7* AL West Game of the Month on Oakland A’s -143 

The Key: The Oakland A’s are 9-0 in their last 9 games overall.  They’ll be hungry to extend this winning streak to 10 Monday.  And I like their chances with their huge advantage on the mound over the Angels.  Chris Bassitt is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 6 starts this year for Oakland.  Trevor Cahill is 2-4 with a 6.43 ERA in 10 starts for the Angels, and 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA in 6 road starts this year.  Cahill yielded 4 earned runs in 6 innings to the A’s on March 28th earlier this season in a 0-4 loss.  The Angels are 6-21 in their last 27 road games against a team with a home winning percentage of better than 60%.  The A’s are 5-1 in their last 6 home meetings.  Take Oakland. 

7* NL East Game of the Month on Miami Marlins +130 

The Key: The Miami Marlins had won 6 straight prior to losing the first 2 games of this series to the Nationals. Now they’ll be hungry for a win here in Game 3 today.  The good news for the Marlins is that they send their ace to the mound to get the job done.  Caleb Smith is 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 9 starts this year with 71 strikeouts in 53 innings.  Smith shut down to the Nationals on April 19th in a 3-2 victory as he yielded only one earned run in 6 innings.  Erick Fedde is no more than a fill-in starter for the Nationals who will be making just his 2nd start of the season.  Fedde is 0-8 in home games over the last 3 seasons.  Washington is 1-10 after allowing 2 runs or less this season.  The Marlins are 6-0 in Smith’s last 6 starts against a team with a losing record.  Take Miami. 

7* Rangers/Angels American League *BAILOUT* on Texas +119 

The Key: The Texas Rangers have won 8 of their last 9 and should not be dogs today to the Los Angeles Angels.  Mike Minor is their best starter, and he’s 5-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts this year.  Minor is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against Los Angeles.  Tyler Skaggs is 4-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 8 starts this year.  He is also 1-2 with an 8.21 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Skaggs sports a 4.80 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against Texas.  The Angels are 0-8 in their last 8 home games against a left-handed starter.  Take Texas. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -152 

The Key: The Cardinals had yesterday off while the Braves finished a 4-game series in San Francisco, so they had to travel to St. Louis overnight.  That’s a big advantage for the Cardinals, and they also have a big advantage on the rubber tonight.  Miles Mikolas is 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 5 home starts this year.  Mikolas is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against the Braves.  Mike Foltynewicz is 0-3 with a 6.91 ERA in 5 starts this year, and 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Foltynewicz is also 2-4 with a 9.33 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against the Cardinals.  He has yielded 14 earned runs and 5 homers in 9 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against St. Louis.  Mikolas is 8-0 when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.  The Braves are 0-7 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 starts.  The Cardinals are 10-1 in Mikolas’ last 11 starts against a team with a winning record.  Take St. Louis. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -1.5 (-159) 

The Key: The Houston Astros now have the best record in baseball after a 15-2 run over their last 17 games.  What makes this run so impressive is that the Astros have won all 15 games by 2 runs or more.  And that’s why I’ll take them on the Run Line tonight instead of -340 on the money line.  Gerrit Cole is a Cy Young contender with a 3.56 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  He has 93 K’s in 60 2/3 innings, which is the most of any starter in baseball.  Ivan Nova is 2-4 with a 7.42 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 9 starts for the White Sox.  Take Houston on the Run Line. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Atlanta Braves -131 

The Key: Big advantage on the rubber tonight for the Atlanta Braves, who have won 7 of their last 9 coming in.  Mike Soroka has been nothing short of spectacular this season.  He is 4-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in six starts.  He’ll be opposed by Andrew Suarez, who will be making his first start of the season for the Giants.  Suarez went 7-13 with a 4.49 ERA in 2018, and he did not make the club out of spring training.  He proceeded to go 2-3 with a 6.33 ERA in six minor league starts, so he clearly isn’t very good.  The Braves are 6-0 in their last 6 road games against a team with a losing home record.  Atlanta is 5-1 in Soroka’s last 6 road starts.  The Braves are 5-0 in Soroka’s last 5 starts against a team with a losing record.  The Giants are 0-4 in Suarez’s last 4 starts against a team with a winning record.  Take Atlanta. 

7* AL West Game of the Month on Seattle Mariners -117 

The Key: The Mariners are coming off a tough road trip against three of the best teams in baseball in the Indians, Yankees and Red Sox.  They went just 2-8 in their 10-game trip.  They’ll certainly be happy to be back home here and should get back in the win column against the Oakland A’s.  Mike Fiers threw a no-hitter last time out, but it took more than 130 pitches and he has to still be gassed.  It’s a letdown spot for Fiers, who even after the no-hitter has a 5.48 ERA in 9 starts this year.  He is 0-2 with a 9.14 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his 5 road starts.  The Mariners have a big advantage on the rubber with Yusei Kikuchi.  He is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 9 starts this season, including 1-0 with a 1.15 ERA and 0.51 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Fiers sports a 6.91 ERA in 9 lifetime starts against Seattle.  The A’s are 1-9 in their last 10 road games.  The Mariners are 8-2 in their last 10 against a team with a losing record.  Take Seattle. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -125 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians have the clear advantage on the rubber tonight with Trevor Bauer over Aaron Brooks.  Bauer is 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA in his 8 starts this season, which includes a 3-1 record and a 2.88 ERA in his 5 road starts.  Brooks sports a 5.75 ERA in his 6 starts, and he’s 0-2 with a 7.54 ERA in his last 3 outings.  The Indians have been victorious in 8 of Bauer’s last 10 road starts.  Take Cleveland. 

7* National League Game of the Month on St. Louis Cardinals -143

The Key: No Analysis Friday.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -142 

The Key: The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost 4 in a row and will be hungry for a victory at home Friday night.  They send uber-talented Julio Urias to the mound and his 3.11 ERA in 2 starts this year.  Urias sports a 1.64 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Brewers.  Corbin Burnes sports a 9.90 ERA in 2 starts for the Brewers this season, and he has already yielded 6 home runs in 10 innings.  The Dodgers will feast on him today.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* AL East Game of the Month on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+101) 

The Key: The Boston Red Sox will wipe the slate clean and get going today.  They have opened 3-9 in defense of their World Series title, but 11 of those 12 games were on the road.  And after getting their rings on Tuesday, they had Wednesday off to get over the distraction.  Look for them to come back focused and hungry Thursday against the Blue Jays.  Nathan Eovaldi owns the Blue Jays, going 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Aaron Sanchez has lost his last 2 starts against the Red Sox while yielding 8 earned runs in 12 innings for a 6.00 ERA.  Boston is 21-3 revenging a loss as a home favorite over the last 2 seasons and winning by 2.2 RPG.  Take Boston on the Run Line. 

7* Dodgers/Rockies ESPN *BAILOUT* on Colorado +145

The Key: No Analysis Sunday.

7* MLB Postseason Game of the Year on Los Angeles Dodgers -145 

The Key: The Dodgers need a victory in Game 4 tonight at home to square this series.  I think they get it thanks to their edge on the mound.  Rich Hill comes in 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Hill is 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 8 lifetime starts against the Brewers, including 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 2 starts against them in 2018.  His teams have gone 7-1 in those 8 starts.  Gio Gonzalez only pitched 2 innings in Game 1 and the Brewers nearly blew a big lead late giving up 4 runs in the final 2 innings.  The Dodgers have had the luxury of seeing all of Milwaukee’s relievers now through 3 games.  I think they’ll have some success today against Milwaukee when they turn to their bullpen after Gonzalez exits.  The Dodgers are 7-0 in their last 7 games after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.  Los Angeles is 9-1 in its last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Dodgers are 6-0 in Hill’s last 6 starts.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* A’s/Yankees Wild Card *HEAVY HITTER* on New York -170 

The Key: I’m laying the big price with the Yankees today because they’re worth it.  They have the better lineup, the better starter and the better bullpen.  And they’re at home.  They have the edge in all of the key categories heading into this game.  Luis Severino is 10-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 15 home starts this season, which is very impressive at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium.  It’s easy to see why the Yankees went with him as their starter.  He’ll be backed up by plenty of bullpen depth and some big arms.  The A’s are going with a complete bullpen game as Liam Hendriks gets the first crack.  The Yankees are 6-0 in their last 6 playoff home games.  New York is 6-0 in its last 6 games following an off day.  The Yankees are 22-4 in Severino’s last 26 starts.  The A’s are 1-6 in their last 7 playoff road games.  Take New York. 

7* Cubs/Rockies National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago -135 

The Key: Jon Lester has pitched in several elimination games.  He won’t be phased, especially with how well he has pitched here down the stretch.  Lester sports a 1.71 ERA in his last 8 starts while yielding only 9 earned runs in 47 1/3 innings.  And he owns the Rockies, sporting a 1.91 ERA in 6 lifetime starts against them.  Kyle Freeland won’t be up to the task tonight.  This is a very tough travel spot for the Rockies as they went flew from Denver Sunday night to Los Angeles, and now they had to fly all the way to Chicago Monday night.  Lester is 20-6 as a favorite of -110 or higher this season.  The Cubs are 38-13 in Lester’s last 51 home starts.  The Rockies are 1-8 in their last 9 playoff games.  Take Chicago. 

7* Brewers/Cards NL Central *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis -102 

The Key: It’s time for the Cardinals to make a stand tonight.  They have lost the first 2 games of this series to the Brewers and now are a half-game behind the Rockies in the race for the final wild card.  It’s getting to must-win time for the Cardinals, and I expect them to deliver tonight.  I like what I’ve seen from John Gant, who is 5-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 18 starts this year.  Jhoulys Chacin has never been able to figure out the Cardinals.  He is 1-7 with a 5.73 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts against them.  Milwaukee is 15-28 off 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.  The Cardinals are 36-15 in their last 51 after losing the first 2 games of a series.  St. Louis is 4-1 in Gants’ last 5 starts.  Take St. Louis. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-125) 

The Key: The Dodgers have really come to life here down the stretch to try to secure the NL West title.  They are 10-2 in their last 12 games overall.  Now they’re up against the Diamondbacks, who have been eliminated from the postseason and are playing like it.  Arizona is just 1-8 in its last 9 games overall with 7 of those 8 losses coming by 2 runs or more.  I believe the Dodgers will win by at least 2 runs tonight as well due to their big edge on the mound.  Walker Buehler is 7-4 with a 2.40 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 21 starts this year.  He gave up just 1 run with 9 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings in his lone start against Arizona this season on September 2nd.  Matt Koch is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 12 starts for the Diamondbacks this year and will be making his first start since June 19th, so he’s sure to be on a pitch count.  The Dodgers are 12-2 in their last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Diamondbacks are 3-13 in this last 16 vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* Giants/Padres NL West *BAILOUT* on San Francisco +134 

The Key: I’m confused how the Padres are even favored in this game, let alone such a big favorite.  I like the price we are getting with the Giants tonight due to their edge on the mound.  Chris Stratton is 10-9 with a 4.50 ERA in 24 starts this year, including 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.70 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Stratton owns the Padres, going 2-1 with a 0.92 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Robbie Erlin is 2-6 with a 6.60 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 10 starts for the Padres this year, including 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Erlin has never beaten the Giants, going 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Erlin is 1-9 lifetime in home games vs. teams who strand 6.9 or fewer runners per game.  The Padres are 1-14 in home games off a loss by 2 runs or less this season.  The Giants are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.  Take San Francisco. 

7* AL Total of the Month on White Sox/Indians UNDER 8 

The Key: There’s a lot to like about this UNDER today between the White Sox and Indians.  They both have their aces on the mound tonight.  Carlos Rodon is 6-5 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 17 starts for the White Sox this season.  Rodon is 4-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts against the Indians as well.  Corey Kluber is 18-7 with a 2.91 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 30 starts this year, including 10-3 with a 2.05 EAR and 0.85 WHIP in 16 home starts.  Kluber is 11-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 21 lifetime starts against the White Sox, including 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA in his last 3 starts against Chicago, yielding just 1 earned run in 18 innings.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Rodon’s last 4 starts.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Kluber’s last 5 home starts.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Rodon’s last 5 starts against the Indians.  The UNDER is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Rockies/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on Colorado -131 

The Key: Fading the hapless Giants has been a very profitable move for me here down the stretch.  The Giants are 0-11 in their last 11 games overall.  They have scored 3 runs or fewer in 10 of those 11 losses.  Colorado’s Tyler Anderson should be able to shut them down as well.  Anderson has allowed just 3 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings with 16 strikeouts in his last 2 starts against the Giants this season.  Chris Stratton is 9-9 with a 4.82 ERA in 23 starts for the Giants this year.  Stratton is 1-1 with a 9.16 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Rockies.  He has yielded 13 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Rockies this season.  The Giants are 1-7 in Stratton’s last 8 starts.  Take Colorado. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta Braves -133 

The Key: The Atlanta Braves are in a pennant race and trying to clinch the NL East as soon as possible.  They have a lot more to play for right now than the San Francisco Giants, and it’s showing.  I have cashed in the Braves each of the past two nights.  The Giants are now 0-10 in their last 10 games overall.  Their offense has been atrocious.  They have scored 3 or fewer runs in 13 of their last 15 games overall.  Anibal Sanchez is 6-5 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 20 starts this season.  He is 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts against the Giants as well.  Take Atlanta. 

7* NL West Game of the Year on Arizona Diamondbacks -115 

The Key: This is a huge game for the Diamondbacks.  They are 3.5 games behind the Rockies for 1st place in the NL West.  They cannot afford to lose this game, and fortunately for them they have their ace on the mound to get the job done.  Zack Greinke is 13-9 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 29 starts this season.  He is 11-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 28 lifetime starts against the Rockies.  He has allowed 4 runs or fewer in 11 consecutive starts against Colorado, including 3 runs or fewer in 9 of those.  Antonio Senzatela is 2-4 with a 4.47 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 9 starts, this season, including 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in his last three starts.  Senzatela has never beaten the Diamondbacks, going 0-2 with an 11.33 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in two lifetime starts against them.  He has yielded 13 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in those 2 starts.  Colorado is 1-10 off a win by 10 runs or more over the last 3 seasons.  The Diamondbacks are 7-2 in Greinke’s last 9 road starts.  Take Arizona. 

7* Cubs/Brewers NL Central *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -113 

The Key: The Brewers have a chance to sweep the Cubs and pull within one game of Chicago in the NL Central.  I look for them to take full advantage today.  Jhoulys Chacin is 14-5 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 29 starts this year, including 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Chacin is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 starts against the Cubs this year, pitching 13 shutout innings with 17 strikeouts.  Jose Quintana is 11-9 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 26 starts for the Cubs.  He gave up 5 earned runs and 3 homers in a 0-7 loss to the Brewers in his last start against them on August 14th.  The Cubs are 0-4 in Quintana’s last 4 road starts.  The Brewers are 8-2 in Chacin’s last 10 home starts.  Take Milwaukee. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -1.5 (-140) 

The Key: The Twins are just trying out all their prospects right now and it’s not going too well for them.  They are just 2-8 in their last 10 games overall with all 8 losses coming by 2 runs or more, and 7 of them by 3-plus runs.  The Astros have been on a tear since getting Jose Altuve back.  They are 10-3 in their last 13 games with 8 of those wins coming by 2 runs or more.  With their edge on the mound tonight, they should win by 2 runs or more as well.  Trevor May will be making his first start of the season for the Twins. Justin Verlander is 13-9 with a. 2.78 ERA and 0.95 WHIp in 29 starts for the Astros.  Verlander is 18-9 with a 3.06 ERA in 35 lifetime starts against the Twins.  He pitched 7 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory in his lone start against the Twins in 2018 back on April 9th.  Take Houston on the Run Line. 

7* Yankees/A’s American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Oakland -121 

The Key: The A’s are fighting to win the AL West or get a wild card right now.  They face the team in the Yankees that they would play in the wild card round if the season ended today.  I think they want to make a statement in Game 1 of this series tonight.  Trevor Cahill has been unhittable at home this year for the A’s, going 4-0 with a 0.85 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in 8 home starts while yielding just 5 earned runs in 52 2/3 innings.  C.C. Sabathia is 2-3 with a. 4.27 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 11 road starts for the Yankees this year.  The A’s are 4-0 in Cahill’s last 4 home starts.  Oakland is 47-21 in its last 68 games overall.  The Yankees are 1-7 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a. Winning record.  Take Oakland. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington Nationals -110 

The Key: Tanner Roark has been brilliant since the All-Star Break for the Nationals.  He is 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his last 7 starts with 37 strikeouts and only 5 walks.  One of those starts came against Milwaukee on July 25th as he pitched 8 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in a 7-3 victory.  Roark is now 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against the Brewers.  Milwaukee played yesterday in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Reds in extra innings.  The Nationals had yesterday off and will be the fresher team.  The Nationals are 6-1 in Roark’s last 7 starts.  Take Washington. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-125) 

The Key: The Red Sox scored 22 combined runs in their 2 wins over the Marlins the past 2 days.  They should stay hot at the plate against the White Sox and Lucas Giolito, who is 3-5 with an 8.18 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 12 home starts this year.  Rick Porcello is 9-3 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 15 road starts for the Red Sox, who clearly have a big edge on the mound in this one and should win by 2 runs or more.  Boston is 17-2 off a 2-game span where its bullpen threw 9 innings or more this season, and it is winning by 2.5 RPG in this spot.  The Red Sox are 43-10 in their last 53 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below 40%.  The White Sox are 3-10 in Giolito’s last 13 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Red Sox are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.  Take Boston on the Run Line. 

7* Mariners/Padres Interleague *HEAVY HITTER* on Seattle +101 

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the Seattle Mariners are road underdogs to the San Diego Padres today.  They lost Game 1 2-1 yesterday and will be hungry to bounce back with a victory tonight.  The Mariners certainly need wins more than the Padres do right now as they are trying to make the postseason.  The Padres are 17-45 in their last 62 games, including 6-22 in their last 28 home games.  Erasmo Ramirez is 1-0 with a 1.12 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in his last 3 starts despite facing 3 of the best lineups in baseball in the Astros, Dodgers and Diamondbacks.  Joey Lucchesi is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in his last 2 starts while yielding 7 earned runs in 10 innings.  The Mariners are 9-2 in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below 40%.  Take Seattle. 

7* Diamondbacks/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on San Francisco -106 

The Key: The Giants are 7 games back of 1st place in the NL West.  They still believe they are alive, and they are playing like it.  The Giants have now won 3 straight and 4 of their last 5 after knocking off the 1st-place Diamondbacks 2-0 last night.  They really need to sweep this series, and now they have their ace going in Game 2 tonight.  Madison Bumgarner is 5-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 15 starts this year, including 3-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 7 home starts.  Bumgarner sports a 2.60 ERA and 1.11. WHIP in 31 lifetime starts against Arizona.  He has allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in each of his last 5 starts against the Diamondbacks.  Clay Buchholz is getting too much respect from oddsmakers tonight for what he has done in limited action this season.  Arizona is 4-14 when revenging a shutout loss over the last 3 seasons. The Giants are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.  Take San Francisco. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Houston Astros -179 

The Key: I’ll lay the price with the Houston Astros today due to their edge on the mound over the Oakland A’s.  Gerrit Cole is 11-5 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 26 starts this season with 226 strikeouts in 164 2/3 innings.  Cole is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Oakland.  Brett Anderson is 3-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 starts for the A’s this season, including 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 8 road starts.  Anderson is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Houston.  He faced the Astros once this season and allowed 9 runs and 13 base runners in 3 innings of a 2-16 loss back on May 7th.  Houston is 14-1 off 6 consecutive AL West games this season.  The Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 games overall.  The A’s are 17-35 in the last 52 meetings, including 9-19 in the last 28 meetings in Houston.  The Astros are 7-2 in Cole’s last 9 home starts.  Take Houston. 

7* Cardinals/Rockies NL *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis +136 

The Key: We are getting a great price on the St. Louis Cardinals today.  They are 21-7 in their last 28 games overall and should not be this big of underdogs.  They are coming off a loss yesterday, but are now 15-3 in their last 18 games following a loss.  St. Louis is 9-1 in its last 10 road games.  The Cardinals are 10-1 in their last 11 games vs. a left-handed starter.  The Cardinals are 5-0 in Gomber’s last 5 starts.  Gomber is 2-0 with a 2.73 ERA in his last 5 starts, and 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Tyler Anderson is 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA in his last 3 starts for the Rockies.  Take St. Louis. 

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Philadelphia Phillies -115 

The Key: After losing 5 of their last 6 coming in in the midst of a pennant race, the Phillies will be hungry for a victory here in Toronto today.  The Phillies are 6-1 in their last 7 during Game 2 of a series.  The Blue Jays are 2-10 in Sanchez’s last 12 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Toronto is 1-7 in Sanchez’s last 8 starts during Game 2 of a a series.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Detroit Tigers -131 

The Key: The Detroit Tigers have a big edge on the mound tonight over the Chicago White Sox.  Matt Boyd has been great at home this year, where he’s 5-3 with a 2.80 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 11 starts.  James Shields has been awful on the road, going 1-6 with a 5.67 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 10 starts away from home.  Boyd fired a complete game shutout in his last start against the White Sox, giving up just 2 base runners in 9 innings of a 12-0 victory.  Shields has allowed at least 3 earned runs in each of his last 4 starts against the Tigers.  The White Sox are 6-22 in Shields’ last 28 road starts.  The Tigers are 8-2 in Boyd’s last 10 home starts.  Chicago is 2-18 in Shields’ last 20 road starts vs. a team that averages 0.5 or fewer stolen bases per game.  Take Detroit. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A’s -150 

The Key: The Oakland A’s are the hottest team in baseball.  They are 42-14 in their last 56 games overall and aren’t getting the respect they deserve from oddsmakers.  They have outscored Texas 15-0 in winning each of the first two games in this series.  Edwin Jackson should be able to shut down the Rangers as well.  Jackson is 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 10 starts this year, 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 5 home starts, and 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Mike Minor is 4-4 with a 6.48 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 10 road starts for the Rangers this year.  The A’s are 5-0 in Jackson’s last 5 starts.  Jackson is 8-0 vs. an AL team with an OBP of .330 or worse this season.  Take Oakland. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A’s -1.5 (-105) 

The Key: The Oakland A’s have a big edge on the mound tonight with Brett Anderson over Ariel Jurado.  Anderson is 2-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 11 starts this year, 0-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 3 home starts, and 0-9 with a 0.92 ERA in his last 3 starts.  He has yielded just 2 earned runs and 12 base runners in 19 2/3 innings in his last 3 outings.  Anderson beat Texas 15-3 in his last start against them on July 23rd as he yielded just 2 earned runs in 6 innings to get the victory.  Ariel Jurado has had a rough go of it in his brief major league career.  He is 2-2 with a 6.41 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 5 starts this year, including 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in his last 2 outings.  He has just 11 strikeouts compared to 6 homers given up in 26 2/3 innings this season.  The A’s are 14-0 in their last 14 games vs. a team with a losing record, winning by 4.3 RPG on average.  The A’s are 6-0 in Anderson’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Oakland on the Run Line. 

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-120) 

The Key: The Dodgers have a huge edge on the mound today with Clayton Kershaw over Roenis Elias.  They should have no problem winning by at least 2 runs in this matchup.  Kershaw is 5-5 with a 2.47 EAR and 1.02 WHIP in 18 starts, 2-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 8 road starts, and 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Elias is 0-0 with a 4.90 ERA and 1.91 WHIP in his lone start this season.  He’s not ready to do battle in this pressure-packed situation with Kershaw.  The Dodgers hung 11 runs on the Mariners in Game 1 of this series and should put up another big number off Elias and company in this one.  Elias is 0-7 in home games vs. teams who average 0.5 or fewer stolen bases per game in his career.  Kershaw is 37-7 vs. teams who strand 6.9 or less runners per game on base over the last 2 seasons.  The Dodgers are winning by 2.5 RPG in this spot.  Take Los Angels on the Run Line. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on San Francisco Giants -144 

The Key: The Giants have a big edge on the mound today with Madison Bumgarner over Matt Harvey.  Bumgarner is 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 13 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last 3 outings. Harvey is 5-7 with a 4.89 ERA in 20 starts, including 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Harvey has never beaten the Giants, going 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Bumgarner is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his last 2 starts against the Reds, yielding just 3 earned runs in 15 innings.  Take San Francisco. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta Braves -128 

The Key: The Atlanta Braves have won 5 of their last 6 but will be looking to revenge a Game 1 loss to the Rockies in this series in which they blew a save in the 9th inning.  They have scored at least 5 runs in all 5 wins during this stretch.  I like their chances of getting after Kyle Freeland, who is 3-5 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 13 road starts this year.  Sean Newcomb is 10-5 with a 3.40 ERA in 23 starts overall, and 4-2 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 10 home starts.  Newcomb pitched 6 shutout innings with 9 strikeouts in a 4-0 win at Colorado in his only start against the Rockies in 2018.  Freeland is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against the Braves, all of which have come in the past 2 seasons.  Atlanta is 10-3 after a game where its bullpen blew a save this season.  The Braves are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a loss.  The Braves are 4-0 in Newcomb’s last 4 starts.  Take Atlanta. 

7* Nats/Cardinals NL *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis -118 

The Key: The Cardinals have now won 8 straight games and cannot be tamed right now.  The Nationals have gone 2-7 in their last 9 games and just can’t seem to get it turned around.  I like the price with the Cardinals tonight as small home favorites as they extend their winning streak to 9 games.  Luke Weaver has allowed exactly 2 earned runs in each of his last 3 starts and is pitching well coming in.  Tanner Roark is also pitching well, but he cannot seem to figure out the Cardinals.  He is 1-2 with a 6.92 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against St. Louis.  The Nationals are 8-21 in their last 29 road games.  Washington is 5-17 in Roark’s last 22 starts with 4 days of rest.  The Cardinals are 37-16 in their last 53 home meetings with the Nationals, and 6-1 in the last 7 meetings overall.  Take St. Louis. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta Braves -1.5 (-115) 

The Key: The Atlanta Braves have won each of the first 3 games of this series with the Marlins by 8, 5, and 4 runs.  They should have no problem winning by multiple runs again tonight thanks to their edge on the mound.  Kevin Gausman is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last 3 starts and seems rejuvenated since getting traded to the Braves.  He gave up just 1 run and 6 hits in 8 innings with 8 strikeouts in a 10-1 victory over the Brewers last time out on August 10th.  Jose Urena is 3-12 with a 4.74 ERA in 23 starts for the Marlins this year, including 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 8 road starts.  Urena is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 3 starts against the Braves in 2018, yielding 12 earned runs in 16 innings.  Miami is 4-26 in road games against a team that wins 54% to 62% of their games in the 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.  It is losing by 2.6 RPG in this spot.  The Marlins are 1-11 in their last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Braves are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Atlanta on the Run Line. 

7* Mariners/A’s AL West *BAILOUT* on Seattle -123 

The Key: The Seattle Mariners have the edge on the mound tonight with James Paxton over Mike Fiers.  Paxton is 10-5 with a 3.56 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 23 starts with 175 strikeouts in 139 innings.  The left-hander has never lost to the A’s, going 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts against them.  He fired 7 shutout innings with 16 strikeouts against the A’s in his lone start against them in 2018 back on May 2nd.  Mike Fiers is 1-1 with a 6.21 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against the Mariners.  Seattle is 11-2 following a one-run loss this season.  The Mariners are 8-3 in Paxton’s last 11 road starts.  The Mariners are 19-7 in their last 26 meetings in Oakland.  Take Seattle.

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (-108) 

The Key: Considering the huge edge the Diamondbacks have on the rubber tonight over the Rangers, it’s easy to see how they’re going to win by multiple runs in this matchup.  Zack Greinke is 12-7 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 24 starts this year, including 1-2 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in his last 3 starts. Greinke sports a 2.67 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 13 lifetime starts against the Rangers.  Bartolo Colon is 6-10 with a 5.31 ERA in 21 starts this year, 3-4 with a 5.98 ERA in 10 home starts, and 1-2 with a 7.11 ERA in his last 3 starts.  He is also 1-3 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against the Diamondbacks.  He has allowed 14 runs in 15 innings in his last 3 starts against Arizona.  Colon is 3-16 as a dog of +125 to +175 over the last 2 seasons, and his teams are losing by 3.7 RPG in this spot.  The Diamondbacks are 6-0 in Greinke’s last 6 road starts.  Take Arizona on the Run Line. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -1.5 (-110) 

The Key: The Yankees have gone 5-1 in their last 6 games overall with 4 of those wins coming by at least 2 runs.  They should win by multiple runs again today over the Texas Rangers thanks to their edge on the mound in this one.  C.C. Sabathia is 6-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 21 starts this year, including 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 11 home starts.  Martin Perez is one of the worst starters in the league.  He is 2-4 with a 6.15 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  Perez sports an 8.52 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in 3 previous starts against the Yankees as well.  The Yankees should score early and often in this one and hold on to a big lead with one of the best bullpens in baseball.  Take New York on the Run Line. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -1.5 (-120) 

The Key: Off a bad loss to the Rangers yesterday, the Yankees should respond with a win by multiple runs Saturday to cover the run line.  Lance Lynn has been pitching very well since being traded to the Yankees. He is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Lynn is also 5-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 9 home starts this year.  Drew Hutchison will be making just his 2nd start of the season.  He is 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA after yielding 6 earned runs and 9 base runners in 3 innings of a 6-9 home loss to the Baltimore Orioles on August 5th.  Now he’s up against this potent Yankees’ lineup that is on fire right now in scoring at least 7 runs in 4 of their last 5 games coming in.  The Yankees are 58-20 in their last 78 home games.  Take New York on the Run Line. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -1.5 (+100) 

The Key: The Yankees have responded well from getting swept by the Red Sox.  They have since won 4 straight with three of those victories coming by 4 runs or more.  I expect them to win by at least 2 runs tonight over the Texas Rangers.  Masahiro Tanaka has been lights out of late, going 2-0 with a 0.46 EDRA and 0.81 WHIP in his last 3 starts, yielding just 1 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings with 26 strikeouts.  Mike Minor has been awful on the road this year for the Rangers, going 3-4 with a 6.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 9 starts away from home.  Tanaka is 17-2 in home games vs. an AL team with a batting average of .255 or worse over the last 3 seasons.  The Yankees are winning by 3.0 RPG in this spot.  Take New York on the Run Line. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies +120 

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the Colorado Rockies as home dogs to the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight.  Tyler Anderson is having a great season for the Rockies, going 6-4 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 23 starts.  More impressively, Anderson sports a 3.65 ERA in 11 starts at Coors Field.  In his last start against the Dodgers on June 29th, Anderson pitched 8 shutout innings in a 3-1 victory for the Rockies as +150 dogs.  Ross Stripling is coming back down to earth.  He has yielded 9 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings and 4 homers in his last 2 starts.  Stripling is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Colorado.  The Rockies are 10-3 in their last 13 home games.  Take Colorado. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-130) 

The Key: The Cubs are on fire right now.  They are 21-5 in their last 26 interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record.  Chicago is 5-1 in Jose Quintana’s last 6 starts, and he’s clearly the better starter in this matchup with the Royals.  Kansas City is 4-23 in its last 27 home games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Royals are 0-4 in Fillmeyer’s last four starts.  Kansas City is 0-7 in its last seven interleague home games.  The Royals are 13-42 in their last 55 games overall.  The Cubs are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.  Take Chicago on the Run Line. 

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (+100) 

The Key: The Chicago Cubs should have no problem winning by at least 2 runs tonight over the lowly Kansas City Royals.  The Royals have now lost 5 straight with 4 of those coming by at least 2 runs to drop to 34-78 on the season.  The Cubs are in the middle of a pennant race at 65-47 this season.  Mike Montgomery is 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 12 starts this year.  Brad Keller is 3-3 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 11 starts for the Royals.  Montgomery is 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA and 0.59 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts vs. Kansas City.  The Royals are 1-15 in home games vs. good teams who are outscoring their opponents by 0.5 RPG or more this season.  They are losing by 4.0 RPG on average in this situation.  Take Chicago on the Run Line. 

7* AL West Game of the Month on Seattle Mariners -113 

The Key: The Seattle Mariners will be hungry for a win tonight after going 1-5 in their last 6 games overall.  They now get to face the 49-64 Rangers and should take care of business in Game 1 tonight.  Wade LeBlanc is 6-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 17 starts for the Mariners this year.  Martin Perez is one of the worst starters in the league.  He is 2-4 with a 6.50 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 9 starts this year, including 1-1 with a 7.53 ERA and 2.12 WHIP in 4 home starts.  LeBlanc is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in one lifetime start against the Rangers.  LeBlanc is 9-0 against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.  Texas is 5-20 in home games against division opponents this season.  The Rangers are 19-45 in their last 64 home games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Mariners are 5-1 in their last 6 meetings in Texas.  Take Seattle.

7* Yankees/Red Sox ESPN *BAILOUT* on OVER 9 

The Key: Expect plenty of runs scored tonight between the Red Sox and Yankees to push this total OVER the 9 number.  Masahiro Tanaka has yielded 10 earned runs, 4 homers and 19 base runners in 10 1/3 innings in 2 starts against the Red Sox this season.  David Price has yielded 12 earned runs and 6 homers in 4 1/3 innings in 2 starts against the Yankees this season.  Both starters have been shelled against their respective opponents in 2018, and that should continue again here tonight.  Take the OVER. 

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Year on Seattle Mariners -1.5 (-115) 

The Key: The Seattle Mariners have now lost 4 straight and would be out of the playoffs if the season ended today.  They need to get back on track in a hurry.  Ace James Paxton is just the man for the job.  He’s 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 10 home starts this year.  He’ll be opposed by Marco Estrada, who is 2-4 with a 5.32 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 9 road starts.  Estrada is 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in his last 3 starts as well.  Paxton pitched a no-hitter on May 8th against the Blue Jays this season in a 5-0 victory, so he has their number as well.  The Blue Jays are 8-25 in their last 33 games vs. a left-handed starter.  Toronto is 0-4 in Estrada’s last 4 road starts.  Seattle is 21-6 in its last 27 vs. a team with a losing record.  The Blue Jays are 8-27 in their last 35 Saturday road games.  Take Seattle on the Run Line. 

7* Yankees/Red Sox AL *Total* Annihilator on OVER 9 

The Key: The Red Sox and Yankees combined for 22 runs yesterday.  While they may not reach that milestone today, I still believe there’s value with the over 9, especially at a plus-price.  Luis Severino has been roughed up in recent starts.  He is 0-2 with a 10.05 ERA and 2.09 WHIP in his last 3 starts, far from the Cy Young contender he was prior to them.  And those starts have come against the Royals, Rays and Indians, far from the potent lineup he’ll see tonight in Boston.  Rick Porcello is also faltering.  He is 2-1 with a 7.90 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Porcello sports a 5.10 ERA in 10 home starts this year. The OVER is 5-0 in Severino’s last 5 starts.  The OVER is 5-1-1 in Porcello’s last seven home starts, and 11-3-1 in his last 15 stats overall.  The OVER is 7-3-1 in the last 11 meetings, including 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings in Boston.  Take the OVER.

7* NL East Game of the Year on Atlanta Braves -148 

The Key: The Braves find themselves in a battle with the Phillies for 1st place in the NL East.  They should take down the Mets without issue today.  The Mets are in sell mode and finding it hard to be hungry the rest of the way.  No question the Braves have the edge on the mound tonight.  Mike Foltynewicz is 7-7 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 20 starts this year.  He’ll be opposed by Jason Vargas, who is 2-6 with an 8.36 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 10 starts.  Vargas is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Atlanta.  The Mets are 0-10 as a home dog of +125 to +175 this season.  Take Atlanta. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Oakland A’s -133 

The Key: The Oakland A’s have been on a tear for the last month-plus.  They are 29-10 in their last 39 games overall and have a legitimate shot to make the postseason now.  They should handle the Blue Jays, who are 7-24 in their last 31 games against a left-handed starter, including 2-14 in their last 16 road games against a southpaw.  Sean Manaea is 9-7 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  He’ll be opposed by Marcus Stroman, who is 4-7 with a 5.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 14 starts.  Stroman is 0-0 with an 8.68 ERA in his last two starts against the A’s, yielding 9 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings.  The A’s are 4-0 in Manaea’s last 4 home starts.  The A’s are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.  Manaea is 9-0 in day games this season.  Take Oakland. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Angels -130 

The Key: The Angels have a big edge on the mound tonight over the Tampa Bay Rays.  Tyler Skaggs is 8-6 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 19 starts this year, including 5-2 with a 2.11 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 10 road starts.  The Rays have lost 3 in a row to the Orioles coming in amidst a bunch of trade rumors.  And Ryan Stanek is one of those Rays’ starters that only goes a few innings before getting pulled.  I just don’t trust the philosophy, and the Rays’ combination of pitchers they use won’t be anywhere near as good as Skaggs.  Skaggs faced the Rays earlier this season on May 17 and gave up just one run in 6 innings.  The Angels are 12-1 as road favorites of -125 to -175 this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Oakland A’s -137 

The Key: The Oakland A’s will be hungry for a victory tonight after getting swept by the Rockies in Colorado over the weekend.  The A’s are still 27-10 in their last 37 games overall and surging.  They are 41-16 in their last 57 vs. a team with a losing record.  The Blue Jays were sellers at the deadline and can’t be trusted.  Toronto is 1-7 in Estrada’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The A’s are 11-2 in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a losing record.  Edwin Jackson sports a 3.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 6 starts this year for the A’s.  Marco Estrada is 2-3 with a 4.97 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 8 road starts.  Estrada has never beaten the A’s, going 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Take Oakland. 

7* Cubs/Cardinals ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago -122 

The Key: This is the avoid the sweep game for the Chicago Cubs after losing the first 2 games of this series to the rival St. Louis Cardinals.  They’ll come in hungry for a victory tonight on ESPN.  Kyle Hendricks is 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 13 lifetime starts against St. Louis, and his teams are 9-4 in those matchups.  John Gant is just a fill-in starter for the Cardinals.  He is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 4 home starts this year.  The Cubs are 60-29 in their last 89 games following a loss.  Chicago is 5-1 in its last 6 during Game 3 of a series.  The Cardinals are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.  St. Louis is 1-4 in Gant’s last 5 home starts.  The Cubs are 6-0 in Hendricks’ last 6 starts against the Cardinals.  Take Chicago. 

7* NL East Game of the Month on Washington Nationals -151 

The Key: Few starters own a team like Gio Gonzalez owns the Marlins.  The left-hander is 10-3 with a 1.93 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts against Miami.  Trevor Richards is 3-5 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 14 starts for the Marlins this year.  One of those came against the Nationals on July 8th earlier this month.  Richards yielded 11 base runners in 3 2/3 innings in that contest, including 7 walks.  Washington is 20-5 in road games vs. teams who are outscored by 1 RPG or more over the last 2 seasons.  The Nationals are 11-1 in road games after allowing 3 runs or less in 2 straight games this season.  The Marlins are 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.  Take Washington. 

7* NL West Game of the Month on Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (-110) 

The Key: Games are much more important to the Diamondbacks these days than the Padres.  The Diamondbacks are right in the NL West race, while the Padres are in last place in their division by a mile.  I certainly like the pitching matchup in Arizona’s favor tonight.  Zack Greinke is 11-5 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 21 starts this year, including 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Greinke is 10-2 with a 2.14 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 20 lifetime starts vs. San Diego as well.  Luis Perdomo is 1-5 with a 6.99 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 8 starts for the Padres, including 0-4 with a shocking 11.29 ERA and 2.46 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Perdomo is 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts vs. Arizona as well.  Greinke is 51-14 in his career as a favorite of -175 to -250, and his teams are winning by 2.1 RPG.  The Padres are 6-24 as home dogs of +100 or higher this season, losing by 3.0 RPG.  Take Arizona on the Run Line. 

7* Brewers/Giants National League *BAILOUT* on San Francisco -105 

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Giants tonight at basically even money against the Milwaukee Brewers.  It’s not or never for the Giants, who currently sit at 52-51 and need to start stringing wins together if they want to stay in the NL West race.  I like what I’ve seen from starters Dereck Rodriquez, who is 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 8 starts, 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in 4 home starts, and 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Wade Miley has a 1.56 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 4 starts for the Brewers, but it’s a small sample size and this guy hasn’t been good for a long time.  He’s getting too much respect from oddsmakers tonight.  The Giants are 6-0 in Rodriquez’s last 6 starts.  The Brewers are 0-6 in their last 6 road games.  The Giants are 19-9 in their last 28 home games.  The Giants are 16-5 in their last 21 home meetings with the Brewers.  Take San Francisco. 

7* Diamondbacks/Cubs NL *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago -107 

The Key: The Chicago Cubs will be hungry for a victory today over the Diamondbacks.  They have lost the first two games of this series to Arizona.  I like the price we are getting with the Cubs in Game 3 today with Jon Lester taking the ball.  Lester is 12-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 20 starts this year.  He’ll be opposed by Robbie Rays, who is 3-2 with a 5.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 11 starts, including 0-1 with a 6.60 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  The Cubs are 11-1 in Lester’s 12 starts vs. a team that steals 0.5 or fewer bases per game this season.  That’s big because he has a problem throwing over to first base.  The Cubs are 40-14 in Lester’s last 54 home starts.  Take Chicago.  

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston Red Sox -141 

The Key: It’s hard not to like the Boston Red Sox at this price over the Baltimore Orioles.  The Red Sox have the best record in baseball at 71-31, while the Orioles have the worst at 28-73.  Not to mention, the Orioles just traded away their best player in Manny Machado to the Dodgers.  They have clearly thrown in the towel on the season already.  Drew Pomeranz hasn’t been great this year but he should be healthy now after making his last start on May 31st.  And he should have no problem shutting down this weak Orioles’ lineup.  Yefrey Ramirez is 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in his 4 starts his year for the Orioles.  He faced the Red Sox on June 13th, giving up 3 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings for a 6.24 ERA while taking the loss in a 1-5 defeat.  The Red Sox are 13-1 in their last 14 meetings with the Orioles.  Take Boston. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (-103) 

The Key: The Angles hung 14 runs on the Astros in victory Sunday.  They should hang another big number on the White Sox and Lucas Giolito, who is 6-8 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 19 starts this season.  The Angels have the clear edge on the mound behind Jaime Barria, who is 5-6 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 13 starts this season.  The Angels are 19-4 vs. teams who are outscored by one or more runs/game this season and winning by 2.6 RPG in this spot.  The White Sox are 15-40 in their last 55 road games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Angels are 6-0 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  Take Los Angeles on the Run Line. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Indians -156 

The Key: The Indians exploded for 16 runs yesterday and have now scored 25 runs the past two days in winning the first two games of this series with the Rangers.  They should cap off the sweep today and keep the bats hot against Yovani Gallardo and the Rangers.  Gallardo doesn’t even belong in the big leagues and only got called up because the Rangers are so far back in the standings.  Gallardo is 3-1 in spite of a 6.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 5 starts this year.  He’s opposed by Mike Clevinger, who is 7-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 19 starts this year, including 4-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 9 road starts.  Clevinger sports a 2.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against Texas.  Gallardo is 1-1 with a. 4.91 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 2 lifetime stats vs. Cleveland.  The Indians are 6-0 in their last 6 road games.  The Rangers are 0-5 in their last 5 home games.  Take Cleveland. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Dodgers -150 

The Key: The Los Angeles Dodgers have some momentum as they’ve overtaken first place in the NL West after being left for dead a couple months ago.  The Dodgers are 38-17 in their last 55 games overall, including 18-6 in their last 24 road games, and 13-3 int heir last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning record.  They have the edge on the mound tonight with Clayton Kershaw.  The Dodges are 61-19 in Kershaw’s last 80 starts.  Kershaw is 3-4 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 13 starts this year, 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 5 road starts, and 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Kershaw is 5-4 with a 2.95 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts against the Brewers.  Chase Anderson is 3-3 with a 4.83 ERA in 10 home starts this year.  Anderson is 1-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 9 lifetime starts against the Dodgers.  The Brewers are 0-7 in their last 7 games overall and are once again choking this season after having the NL Central lead for most of the year.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-119) 

The Key: The Indians have a big edge on the mound tonight with Trevor Bauer over Martin Perez.  Bauer is 8-6 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 20 starts this year with 175 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings.  Bauer has never lost to the Rangers, going 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against them.  Perez is 2-4 with a 7.67 ERA and 2.05 WHIP in 6 starts this year, including 1-1 with a 10.00 ERA and 2.33 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Perez has never beaten the Indians, going 0-2 with a 9.20 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Take the Indians on the Run Line. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago Cubs -138 

The Key: The Cubs have taken over first place in the NL Central with a 54-38 record on the season.  They have recently gotten healthy and started to play some great baseball.  They are 11-3 in their last 14 games overall and should add another win Sunday thanks to their huge edge on the mound.  Jon Lester is 11-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 18 starts this season.  Lester is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 5 lifetime starts vs. San Diego.  He’ll be opposed by Eric Lauer, who is 5-5 with a 4.40 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 15 starts for the Padres.  The Cubs are 32-6 in Lester’s last 38 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Chicago is 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 road starts.  The Padres are 0-6 in their last 6 during Game 3 of a series.  San Diego is 6-20 in its last 26 games overall.  The Cubs are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take Chicago. 

7* Diamondbacks/Braves NL *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta -101 

The Key: The Atlanta Braves will be hungry for a victory today after going just 2-7 in their last 9 games overall, including a 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks in Game 1 of this series Friday.  I like their chances with Sean Newcomb on the mound today.  Newcomb is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 7 home starts this year.  While Zack Greinke has been awesome at home throughout his career, he has not been nearly as good on the road.  That is the case again in 2018 as Greinke is 5-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 9 road starts.  The Diamondbacks are 8-22 in their last 30 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Braves are 16-7 in the last 23 home meetings.  Take Atlanta. 

7* A’s/Giants Interleague *BAILOUT* on San Francisco -142 

The Key: The San Francisco Giants have a big edge on the mound tonight over the Oakland A’s despite what the numbers say.  Madison Bumgarner is the real deal and has shown no ill-effects of injury.  The left-hander is 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 7 starts this year, including 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Edwin Jackson does have a 2.45 ERA, but that has come in just 3 starts.  There’s a reason this guy has bounced around the league so often throughout his career.  It’s only a matter of time before he comes back down to reality this season.  The A’s are 23-57 in their last 80 road games vs. a left-handed starter.  The Giants are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.  The Giants are 17-6 in their last 23 home meetings with the A’s.  Take San Francisco. 

7* American League Game of the Month on Tampa Bay Rays -115 

The Key: Blake Snell might be the single most underrated starter in baseball.  He has gone 12-4 with a 2.10 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 19 starts this season, including 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  He has shut down the likes of the Astros and Yankees on multiple occasions this year, so he’s clearly the real deal.  He’s much better than Kyle Gibson, who is 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 9 home starts this year, and 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Snell yielded just one earned run and 5 base runners in 7 innings in a 10-1 victory in his lone start against Minnesota this season.  Gibson is 1-5 with a 6.81 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts vs. Tampa Bay.  The Twins are 0-9 when revenging a same season 3-game sweep at the hands of their opponents over the last 3 seasons.  Minnesota is 0-7 in its last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Rays are 35-16 in the last 51 meetings, including 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in Minnesota.  Take Tampa Bay. 

7* MLB Total of the Week on Yankees/Orioles OVER 9.5 

The Key: For starters, this has been an OVER series.  The OVER is 24-4 in the last 28 meetings, including 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Baltimore.  I’m surprise at how low this 9.5 total is tonight when it should be double-digits minimum.  Sonny Gray sports a 5.85 ERA in 17 starts this year and a 12.27 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Gray also sports a 4.64 ERA in 8 lifetime starts vs. Baltimore.  Dylan Bundy is 2-1 with a 6.32 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Bundy is 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. New York.  Take the OVER. 

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Washington Nationals -107 

The Key: The Washington Nationals have the edge on the mound tonight over the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Jeremy Hellickson is 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 11 starts this year, including 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 7 road starts.  Hellickson is also 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh.  Joe Musgrove is 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 5 home starts for the Pirates.  He’s also 1-2 with a 6.46 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in his last 3 outings overall.  Musgrove is 1-9 at home with a total of 7 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.  The Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. NL Central teams.  Washington is 4-0 in Hellickson’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Pirates are 0-7 in their last 7 Tuesday games.  Pittsburgh is 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts.  Take Washington. 

7* Interleague Game of the Week on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (+102) 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians will be hungry for a victory after losing two straight over the weekend.  They should get right back on track in a big way Monday night against the lowly Reds.  They have a huge edge on the mound with Mike Clevinger, who is 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 17 starts this year.  Anthony Desclafini is 3-1 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.278 WHIP in 6 starts for the Reds.  He has yielded 9 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the White Sox and Brewers.  The Indians should touch him up just as they did the last time they faced him. Desclafini gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings of a 4-9 loss.  The Reds are 15-43 in their last 58 interleague road games.  The Indians are 40-11 in their last 51 home games vs. a team with a losing record.  Cleveland is 7-1 in Clevinger’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line. 

7* NL Central Game of the Year on Chicago Cubs -146 

The Key: The Cubs were swept in a 4-game series by the Reds for the first time since 1983 just a few weeks ago.  They have a chance to win this series with a victory Sunday to exact some form of revenge, and I look for them to take advantage.  They have a huge edge on the mound in this one with Jon Lester over Luis Castillo.  Lester is 11-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 17 starts this year, including 5-1 with a 1.49 ERA in 8 home starts.  Castillo is 5-8 with a 5.33 ERA in 18 starts, including 2-5 with a 6.70 ERA in 10 road starts.  Lester has won each of his last 2 starts against the Reds while yielding just 1 earned run in 11 innings and striking out 15.  The Cubs are 10-0 in Lester’s 10 starts vs. teams averaging 0.35 or less SB’s/game this season.  The Cubs are 31-6 in Lester’s last 37 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Cubs are 39-13 in Lester’s last 52 home starts.  Take Chicago. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-124) 

The Key: The Red Sox (60-29) should make easy work of the Kansas City Royals (25-62) once again today.  They jumped out to a 8-0 lead yesterday and cruised to a 10-5 victory.  Expect more of the same Saturday.  David Price is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts vs. Kansas City.  The Royals are 2-16 in home games off 3 or more consecutive losses this season.  They are losing by 2.6 RPG in this spot.  Take Boston on the Run Line. 

7* AL Game of the Week on Detroit Tigers -105 

The Key: The Detroit Tigers have a big edge on the mound in this matchup with the Texas Ranges.  Jordan Zimmerman is 3-0 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  Zimmerman is 1-0 with a. 3.09 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 4 home starts, and 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in his last 3 starts anywhere.  Zimmerman sports a 3.38 ERA lifetime vs. the Rangers.  Bartolo Colon is 5-5 with a 4.93 ERA in 15 starts for Texas this year.  Colon is 9-11 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 29 lifetime starts vs. Detroit.  Take Detroit. 

7* Cardinals/Giants National League *BAILOUT* on San Francisco -129 

The Key: The Giants will be hungry for a victory after getting swept in Colorado last series.  They have a huge 10-game homestand before the All-Star Break that could have them chasing down the Diamondbacks in the NL West.  It starts with Game 1 of this series with the Cardinals tonight.  I like their chances of getting a victory with Johnny Cueto on the mound.  He has been dominant in his 5 starts when healthy this season, going 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 0.69 WHIP.  Cueto is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Cardinals.  Luke Weaver is 4-7 with a 5.36 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 17 starts for the Cardinals.  He is also 4-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 9 road starts, and 1-1 with an 8.21 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Weaver has allowed 8 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his 2 lifetime starts against the Giants.  The Giants are 7-1 in Cueto’s last 8 starts.  Take San Francisco.

7* Angels/Mariners AL West *HEAVY HITTER* on Seattle -107 

The Key: The Seattle Mariners are perhaps the most underrated team in baseball.  They are 55-31 on the season and just a half-game back of the Astros in the AL West.  They have profited backers +22.2 units already this season.  We are getting them at a great price, as usual, today at basically even money against the Angels.  The Mariners are 8-0 in their last 8 games overall, while the Angels are 2-8 in their last 10 games.  Mike Leake is 8-4 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 17 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last two starts.  Leake is 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  The Angels are 3-16 vs. teams who win 62% or more of their games this season.  Los Angels is 0-8 in its last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning percentage of greater than 60%.  The Mariners are 9-1 in Leake’s last 10 starts.  Take Seattle. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-114) 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians have now scored a combined 24 runs the past two days.  Look for their bats to stay red hot against the Kansas City Royals tonight.  Danny Duffy is 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 17 starts for the Royals, including 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 6 home starts.  Duffy is 2-8 with a 5.48 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 13 lifetimes starts vs. Cleveland.  He has yielded 12 earned runs in 9 innings in his 2 starts against the Indians this season.  Shane Bieber has been lights out for the Indians.  He has made four starts for them this season, and his last three have resulted in a 3-0 record and 0.96 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 18 innings.  The Indians are 47-16 in their last 63 vs. AL Central.  Cleveland is 4-0 in Bieber’s 4 starts this year.  The Royals are 11-40 in their last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter.  Kansas City is 1-6 in Duffy’s last 7 home starts.  The Royals are 0-7 in Duffy’s last 7 starts vs. Indians.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-150) 

The Key: The Indians will win by at least 2 runs over the Kansas City Royals tonight thanks to their huge edge on the mound.  The Indians just scored 15 runs yesterday against the A’s and should stay hot at the plate against Jake Junis tonight.  Junis is 5-9 with a 4.67 ERA in 16 starts this year, including 0-3 with a 7.72 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Junis gave up 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 2-6 loss to the Indians in his only start against them this year.  Corey Kluber is 11-4 with a 2.54 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 17 starts for the Indians.  He is 10-6 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 21 lifetime starts vs. Kansas City.  Kluber is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his last 5 starts against the Royals, yielding just 3 earned runs in 32 2/3 innings.  The Indians are 6-0 in Kluber’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Royals are 0-6 in Junis’ last 6 starts.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line. 

7* MLB Dog of the Week on Los Angeles Angels +114 

The Key: I’ve faded the Orioles with success a lot lately, including the last 3 days.  I’m not about to stop now, and I can’t believe the Orioles are favored over the Angels today.  Baltimore has not dropped 8 straight games coming in to fall to 23-59 on the season.  This team has clearly packed it in already.  The Angels are still fighting to try to get back in the playoff race after a poor June.  The Angels are 9-1 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of less than 40%.  The Orioles are 10-45 in their last 55 vs. a team with a winning record.  Baltimore is 1-6 in Gausman’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Angles are 7-0 in the last 7 meetings.  Finally, the Orioles are 0-15 vs. AL West opponents this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Los Angeles Angels -141 

The Key: If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  We’ve been fading the Orioles with regularity of late, including each of the last two days with success.  The Orioles are just 23-58 on the season and have lost 7 straight coming in.  The Angles have a big edge on the mound this afternoon.  Tyler Skaggs is 6-5 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 15 starts this year, including 5-2 with a 2.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 9 road starts.  He’s 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in his last 3 starts.  In his lone lifetime start against the Orioles, Skaggs pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings without allowing a single hit.  Andrew Cashner has yet to win at home this season, going 0-5 with a 5.12 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 8 home starts for the Orioles.  He is 2-8 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 15 starts this year overall.  Cashner sports a 4.85 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  The Orioles are 0-14 vs. AL West opponents this season.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League Game of the Week on Los Angeles Angels -138 

The Key: We’ll keep fading the rotten Baltimore Orioles just as we did yesterday with success.  The Orioles are 23-57 on the season and have lost 6 straight coming in.  After falling back to .500 with 6 straight losses of their own, the Angels have a great chance to get back on track in this series, starting with Game 1 tonight.  Felix Pena has been solid in his two starts this season with a 4.00 ERA.  David Hess is 2-4 with a 5.44 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 8 starts this year for the Orioles, including 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA and 2.17 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Baltimore is 0-13 vs. AL West opponents this season.  The Orioles are 0-5 in Hess’ last 5 starts.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Seattle Mariners -140 

The Key: The Orioles are a mess.  They are just 23-56 on the season and have lost 5 straight coming in.  The Mariners have now won 3 in a row and are 50-31 on the season.  Mike Leake is 8-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 16 starts this year, 5-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 7 road starts, and 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Jimmy Yacabonis makes his major league debut for the Orioles today.  Baltimore is 0-12 vs. AL West opponents this season.  The Orioles are 2-15 as a home dog of +100 or higher this season.  The Mariners are 8-1 in Leake’s last 9 starts.  Seattle is 5-0 in Leake’s last 5 road starts.  The Orioles are 4-22 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  Take Seattle. 

7* MLB Total of the Week on Indians/Cardinals UNDER 8.5 

The Key: Two of the better young starters in baseball go head-to-head Wednesday night in this matchup between the Indians and Cardinals.  Jack Flaherty is 3-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 10 starts this season.  He is 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 0.66 WHIP in his last 3 starts with 26 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings while yielding just 2 earned runs.  Shane Bieber is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings across 3 starts for the Indians this season.  This has the makings of a pitcher’s duel tonight.  The UNDER is 8-1-1 in Cardinals last 10 interleague home games.  The UNDER is 8-2-1 in Flaherty’s last 11 starts.  The UNDER is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.  Take the UNDER. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Seattle Mariners -135

The Key: This is a pretty generous price for the Seattle Mariners (48-31) over the Baltimore Orioles (23-54) tonight.  The Mariners have the clear edge on the mound as they send ace James Paxton to the hill.  Paxton is 6-2 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 16 starts this year with 124 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings.  Kevin Gausman is 3-6 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 15 starts for the Orioles.  Seattle is 10-1 off 6 or more consecutive road games this season.  Baltimore is 1-12 after batting .200 or worse over a 3-game span this season.  The Orioles are 0-10 vs. AL West teams this season.  Baltimore is 0-7 in Gausman’s last 7 starts.  Take Seattle. 

7* Interleague Game of the Week on Cleveland Indians -128 

The Key: The Cleveland Indians have reeled off 7 straight victories heading into this series with the Cardinals.  They are hitting the cover off the ball right now as they have scored double-digit runs in 3 of their last 4, and 6 or more in 5 of their last 6.  Mike Clevinger remains one of the most underrated starters in baseball.  He is 6-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 starts this season, 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 7 road starts, and 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last 3 starts.  John Gant is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in 3 starts for the Cardinals this season.  St. Louis is 0-7 in home games vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better over the last 3 seasons.  The Cardinals are 0-7 off an upset win over a division opponent as an underdog this season.  St. Louis is 0-5 in Gant’s last 5 starts.  The Indians are 7-0 in their last 7 games overall.  These four trends add up to a 26-0 angle backing the Indians.  Take Cleveland. 

7* Phillies/Nationals NL East Game of the Year on Washington -113 

The Key: The Washington Nationals aren’t about to get swept at home by the Philadelphia Phillies tonight. They will win Game 3 on ESPN.  Nick Pivetta is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 6 road starts this year.  Pivetta has never beaten the Nationals, going 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA and 2.44 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  He has yielded 14 earned runs, 6 homers and 26 base runners in 10 2/3 innings in those 3 starts.  Take Washington. 

7* Blue Jays/Angels American League *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -130 

The Key: The Los Angeles Angels should make easy work of the Toronto Blue Jays tonight.  Jaime Barria has been awesome this season at 5-3 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in nine starts.  Marcus Stroman is still in search of his first victory for the Blue Jays.  He is 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in seven starts.  The Blue Jays are 1-10 in their last 11 road games.  The Angels are 7-1 in their last 8 home games.  The Angels are 6-0 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Oakland A’s -123 (Game 2)

The Key: The Oakland A’s have won 4 straight while scoring a combined 28 runs in the process.  They should stay hot at the plate tonight against Chicago’s Lucas Giolito, who has been one of the worst starters in the league this season.  Giolito is 4-7 with a 7.19 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 14 starts this year, including 1-4 with an 11.05 ERA and 2.012 WHIP in 7 home starts.  Chris Bassitt sports a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through his 2 starts this season.  The White Sox are 2-16 off 3 consecutive games against a division opponent this season.  The A’s are 13-3 in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below 40%.  The White Sox are 1-8 in Giolito’s last 9 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  Chicago is 1-6 in Giolito’s last 7 home starts.  The A’s are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.  Take Oakland. 

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-130) 

The Key: The Indians have a big edge on the mound today with Corey Kluber over Reynaldo Lopez.  Kluber is 10-3 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 15 starts this year.  The Indians have gone 7-1 in Kluber’s last 8 starts against the White Sox, during which he has compiled a 2.05 ERA while yielding only 12 earned runs in 52 2/3 innings.  Reynaldo Lopez was shelled for 7 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last start against the Indians on May 30th.  The White Sox are 10-42 in their last 52 road games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Indians are 23-5 in Kluber’s last 28 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Indians will win by multiple runs Wednesday.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line. 

7* NL Central Game of the Month on Pittsburgh Pirates -112 

The Key: It’s important that the Pittsburgh Pirates sweep this series with the Milwaukee Brewers.  They currently are 6 games behind the Brewers in the race for 1st place in the NL Central.  They won 1-0 yesterday in Game 1 and should take Game 2 tonight as well.  Jameson Taillon is having a fine season at 4-5 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 14 starts, including 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Taillon sports a 3.47 ERA in 7 lifetime starts vs. Milwaukee.  He has allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in each of his last 4 starts against the Brewers.  Freddy Peralta makes just his 3rd start of the season for the Brewers tonight.  The Pirates are 25-11 in home games after allowing 2 runs or less over the last 2 seasons.  The Pirates are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings and 6-2 in the last 8 home meetings.  Take Pittsburgh. 

7* Diamondbacks/Angels ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -111 

The Key: The Los Angeles Angels are hungry for a victory after losing 6 of their last 7 games coming in.  All were on the road, and now they return home from a 9-game road stand.  The Angels should fare much better at home in Game 1 of this series with the Diamondbacks.  Jaime Barria has been great this season at 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 8 starts.  He has been even better at home at 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 4 starts.  Zack Greinke has been great at home but sub-par on the road throughout his career.  That is the case again in 2018 as Greinke is 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 6 road starts this year.  Greinke is 3-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 11 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  The Angels are 13-5 in their last 18 interleague home games.  The Diamondbacks are 0-7 in their last 7 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.  Arizona is 4-14 in its last 18 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Los Angeles. 

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Philadelphia Phillies -107 

The Key: The Philadelphia Phillies have a big edge on the mound today with Aaron Nola over Chase Anderson of the Brewers.  Nola is 8-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 14 starts this year.  He has never lost to the Brewers, going 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Anderson is 5-5 with a 4.13 ERA in 13 starts this year, but 3-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 7 home starts.  Anderson is also 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against the Phillies.  Take Philadelphia. 

7* Cubs/Cardinals NL Central *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis +109 

The Key: After getting embarrassed 5-13 by the Cubs yesterday, the Cardinals should come back hungry for a victory against their rivals tonight.  Carlos Martinez has been very sharp this season at 3-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 10 starts.  He has been awesome at home at 1-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 6 starts.  Kyle Hendricks is 4-6 with a 3.48 ERA in 13 starts this year.  Hendricks has leaked oil on the road, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 5 starts.  Hendricks is 1-9 off a win this season.  The Cardinals are 4-0 in Martinez’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  St. Louis is 4-1 in Martinez’s last 5 starts against Chicago.  Take St. Louis. 

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-108) 

The Key: The Indians should be able to win by multiple runs over the Twins today.  Corey Kluber gets the ball looking to build on a terrific season already.  He is 10-2 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 14 starts, including 6-0 with a 1.26 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 7 home starts.  Kyle Gibson is having a decent season but is just 1-4 in 13 starts.  He is 2-6 with a 5.60 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 14 lifetime starts vs. Cleveland.  Kluber has really shut down the Twins in recent starts against them.  He is 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA in his last 3 starts against Minnesota, yielding just 1 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings with 29 strikeouts.  The Twins are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.  The Indians are 48-16 in their last 64 vs. a team with a losing record.  Cleveland is 46-17 in Kluber’s last 63 starts.  Take Cleveland. 

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona Diamondbacks -128 

The Key: The Diamondbacks are on fire at the plate right now.  They have scored 8 or more runs in 5 of hitter last 6 games coming in.  They should feast on the Mets’ Jason Vargas, who is 2-4 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 7 starts, and 1-2 with a 10.34 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 4 road starts.  Vargas is also 2-2 with a 7.11 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Arizona.  Matt Koch has been solid for the Diamondbacks at 4-3 with a 4.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 10 starts this year.  The Mets are 1-10 after batting .200 or worse over a 3-game span this season.  Take Arizona. 

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Detroit Tigers -102 

The Key: The Detroit Tigers got a much-needed day off yesterday and should be rejuvenated.  It probably felt like a vacation after playing 18 games in 17 days prior and going 10-8 in that tough stretch.  I really like the attitude of this team because almost everyone counted them out, but they are still right in the thick of the AL Central race.  Blaine Hardy has been solid in 5 starts this year, going 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, including 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 3 home starts.  Jake Odorizzi is 0-1 with an 8.36 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his last 3 starts for the Twins.  The Tigers are 21-16 (+11.4 units) at home this season.  The Twins are 12-18 (-5.3 units) on the road.  The Tigers are 6-0 in their last 6 games following an off day.  The Twins are 1-7 in their last 8 games following an off day.  Minnesota is 0-6 in Odorizzi’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.  Take Detroit. 

7* MLB Total of the Week on Red Sox/Orioles OVER 8.5 

The Key: Both Steven Wright and Dylan Bundy are in line to get rocked tonight.  Wright is 2-2 with a 7.17 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. Baltimore.  Bundy is 3-6 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 10 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  The OVER is 8-1-2 in Red Sox last 11 Monday games.  The OVER is 9-2 in Lundy’s last 11 starts when working on 4 days of rest.  Take the OVER.