The Yankees stayed alive in the World Series with a Game 4 win over the Dodgers, 11-4. The long ball continues to play a big part in the series with both teams connecting on multiple home runs including SS Vople hitting a Grand Slam to put the Yankees ahead for good. Freddie Freeman also continues to show off his long ball skills with aother home run, his fourth in a row in the World Series and 6th in a row if you go back to his Atlanta playing days. Gerrit Cole makes his 2nd start of the series after a great game one performance. He has been a dominant force for the Yankees this season, boasting a high strikeout rate and consistently limiting base runners. Known for his overpowering fastball and elite off-speed pitches, Cole tends to dominate hitters who struggle with high velocity. Jack Flaherty who joined the Dodgers mid-season, has adapted well and provided stability. His pitching style emphasizes control and inducing weak contact, and he's demonstrated strong performances in high=stakes games. Flaherty's key to success lies in his ability to mix pitches and keep hitters off balance. The Yankees' aggressive approach at the plate might play into Flaherty's strengths, particularly if he can avoid walks and force ground balls or pop-ups. The Dodgers bring one of the league's most disciplined lineups, with high on-base percentages and hitters who can adjust to power pitching. Key players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have been effective at working counts and capitalizing on mistakes. They may look to force Cole into deep pitch counts early, aiming to elevate his pitch count and access the Yankees' bullpen by the mid-innings. Shohei Ohtani has not been a factor in the series as he's lately battled a shoulder injury. But, neither has the Yankees star center field, Aaron Judge, who has struggled the entire postseason. The game will be played at Yankee Stadium, a park known for favoring left-handed pull hitters due to the short porch in right field. This has already been a factor with both Will Smith and Freeman hitting game four home runs that in any other park in baseball would have been outs or at least stayed in the park. Wed don't usually get Cole at this price and while the Yankees have a long hill to climb, it's one game at a time. Take the Yankees.

 The LA Dodgers are on the brink of their first non-Covid season World Championship since 1988. LA is up 3-0 in this series after a 4-2 win on Monday night at New York. Freddy Freeman has been on fire, hitting home runs in each of the three games. In fact, LA has homered in eight straight playoff games. LA has had different stars emerge as the hero in recent games. Cant' say the same for the Yankees who have struggled to hit in the World Series. Star slugger Aaron Judge has had a horrible playoffs while Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton have been about the only ones hitting for the Yankees. The Dodgers plan to rely on a bullpen game for Game 4, a strategy that has proven effective for them during high-stakes moments in this series. Their bullpen depth has shut down critical innings, while the Yankees' while the Yankees lineup struggled to consistently produce runs despite their high profiles. The Yankees, facing elimination, will likely start Luis Gil here tonight. While the Yankees have home-field advantage, they'll need offensive contributions across the lineup and a flawless bullpen effort to extend the series. Gil is 15-7 this season with a 3.50 ERA. Gil hasn't pitched since Oct 18 when he went four innings vs Cleveland, allowing three hits and two runs. The Dodgers' momentum, combined with their roster depth, have them set to sweep the Yankees here tonight. I am taking the Dodgers to do just that. Take LA

The NLCS Game 4 contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets on Thursday, October 17, 2024, will be pivotal for both teams. The Dodgers lead the series after a strong 8-0 win in Game 3, and they will look to maintain that momentum at Citi Field tonight. LA Got their fourth shutout in their last five games and set a record by scoring seven runs or more in each of those shutouts. The Dodgers have been led by their powerful offense, with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez all contributing key hits throughout the playoffs. Despite Ohtani's struggles in the NLDS, the rest of the lineup has stepped up, helping the Dodgers score 24 runs in their NLDS against the Padres. Moreover, Ohtani has been great with runners in base, it's just been with no one on base that he's struggled in the playoffs. The pitching has also been solid, particularly the bullpen, which played a significant role in shutting down the Mets in Game 3. The Mets have shown resilience in the postseason, knocking out higher-seeded teams like the Phillies and Brewers. Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have powered the offense, and the Mets' pitching staff, led by Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, has been solid. I expect a more contested game here tonight and the resilience of the Mets to bounce back has been excellent. I'll take the Mets here in game four tonight.

As we approach Game 3 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets on October 16, 2024, the series is tied 1-1, making this contest pivotal. The Dodgers won Game 1 in a dominant 9-0 victory, while the Mets bounced back with a 7-3 win in Game 2, shifting momentum as they return to Citi Field. The Dodgers will send Walker Buehler to the mound, looking to rebound from a shaky postseason start where he posted a 10.80 ERA in his last outing vs the Padres. On the other side, the Mets will counter with Luis Severino, who has been more consistent in the playoffs, holding a 1-0 record with a 4.50 ERA. The Dodgers' offense is led by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández, who have been key run producers throughout the postseason. The Mets, meanwhile, will rely on Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos, both of whom have been power hitters in the playoffs, with Alonso hitting 3 home runs and Vientos maintaining an impressive .378 average. This looks to be another great matchup here in the NLCS. But with Buehler still a big question and Severino more of a stable factor, I'll take the Mets at home here in Game 3. 

It's Game 1 of the ALCS between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees. Game 1 will be held at Yankee Stadium, with Cleveland sending Alex Cobb to the mound against New York's ace Carlos Rodón. The Yankees' offense, led by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, has been explosive. Judge, despite a postseason slump, had a regular-season performance with 58 home runs and a staggering 11.2 WAR. Soto adds another significant threat, with 41 home runs and an elite on-base percentage. The Guardians will rely on Jose Ramírez, who nearly had a 40-40 season and has been a crucial player for Cleveland, especially in the ALDS. The Yankees have the edge in pitching, with Rodon leading the charge. Cleveland's Alex Cobb will need to be at his best to keep the Yankees' power hitters in check. Gleyber Torres (Yankees) has been on a hot streak recently, while Andres Gimenez (Guardians) has seen his offensive production dip but remains a defensive asset. Game 1 looks to be a close contest. The Guardians have shown they can defy odds, particularly with their strong defensive play and Ramírez's postseason form. The Guardians are a nice dog here in game one and they should be there at the end. I'll take a shot with the dog here today. Play Cleveland.

In Game 1 of the 2024 NLCS, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the New York Mets on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers, coming off a 98-64 season, are favored to win, with the Mets listed as underdogs following their 89-73 regular season. Kodai Senga will start for the Mets, while the Dodgers counter with Jack Flaherty. The Dodgers pulled out a huge NLDS win over the Padres, winning the last two games and shutting out the Padres for both games. The LA bullpen was amazing as they got the game four win and contributed to game five win.  Now they will host the Mets in game one. The Mets' success this postseason has largely been driven by their pitching staff, which has a solid 3.96 ERA, and the timely hitting of Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. However, they face a potent Dodgers lineup, including stars like Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani, who have powered LA to the second-most runs scored in MLB. Expect a closely fought contest, and considerding how the Mets keep rallying late in games, they are worth a shot here on Sunday. I'll take the Mets as a nice dog in game one and see i they can steal this game.  Prop Play: Senga Over 2.5 Strikeouts

It's a decisive Game 5 of the ALDS series here on Saturday as the Detroit Tigers take on the Cleveland Guardians. Both teams have split the first four games, and this deciding matchup will take place at Cleveland's Progressive Field, with the winner advancing to face the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Detroit will turn to their ace, Tarik Skubal, who has been lights out this postseason, throwing 13 scoreless innings across two starts. Skubal, with his 2.39 ERA during the regular season and an 18-4 record, is a key factor for the Tigers. His dominant pitching has been critical for Detroit, especially considering the Tigers' relatively weaker offense, which has relied heavily on Riley Greene and Matt Vierling to generate runs. Cleveland will counter with Matthew Boyd, who has also been effective, posting a 2.72 ERA this season. Boyd threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 1, though Cleveland ultimately lost that game. Offensively, the Guardians have leaned on stars like Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan, with Ramirez delivering key hits in the series, including a crucial home run in Game 4 that helped Cleveland even the series. This game is likely to be a low-scoring affair, as both teams boast strong pitching and have struggled to produce big offensive numbers in the series. With Skubal on the mound and Detroit's bullpen showing resilience, I'll take the Tigers here in game 5. 

The MLB playoff contest between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on October 9, 2024, promises to be an exciting elimination game. The Padres, leading the series 2-1, will send Dylan Cease to the mound, hoping to close out the series and advance to the NLCS. Cease struggled in Game 1 of the series, allowing 5 earned runs over just 3.1 innings, giving him a postseason ERA of 13.50. Despite his regular-season success (14-11), his recent performance against the Dodgers raises concerns about his effectiveness in this high-stakes game. The Dodgers, facing elimination, have not yet confirmed a starting pitcher, indicating it will likely be a bullpen game. Los Angeles has shown a mix of solid bullpen performances and struggles. Early offense has been a theme in this series, with both teams scoring heavily in the first few innings. The Padres jumped out to a 6-1 lead in game three before Teoscar Hernandez of LA hit a Grand Slam in the 4th to pull them to 6-5, but neither team scored after that. The Dodgers will rely on their heavy hitters, including Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani, to stay alive in the series, while the Padres look to capitalize on their home-field advantage, having won 8 of their last 9 home games. The Dodgers bullpen has been great while the starters have struggled, Everyone is on board for LA tonight and I expect them to tee off on Cease as they have before. I'll take LA here in this game four and force a game five back in LA.

The ALDS Game 3 between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on Wednesday will be a critical turning point, as the series is tied 1-1. Both teams have battled hard, with the Royals winning Game 2 by a score of 4-2, thanks to a big fourth inning and contributions from Salvador Pérez and Maikel Garcia. The Yankees struggled to capitalize on opportunities, stranding eight baserunners, which they cannot afford to repeat in this crucial game. On the mound for the Yankees will be Clarke Schmidt, making his first start of the postseason. Schmidt had a solid regular season with a 2.85 ERA but faces a tough challenge against a Royals lineup that has been resilient. For Kansas City, Seth Lugo will start, coming off a stellar 2024 season where he posted a 3.00 ERA. Lugo shut down the Yankees in a September meeting, pitching seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, and he'll aim to replicate that dominance. Offensively, both teams will look to their stars, particularly Aaron Judge for the Yankees and Bobby Witt Jr. for the Royals. However, both have struggled so far in the series, combining for just one hit between them. The outcome of Game 3 could hinge on which of these MVP candidates steps up. I like the fact that Lugo has been so good all season and the Royals are at home. I have to stick with them here and their Cinderella season after losing over 100 games last year to come this far in this short of time. I have to be on the Royals.

It's game 4 of the NLDS between the Phillies and the Mets and the Phillies are facing elimination after dropping to 1-2 in this series after loss in game three. This crucial game five will feature a pitching duel between Ranger Suarez for the Phillies and Jose Quintana for the Mets. With the Mets leading the series 2-1, both teams have everything to play for, as Philadelphia looks to force a decisive Game 5, while New York will try to clinch the series at home. Ranger Suarez has been an effective postseason performer for the Phillies in past playoff runs. In the 2024 regular season, he posted a solid 3.39 ERA across 28 starts, playing a key role in keeping the Phillies' rotation consistent. Suarez is known for his ability to manage big-game pressure, as demonstrated in 2022 and 2023 playoffs, and the Phillies will rely on his ground-ball-inducing sinker and off-speed pitches to neutralize a Mets lineup that has been hot in the series. Suarez's postseason experience could be pivotal in this elimination game. Offensively, Philadelphia will need key contributions from its lineup, led by Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Trea Turner. Castellanos, in particular, has been clutch this postseason, including a game-winning hit in Game 2. The Mets Jose Quintana has been a stabilizing force in the Mets' rotation. In 2024, Quintana posted a 3.47 ERA, and his experience in high-stakes games makes him a reliable option for New York. The Mets' offense has been led by Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, with Alonso providing clutch home runs and RBIs throughout the postseason. Lindor's bat has also woken up in this series, adding depth to the Mets' lineup. This game looks to be another nail biter as both teams have the pitching and the hitting. The Phillies have bee lackluster since the All-Star break and that bothers me. The Mets have been red hot and have momentum. I'll take the Mets here to close out the series and move on to the NLCS.

Game Three of this NLDS Series between the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres. The Padres tied the series at 1-1 after a decisive game two win in LA. Now the venue moves to PetCo Park in San Diego for game three here on Tuesday. The starting pitchers will be Michael King for the Padres and Walker Buehler for the Dodgers. Walker Buehler has had a challenging season, with a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA. However, he has been a reliable postseason performer in the past, boasting a career 2.94 ERA over 15 playoff starts. The Dodgers will be hoping for him to tap into that experience to reverse his regular-season struggles and keep them alive in the series. Michael King has been excellent for San Diego, particularly down the stretch. Over the final three months of the season, King posted a 2.07 ERA in 13 starts, making him one of the most reliable pitchers in the Padres' rotation. His ability to shut down opposing lineups gives the Padres a strong chance to control the game early. The Padres are riding high after a commanding 1022 win in Game 2, which evened the series at 1-1. The Padres' offense, led by stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., who has been hitting exceptionally well at Petco Park, and Manny Machado, has found its rhythm. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, despite their regular-season dominance, are facing postseason struggles, particularly on the road. Given King's form and Buehler's postseason pedigree, this game will likely hinge on how effectively the Dodgers' offense can break through early, and whether Buehler can return to his dominant playoff form. Both teams are capable of explosive offense, but the Padres have been the hottest team since the All Star Break. I'll take the Padres here in game three with a very good King on the hill.

The upcoming MLB playoff matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets on October 8, 2024, at Citi Field is expected to be an intense battle as the series is currently tied 1-1. The Phillies will be sending Aaron Nola to the mound, while the Mets counter with Sean Manaea. Aaron Nola has had an interesting season, finishing with a 14-8 record and a 3.57 ERA. Historically, Nola has performed well at Citi Field, posting a stellar 2.49 ERA since 2018, including a complete game shutout there earlier in 2024. However, he struggled in his last outing against the Mets on September 13, when he allowed six earned runs over just 4.1 innings. Sean Manaea has been reliable for the Mets, allowing two earned runs in five innings during his Wild Card start against the Brewers. He has had mixed results against the Phillies this year. In a start on September 21, he allowed three earned runs over seven innings, but he was hit hard in June, giving up six earned runs in under four innings. The Phillies are slight favorites (-115 on the moneyline), and the game is expected to be close with a projected total of over 7 runs. Both teams have shown volatility in their pitching and hitting, with the Phillies leaning on Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber for offensive power. The Mets will look to Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor to drive in runs. Given both pitchers' ups and downs, offense might play a bigger role than usual. The Mets have been the Comeback Kids this season and I like them here on Tuesday. Play the Mets. 

Game two of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians is here on Monday. This one has all the markings of a pitcher's duel. Detroit's Tarik Skubal, boasting an impressive 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA, will look to extend his dominant season. Skubal has struck out 228 batters over 192 innings, holding opponents to a .201 average. Cleveland's Matthew Boyd, who returned from Tommy John surgery this season, holds a 2.72 ERA but has less experience this year with only 39.2 innings pitched. Key factors will be Skubal's ability to suppress Cleveland's offense and Boyd's control over Detroit's bats. Given Skubal's recent form and Boyd's limited workload, Detroit holds an edge in this matchup. Skubal, who pitched six scoreless innings in the Wild Card round against Houston, should maintain his strong form, while Boyd, though effective, could face challenges going deep into the game due to his recovery. The Tigers' 29-15 record as favorites further reinforces their chances in this pivotal matchup. I'll take Detroit here in game two with Skubal on the hill.

The upcoming ALDS Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians on October 5, 2024, promises to be a closely contested matchup. The Guardians come into the game with a 92-69 record, securing their second AL Central title in three seasons. The Tigers, with an 86-76 record, surged late in the season, overcoming tough odds to make the playoffs. The Tigers swept their two game road AL Wild Card series. Pitching will be a focal point in this matchup, with Detroit's Tyler Holton set to start as an opener. Holton has been a key figure in Detroit's pitching strategy, especially after the chaos of their Wild Card series. He will be backed up by more reliable arms such as Tarik Skubal, who will pitch in Game 2. For Cleveland, Tanner Bibee will be on the mound in Game 1. Bibee has been stellar this season, with an ERA below 3.00 and a solid strikeout rate. His consistency gives Cleveland a slight edge in pitching. Offensively, Detroit will rely on key contributors like Riley Greene, who has 24 home runs and a team-leading .262 batting average, and Matt Vierling. The Guardians, on the other hand, have José Ramírez, who is coming off a strong season with 39 home runs and 118 RBIs. I like to ride hot teams into the playoffs and right now that's Detroit. They are a nice dog here on Saturday and I will give them a shot. Play Detroit.

The upcoming Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets on Thursday, October 3, 2024, is a winner-takes-all scenario. It looked bleak for Milwaukee heading into the late innings of game two, trailing 2-3. But a 8th inning rally saved the Brewers and extended the series to a deciding game three in Milwaukee here on Thursday. Milwaukee will start Tobias Myers (9-6, 3.00 ERA), while New York will counter with veteran Jose Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ERA). Myers just faced the Mets on Sept 28 and went four innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. The Brewers have also won four of his last five starts.   The Brewers have home-field advantage at American Family Field and boast a stronger pitching staff with a 3.65 ERA. I also am suspect of the Mets bullpen which had game two and the series but couldn't hold on for the win. The Brewers have the better bullpen, momentum and new life. I'll take the Brewers here in game three.

In the upcoming Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series on October 2, 2024, between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers, the stakes are high. The Mets took Game 1 with an 8-4 victory, putting the Brewers in a must-win situation to force a Game 3. Milwaukee will send Frankie Montas to the mound. Montas, who joined the Brewers midseason, finished with a 4.55 ERA in 11 starts for the team, showing flashes of dominance but also some inconsistency. The Brewers will need a strong start from him, especially given their bullpen was used heavily in Game 1. The Mets will counter with left-hander Sean Manaea, who posted a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA this season. Although he struggled in his final regular-season outing, allowing five earned runs in less than four innings, the Mets are counting on him to steady the team and clinch the series. Offensively, the Brewers will rely on young players like Jackson Chourio and established hitters such as Christian Yelich to provide the spark they lacked in Game 1. Meanwhile, the Mets have been powered by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, whose postseason experience will be crucial. Given the Mets' momentum and solid pitching, I give them the advantage entering game two here on Wednesday. I'll take the Mets to knock the Brewers out of the playoffs. Play New York.

AL Wild Card Playoffs begin here on Tuesday with the Detroit Tigers traveling to Houston to take on the Astros. The Astros, with playoff experience and a powerhouse lineup led by stars like Yordan Álvarez, have home-field advantage. Their likely starter, Framber Valdez who was 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA this season. Valdez has been excellent, allowing just five runs over his last five starts with the Royals winning four of the five games. Tarik Skubal has been very good this season for the Tigers with a 18-4 record and 2.39 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Skubal has allowed just five runs over his last five starts and just one run over his last two starts. He also has 35 KO's to just two walks over those five starts. The Tigers have been hot and they have one of the best starters in the A.L on the mound. They are definitely worth a shot here on Tuesday. Play the Tigers.

 The LA Dodgers clinched the NL West with their win over the Padres last night. That makes this series with the Rockies meaningless to them. Historically, when a team clinches, the next game they come out and lose. Whether it's the partying, the exhaustion or what, but they normally lose. Plus LA's Freddy Freeman tweaked his ankle late last night so you know he is likely out for the series. I expect LA to play the backups today and the bullpen will probably use the less used arms. I'll take the Rockies here against a disinterested Dodgers club.

This three game set has playoff atmosphere and they didn't dissapoint in game one on Tuesday night. The Padres took a 4-2 lead into the 9th inning and the Dodgers rallied to load the bases with no one out. It looked bad for the Padres until Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas hit a hot shot to third base that the Padres turned into a TRIPLE PLAY to end the game. And, who was on deck? None other than Shoei Ohtani. That win by the Padres cut the Dodgers NL West lead to just two games. Dylan Cease will go for the Padres tonig-ht. He's 14-11 with a 3.42 ERA this year. He's allowed no runs over his last 14 1/3 innings with two walks and 15 runs. The Padres have won four of his last five starts. Jack Flaherty will start for the Dodgers with a 13-7 record and 3.10 ERA. The Dodgers are 3-2 in his last five starts. He's allowed seven runs over his last nine innings with six walks. Cease has been great while Flaherty has struggled. I'll take the red-hot Padres here again as a nice dog.

The Kansas City Royals fighting for one of the three Wild Card slots had to go 10 innings last night to beat the Nationals, 1-0. The Royals are tied for the 2nd and third spots with the Tigers. Both those teams are 2-games ahead of the Twins. The Orioles have a lock on the top Wild Card slot as they lead by four games. The Royals have struggled of late too, going 3-7 over their last 10 games. The Tigers have gone 8-2 to catch them for this 2nd spot tie. Michael Lorenzen will start for the Royals with a 7-6 record and 3.43 ERA. The Royals have won his last three starts as Lorenzen has gone 14 1/3 innings and allowed just one earned run. The Nationals will send DJ Herz to the mound. Herz is 4-8 with a 4.30 ERA. Herz is coming off a bad start where he went 3 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and seven runs to the Mets. That snapped a nice run of 10 innings where he allowed just one run. The Royals have struggled to score runs of late, but they have to stay focused and this is the team they can shut down and beat. Play Kansas City.

 The MLB matchup between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday is a pivotal contest as the regular season winds down. The Padres, sitting just three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, are fighting to potentially close the gap and strengthen their playoff position, while the Dodgers are aiming to secure their division lead and hold onto the best record in the NL over the Phillies. The Padres will send right-hander Michael King (12-9, 3.04 ERA) to the mound. King has been a reliable arm for San Diego this season, excelling particularly on the road with a 2.80 ERA over 90 innings. King has been striking out batters consistently, amassing 198 Ks this season, and he's had decent success against the Dodgers, holding a 3.63 ERA against them over his career. However, run support has been a challenge for King, with the Padres averaging just 2.4 runs per game during his last five starts. The Dodgers will counter with rookie Landon Knack (3-4, 3.39 ERA). Knack has shown flashes of potential, especially at home where he's posted a 3.00 ERA across six starts at Dodger Stadium. He has been solid recently, pitching five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in his last start against the Marlins. The Padres come into this game having won eight of their last nine games and have performed well on the road, boasting a 5-1 record in their last six away games. While the Dodgers have been dominant as favorites this season, the Padres have had the upper hand in their head-to-head meetings, going 7-3 in their last 10 matchups against Los Angeles. Given Michael King's road form and the Padres' recent success against the Dodgers, I'll take the Padres who should be right there in this game at the end. Play San Diego.

 The MLB contest between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets on Saturday, September 21, 2024, is a critical matchup as both teams are fighting for postseason positioning. The Phillies, currently 92-62 are tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the N.L. The Mets are holding onto that third and final NL Wild Card sport as of today. They have a two-game lead over fourth place Atlanta. Starting on the mound for the Phillies will be Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.13 ERA), who has been effective but inconsistent in recent starts, allowing three or more runs in three of his last four outings. Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets and has been stellar, allowing one or fewer earned runs in three of his last four starts?. Manaea's recent form gives the Mets a slight edge in pitching. Offensively, the Phillies have been powered by Bryce Harper (.287 with 29 home runs) and a lineup that has scored 751 runs this season. However, the Mets' offense, led by Pete Alonso (34 home runs) and Francisco Lindor, has been equally formidable, with Lindor being particularly hot, having recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine games. Crucial matchup here on Saturday but I will stick with the home team and hotter pitcher. Take the Mets.

 On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets face off in what promises to be a pivotal matchup, especially as both teams continue to fight for postseason positioning in the National League. The Phillies have been one of the most consistent teams in the NL East this season, led by a strong offensive core featuring Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber. On the mound, the Phillies will look to Taijuan Walker. Walker is just 3-6 on the season with a 6.29 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. Walker has pitched better of late, allowing four runs over his last 8 innings (all out of the pen). His last start was six innings with 13 hits and six runs allowed to the Astros in a loss. The Mets, on the other hand, have endured an up-and-down season but remain dangerous with a potent mix of talent. The Mets are now tied for 2nd in the NL Wild card race with the Diamondbacks, both teams ahead of fourth place Atlanta. The Mets will turn to Luis Severino. Severino is 10-6 with a 3.77 ERA. Severino has allowed just five total runs over his last three starts (19 2/3 innings. The Phillies have locked up the NL East, but still battle for the overall best NL record. The Mets are in a battle for one of the three Wild Card spots. I'm taking the Mets here on Thursday with the better starter on the hill.

The Philadelphia Phillies are cruising to a NL East title as they lead 2nd place NY Mets by eight games. However, they are still playing for the best record in the NL and lead the Dodgers by one game and the Brewers by three games. Today, they play at Milwaukee after dropping their game vs the Brewers yesterday, 2-6. Zack Wheeler will start for the Phillies. He's been excellent this season with a 15-6 record and 2.60 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Wheeler also has a 1.76 ERA over his last eight starts. Frankie Montas will counter for the Brewers with a 7-10 record and 4.49 ERA. After allowing 11 runs over 18 innings, Montas allowed no runs to the Giants over six innings in his last start. Philadelphia has been strong recently and bounced back well after losses, making this a solid pick for them to recover after Monday's defeat. Take the Phillies.

 The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals face off on Monday, September 16, 2024, in a divisional matchup at Busch Stadium. Neither team is contending for a postseason spot, but both are looking to end their seasons on a high note. The Pirates (71-78) are sending out their rookie sensation Paul Skenes, who has been dominant this season with a 10-2 record, a 2.10 ERA, and 151 strikeouts in 120 innings. Skenes has been especially effective in September with a 0.82 ERA. On the other hand, the Cardinals (74-75) have been struggling lately, losing seven of their last ten games. They will counter with Andre Pallante, who holds a 6-8 record and a 4.13 ERA. Pallante has struggled in September, walking ten batters in his last 10 innings. Given Skenes' form and the Cardinals' recent struggles both offensively and in the bullpen, the Pirates are my play here on Monday. Play Pittsburgh.

The Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers play the final game of their three game set here on Sunday. The Tigers took game one on Friday, 1-0 and the Orioles took game two on Saturday, 4-2. The Tigers had a no hitter into the 9th inning before Gunnar Henderson broke it up. Henderson homered and doubled in Saturday's contest as he led the O's to the win. The O's are two games back of the AL East leading Yankees. They have the top spot in the AL Wild Card race with a 5.5 game lead over third place Minnesota. Detroit still has a shot at the Wild Card, just 2.5 games back of the Twins for that last spot. Cade Povich will start for the O's with a 2-8 record, 5.91 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Povich has had one very good start in his last five starts. Other than that start, he's allowed 16 runs over 19 1/3 innings of work. Keider Montero will counter for the Tigers. Montero is 5-6 with a 4.88 ERA. He's coming off his best start of the season, going nine full innings and giving up three hits an no runs for the win over the Rockies. I like the Tigers to take the rubber game of this series here on Sunday. Play Detroit.

 Great matchup here today as two of the best pitchers on two playoff bound teams meet as the Dodgers and Braves play game two of their set. The Braves took game one on Friday, 6-2. Now they have Cy Young favorite Chris Sale on the hill while the Dodgers start Chris Flaherty who they got before the trade deadline and has been great for them. The Dodgers lead in the NL West has dropped to 4.5 games over the Padres and 5 games over the D'backs. The Braves are 8 games back of the Phillies in the East, but just one game back of that final third Wild Card spot. Flaherty is 12-6 with a 2.86 ERA for the Dodgers. He's allowed just one run over his last two starts (13 innings) with 13 KO's and three walks. Sale is 16-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He's gone 13 innings without allowing a run and has allowed five total runs his last five starts (all wins by the Braves). I'm sticking with the Braves and the likely Cy Young pitcher on the hill.

 Interconference clash here on Friday has the Kansas City Royals playing at Pittsburgh. The Royals are four games back in the AL Central behind first place Cleveland. The Royals currently hold onto the 2nd AL Wild Card spot, 3-games back of Baltimore and 1.5 games ahead of 3rd place Minnesota. The Pirates are not officially eliminated but they are 14 games back in the NL Central and 10 back in the NL Wild Card. The Royals are still undecided who whey will start here today. The Pirates are going with Luis Ortiz. Ortiz is 6-5 on the season with a 3.26 ERA. He's allowed just three total runs over his lat three starts (17 2/3 innings) with 12 KO's and six walks. No matter who the Royals start here today, I like Ortiz in this home start. Take the Pirates.

 The Cleveland Guardians can't relax too much in the AL Central race. They lead 2nd place Kansas City by just 4.5 games as we enter the finals stretch of the regular season. The Guardians have won three straight and are 7-3 their last 10 games. The Tampa Bay Rays have to start thinking of next season. They are 13 games back in the AL East race and seven back in the Wild Card race with six other teams in front of them. The Rays will start Ryan Pepiot today who has had a decent season with a 8-6 record and 3.66 ERA. He's also allowed two runs or fewer in three of his last five starts, three runs in another and five runs in the fifth. Gavin Williams has struggled for the Guardians to a 3-8 record and 5.25 ERA. He had a terrible out last time out, going 2/3 of an inning vs the Dodgers and allowing five runs on just two hits. However, the start before that was very good, seven strong innings of one hit baseball and one run allowed. So we know he has the ability to shut down opponents. I'll have to take the Guardians here today even though Williams has struggled at time. Your AL Game of the Week is on the Guardians.

The Toronto Blue Jays host the NY Mets in game two of their set as the Jays try to play spoilers and put a dent in the Mets postseason hopes. The Jays, while not officially eliminated, are out of the AL East race and quite a ways back in the AL Wild Card race. The Mets are now tied for that final NL Wild Card spot as the Braves took advantage of their loss on Tuesday. Both teams now tied at 79-66 and four games ahead of the Cubs in the race. The Jays handed the Mets a loss last night, 2-6 as the teams evened this series at one game each. The Mets will send Sean Manaea to the hill today with his 11-5 record and 3.43 ERA. The Mets have won his last five starts, despite giving up four runs in his last start vs the Reds. Manaea has allowed at least three runs in four of his last five starts. Toronto will counter with Bowden Francis, a 6-foot-5, 220 lb right hander. Francis has a 3.72 ERA with 81k's on the season and 0.99 WHIP. Francis has 10 starts this year and 14 games out of the pen. Francis has proved he can go deep into games, going at least seven innings in four of his last five starts. Moreover, he's allowed one or no runs in four starts and three runs in the other start. And he has 38 KO's and just three walks in those starts. I like Francis today at home as a dog. I look for the Jays to take this game. Play Toronto.

Key Interleague contest here today as the surging NY Mets look to hold onto that third and final Wild Card slot. The Mets have a one game lead over fourth place Atlanta and trail 2nd place Arizona by one game and 1st place San Diego by 1.5 games. So these games are key to the Mets with few than 20 games left in the regular season. The Blue Jays, while not officially eliminated, are a ways back in the AL Wild Card and in last in the AL East. So their role appears to be that of a spoiler right now. David Peterson gets the start for the Mets. Peterson has been excellent with a 9-1 record and 2.75 ERA. The Mets have won his last five starts as he's allowed two runs or fewer in each of those five starts. Chris Bassitt will counter for the Blue Jays. Bassitt has a 9-13 record and 4.30 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. The Jays have lost four of his last five starts and he's allowed three runs or more in four of those starts. The Mets have momentum they have the better starter and they are the team to play here on Tuesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the first place Houston Astros tonight in a key MLB matchup. The D'backs have been one of the hottest teams in baseball the last few months and currently hold the 2nd Wild Card spot, a half game ahead of the Mets and two 1 1/2 games back of the Padres. The Astros have pulled away to a 5.5 game lead over 2nd place Seattle thanks to a two game winning streak and 7-3 record their last 10 games. Ryne Nelson will start for the D'backs wit a 10-6 record and 4.15 ERA. Nelson has been very consistent, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. He also has 35 KO's to just four walks during that span. Justin Verlander will start for the Astros. Verlander is 3-5 with a 4.52 ERA. He's not been very Verlander-like this year and lately. He's allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts. Furthermore, the Astros have lost his last five starts. I'm taking the D'backs here as a live dog against a Verlander that isn't in the form he used to be.

The Detroit Tigers head West to face the Oakland A's tonight. The Tigers are 4th in the AL Central with a 71-70 record and 9.5 games back of the first place Cleveland Guardians. Still, the Tigers are not out of the playoff race as they are five games back in the AL Wildcard. and have only to catch Kansas City to get into the postseason. However, they do have three teams on their tail, all within 1 1/2 games to fight off. Oakland has been playing out the season it seems since day one. Tarik Skubal has been the Ace of this Tigers' staff with his 16-4 record and 2.51 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. The Tigers have won his last five starts and Skubal has allowed just eight runs over his last 32 innings of work. He also has just seven walks and 39 KO's during that span. Mitch Spence will counter for the A's with a 7-9 record and 4.50 ERA. The A's have won two of his last five starts and while Spence has shown brilliance, like a 10 KO performance vs the Ryas, he's been inconsistent at best. I have to take the Tigers here tonight with their best on the hill and still a postseason shot. Play Detroit.

 The NY Yankees travel to Chicago for their series at the Chicago Cubs from Wrigley. The Yankees are in 2nd place in the AL East, just a half game back of the Orioles. They also have a +118 run differential. The Yankees have slumped a bit, losing two straight and going 4-6 their last 10 games. They face one of the hotter teams in recent weeks in the Cubs. The Cubs moved into 2nd place in the NL Central, but still trail first place Milwaukee by nine games. However, their best chance at the postseason is via the NL Wild Card. The Cubs are now in 5th in the Wild Card race, four games back of both the Mets and Braves for that last spot. Luis Gil gets the start for the Yankees with his 12-6 record and 3.39 ERA. The Yankees have lost Gil's last two starts where the starter has allowed seven runs over seven innings. But most important has been his lack of control, walking 13 batters over his last 12 innings. Jordan Wicks will toe the rubber for the Cubs. Wicks is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA. He's coming off an excellent start where he went five innings allowed four hits and just one run. Cubs a dog here today at home and as hot as they have been they are worth a shot. Play the Cubs.

 Arizona and San Diego have been two of the hottest teams in baseball the last few months and have been chasing the LA Dodgers all season. The D'backs are in 3rd place right now in the NL West, 5-games back of the Dodgers. They lost 3 of 4 to the Dodgers in their big series with them. Since though they have won two straight games and have a +95 run differential. Arizona currently holds onto the 2nd Wild Card spot, 2.5 games ahead of the Braves. The Giants have seen their playoff hopes fading. They now are 8.5 back in the Wild card after losing four straight games and 3-7 their last 10 games. Merrill Kelly will start today for the D'backs with a 4-0 record and 4.30 ERA. Kelly has been hit hard of late, allowing four runs or more in each of his last three starts. He's given up 14 runs over his last 16 1/3 innings. Blake Snell will start for the Giants with his 2-3 record and 3.56 ERA. Snell has been excellent of late, allowing four runs over his last four starts (23 1/3 innings). The Giants have also won four of his last five starts. Despite the Giants fading, this is one pitcher I can back and especially against a struggling Kelly for the D'backs. Play San Francisco.

 Two teams both with their sites set on a Wild Card spot meet as the AL's Boston Red Sox travel to New York to face the NL Mets. The Red Sox are 5th right now in the Wild Card race, 4.5 games back with four teams ahead of them. The Sox have lost four straight games and are 3-7 their last 10 games. The Mets are just a half game back in the NL Wild Card race. They have won six straight games and are 8-2 their last 10. The Mets trail the Braves by just a half game. Tanner Houck will start today for the Sox. Houck is 8-9 with a 3.12 ERA this year. Houck coming off a good start where he allowed no runs over six innings vs the Tigers. That start followed one of his worst starts where he went six innings and gave up six runs to the D'backs. Tylor Megill will start for the Mets. Megill is 3-5 with a 4.82 ERA. Megill coming off one of his better starts where he went 5 1/3 innings and gave up five hits and just one run in the win over the White Sox. He's allowed just two runs over his last 7 1/3 innings with eight KO's and two walks. I have to stick with the red-hot Mets here today against a struggling Red Sox club. Play the NY Mets.

 The Toronto Blue Jays host the Philadelphia Phillies here on Tuesday. The Jays blew a 6-1 1st inning lead yesterday vs the Phillies as Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs for the Phils. The Phils rallied for three runs in the 9th to pull out the win. The Phillies maintain their big lead in the NL East with a seven game cushion over 2nd place Atlanta. Cristopher Sanchez will start for the Phillies today with a 9-9 record and 3.49 ERA. The Phils have split his last four games, winning two and dropping two. During that span he's allowed 13 runs over 25 1/3 innings. Bowden Francis starts today for the Blue Jays with his 3.66 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. Bowden is 8-3 overall with nine starts and 14 out of the pen. The Jays are a small dog here on Wednesday and with Bowden pitching well they have a good shot in this game. I'll take the Blue Jays.

Don't look now but the Chicago Cubs are making a mad dash to the playoffs. The Cubs are one of the hottest teams in baseball, going 8-2 over their last 10 games and scoring 99 runs in those 10 games. While they are still a long way out in the division, 10-games back, they are just 3.5 games back in the NL Wild Card. They have climbed all the way up to 5th in the Wild Card. Kyle Hendricks will start today and he's had a rough season, going 3-10 with a 6.75 ERA. Hendrick had been much improved, allowing three runs or fewer in four straight starts until his last start where he gave up six runs. Despite their hot streak, the Cubs find themselves a home dog here today and that's because Paul Skenes starts for the Pirates. Skenes is 8-2 with a 2.23 ERA. While Skenes is one of the best, the Pirates have won only two of his last five starts. I'll take a shot with the red-hot Cubs today as they are scoring in bunches and Skenes has shown the Bucs don't win all the time with him on the mound. Play Chicago.

The San Diego Padres have had a great run here in recent months, cutting the LA Dodgers lead in the AL West. However, the Dodgers continue to play well and have increased their lead to six games over both the Padres and D'backs. The Padres are 5-5 their last 10 games but hold onto the top Wild Card spot along with Arizona as both teams have a 2-game lead over third place Atlanta. The Rays may be out of the playoff contention but they are playing well, having beat the Padres on Saturday and are 7-3 their last 10 games. The Padres will turn to Dylan Cease here today. Cease is 12-10 with a 3.57 ERA. Cease has pitched well but not great of late. He's allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts, going 2-2 in the process. Ryan Pepiot will counter for the Rays today. Pepiot is 7-6 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Pepiot lost his last start, giving up two earned runs over six innings. However, the Rays had won his previous four starts. In fact, Pepiot has allowed just five total earned runs over his last five starts (29 innings) with six walks and 27 KO's. Rays a dog again here today and I love live dogs. I think we get the better pitcher and the hotter team right now. Take the dog here today with the Rays.

The Toronto Blue Jays take on the Minnesota Twins in a key AL Contest here on Saturday. The Jays are pretty much done for the postseason as they are last in the AL East, 14 games back of the Yankees. The are also near the bottom in the Wild Card race, 8.5 games back. The Minnesota Twins have dropped to 3rd in the AL Central thanks in part to a 3-7 run over their last 10 games. They are 3.5 games back of first place Cleveland. The Twins are in position for a Wild Card spot as they sit third right now with a 3.5 game edge over 4th place Boston. Jose Berrios will start for the Jays here on Saturday with a 13-0 record and 3.72 ERA. The Jays have won his last four starts with Berrios allowing two runs or fewer in each of those starts. He also has 26 KO's and just three walks during that span. Zebby Mathews will make his fourth start for the Twins. Mathews is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his previous starts. Mathews has looked good thus far but I am much more confident in Berrios and the Jays are a live dog for me here on Saturday against a struggling Minnesota club. Play Toronto.

The Detroit Tigers host the Boston Red Sox in a AL Contest here on Saturday. The Tigers have won seven of their last 10 games but still sit in 4th in the AL Central, 9.5 games back of the Guardians. The Boston Red Sox are 5-5 in their last 10 games and in 3rd in the AL East, nine games back of the Yankees. The Sox sit in 4th place in the AL Wild Card race, 3.5 games back of third place Seattle. The Tigers are still in the running though, just six games back of first place Baltimore in the Wild Card. Nick Pivetta will get the nod for the Sox here on Saturday. Pivetta is 5-9 with a 4.61 ERA. Pivetta has been inconsistent of late, allowing five runs in his last start vs Houston and no more than three in his previous three starts. The Sox have won three of his last five starts. All Star Tarik Skubal will start for the Tigers with his 15-4 record and 2.58 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He's allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last four starts - all wins for the Tigers. A bit of higher price than I usually like to lay, but Skubal is worth the risk. Play Detroit.

AL West clash here on Friday as the Oakland A's take on the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are 63-71 and have won three straight games and are 7-3 their last 10 games. They are nine games back of the Astros in the division. The Rangers playoff hopes look bleak as they are also 10 games back in the Wild Card race. The Oakland A's are 58-75 but have been playing much better since the All Star Break. The A's are 4th in the division 14 games back. The A's will start JP Sears today. Sears is 10-9 with a 4.35 ERA. The A's have won three of his last five starts. He's also allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Jon Gray will counter for the Rangers. Gray is 5-5 with a 4.32 ERA. Gray got roughed up in his last start, going just two innings and allowing seven hits and seven runs. The A's are a live dog here today against a struggling Gray and a Rangers team that is pretty much eliminated from the playoff. Play the A's.

 The San Diego Padres have cooled down a bit since that amazing run that cut the Dodgers lead in the NL West to just three games. However, they are 5-5 in their last 10 games and now five games back of the Dodgers. They still are in 2nd though in the NL Wild Card Race, one game back of the Diamondbacks. Tampa Bay is last in the AL East with a 66-70 record and -64 run differential. They have won seven of their last 10 games. The Rays are six games back in the AL Wild Card race, but have six teams ahead of them. The Padres will start Martin Perez today. Perez is 3-5 with a 4.60 ERA. Perez has been excellent through during this run, not allowing more than two runs in four of his last five starts and three runs in the other start. The Padres have also won his last five starts. Taj Bradley will counter for the Rays today. Bradley is 6-8 with a 3.77 ERA. Bradley has been hit hard in recent starts, allowing 19 earned runs over his last 20 innings of work. The Rays have also lost four of his last five starts. The Padres Perez pitching too well to pass on his here today. Take the Padres.

 The Milwaukee Brewers cruising to a division win in the NL Central as they now lead second place Chicago by 9-games. The Brewers are 76-56 and have a +112 run differential. They will take on the San Francisco Giants early this afternoon. The Giants are 67-67 and in 4th in the NL West, 12.5-games back of the Dodgers. The Giants are 6.5 games back in the NL Wildcard, but the two top Wild Card teams are also NL West teams in the Padres and D'backs. The Giants will start Hayden Birdsong today who is 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA. After a couple of rough starts where he allowed 12 runs over 6 1/3 innings, Birdsong has pitched well his last two starts with just one run over 8 2/3 innings. Birdsong won't go long though, as he hasn't made it past five innings in any of his last five starts. Aaron Civale has had a rough going with his 4-8 record and 4.84 ERA. However, he's pitched much better of late, allowing three runs or fewer in four of his last starts. In addition, he's allowed three runs over his last 10 innings. I'm sticking with the first place Brewers here on Thursday. Play Milwaukee

Reason: The Oakland A's look to build on their two game win streak here tonight as they play at Cincinnati. The A's are 57-75 and in 4th in the AL West. The A's have played much better the 2nd half of the season. The Cincinnati Reds are in 4th place in the NL Central with their 63-69 record. They have lost two straight and seven of their last 10 games. The Reds are 12.5 games back of first place Milwaukee. Osvaldo Bido will start here today for the A's. Bido has been very good of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last four start and three runs total over that span. The A's have won his last three starts as Bido has allowed just one run over those 17 innings of work. Fernando Cruz will make a start here today after working mostly from the bullpen. He has a 5.30 ERA and hasn't gone farther than two innings in any of his last five appearances. A's could easily become the favorite in this contest before the game starts. I'll take them plus the small dog money. Play Oakland.

A battle of first place teams as Houston takes on Philadelphia here on Wednesday. The Houston Astros have lost two straight games. Still, they have a 3.5 game lead in the AL West over Seattle. The Phillies are 78-54 and are tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the NL. They have a six game lead over the surging Atlanta Braves. The Spencer will start Spencer Arrighetti today with a 6-11 record and 4.94 ERA. He's pitched well of late, allowing three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. He went six innings vs the Orioles in his last start, allowing three hits and no runs for the win. Taijuan Walker will counter for the Phillies. Walker is 3-5 with a 6.26 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. Walker has struggled of late, allowing three runs or more in each of his last five starts and six runs and eight hits in his last game at Kansas City. Moreover, the Phillies have lost each of his last five starts. I'm sticking with the Astros here on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians begin a very important series here from Cleveland. Just one game seperates first place Cleveland from 2nd place Kansas City. The Guardians have been struggling, losing two straight games and seven of their last 10. Meanwhile, the Royals have made up lots of ground by winning two straight and seven of their last 10 games. The Royals will start Michael Lorenzen today who is 7-6 with a 3.47 ERA. Lorenzen has been very good of late, allowing one run or fewer in three of his four starts since coming over from the Rangers before the trade deadline. His other start he allowed just three runs. Gavin Williams will toe the rubber for the Guardians. He's 2-6 on the season with a 5.13 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Williams has give up eight runs over his last 8 1/3 innings with six walks. Yet, here the Guardians are a decent favorite here on Tuesday. I'll take the underdog Royals with the better pitcher on the mound and hotter team. Play Kansas City. 

Monday AL East Clash between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox. This looks to be a series closely contested. Despite their 63-68 record, the Blue Jays have been solid throughout the season, relying on a powerful lineup that includes key hitters like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. Their offense has the potential to put up runs in bunches, especially against a Red Sox pitching staff that has struggled with consistency. The Red Sox, playing at home in Fenway Park, have the advantage of a strong offensive lineup as well, with players like Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida leading the charge. However, Boston's bullpen has been a concern, and if the game is close late, the Blue Jays could take advantage. This game could be high scoring based on the offenses of both clubs. Jose Berrios will start for the Jays today with a 12-9 record and 3.79 ERA. The Jays have won four of his last five starts and Berrios has allowed over two runs just one time in those games. Nick Pivetta will go for the Red Sox today with a 5-8 record and 4.70 ERA. He's allowed 10 runs over his last 14 2/3 innings and 23 runs over his last 28 2/3 innings. I look for the Jays starter to go farther into this contest and I also give the edge to their bullpen. We get the Jays as a nice dog here today. Play Toronto. 

It's the Penthouse vs the Outhouse here on Saturday as the first place Milwaukee Brewers take on the last place Oakland A's. Milwaukee will send Colin Rea to the mound, who has been one of their most reliable pitchers this season with an 11-4 record and a 3.52 ERA. Rea's consistency has been crucial for the Brewers, and he is coming off a strong performance in his last outing where he allowed just two hits and no runs over seven innings of work. He also has 32 KO's to just five walks in his last five starts. The Oakland Athletics, on the other hand, will counter with Joe Boyle, who has struggled this season with a 6.21 ERA. While Boyle had a solid performance in his last start, the Athletics have been inconsistent overall, especially against stronger teams like the Brewers. The Brewers have the pitching and the hitting going for them here on Saturday. Combine that with Oakland's recent struggles and it looks like the Brewers for me here today in this game.

Interconference clash here on Friday between the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals. The Royals are slightly favored as they have won seven of their last 10 games while the Phillies are 5-5 their last 10 games. Michael Wacha, who has been in good form, will be starting for Kansas City, boasting a 10-6 record with a 3.33 ERA this season. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts and more than three runs in his last five starts. The Phillies, on the other hand, will counter with Taijuan Walker, who has struggled recently with a 3-4 record, 5.69 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. Walker hasn't allowed fewer than three runs in any of his last four starts. The Royals have been on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games, and are currently in contention for a playoff spot just two games back in the AL Central and tied with the Twins for the last AL Wildcard spot. Their offense, led by Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, has been productive, which could pose a challenge for the Phillies. Meanwhile, the Phillies have had a mixed performance lately and might find it tough to overcome Wacha's strong pitching. I'm taking the home team in this matchup today with the slightly better starting pitcher matchup. Play Kansas City.

The Milwaukee Brewers look to be cruising into the playoffs as they are 11.5 games ahead of 2nd place NL Central foe, Chicago Cubs. That could be good and bad. A big lead allows them to rest arms, rest position players and get ready for the postseason. However, it could also mean they won't be in ready for the teams that have had to fight to get there. We've seen this happen year after year with the LA Dodgers. They cruise to a division win only to lose in the playoffs. The Brewers do bring a six-game win streak into today's contest. The Brewers are coming off a 3-game sweep over Cleveland and have taken the first game of this set with the Cardinals on Tuesday, 3-2. The Cardinals are 12 games back of the Brewers. They are 2-8 their last 10 games after their loss to Milwaukee yesterday. Tobias Myers will start today for the Brewers with a 6-5 record and 2.81 ERA. Myers has been very good of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. The Cardinals will counter with Kyle Gibson who is 7-5 with a 4.26 ERA. Gibson hasn't been too good of late, allowing 12 earned runs over his last three starts (17 2/3 innings. The Brewers are hot and the Cardinals are not. I'll stick with the better team and better starter here on Wednesday. Play Milwaukee.

Interconference clash here on Tuesday as the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Texas Rangers from Arlington, TX. The Texas Rangers are fading in the AL Playoff picture as they are 3rd in the AL West, 11 games back of the Houston Astros. It's even worse for the Wild Card where they are 12.5 games back. The Pirates are last in the NL Central with a 58-66 record, 14 games back of first place Milwaukee. They have lost two straight and eight of their last 10 games. They also have a -32 run differential. Mitch Keller starts today for the Bucs with a 10-7 record and 3.95 ERA. Keller has been hit hard lately, allowing 15 hits and 15 runs in his last two starts (9 innings). Cody Bradford will toe the rubber for the Rangers. Bradford is 4-0 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He's allowed three runs over his last 11 innings of work with nine KO's and just two walks. I'm taking the Rangers and Bradford here on Tuesday.

 The Seattle Mariners and LA Dodgers face off tonight in the first game of a IL set from Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles. The Mariners have dropped to four games back of the 1st place Houston Astros in the AL West. They are also 5.5 games back in the race for the AL Wildcard. The Dodgers have seen their lead in the NL West drop to three games ahead of Padres and four games ahead of the D'backs. The Dodgers have won seven of their last 10 games including taking two of three from the Cardinals in their weekend series. Bryan Woo will start for the M's here on Monday. Woo is 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. He's also allowed just five total runs in his last five starts (30 1/3 innings). He also has 27 KO's to just two walks. Gavin Stone will counter for the Dodgers with a 10-5 record and 3.63 ERA. He's coming off a nice start at Milwaukee where he allowed three hits and one run over five innings. Still, the Dodgers have lost three of his last five starts. Mariners are a small dog here tonight and I'll take shot with them in that role. Play Seattle.

The LA Dodgers have the 2nd best record in the NL, just a half game behind the Phillies. However, their once big lead in the NL West has dwindled to just three games over both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. Both the D'backs and Padres have been two of the hottest teams in baseball of late. The Dodgers will turn to Bobby Miller today on the hill with a 1-2 record and 8.07 ERA. Miller gave up 10 hits and nine runs in his last start vs the Phillies. Miller has talent and the Dodgers are hoping he can fill a void while other starters are on the DL. The St Louis Cardinals best road to the postseason is through the Wildcard. They are 10 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central but just four games out of the very crowded Wild Card race. Andre Pallante will start today with his 4-6 record and 4.21 ERA. The Cardinals have lost his last five starts. Both starters are a bit suspect, but the Dodgers have a lot of hot hitters and likely the best 1 through 3 top of the lineup in baseball. I'll take the Dodgers here in what likely will be a battle of the bullpens.

Interconference matchup here on Friday has the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds playing game one of their set. The Royals coming off their series at Minnesota where they lost two of three games. The Royals are now 66-55 and 6-games back of the first place Guardians. The Cincinnati Reds are second in the NL Central, however they trail first place Milwaukee by nine-games. They have won four straight games including a three-game sweep over the Cardinals. The Reds are 45-games back in the NL Wild Card chase, but have five teams ahead of them in a crowded field. The Royals will start Michael Lorenzen here on Friday. He's 5-6 with a 3.79 ERA. Lorenzen came over in the trade deadline from the Rangers. The Royals have lost both of his starts with his new club. Nick Martinez has a 3.16 ERA this year and 1.03 WHIP for the Reds. Martinez has worked out of the pen but has two straight starts and has allowed no runs and five hits over 12 innings of work. He also has 12 KO's and no walks. I'm taking Martinez and the Reds here tonight.

 The Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers play game two of their set here on Wednesday. The Tigers blew out the Mariners on Tuesday, 15-1. The 15 runs a bit surprising since the Mariners have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. That snapped a four game winning streak for the Mariners. They also dropped to 1.5 games back in the AL West behind the Houston Astros. They are also 5th right now in the AL Wild Card standings, two games back of the leaders. The Tigers ran their win streak to a modest two games. They are 57-63 overall and 14 games back of the Guardians in the AL Central. The Tigers are eight games back in the Wild card race. The M's will start Bryan Woo here tonight. Woo is 5-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. The Mariners have won the last four starts from Woo. He's also allowed five total runs over his last 23 1/3 innings. Beau Brieske will counter for the Tigers with a 4.57 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Brieske has started two games recently while splitting time in the bullpen. He went three innings in his last start and allowed no hits and no runs. Likely Brieske will only be an opener here today. Considering their blowout loss last night, I look for the Mariners to rebound here tonight. Play Seattle.

NL Central clash here on Tuesday has the Cincinnati Reds hosting the St Louis Cardinals. The Reds took the opener in this series on Monday, 6-1. The Reds are in 4th in the division with a 58-61 record, 9.5-games back of the Brewers. The Cardinals are 60-59 and in 2nd place, 7.5-games back. The Cardinals will start Erick Fedde here today. Fedde is 8-5 with a 3.28 ERA this season. The Cards acquired Fedde from the White Sox at the trade deadline. Fedde has two starts with St Louis, going 10 innings and allowing six runs. Hunter Greene will toe the rubber today for the Reds. Greene is 8-4 this year with a 2.90 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Greene has been excellent, allowing just three runs over his last four starts and all those coming in his last start at Miami. Before that he went three starts and allowed no runs over 20 innings with 23 KO's and just five walks. Greene has been tough and I like him here today. Play the Reds.

The Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays begin a new week here in baseball with their set ready for game one on Monday. The Tampa Bay Rays have a tall ladder to climb if they want to make the postseason. They are 11 games back in the AL East but only 5.5 back in the AL Wildcard. The problem is that they have four teams to climb over to get that Wildcard. The Houston Astros best road to the postseason is to win the AL West and right now they are in a virtual tie with the Mariners for that spot. The Astros have won five straight games and seven of their last 10 games. The Astros will start Framber Valdez today who is 11-5 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. The Astros have won his last five starts and with the exception of one game where Valdez allowed four runs, he's been excellent. Valdez has allowed two runs or fewer in the other four games and has 41 KO's and 10 Walks during that span. The Rays will start Taj Bradley today. Bradley is 6-6 with a 3.07 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Bradley has slipped a bit in recent games, allowing nine runs over his last 9 2/3 innings as the Rays lost both those starts. Valdez looks too good to pass on and the Astros playing very good right now. Play Houston.

The Houston Astros lead the AL West by just one percentage point over the Seattle Mariners. The Astros have taken the first two games of this series at Boston and look for the third game here on Sunday. They have won the two games 8-4 and yesterday 5-4. The Red Sox are 61-54 and in third place in the AL East, 7.5-games back of first place Baltimore. After winning three straight, the Red Sox have now lost three straight games. The Astros will start Hunter Brown today. Brown is 9-7 with a 3.98 ERA on the season. Brown is coming off a nice start at Texas where he allowed just one run and three hits over six innings. In fact, Brown has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. James Paxton will start for the Red Sox with his 9-3 record and 4.42 ERA. Paxton came over from the Dodgers before the trade deadline and has started two games, gone 10 1/3 innings and allowed 11 hits and five runs. Not sure Paxton is as good as the record states since he came over from one of the best run support teams in the Dodgers. I'll take the Astros to win again here on Sunday.

That warm breadth that the LA Dodgers feel on their collective necks is that of the San Diego Padres baring down on them. The Padres are the hottest team in baseball and have cut the LA lead to just 2.5 games in the NL West. What once looked like a cake walk for the Dodgers is now a all out battle for the Division. LA took game one of this series with the Bucs behind newly acquired Jack Flaherty and another Shohei Ohtani home run. Flaherty, acquired by LA before trade deadline was brilliant yet again as he struck out 10 in his Dodger Stadium debut as LA cruised to a 9-5 win. Meanwhile the Pirated dropped their fifth game in a row with that loss on Friday. They are 56-59 and now 10-games back of first place Milwaukee in the NL Central. Paul Skenes will start for the Bucs here on Saturday as he's been very good with a 6-1 record and 1.99 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP. Skenes has allowed five runs over his last three starts (19 2/3 innings). LA will turn to rookie Rivery Ryan making just his fourth start at the big leagues. Ryan is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 1.28. Ryan has looked excellent for LA as the Dodgers have won all three of his starts and he has 14 KO's but nine walks. This looks to be a great pitcher matchup here on Saturday. I'll be on the Dodgers though in this one.

 Interleague action here on Friday has the LA Angels travelling to Washington to take on the Nationals. The Angels are coming off a series at the Yankees in which they took two of three games and scored 22 runs over three games. Still, LA sits in fourth place in the AL West with a 51-64 record and 8.5-games back of the Astros. The Nationals are coming off a four game set vs the Giants in which they lost three of four games. The Nationals are 52-64 and 17.5-games back of the Phillies in the NL East. Jose Soriano will start for the Angels here on Friday. Soriano is 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Soriano has pitched well of late, allowing five total runs over his last four starts (22 1/3 innings). The Angles have also won the last four starts of Soriano. The Nats will counter with Mitchell Parker. Parker is 6-6 with a 4.06 ERA. Parker has allowed 14 earned runs over his last five starts (21 2/3 innings). The Nationals are 2-3 in those last five starts. Two poor teams here on Friday but the edge in this one goes to the Angles. Take LA on Friday.

 A pair of last place teams meet here on Thursday as the Miami Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are 55-59 and 9.5 games back of the NL Central 1st place Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds have a 2-1 lead in this best of four series, winning Monday and Tuesday and losing yesterday, 4-6. The Marlins are 43-72 and 25.5 games back of the 1st place NL East Philadelphia Phillies. They also have the third worst run differential in baseball at -151. Hunter Greene will start for the Reds today. Greene is having a fine season with a 8-4 record, 2.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Greene has not allowed a run in three straight games (20 innings) with 23 KO's and just five walks. Kyle Tyler will start for the Marlins. He's 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA and 1.76 WHIP. Tyler has allowed 10 runs over his last 11 1/3 innings with eight walks. Greene has the big advantage here today and that's the side I'm on. Play Cincinnati.

Don't look now LA Dodgers but that breadth you feel on your back is that of the San Diego Padres. The Padres have closed the gap in the NL West to just four games. The Padres have been red-hot too, winning three straight games and 12 of their last 14 games. They took the opening game of this set with the Pirates on Tuesday, 6-0. The Dodgers have struggled of late. Mookie Betts has been out of the lineup for a while with a broken bone in his hand and Freddie Freeman has missed time due to a family matter. The Dodgers are just 3-4 their last seven games and 4-6 their last 10 games. The Padres hope these misfortunes for LA will be their shot at getting back to the top of the division. They will have Michael King on the hill today. King is 9-6 with a 3.26 ERA. King has been excellent of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. The Padres have won four of those starts. King also has 35 KO's to just seven walks during that span. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 56-56 on the season and in 3rd in the NL Central, seven games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates have also lost two straight games and six of their last 10 games. They will send Marco Gonzales to the hill today. He's 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.52 ERA. He's allowed six runs over his last two starts (7 innings). I'm sticking with the red-hot Padres here on Wednesday.

The Red Sox and Royals play game two of their set here on Tuesday. The Red Sox took game one one Monday, 9-5. The Sox have won six of their last 10 games and are 60-51 overall and six games back of the Yankees and Orioles in the AL East. Despite the loss, the Royals kept pace with the Guardians as they still sit five games back in the AL Central at 63-51. The Sox will start Brayan Bello today. Bello is 10-5 with a 5.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Bellow has pitched well of late, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. Seth Lugo will go for the Royals and he's been their Ace this year. Lugo is 13-5 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Lugo had a bad start two games ago but rebounded with a nice eight inning performance vs the Tigers with just four hits and one run. I still like Lugo a lot and will be on the Royals today after losing Monday.

 The San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals opened their set on Monday with the Giants winning game one, 4-1. The Giants have been hot, winning eight of their last 10 and closing the gap a bit in the NL West to nine-games back of the division leading Dodgers. But everyone in the West division has been hot so they haven't moved from their 4th place. Meanwhile, the Nationals lost their sixth in the last 10 games on Monday. They sit in 4th in the NL East, 16 games back of the Phillies. Hayden Birdsong starts for the Giants and is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. He has been very good in his last five starts, allowing no more than two runs in each start and no runs over his five innings in his last start. MacKenzie Gore will counter for the Nats today. Gore is 6-9 with a 4.54 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Gore has been hit hard of late, allowing nine runs over his last 10 1/3 innings. I'm sticking with the hot Giants here today. Play San Francisco.

The San Diego Padres open a set here today with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Padres have won four of their last five games and 11 of the last 13 games. They have closed the LA Dodgers lead in the NL West to just 4.5 games and are also contending for a Wild Card. The Pirates just lost two of their three games to the D'backs and have also lost three of their last four overall. The Pirates will start Bailey Falter who is 5-7 wit a 3.95 ERA. Falter has been good but the Bucs have still lost three of his last five starts. Dylan Cease will start for the Padres with his 11-8 record and 3.42 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. The Padres have won his last four starts. In fact, the Padres have scored 22 runs in those four starts will allowing just one total run. That is excellent run support. Cease has allowed just one run over his last 27 2/3 innings of work. I'm sticking with Red-Hot Cease and the Padres here today. Play San Diego.

 The Boston Red Sox continue to fight for a playoff spot as they are 59-51 overall with a +33 run differential. The Red Sox took two of three games from the Rangers over the weekend. That made them 3-1 over their last four games. The Royals have won seven of the last 10 games including taking three of four from the Tigers in their last series. They have closed the game pin the AL Central to just five games behind the Cleveland Guardians. James Paxton will start for the Red Sox after coming over in the trade with the Dodgers. This will be his second start for the Red Sox after a rocky first start. He went 4 1/3 innings vs the Mariners and gave up six hits and six runs. The Royals will start Brady Singer who is 8-6 on the season with a nifty 2.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Singer has been very good in recent starts, going 21 innings over his last three outings, allowing just three total runs as the Royals have won all three of those. I'm sticking with Singer here on Monday. Play Kansas City.

 The New York Mets took the opener in their series at the Angels on Friday, 5-1. That makes the Mets 3-1 in their last four games. The Angels lost their third straight game on Friday. That dropped them to 47-63 and 10.5 games back of the Astros in the division. David Peterson will start for the Mets. Peterson is 5-1 on the season with a 3.52 ERA. The Mets are 4-1 in his last four starts though his last one was the worst of the lot where he gave up four hits and four runs in a loss to the Braves. Jose Soriano will start for the Halos with his 6-7 record and 3.69 ERA. Soriano only went 2 2/3 innings in his last start vs the A's, giving up five hits and six runs though the Angels did rally to win that game. I'll take the Mets here on Saturday with Peterson on the hill. Play New York.

The Brewers took game one of this set with the Nationals on Friday, 8-3. The Brewers snapped a two-game losing streak with the win on Friday. The Washington Nationals have lost five in a row after Friday's setback. The Brewers will start Aaron Civale on Saturday. He's 2-7 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. The Brewers acquired Civale from the Rays in early July. He's had four starts with the Brewers and while they are just 1-3 in those starts, he has allowed just fix earned runs over his last three starts (15 innings). DJ Herz will counter for the Nationals. He's 1-4 with a 4.79 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. The Nats have lost his last five starts. I'll take the first place Brewers here on Satuday.

AL East matchup here on Friday has the last place Toronto Blues taking on the Yankees which are tied for the division lead with Baltimore. The Jays are coming off a series with Baltimore in which they lost three of four games and dropped to 50-59 in the standings and 14.5 games back. The Yankees won their fifth game in a row with their sweep of the Phillies. Kevin Gausman will start for the Jays with a 9-8 record and 4.44 ERA. The Jays have won his last three starts and he pitched a complete game win last time out vs the Rangers, allowing just four hits and three runs in the win. The Yankees will counter with Marcus Stroman who is 7-5 with a 3.64 ERA. The Yankees have split his last four starts, winning two and losing two. He's allowed 11 runs over those four outings (18 innings). Yankees a big favorite here today as they should be. However, the Blue Jays best shot at a win comes in this matchup. I'll take a show with them today as a nice dog play.

AL Central clash here on Friday has the Kansas City Royals taking on the Tigers from Detroit. This is game two of this four game set with the Royals taking game one on Thursday, 7-1. That was the fourth win in a row for Detroit, which sits in 2nd in the division six games back of the Guardians. The Tigers lost their fourth game in a row and are in 4th in division, 15 games back of the Guardians. Tarik Skubal will start today for the Tigers. It's a bit surprising that he's still with the team considering he was one of the hottest commodities up until the trade deadline. Likely his price was too high for many teams to want to pay for a 12-3 starters with a 2.35 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Skubal hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last five starts and the Tigers have won four of those games. Cole Ragans will counter for the Royals with a 7-7 record and 3.37 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Ragans has allowed seven runs over his last two starts (11 2/3 innings). Both of those starts coming since his appearance in the ALL-Star game. I'm sticking with Skubal today as the Tigers look like they will be keeping the AL All-Star starting pitcher. Take Detroit.

Interleague action here on Thursday has the NL West worst Colorado Rockies taking on the AL West 4th place LA Angels. The Rockies finally broke a five game losing streak with a win over the Angels on Wednesday, 2-1. The Angels have won six of their last 10 games but still trail 1st place Houston and Seattle by 9-games. Ryan Feltner will start for the Rockies tonight. Feltner has been on the bad side of luck all season with just one win and 10 loss and a 4.99 ERA. He's pitched well of late but the Rockies have still lost his last five starts. The Angels will start Carson Fulmer tonight. Fulmer has started two game since 7/21 and gone 10 1/3 innings, allowed seven hits and six runs. He has a 3.77 ERA and pitched mainly out of the bull pen. He's also been better at home with a 2.59 ERA whereas he has a 5.19 ERA on the road. I'll take the Angels tonight with Fulmer.

The Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers played game two of their three game series on Tuesday with the Braves taking game one, 5-1. The Brewers took game one on Monday, 8-3. The Braves shaved a game off of 1st place Philadelphia's lead in the AL East as the Phils lost in extra innings to the Yankees. The Braves have won three of their last four games. The Brewers have lost three of their last five games after their loss on Tuesday. They are 61-46 and in first place in the NL Central. They have a 6-game lead over St Louis. Chris Sale will start for the Braves. Sale having a Cy Young type of season with a 13-3 record, 2.68 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. The Braves lost his last start at the Mets, but Sale got the no decision as he went 7 1/3 innings, allowed two hits and two runs to go with nine KO's and one walk. Sale has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last five starts. Freddy Peralta will counter for the Brewers today. Peralta is 6-6 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Peralta is coming off a loss to the Marlins where he allowed six hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings. He also walked five batters in that game. I'm take the Braves here on Wednesday with one of the best in the NL on the hill in Chris Sale. Play Atlanta.

: Huge NL West series starts tonight as 1st place LA Dodgers travel to San Diego to play the 2nd place Padres. The Dodgers lead over the Padres has dropped to 6.5 games as both teams have won seven of their last 10 games. The Dodgers did drop two of three games in their recent series at Houston. With the MLB Trade deadline just one day away I expect both these teams to be active, especially the Dodgers. The Padres have been red hot as they had their seven game win streak snapped by the Orioles in their last game, 6-8. Tyler Glasnow recently came off the IL list for the Dodgers and will start tonight. Glasnow is 8-6 on the season with a 3.47 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. Glasnow has allowed 12 runs over his last three starts (14 innings) with eight walks. The Padres will counter with Matt Waldron who is 6-9 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Waldron has allowed four runs over his last two starts (12 innings) with nine KO's and two walks. Padres have done well vs the Dodgers at home in recent games and I expect this game to be close. I'll take the dog though with the Padres.

The NY Mets have taken two of the first three games in this four game set with the Atlanta Braves. They did lose on Saturday, 0-4. They are 55-49 on the season, 10-games back of first place Philadelphia. The Braves snapped their six game losing streak with that win on Saturday. They have dropped to 55-48 and 9.5 games back of the Phillies and just a half game ahead of the Mets as they battle for a Wild Card slot at this point. The Braves will start Reynaldo Lopez today who is 7-4 with a 2.12 ERA. Lopez has been a bit inconsistent of late. He has allowed 18 hits and seven runs over his last two starts (12 innings). He did pitch in the All-Star game, going just a 1/3 of an inning. David Peterson looks to stay perfect here today with his 5-0 record and 3.14 ERA. Peterson hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last five starts and the Mets have won all five with great run support. The Mets have scored at least five runs in those Peterson five starts. I'm taking the Mets here today as the Braves look to be headed in the wrong direction. Play NY Mets.

The two worst teams in the AL West will meet here tonight in Anaheim as the LA Angels host the Oakland A's. The Angels are in 4th place in the division with a 45-59 record, 9.5-games back of first place Houston. The A's are 43-63 and in last place, 12.5-games back of Houston. Oakland has taken the first two games of this series, 6-5 on Thursday and 5-4 on Friday. The A's looks to take the series today while the Angels look to get back into it. The A's will start Mitch Spence who is 6-6 with a 4.67 ERA. Spence has allowed 12 runs over his last 15 innings of work. He also has nine walks during that span. The Angels will look to Tyler Anderson tonight. Anderson is 8-8 overall with a 2.91 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Anderson has been pitching well, allowing just five runs over his last three starts (19 2/3 innings). He also has 22 KO's against just one walk during that time. I like Anderson here tonight as the Angels get a win in this series. Play LA Angels.

The Yankees and Red Sox play game two of their three game rivalry set here on Saturday. The Red Sox rallied late for three runs in the 8th inning to grab the win in game one on Friday, 9-7. That was the third loss in a row for the Yankees and their fifth loss in their last six games. The Sox have won two of their last three games after a four game losing skid was halted. The Yankees will start Marcus Stroman here today who is 7-5 with a 3.51 ERA. Stroman has allowed three runs in his last two starts. However, before that he allowed 11 runs over his previous 16 innings. The Red Sox will counter with Kutter Crawford. Crawford is 6-8 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Crawford is coming off one of his worst starts where he allowed six runs and seven hits over five innings to the Dodgers. Before that bad start he had allowed just one run over his previous three starts (20 innings). I look for Crawford to return to his previous form here tonight. Take the Red Sox.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks begin their 3-game set here on Friday. The Pirates took two of three games from the Cardinals and improved to 52-40, seven games back of the Brewers in the NL Central. The D'back have won two straight and took two of three games in their set with the Royals. They are 53-50 and 8.5-games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. Luis Ortiz will start tonight for the Bucs. Ortiz has a 2.57 ERA and 1.11 WHIP this season. Ortiz has started four games while coming out of the pen ins 22 games with a 5-2 record. Ortiz is coming off an excellent start where he went seven innings and allowed just three hits and no runs for the win over the Phillies. Zac Gallen will counter for the D'backs. Gallen is 7-5 with a 3.64 ERA this year. He has been inconsistent this season. He is coming off a very good start where he allowed three hits and no runs over five innings to the Cubs. However, the two starts prior he went 9-innings and allowed 16 hits and 12 runs. Ortiz is a big dog here tonight and he's been good enough to play the Bucs as a live dog. Play Pittsburgh.

The AL East clash between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays continues here on Thursday with game three of this set. The teams have split the first two games with the Rays winning on Monday 4-2 and the Jays on Tuesday, 6-3. The Blue Jays are in 4th in the AL East with a 51-51 record and 9.5 games back of the Orioles. The Blue Jays are 46-55 and 14 games back. The Rays will start Taj Bradley here tonight with his 5-4 record and 2.63 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Bradley has pitched great of late, going 14 innings in his last two starts and allowing six hits and no runs. He's only allowed three runs over his last five starts (31 innings). Chris Bassett will start for the Jays with a 8-8 record and 3.71 ERA. Unlike Bradley, Bassett has been hit fairly hard of late, allowing 12 runs over his last 16 2/3 innings. I like the Rays and Bradley here in the final game of this set. Play Tampa Bay. Blue Jays 6-3 on Wednesday.

Interleague action here on Wednesday has the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Kansas City Royals. This will be the final game of this three game IL set. The teams have split the first two games with the Royals winning on Monday 10-4 and the D'backs on Tuesday, 6-2. The Royals are 56-46 and 5-games back of first place Cleveland in the AL Central. Arizona is 52-50 and 9-games back of the 1st place Dodgers in the NL West. Arizona will start Ryne Nelson tonight. Nelson is 7-6 on the season with a 4.78 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. Nelson has pitched better of late, allowing six runs over his last four starts. Michael Wacha will counter for the Royals. Wacha is 7-6 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. The Royals have won his last four starts and he's been very good too, allowing six runs over his last five starts (28 1/3 innings). Both pitchers have been good, but the Royals are at home and playing better. Take Kansas City.

 Important AL Central matchup here on Monday as the 1st place Cleveland Guardians take on the 4th place Detroit Tigers. The Tigers trail Cleveland by 10 games and if they hope to close that gap then it start here on Monday. The Tigers lost on Sunday but have won seven of their last 10 games. The Guardians lost two of three over the weekend to Padres. they have also lost six of their last eight games. A.L. All-Star starter Tarik Skubal will make his first start of the 2nd half of the season here tonight. Skubal is 10-3 with a 2.41 ERA and very nice 0.88 WHIP. Skubal went one inning in the All-Star game and allowed no hits and no runs. He has also allowed just three runs over his last two starts (13 innings) with 21 KO's and just one walk. Carlos Carrasco will counter for the Guardians. Carrasco is 3-7 on the season with a 5.02 ERA. He's pitched better of late though, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. Even with Carrasco pitching better, I still like Skubal in this spot. Take the Tigers.

NL West game here on Saturday evening has the San Francisco Giants playing at the Colorado Rockies. The Giants lost last night to the Rockies and are now 47-51 and 10-games back of the LA Dodgers. They also have a -31 run differential. The Rockies are in last place in the division but have won two straight games and have a horrible -165 run differential. All Star Logan Webb will start for the Giants with a 7-7 record and 3.47 ERA. Webb was hit hard in the All-Star game, going one inning and allowing three hits and three runs. The start to finish the first half of the season wasn't much better, as Webb went five innings and gave up eight hits and seven runs. Kyle Freeland is 1-3 for the Rockies this year with a 6.00 ERA. Despite his poor record and high ERA he's been very good since returning in last June. Freeland has gone 26 1/3 innings in his four starts since June 23rd and allowed just five total runs with 21 KO's and just five walks. The Rockies have also won his last three starts. With Freeland a big dog here on Saturday I'm going to take him and the Rockies. Play Colorado.

The Baltimore Orioles started the 2nd half of the baseball season the way they ended the first half, with a win. They took game one of this set with the Rangers on Friday. The have won just four of their last 10 games however and have just a one game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. The Rangers have won seven of their last 10 games despite the loss on Friday. They have closed the gap in the AL West to just five games behind first place Houston. Grayson Rodriguez will start for the O's here on Saturday. He's 11-4 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. Rodriguez is coming off one of his worst starts, allowing eight hits and six runs in a 1-6 loss to the Yankees. Max Scherzer will get the start for the Rangers. Scherzer is 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 0.99 WHIP this season. The Rangers have won his last two starts with Scherzer going 10 2/3 innings and allowing four runs with 12 KO's and just one walk. I like the Rangers here this afternoon with Scherzer on the hill. Play Texas.

Cross State rivalry here as the Philadelphia Phillies take on their rivals from the West part of the state, Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies have the best record in baseball with a 62-35 mark. They also have a +109 run differential. However, they have lost two straight games including last night's contest to the Pirates. The Pirates aren't out of the race yet, as they trail first place Milwaukee by just six games in the NL Central. The Pirates have the longest win streak in baseball right now with five straight wins. They are also 7-3 over their last 10 games. The Phils will start Cristopher Sanchez who his7-4 with a 2.96 ERA. Sanchez pitched in the All Star game and went 2/3 innings with no hits and no runs. He did get hit pretty hard two starts ago in Chicago, allowing seven hits and seven runs over just four innings. Luis Ortiz had a bad start back on June 21st, since then has four excellent starts. Ortiz has gone 19 2/3 innings and allowed just three total runs to go with one walk and 21 KO's. I like Ortiz here this afternoon as he's a nice home dog. Play Pittsburgh.

Second half of the season is underway and the Rays and Yankees play game two here on Saturday. The Yankees won game one on Friday and they sit one game back of the Orioles in the AL East at 59-40. They also have the best run differential in the East at +106. The Rays are 4th in the East with a 48-49 record and 11-games back of the Orioles with a -68 run differential. Taj Bradley will get the start for the Rays with his 4-4 record and 2.90 ERA. Bradley has been very good of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last five games with the Rays winning four of those games. Nestor Cortes will counter for the Yankees. Cortes is 4-8 with a 3.67 ERA on the season. The Yankees have lost his last four starts as he's allowed 12 runs over his last 21 2/3 innings of work. The Rays are worth a shot here on Saturday with Bradley pitching very well and Cortes having trouble getting wins for his team. Take the Rays.

 Baseball enthusiasts, gear up for an exciting showdown this Friday as the Tampa Bay Rays go head-to-head with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium! This game features a marquee pitching matchup between Zach Eflin and Gerrit Cole, setting the stage for a thrilling contest. Tampa Bay Rays: Zach Eflin Zach Eflin has been a consistent force on the mound for the Rays this season with a 5-6 record and 3.99 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP. With a repertoire that includes a sharp fastball, a deceptive slider, and a reliable changeup, Eflin has the tools to keep the Yankees powerful lineup in check. His ability to induce ground balls and limit walks will be crucial in navigating the dangerous hitters in the Bronx. New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole Gerrit Cole, one of the premier pitchers in the league, will take the mound for the Yankees. Known for his overpowering fastball and devastating slider, Cole has the ability to dominate any lineup. His strikeout potential and command of the strike zone make him a formidable opponent for the Rays. Cole is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Cole has allowed one run in two of his last three starts. Pitching Duel: The Eflin vs. Cole matchup is one to watch, as both pitchers have the capability to take control of the game and deliver a pitching clinic. Power Hitters: Rays hitters like Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena will look to challenge Cole, while Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton aim to capitalize on any mistakes from Eflin. Game Outlook This game is could shape up to be a classic pitchers duel with the potential for explosive offensive moments. The Yankees are 58-40 and trail the Orioles by just one games as they start the 2nd half of the season. The Rays are 48-48 and 10 games back of the O's. Until I see better from Cole in his few starts, I'll stick with Eflin here on Friday as a nice sized dog. Play Tampa Bay.

Last day before the All-Star break has this storied rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals are in 2nd in the NL Central, climbing back to within 3.5 games of 1st place Milwaukee. The Cubs are 46-51 and in last in the division, 8.5-games back. Both teams are still in the negative for run differential with the Cubs at -10 and the Cards at -33. The Cardinals looking for the series here on Sunday after taking game two on Friday, 11-3 and game three on Saturday, 4-5. They did lose game one to the Cubs, 1-5. These two wins snapped a three-game losing streak. The Cards will start Miles Mikolas today who is 7-7 overall on the season with a 4.88 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Mikolas was hit hard on his June 27th start vs the Reds, giving up 12 hits and nine runs over 4 1/3 innings. Since then he has been much better with 12 1/3 innings of work and two earned runs. The Cubs had been on a roll before this series with St Louis, winning five straight games including a sweep of Baltimore. The Cubs can come out of this series 2-2 and they will look to Jameson Taillon to do just that. Taillon has a 6-4 record for the Cubs with a 2.99 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He's been very consistent, allowing two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts and three runs in the other start. He's also been very good with the strikeouts, chalking-up 32 KO's during the last five starts to just four walks. I'm taking the Cubs to win today and even this final series before the All-Star break. Play Chicago.

Another IL matchup here on Saturday has the Arizona Diamondback hosting the Toronto Blue Jays for game two of their three game set. Toronto is last in the AL East, 14-games back of the 1st place Baltimore Orioles. They also have a -56 run differential. The Diamond backs have climbed into a tie with the San Diego Padres for second in the AL West, eight games back of the Dodgers. They have a +7 run differential. The D'backs have won three straight and five of their last seven games. Yilber Diaz will make the start for the D'backs with his 1.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. He has just the one starts thus far and it was very good, going six innings vs the Braves and allowing four hits and one run with five KO's and one walk. Jose Berrios is 8-6 on the season for the Jays, with a 3.767 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Berriors has been hit hard of late, allowing nine runs over his last 11 innings. Berriors has been decent for the Jays this year, but I'm sticking with the D'backs tonight. They have been one of the best teams in June and July and they have climbed the division to get back into the race. Play Arizona.

Interleague action continues here on Saturday between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox. The Pirates took the first game of this three game set on Friday, 4-1. It was the Bucs second win in a row and their fourth in the last five games. Luis Ortiz will start today for the Pirates with a 2.95 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Oritz has been used mainly out of the pen and aside from one outing he's done well. He's allowed three runs in 19 innings of work with one outing he gave up 10 hits and six runs over four innings. The Pirates are in 3rd in the NL Central with a 46-48 record and 7.5-games back of first place Milwaukee. The White Sox likely makes some sales before this month's trade deadline. They sit dead last in the AL Central, 31.5 games back of the Guardians. They have lost two straight games and seven of their last 10 games. They also have a horrible -168 run differential. Chris Flexen will start today for the Sox with a 2-7 record and 4.95 ERA. The Sox have not won any of his last five starts and he's allowed 22 runs over his last 27 innings. I'm taking the Pirates here on Saturday against this Sox club and Flexen. Play Pittsburgh.

The LA Dodgers have been hit hard by injuries both on the mound and at the plate. They lost Mookie Betts, their leadoff hitter and shortstop to a broken hand and Max Muncy has been out for some time. They have suffered many injuries to their starters and bullpen too. Yet, they are still in 1st place in the NL West, 7-games up on the 2nd place Padres. The Dodgers limp into this series at Detroit after being swept at Philadelphia, scoring just five total runs while allowing 19 runs to the Phillies. They have now lost four straight games and six of their last eight games. The Detroit Tigers are in 4th in the AL Central with a 45-49 record, 13 games back of 1st place Cleveland. They have won two straight and seven of their last 10 games though. James Paxton will start for LA with his 7-2 record and 4.24 ERA. Paxton has had a inconsistent couple of starts, allowing two runs over his five innings to the Brewers in his last starts. However, the start before that he allowed 12 hits and nine runs in just four innings in a loss to the Giants. Tarik Skubal will counter for the Tigers. Skubal has been the Ace of this Tigers staff this year with his 10-3 record and 2.37 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. He's also allowed just four runs over his last three starts (20 innings) with 27 KO's and just two walks. With the Dodgers struggling and likely making moves before the trade deadline, I'll take the Tigers with the Ace on the hill today. Play Detroit.

NL Central matchup here on Thursday has the first place Milwaukee Brewers hosting the third place Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers are 54-39 with a +78 run differential. The Pirates are 44-48 and 9.5 games back of the Brewers. These teams have split the first two games of the set with the Brewers winning on Tuesday, 12-2 and the Pirates yesterday, 9-0. The Brewers are 2-4 their last six games. Aaron Civale will start for the Brewer with a 2-6 record and 5.18 ERA. The Brewers picked up Civale from the Rays after June 29th. His first start with the Brewers resulted in a loss, going five innings and allowing five runs to the Dodgers. Paul Skenes will start for the Bucs. He's been excellent with a 5-0 record and 2.12 ERA. Skenes has allowed just five total runs over his last five starts (32 1/3 innings. I like Skenes here today against a suspect starter for the Brewers. Take Pittsburgh.

AL Central battle here on Thursday has the 1st place Cleveland Guardians taking on the 4th place Detroit Tigers. The Guardians have a five game lead over 2nd place Minnesota and they have a +96 run differential. This game will wrap the four game set between these teams. The Tigers have taken two of the first three games of the series, including yesterday's game, 5-4. Spencer Howard will start for the Guardians. Howard has a 5.63 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. He has been a spot starter but mostly out of the bullpen. He allowed six hits and six runs in his last appearance against the Dodgers. Jack Flaherty starts for the Tigers with a 5-5 record and 3.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Flaherty has pitched very well, except his last outing where he gave up five runs over 5 2/3 innings to the Angels. However, before that start he had allowed just one run over four starts with 27 KO's and just four walks. I'm taking the Tigers here in this game four.

The Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds play the final game of their three-game set here on Wednesday. The Rockies look to salvage one game after dropping the first two games, 0-6 and yesterday 6-12. The Rockies have now lost three straight after having won three in a row. The Rockies are in last in the NL West, 23-games back of the Dodgers. The Reds are in 4th in the NL Central, nine-games back of the Brewers. After dropping three straight games they have won these last two vs the Rockies. Kyle Freeland will start for the Rockies with his 0-3 record and 6.62 ERA. Freeland has pitched well of late though, allowing just three earned runs over his last 19 2/3 innings. Frankie Montas will go for the Reds with his 4-6 record and 4.19 ERA. The Reds have lost four of the last five of Montas starts. The way Freeland has looked of late and the inability of the Reds to win with Montas means I will take a shot today with the Rockies as a big dog.

It's the penthouse vs the outhouse here on Tuesday as the AL East 1st place Baltimore Orioles face the NL Central last place Chicago Cubs. The Cubs are 42-49 and 11-games back of the division leading Milwaukee Brewers. They also have a -24 run differential. The O's are 3-games ahead of 2nd place NY Yankees and have the second best run differential in baseball with a +106 mark. Bit of a question who will start today for the Cubs, Shota Imanga or Jameson Taillon. Taillon is 5-4 with a 2.99 ERA. He's been the better pitcher of late, allowing six runs over his last 20 innings with 22 KO's and just one walk. Imanaga is 7-2 with a 3.16 ERA. The Cubs have lost two of his last three starts. He's allowed 16 runs over his last 14 innings. Dean Kremer will go for the O's with his 4-4 record and 3.93 ERA. Kremer coming off an excellent start where he went five innings at Seattle and allowed just two hits, no runs, 8 KO's and 2 Walks for the win. Take action today with the Orioles since we'll go against either Taillon or Imanaga. Take Baltimore action.

The Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees play game three of their series here on Sunday. The Red Sox took game one on Friday, 5-3 and then dropped Saturday's contest, 4-14. Ben Rice became the first Yankees rookie to hit three home runs in a game in that blowout win. The Yankees are 55-36 and in 2nd place in the AL East, 2-games back of first place Baltimore. The Red Sox are 48-40 and 7.5-games back of the Orioles. Kutter Crawford will make the start for the Sox with his 4-7 record and 3.47 ERA. Crawford rebounded from his poor start on June 21 with a nice six innings and one run performance vs the Marlins on July 2. Luis Gil is 9-4 for the Yankees with a 3.41 ERA. The Yankees have lost Gil's last three starts as he's allowed 16 runs over 9 2/3 innings. The Sox look to rebound from that pounding they took on Saturday. I'll take them as a dog here on Sunday evening. Play Boston.

The Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds continue their Interleague play here on Sunday. The Tigers are in fourth in the AL Central with a 41-48 record. The Reds are in 4th in the NL Central with a 42-47 record, 9.5-games back of the Brewers. The Tigers have taken the first two games of this series, 5-4 on Friday and 5-3 on Saturday. The Tigers look for the sweep here on Sunday and will turn to Tarik Skubal for that effort. Skubal has been excellent this year for the Tigers, going 9-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. He's allowed three runs over his last two starts (13 innings) with 14 KO's and just two walks. The Reds will counter with Graham Ashcraft who is 5-4 on the season with a 5.45 ERA. He's allowed nine runs over his last two starts (10 1/3 innings) with six KO's and three walks. The Tigers have their Ace on the hill today and that's good enough for me. Take the Tigers.

A meeting here of two first place clubs as the Milwaukee Brewers play game two of their set with the LA Dodgers. The Dodgers used three Will Smith home runs on Friday to help beat the Brewers in game one, 8-5. LA has struggled of late though, going just 3-4 over their last seven games. This all coming without two of their stars in Max Muncy and Betts, both of whom are on the IL. Milwaukee has lost two straight and three of their last five games. They remain in first place, but just five games ahead of 2nd place St Louis. The LA pitching staff, which has been so good, has been beaten up lately. The starters have been hit hard of late and the bullpen has been getting over used. James Paxton will start tonight for the Dodgers with a 7-2 record and 4.28 ERA. Paxton was one of those hit hard, giving up 12 hits and nine runs in his last start at the Giants. Freddy Peralta will counter for the Brewers. He's 6-4 this year with a 3.83 ERA. He's also give up just three runs in his last three starts (18 innings. LA has issues right now with their pitching and the bottom half of the lineup has produced very little this year. With Mookie Betts and Muncy out they need the pitching which hasn't been good of late. Take the Brewers here on Saturday night.

Interleague action has a pair of last place teams meeting here on Saturday as the Miami Marlins host the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox are last in the AL Central with a 26-64 record. The Sox took game one of this set on Friday, 3-2. They have won five of their last eight starts. Garrett Crochet will start today for the White Sox. Crochet has been the center of some trade rumors as the trade deadline approaches. He's 6-6 this season with a 3.02 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. He's been very good of late, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts and three runs in the other start. He's also struck out 48 his last five starts to just five walks. The Marlins are 30-58 overall and have lost five straight games. Yonny Chirinos will start for the Sox. He has a 3.77 ERA in his last three outings. In fact, he has just those three recent outings, going 14 1/3 innings and allowing 20 hits and six runs. He does have 15 KO's to just four walks. Still, Crochet looks to move on to green pastures soon and these starts are crucial to his getting that done. Take Chicago.

The St Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals play the second of their three game set here on Saturday. The Cardinals took game one on Friday, 7-6. The Cards have won two straight games and four of their last five games. They have inched closer to the Brewers in the NL Central, now just five games back and in 2nd place. The Washington Nationals loss last night snapped a 2-team win streak. The Nats are now 2-4 over their last six games. Washington will start Mackenzie Gore here today. Gore is 6-7 on the season with a 3.47 ERA. The Nats have lost his last three starts as he's allowed eight runs over his last 15 2/3 innings of work. Lance Lynn will start for the Cardinals. Lynn is 4-3 on the season with a 4.59 ERA. The Cards have won four of his last five starts. Lynn has been very good of late, allowing just one run over his last 12 2/3 innings with 11 KO's and just one walk. I give all the edges here today to the Cardinals and getting them as a slight dog is a plus. Take St Louis.

The NY Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates begin their three-game set here on Friday. The Mets coming off a four game split with the Nationals, winning the first two games and dropping the last two. The Mets are 3rd in the NL East with a 42-43 record and can get back to the .500 mark with a win here tonight. The Pirates dropped two of three games with the Cardinals. That makes them 2-4 over their last six games. They have dropped to 41-45, 10 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central. Luis Servino will start today for the Mets with his 5-2 record and 3.42 ERA. He's coming off a start vs the Astros where he went seven innings and allowed eight hits and four runs. Paul Skenes will start for the Bucs. He's having a fine season with a 4-0 record, 2.06 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Skenes has been even better of late, allowing just one run in each of his last three starts and three total runs over his last four starts. I'm sticking with Skenes here on Friday as he's been the Bucs best this season.