Rob Veno
Cincinnati at St. Louis
Play: St. Louis -1.5
Not quite ready to sell St. Louis yet despite their overwhelming inconsistencies and current 2-6 streak. The “cornered animal” metaphor fits the Cardinals pretty well tonight as they begin a three game home set with the NL Central last place Reds. Michael Wacha recovered after a brutal first inning last week against Cincinnati and expect to see an outing here more like his 2nd-5th inning stretch where he allowed 0 runs and only two baserunners. Wacha has dominated Cincinnati the past two seasons posting a 1.74 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in five starts against them. He is 4-0 in those games and St. Louis is 5-0. Keeping Reds speedster Billy Hamilton off the bases (21 steals and 15 runs scored since the All-Star Break) will be key for Wacha who has owned Hamilton in their matchups. In 20 ABs against Wacha, Hamilton has one hit and one walk. Joey Votto (1.073 OPS) and Zack Cosart (1.200 OPS) have been the toughest on Wacha and each have 20+ ABs. For St. Louis offensively, seeing lefty Cody Reed again so quickly (he faced Wacha in the Cards' 5-4 win last week) figures to be a favorable matchup. St. Louis got to Reed for five runs and eight hits in 5 IP and I'm not sure he can make enough adjustments especially since he’ll face Cards leadoff man Matt Carpenter for the first time. Pitch count for the young lefty means plenty of the below average Reds bullpen which should be minus bright spot Raul Iglesias in this one. St. Louis relief corps owns significant edge in this contest. Not sure the Cincinnati lineup which still possesses only one starter with an OBP over .314 is as good as it’s been in the second half so will look to fade them some especially in situations where it looks like Hamilton can be kept off the bases. Short board to choose from tonight but willing to take a shot on the run line at +105 with the currently unpopular Cardinals.
Bruce Marshall
Tigers +111
The Tigers have won in 14 of Michael Fulmer's last 15 starts, including seven in a row, so this plus price tonight at Seattle has to intrigue. Even after Sunday's 3-1 loss at home vs. the Mets, Detroit has won 10 of its last 12, so we also back a hot team tonight. Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma has been bothered by inconsistency this season.
OC Dooley
Rangers / Rockies Under 10.5
Most reading this analysis are aware that current Texas ace Cole Hamels spent most of his career with Philadelphia (National League) so he is familiar with piching in the high altitude/thin air conditions of Colorado. Among all teams in the junior circuit Hamels has the BEST ROAD ERA (1.90) so I am predicting their current totals run (7-0-1 UNDER in an eight game span) will continue. While new Rangers slugger Carlos Beltran was sidelined yesterday (quad injury) I have found out Colorado is “sitting” dynamic rookie David Dahl this evening. All Dahl has done in 13 games at the major league level is hit at a .370 clip while successfully reaching base in all of those games, so he will be missed by Colorado who is 21-10 UNDER in the “second half” of this campaign