA) and Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 3.75 ERA). The 28-year-old Lyles was acquired by the Brewers just hours before he was supposed to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati on July 29. This his second tour of duty with Milwaukee, as he went 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Brewers last year. Lyles began the 2019 season just 31-52 in his career, while posting a 5.28 ERA. However, he went 5-1 with a 2.81 over his first nine starts (Pirates won EIGHT of the nine). However, Lyles took the mound on July 31 for Milwaukee, with an 0-6 record in his previous eight outings (Pittsburgh was 0-8!), owning a bloated 9.57 ERA over his last nine starts. So what's he done with teh Brewers? He's 2-1 while allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits over 17 innings (1.59 ERA).

Sanchez was a pleasant surprise last season after signing with Atlanta during spring training, going 7-6 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. However, he signed a two-year deal in the off-season with Washington. Sanchez opened 0-6 with a 5.10 ERA through nine starts (team was 3-6). He suffered a left hamstring strain in May that cost him 10 days on the injured list and he missed one start. However, he's returned to the rotation to help fuel Washington's recent surge. He's unbeaten in his last 14 starts, going 7-0 with the Nats going 10-4. Sanchez has allowed three ERs or less in 12 of those 14 starts, allowing four ERs in the other two.

I'm "all over" Washington and Sanchez isn this one, as I'm not even remotely 'sold' on Lyles' recent good outings. Lyles hasn't faced Washington this season, but has made 10 appearances (two starts) in his career against them, going 0-2 with a 5.55 ERA. Nats win with "room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Chi Cubs at 1:35 ET.

The Pittsburgh Pirates came out of the All Star break 44-45, very much alive in the NL wild card hunt. However, last night's 3-2 win over the Cubs was juts the team's SEVENTH in 32 games in the second half. ALL playoff hopes have been wiped away and the Pirates can only play the role of spoiler through Sep 29. That was the case last night, as they scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to 'steal' a victory. It was the FOURTH straight loss for the 64-58 Cubs, who fell out of a tie with the St Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. It also marked the second straight walk-off loss for Chicago, following Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Phillies when Bryce Harper ended the game with a grand slam.

Taking the mound this afternoon will be Jon Lester (9-8, 4.43 ERA) and Steven Brault (3-1, 4.33 ERA). It's hardly been a good season for the veteran Lester. He opened 3-1 with a 1.16 ERA after seven starts (Cubs were 5-2) but then lost three straight, allowing 16 ERs over just 14 innings. Lester did rebound with an excellent seven-start stretch from mid-June to late July, posting a 2.91 ERA (he was 4-1 and the team 5-2) but enters this contest with a 10.93 ERA over his last three starts. Moving to Brault, he has not factored in the decision in 13 of his 17 appearances, including NINE of his 11 starts. Brault came off the injured list on Aug 6, after missing a month due to a shoulder strain. It's no surprise that he has since notched two no-decisions, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug 6 and four runs in 4.2 innings at St Louis last Sunday. The Pirates lost BOTH games, just as they did in the two starts he made prior to going on the DL.

Yes, Chicago is now 23-39 on the road (only the Marlins own a worse road record in the NL), plus came to Pittsburgh 0-10-2 in their last 12 road series. However, as noted, the Pirates are a woeful 7-25 since the break. The Cubs are now ONE game back of the Cards in the division and are tied with Philadelphia for the second wild card. Chicago has LOTS to play for and I'll back the veteran Lester (a three-time World Series champion) here in Pittsburgh. He's 10-6 (3.18 ERA) in 20 career starts vs the Pirates (teams are 12-8) and is 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his last four starts at PNC Park. As for Brault, he has no career decisions (there's a SHOCKER!) and a 7.53 ERA in 12 career appearances against the Cubs, including three starts (team is 1-2). Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

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

The Atlanta Braves host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series starting Friday at Atlanta, in a meeting of division leaders. However, it may not be a meeting of "equals," as the Dodgers are 81-42 (tied with the Yankees for MLB's best record) and they own a WHOPPING 19 1/2-game lead in the NL West. Meanwhile, the 72-51 Braves own a much more modest 5 1/2-game lead over the Washington Nationals in the NL East. Perhaps both teams were looking ahead to this weekend series on Thursday, as LA fell for just the THIRD time in 15 games with a 13-7 setback at Miami (Marlins own the NL's worst record), while the Braves rallied from a late deficit against the Mets, only to fall 10-8.

The pitching matchup for tonight features Kenta Maeda (8-8, 4.12 ERA) and Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.32 ERA). LA owns MLB's lowest ERA (3.36) but of the team's six pitchers who have made at least 10 starts, Maeda is clearly the staff's "weak link." Maeda is off an excellent outing last Saturday against Arizona, striking out six while allowing three hits with no walks in seven shutout innings in a 4-0 victory. However, it ended an 11-start winless streak (team was 4-7). Maeda owned a 5.23 ERA in his previous12 games (11 starts), before Saturday.

Atlanta rookie Mike Soroka has put together a remarkable first full big-league season, ranking second in the NL in ERA and eighth in WHIP (1.08). He lost his first start of 2019 (4-1 back on April 18), when he allowed just one ER over five innings in that contest. He then won his next 10 decisions over a 15-start run (Braves were 13-2), before losing 5-3 to Washington back on July 20. He's had four straight no-decisions since that loss but has continued to give Atlanta solid efforts in almost every start this season. In fact, Soroka has surrendered one earned run or less in 14 of his 21 starts this season, as well as allowing more than three ERs just THREE times in those 21 starts.

Atlanta may not be quite in LA's 'class,' but Soroka over Maeda gives them a HUGE edge. Maeda has made 12 appearances each at home and on the road in 2019 and here's the 'tale of the tape.' He owns a 2.84 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and .176 BAA at Dodger Stadium but an ERA of 5.66, a WHIP of 1.37 and a BAA of .243 on the road. Soroka make this an easy choice!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on the Was Nats at 7:05 ET.

The Washington Nationals sat 19-31 back on the morning of May 24 but ended the first half on a 28-11 run. Washington split its first 22 games back from the break but have now won SEVEN of nine (including FOUR straight) to reach 65-55. Washington enters the weekend 5 1/2 back of the Braves in the NL East but the Nats are currently the NL's No. 1 wild card team, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs (2nd wild card) and 2 1/2 up on the Brewers and Phils. Those 63-58 Milwaukee Brewers vist D.C, tonight for the first of a three-game series, as the teams continue to fight for postseason positioning. Milwaukee still has its sights set on the NL Central title (Brewers are currently just ONE game back!) and is beginning a stretch on Friday in which it will play six of seven series against contending NL teams, with the lone outlier being a two-game set against AL-powerhouse Houston. The Brewers visit Washington having won SIX of their last eight.

Adrian Houser (5-5, 4.00 ERA) takes the mound tonight for Milwaukee, opposed by Washington's Patrick Corbin (9-5, 3.41 ERA). Houser is coming off his best start of the season last Saturday against Texas, when he allowed just one run on three hits while striking out 10 in six innings to earn the3-2 win. However, he has bounced back and forth between the bullpen and the rotation this season and is 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA in his nine starts in 2019, with the Brewers going 3-6.

Corbin earned double digits in victories three times with Arizona (2013, '17 & '18) and could have reached the 10-win mark in 2019 his last time out. However, he was let down by the bullpen at the New York Mets last Sunday. He finished without a decision while allowing two runs on three hits and striking out eight in six innings (Mets scored twice in the 8th to win 4-3). Corbin last lost back on June 11 and takes a 10-game unbeaten streak into this start, having allowed three ERs or less in EIGHT of his last 10 outings (Nats are 7-3 in that stretch, with Corbin posting a 2.45 ERA in that span).

Milwaukee has fared poorly on the road vs lefties in 2019 (7-12, averaging just 4.1 RPG) and I expect Corbin to give them all sorts of trouble. Houser is off an excellent start but that effort was the EXCEPTION, not the rule in his nine starts this season (6.00 ERA). The Nats have scored SEVEN or more runs in THREE of their four wins during their current streak and should have little trouble reaching Houser.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the NY Yankees at 7:05 ET.

The Cleveland Indians were 11 1/2 games back of the Twins in the AL Central back in early June but the two teams are now locked in a life-or-death struggle for the division lead (Twins enter Friday 73-48 and the Indians, 73-49). Carlos Santana (12-for-27 with five HRs, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored over his last seven contests) had two HRs as did Jose Ramirez, as Clevland hit seven HRs in Thursday's 19-5 win over the Yankees in the Bronx. New York saw its five-game winning streak come to an end and lost for just the THIRD time in 17 contests. The Yankees are tied with the LA Dodgers for MLB's best record (81-42) and own a 2 1/2-game lead over the Astros for the AL's No. 1 come the postseason.

Squaring off tonight in the second of this four-game series will be Cleveland rookie Aaron Civale (1-1, 1.00 ERA) and New York's Masahiro Tanaka (8-6, 4.64 ERA). Civale has completed exactly SIX innings in each of his first three major-league starts, allowing a total of just two runs on nine hits and four walks with 18 strikeouts. He earned his in-season promotion to "the bigs" by going 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 starts at two levels in the minor leagues this season. So far, so good!

Tanaka limited Toronto to three hits over eight scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no a single walk of a 1-0 win this past Sunday. The effort ended a rough four-game stretch in which he had allowed 24 ERs on 34 hits over just 18.2 innings in his previous four trips to the mound, giving him an 11.57 ERA.. Amazingly, the Yankees won THREE of those four starts.

Civale last pitched Sunday in Minnesota, when he allowed one run on four hits in six innings and took a no-decision. It was the third straight start he allowed one run or less and pitched at least six innings, making him and Cody Anderson (2015) the only Cleveland starters since 1908 to pitch at least six innings and allow one or fewer runs in each of their first three career starts. Color me cynical but I'm not sold. Cleveland is coming off a 19-run, 24- hit effort (including 7 HRs) and note that while Tanaka owns a 6.48 ERA and 1.42 WHIP on the road, here at Yankee Stadium, those numbers check in at 3.29 and 1.15 . What's more, the Yankees are a MONEY-MAKING 32-10 (+$1,850) at home vs right-handed starters. Look out Mr. Civale, your first trip to New York will likely NOT turn out well!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error G.O.M. (AL) is on the Oak A's at 10:07 ET.

The 78-34 Houston Astros open a four-game series tonight in Oakland against the 68-52 A's. The AL West race is not officially over but few expect the A's to catch the Astros. Houston trails the 81-41 Yankees by 2 1/2 games in a race for the AL's No. 1 seed and have also not given up on MLB's overall No. 1 seed, as the NL's LA Dodgers also sit just 2 1/2 games away (same 81-41 record as NY). As for the A's, they were just 36-36 in mid-June but over the last two months, have gone 32-16. Oakland enters thi series two games back of the TB Rays for the final wild card spot and are still within striking distance of the No. 1 wild card spot (3 1/2 games back of Cleveland).

Taking the mound tonight in the series opener will be Aaron Sanchez (5-14, 5.60 ERA) and Mike Fiers (11-3, 3.30 ERA). Sanchez was traded to the Houston Astros (along with Joe Biagini and Cal Stevenson) in exchange for outfielder Derek Fisher back on July 31. He was in the midst of an awful season with the Blue Jays, owning a 3-14 record with a 6.07 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and .290 BAA (Jays were 6-17 in his 23 starts and his minus-$1,032 moneyline mark was the 5th-worst among all starters). However, Sanchez has won each of his first two starts for the Astros. He tossed six hitless innings in a combined no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners on Aug 3 in his team debut and allowed one run on three hits in five innings against the Baltimore Orioles last Saturday (Astros won 23-2 and had scored 13 runs when Sanchez was lifted).

Mike Fiers takes the hill tonight looking to claim his 10th consecutive winning decision. He is unbeaten in his last 17 starts, a stretch that began with a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds back on May 7. The A's are 12-4 in those 17 starts, with one suspended game (Qakland led 5-3 at the time). Most impressively, Fiers has allowed three ERs or less in ALL 17 of those starts (has allowed two ERs or less 13 times) plus takes a 19-game streak of having allowed three ERs or less into this contest!

I guess Fiers has to throw in a 'clunker' sooner or later but why guess when? Let me remind everyone here that Fiers was acquired by the A's (from Detroit) in early August of 2018 and Oakland went 8-1 (+$812) in his nine starts. Add that to his 13-8 (+$1,085) moneyline record with the Tigers and Fiers was MLB's top MONEY-MAKER among all starters in 2018 (21-9, +$1,897). He's followed that season with the one I just detailed above. Pretty impressive, right? As for Sanchez, his two starts (and wins) for Houston have come over Seattle (49-72) and Baltimore (39-82), two of MLB's worst teams. Here he takes on an Oaklnd team having gone 32-16 the last two months and one which is 19-7 over its last 26 home games. Meanwhile, the Astros have suddenly lost THREE of four against the sad-sack White Sox and pathetic Orioles. NO reason for Fiers to be an underdog here in Oakland.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout is on the Atl Braves at 7:20 ET.

The Mets took advantage of a weak spot in their schedule to thrust themselves into the thick of the NL's wild-card race by winning 13 of 14 games against teams with sub.500 records. However, the Mets welcomed the Washington Nationals to Citi Field this past weekend, beginning a stretch play in which the team would play 31 of its next 34 games against teams with winning records.New York used some late-game heroics to win Friday and Saturday but fell 7-4 on Sunday. The Mets opened a three-game series at first-place Atlanta last night and lost 5-3. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 34th HR and became the first NL player this season to reach 100 runs scored in Tuesday’s 5-3 victory. The 71-50 Braves remained SIX games up and the Nats and opened up a NINE-game cushion over the Mets and Phils (both 61-58), who are TWO games back of the NL's second wild card.

A pair of lefties square off on Wednesday, Steven Matz (7-7, 4.49 ERA) for New York and Dallas Keuchel (3-5, 4.83 ERA) for Atlanta. Matz owned a 4.95 ERA through his first 16 outings but has pitched well since the All-Star break, posting a 3.38 ERA in his last five starts with 26 strikeouts and five walks across 29.1 innings. However, his away/home dichotomy "sticks out like a sore thumb!" Matz has been VERY effective at home, going 5-0 in nine starts (Mets are 7-2), with a 2.14 ERA, 1.12 ERA and .240 BAA. However, in 12 road starts, he's 2-7 (team is 4-8) with a 6.79 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and .305 BAA.

Keuchel spent his entire career with the Houston Astros before signing with the Braves as a free agent in June. He has NOT been as "good as advertised." Keuchel, who will face the Mets for the first time in his career (202 appearances, including 193 starts), will try to bounce back from his worst start of the season. The former Cy Young winner allowed eight runs on 10 hits in just 3.2 innings last Thursday at Miami (Marlins won, 9-2) and saw his ERA rise by nearly one full run. However, there is some "good news" for Keuchel and Atlanta in this one. Keuchel's troubles have been on the road this season (6.40 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and .331 BAA in six away starts) but here at SunTrust Park, he owns a 2.96 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and .172 BAA in four starts.

I'm expecting the Mets to fade over the next month (with a tougher schedule) and with Matz's poor road record (see above), I see little reason to back them here. As just noted (see above), Keuchel's been excellent at home and off that 'ugly' effort at the NL-worst Marlins, I expect a "bounce-back" effort.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* IL Game of the Month is on the StL Cardinals at 8:15 ET.

The St Louis Cardinals came out of the All Star break by losing to Arizona but then won 12 of their next 14 to take over the top spot in the NL Central at 56-47. The Cardinals still held a slim lead in the division at 58-50 in games played through August 1 but a winless five-game West Coast trip in which the team totaled just SEVEN runs (two losses to Oakland and three against the LA Dodgers), left the Cards at 58-55 last Friday morning and in a three-way tie with the Phils and Mets, a half-game back of the NL's second wild card spot. However, the Cards returned home to host the sad-sack Pirates this past weekend and swept Pittsburgh. St Louis had Monday off but made in FOUR wins in a row last night by edging the Royals 2-0. The Cards are now 62-55 as they wrap up this two-game IL series with the Royals, tonight. St Louis is now just ONE game back of the Cubs in the NL Central plus owns the second wild card spot (1 1/2 game lead). As for the Royals, Tuesday's loss ended KC's modest two-game winning streak. At 43-77 (.358), KC is on pace for the team's second straight 100-loss season.

Taking the mound tonight will be Dakota Hudson (10-6, 4.01 ERA) and Brad Keller (7-12, 4.09 ERA). Hudson allowed two runs and six hits in four innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in St Louis' 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh this past Friday. Hudson had lost his previous two starts, surrendering eight ERs over just 7.2 innings (9.39 ERA). However, the rookie had posted an 8-1 record and 3.13 ERA over a two-plus month stretch from mid-May to late July (Cards won 11 of his 12 starts in that stretch), before those B2B losses and last Friday's no-decision.

Keller took a 5-2 loss at Detroit this past Friday, allowing five runs, 10 hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings. However, he had posted FOUR quality starts in his previous five outings, going 3-2 with a 2.29 ERA during that span. Keller made 41 appearances (20 starts) in 2018, going 9-6 with a 3.08 ERA. However, all of his 25 appearances this season have come as a starter and he enters this contest with the Royals having lost his last three starts, as KC is now 9-16 with him on the mound for the season.

The Cards took advantage of the Pirates this past weekend (3-game sweep) and now can do the same vs the Royals, by completing a two-game sweep. Why won't they? In Hudson, they have a starter who has allowed three ERs or less in 21 of his 23 starts in 2019, plus the Cards have dominated their in-state rivals by going 37-20 all-time at Kauffman Stadium in interleague play.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL East) is on the Atl Braves at 7:20 ET.

The New York Mets were 40-50 at the All Star break and returned to go 6-5 through their first 11 games. However, the Mets took advantage of a weak spot in their schedule to thrust themselves into the thick of the NL's wild-card race by winning 13 of their next 14 games! However, the Mets welcomed the Washington Nationals to Citi Field this past weekend, beginning a stretch play in which the team would play 31 of its next 34 games against teams with winning records (13-1 run came against teams with sub.500 records). New York took two of three against Washington, using late-game heroics to win Friday and Saturday, before falling 7-4 on Sunday. The 61-57 Mets are in Atlanta to open a three-game series tonight, EIGHT games back of the first-place Braves in the NL East but just ONE game out of the final NL wild card spot. The Braves are coming off a disappointing split of a four-game set at Miami over the weekend but also took two of three at Minnesota to begin the week. The Braves welcome the Mets to Atlanta with a six-game lead over the Nats plus an eight-game advantage over the Mets and a nine-game lead over the Phillies.

Zack Wheeler (9-6, 4.20 ERA) and Max Fried (13-4, 4.11 ERA) step to the mound for tonight's series opener. Wheeler was rumored to be available at the trade deadline but he remained a Met. Wheeler takes the mound on a three-start winning streak and has pitched 15 scoreless innings in his last two starts. Wheeler is 6-4 with a 3.42 ERA in 12 career starts against the Braves (Mets are 7-5), going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts this season.

Fried opened the season with two relief appearances but has since made 22 consecutive starts (team is 16-6). The 25-year-old has struggled at times in his first full season in a major league rotation, as he owned a 6.17 ERA with a .339 opponents batting average during an eight-start stretch from May 28 thru July 6. Then again, he gave up three ERs or less FOUR times in that span. There were concerns about Fried given he has pitched 120.1 innings this season (by far, the heaviest workload of his career) but he has quieted those worries for now by posting a 3.32 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 21.2 innings in winning his last four starts.

Both teams have bullpen worries (no advantage there) but I do believe Fried gives Atlanta an edge in the starting pitcher matchup. Wheeler's three-game win streak has come against the Marlins, the White Sox and the Pirates, teams with a collective 145-206 (.413) record. As noted above, the Mets are playing "real" teams now and the Braves surely qualify in that department. The Braves are 16-6 (+$776) with Fried starting and that's the bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on the Chi Cubs at 7:05 ET.

The Chicago Cubs visit Philadelphia at 64-54, good enough for a two-game lead in the NL Central. This, despite a 23-35 road record (note: Chicago's 23 road wins are tied with the Reds for the fewest in the NL). Chicago's woes away from the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field were headed in that direction on Sunday but the Cubs erupted for six unanswered runs for a 6-3 win at Cincy, giving Chicago a split of its four-game series with the Reds. The Cubs continue their 10-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series vs the Phillies Tuesday in Philadelphia. The Phillies return home after losing FIVE contests on their seven-game road trip to fellow wild-card contenders Arizona and San Francisco. 60-58 Philadelphia is NINE games back of Atlanta in the NL East, so the team's only realistic playoff chance is as a wild card. In that race, the Phillies are two games back of the second wild card spot, but the wild card chase finds SEVEN teams within 4 1/2 games of each other!

A pair of lefties square off Tuesday night, as Jose Quintana (10-7, 4.23 ERA) takes on Jason Vargas (6-6, 4.09 ERA). Quintana has turned his season around over the last 6 1/2 weeks, posting a 6-0 record with a 3.67 ERA in his last seven starts (Cubs are 7-0) to reach the 10-win plateau for the FOURTH straight year (more later). The 30-year-old served up one of his best performances of the season last Wednesday, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out seven over seven innings of a 10-1 romp vs Oakland.

Vargas opened with a solid start in his Philadelphia debut on Aug 2 (6 1 IP and 2 ERs allowed in a 3-4 loss in which he took a no-decison) but followed with a subpar performance five days later, allowing four runs and three walks in five innings of a 6-1 setback at Arizona. A bright for Philly could be that Vargas is 3-0 lifetime against the Cubs with a 3.95 ERA over seven starts (teams are 5-2).

Yes, the Cubs are a poor road team but Vargas was disappointing for the Mets and owns a 4.76 ERA in his two Philly starts. Meanwhile, Quintana has pitched WAY better than his 10-win season indicates. He allowed eight ERs in his first start of 2019 but then allowed three ERs or less in 12 of his next 13 starts. He suffered a 10-2 home loss to the Mets on June 22 (allowing eight ERs in just 4.1 innings) but he's unbeaten over his last seven starts (see above for a reminder). Quintana has not exactly been "lights out" but look at his consistency through his 22 starts in 2019. The lefty has allowed three ERs or less in 18 of those 22 starts.Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Min Twins at 2:10 ET.

The Cleveland Indians opened their four-game series at Minnesota against the Twins by winning 7-5 (Thursday) and 6-2 (Friday). The Indians entered Saturday's game 70-46 and tied with the Twins atop the AL Central, after trailing Minnesota by 11 1/2 games back on June 2. However, Minnesota received a strong pitching effort Saturday from Jake Odorizzi and two relievers, who scattered eight in a 4-1 victory that allowed the Twins to regain the top spot in the AL Central by one game. The series finale is Sunday afternoon.

Rookie Aaron Civale (1-1, 0.75 ERA) gets the ball for Cleveland, while Minnesota hands it to Jose Berrios (10-6, 3.24 ERA), who is considered the team's ace. The 24-year-old Civale blanked Detroit on two hits over six innings in his big-league debut on June 22 with six strikeouts and three walks of a win. He then suffered a hard-luck 1-0 loss against Texas in his second major-league start last Monday, allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts across six innings. Civale earned his big-league promotion with a 7-1 (2.35 ERA) record in 13 minor-league starts this season at two levels.

Berrios takes the mound looking to rebound from his worst start of the season, when he permitted nine ERs on nine hits (two HRs) and four walks over 5.2 innings of a 12-7 home loss to the Braves this past Tuesday. However, let me note that Berrios had given up just three runs (two earned) over 19.2 innings in his previous three outings (0.92). That's hardly all, as prior to his 'ugly' effort Tuesday vs Atlanta, the 25-year-old has allowed three ERs or less in each of his previous 12 starts (from 5/31-7/31).

This is a "big game," as Cleveland will either leave town tied with Minnesota, or two-back, just where it opened the series. Civale has sure looked "ready for primetime" but this is his FIRST career road start. It comes in a very tough venue against the opposing team's ace, who is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three starts versus Cleveland in 2019. What's more, Civale will face a lineup which ranks 2nd in scoring (5.74 RPG) and OPS (.835), while hitting more HRs than any team in MLB (228). Home teams gets the "W."

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Bos Red Sox at 1:05 ET.

The LA Angels scored three runs in the first and then added a seven-run seventh to snap a season-high EIGHT-game losing streak. The Angels will wrap up their nine-game road trip (1-7) this afternoon at Fenway, hoping to finish the trek on a positive note. The Red Sox were 59-47 back on July 28, when they failed to sweep the Yankees in a Sunday Night game at Fenway, losing 9-6. That defeat began a 'plunge' that has seen Boston go 3-10 over the last two weeks, falling 6 1/2 games back of the AL's second wild card spot.

Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.60 ERA) and Andrew Cashner (10-7, 4.68 ERA) will take the mound today in the series finale. Sandoval made his major-league debut this past Monday, taking over for "opener" Taylor Cole and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out eight in five innings against Cincinnati (Angels lost, 7-4). "That was an excellent first start. The results were there. He should be happy with the way he pitched," manager Brad Ausmus said of the 22-year-old. Sandoval's fastball topped out at 96 mph, helping him retire 12 of 14 batters during one stretch in his 96-pitch performance. The Red Sox traded for Cashner when they were in the thick of the wild card race and the 32-year-old has been a HUGE flop. Cashner was 9-3 (3.83 ERA) with Baltimore and owned MLB's best moneyline mark at plus-$1,196. He's been a 'nightmare' with the Red Sox, going 1-4 with a 7.53 ERA while allowing four runs or more in all but ONE of his five starts (moneyline mark is minus-$586).

This will mark Sandoval's first "official" major league start and it comes at Fenway (pretty heady stuff). We'll see how he handles it. Yes, Boston is just 30-31 at home but Boston averages 5.95 RPG in its legendary home park. I was always somewhat skeptical regarding Boston thinking Cashner was "the real deal" and he's proven me right. However, the pressure is off now and all in all, this is a VERY fair price for Boston against a team that has won THREE of its last 12. Boston won 16-4 on Friday (Red Sox had 14 hits and the Angels, three), then lost yesterday, as the Angels scored 12 runs on 13 hits. It's time to "zig" (or is it "zag") on Boston in Sunday's contest.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Min Twins at 7:10 ET.

The Cleveland Indians have opened their four-game series at Minnesota against the Twins by winning 7-5 (Thursday) and then 6-2, last night. The Indians are now 41-16 since June 4, while the Twins are 30-28 since holding an 11 1/2-game advantage in the AL Central back on June 2. The two rivals are now both 70-46, with two games remaining Saturday and Sunday.

Taking the mound Saturday night will be Adam Plutko (4-2, 4.55 ERA) and Jake Odorizzi (12-5, 3.61 ERA). Plutko has limited opponents to two ERs or less in SIX of his last nine outings (team is 7-2) but he just snapped a six-game winless streak last Saturday, when he held the LA Angels to one run on five hits and one walk over 5.1 innings of a 7-2 victory. Not sure just what to make of Plutko, who has served up 15 HRs across just 59.1 innings on the season.

Odorizzi was a disappointing 7-10 (4.49 ERA) in his first season with Minnesota last year (was signed as a FA away from Tampa Bay) but opened 2019 by going 9-2 with a 1.92 ERA through June 9 (team was 10-3 in his starts). Odorizzi missed a chance to pitch in his first All-Star Game due to a blister on his right middle finger) and after coming off the injured list, has made five starts. He's pitched well in FOUR (2.45 ERA), the exception being when allowing nine ERs over just four innings to the Yankees on July 24th. However, Odorizzi has recovered from that outing (his worst start of the season) with two solid efforts, allowing just two ERs on nine hits and four walks combined, over 11.2 innings (1.54 ERA) with 12 strikeouts.

The Twins need to 'stop the bleeding," as last night's defeat marks the first time Minnesota has lost FOUR in a row all year. Odorizzi just may be the man the Twins want on the mound, as the Twins are 15-7 in all of his 2019 starts, giving him MLB's 10th-best moneyline mark (+$851). What's more, he's 6-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 11 starts at home (Indians are 8-3), holding opponents to a .229 BAA. Odorizzi owns a 1.59 ERA in two starts vs Cleveland in 2019. Minny's losing streak ends at FOUR!

Good luck...Larry

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

The St Louis Cardinals came out of the All Star break by losing to Arizona but then won 12 of their next 14 to take over the top spot in the NL Central at 56-47. The Cardinals still held a slim lead in the division at 58-50 in games played through August 1 but a winless five-game West Coast trip in which the team totaled just SEVEN runs (two losses to Oakland and three against the LA Dodgers), left the Cards at 58-55 and in a three-way tie with the Phils and Mets (a half-game back of the NL's second wild card spot). However, the good news was, the Cards welcomed the Pittsburgh Pirates to town on Friday for a three-game series. The Pirates started the second half of the season only one-half game behind St Louis but the Cards' 6-2 win last night, was Piitsburgh's 22nd in the team's 26 games since the All Star break. The Cardinals appeared on their way toward another low-scoring effort in the series opener but used a four-run eighth inning to break open a tie game en route to the 6-2 victory. St Louis remained one-half game out in the NL wild-card race but closed to within three games of the first-place Chicago Cubs (who lost at Cincy) in the NL Central.

Joe Musgrove (8-10, 4.69 ERA) get the nod for the Pirates on Saturday, opposed by the Cards' Adam Wainwright (7-8, 4.5 ERA). Musgrove made six appearances (five starts) through the end of April and while he posted a 1.54 ERA, he earned just one win. Not much has gone right for him since, although he has pitched decently for stretches. It's said that back stiffness likely contributed to the worst outing of the season, when he was pounded for a season-high eight runs and 10 hits over just 3.1 innings of a 13-2 loss to the New York Mets this past Sunday. More back stiffness, here?

Wainwright was limited to eight starts in 2018 due to injury but will take the mound today for his 22nd start of 2019. Wainwright struggled with his control Sunday in Oakland, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings to suffer his first loss since June 26. The three-time All-Star has struggled all season-long on the road (6.96 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and .298 BAA in 11 starts) but has been very good at in 10 home starts, posting a 2.26 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and .236 BAA.

Why even try to guess when Pittsburgh might win theses days? No reason to think it will here, as Musgrove is 0-3 with a 12.08 ERA in three starts versus the Cardinals this season, falling to 1-5 with 7.39 ERA in six career starts against St Louis. The veteran Wainwright has seen plenty of Pittsburgh in his career (Cards are 24-12 in his 36 starts against them) and his solid home efforts in 2019 should continue here, as the Pirates have arrived in St Louis at just the right time for the Cards.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Cin Reds at 7:10 ET.

The Chicago Cubs opened a 10-game road trip Thursday in Cincinnati. The Cubs own a 41-19 record at Wrigley but they've struggled all season away from home. MLB players have always been known to be superstitious, so I guess Chicago hanging home uniforms in the locker of each player before Thursday's game, is "par the course." No one seriously thinks that helped but the Cubs did win 12-5. However, the Cubs may want to use a different 'motivator' tonight, after losing 5-2 on Friday, getting just five hits (I had the Reds as a "signature 36-Club Play). Chicago sits 63-53, good enough for a 2 1/2 game lead in the NL Central over the Brewers, with the Cards sitting three-back. Meanwhile, the Reds victory allowed them to close to within seven games of the Cubs at 55-59. Cincy is 4 1/2 games back of the NL's second wild card spot but FIVE teams are between them and that final playoff spot.

Taking the mound for Chicago will be Kyle Hendricks (8-8, 3.06 ERA), opposed by Cincy's Sonny Gray (6-6, 3.25 ERA). Hendricks has allowed just 10 ERs over his last seven starts (2.23 ERA) but has only ONE victory to show for it in that span. Hendricks has been strong at Wrigley (1.98 ERA / 0.85 WHIP) like the rest of the team (see Cubs' home record above) but on the road, he's struggled like the Cubs have (see below), posting a 4.32 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

Like Hendricks, Gray has pitched MUCH better than his .500 won-loss record reflects. Gray deserved a better fate than a no-decision in his last outing, blanking the Braves on four hits over seven innings in Atlanta, although the Reds would win 6-4 in 10 innings. That effort was the FOURTH time in five starts since his All-Star appearance that he allowed two runs or less.

Here's the 'dope' on Chicago. The Cubs' Friday loss dropped them to 22-34 away from home, giving them the SECOND-fewest road wins in the entire National League (that's a first-place club?). The Cubs will need to win both Saturday and Sunday to take this series (stands at 1-1) and I'll add that Chicago is winless in its last 10 series on the road (0-9-1)! Chicago will need to break through here vs Gray, who has allowed three ERs or less in 12 of his last 14 starts (Reds are 11-3), posting a 2.83 ERA. Cubs lose! Cubs lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the StL Cards at 8:15 ET.

The St Louis Cardinals came out of the All Star break by losing to Arizona but then won 12 of their next 14 to take over the top spot in the NL Central at 56-47. The Cardinals still held a slim lead in the division at 58-50 in games played through August 1 but a winless five-game West Coast trip in which the team totaled just SEVEN runs (two losses to Oakland and three against the LA Dodgers), leaves the Cards at 58-55 and in a three-way tie with the Phils and Mets (a half-game back of the NL's second wild card spot). Don't expect the Pirates to feel sorry for the Cards, as they visit St Louis on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The 48-66 Pirates started the second half of the season only one-half game behind St Louis (58-55) but have won only FOUR times in 25 contests since the break.

Chris Archer (3-8, 5.35 ERA) gets the nod for Pittsburgh and Dakota Hudson (10-6, 3.99 ERA) for the Cards. Archer turned in one of his better performances of the year last Saturday in a no-decision, allowing one run while striking out six over six innings against the New York Mets (Pittsburgh lost, 7-5). However, even with that solid showing, Archer continues to be a HUGE disappointment, going is 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA during a 10-game winless streak dating back to June 6 (Pirates have lost each of his last FIVE starts).

Hudson matched a season-best with seven strikeouts last Saturday at Oakland, but he walked a season-high five batters and took his second consecutive loss after giving up four runs (three earned) in just 3.2 innings. The rookie had posted an 8-1 record and 3.13 ERA over a two-plus month stretch from mid-May to late July (Cards won 11 of his 12 starts in that stretch), before surrendering eight ERs over 7.2 innings in his last two outings.

However, let's cut the rookie some slack. Hudson had allowed three ERs or less in 20 of his 22 starts in 2019! He takes on a Pittsburgh team that has lost 21 of 25 games since the All-Star break, while allowed 25 unearned during that slump plus has also posted a 5.45 team ERA in the second half. Expect Archer with his 7.14 ERA in nine road starts to turn that around?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "signature" 36-Club Play is on the Cin Reds at 7:10 ET.

The Chicago Cubs opened a 10-game road trip last night in Cincinnati. The Cubs own a 41-19 record at Wrigley but they've struggled all season away from home. MLB players have always been known to be superstitious, so I guess Chicago hanging home uniforms in the locker of each player before Thursday's game, is "par the course." No one seriously thinks that helped but the Cubs did win 12-5. Chicago has now won SIX of seven to open a 3 1/2 game lead atop the NL Central at 63-52. Meanwhile, the Reds had their three-game winning streak snapped to fall eight games behind the Cubs at 54-59. As for Cincy's wild card hopes, they are 4 1/2 games back of the second wild card spot but FIVE teams are between them and that final playoff spot.

Yu Darvish (4-5, 4.36 ERA) will take on Trevor Bauer (9-8, 3.85 ERA) in tonight's second contest of this four-game series. The Cubs signed Darvish to a big deal in 2018, even after his AWFUL performance in the 2017 World Series for the Dodgers. He was limited to just eight starts in 2018 (due to injury), finishing 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA. He's been healthy for most of 2019 but his results have not been much better. In fact, Darvish ended a 13-start winless drought on July 17, when he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings against Cincinnati in a 5-2 home victory (he had not won since April 27 at Arizona!). However, Darvish allowed two runs or less for the FOURTH time in five starts by limiting Milwaukee to one run on five hits to earn a 7-2 home win on Sunday. He has struck out 38 and walked only two batters over 29 innings spanning those five starts (2.17 ERA / team is a modest 3-2).

Bauer was one of the biggest names moved at the trade deadline. His final start for the Indians came July 28th at KC, when he gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 9-6 loss. However, he entered that contest with a 2.30 ERA over his four previous starts, striking out 39 in just 27.1 innings. Bauer struggled in his Cincy debut against the Braves and did not factor in the decision after giving up three runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings (Atlanta won 5-4).

Both pitchers have fared well against their respective opponents entering this contest. Darvish 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in six career starts against Cincinnati (teams are 5-1) but Bauer is 3-0 with an 0.46 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in three career starts versus the Cubs. Bottom line is this. Chicago's Thursday win makes them just 22-33 on the road this season and the Cubs take the field having last won back-to-back road games more than a month ago (July 4th and 6th). Darvish is one of my favorite "whipping boys" and while he's pitched better lately, I find it difficult to ever trust him. It's NOT good news for him that the Cubs have scored 10 and 12 runs the last two games, as I believe he'll be wishing his teammates saved some of those runs for him. Bauer has sure had his share of ups and downs but he has "the goods." Cubs lose! Cubs lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Division Dominator (NL East) is on the Was Nats at 7;10 ET.

The New York Mets were 40-50 at the All Star break and returned to go 6-5 through their first 11 games. However, the Mets have taken advantage of a weak spot in their schedule to thrust themselves into the thick of the NL's wild-card race, by winning 13 of their last 14 games! The Washington Nationals know a little bit about 2019 turnarounds as well, as they sat 19-31 on the morning of May 24 but a 36-15 run to 55-46 in games played through July 24th brought them within 'shouting distance' of Atlanta in the NL East plus placed them right in "the thick of things" in the NL wild card race. But then, Nats had lost SEVEN of their last 10 games when they opened a three-games series at the Giants on Monday. However, the Nats visit Citi Field for this weekend series with the red-hot Mets at 61-53, two games ahead of the pack for the first NL wild card spot, after a three-game sweep at San Francisco during which the pitching staff surrendered a total of just FOUR runs!

Squaring off in tonight's series opener will be Washington's Stephen Strasburg (14-5, 3.72 ERA) and New York's newly acquired Marcus Stroman (6-11, 3.07 ERA). Strasburg had a run of SEVEN straight wins come to an end when he was knocked around for NINE runs on nine hits (including three HRs) in 4.2 innings of an 18-7 loss at Arizona on Saturday. The Mets raised a lot of eyebrows around baseball on July 28, when they acquired Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays, despite only being on the fringes of wild-card contention in the National League. However, he now takes the mound in his New York home debut in what may be the biggest game the Mets have played at Citi Field in almost three years. Stroman struggled in his Mets debut last Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in 4.1 innings at Pittsburgh and did not factor in the decision (Mets won 7-5).

Stroman has never faced the Nationals, while Strasburg is 9-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 20 career starts against the Mets (Nats are 13-7). The Mets welcome the Nats on a 13-1 run, the team's best 14-game span since 1990. They are now 59-56 and "right in the middle" of five-team battle for the second NL wild card. Yes, New York has won 13 of its last 14 games but all contests came against teams under .500. However, this series with the Nats begins a stretch in which they will play 31 of the next 34 games against teams with winning records. Up against Starsburg (Nats are 10-2 in his L12 starts), who I expect to bounce back in a big way off his recent 'ugly' effort, the Mets are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Phi Phillies at 9:45 ET.

The San Francisco Giants were 35-47 after 82 games but won 17 of their next 20 to reach two games over .500 (52-50) by July 23. However, the Giants have reverted to their sluggish early-season form as their push for an NL wild card is seemingly "in trouble." San Francisco continues its nine-game homestand tonight, after being swept in three games by Washington. The Giants are just 4-9 over their last 13 games and are not just 3 1/2 games back of the final wild card spot but FOUR teams are ahead of them in their wild card chase. Philadelphia visits San Francisco after losing two of three against Arizona and at 59-55, sits two games behind Washington for the first wild card and in a virtual tie with 60-58 Milwaukee for the second spot.

Each team will send its ace in the opener of this four-game series, as Aaron Nola (10-2, 3.60 ERA) takes the mound for Philly and Madison Bumgarner (6-7, 3.92 ERA) for San Fran. Nola was Philly's Opening Day starter, coming off a 17-6 (2.37 ERA) season in which the Phils went 22-11 in his starts, giving him MLB's 12th-best moneyline mark of +$983. He enters this contest 10-2 in 24 starts on the season (team is 16-8) and he has not lost a decision since June 21. He's 4-0 over his last eight starts (team is 7-1), allowing one ER or less in SIX of those eight starts, including allowing just two ERs over his last three outings (0.83 ERA).

San Francisco's July surge kept them from dealing Bumgarner by the trade deadline. Bumgarner started poorly in 2019 (1-4 through six starts / Giants were 1-5) but he then allowed three ERs or less in 14 of his next 16 starts (Giants were 11-5). However, while the Giants have won Bumgarner's last two starts, he's allowed nine ERs in 12 innings (6.75 ERA).

I have ridden both Nola and Bumgarner over the last month or so but I'm "all over" the Phillies and Nola in this one. Philly is 7-2 in Nola's nine road starts this season and he catches a San Francisco that comes in having lost SEVEN of nine. That includes FOUR in a row in which San Francisco has scored a total of just SIX runs! I do NOT see the Giants 'finding' their bats in this one, as in 41 home games vs right-handers (Giants are 18-23), they are averaging a WOEFUL 3.16 RPG.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Chi Cubs at 2:20 ET.

The NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs followed a three-game sweep of Milwaukee by holding on for a 6-5 triumph in Monday's series opener vs the Oakland A's. However, the Cubs never threatened to make it FIVE straight wins, as Oakland sent 12 batters to the plate during an eight-run second inning, then scored three more in the fourth. Chicago left-hander Jon Lester gave up 10 earned runs (the second most in any start of his career) and after game called himself the "weakest link" in the team's rotation. However, Chicago maintained its 2 1/2-game lead on second-place St.Louis in the NL Central (Cards lost 3-1 at LA), while losing for only the THIRD time in 15 home contests. The rubber contest of the three-game series with Oakland goes this afternoon. The A's are 46-24 since mid-May, including 29-13 since June 17, moving Oakland to 16 games above .500 (65-49). Oakland is a half-game back of the Rays for the AL's second wild card spot and two games back of the Indians, who own the top wild card spot.

Taking the mound will be Homer Bailey (9-7, 5.20 ERA) and Jose Quintana (9-7, 4.40 ERA). The A's traded for Bailey back on July 14th. He was 7-6 with a 4.80 ERA for the Royals in 18 starts (KC was 8-10). Bailey boasts three quality starts in four outings since being acquired from Kansas City and has lost just ONCE in his last 10 trips to the mound while yielding three or less runs in EIGHT of those appearances. However, I will give an opposing view of Bailey in a little bit.

Quintana goes for win No. 10 on the season and I believe he should have been in double digits LONG before this. Consider the following. He allowed eight ERs in his first start of 2019 but then allowed three ERs or less in 12 of his next 13 starts. He suffered a 10-2 home loss to the Mets on June 22 (allowing eight ERs in just 4.1 innings) but he's unbeaten over his last six starts, going 5-0 (team is 6-0). Quintana has not exactly been "lights out" in his current run (4.15 ERA) but look at his consistency through his 21 starts in 2019. The lefty has allowed three ERs or less in 17 of those 21 starts.

Getting back to Bailey, let me note that in 20 starts in 2018 for the Reds, he went 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA, as Cincy went 1-19 in those starts, giving him MLB's worst moneyline mark (-$1,748). His recent outings have been good but note all THREE of his team wins with Oakland came at home (3.38 ERA) but in his lone road start for the A's, he lasted just two innings while allowing nine ERs on eight hits (three HRs!). Wrigley Field should NOT be a welcome site for him, as the Cubs have gone 12-3 at home in their last 15 games and sit at 40-19 in Wrigley on the season (Chicago is 21-11 in home day games). Quintana should be up to the challenge and catches the A's off their 13-hit, 11-run 'explosion' last night. Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout is on the Phi Phillies at 9:40 ET.

Philadelphia took Monday's first contest of a three-game series in Arizona, 7-3. The 59-53 Phillies are a modest 12-11 since the All Star break but moved within SIX games of the Braves in the NL East and more notably, remained tied with Washington for the two NL wild card spots (note: Cards lurk just a half-game back). The 56-57 D'backs are a WHOPPING 18 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West plus it's been "talked about" that Arizona may have "waved the white flag" when it dealt Zack Greinke to Houston just prior to Wednesday's trade deadline (Arizona currently sits 3 1/2 games behind the Phillies and Nationals).

Jake Arrieta (8-8, 4.44 ERA) takes the mound for Philly, opposed by the newly acquired Mike Leake (9-8, 4.27 ERA with Seattle) for Arizona. Arrieta has disappointed Philly since signing as a free agent in 2018 and the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner has been working through bone spurs in his pitching elbow for quite some time now. However, the Phillies have won NINE of his last 13 starts and Arrieta owns a 2.43 ERA in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks (he's 5-3 and his teams, 6-4).

Leake was the eighth pick of the 2009 draft and will make his Diamondbacks' debut on Tuesday night, after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners at last week's trade deadline. Leake last started back on July 30, when he escaped with a no-decision after allowing five runs (three earned) on and 10 hits in 5.2 innings of the Mariners' 8-5 victory at Texas. He joins his FIFTH team, after going 102-95 with a 4.04 ERA in 291 games (286 starts) with Cincinnati, San Francisco, St Louis and Seattle. He's 3-3 with a 5.05 ERA in 11 career starts vs Philadelphia (teams are 5-6).

Leake is no more than a journeyman and I expect the D'backs to fade away over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the Phillies have underachieved so far in 2019 but remain "right in" the wild card race and who knows, a spurt coupled with a "mini-slump" by the Braves, and the Phillies could spend September in a back-and-forth, tit-for-tat battle with the Braves for the NL East crown.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Chi Cubs at 8:05 ET.

The NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs followed a three-game sweep of Milwaukee by holding on for a 6-5 triumph in Monday's series opener vs the Oakland A's. The Cubs hit four HRs last night and have scored 23 runs (5.75 per) in winning the first FOUR contests of a six-game homestand. Oakland had its three-game winning streak halted but remained a half-game behind Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot in the American League. The A's are 45-24 since mid-May, including a 28-13 run since June 17.

A pair of lefties square off tonight, as Brett Anderson (9-7, 4.04 ERA) takes Jon Lester (9-7, 3.86 ERA). Anderson is coming off a loss last Wednesday to the Brewers, allowing three runs on eight hits over seven innings. He takes the mound looking to snap a four-start winless streak in which he's 0-2 (team is 2-2) with a 4.81 ERA. Anderson has faced the Cubs just twice in his career, going 0-0 (team is 1-1) with a 1.80 ERA.

Lester suffered an 8-0 loss after yielding five runs on nine hits over five in his last outing at St Louis this past Thursday. That effort continued his 2019 road woes, as in 10 starts away from Wrigley, the Cubs are 3-7 with Lester posting a 4.81 ERA. The veteran Lester went 6-4 in 11 starts with Oakland back in 2014. He is 6-4 with a 3.56 ERA over 15 starts (teams are 9-6) vs his former team.

Oakland is an excellent team and is playing well but here in Wrigley, going against the Cubs with Lester on the hill makes little sense. Chicago is 12-2 in its last 14 home games (40-18 on the season) and in 11 home starts in 2019, Lester owns a 2.95 ERA with the Cubs going 9-2. Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the SF Giants at 9:45 ET.

The Washington Nationals sat 19-31 on the morning of May 24 but a 36-15 run to 55-46 in games played through July 24th brought them within 'shouting distance' of Atlanta in the NL East plus placed them right in "the thick of things" in the NL wild card race. However, after dropping TWO of three at Arizona over the weekend, the Nats have lost SEVEN of their last 10 games .58-53 Washington heads to San Francisco to open a three-games series tonight with the Giants, SEVEN games back of the Braves in the NL East (tied with Philadelphia). The Nats and Phillies are tied for the NL's second wild card spot but are just a half-game back of the Cards, who own the top wild card spot. The Giants were 35-47 after 82 games but won 17 of their next 20 to reach two games over .500 (52-50) by July 23. However, the team's push for the second NL wild card has 'hit a speed bump' with THREE losses in their last four games (SF is 56-56, 2 1/2 games back of the Nats and Phils).

Taking the mound for tonight's opener are Erick Fedde (1-2, 4.67 ERA) of Washington and Jeff Samardzija (8-8, 3.75 ERA) of San Francisco. Fedde hasn't won since May 26 and in his seven starts since then, he's gone 0-2 with a 6.21 ERA (team is 3-4), capped by him allowing nine ERs on nine hits in just 3.2 innings in his last start against Atlanta (Braves won 11-8). Fedde has never faced the Giants. Samardzija scattered three hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory at Philadelphia last Wednesday and will take the mound tonight, with a 4-1 (2.10 ERA) record over his last six starts (team is 5-1).

Samardzija's 2-9 mark with a 4.80 ERA in 18 career appearances (11 starts / teams are 2-9) against the Nats is hard to dismiss but he's been VERY sharp in the Giants' recent surge. Meanwhile, the Nats' Fedde, who entered the 2019 season 2-5 with a 6.44 ERA in 14 career starts (team was 4-10), has hardly done much of ANYTHING to make one think he's "ready form primetime!"As this price, the Giants ARE the play!

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Was Nats at 4:10 ET.

The Washington Nationals sat 19-31 on the morning of May 24 but a 36-15 run to 55-46 in games played through July 24th brought them within 'shouting distance' of Atlanta in the NL East plus placed them right in "the thick of things" in the NL wild card race. The Nats had lost FIVE of seven heading into a three-game weekend series in Arizona against the D'backs and won 3-0 on Friday but saw Strasburg get 'torched' (nine ERs in 4.2 innings) in Saturday's 18-7 loss. Arizona managed just ONE hit in Friday's 3-0 loss but rebounded to bang out 15 hits (including five HRs) in scoring 18 runs on Saturday. The rubber match of the three-game series goes Sunday afternoon, with 58-52 Washington tied with Philadelphia, SEVEN games back of Atlanta in the NL East but just a half-game back of St Louis for the top NL wild card spot. Meanwhile, Arizona is 'buried' in the NL West (17 games back of the Dodgers) but are the D'backs are still 'alive' in the wild card hunt at 55-56 (3 1/2 games back of the Nats and Phils).

Patrick Corbin (9-5, 3.23 ERA) takes the mound for Washington, opposed by Arizona rookie Taylor Clarke (4-3, 5.53 ERA). Corbin will be making the first appearance against the team with which he spent the first six seasons of his major-league career. Corbin double digits in victories three times with Arizona (2013, '17 & '18) and can hit the mark again Sunday as he looks to win his FIFTH straight decision. Those five wins have come over an eight-start unbeaten stretch in which the lefty has allowed two ERs or less SEVEN times! He has a 1.76 ERA and the Nats are 7-1 during his recent hot streak.

Clarke is also riding an unbeaten streak that reached five starts (3-0) on Tuesday, when he allowed an unearned run and three hits over 5.1 innings in a 4-2 victory over the Yankees in New York. In his previous start, he gave up two runs in six innings in a 5-2 win over Baltimore. However, he entered his July 24th start vs Baltimore, having failed to complete five innings in SIX of his previous eight starts (exceptions were both just 5-inning efforts!)

Sure, Clarke has pitched well in his last two outings but he takes the mound with a 5.53 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and .281 BAA on the season. In contrast, Corbin's been on a roll since mid-June and his ERA is down to 3.23, his WHIP to 1.14 and opponents are batting just .228 against him. One has to imagine hed 'LOVE to beat his former team plus he catches the D'backs off an 'explosive' 15-hit (5 HRs), 18-run effort. Timing is everything.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the Oak A's at 4:07 ET.

The Oakland Athletics earned a wild card berth last season (97-65) plus owned MLB's best moneyline mark at $3,663 (more than $500 more than the world champion Red Sox). The A's were just 36-36 in games played through June 16, as they were clearly 'stuck in neutral.' However, Oakland would enter the break on a 14-5 run and while the A's haven't quite kept that pace up since returning from the All Star break, they have gone 13-7. At 63-48, Oakland is just a half-game back of the Rays for the AL's second wild card spot. The A's welcomed the Cardinals to Oakland this weekend for a two-game IL series and took last night's game 8-3. St Louis has now opened a challenging five-game road trip with a loss and hope for a split on Sunday, with three games in LA against the MLB-best Dodgers (73-40) up next. St Louis was just 44-44 at the break but has won 14 of 21 to open season's second half and at 58-51, is a half-game back of the Cubs in the NL Central (Cards currently own the NL's first wild card spot).

Taking the mound today will be St Louis veteran Adam Wainwright (7-7, 4.47 ERA) up against Tanner Roark (6-7, 4.24 ERA for the Reds), who was acquired at the trade deadline by Oakland. Wainwright was limited to eight starts in 2018 due to injury but will take the mound today for his 21st start of 2019. Wainwright settled for a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs this past Tuesday, when he gave up just one run on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings (Cards won, 2-1). That outing was in keeping with his efforts on the season as a whole. Wainwright owns a 2.26 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 11 home starts but his ERA balloons to 7.16 (FIVE runs higher!) and his WHIP jumps to 1.61 in 10 road starts.

Roark pitched in the NL Central for the Cincinnati Reds (same division as the Cards), until acquired by the A's at the trade deadline earlier in the week. He had some solid seasons for the Nats, winning 15 games in 2014, 16 games in 2016 and 13 games in 2017. However, after going 9-15 (4.34 ERA) in 2018, he was traded to Cincy in the off-season. He's had at best, a so-so season but remember, the Reds are sub-.500 team, while the A's are a STRONG playoff contender.

I noted above that the A's are 27-12 (.692) since mid-June and I wouldn't be surprised if Roark, like Fiers last season, thrived down the stretch for his new team. The A's are 36-21 at home (DON'T count those two 'home' losses to Seattle in Japan to open the season) and considering Wainwright's road woes, Oakland is the play "all the way!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Daytime Dominator is on the Atl Braves at 1:20 ET.

The Cincinnati Reds won for the EIGHTH time in their last 13 games on Friday, beating the Atlanta Braves 5-2. However, the Reds lost 5-4 (10 inn) last night, leaving them at 51-58 (7 1/2 games out of 1st in the NL Central). Atlanta saw its three-game winning streak end Friday but after Shane Greene blew the save in the ninth inning of his Atlanta debut, outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr's first career walk-off hit in the 10th gave the Braves the "W" and a 65-46 record. Washington lost on Saturday, while Philly won, so the Braves enters Sunday SEVEN games ahead of both rivals in the NL East.

Taking the mound for the rubber match of this three-game series will be Sonny Gray (6-6, 3.45 ERA) and Julio Teheran (6-7, 3.38 ERA). Gray won 14 games for the A's in 2014 and again in 2015 but had a poor 2016 season. He was traded to the Yankees during the 2017 season and went just 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA. He pitched for New York in all of 2018, finishing a HUGELY disappointing 11-9 with a 4.80 ERA. However, Gray earned his second career All-Star berth this season, after going 5-5 with a 3.59 ERA in the first half. He owns a 2.96 ERA in four starts since the break, while holding opponents to a .202 average.Still, he's a modest 1-1 and the team 2-2.

Teheran may own a 6-7 record but one must look closer to see the "real" Teheran. After opening 2-4 with a 5.35 ERA in his first seven starts of 2019 (thru the end of April), Teheran has allowed two ERs or less in 14 of his 16 starts since the beginning of May! He owns a 2.50 ERA, while allowing just 66 hits in 86.1 innings during that stretch, with the Braves going 12-4!

The Braves are a MUCH better team that the Reds and Teheran is the BETTER pitcher. He takes the mound with a 2.26 ERA in 10 home starts, facing an opponent which ranks 23rd in scoring (4.47 RPG), 21st in team BA (.246) and 22nd in OPS (.736). Braves win and take the series.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* PERFECT STORM is on the Oak A's at 9:07 ET.

The Oakland Athletics earned a wild card berth last season (97-65) plus owned MLB's best moneyline mark at $3,663 (more than $500 more than the world champion Red Sox). The A's were just 36-36 in games played through June 16, as they were clearly 'stuck in neutral.' However, Oakland would enter the break on a 14-5 run and while the A's haven't get that pace up since returning from the All Star break, they have gone 12-7. At 62-48, Oakland is just a half-game back of the Rays for the AL's second wild card spot. The A's welcome the Cardinals to Oakland tonight, for a two-game IL series. St Louis enters a challenging five-game road trip, beginning with two games at Oakland, followed by three games in LA against the MLB-best Dodgers (72-40). The Cards are coming off taking the rubber match of a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs with an 8-0 victory Thursday night. St Louis was just 44-44 at the break but has won 14 of 20 to open season's second half and at 58-50, owns a half-game lead over the Cubs in the NL Central (Brewers are 2 1/2 games back).

Dakota Hudson (10-5, 3.88 ERA) will square of against Mike Fiers (9-3, 3.54 ERA) in Saturday's series opener. Hudson saw his four-game winning streak come to an end Sunday against Houston, giving up five runs in four innings of a 6-2 loss. However, the Mississippi State rookie (he pitched just 27.1 innings in 2018), has allowed more than three ERs in just TWO of his 21 starts (Cards are 14-7 in his starts, giving him a +$674 moneyline mark).

While Hudson has surely been impressive, he has NOTHING on Fiers. Aftar all, Fiers is unbeaten over his last 15 starts, beginning with his no-hitter against Cincinnati back on May 7.Going back to the two starts prior to his no-hitter, Fiers has allowed three ERs or less in an incredible 17 consecutive starts! Fiers is 7-0 over his 15-game unbeaten streak, posting a 2.30 ERA. Yes, he is a modest 3-2 (teams are 4-3) in seven career starts vs St Louis, but he owns a sparkling 1.52 ERA in those contests.

Some may remember that Fiers was acquired by the A's (from Detroit) in early August of 2018 and Oakland went 8-1 (+$812) in his nine starts. Add that to his 13-8 (+$1,085) moneyline record with the Tigers and Fiers was MLB's top MONEY-MAKER among all starters in 2018 (21-9, +$1,897). Oakland has won four straight meetings and SEVEN of the last nine encounters with St Louis and I'm backing Fiers over Hudson, who faces the A's for the very first time (remember Fiers' 1.52 career ERA vs the Cards!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the SF Giants at 8:10 ET.

The San Francisco Giants were 35-47 after 82 games but won 17 of their next 20 to reach two games over .500 (52-50) by July 23. However, the team's push for the second NL wild card has 'hit a speed bump' with FIVE losses in its last eight games (Giants are currently 3 1/2 games out). The Rockies snapped their four-game losing streak against the Giants last night, edging San Francisco 5-4. Colorado lost a one-game playoff to the Dodgers for the NL West title last season but the team's 91-72 record was good enough for a wild card appearance. The 2019 season has fallen apart for the Rockies, as last night's win was just the team's SIXTH in in last 20 games! At 51-59, Colorado sits in last-place in the NL West (20 games back of LA) and finds itself 7 1/2 games back of the second wild card spot with SEVEN teams in front of them.

Madison Bumgarner (6-7, 3.74 ERA) will take the mound for the Giants on Saturday night, opposed by Jon Gray (10-7, 3.88 ERA).San Francisco's recent surge kept them from dealing Bumgarner by the trade deadline and the team's ace is now fully focused on trying to help the Gaints get back to the postseason for teh first time since. 2016. Bumgarner was not at his best in his last outing this past (gave up four runs and four hits over seven innings against San Diego) but he won his FOURTH straight decision. More notably, Bumgarner started poorly in 2019 (1-4 through six starts / Giants were 1-5) but he's since allowed three ERs or less 14 of his last 17 starts, with the Giants going 12-5 .

Gray has 10 wins on the season (in 22 starts / team is 13-9) but posted his first victory since June 29 with a excellent outing against the LA Dodgers on Monday. He allowed just one run on three hits with six strikeouts over eight innings of a 9-1 win. However, he is 6-3 with a 3.24 ERA over 12 games (11 starts / team is 7-4) since June 1. Of concern is that Gray owns a 1-4 record and 5.08 ERA in nine career starts vs San Francisco (team is 3-6).

As for Bumgarner, he's 16-8 witha 3.`15 ERA in 33 career starts vs the Rockies (Giants are 21-12), having won each of his last FOUR decisions against Colorado dating back to last season. Coors Field is no longer a "feared" venue, as the Rockies are just 28-26 at home in 2019, with their pitchers allowing a WHOPPING 7.11 RPG. No way the Giants (with Bumgarner) should be ANY kind of an underdog in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekend Wipeout is on the Atl Braves at 7:20 ET.

The Cincinnati Reds won for the EIGHTH time in their last 13 games last night, beating the Atlanta Braves 5-2. Cincinnati is 51-57 (SEVEN games out of 1st in the NL Central) and continues it three-game series tonight in Atlanta, which saw its three-game winning streak end, as the offense collected only four hits. However, the 64-46 Braves remain atop the NL East, SIX games up on Washington and SEVEN on Philadelphia.

Saturday's pitching matchup features Trevor Bauer (9-8, 3.79 ERA with Cleveland) for the Reds and Dallas Keuchel (3-4, 3.86 ERA) for the Braves. Bauer was one of the biggest names moved at the trade deadline.His final start for the Indians came last Sunday at KC, when he gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 9-6 loss. However, he entered that contest with a 2.30 ERA over his four previous starts, striking out 39 in just 27.1 innings.

Keuchel will make his ninth appearance since signing with Atlanta in early June. He struggled with his control in his last outing Monday at Washington, walking four and hitting a batter while giving up four runs on six hits over 5.1 innings of a 6-3 loss. That said, the 31-year-old and former Cy Young winner, has allowed three ERs or less in SIX of his eight starts, posting a 1.33 WHIP with 47 hits allowed across 49 innings.

Looking closer, Keuchel, owns a 2.66 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in three home starts for Atlanta. Getting back to Bauer, he sure has "the goods" but he has sure had his share of ups and downs. His final start with Cleveland saw him allow seven ERs in a game for the THIRD time this season. He entered that July 28th game having allowed five ERs in THREE of his previous nine starts. Bauer ended his final start with the Indians by throwing the ball over the center-field fence while being removed from Sunday’s game in Kansas City. I'll take Keuchel and NOT regret it.

Good luck...Larry

My 6* Weekly Wipeout is on the Atl Braves at 7:20 ET.

The Atlanta Braves return home to open a four-game series Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds, after winning TWO of three at Philadelphia and at Washington to extend their lead in the NL East to 6 1/2 games over the Nats and seven over the Phillies. The Braves' shaky bullpen blew a late three-run lead Wednesday at Washington but Josh Donaldson homered in the 10th inning for a 5-4 triumph. However, Atlanta acquired relievers Shane Greene from Detroit along with Mark Melancon from San Francisco at the trade deadline, after acquiring Texas reliever Chris Martin on Tuesday (bullpen help is on the way!). The Reds were also were active at the trade deadline, acquiring pitcher Trevor Bauer from Cleveland as part of a three-team deal on Tuesday (Puig is off to the Indians). Cincinnati won for the FOURTH time in five games Wednesday, beating Pittsburgh 4-1. However, the 50-56 Reds sit 6 1/2 games out in the NL Central (in fourth-place), as well as SIX games back of the NL's second wild card spot (SIX teams are in front of them for that final spot!)

Anthony DeSclafani (6-5, 4.01 ERA) will get the ball for the Reds and Max Fried (11-4, 4.21 ERA) goes for Atlanta. DeSclafani pitched well over his last five starts, posting a 2.20 ERA, while going 2-1 (team was just 2-3) . He is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four career starts against the Braves (team is 2-2), with his last appearance against Atlanta coming back in 2016. Fried opened the season with two relief appearances but has since made 20 consecutive starts (team is 14-6). The 25-year-old has struggled at times in his first full season in a major league rotation, as he owned a 6.17 ERA with a .339 opponents batting average during an eight-start stretch from May 28 thru July 6. Then again, he gave up three ERs or less FOUR times in that span. Fried rebounded to pitch five scoreless innings of three-hit ball at Milwaukee on July 15 (a 4-2 Atlanta win), before a blister on his hand landed him on the DL. He wasn't sharp in his return (July 27), allowing four ERs over 5.1 innings, but the Braves routed the Phillies 15-7 in that contest.

Fried is far from being a team ace but the Braves are 14-6 (+$576) in his starts, In comparison, DeSclafani is little more than a journeyman (Reds are 10-10 in his starts), pitching for a Cincy team heading nowhere. As for the Braves, they are 31-16 (.660) since June 7, headed for a second straight NL East crown. Price is a little high but well worth it.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox opened a three-game series at Fenway on Tuesday, with both battling Oakland A's for the AL's second wild card spot. The Red Sox are in the midst of playing 14 consecutive games against New York and Tampa Bay. The Red Sox went 5-2 last week at Tropicana Field and in Fenway against the Yankees but have lost two in a row to the Rays here in Boston, 6-5 on Tuesday and 8-5 last night. Heading into tonight's series finale, the Red Sox have fallen 2 1/2 games behind the Rays for second place in the AL East and more importantly, 2 1/2 games back of them in the race for the second wild card spot. Tampa Bay's back-to-back wins has allowed them to inch past the A's (by a half-game), into the AL's second wild card spot.

Tonight's pitching matchup features Tampa Bay rookie Brendan McKay (1-1, 3.72 ERA) and Boston's Andrew Cashner (10-5, 4.18 ERA), who was acquired from Baltimore back on July 13. McKay made an excellent major league debut back on June 29, throwing six scoreless innings of one-hit ball to beat Texas 5-2. He then went five innings in a pair of no-decisions vs the Yankees and Orioles in his next two outings. He had a 1.69 ERA through his first three starts but then was shelled for SIX runs (five earned) on nine hits by the White Sox on July 19 in a 9-2 loss..

Cashner excelled while with Baltimore, going 9-3 (3.83 ERA), while posting MLB's top moneyline mark among starters (11-6 / +$1,196). However, the 32-year-old was knocked around for nine ERs on 14 hits (including four HRs), in losing his first two outings with the Red Sox (7.36 ERA). Cashner got plenty of help in his most recent outing, as he broke into the win column in his third start with Boston, going 6.2 innings and giving up three runs on 10 hits to beat the New York Yankees 10-5.

I realize Wednesday's 8-5 win improved the Rays' record at Fenway to 7-1 in their last eight but I'm backing Boston here, to avoid the sweep. Boston was a dominating 57-24 at home in 2018 but last night's loss drops them to 27-28 at Fenway in 2019. That makes little sense for a team averaging 5.98 RPG in its home park. Cashner is no 'savior' but he's a solid starter and McKay had all sorts of trouble with the White Sox's lineup in his last outing. Expect the same here (McKay last pitched on July 19), as Boston's offense carries the day!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* IL Game of the Month is on the Oak A's at 10:07 ET.

The Oakland Athletics earned a wild card berth last season (97-65) plus owned MLB's best moneyline mark at $3,663 (more than $500 more than the world champion Red Sox). The A's were just 36-36 in games played through June 16, as they were clearly 'stuck in neutral.' However, Oakland would enter the break on a 14-5 run and then won SEVEN of eight coming out of the break. Oakland was off Monday and then opened a three-game IL series last night with the Brewers. The A's won 3-2 in 10 innings last night, giving them a three-game winning streak after they had lost FIVE of six from July 21-26. Oakland (61-47) owns a half-game lead over Tampa Bay (61-48) for the second wild-card spot in the AL and continues its series with Milwaukee on Wednesday, a team which at 56-51, trails St Louis by 1 1/2 games for first place in the NL Central and is one game out of the second wild-card spot.

Tonight's pitching matchup features Jordan Lyles (5-7, 5.36 ERA) and Brett Anderson (9-6, 4.05 ERA). The 28-year-old Lyles was acquired by the Brewers on Monday, just hours before he was supposed to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati. He will be beginning his second tour of duty with Milwaukee, as he went 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Brewers last year. Lyles steps in for Gio Gonzalez, who had to be scratched Wednesday because of tightness in his left shoulder. Lyles began the 2019 season just 31-52 in his career, while posting a 5.28 ERA. However, he went 5-1 with a 2.81 over his first nine starts (Pirates won EIGHT of the nine). However, Lyles takes the mound tonight with an 0-6 record in his last eight outings (Pittsburgh was 0-8!), as well as owning a bloated 9.57 ERA over his last nine starts. Milwaukee wanted him, why?

Anderson had his four-start unbeaten streak halted by Texas last Thursday, as he allowed five ERs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of an 11-3 loss. The 31-year-old lefty has a modest 9-6 mark in 21 starts but the A's are 14-7 in those starts. In fact, since May 20, the A's are 9-3 over a 12-start stretch for Anderson. He's had just two poor outings in that run, the above-mentioned game vs Texas and back on June 23, when he allowed seven ERs over just three innings. However, in the other 10 starts during that run, he's allowed three ERs or less in each one, with the A's going 9-1.

Anderson is more than capable and again I ask, why would Milwaukee want Lyles? Lyles has made four starts this month, allowing a .444 batting average. The last time a pitcher made four or more starts in July and allowed a .444 or higher average was 30 years ago, when Charlie Leibrandt served up a .474 average in 1989. In fact, it's happened just four times in baseball history. Expect the A's to add to Lyles' misery in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the StL Cardinals at 8:15 ET.

It may not be Red Sox/Yankees but the Cards/Cubs' rivalry is one of the best in MLB's long history. The two longtime rivals opened a three-game series in St Louis last night, tied for first place in the NL Central at 56-49. The Cardinals struck first in the series, as Paul Goldschmidt's solo HR in the sixth inning snapped a tie and lifted the Cardinals to a 2-1 win. The Cubs came out the break by winning SEVEN of eight but have now lost SIX of eight. As for the Cards, they did lose back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday to the Astros but St Louis has gone 13-5 since returning from the All Star break and last night's victory puts them one game up on the Cubs in the NL Central plus 1 1/2 games clear of the Brewers.

Taking the mound tonight will be Kyle Hendricks (7-8, 3.26 ERA) and Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.19 ERA). Hendricks last won back on June 9, going 0-4 over his last six starts (Cubs are 0-6). However, he's pitched WAY better than that record, as he's allowed just eight ERs over 25 innings of his last five starts, giving him a 2.89 ERA in that stretch. That, plus the fact that Hendricks is 7-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 17 career starts vs the Cards (Cubs are 13-4), should give Chicago fans hope. Then again, I'll re-visit this in a moment.

Mikolas was an All-Star selection last season, going 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA (Cards were 24-8 in his 32 starts, giving him an outstanding plus-$1,418 moneyline mark). However, the Cards are just 11-10 in his 2019 starts (minus-$207). There is good news for St Louis fans, though. Mikolas' woes have come away from Busch Stadium. The second-year pitcher owns an 'ugly' 6.75 ERA on the road (as well as a poor 1.56 WHIP) but his home ERA is 2.15 and his home WHIP is 0.96! He's also fared well against Chicago in his short career, going 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in six starts (Cards are 4-2).

Here's the bottom line. I had the Cards last night, backing Wainwright, who entered with a similar away/home dichotomy as Mikolas. Here's what I wrote in yesterday's analysis, "Wainwright owns a 7.16 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 10 road starts but here in St Louis, his ERA drops to 2.33, which is almost five FULL runs lower!" Here we go again, as you can see by checking out Mikolas' splits, above. However, the clincher comes in the following, which I used last night. Tuesday's win by St Louis means the home team remains PERFECT in 2019 games played between these two rivals at 10-0! Will the road team eventually break through? Sure, but why here?

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Atl Braves at 12:05 ET.

The Nationals welcomed the Braves to Washington for an important three-game series beginning on Monday. Once upon a time, the Nats were just 19-31 but Washington had gone 37-18 since May 24. However, the Atlanta Braves were no slouch in that same time frame either, going 34-21. As the teams took the field Monday night, Atlanta led Washington by 5 1/2 games in the NL East. The Nats won 6-3 on Monday but the Braves pounded out 15 hits in an 11-8 victory last night (Nats scored all their runs in the final four innings after the Braves built a 9-0 lead).

The rubber match of this three-game series is set for 12:05 ET in D.C. Atlanta rookie Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.44 ERA) will take the mound for the Braves, opposed by Washington's vs. Nationals RH Anibal Sanchez (6-6, 3.63). Soroka has put together a remarkable first full big-league season, ranking among the leaders in the majors in ERA. He lost his first start of 2019 (4-1 back on April 18), when he allowed just one ER over five innings in that contest. He then won his next 10 decisions over a 15-start run (Braves were 13-2), before losing 5-3 to Washington (and Sanchez) on July 20. Soroka did not earn a win in his last outing (one ER allowed over 4.1 innings of a 9-2 win).

Sanchez was a pleasant surprise last season after signing with Atlanta during spring training, going 7-6 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. However, after signing a two-year deal in the off-season with Washington. Sanchez opened 0-6 with a 5.10 ERA through nine starts (team was 3-6). Sanchez suffered a left hamstring strain in May that cost him 10 days on the injured list and he missed one start. However, he's returned to the rotation to help fuel Washington's recent surge. He's pitched to a 2.58 ERA with a .210 opponents batting average in his last 10 starts (he's 6-0 and the Nats are 7-3).

Soroka is in "revenge mode" here from that July 20 loss to Sanchez plus it's hard to ignore that the rookie is 6-0 with a 1.19 ERA and 0.94 ERA in 10 road starts in 2019 (team is 8-2). Yes, Sanchez has been very good as of late but note that his history against Braves is poor, going 7-11 with a 4.80 ERA over 21 career starts (teams are 7-14). I'm on "the rook," expecting Atlanta to take this "rubber game."

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Game of the Month is on the StL Cardinals at 8:15 ET.

It may not be Red Sox/Yankees but the Cards/Cubs' rivalry is one of the best in MLB's long history. The two longtime rivals open a three-game series in St Louis on Tuesday, tied for first place in the NL Central at 56-49. Chicago salvaged the finale of a three-game series with the Brewers on Sunday, riding Kyle Schwarber's career-high seven RBI to an 11-4 win. However, it marked just Chicago's SECOND victory in its last seven games. In contrast, the Cards won 12 of 15 games out of the break, before losing Saturday and Sunday at home to the Houston Astros (note: Houston is in a life-and-death battle with the Dodgers and Yankees for MLB's best record / teams are separated by .003 percentage points!).

Taking the mound in tonight's series opener will be the Cubs' Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.54 ERA) and the Cards' Adam Wainwright (7-7, 4.63 ERA). The Cubs signed Darvish to a big deal in 2018, even after his AWFUL performance in the 2017 World Series for the Dodgers. He was limited to just eight starts in 2018 (due to injury), finishing 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA. He's been healthy for most of 2019 but his results have not been much better. In fact, Darvish ended a 13-start winless drought on July 17, when he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings against Cincinnati in a 5-2 home victory (he had not won since April 27 at Arizona!). Darvish has finished at least six innings in a season-high four straight starts, posting a 2.92 ERA in that stretch.

The veteran Wainwright was limited to eight starts in 2018 due to injury but will take the mound tonight for his 20th start of 2019. He may be just 7-7 (team is 9-10) but his away/home dichotomy is quite noteworthy. Wainwright owns a 7.16 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 10 road starts but here in St Louis, his ERA drops to 2.33 (that's almost five FULL runs lower!) and his WHIP to 1.20. Wainwright has seen plenty of the Cubs in his career, going 16-12 (4.01 ERA) in 39 starts (Cards are 23-16).

Getting down to 'brass tacks,' the Cubs may be 36-18 at Wrigley but they are just 20-31 on the road. Considering Wainwright's strong home numbers, I'll be back the Cards in this one. Why not? After all, the two rivals have played each other nine times this season, with the home team winning EVERY game! Cubs lose! Cubs lose!

Good luck...Larry

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

The 67-38 NY Yankees have pulled away from the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox in the AL East. More importantly, BOTH are battling the 60-47 Oakland A's for the AL's second wild card spot. The Red Sox are in the midst of playing 14 consecutive games against New York and Tampa Bay. Boston welcomes the Rays to Fenway after taking TWO of three last week at Tropicana Field and then three of four from the Yanks at home this past weekend. The Red Sox host the Rays for three games Tuesday-Thursday and then head to the Bronx over the weekend for a four-game series (includes a Saturday doubleheader). Tampa Bay followed losing two of three to Boston at home, by taking two of three at Toronto over the weekend. The Rays rallied from a seven-run deficit in a 10-9 win Sunday, after coughing up a seven-run lead to lose by an identical score on Saturday.

The pitching matchup for the first contest of this three-game series will be a "re-hook" from last Wednesday, as Charlie Morton (12-3, 2.60 ERA) takes on David Price (7-4, 3.66 ERA). Morton spent his first nine years in the National League and sported a 46-71 record. However, he arrived in Tampa Bay this spring (as a free agent), after registering his best two seasons in the majors with Houston, going 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 starts. He won a World Series title with the Houston Astros in 2017 and made his first All-Star team in 2018. Morton looks to beat the Red Sox for the second time in less than a week, as he struck out 11 and allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings of a 3-2 victory last Wednesday at Tropicana Field. It marked the FIFTH time in the last seven starts that the AL leader in ERA had surrendered two ERs or less and his FIFTH outing of at least seven innings in his last 11 starts.

Price was 16-7 last season (Boston was 22-8, +$1,294 in his starts) plus was a postseason star for the first time in his career. However, he like his team, has struggled in 2019. Price is 7-4 in 19 starts but Boston is just 9-10 in those starts (minus-$524). Price is winless in three starts since the All-Star break, after losing that narrow decision to Morton and the Rays last Wednesday (he allowed three ERs on four hits over six innings). The former Tampa Bay ace has made 18 appearances (17 starts / teams are 9-8) against the Rays, going 6-6 with a 3.29 ERA.

I played on (and won!) with Morton last Wednesday but will be on Price and the Red Sox here, in this quick turnaround. Boston may be just 29-29 at home in 2019 but the Red Sox are averaging 6.02 RPG at Fenway, including 6.8 RPG in night games vs right-handed starters. Boston gets a much-needed win and Price gets his 'REVENGE' against Morton.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Was Nationals at 7:05 ET.

The Washington Nationals get set to host the Atlanta Braves in an important three-game series starting Monday. Once upon a time, the Nats were just 19-31 but Washington has gone 37-18 since May 24. However, the Atlanta Braves have been no slouch in that same time frame, going 34-21. As the teams meet Monday night, 62-44 Atlanta leads Washington by 5 1/2 games in the NL East, although the Nats' recent surge give them a 56-49 mark, good enough for a three-way tie (with the Cubs and Cards) for the NL's two wild card spots.

Tonight's starters will be Dallas Keuchel (3-3, 3.50 ERA) for Atlanta and Patrick Corbin (8-5, 3.25 ERA) for Washington. Keuchel struck out a season-high 12 batters last Tuesday against Kansas City but the Braves lost, 5-4. Keuchel allowed a modest three ERs against the Royals in that outing, the SIXTH time in seven starts since he joined the Braves that he's allowed three ERs or less (note: Atlanta is 3-4 in those seven starts). Keuchel made his Atlanta debut at Washington back on June 21, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings of a 4-3 loss.

Corbin spent his first six seasons with Arizona, winning 14 games in both 2013 and 2017. He took a 56-54 career mark into 2019, his first season with Washington. Corbin's made 21 starts and has a modest eight wins but he's been OUTSTANDING since the middle of June, going 3-0 with a 1.60 ERA and a .217 batting average against in his past seven starts (he as allowed two ERs or less in SIX of them), with the Nationals going 6-1 in those outings.

As noted above, BOTH teams have played excellent baseball since late May but backing Corbin and Washington is "the bet!' Corbin is 5-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 10 home starts this season, with Washington going 8-2 (80%). What's more, Keuchel is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four career starts vs the Nats (teams are 0-4!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "signature" 35-Club Play is on the Phi Phillies at 1:05 ET.

The Philadelphia Phillies opened the season with a three-game home sweep (10-4, 8-6 and 5-1) of the Braves but Atlanta's been the NL East's best team for almost the entire season. The Braves and Phillies opened a three-game series Friday night in Philadelphia, with Atlanta having lost SIX of eight, averaging a modest 3.4 RPG. As for the Phillies, they had won 15 of 25 games entering series, leaving them 5 1/2 games back in the NL East but "right in the middle" of the wild card race. The Braves posted back-to-back four-run innings (5th and 6th) on their way to a 9-2 win on Friday and then unleashed a 16-hit attack on Saturday (including Ozzie Albies hitting a grand slam) in a 15-7 win. Atlanta has extended its lead over Washington to 6 1/2 games and to 7 1/2 games over Philadelphia. The Phillies had no answer against the Braves for the second game in a row, losing for the SIXTH time in their last eight games against Atlanta (since that 3-0 sweep to open the season!).

The Braves go for a three-game sweep and will send Kevin Gausman (3-5, 5.71 ERA) to the mound up against Philly's Aaron Nola (8-2, 3.64 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). The 28-year-old Gausman took the mound last Sunday, after being sidelined for six weeks with plantar fasciitis. The Braves didn't know what to expect, as he had allowed 17 ERs on 25 hits in a total of just 8.1 innings in his three final starts before hitting the injured list (that's an ERA of 18.36). However, Gausman could not have authored a much better return from the injured list t home against Washington, holding the Nationals to one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in seven-plus innings in his first start since June 10.He is up to the task here? More in a bit.

Nola was Philly's Opening Day starter, coming off a 17-6 (2.37 ERA) season in which the Phils went 22-11 in his starts, giving him MLB's 12th-best moneyline mark of +$983. He enters this contest 8-2 in 22 starts, with Philly going 14-8, as well as a modest plus-$191 vs the moneyline. However, Nola has been outstanding in July, allowing one ER or less in FOUR of five starts this month, giving him a 1.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 32.2 innings.

More good news comes Philly's way in that some of Nola’s best work this season has come against the Braves, as he's 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against Atlanta (team is 3-0!) with 20 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.That should be no surprise, as in15 career starts against the Braves, Nola is 9-3 with a 2.26 ERA (team is 10-5). Getting back to Gausman, his performance on Sunday could help determine how aggressively the Braves pursue a pitcher before the trade deadline. If he pitches as well as he did in his return from the injured list last Sunday, Atlanta may back off its quest to add a starting pitcher and instead concentrate on finding another arm for the bullpen. However, if Gausman struggles, the Braves might resume their pursuit of an extra starter.

Here's my bet. Nola enters on a July 'roll' (see above) and note that Gausman made three starts against Philadelphia (the only ones of his career) last season after Atlanta acquired him at the trade deadline, posting a 5.51 ERA (0-2 / team was 1-2). He's made just ONE start (last Sunday) since June 10 and was on the sidelines the last two games, while Atlanta was pounding out 24 runs. Note that the Braves are averaging 5.35 RPG on the season but in road day games against right-handers, are just 6-6 while averaging only 4.2 runs. The play is on Philly behind Nola.

Good luck...Larry

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

The New York Mets opened the season 9-4 but quickly feel off the pace in the NL East and after Friday's 6-3 in Pittsburgh, find themselves 48-55 and not in serious contention for a wild card berth. Pittsburgh opened 12-6 but an EIGHT-game losing streak dropped them below-.500 and the Pirates spent most of the season's first half hovering around that mark (Pittsburgh entered the break, 44-45). However, Pittsburgh has 'IMPLODED' since returning from the break, as last night's loss was the team's SIXTH straight, as the Pirates have gone 2-12 to open the second half to give them the second-worst record in the National League at 46-57. The Pirates have been outscored 81-47 in that 14-game stretch, during which their pitchers have posted a 5.34 ERA and given up 28 HRs (12 in the last THREE games).

Saturday's pitching matchup features Trevor Williams (3-3, 4.96 ERA) and Steven Matz (5-6, 4.75 ERA). The Pirates won Williams' first FOUR starts (2.59 ERA) but the team is just 4-6 over his last 10 (his ERA is now more than TWO full runs higher on the season), which saw him spend a little over a month on the DL (mid-May through Mid-June). Not much has gone right for Pittsburgh lately (see above) but maybe the fact that Williams is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two career starts versus New York is a 'light at the end of the tunnel.' That said, I'm not buying it.

Matz opened the July in the bullpen but has returned to the rotation with a pair of solid starts, allowing two ERs in back-to-back outings at Minnesota and San Francisco (3.60 ERA and an 8-2 KW ratio). However, Matz hasn't won in his last eight appearances (six starts) dating to June 14, a stretch in which he is 0-2 with a 6.67 ERA (team is 1-5 in his starts).

However, Matz has pitched well here at Citi Field. He may own a 6.40 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in 11 road starts (Mets are 4-7) but he's 3-0 in seven home starts (Mets are 5-2), posting a 2.54 ERA and 1,21 WHIP. The Mets have won EIGHT of their last 12, while I've already given you Pittsburgh's 'ugly' stats since the All Star break (see above for a reminder). Mets win! Mets win!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Division Dominator (NL East) is on the Atl Braves at 7:05 ET.

The Philadelphia Phillies opened the season with a three-game home sweep (10-4, 8-6 and 5-1) of the Braves but Atlanta's been the NL East's best team for almost the entire season. The Braves entered last night's game having lost SIX of eight, averaging a modest 3.4 RPG, but posted back-to-back four-run innings (5th and 6th) on their way to a 9-2 win. The Phillies had won 15 of 25 games entering this weekend home series but the loss drops them 6 1/2 games back of Atlanta in the division (note: Phils are just 2-5 against the Braves since sweeping Atlanta in the opening series of the season).

Atlanta lefty Max Fried (10-4, 4.08 ERA) gets the nod on Saturday, up against Philly's Zach Eflin (7-10, 4.25 ERA). Fried opened the season with two relief appearances but has since made 19 consecutive starts (team is 13-6). The 25-year-old has struggled at times in his first full season in a major league rotation, as he owned a 6.17 ERA with a .339 opponents batting average during an eight-start stretch from Then again, he gave up three ERs or less FOUR times in that span. However, Fried pitched five scoreless innings of three-hit ball at Milwaukee on July 15 (a 4-2 Atlanta win), before a blister on his hand landed him on the DL.

Eflin's last outing was July 20 at Pittsburgh, as he allowed three runs on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts over four innings in suffering a 5-1 loss. However, Eflin, has allowed six ERs or more in THREE of his last five starts, going 1-3 with a 9.38 ERA in that span (Phils are 1-4). Looking even closer, Eflin's troubles go back much further than his last five outings, as Philly is just 2-9 in his last 11 starts.

As to concerns over Fried's blister, "We caught (the blister) at a good time," Fried told reporters. "It was a little sensitive in the beginning, but we just wanted to knock it out. So far, I've had zero problems. I've felt normal things since."i want NO part of Eflin and I'll remind all that the Braves are 13-6 in Fried's starts this season, including 8-2 on the road!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Division Dominator (AL Central) is on the Cle Indians at 8;15 ET.

The Minnesota Twins were 46-22 on the morning of June 15, 11 games up in the AL Central on the Cleveland Indians, who sat 35-33. However, while the Twins have played sub-.500 play ball since then (16-18), the Indians have surged to within TWO games of Minnesota by winning 25 of their last 34. Cleveland followed back-to-back setbacks against Minnesota (July 12 & 13) with SIX straight victories from July 14-19 and posted its 10th win in 12 games with Thursday's 5-4 triumph in 14 innings at 39-65 Kansas City. The Royals are 'buried' in the standings (24 out in the AL Central and 19 back of the 2nd wild card spot) but have gone 7-3 over their last 10 contests. However, ALL three of the losses have come against the Indians.!

Zach Plesac (4-3, 3.50 ERA) takes the mound tonight for the Indians and Jakob Junis (6-8, 4.83 ERA) for the Royals. Plesac is a 24-year-old rookie who made his MLB debut on May 28 at Boston. He's done a nice job in his 10 starts, allowing just 39 hits in 54 innings, posting a 1.09 WHIP and holding opponents to a .205 BAA. It shouldn't be a surprise that the Indians are 7-3 in his starts. Junis is return from the paternity list and hopes to serve up a repeat performance from his last outing. Junis limited the Indians to two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings of a 1-0 victory at Cleveland last Saturday.

However, Junis had made three previous outings versus the Indians this season, allowing 15 ERs on 23 hits over 17 innings (that's a 7.94 ERA). Junis has made nine starts (team is 4-5) and one relief appearance against Cleveland in his career, going 3-4 with a 5.73 ERA. Plesac will be facing Kansas City for the THIRD time in four starts this month, with the Indians winning each of the first two. This is selection is about MUCH more than the game's starting pitchers, as the Indians are surging, while the Royals are just frankly, "the Royals."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Cin Reds at 6:40 ET.

The Cincinnati Reds opened the season 1-8 but heading into the final weekend before the All Star break checked in at 41-44, 3 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central and four games back of the Brewers. Yes, the NL Central remains the 'tightest' of all MLB divisions but the Reds lost a two-game home series just prior to the break (to the Indians). They then returned from the break to lose EIGHT of 13 and as they get set to host the Rockies in a three-game weekend series are 46-54, EIGHT games back of the Cubs and Cards (both own 55-47 marks). The Rockies enter the weekend 48-55, a WHOPPING 18 1/2 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. The Rockies appeared headed to their 10th loss in their last 11 games last night but scored three run sin the last two innings for an 8-7 comeback victory.

German Marquez (9-5, 4.99 ERA) takes the mound for Colorado tonight, opposed by Luis Castillo (9-3, 2.36 ERA). Marquez is tied with Gray for the team lead in wins (nine) but his ERA of 4.99 is just over a run higher than it was last season, when he went 14-11 (3.77). He posted his first win in nearly a month, after allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings of an 8-4 victory at the New York Yankees on Sunday. However, he had entered that game having allowed 19 ERs over just 14.2 innings (11.66 ERA) in his previous three outings (ALL Colorado losses).

Castillo settled for a no-decision in his last outing, despite allowing just one run on five hits in six innings in a the team's 3-2 home win over the Cards last Saturday. Castillo has been terrific for the Reds in 2019, as last Saturday's performance was his SEVENTH quality start in his last eight. He owns a 2.36. ERA, 1.11 WHIP and .180 BAA on the season.

Here at Great American Ball Park, Castillo has been OUTSTANDING. He owns a 1.67 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, while limiting the opposition to a .155 batting average in 11 starts. He takes on a Colorado team wrapping up the final leg of its10-game road trip. However, the Rockies have been in a 'free-fall' since late June. Colorado was "right in" the NL wild card race at 44-39 through June 29, but head into Friday's contest having lost 16 of its last 20 games! The Rockies are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time up against Castillo here at Great American Ball Park.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* AL Underdog Game of the Month is on the Chi White Sox at 8:10 ET.

The Minnesota Twins lost two of three at home to the Yankees to open the week and have dropped SEVEN of their last 10 games to see their AL Central lead shrink to just TWO games over the Cleveland Indians. Minnesota heads to Chicago on Thursday to open a four-game series. with the White Sox, who are 3-10 since the All-Star break, after opening a 10-game homestand by losing TWO of three to the Miami Marlins (Miami owns an NL-worst 38-62 record).

The pitching matchup for tonight will feature Jose Berrios (8-5, 2.96 ERA) and Lucas Giolito (11-4, 3.12 ERA). Berrios hasn't notched a victory since June 6, when he beat the Indians 5-4. He stood at 8-2 (3.14 ERA) after that win but takes the mound tonight looking to halt a seven-start winless stretch. His ERA is 2.62 in that stretch but he's 0-3 and the team 1-6. Berrios has pitched fewer than six innings in each of his last three starts and on the season, has pitched much better at home than on the road. He owns a 2.10 ERA in nine home outings but it's 3.72 ERA in 11 road starts .

Giolito became a regular in Chicago's starting rotation in 2018 but was just 10-13 with an 'ugly' 6.13 ERA in 32 starts (team was 14-18). However, what a difference a year makes! Giolito posted a spectacular 0.94 ERA during his eight-start winning streak (from May 7 through June 14) and owned a 10-1 record along with a 2.22 ERA through his first 13 starts of 2019 (White Sox were 11-2). However, that streak came to halt at Wrigley on June 19 in a 7-3 loss and he's just 1-2 in his six starts (White Sox are 2-4) since that June 14 win.

Minnesota's play has really fallen off the last month or so, as the Twins have gone from 47-22 (11 games up on Cleveland) to 61-40 (two games up), during a 14-18 stretch. Yes, the 45-54 White Sox have no postseason hopes but I was encouraged by Giolito's last outing. He settled for a no-decision at Tampa Bay this past Saturday, allowing just one run, seven hits, one walk and had nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings (Chicago would win, 2-1). This, after he had compiled a 6.48 ERA in his five previous starts. As noted above, Berrios hasn't pitched poorly recently (see above) but the Twins as a team, just aren't getting the job done. Minnesota blew an 8-2 lead to the Yankees on Wednesday (lost 14-12 in 10 innings) and I predict more woes for the Twins here vs Giolito and the White Sox here. Take the price!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Cle Indians at 7:07 ET.

The Cleveland Indians are 29-12 since June 4, cutting a double-digit deficit to the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central to just THREE games. However, the Indians missed a chance to climb within two games of the Twins last night, as the Blue Jays rallied for a run in both the ninth and 10th innings to earn a 2-1 victory. The Indians came up short for just the SECOND time in eight games on Tuesday, as they managed six hits and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. However, Cleveland two-month surge gives them the American League’s top wild-card spot (one game up on Oakland and three clear of the playoff 'cut line'). Meanwhile, Toronto checks in at 39-64 and owners of MLB's fourth-worst moneyline mark (-$1,682).

The rubber match of this three-game series will feature a pitching matchup of Shane Bieber (9-3, 3.69 ERA) and Marcus Stroman (6-10, 3.06 ERA). Bieber, the 2019 All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player, has lost just ONCE since mid-May, going 7-1 over his last 12 starts (Cleveland is 9-3). He was able to post his SEVENTH victory in eight decisions the last time out, despite allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.2 innings against Kansas City. Looking at his season as a whole, Bieber owns a 156-28 KW ratio over 124.1 innings, posting a 1.05 WHIP and has held opposing batters to a .218 average.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto's lone All Star, could be making his final start for the Blue Jays when he takes the mound on Wednesday. Stroman is coming off one of his best efforts of 2019, when he permitted six hits without issuing a walk in seven scoreless innings of a 12-1 win at Detroit on Friday. Stroman has posted five quality starts in his last six outings but Toronto is just 3-3 in those games. Stroman has had a solid season but Toronto is only 8-12 in his 2019 starts.

Cleveland will head to Kansas City (another AL 'bottom-feeder' at 38-64) for four games after this contest and the LAST thing the Indians need is a series loss to the sad-sack Jays. Bieber "has the goods"and this win comes "with room to spare."

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the TB Rays at 12:10 ET.

The visiting Boston Red Sox have taken the first two of this three-game series vs the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Boston won 9-4 on Monday and then last night held on for a 5-4 victory when the Rays left the bases loaded in the ninth. The Red Sox are a modest 7-5 since the All Star break but with the Rays losing for the SEVENTH time in their last eight games, Boston now owns a share of second place in the AL East for the first time since March 29. It's a virtual tie in the AL East, as the 56-46 (.549) Red Sox and the 57-47 (.548) Rays are both TWO games back of Oakland, which owns the AL's second wild card spot.

Taking the mound for today's series finale will be Boston's David Price (7-3, 3.61 ERA) and Tampa Bay's Charlie Morton (11-3, 2.61 ERA). Price was 16-7 last season (Boston was 22-8, +$1,294 in his starts) plus was a postseason star for the first time in his career. However, he like his team, has struggled in 2019. Price is 7-3 in 18 starts but Boston is just 9-9 in those starts (minus-$422). He tied his season highs by allowing six runs and eight hits over four innings at Baltimore this past Friday, in an 11-2. The former Tampa Bay ace has made 17 appearances (16 starts / teams are 9-7) against the Rays, going 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA.

Morton spent his first nine years in the National League and sported a 46-71 record. However, he arrived in Tampa Bay this spring (as a free agent), after registering his best two seasons in the majors with Houston, going 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA in 55 starts. He won a World Series title with the Houston Astros in 2017 and made his first All-Star team in 2018. Morton opened the 2019 season 8-0 with a 2.10 ERA through 14 starts (Rays were 10-4) but since that fast start is 3-3 in seven starts (team is 3-4), although his ERA on the season remains an impressive at 2.61, like his 1.06 WHIP and .201 BAA.

Morton is 4-1 with a 4.58 ERA in eight career starts vs Boston (teams are 5-3) and takes the mound with a 2.80 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .198 BAA at Tropicana Field. Price has pitched much better at home this season (2.89) than he has on the road (4.09 ERA). I say NO sweep here, as Morton and the Rays get the "W."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the SF Giants at 9:45 ET.

The San Francisco Giants' surge continued Monday in their series opener against the Cubs. Austin Slater and Joe Panik delivered back-to-back RBI doubles during a three-run eighth inning as they rallied for a 5-4 victory, their 10th win in 12 games since the All Star break. The Giants have now won 16 of 19 since June 30, moving over .500 (51-50) for the first time in 2019! San Francisco's win allowed them to remain two games behind St Louis for the second NL wild card, while the Cubs' Monday loss reduced their lead to 1 1/2 games over the Cardinals in the NL Central (Brewers are two games back)..

Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.46 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago on Tuesday, opposed by San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 3.65 ERA). The Cubs signed Darvish to a big deal in 2018, even after his AWFUL performance in the 2017 World Series for the Dodgers. He was limited to just eight starts in 2018 (due to injury), finishing 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA. He's been healthy for most of 2019 but his results have not been much better. In fact, Darvish ended his 13-start winless drought this past Wednesday, when he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings against Cincinnati in a 5-2 victory. He had not won since April 27 at Arizona, settling for 10 consecutive no-decisions before suffering a loss to Atlanta on June 26. He then had two more no-decisions, prior to Wednesday's breakthrough win. Darvish won his only career start versus the Giants back on Sep 13, 2017, when he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings in San Francisco while with the Dodgers.

The Giants have a huge decision to make soon, as they are in the thick of the NL wild-card race as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Depending on the choice they make, Madison Bumgarner could be making his final start for the Giants in the middle contest of their three-game series with the Cubs. Bumgarner started poorly in 2019 (1-4 through six starts / Giants were 1-5) but he's since allowed three ERs or less in 13 of his last 15 starts! Bumgarner allowed a total of 11 runs over two starts in mid-June but after allowing just one run on five hits over nine innings against the Mets last Friday, he has allowed just five ERs over his last five starts (1.55 ERA and 34 Ks in 29 innings).

The Cubs are a poor 18-28 on the road in 2019 (allowing 5.13 RPG) and as noted above, can hardly count on Darvish to "come up big." Meanwhile, the red-hot Giants (on a 16-3 run) can count on Bumgarner (1.55 ERA his last five plus he's allowed three ERs or less in 13 of his last 15). What's more, Bumgarner has dominated the Cubs in his career, going 9-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 14 starts (Giants are 11-3). He also gets to face a Chicago team that has struggled against left-handed pitching. Chicago is hitting .242 against lefties, which ranks 13th among the 15 National League teams, plus in six road night games vs a left-handed starter in 2019, has gone 1-5 while averaging just 2.5 RPG. Cubs lose! Cubs lose!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the NY Yankees at 8:10 ET.

The Minnesota Twins lead the major leagues in HRs this season and added to that total with five HRs last night (eighth time this season the Twins have hit at least five HRs in a single game). Minnesota recorded an 8-6 win on Monday but the Indians also won, so the Twins' lead in the AL Central remains at three (Minnesota's lead was 11 games back in mid-June). Monday's defeat was New York's second straight (after a five-game winning streak) but the AL East-leading Yankees still own a nine-game cushion over Tampa Bay and are 10 games up on the Red Sox.

Taking the mound in the middle contest of this three-game series between division leaders will be Domingo German (12-2, 3.38 ERA) and Kyle Gibson (9-4, 4.02 ERA). German was 9-1 with a 2.60 ERA through May 21 but in a three-start stretch from May 26 through June 7, was 0-1 (team was 1-2), allowing 14 ERs over just 14.1 innings for an 8.59 ERA. A strained left hip flexor had sidelined him since June 8 but he returned on July 3. He's pitched six innings in each of his three outings since that return, allowing just three ERs for an 1.50 ERA, as well as owning a 18-2 KW ratio (he's 3-0). German recorded his first win in three career starts against Minnesota after permitting one run and four hits in 6.2 innings of a 4-1 triumph on May 5.

This is Gibson's seventh season and he opened the year 54-61 with an ERA of right around 4.50 (can you say journeyman?). However, with the help of Minnesota's outstanding offense (Twins rank 3rd in RPG at 5.63 and 3rd in ba at .271, plus rank 1st in both OPS at .834 and HRs at 187), he takes the mound tonight with nine wins over 19 starts, with the Twins going 13-6 in those starts. Gibson improved to 2-0 in his last five starts (Minnesota is 4-1) this past Thursday, after allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings of a 6-3 victory versus Oakland. However, he's had little luck against the Yankees in his career. He fell to 1-6 with a 6.50 ERA in nine career starts (Twins are 1-8 or an 88% "go-against") vs the Yankees after permitting five runs (two earned) in five innings of a 6-3 loss back on May 3.

Yes, the Twins beat the Yankees last night but they are just 21-48 the last decade against New York, including only 11-23 at Target Field. The Yanks are 12-3 (80%) in German's 2019 starts and bounce back from Monday's loss with a "W."

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the Mil Brewers at 8:10 ET.

The Cincinnati Reds were within 3 1/2 games of the National League Central lead and the second wild card as recently as July 4 but their playoff hopes have taken a beating since the All-Star break. However, after Tyler Saladino had put the Brewers ahead 5-3 in the eighth with a grand slam last night in Milwaukee, Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run HRin the ninth to give the Reds a dramatic 6-5 victory (Suarez had already hit a two-HR in the 7th!). The Reds moved within eight games of the Chicago Cubs in the division and are still 6 1/2 games behind the Cards for the final wild card spot. The defeat 'stung' for the Brewers, who remained two games back of the Cubs in the division and fell one-half game behind the Cardinals in pursuit of that second wild card spot.

Tanner Roark (5-6, 3.97 ERA) will get the start for Cincy in tonight's contest, while Zach Davies (8-2, 2.79 ERA) will take the mound for Milwaukee. Roark had double-digit wins THREE times for Washington from 2014-2017 (seasons of 15, 16 and 13 wins) but fell to 9-15 with a 4.34 ERA in 2018. This is his first year with the Reds and he's got just FIVE wins in 19 starts (team is 9-10).

The 26-year-old Davies opened 2019 at 7-0 (2.41 ERA) through 13 starts (Brewers were 9-4), but then suffered a 5-3 loss at San Francisco on June 14. That outing began a three-start stretch in which he went 0-2 (team was 0-3), allowing 12 ERs on 21 hits over just 11.2 innings (9.26 ERA). However, Davies has been one of the NL's stingiest starters over the last three weeks, although his only win over that time came on Thursday as he held Arizona to one run over seven innings despite failing to record a strikeout. The Brewers have won each of Davies' last FOUR starts and no wonder, as he's allowed just two ERs on 17 hits over 23.1 innings, giving him an 0.77 ERA!

In contrast, Roark enters owning a 7.16 ERA in his last three outings. Expect Milwaukee to bounce back from last night's loss behind another outstanding effort from Davies.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Month (AL) is on the NY Yankees at 8:10 ET.

The New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins are both atop their respective divisions as the two teams get set to open a three-game series at Target Field on Monday. Back on the morning of June 15, the Yankees were 41-27, a half-game back of the TB Rays in the AL East. However, as of this morning, New York is 63-34, NINE games up on Tampa Bay, with the defending champion Red Sox trailing the Yankees by 11 games. Meanwhile, the Twins were 46-22 on the morning of June 15, 11 games up on the Indians in the AL Central. However, Minnesota woke up this morning at 60-38, just a mere THREE games ahead of the Indians. The Yankees, despite all their injuries, have overcome an 8-10 start to 2019 by going a MLB-best 55-24 (.696) since that slow start. The Twins have been atop the AL Central most of the season but a 14-16 record over their last 30 games (while the Indians have gone 22-8), has them in a tight race.

In a battle of lefties, CC Sabathia (5-4, 4.06 ERA) gets the call for New York, while Martin Perez (8-3, 4.10 ERA) goes for the Twins. Sabathia announced before the season that 2019 would be the final one of his 19-year major league career. It has hardly been a 'breeze' for CC in 2019, especially on the road. While he owns a 4-1 record with a 2.60 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and .214 batting average at home (team is 7-1), Sabathia is 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and has allowed the opposition to hit .295 (Yanks are 2-5). However, I will close with some very STRONG reasons to back CC (and the Yanks) in this one, in a bit.

Perez opened 2019 with three appearances out of the bullpen but then went 6-1 over his first eight starts (Twins were 6-2). However, he owns just ONE win over his last seven starts and while the Twins are 3-4 in that stretch, Perez has allowed four ERs or more FIVE times! The 28-year-old has seen his season ERA elevate over a full run (2.95 to 4.10), since posting a 7-1 mark in his first 11 trips to the mound (eight starts / three relief appearances).

On to the pick: The Yanks are on a great roll coming in (see above), while the Twins are sub-500 since mid-June. What's more, the Yankees have DOMINATED the Twins the last decade, compiling a 48-20 record since 2010, including going 23-10 at Target Field. As for CC, he is 22-9 with a 3.08 ERA in 41 career starts against Minnesota (teams are 27-14), while Perez is 2-2 with a bloated 9.68 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in four career starts vs the Yankees. Let me finish by noting that CC is 12-1 in his last 16 starts against the Twins.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekend Wipeout is on the Arz D'backs at 8:10 ET.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been mentioned as possible sellers ahead of the July 31 trade deadline but taht may be "in doubt," as the D'backs have won SEVEN of 10 to reach 50-48. That makes them one of SIX teams fighting for two NL wild card spots, all within three games or less of each other. Arizona is currently just ONE game back of the second wild card spot, after scoring six runs in the third inning of Friday’s 10-7 home victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The 51-48 Brewers are in third-place in the NL Central (three games back of the first-place Cubs) by they enter this contest a half-game ahead of the Diamondbacks the wild card chase.

Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 3.19 ERA) gets the nod for Milwaukee, opposed by Arizona's Zack Greinke (10-4, 2.95 ERA). Gonzalez pitched well for Milwaukee after joining the team in September. He was 3-0 in five starts (team was 5-0), posting a 2.13 ERA. He posted a 1.69 ERA in his first four starts of 2019 (from 4/28-5/15) with the Brewers going 3-1 but was then ripped for seven ERs over just 9.2 innings (6.52) in his next two starts (May 21 and 27). He was placed on the injured list on June 1 due to arm fatigue. The 33-year-old made his final minor-league rehab start on Monday for Triple-A San Antonio, allowing one run while throwing 68 pitches in 4.2 innings and makes his first start since May 27, tonight. The good news is that he's 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in eight career starts vs Arizona (teams are 6-2).

Greinke takes the mound for Arizona, looking to bounce back after giving up five runs on eight hits over six innings in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to St.Louis. The setback snapped an INCREDIBLE five-year winning streak in July, as he entered that contest 14-0 with a 1.34 ERA over 18 starts in the month dating back to July 25, 2014. The bad news for Arizona is that Greinke is 1-4 with a 4.28 ERA in seven career starts vs Milwaukee (teams are just 2-5).

However, there is PLENTY of good news! The Diamondbacks have scored at least NINE runs in THREE of their last four games and Greinke has allowed three ERs or less in 15 of his 20 starts in 2019. NINE of those statst have come at home, where Greinke owns an 0.98 WHIP and the D'backs have won SEVEN of the nine. Make that EIGHT of 10, as Arizona wins "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL Central) is on the Cin Reds at 7:10 ET.

The St Louis Cardinals 'limped' into the All Star break having lost EIGHT of 12 games, but have returned to play to go 6-2 since the break. Friday's win was "special," as the Reds jumped out to a 7-0 lead, before the Cards erupted for their most explosive inning in nearly seven years. St Louis scored 10 times in teh sixth inning, including seven runs with two outs, then added two more in the 7th. The Cardinals needed every last run, as Cincinnati stormed back with two runs in each of the last two innings, before ending the game with the tying run on third (StL won, 12-11). The win marked the third straight game in which St Louis dug itself out of a multi-run hole and the Cards sit just 2 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central, plus find themselves in a virtual tie (with Philly) for the second wild card spot (Nats own the first but by just ONE game). Things have not gone as well for Cincinnati, which dropped its FOURTH straight to fall NINE games off the pace in the NL Central. That's TWICE the gap that existed for the Reds coming out of the All-Star break just over a week ago (Cincy's 2-6 since the break)..

Miles Mikolas (6-9, 4.15 ERA) gets the ball for St Louis in the third contest of this four-game set, with Luis Castillo (9-3, 2.41 ERA) taking the mound for the Reds. Mikolas was an All-Star selection last season and he displayed that form at home vs the Pittsburgh this past on Monday in a 7-0 win. He delivered an eight-hit shutout (7-0), inducing a career-high 20 groundballs against the 32 batters he faced. Mikolas is 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA in five career starts against the Reds (Cards are 4-1).

Castillo has been terrific for the Reds in 2019 (2.41 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and .177 BAA) but the Reds have lost FIVE of his seven no-decisions. Castillo comes in on a roll, having logged his SIXTH quality start in his seven outings, after limiting the Cubs to three runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning 10 over six innings of a 6-3 Cincy win at Wrigley on Monday. He had been dominant in his previous two starts to Monday's outing as well, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out 15 in 14.2 innings. Castillo is is a modest 2-3 overall with a 3.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Cardinals (Reds are 4-3)..

I mentioned that Mikolas was an All Star last year (18-4 with a 2.83 ERA) but that's hardly been the case in 2019, especially on the road. Yes, Mikolas has been strong at home (2.15 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and .226 BAA) but away from St Louis, he owns a 7.40 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and a truly 'ugly' .341 BAA!. As for Castillo, he's allowed just four ERs over his last three starts (20.2 innings for a 1.74 ERA), plus owns a 1.69 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and .146 BAA at home in 2019. That's the winning 'ticket!'

Good luck...Larry

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

The Chicago Cubs had lost EIGHT of 12 games before the break but have seemed made to make good use of the rest, as after eking out a 6-5 win Friday over the Padres, Chicago has won SIX of seven to move to 53-44. The surge has extended their lead in the NL Central to 2 1/2 games over the Cards and to three games over the Brewers. As for San Diego, the Padres are going in the opposite direction of late by losing SIX of seven, after entering the All-Star break with three consecutive victories over the National League-best Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres check in at 46-51 (tied with Colorado for last in the NL West, 17 1/2 games back of LA), which leaves FIVE teams ahead of them in the chase for one of two wild card spots (SD is 4 1/2 games back of the second spot).

It's a battle of lefties at Wrigley this afternoon, as Joey Lucchesi (7-4, 3.92 ERA) takes the mound against Jose Quintana (7-7, 4.21 ERA). Lucchesi is unbeaten in his last five outings with a 3.45 ERA during that stretch (SD is just 2-3 in those games!), including five innings of two-run ball in a no-decision Saturday against Atlanta (Padres lost 7-5). Lucches was 8-9 in 26 starts in 2018 but he can match his win total from his rookie season here, in his 19th start after going 4-1 since May 24 (note; SD is 5-4 in those starts). He has made one start against the Cubs as a rookie in 2018, settling for a no-decision in giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and no walks with nine strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Quintana allowed eight ERs in his first start of 2019 but then allowed three ERs or less in 12 of his next 13 starts. He then suffered a 10-2 home loss to the Mets on June 22, allowing eight ERs in just 4.1 innings. However, the veteran lefty has put together three straight wins, allowing just six ERs over 19 innings (2.84 ERA) with a 14-3 KW ratio. Quintana is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts versus San Diego (teams are 2-0).

Lucchesi has been excellent in 11 home starts (2.83 ERA) but in seven road starts, his ERA balloons to 5.79. He will face a Chicago team which is 35-17 at home (outscoring opponents 4.96-to-3.75). As for the lefty Quintana, he comes enters in good form and will face a San Diego team which is just 2-7 vs lefties on the road in 2019, including 0-3 in day games. Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

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

The Minnesota Twins lost six of 10 before the break but picked up a big series win out of the All-Star break. The Twins won the first two games in Cleveland on Friday (5-3) and Saturday (6-2) but while they couldn't complete three three-game sweep (lost 4-3). The Twins were back in Minnesota to begin the week, opening a nine-game homestand at Target Field with a two-game IL series against the Mets. New York won 3-2 on Tuesday and then finished with a 14-4 romp on Wednesday. However, the Twins regrouped to halt their season-high three-game slide with a 6-3 victory over Oakland last night. The Twins appeared on their way to a fourth straight setback but they hit three HRs over their final two innings to turn a two-run deficit into a win. Oakland saw its SIX-game winning streak come to an end and at 55-42 (.567), finds itself in a virtual tie with 56-43 (.566) Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot in the AL. Both are ONE game back of Cleveland, which currently owns the No. 1 wild card spot.

Chris Bassitt (6-4, 3.98 ERA) will take the mound for Oakland, opposed by Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi (11-4, 3.06 ERA). Bassitt may own just SIX wins in his 15 starts this season (A's are a modest 8-7) but he's pitched better than that record. He has allowed three ERs or less in 13 of his 15 starts in 2019, including allowing more than three ERs just ONCE in his last eight outings. Odorizzi was a disappointing 7-10 (4.49 ERA) in his first season with Minnesota last year (was signed as a FA away from Tampa Bay) but opened 2019 by going 9-2 with a 1.92 ERA through June 9 (team was 10-3 in his starts). However, Odorizzi came off the injured list to make a start last Saturday (he missed a chance to pitch in his first All-Star Game due to a blister on his right middle finger), looking to end a poor four-start stretch in which he had gone 1-2 (team was 2-2). He had allowed 16 ERs over just 18.1 innings for a 7.85 ERA in that stretch but allowed just one run on three hits over 5.1 innings of a 6-2 win at Cleveland.

Bassitt has been solid for Oakland all season but he will take on a lineup which ranks 2nd in all of MLB in scoring (5.63 RPG) and team BA (.271) plus first in OPS (.831) and HRs (177). The Twins have dominated right-handed starters all season, going 47-26, including 24-11 at home. Speaking of "home," Odorizzi is 6-0 in eight Target Field starts (Minnesota is 7-1 or 88%), with a 2.27 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a .192 opponents' batting average, while posting a 55-11 KW ratio. Good enough for me!

Good luck...Larry

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

The Philadelphia Phillies rallied for wins on Tuesday (3-run 9th) and Thursday (four-run 7th) to salvage a four-game home split with NL's best team, the LA Dodgers. The Phillies hope that momentum travels well as they head to Pittsburgh to open a three-game series vs the Pirates. The 50-47 Phillies are 7 1/2 back of the Braves in the NL East but they are "right in" the crowded wild card chase, sitting a half-game back of the second wild card spot. The Pirates welcome the Phillies to town to open a seven-game homestand, having lost FIVE of six since the All-Star break, giving them a 45-50 mark. However, they are closer to the NL Central's top spot (6 1/2 games back), than the Phillies are in the NL East.

Tonight's starting pitchers are Jake Arrieta (8-7, 4.54 ERA) and Jordan Lyles (5-6, 5.16 ERA). Arrieta has disappointed Philly since signing as a free agent in 2018 and the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner has been working through bone spurs in his pitching elbow for his last seven starts. Despite pitching with a painful bone spur in his right elbow, he allowed one run on four hits in five innings Sunday against Washington in a 4-3 Philly win. The good news is that Arrieta is 13-6 with a 2.80 ERA in 23 career starts against Pittsburgh (teams are 16-7)..

Jordan Lyles began the 2019 season just 31-52 in his career, while posting a 5.28 ERA. However, he went 5-1 with a 2.81 over his first nine starts (Pirates won EIGHT of the nine). Lyles takes the mound tonight with an 0-5 record in his last six outings (Pittsburgh is 0-6!) and a bloated 10.13 ERA in his last seven starts, after getting ripped for SEVEN runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a 10-4 setback at the Chicago Cubs this past Saturday.

Sure, Arrieta is NOT the same pitchers he was in 2015 but the bottom line is, Lyles is back to being EXACTLY the kind of pitcher he's been throughout his career. His first nine starts of 2019 (see above for a reminder) are nothing but a distant memory!

Good luck...Larry

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

San Francisco's 11-8 victory in Colorado on Wednesday not only gave the Giants a four-game sweep of the Rockies at Coors Field but the victory marked the Giants' 12th win in their last 14 games. All of a sudden, the Giants have climbed to within 2 1/2 games of the NL's second wild card spot. That said, it MUST be noted that EVERY team in the NL (save Miami) can say it is in the wild card chase. The Giants will welcome the NY Mets to Oracle Park for a four-game series beginning tonight and even the 44-51 Mets can claim that they are in the wild card 'hunt' (Mets are FIVE games back of the second wild card spot). New York travels to San Francisco off a surprising two-game sweep of the Twins in Minnesota, including Wednesday's 14-4 win, when the Mets pounded out 17 hits.

A pair of pitchers who are at the forefront of trade rumors meet Thursday, Noah Syndergaard (7-4, 4.55 ERA) of New York and Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 3.86 ERA) of San Francisco. A four-start winless stretch (May 19-June 4) left Syndergaard 3-4 with a 4.83 ERA through 13 starts (Mets were 6-7). However, he is 4-0 with a 3.82 ERA over his last five starts (Mets are 5-0), after he recorded nine strikeouts with zero walks in a seven-inning effort at Miami his last time out (Mets won 4-2). Bumgarner let up one unearned run in five innings at Milwaukee last Saturday (Milwaukee won 5-4). Bumgarner started poorly in 2019 (1-4 through seven starts / Giants were 2-5) but he's allowed three ERs or less in 11 of his last 13 starts!

The Giants have won five in a row and the Mets four straight but it's IMPOSSIBLE to NOT acknowledge that the Giants have 'found' their offense, averaging a WHOPPING 8.21 RPG during their recent 12-2 surge. Syndergaard owns a 2.61 ERA in seven career starts vs the Giants (team is 3-4), going 3-2. However, that pales in comparison to Bumgarner's career record vs the Mets, as he's 7-0 with a 1.71 ERA in nine starts (Giants are 8-1). That's an 89% winning situation!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Mil Brewers at 9:40 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers 'limped' into the All-Star break on an 8-15 slide and opened the second half of the season by losing TWO of three at San Francisco. The Brewers welcomed the Atlanta Braves to Miller Park for a three-game series that began last Monday. The series was a rematch of a three-game set played in Atlanta from May 17-19. The Brewers were 27-19 when that series started and the Braves were 23-12. However, as the teams got set to meet again in mid-July, they were headed in opposite directions. The Braves took TWO of three at home in May and used that series victory to jump-start a stretch in which Atlanta had won 34 of 50 games to move 20 games above .500 for the first time this season at 57-37 (Braves led the NL East by seven games!). Meanwhile, the Brewers had gone just 21-27 over that same time frame and at 48-46, were out of the playoffs if they started on Monday.

The Brewers lost 4-2 to the Braves on Monday but then rebounded to win 13-1 and 5-4. Milwaukee had lost EIGHT of 10 games before winning the final two against the Braves to capture the series. The 50-47 Brewers now visit Arizona for a four-game series with the D'backs. Arizona returns home off a two-game sweep of the Rangers in Texas, beating 12-game winner Lance Lynn 9-2 on Tuesday and then winning 19-4 on Wednesday, tying a franchise record for a nine-inning game with 21 hits. The D'backs have won SIX of eight and at 49-47, are in a virtual three-way tie with StL and Philly, a half-game back of the Brewers for the NL's second wild card spot.

Zach Davies (7-2, 2.89 ERA) takes the mound for Milwaukee, opposed by Arizona rookie, Merrill Kelly (7-9, 3.93 ERA). The 26-year-old Davies opened 2019 at 7-0 (2.41 ERA) through 13 starts (Brewers were 9-4), but then suffered a 5-3 loss at San Francisco on June 14. That outing began a three-start stretch in which he went 0-2 (team was 0-3), allowing 12 ERs on 21 hits over just 11.2 innings (9.26 ERA). However, Davies turned in another strong outing last Saturday but received his THIRD straight no-decision, despite allowing one unearned run on two hits over six innings against San Francisco. Yes, he's not earned a win in his last three outings but the Brewers are 3-0. No kidding! He owns an 0.55 ERA with just one ER and one extra-base hit allowed over his last three starts covering 16.1 innings. In contrast, Kelly (a 30-year-old rookie) lost his THIRD straight decision last Saturday, giving up four runs (just one earned) with five strikeouts over five innings against St Louis. Kelly's gone FIVE starts without a win (team is 1-4), last earning a victory back on June 12.

Tough spot here for Arizona, which comes off a 19-run, 21-hit effort. Davies is "at the top of his game" and rookie Kelly is in the WRONG place at the WRONG time to pick up a win for the first time FIVE weeks!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Arz D'backs at 8:05 ET.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers conclude their two-game interleague series tonight, after the D'backs beat the Rangers (and 12-game winner Lance Lynn) 9-2 on Tuesday. Last night's victory gives Arizona FIVE wins in its last seven games and at 48-47. The D'backs are just one game out in the race for the NL's second wild card spot but it's a crowded field (only the Marlins are more than 5 1/2 games out of the NL's second wild card spot!). Texas has now lost NINE of its last 13 contests and at 50-45, has fallen FOUR games back of the AL's second wild card spot.

Tonight's starting pitchers are Robbie Ray (7-6, 3.81 ERA) of Arizona and Jesse Chavez (3-4, 3.84 ERA) of Texas. Ray went 15-5 (2.89 ERA) in 2017, as Arizona went 20-8 in his starts (moneyline mark of +$1,166 was 3rd-best among all starters). However, he took the mound on July 6 with an 0-3, 6.05 ERA record over his previous four starts (D'backs were 0-4). He takes teh mound tonight, having won back-to-back starts (each by a 4-2 score), allowing just two ERs on four hits with 16 Ks in 12.1 innings (1.46 ERA). Chavez was mostly used as a reliever before late June but has started in his last four outings, throwing at least five innings each time. However, he owns a 5.16 ERA in four outings since rejoining the starting rotation. and needs to bounce back after giving up seven runs (six earned) over 5.1 innings against Houston last Friday (Rangers did win, 9-8).

The Diamondbacks "right in" the NL wild-card race (see above) and may or may not end up being sellers before the July 31 trade deadline. Several teams are reportedly interested in Ray, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. However, he's with the D'backs here and he'll face a Texas team which after reaching a season-high 10 games above .500, has lost NINE of 13 (not a good sign for a team which was 67-95 in 2018!). Arizona starting pitchers are 5-2 with a 1.90 ERA over their last seven outings and Ray continues that surge here.

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Las Vegas Insider is on the NY Yankees at 7:05 ET.

The Tampa Bay Rays rode three HRs from Travis d'Arnaud on Monday (including a three-run 9th-inning blast) to a 5-4 win. The Rays were poised to win their fourth consecutive contest against the New York Yankees last night (led 3-2 into the bottom of the 8th) but Aaron Judge ignited a SIX-run uprising to even the four-game series at one win apiece. Judge belted a go-ahead two-run HR and Didi Gregorius added a grand slam as the Yanks won 8-3. Those HRs helped move the first-place Yankees six games ahead of the second-place Rays and gave New York a 10-5 lead in the season series. The Yankees are 19-6 in their last 25 games but before erupting on Tuesday, they had scored only 17 runs in their previous six games. The Rays are 6-2 in their last eight games, as they continue to chase the Yanks in Wednesday's third contest of a four-game series.

Yonny Chirinos (8-4, 3.11 ERA) gets the nod for Tampa Bay and Domingo German (11-2, 3.40 ERA) for New York. For a time, Chirinos was following an "opener" but this marks his 10th straight 'regular' start. He's allowed three ERs or less in SEVEN of his last eight but the Rays are just 2-6 in that span. He notched a win for the first time in over a month on Friday, after allowing two runs on four hits with a career-high eight strikeouts over seven innings of a 16-4 romp at Baltimore (last previous win was back on June 7). German was 9-1 with a 2.60 ERA through May 21 but in a three-start stretch from May 26 through June 7, was 0-1 (team was 1-2), allowing 14 ERs over just 14.1 innings for an 8.59 ERA. A strained left hip flexor had sidelined him since June 8 but he returned on July 3. He's pitched six innings in his two outings since that return, allowing just one ER for an 0.50 ERA, as well as owning a 13-0 KW ratio (he's 2-0).

German is attempting to join Texas' Lance Lynn as the majors' second 12-game winner and I expect him to do just that. The Yankees are 34-16 at home (outscoring opponents on average, 5.16-to-3.70 RPG), including going 15-3 (83%) in home night games vs right-handers!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Atl Braves at 2:10 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers welcomed the Atlanta Braves to Miller Park for a three-game series beginning Monday night. The series is a rematch of a three-game set played in Atlanta from May 17-19. The Brewers were 27-19. when that series started and the Braves were 23-12. However, as the teams got set to meet again in mid-July (this time at Milwaukee), they were headed in opposite directions. The Braves took TWO of three at home in May and used that series victory to jump-start a stretch in which Atlanta had won 34 of 50 games to move 20 games above .500 for the first time this season at 57-37 (Braves led the NL East by seven games!). Meanwhile, the Brewers had gone just 21-27 over that same time frame and at 48-46, would be out of the playoffs if they started Monday. T The Milwaukee Brewers host the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday in the final

The Braves won 4-2 Monday night, before the Brewers rebounded with a 13-1 blowout win last night. Milwaukee won for the just the THIRD time in its last 11 games, as the Brewers remained 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and a half-game back of the second wild card spot. Atlanta lost for the first time in five games on its current six-game road trip, as its lead in the NL East is now 6 1/2 games over Washington and 8 1/2 games over Philadelphia. The teams meet this afternoon in the rubber match of the three-game series, in which will be the final meeting between Atl and Mil this season. Dallas Keuchel (3-2, 3.09 ERA) takes the mound for Atlanta and Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.27 ERA) for Milwaukee.

Keuchel has made five starts since signing with Atlanta. He allowed three ERs over five and 5.1 innings in each of his first two (went 1-1) but appears in mid-season form through three July starts He is 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in that span, holding opponents to a .205 batting average and .553 OPS. Chase Anderson will make his 19th appearance and 14th start of the season for the Brewers. He is 3-2 with a 4.23 ERA since joining the rotation in late April (team is 6-7 in his previous 13 starts, losing each of the last three).

Atlanta had averaged 5.2 runs on 8.7 hits in the previous 15 games but finished with just five hits on Tuesday. Atlanta’s bullpen entered the middle contest of the three-game series owning a 2.81 ERA since May 22 but gave up NINE runs in four innings Tuesday. It's fair to say Tuesday's game was a "one-off." Atlanta is 30-19 in road games this season, having gone 22-9 away from home since May 9. What's more, the Braves are looking to win their 10th series in their last 11, having gone 9-0-1 in their last 10 series. The Braves have not lost a series since dropping two of three at Pittsburgh from June 4-6. (note: Atlanta is 20-7-3 in series this season). In STARK contrast, the Brewers are 3-9-4 in their last 16 series, with all THREE wins coming against Pittsburgh. Milwaukee's last series win over a team other than the Pirates came May 13-16 when the Brewers won three of four at Philadelphia. No reason to NOT to play the Braves here, especially with Keuchel matched up against Anderson.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Col Rockies at 8:40 ET.

The San Francisco Giants have spent most of the season in the NL West cellar but Monday's 19-2 and 2-1 victories at Colorado give the Giants 10 wins in their last 12 games. Yes, the 45-49 Giants are still in last place in the NL West but their recent surge has them just TWO games back of the Arizona D'backs in the division, while also climbing back into the NL wild card race (10 teams are within 5 1/2 games of each other with two wild card spots available). The twin-bill loss by the Rockies dropped Colorado to 46-48 on the season, as the team has now lost nine of 11.

The two NL West rivals play the third contest of this four-game series on Tuesday, as Drew Pomeranz (2-9, 6.42 ERA) of the Giants will square off against Peter Lambert (2-1, 6.67 ERA) of the Rockies. Pomeranz is having an AWFUL season with just TWO wins in 16 starts (team is 6-10). He has worked more than five innings in just ONE of those 16 starts and along with his 'ugly' ERA (see above), he owns a 1.77 WHIP and .305 BAA. Lambert won his first two major league starts (he gave up just two ERs on seven hits over 12 innings for a 1.50 ERA), but he's winless in his last four outings (0-1 / team is 0-4). Lambert has surrendered 20 ERs on 30 hits over 17.2 innings in his last four starts (10.19 ERA). Lambert has also served up nine HRs in 29.2 innings, including SIX in his last two starts.

Finding a good reason to back either starter is near-impossible but I will make a case to back the Rockies here. Colorado is coming off a doubleheader loss in which the Rockies managed just THREE runs on 11 hits over 18 innings. This from a team that even after yesterday's awful effort, checks in averaging 6.67 RPG at Coors Field. Colorado almost HAS to bounce back against Pomeranz, who owns a 9.76 ERA and 1.99 WHIP in his 2019 road starts. I can't really count on Lambert but despite the Giants' recent surge, the team enters this contest with a BA of .234 (ranked 29th), while averaging only 4.38 RPG (24th).

Good luck...Larry

My 7* Late-Breaker is on the Min Twins at 8:10 ET.

The Minnesota Twins had lost six of 10 before the break but picked up a big series win out of the All-Star break. The Twins won the first two games in Cleveland on Friday (5-3) and Saturday (6-2) but while they couldn't complete three three-game sweep (lost 4-3), the series win was a confidence-builder. The Twins are now back in Minnesota and open a nine-game homestand at Target Field, beginning with the a two-game IL series with the New York Mets on Tuesday. The Twins saw their lead over Cleveland in the American League Central cut in half over a roughly three-week span but came out of the break by taking two of three from the Indians to restore a 6 1/2-game advantage. The Mets also won two of three in their first series following the break (won the rubber match at Miami on Sunday by a 6-2 margin) but New York is just 42-51, 15 games back of Atlanta in the NL East. Yes, the Mets are just 5 1/2 games back of the second wild card spot but 10 teams are ahead of them in a battle for those two wild card spots!

Taking the mound tonight will be New York's Steven Matz (5-6, 4.89 ERA) and Minnesota's Michael Pineda (6-4, 4.56 ERA). Zack Wheeler was scheduled to start the opener but was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday afternoon due to right shoulder fatigue. Matz was sent to the bullpen after his last start (June 29) but this is his 17th start of 2019. Of concern has to be that in his previous four starts, the lefty allowed 17 ERs over just 17.1 innings (8.83 ERA), going 0-2 with the Mets losing ALL four games. Matz has never faced the Twins in his five major league seasons,

Pineda was limited to 17 starts with the Yankees last season, finishing 8-4 with a 4.39 ERA. He's made 17 starts already for Minnesota in 2019 and a quick glance shows that he's 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA. However, let's look closer. He opened 2-0 in his first three starts (Twins went 3-0) but then had a five-start stretch (from April 18-May 11) in which he went 0-3 (team was 0-5), posting a 7:06 ERA. However, since mid-May, Pineda has made nine starts, going 4-1 (Twins are 7-2). He comes into this contest having allowed exactly ONE run in FOUR of his last five starts. He is also 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

Pineda will take the mound for a team leading all MLB clubs in scoring (5.68 RPG), OPS (.830) and HRs (171), while ranking second in team BA (.271). Meanwhile, Matz will have to face that lineup, backed by a team which is a woeful 19-32 on the road in 2019. The Mets started their current nine-game road trip by winning two of three at Miami, which snapped a streak of 13 consecutive winless road series (0-10-3) that dated back to an April 1-3 sweep of the Marlins (note: Marlins own MLB's worst record). Twins win in a romp.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Chi White Sox at 8:15 ET.

The Chicago White Sox returned from the All-Star break and got swept over the weekend in Oakland by the A's. Chicago was outscored 18-3 Friday and Saturday and then coughed up a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday, eventually losing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error. The 42-47 White Sox continue their 10-game road trip with a four-game series in Kansas City against the Royals, beginning on Monday. Chicago has fallen 8 1/2 games back of the second wild card spot but hope to 'make hay' in Kansas City, which took two of three at home vs the Tigers over the weekend. However, the Royals are just 32-62 on the season (MLB's third-worst record) and own MLB's worst moneyline mark (minus-$$1,948).

Taking the mound in tonight's series opener will be Lucas Giolito (11-3, 3.15 ERA) of Chicago and Jakob Junis (4-8, 5.33 ERA) of Kansas City. Giolito became a regular in Chicago's starting rotation in 2018 but was just 10-13 with an 'ugly' 6.13 ERA in 32 starts (team was 14-18). However, what a difference a year makes! Giolito tossed a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Cleveland, after entering the break on a sour note by giving up a season high-tying six runs in four innings of a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 6. Guiolito posted a spectacular 0.94 ERA during his eight-start winning streak (from May 7 through June 14) but that streak came to halt at Wrigley on June 19 in a 7-3 loss. That contest began a streak in which Giolito failed to get through six innings in four straight starts (he's 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA and the team is 1-3 in that stretch).

Junis is in his third season and Year No. 3 is NOT going well. He is win-less over his last seven starts, posting an 0-3 record with a 5.31 ERA (team is 2-5). Can he turn it around? His last win came back on May 30 and he'll take the mound with KC having lost his last four outings, posting a 5.32 ERA. Getting back to Giolito, he's DOMINATED the Royals in four starts this season, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA (34 Ks in 25 innings). In his young career, he's 6-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 starts vs KC (White Sox are 8-2). Chicago just may 'enjoy' its four-day stay in KC but that's getting ahead of myself. Monday, it's Giolito and the White Sox over Junis and the Royals.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Atl Braves at 8:10 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers welcome the Atlanta Braves to Miller Park for a three-game series beginning Monday night. The series is a rematch of a three-game set played in Atlanta from May 17-19. The Brewers were 27-19. when that series started and the Braves were 23-12. However, as the teams get set to meet again in mid-July (this time at Milwaukee), they are headed in opposite directions. The Braves took TWO of three at home in May and used that series victory to jump-start a stretch in which Atlanta has won 34 of 50 games to move 20 games above .500 for the first time this season at 57-37 (Braves lead the NL East by seven games!). Meanwhile, the Brewers have gone just 21-27 over that same time frame and at 48-46, would be out of the playoffs if they started today. The Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Padres in San Diego with Sunday's 4-1 win. As for the Brewers, they lost TWO of three at home to the Giants over the weeknd, as their bullpen allowed 16 ERs on 19 hits over 12 innings (12.00 ERA), featuring a blown save by Josh Hader on Friday and a six-run seventh on Sunday.

Starters for Monday's series opener will be Atlanta's Max Fried (9-4, 4.29 ERA) and Milwaukee's Adrian Houser (2-3, 4.01 ERA). Fried opened the season with two relief appearances but has since made 18 consecutive starts. He went 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA over his first 10 starts of this season (team was 7-3 through May 22) but he has since gone 2-2 with a 6.17 ERA over his last eight starts (note: Braves are 5-3 in that stretch). Fried has made just two career starts against the Brewers (1-1 with a 4.00 ERA) but he made one of his better starts of the season against Milwaukee back on May 17, striking out five and giving up just two hits in six shutout innings of a 12-8 victory.

Houser has made just five starts in 2019 but this marks his FOURTH consecutive turn in the rotation. It's hard to be optimistic about his prospects as he gets set to make his sixth start of 2019, considering he owns an 0-3 record, an 8.47 ERA and a 2.18 WHIP in his previous five starts. Houser has just one career appearance against Atlanta and that came last season, when he allowed three hits over 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

The Brewers have just over two weeks to acquire help for their beleaguered bullpen, as they begin a stretch in which they face teams with a winning record in 16 of their next 19 contests. Hard to imagine Milwaukee having much confidence, as the Brewers enter tonight's gamer having lost 17 of their last 26 games. Meanwhile, the Braves are 27-10 since June 1. Atlanta is averaging 5.02 RPG in going 29-18 on the road (that's the NL's best road record), while the Brewers are allowing 5.06 RPG at home and as noted, have a bullpen that 'IMPLODED' over the weekend.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Pitch Perfect Play is on the Col Rockies at 3:10 ET.

Rookie Philip Ervin went 6-for-6 with three RBI while Yasiel Puig was 4-for-6 with a HR and four RBI in Cincy's 17-9 victory at Colorado. The Reds had lost 3-2 on Friday night but snapped a three-game losing streak by collecting a season-high 24 hits, as well as scoring a season high in runs. Colorado lost for the SEVENTH time in eight games, as five relievers combined to allow 12 runs on 15 hits over five innings. The 42-47 Reds and 45-46 Rockies are part of SEVEN teams chasing the NL's second wild card spot (all are withing four games). However, while the Rockies are a whopping 14 1/2 games back in their division (NL West), the Reds may be in last place in the NL Central but they are just 5 1/2 games back of the first-place Cubs.

Starters for the rubber match of this three-game set will be Cincy's Tyler Mahle (2-9, 4.47 ERA) and Colorado's Antonio Senzatela (7-6, 5.32 ERA). Neither pitcher deserves much respect but I will note that while Senzatela allowed seven runs over 4.1 innings against Arizona on July 5 (last start before the break), he was 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA over his previous seven starts (Rockies were 5-2).

As for Mahle, a seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft, he lost his FOURTH straight decision on July 7, 11-1 against Cleveland. He is 2-2 with a 3.62 ERA in seven home starts in 2019 (Reds are 4-3 ) but he's a MIND-NUMBING 0-7 with a 5.04 ERA in 10 starts away from Great American Ball Park, with the Reds going 0-10! Will that streak eventually end? Sure but NOT HERE. The Reds have ranked near the bottom of the National League in several offensive categories for almost all of the season but last night, scored 17 runs on 24 hits. NO deja vu in this one. Expect the Reds to lose for the 11th straight time in a Mahle road start!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the Cle Indians at 1:10 ET.

The Cleveland Indians entered the All-Star break on a roll, having won SIX in a row. The Indians returned from the break and knew they had a 10-game homestand upcoming. SEVEN of those games were against the Tigers and Royals, two of the three worst teams in the AL. However, up first, Cleveland had a three-game series with the AL Central-leading Twins. Minnesota had lost six of 10 before the break and with Cleveland ending the first half on a 16-5 run, the Indians were just 5 1/2 games back of the Twins. Cleveland was primed to "make a move" this weekend but instead, the Indians rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to key a 5-3 victory on Friday. The Twins then followed with a 6-2 win last night, keyed by three HRs (note: Minnesota has now hit 171 HRs, five more than last season's total!). The Twins have pushed their lead in the division to 7 1/2 games over the Indians and Sunday will go for a sweep.

Taking the mound will be Minnesota's Jose Berrios (8-5, 3.00 ERA) and Cleveland's Shane Bieber (8-3, 3.45 ERA). Berrios has been stuck on eight wins since June 6. He's win-less in his last five outings (team is 1-4), although he has postied quality starts in four those outings, allowing a modest 10 ERs over 34 innings (2.65 ERA). More good news here for the Twins is that Berrios is 5-2 with a 3.71 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in nine career starts against the Indians (team is 6-3), after winning both of his encounters this season.

Bieber steps to the mound off his All-Star Game Most Valuable Player performance. Bieber was outstanding in his last two starts before the break, permitting just two runs on seven hits with 19 strikeouts and zero walks over 16 total innings. Bieber's had two 'hiccups' over his last eight starts, allowing seven ERs over 4.1 innings at Arizona on July 5 and six ERs in four innings vs the Cubs on June 12, but the Indians have won FIVE of his other six starts in that stretch, with Bieber posting a 2.25 ERA.

Bieber "has the goods," as evidenced by his 141 strikeouts to go along with just 23 walks across 112.1 innings on the season, not to mention a .214 BAA and a 1.01 WHIP. The Indians CAN'T afford to get swept here and Bieber is just the guy they want on the mound (team has won NINE of his last 13 starts). NO sweep on Sunday!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Mil Brewers at 7:15 ET.

The Milwaukee Brewers 'limped' into the All-Star break on an 8-15 slide and opened the second half of the season with a difficult loss on Friday night. The Brewers lost their series opener to the Giants when Buster Posey delivered a tie-breaking grand slam in the top of the 10th inning. The 10-7 defeat, coupled with the Cubs' 4-3 win over the Pirates, dropped 47-45 Milwaukee 1 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago (48-43) in the NL Central. The Giants hit a season-high five HRs and while the win (the team's seventh in its last eight) allowed them to get within 4 1/2 games of a wild-card spot in the NL, there are EIGHT teams ahead of them in that battle for just TWO spots (note: Giants are 16 1/2 games back in the Dodgers in the NL West).

Taking the mound Saturday will be Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.03 ERA) of the Giants and Zach Davies (7-2, 3.07 ERA) of the Brewers. Bumgarner is a four-time All star and more notably, a three-time World Series champ (who will ever forget his 2014 performance against the Royals!). Bumgarner has not had a strong season but after the Giants won just ONE of his first six starts, they've won NINE of his last 13. Bumgarner is coming off an aborted outing in which he had to leave his start against St Louis last Saturday in the third inning after having been hit by a line drive near his left elbow earlier in the game.The veteran lefty had allowed just three runs and seven hits while registering 20 strikeouts over 13 innings in his previous two starts, winning both of them. He is 7-4 with a very good 2.76 ERA against Milwaukee during his career (13 starts / team is 9-4).

The 26-year-old Davies opened 2019 at 7-0 (2.41 ERA) through 13 starts (Brewers were 9-4), but then suffered a 5-3 loss at San Francisco on June 14. That outing began a three-start stretch in which he went 0-2 (team was 0-3), allowing 12 ERs on 21 hits over just 11.2 innings (9.26 ERA). However, he has bounced back with two consecutive solid outings, giving up a total of just one ER over 10.1 innings (0.87 ERA). He settled for no-decisions in both of those starts but Milwaukee won each game.

Yes, Davies has yet to beat San Francisco in three starts (he's 0-2 and the team 1-2), but he owns a 2.81 ERA in those three career starts vs the Giants. It's true that the Giants have scored 63 runs during their 7-1 spurt (7.88 RPG) but one CAN'T ignore that even after that hot stretch, the Giants still own MLB's lowest team BA (.230). In other major offensive categories the Giants rank 28th in OPS (.685) plus 27th in both scoring (4.21 RPG) and HRs (93). Davies gets that first "W" against the Gianst and it comes with "room to spare."

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the StL Cards at 7:15 ET.

Trade rumors have surrounded more than a few key members of the Arizona Diamondbacks but while the D'backs are NOT in contention in the NL West (Dodgers are games up on Arizona), but the team is "right in the middle" of a tightly-bunched NL wild card race. Arizona posted a 4-2 victory Friday night at St Louis for its fourth consecutive win. The Diamondbacks improved to an NL-best 27-23 on the road and at 47-45 overall, Arizona pulled within one-half game of the second wild-card spot (note: 10 teams are within 4 1/2 games of each other in a battle for two spots!). As for the Cards, they fell two games back in that cluttered wild card race, while dropping their FOURTH straight contest at home.

Merrill Kelly (7-8, 4.03 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona on Saturday, opposed by St Louis' Dakota Hudson (7-4, 3.51 ERA). Kelly looked good against the Dodgers on July 3rdallowing three ERs in six innings, although Arizona lost, 5-4 (he took a no-decision). It was his FIFTH quality start in his last seven outings, although the team is a modest 4-3 in that stretch. Kelly will be facing the Cardinals for the first time but has been better at home (3.04 ERA / 1.09 WHIP) than on the road (4.94 ERA / 1.41 WHIP).

Hudson was the 34th overall pick in the 2016 draft and debuted in the major leagues last summer (4-1, 2.63 ERA in 27.1 IP) but has really come into his own in 2019. "Dakota has been our most consistent starter," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. "He uses a proven recipe ... sinker, slider, keep the ball down, control counts, get grounders and work efficiently. He's been a competitor since his first day in the organization." Hudson took the mound on June 29 having gone 4-0 with a 2.22 ERA over his previous seven starts, with the Cards having won ALL seven of those starts. However, his four-game winning streak and run of eight consecutive quality starts 'hit a brick wall' in San Diego, as he was pounded for seven runs on five hits (two HRs) and a walk over just 1.2 innings (Cards lost 12-3). However, Hudson picked up the win in his final start before the break after giving up three runs in five innings at San Francisco on July 5 in a 9-4 win.Like Kelly, this will be Hudson's first appearance against Saturday's opponent.

I noted Hudson's June 29th effort at San Diego but will add here that while he allowed SEVEN runs in that outing, just ONE was earned! That means the rookie has allowed three ERs or less in 16 of his 17 starts in 2019, including 14 in a row! I'm NOT 'standing in front of that train' with a rookie who owns a 4.94 ERA and 1.41 WHIP on the road.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (AL Central) is on the Cle Indians at 7:10 ET.

The Minnesota Twins rallied with three runs in the seventh inning which keyed a 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians, who saw their SIX-game winning streak snapped. Minnesota had lost six of 10 before the break but the win increased its lead in the NL Central to 6 1/2 games over Cleveland. The Indians' bullpen imploded (four runs allowed in four innings) but Cleveland has still won 11 of 15 since losing back-to-back 13-0 contests with the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles June 28th and 29th..

The second of the three-game series goes tonight, as Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi (10-4, 3.15 ERA) takes the mound against Cleveland's Trevor Bauer (8-6, 3.61 ERA). Odorizzi will come off the injured list to make the start on Saturday (he missed a chance to pitch in his first All-Star Game due to a blister on his right middle finger), looking to end a poor four-start stretch. Odorizzi was 9-2 with a 1.92 ERA through June 9 (team was 10-3 in his starts) but he's since gone 1-2 (team is 2-2), allowing 16 ERs over just 18.1 innings for a 7.85 ERA.

Bauer's had an inconsistent season but takes the mound unbeaten in his last SIX starts, with the Indians winning ALL six of those starts! He's TWICE allowed five ERs in that stretch but in the other four, he's allowed juts four ERs over 29.2 innings for a 1.21 ERA. Doing the math, Bauer is 4-0 with a 2.90 ERA in his last six starts (Cleveland is 6-0!). Yes, Bauer is an unimpressive 6-8 with a 4.35 ERA in 20 career starts against Minnesota (team is 9-11) but that pales in comparison to Odorizzi going 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 starts against Cleveland (teams are 2-8!). With Odorizzi struggling coming in (plus who knows about that blister?) and Bauer in "fine form" (see above), I'm "all over" the Indians.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Atl Braves at 10:10 ET.

The Atlanta Braves entered the 2018 season off FOUR consecutive losing seasons, having averaged just 69 wins the previous three years. However, Atlanta would surprise all by going 90-72 last season to win the NL East. The Braves open the second half of 2019 with a 54-37 record, after winning 24 of 34 games since June 1. Atlanta owns a SIX-game lead in the NL East and is 5 1/2 games behind the LA Dodgers in the race for the NL's best record. The Braves kick off the second half on a six-game road trip, beginning with three games in San Diego this weekend with the Padres.

San Diego hasn't had a winning season since 2010 but the Padres ended the first half with three straight wins in LA against the Dodgers (owners of MLB's best record), a surge that boosted San Diego back to .500 at 45-45. The Padres will NOT threaten the 60-32 Dodgers in the NL West (SD trails by 13 1/2 games) but there is legitimate "wild-card talk" in San Diego, as the Padres are among EIGHT teams are within three games of each other for the two wild card spots

Dallas Keuchel (2-2, 3.60 ERA) will take the mound for Atlanta on Friday night, opposed by San Diego's Dinelson Lamet (0-1, 5.40 ERA). Keuchel makes his fifth start since signing with Atlanta last month and in his last two starts has allowed only four runs on 10 hits with three walks in 14.1 innings (2.51 ERA). The 31-year-old Keuchel signed with the Braves for $13 million in June and says, "I feel like I'm in mid-season form. It took a few starts to build up. I knew it would take a few, but I think I'm there. Mentally, at first it was just trying to get locked in."

Lamet, who turns 27 next week, went 7-8 with a 4.57 ERA in 21 starts in 2017 (team was 9-12), averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He then missed all of 2018 after injuring his elbow late in spring training and undergoing Tommy John surgery. Lamet made his first start in the majors since 2017 on July 4, after giving up 16 runs on 21 hits with 33 strikeouts in 24 innings across six minor-league rehab starts. He was throwing in the 96-99 mph range on July 4 at Dodger Stadium, where he gave up three ERs on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings (Padres lost 5-1)..

Keuchel was a great signing for Atlanta and the lefty will face a San Diego lineup which has averaged just 3.7 RPG in 15 games in 2019 vs left-handers and is a less-than-impressive 23-24 at home, averaging a poor 3.87 RPG. Lamet's arm looks fine but note that his last win came way back on 8/15/17. The Padres lost his final SEVEN starts of 2017 and then lost in his return to the majors on July 4th (see above). Why not a NINTH straight loss, here? No reason!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* World Series Rematch is on the Bos Red Sox at 7:10 ET.

The second half of the regular season begins with a World Series rematch, as the defending champion Boston Red Sox host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in the opener of a three-game interleague series. Boston won a major league-high 108 games last year and then breezed through the postseason, capped by a five-game win in the World Series over the Dodgers. However, the 49-41 Red Sox have struggled to find any consistency in 2019 and open the second half NINE games back of the Yankees in the AL East plus two games out of the second AL wild card spot. Meanwhile, the 60-32 Dodgers own MLB's best overall record and return from the break as owners of a 13 1/2 game lead in the NL West, a division they have won each of the last SIX years.

Taking the mound for Friday's opener will be Kenta Maeda (7-5, 3.76 ERA) of the Dodgers and Eduardo Rodriguez (9-4, 4.65 ERA) of the Red Sox. Los Angeles starters Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler all made the All Star team but note that Maeda has enjoyed a solid first half and takes the mound at Fenway, having allowed three ERs or less in NINE of his last 10 starts. Rodriguez, like his team, has struggled to find any consistency in 2019, as he's allowed two or fewer runs NINE times but has also allowed four or more runs in his other NINE starts.

However, there is ONE thing consistent about Rodriguez. When he starts, the Red Sox usually win. Boston was 19-4 in his 23 starts in 2018, going plus-$1,387 against the moneyline (MLB's 6th-best mark). Has he been inconsistent in 2019? Yes, as I note above. However, the Red Sox are 13-5 in his 18 starts, going plus-$743 against the moneyline (again, MLB's 6th-best mark). Getting back to Maeda, he hasn't earned a win since May 31 against the Phillies. He'll take the mound tonight 0-3 over his last six starts, with the Dodgers going 2-4. Looking even closer, Maeda owns a 2.26 ERA and 0.81 WHIP at Dodgers Stadium but a 5.52 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Do not expect Fenway to be kind to him!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Pitch Perfect Play is on the Was Nats at 6:05 ET.

The Washington Nationals were just 19-31 in games played through May 23 but the Nats entered the All-Star break on a 28-11 run, claiming the No. 1 wild card spot in the NL at 47-42. The Philadelphia Phillies were 11 games over through 55 games but dropped 11 of 13 contests from June 9-23. However, they did win EIGHT of their final 13 games entering the break and sit just a half-game back of the Nats as owners of the NL's No. 2 wild card spot. Washington comes out of the break to open a nine-game road trip with a three-game series at Philadelphia.

Stephen Strasburg (10-4, 3.64 ERA) will take the mound for Washington on Friday, opposed by Philly's Nick Pivetta (4-3, 5.84 ERA). Strasburg enters this contest 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA over his last eight starts (Nats were 7-1) and won his THIRD straight start in on July 3, scattering two hits and striking out 14 batters over 7.1 scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory vs Miami. Pivetta has been inconsistent for most of 2019. He fell to 0-2 with a 7.33 ERA in his last four starts on July 3 (Phils are 0-4), after allowing six runs in 5.2 innings of a 9-2 loss at Atlanta.

I'm sold on Washington's recent resurgence, which has seen its starting rotation allow one run or less in nine of its last 12 games, while the offense owns a franchise-record streak of 21 consecutive contests with a HR. "Closing the deal" is the following. Starsburg owns a sparkling 12-2 record with a 2.72 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 25 career starts vs Philadelphia (Nats are 20-5). In STARK contrast, Pivetta is 0-6 with an 11.15 ERA in eight career starts vs the Nats (teams are 0-8!!!!). He is 0-2 with a 13.00 ERA and 2.22 WHIP in two starts this season against Washington and has allowed 13 HRs in 31.2 career innings against the Nationals. P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

Good luck...Larry

My 7* PERFECT STORM is on the LA Dodgers at 4:10 ET.

Hunter Renfroe homered for the second straight game and Manuel Margot added a two-run shot in Saturday’s 3-1 victory, as the Padres beat the Dodgers for the second straight time. The Padres won 3-2 the night before and enter the final game before the break at 44-45. Yes, San Diego sits a WHOPPING 15 games behind the first-place Dodgers in the NL West but the Padres are in the thick of the NL wild card race, just 2 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot (note: FOUR teams sit between SD and that 2nd spot!). The 60-31 Dodgers are almost assuredly headed for their SEVENTH straight NL West title, as they own MLB's best record and the largest lead (14 1/2 games) of any division leader.

The Padres have a chance to win this four-game series on Sunday with a victory (Padres had lost FIVE in a row prior to their Fri and Sat wins!), while the Dodgers look for a split, after losing back-to-back home games for the first time since April 12-13. Joey Lucchesi (6-4, 3.91 ERA) takes the mound for San Diego and Ross Stripling (3-2, 3.45 ERA) for the Dodgers. Lucchesi pitched well last Sunday at home against the Cards. He allowed just two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over 5.1 innings, getting a no-decision as the Cards won 5-3 in 11 innings. Pitching well at Petco hasn't been a problem, as he owns a 2.76 ERA in 10 home starts. However, his road ERA over six starts is 6.10. More bad news looms in that he's 0-3 with a 7.64 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers (team is 0-4!).

Stripling has been used as a starter (eight times) and reliever (14) in 2019, He was moved from the bullpen into the staring rotation in place of Rich Hill (left forearm strain) and has allowed a total of six runs (five earned) over his last two starts covering 7.2 innings. His innings figure to be limited here, as he posted a 1.86 ERA in six games (one start) in June but that was over a modest 9.2 innings. He is 4-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 13 career games (five starts / team is 2-3 and he owns a 2.55 ERA) vs San Diego.

Asking the Padres to win here is a stretch, as the Padres are seeking their first series win at Dodger Stadium since April 29-May 1, 2016. I noted above that LA comes off back-to-back home losses for the first time since April 12-13 and will add that LA is 37-10 at home, outscoring opponnents on average, 5.51-to-3.26 RPG. Should we really expect Lucchesi, with a 6.10 road ERA in 2019 and 7.64 ERA vs the Dodgers in four career starts to get the job done? I sure don't. Note that Stripling owns a 2.70 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and .232 BAA in eight home appearances (four starts). LA has won THREE of those four starts and in that lone loss, Stripling pitched 5.1 scoreless innings.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the SF Giants at 4:05 ET.

The San Francisco Giants have spent most of the season in the NL West cellar but entered this weekend series against the Cardinals riding a season high-tying four-game winning streak. It abruptly came to an end on Friday, as the Cards won 9-4. However,the Giants rebounded for an 8-4 victory on Saturday, the team's SIXTH win in its last eight games. Some good news is the Giants own a promising outfield duo oinAlex Dickerson and Austin Slater. Dickerson had an RBI double and Slater delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in Saturday’s victory, while Pablo Sandoval homered and drove in three runs. St Louis fell to 4-4 on its nine-game road trip and sits 44-43 in MLB's 'tightest' division. The first-place Cubs are two games better than the Cards but are only 4 1/2 games up on the last-place Reds in the NL Central.

The starting pitchers for the rubber match of this three-game series are Jack Flaherty (4-5, 4.90 ERA) and Jeff Samardzija (5-7, 4.32). Flaherty was a first-round draft pick of the Cardinals in 2014 but enters this game 0-2 with a 7.12 ERA and 11 HRs allowed over 30.1 innings over his last six starts (team is 2-4). Flaherty has made two starts vs San Francisco (0-0 / team is 1-1) but owns an 11.37 ERA! The 34-year-old Samardzija is a career underachiever and he's having another so-so year. He posted a 5.93 ERA in five June starts but opened July by becoming the first Giants pitcher to complete eight innings this season, allowing two runs over eight innings in a 13-2 victory over San Diego this past Monday. Samardzija is 4-5 with a 3.77 ERA in 24 career games (13 starts / teams are 8-5 and he owns a 3.57 ERA) vs St Louis.

While I'm no fan of Samardzija, I went against the Cards last night. Mikolas had pitched well at home (2.48 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in nine starts) but in eight road starts those numbers ballooned to 7.23 and 1.69! It's deja vu all over again, here. Flaherty owns a 3.48 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in nine home starts but a 6.81 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in eight road starts. Yes, the Giants own MLB's lowest team BA (.231), as well as ranking 28th in scoring (4.18 per), OPS (.684) and HRs (87), but they scored 40 runs in their four-game winning streak entering this series and have scored 12 runs in splitting the first two of thi series. Doing the math, the Giants have collected 52 runs (8.67 per) and 71 hits over their last six games and face a pitcher with a 6.81 road ERA and 1.75 road whip, who in two starts against San Francisco, owns an 11.37 ERA. Look out below.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Phi Phillies at 1:10 ET.

It's been a HUGELY disappointing season for the Phillies. Philadelphia sat a season-high 11 games over .500 on May 29 at 33-22 but the Phillies are only 13-21 since that time. Philly plays at the Mets on Sunday (the day before the All Star break), 6 1/2 games back of the first-place Braves in the NL East and even a half-game back of the Washington Nats. Philly won 7-2 at Citi Field on Friday but lost 6-5 last night, as the Mets ended a six-game losing streak against the Phillies. It was just New York's THIRD win in its last 12 contests, as the Mets find themselves 40-49, 12 1/2 games out in the NL East. The Mets can say that they are just 6 1/2 games back of the second wild card spot but they would also have to acknowledge that there are EIGHT teams in front of them (only the Marlins own a worse record than the Mets in the NL).

Aaron Nola (7-2, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound for Philly and Zack Wheeler (6-5, 4.42 ERA) for the Mets. Nola was Philly's Opening Day starter, coming off a 17-6 (2.37 ERA) season in which the Phils went 22-11 in his starts, giving him MLB's 12th-best moneyline mark of +$983. Nola, like his team, has struggled in 2019 (Phils are 11-7, +$7 in his 18 starts) but he enters this contest off back-to-back scoreless outings (15 IP / 5 hits / 18-4 KW ratio). The first of those two came at home vs the Mets on June 27, when he permitted just one hit and one walk over seven innings of a no-decision that the Philies won 6-3.

Wheeler has pitched well in his last three starts, posting a 1.86 ERA. However, the Mets are just 9-9 in his 2019 starts and his ERA (4.42), WHIP (1.25) and BAA (.250) are nothing to brag about. However, he is 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 career starts vs Philadelphia (mets are 8-5). However, Nola "tops that," going 6-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 career starts vs the Mets (team is 8-3). Also playing heavily in my selection of Philly is that New York's beleaguered bullpen gave up at least one run for the 22nd time in its last 25 games on Saturday, although the Mets did hang on to win. However, the Mets' bullpen ERA of 5.65 in 28th of 30 teams and it had allowed 27 runs on 35 hits over 17.2 innings in its six previous contests against Philadelphia (all losses). Philly wins this one then looks to regroup after the break.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (NL West) is on the Col Rockies at 10:10 ET.

Arizona first baseman Christian Walker had a career-high five RBI and enjoyed his first multi-HR game, as the D'backs beat the Rockies 8-0 on Friday night. The win ended a three-game slide and was just Arizona's SIXTH win in it last17 games (Arizona is 44-45 on the season). The Rockies' major league-worst starters' ERA grew to 5.57, as Antonio Senzatela allowed SEVEN runs in 4.1 innings on Friday, while team's overall ERA (5.21) is the worst in the National League (only Baltimore has a worse team ERA in all of MLB). Colorado has now lost four consecutive games, allowing 31 runs in that span (7.75 per). The Rockies have given up at least eight runs in FIVE of their past seven games, as they have fallen to one game above .500 at 44-43.

The starters for Saturday's contest are Jon Gray (9-5, 3.84 ERA) and Robbie Ray (5-6, 4.10 ERA).Gray won a creer high 12 games in 2018 by owned a 5.12 ERA. He's already won NINE games in 2019 (3.84 ERA) and teh Rockies are 11-6 in his 17 starts. Gray enters this game as Colorado's 'hottest' starter, going 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA over his last eight starts (team is 7-1). In contrast, Arizona's Ray comes in 0-3 with a 6.054 ERA over his last four starts (D'backs are 0-4). Ray went 15-5 (2.89 ERA) in 2017, as Arizona went 20-8 in his starts (moneyline mark of +$1,166 was 3rd-best among all starters). We haven't seen THAT pitcher in either 2018 or 2019.

Both starters own poor records against theri respective opponents, so there is nothing to learn from that. However, there is a clear edge with Gray over Ray and while Arizona did win 8-0 last night, that victory ended an EIGHT-game losing streak against Colorado. I'm "all over" the Rockies in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the SF Giants at 10:05 ET.

St Louis hit three HRs and won its third straight on Friday night (9-4 at San Francisco), improving to 4-3 on its nine-game road trip leading up to the All Star break. The Cardinals have rediscovered their offense during the first week of July, scoring 23 runs in their last four games (5.75 per) and at 44-42, are just one game back of the Cubs and 1 1/2 back of the NL Central-leading Brewers. The 39-48 Giants have spent most of the season in the NL West cellar but had entered this series riding a season high-tying four-game winning streak.

Taking the mound tonight will be Miles Mikolas (5-8, 4.34 ERA) and Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA). Mikolas was a star in 2018, going 24-8 with a 2.83 ERA. The Cards were 24-8 in his 32 starts, with his moneyline mark of +$1,418 being the 4th-best among all starters. However, the team is 9-8 (-$211) in his 2019 starts and he has been just AWFUL on the road. Mikolas has pitched well at home (2.48 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in nine starts) but in eight road starts, those numbers balloon to .723 and 1.69! Bumgarner is a four-time All star and more novably, a three-time World Series champ (who will ever forget his 2014 performance against the Royals!. Bumgarner has not had a strong season but after the Giants won just ONE of his first six starts, they've won EIGHT of his last 12 (5-2 at home in that span). Bumgarner won his second straight start with a stellar outing against Arizona last Sunday, when he allowed one run with nine strikeouts over seven innings. He has recorded a total of 20 strikeouts over his last two starts covering 13 innings, winning 10-4 and 4-2 (2.08 ERA).

No way I'm backing Mikolas with his road record and while Bumgarner is not the Bumgarner of years past, he has been solid since May 1 (8-4 in team starts). Giants get the ca$h!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Daytime Dominator is on the TB Rays at 4:10 ET.

The New York Yankees have opened their four-game series with the Rays by winning a pair of extra-inning contests. Gary Sanchez's three-run HR highlighted a five-run 10th inning in Thursday's series opener (Yanks won 8-4) and then Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner each homered in the 11th inning on Friday night, as the Yanks again won 8-4! The Yankees have won 16 of their last 18, including going 7-0 against Tampa Bay and Boston in that span. New York now leads the Rays by 8 1/2 games in the AL East, while their leading over the defending champion Red Sox has grown to 11 games. As for the Rays, after winning four in a row from June 29 through July 2, they have dropped their last three games. After surrendering 10 runs during the team's four-game winning streak, Tampa Bay has allowed runs in its three-game skid.

CC Sabathia (5-4, 4.04 ERA) takes the mound for New York on Saturday afternoon and he will be opposed by Tampa's Blake Snell (5-7, 4.87 ERA). Sabathia is coming off back-to-back quality starts for the first time this season and struck out a season-high nine while allowing just two runs on six hits over six innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his last outing on June 24 (Yanks won 10-8). Sabathia last saw Tampa Bay on June 19, when he allowed just one run on three hits over six innings of a 12-1 win. Sabathia is well-familiar with the Rays, going 18-16 with a 3.59 ERA in 51 career starts against them (teams are 28-23).

Snell won last year's Cy Young in the AL but his 2019 has been a HUGE disappointment. He failed to make it through four innings in any of his three outings from June 14-25, allowing 16 ERs while lasting a total of just SEVEN innings in that three-start stretch (20.57 ERA). However, he broke out of a that deep slump by striking out 12 and holding the Texas Rangers to two runs on three hits over six innings this past Sunday in a 6-2 win. The worst start of his disastrous stretch came at New York on June 19, when Snell lasted one-third of an inning and was rocked for six runs on two hits and four walks. Snell is a poor 3-6 with a 4.85 ERA in 14 career starts vs the Yanks (Rays are 5-9).

So why take Tampa in this one? The 38-year-old Sabathia has gotten some extra time off due to the team's trip to London and the off-days that surrounded the two-game series vs Boston last weekend but I'm not sure if it's good news that he takes the mound today having made just two starts since a June 14 one at the White Sox. What's more, the Yanks are 6-1 in CC's home starts (2.31 ERA / 1.15 WHIP) but 2-4 in his road starts (6.30 ERA / 1.623 WHIP). Snell has a similar away/home dichotomy. His road ERA is 6.48 (WHIP is 1.54) in nine starts, while in eight home starts, his ERA is 3.32 and WHIP is 1.04. Rays and Snell are the bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the StL Cardinals at 10:15 ET.

The St. Louis Cardinals used a five-run 9th inning on July 3rd to earn a 5-2 victory and then won 5-4 on July 4th to take TWO of three games at Seattle to open the new week. Tommy Edman, who entered Wednesday's game in Seattle with 35 career at-bats and a .257 BA, hit a pinch-hit, three-run HR in Wednesday's win and the delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning of Thursday's one-run win. 43-42 St Louis heads to San Francisco tonight for the opener of their three-game set, looking to stay above .500. The Giants have spent most of the season in the NL West cellar but enter this series riding a season high-tying four-game winning streak, after completing a three-game road sweep of San Diego with a 7-5 victory.

Taking the mound on Friday will be Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) and Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). Hudson was the 34th overall pick in the 2016 draft and debuted in the major leagues last summer (4-1, 2.63 ERA in 27.1 IP) but has really come into his own in 2019. "Dakota has been out most consistent starter," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. "He uses a proven recipe ... sinker, slider, keep the ball down, control counts, get grounders and work efficiently. He's been a competitor since his first day in the organization." Hudson took the mound on June 29 having gone 4-0 with a 2.22 ERA over his previous seven starts, with the Cards having won ALL seven of those starts. However, his four-game winning streak and run of eight consecutive quality starts 'hit a brick wall' last Saturday in San Diego, as he was pounded for seven runs on five hits (two HRs) and a walk over just 1.2 innings (Cards lost 12-3).

Pomeranz matched a career high with 11 strikeouts and allowed just two runs over five innings in a 2-0 loss to Colorado on June 24 and followed by registering seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings last Saturday vs Arizona. However, he was out-dueled by Greinke in a 4-3 D'backs win. That outing capped a month in which he was able to hold the opposition without an earned run for the THIRD time in five starts, after he posted a 19.16 ERA in four May starts.

Hudson has never faced the Giants, while Pomeranz has faced the Cards just once as a member of the Colorado Rockies in 2012 (0-0, 6.75 ERA / Rockies lost the game). Pomeranz has just two wins in his 15 starts, although the Giants are 4-1 in his no-decisions. Meanwhile, it MUST be noted that while Hudson allowed SEVEN runs in his last outing, just ONE was earned! That means the rookie has allowed three ERs or less in 15 of his 16 starts in 2019, including 13 in a row! He will face an Giants team here, which owns the lowest BA in MLB (.231), while ranking 28th (out of 30) in scoring (4.14 RPG), OPS (.683) and HRs (84). Cards are the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Division Dominator (AL West) is on the Oak A's at 10:10 ET.

The Oakland Athletics beat the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Thursday, taking TWO of three in the series. The A's open a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners on Friday, having won 12 of their last 16, while also going 29-15 since mid-May. The A's are just ONE game back of the Indians for the second wild card spot, in a VERY crowed wild card field (FIVE teams are within 2 1/2 games of each other, vying for TWO spots!). In STARK contrast, the Mariners are not "thinking postseason" these days. Seattle Mariners continued its losing ways Thursday, in a 5-4 setback against St Louis. The Mariners are now 25-51 (.329) since opening the season with 13 wins in 15 contests. Seattle trails division-leading Houston by 19 games and is 12 1/2 games back of the second wild card spot.

A pair of lefties take the mound on Friday, as Brett Anderson (8-5, 3.92 ERA) squares off against Yusei Kikuchi (4-5, 5.12 ERA). All in all, Anderson has had a solid season for Oakland. The 31-year-old Texan gave up for SEVEN runs over three innings of an 8-2 home loss to Tampa Bay on June 23 but in last Sunday's 4-0 win over the LA Angels, delivered 7.2 scoreless innings, yielding only two hits and two walks. The "bounce back" shouldn't have been a surprise, as the lefty had turned in three straight quality starts prior to his poor performance on June 23.

Kikuchi is a 28-year-old from Japan in his first season and enters this contest with Seattle having lost SIX of his last seven starts. He's 1-4 in that span, posting an 8.42 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 18 walks over 31 innings. This will already be the fourth time Kikuchi has faced the A's but he's yet to earn a win, while posting a 5.14 ERA. Anderson has made 20 starts against Seattle (he's 9-5 but the team is just 10-10) but he does own an impressive 2.28 ERA.

Anderson's rough outing against the Rays on June 23 was an outlier, as he takes the mound with the A's having gone 6-1 in the other seven outings of an eight-start (11 ERs allowed over 44.1 innings for a 2.23 ERA). Clinching the play is that in this battle of lefties, the A's check in at 16-7 vs left-handers in 2019 (8-4 while averaging 6.5 RPG on the road), while the Mariners are just 8-17 vs lefties in 2019.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Pit Pirates at 7:05 ET.

Milwaukee lost THREE of four to the Cincinnati Reds and head to Pittsburgh in a first-place tie with the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central at 46-42. The Pirates lost 11-3 to the Cubs on July 4th but had won the first three games of the Series, Monday through Wednesday. At 42-44, Pittsburgh has close within THREE games of the division co-leaders (Cards are 1 1/2 games up on the Pirates and 1 1/2 games behind the Brewers and Cubs).

Taking the mound in tonight's opener will be Zach Davies (7-2, 3.24 ERA) and Steven Brault (3-1, 4.29 ERA). Davies opened the season 7-0 with a 2.541 ERA through his first 13 starts (team was 9-4) but is winless over his last four outings, going 0-2. He received a no-decision against the Pirates this past Sunday when he gave up one run and six hits over 5.1 innings (Milwaukee won 2-1). That effort broke a run in which the Brewers had lost his previous THREE starts, with Davies posting a 9.23 ERA. Davies beat Pittsburgh twice earlier in the 2019 season and stands 4-5 with a 5.08 ERA in 12 career starts against the Pirates (team is 6-6)..

Brault did not make his first start until May 7 and then made one start and two more relief appearances, before starting his last six outings. Brault received a no-decision while matched against Davies this past Sunday, giving gave up just one run on five hits over 4.2 innings. During his last six starts, the lefty has allowed just seven ERs over 31.1 innings, going 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA (Pirates are a modest 3-3, though). Brault has a 2.45 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee this season and is 1-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 13 career appearances (seven starts / team is 3-4 and he owns a 2.92 ERA) vs the Brewers.

I favor Pittsburgh and Brault in this quick "re-hook," especially since the Milwaukee bats have gone 'quiet,' with the Brewers scoring three runs or less in SEVEN of their last 10 games (Milwaukee enters this contest having failed to score in 23 consecutive innings!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (AL West) is on the Tex Rangers at 8:05 ET.

The Angels hope to complete a three-game sweep, while the Rangers look to avoid one on Thursday, with Griffin Canning (3-4, 3.79 ERA) taking on Lance Lynn (10-4, 4.00 ERA). LA rookie Canning will head to the mound for his 12th start of the season. He will be making this start on the day Skaggs was scheduled to pitch. The 23-year-old was a second-round pick in 2017. He defeated Oakland 8-3 this past Thursday (6 IP / 3 hits 2 ERs), ending a six-start winless stretch in which he had gone 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA (team was 2-4). Canning has faced Texas once (back on May 24 in Anaheim). He allowed one run on three hits in five innings and did not receive a decision in LA's 4-3 loss.

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Chi Cubs at 4:05 ET.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have taken the first THREE contests of their four-game home series with the Chicago Cubs, after scoring TWICE in the bottom of the 9th last night off Chicago's recently acquired closer (Craig Kimbrel) for a 6-5 win. The 42-43 Pirates have now won 12 of 17 to close within two games of the Cubs and sit three back of the NL Central-leading Brewers. The 45-42 Cubs have now lost FOUR straight and SEVEN of nine,

Taking the mound for the series finale are Jose Quintana (5-7, 4.21 ERA) and Jordan Lyles (5-4, 3.71 ERA). Quintana opened the season with a relief appearance and then gave up eight ERs in just three innings at Milwaukee in his first start (April 5). The lefty then went on to allow three ERs or less in 12 of his next 13 starts, but had little to show for it (Cubs were just 6-7 in that span). Quintana then suffered a brutal start at home vs the Mets on June 22, allowing eight ERs on nine hits (including three HRs) in just 4.1 innings of a 10-2 loss. However, he answered that awful outing with six scoreless innings at Cincinnati on Saturday in a 6-0 Chicago win.

Lyles began the 2019 season just 31-52 in his career, while posting a 5.28 ERA. However, he went 5-1 with a 2.81 over his first nine starts (Pirates won EIGHT of the nine). The journeyman returned from the injured list with a solid performance this past Saturday (had been out since a June 8 start) allowing three runs in six innings at Milwaukee but took a 3-1 loss. That means Lyles will enter this contest 0-3 (team is 0-4) in his last four starts, while posting a 6.16 ERA.

Quintana owns a 2.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six career starts against Pittsburgh (he's 2-1 and his teams 4-2), while Lyles is 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 career appearances (seven starts / teams are 4-3) vs Chicago. Yes, Pittsburgh is going for the sweep but I believe Lyles has returned to his career form (see above for a reminder) and that Quintana has pitched MUCH better than his record indicates. NO sweep here. Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Oak A's at 9:07 ET.

Oakland won the last three contests of a four-game series in Anaheim against the LA Angels over the weekend and then beat the division-leading Minnesota Twins 8-6 last night. The A's are 14-5 over their last 19 games and at 47-39, remain in a virtual tie with Cleveland (46-39) for the second wild card. The 53-31 Minnesota Twins lead the Central Division by SEVEN games (largest margin of any division-leader other than the LA Dodgers) but have lost FOUR of their last five. It should also be noted that the Twins were 47-22 on June 15, before losing NINE of 15 (trouble brewing?).

Taking the mound on Wednesday will be Kyle Gibson (8-4, 4.21 ERA) and Mike Fiers (8-3, 4.01 ERA. This is Gibson's seventh season and he opened the year 54-61 with an ERA of right around 4.50 (can you say journeyman?). However, with the help of Minnesota's outstanding offense, he takes the mound tonight with eight wins over 15 starts, with the Twins going 10-5 in those starts. However, he will be facing a tough opponent tonight in Mike Fiers. Fiers was 17-9 in 2018 (Det & Oak), finishing as MLB's top money-earner (21-9 in starts, +$1,879). 2019 did not begin well for him, as he entered May 7 with a 6.81 ERA but he then threw a no-hitter. Actually, Fiers' turnaround began in the previous two starts to that gem and he will enter tonight's contest having allowed three ERs or less in each of his last 12 starts. Fiers brings a 10-start unbeaten streak into tonight's contest, a stretch during which he has gone 6-0 (A's are 7-2 with a suspended game in that stretch, one in which the A's led 5-3).

Gibson's most recent outing was a relief appearance Thursday against the visiting Rays, when he threw a perfect 17th inning in a game that Tampa Bay eventually won 5-2 in 18 innings. He's 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in four career starts against the A's, going 1-1 with 4.38 ERA in Oakland. The Twins seem to be "off their game" lately, while the A's are surging. As noted, Fiers has gone 10 straight starts without a loss (2.39 ERA in that stretch) and is 8-1 at home since arriving in Oakland late last year, with the A's going a MONEY-MAKING 12-2 (86%) in his home starts. want more? Fiers has pitched against the Twins 11 times in his career, including 10 times as a starter. He's compiled a 6-1 record and 2.77 ERA in those games teams are 9-1!). Yet, he is a home dog to a journeyman??

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Situational Stunner is on the Cin Reds at 7:10 ET.

Yasiel Puig, who had been on first base, scored in the 11th inning of Cincinnati's 5-4 win Tuesday after Milwaukee right fielder Christian Yelich's throw back to the infield on a single by Jose Iglesias eluded first baseman Eric Thames. The victory allowed the Reds to even their four-game series with the Brewers at one win apiece and Cincy now looks to post back-to-back victories for the first time since the team's season-high, six-game winning streak from June 16-21. The NL Central is MLB's most competitive division, as the 46-40 Brewers are in first-place but the last place Reds (39-44) are just 5 1/2 games back.

Taking the mound for the third contest of this four-game series will be Jhoulys Chacin (3-8, 5.60 ERA) and Sonny Gray (4-5, 3.94 ERA). Chacin found a 'home' with the Brewers in 2018, going 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA (Milwaukee was 23-12 in his starts, giving him a moneyline mark of plus-$1,079). However, he saw his winless skid extend to EIGHT starts after he notched his second straight no-decision on Friday, despite allowing one run in five innings vs Pittsburgh (Pirates won 3-2). Chacin's last win was all teh way back on April 30, as he's 0-5 and the team is 2-6. Chacin owns a 3-3 mark with a 4.26 ERA in 12 career appearances (10 starts / teams are 5-5) vs the Reds.

Gray won 14 games for the A's in 2014 and again in 2015 but had a poor 2016 season. He was traded to the Yankees during the 2017 season and went just 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA. He pitched for New York in all of 2018, finishing a HUGELY disappointing 11-9 with a 4.80 ERA. However, Gray has pitched well for the Reds the last two months. He continued to turn his season around this past Friday with a 6-3 win over the Cubs. He's 4-1 with a 3.74 ERA in his last eight starts, with the Reds going a MONEY-MAKING 7-1. What's more, he's 1-0 with a 2,76 ERA in three career starts vs the Brewers (teams are 3-0).

Noting Gray's current form (see above) and adding in Chacin's simply AWFUL road record in 2019, the play is clearly on Gray and the Reds. Chacin is 1-7 with a 6.94 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in eight starts, which is an 88% "play-against!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Pitching Mismatch is on the Min Twins at 10:07 ET.

Oakland is 13-5 over its last 18 contests and won the last three contests of a four-game series in Anaheim over the LA Angels over the weekend by a combined 23-5. The Athletics are playing some of their best baseball of the season and in the final week prior to the All Star break have climbed with a half-game of the AL's second wild card spot at 46-39. Meanwhile, the 53-30 Minnesota Twins lead the Central Division by EIGHT games (largest margin of any division-leader other than the LA Dodgers) but have lost THREE of their last four. It must be noted that the Twins were 47-22 on June 15, before losing EIGHT of 14.

Jake Odorizzi (10-3, 2.73 ERA) takes the mound for the visiting Twins on Tuesday and will be opposed by Oakland's Daniel Mengden (2-1, 4.03 ERA). The Twins lost Odorizzi's first three starts of 2019 (he was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA) but his ERA was down to 1.92 ERA after a win at Detroit on June 9 (Odorizzi was 9-2 and the Twins had won his last 10 starts!). However, he's struggled in his last three outings, allowing 11 ERs on 19 hits over 15.1 innings (6.46 ERA). Mengden is coming off his best start of the season after tossing six scoreless innings in a 2-0 win at St Louis last Wednesday. However, Mengden only got that start because Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.70 ERA / 11-4 in team starts) was suspended 80 games for testing positive for PEDs. Mengden had made five appearances (three starts) in 2019. He was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas after getting knocked around for six runs on as many hits over 2.1 innings at the Los Angeles Angels on June 5 and posted a 6.10 ERA in two Triple-A games. His start vs the Cards was surely a surprise.

Mengden will be making his first career appearances against Minnesota and DON'T expect an effort like the one against the Cards. After all, the Twins rank second in scoring (5.71 RPG), as well as first in team BA (.270), OPS (.831) and HRs (157). As for Odorizzi, the Twins are12-4 in all of his starts (moneyline mark of +$863 ranks 4th among all starters) and he'll take the mound with Minnesoata having won 12 of his last 13 outings! As for his record against Oakland, it's a small sample size but a good one. He owns a 2.95 ERA against the A's in six overall outings but look closer. He will be making just his fourth career start in Oakland in hopes that it goes as well as the first three. His last two road outings against the A's have resulted in eight innings of shutout pitching in 2016 and seven innings of one-hit ball in 2017. He owns 1.29 ERA in his three Oakland starts, his lowest at any site at which he's started three or more games! That's good enough for me at a VERY reasonable price.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Col Rockies at 8:10 ET.

The Colorado Rockies will play the Houston Astros Tuesday and Wednesday, wrapping up a six-game homestand. Colorado and its opponents have each scored 96 runs in the tam's last 11 home contests, with the Rockies going a modest 6-5. Colorado did split a four-game series with the Dodgers (Thu-Sun), as the Rockies were able to snap a 12-game losing streak against LA with wins Friday and Saturday. They welcome the Houston Astros to Coors Field for this two-game interleague series, trailing the Dodgers by 12 games in the NL West but the Rockies are back in the wild card hunt, tied with the Phillies at 44-40 for the NL's second wild card, just a half-game back of the 45-40 Cubs. The Astros are coming off a three-game home sweep of the Mariners, returning to form after losing NINE of their previous 11 contests. Houston is 53-32 on the season (tied for second in the AL for most wins) and still owns a comfortable 6 1/2-game lead in the AL West. Houston leads all of baseball with its six All-Star selections and it's hard to argue with their inclusion.

Tuesday's pitching matchup features Jose Urquidy (NR) and German Marquez (8-3, 4.29). Here's the 4-1-1 on the 24-year-old Urquidy. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and came back with increased velocity. He was the opening day starter at Corpus Christi (Double-A) and made seven appearances (six starts) and was promoted to Triple-A. Urquidy earned his promotion to the big leagues by going 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA in eight games (seven starts) with Round Rock, striking out 64 in 43.2 innings while recording a 0.97 WHIP.

Marquez has emerged as the ace of a Colorado staff that has been plagued by inconsistency and injury. He's coming off two solid starts, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in five innings of a 6-3 victory at San Francisco this past Wednesday, after yielding one ER in eight innings of a no-decision at Dodger Stadium on June 21 (Colorado lost 4-2). Marquez is not a 'shut-down' kind of pitcher but the numbers don't lie. Colorado went 19-14 in his starts last year (+$571 moneyline mark ranked 25th among all starters) and the Rockies are 13-5 in his 2019, with his +$806 moneylimne mark ranking 5th-best!

Houston's sweep of Seattle hardly makes one forget the team's NINE losses in its previous 11 games, as the Mariners are a pathetic 24-49 (.328) since their 13-2 start. The above numbers reflect Coloadao's success with Marquez taking the mound and one CAN'T ignore that the Rockies are 8-1 (89%) in Marquez's home starts in 2019!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Weekly Wipeout is on the Tex Rangers at 8:05 ET.

The Los Angeles Angels mourned the death of 22-year-old pitcher Nick Adenhart in 2009 in a car accident and now, 10 year later, announced early Monday afternoon that the 27-year-old Tyler Skaggs passed away due to unknown causes earlier in the day. Monday's game was understandably canceled (was postponed until August) but the now three-game series will get underway on Tuesday in Arlington. Los Angeles won last Thursday's series opener against Oakland in Anaheim but then lost the final three games to the A's while getting outscored 23-5! The 42-43 Angels hope to get back to .500 in tonight's contest with the 46-38 Rangers. Texas saw a six-game winning streak come to a crashing halt with back-to-back defeats at Tampa Bay this past Saturday and Sunday. Texas fell 2 1/2 games back of the Rays for the No. 1 wild card spot but remain a half-game ahead of Cleveland and Oakland for the second wild-card spot .

Tonight's pitching matchup will feature a pair of lefties, Jose Suarez (2-1, 5.57 ERA) and Mike Minor (8-4, 2.40 ERA). Suarez has been recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake City to make his fifth career start. His last major league start was back on June 20 when he gave up five runs on eight hits (three HRs) over five innings of a no-decision at Toronto (Jays won 7-5). Suarez has served up at least one HR in each of his four 2019 starts and has issued a total of nine walks over his 21 innings. Minor capped a brilliant month with his second career complete game this past Wednesday, winning 4-1 in Detroit. The first-time All-Star finished 3-0 with a 1.70 ERA over five outings in June (Rangers were 5-0) and he owns a 2.03 ERA in eight home starts.

Texas made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011 (lost both) to begin a seven-year stretch in which the Rangers made the playoffs in FIVE of seven seasons. However, Texas would go 78-84 in 2017 and then 67-95 in 2018. However, the Rangers find themselves squarely in the thick of the American League playoff race (see above). thanks to their strong play since mid-May. Minor is a former first-round pick who made 65 relief appearances for KC in 2017 but the Rangers put him back in the starting rotation in 2018. He made 28 starts last year, going 12-8 with a 4.18 ERA. Here in 2019, he's been the team's best starter. Minor allowed SIX runs in his 2019 opener but has since allowed three ERs or less in 15 of his last 16 starts (current streak is 12 in a row, allowing three ERs runs or less). The Angels are a poor 11-19 vs lefties (-$1,080) and face one tough lefty in Minor. Meanwhile, the Rangers are 28-15 (+$1,810) at home, averaging 5.70 RPG. Isn't Minor the obvious play?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "signature" LEGEND Play is on the Ch Cubs at 1:10 ET.

All-Star shortstop Javy Baez hit his fifth career slam on Saturday (20 HRs and 56 RBI on the season) and Jason Heyward homered for the second straight game, as the Cubs beat the Reds 6-0. The Cubs own a 14-14 mark this month entering the final day of June but at 45-38, remain atop the NL Central, one game up on the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds fell for the FIFTH time in six games but at 37-43, they are a modest 6 1/2 games back of the Cubs (note: FIVE second-place teams in MLB's six divisions are 6 1/2 games or more behind their respective division leaders).

The rubber match of the three-game series goes Sunday afternoon in Cincy, as Jon Lester (7-5, 3.83 ERA) takes on Anthony DeSclafani (4-4, 4.70 ERA). Lester opened the 2019 season with a 1.16 ERA through his first seven starts (team went 5-2) but he then surrendered 11 HRs while posting a 7.17 ERA and an opponents batting average of .325 in his next seven outings (Cubs went 3-4). However, he showed some promise in the last start of that seven-game stretch (June 19 at home vs the White Sox), earning a 7-3 win while allowing three ERs over 5.2 innings of a 7-3 win. He made it TWO straight wins this past Monday, beating the Braves 8-3 at Wrigley, allowing two unearned runs in six innings.

DeSclafani struck out a season-high NINE batters last Sunday at Milwaukee but allowed SIX six runs on eight hits over 4.1 of innings to take a 7-5 loss. That outing ended a three-start unbeaten streak in which he had surr2endered just ONE run in each of those starts. That said, DeScalfani is 4-4 in 15 stasrt (team is 8-7) on the season, posting a 4.70 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. So what's new? He's 31-32 in 100 career appearances (92 starts) with a 4.29 ERA and 1.31 ERA.

While the Cubs lead the division and Reds sit in its basement, Cincinnati has taken each of the two previous series (2-1) between the two teams in 2019. The Cubs dropped a 4-2 decision in the series finale at Great American Ball Park back on May 16 and lost the rubber match of another three-games series 10-2 setback at Wrigley Field on May 26. Is the THIRD time the charm? I say Y-E-S! The 29-year-old DeSclafani is nothing but a journeyman pitcher (see above), who is 3-3 record with a 4.24 ERA in 10 career starts vs Chicago (team is 5-5). Meanwhile, the accomplished Lester owns a 7-1 career record (3.88 ERA) in 16 starts against Cincinnati, with his teams going a DOMINATING 14-2 (that's an 88% winning rate). Cubs win! Cubs win!

Good luck...Larry