Bob Balfe
Diamondbacks -135
The Phillies can’t hit left handed pitching so you have to assume that if they win this game it will be a 2-1 type of game. The problem is Velsquez will not be in game shape coming back from the DL and it will be tough for him to pitch out in the desert heat. Arizona has been hitting the ball well as of late and I just don’t like the Phillies chances on the road against a team that has owned them in recent history.
Brad Wilton
Monday comp play is Texas Rangers plus-money in New York against the Yankees.
Here you have a team that is 22 games over the .500 mark taking on a team that is right at the .500 mark, and you are getting them in the underdog role!?!?!
Have to side with Texas here.
The Rangers have already won 2 of the 3 season series meetings this year, and have claimed 4 of the last 5 versus the Yankees. Overall, Texas has won 7 of the past 10 meetings.
Chi Chi Gonzalez gets the promotion from the minors to make his first start of the season with Texas, and he will go against the inconsitent Ivan Nova who has an ERA near 8 for his last 3 starts, with a 1-2 mark.
Texas will chase Nova tonight, and Gonzalez is the benefactor.
Take the Rangers.
4* TEXAS
Gabriel DuPont
Complimentary play, I look to improve on my 74-66 run with free picks: Houston at ANGELS (-110)
The STORYLINE in this game today - The American League West invades Angel Stadium of Anaheim tonight, as the Houston Astros and Angels do battle. And while the Astros are sitting in second place - 10 games back of first-place Texas - the Angels are in last place looking to get out. They will be motivated in this series lid-lifter and I like them due to the pitching.
The X-FACTOR in making this choice on this game - The biggest key has to be Matt Shoemaker, who has been shocking over a seven-start run, also against the Astros. The right-hander who has lowered his ERA from 8.49 to 4.43 during this stretch lasted 7 1/3 innings and allowed just three runs. He's only collected one win in this span, so I think he'll be at his best.
BOTTOM LINE is - On the other side of the ledger, we have Collin McHugh, who has won once in his last eight starts, going 1-2 with a 4.14 ERA. Houston has won five of his last six starts, including the previous two, but I think the Angels have payback on their mind and will get to him tonight, in revenge for last week in Houston.
4* ANGELS
Scott Delaney
My free winner for Monday is on the St. Louis Cardinals against the Kansas City Royals, as another I-70 series gets underway. This is actually one of my favorite crosstown rivalries, as I think there is so much pride from St. Louis to Kansas City, that you have to appreciate the meaning of this series.
And with the Royals owning baseball's crown this year, I think St. Louis is dying to get this series off in winning fashion.
I want you to list both scheduled starting pitchers: Adam Wainwright and Danny Duffy, as I love St. Louis' strong-armed right-hander to neutralize the champs and pitch the Redbirds to a win tonight.
Each of Wainwright’s last seven starts have been at least six innings in length, while he’s allowed three or fewer runs in everyone of them except one. Wainwright toes the slab with a 2.36 ERA in June, and should be mentally prepared for this matchup.
Meanwhile, the Royals hand the ball to Duffy, who steps to the hill after back-to-back outings of allowing at least three earned runs and one home run. He's been better than average in June, though, with an ERA of 3.54. Tonight, however, I think he struggles against a lineup that boasts baseball's fourth-best road batting average (.269).
Take the Cardinals over Kansas City tonight, and list both.
5* CARDINALS
Jeff Benton
Your Monday freebie is to side with the Over in the Blue Jays-Rockies meeting from Coors Field.
Things in the thin air of Denver have been very offensive lately, as Colorado just played a 4 game series with Arizona that saw 16, 17, 19, and 13 runs combined come home dating back to Thursday. Couple those 4 Overs with a pair of Overs the Rockies played with the Yankees last week in the Bronx, and you can see why I feel the runs are going to add up tonight versus Toronto.
The Blue Jays have played 5 of their last 8 road games Over the posted total.
It will be Marco Estrada and Jon Gray to the mound, and both have ERA's close to 4 over their last 3 starts. Expect those ERA's to take another hit tonight, as the thin air continues to yield hits and runs at Coors.
Blue Jays-Rockies to go Over the total.
2* TORONTO-COLORADO OVER
Darryl Tucholski
Rangers vs. Yankees
Play: Rangers -116
The Rangers have won six straight on the road, and Sabathia has begun to derail, the pitch count has eclipsed 100 in 3 of the last four for oft-injured C.C. Before that, he didnt top 100 in 6 games. He's being overworked, slam the Rangers.
Aaron Toller
Cubs -1½ -150
My free play for Tuesday is on the Cubs despite there recent struggles and being 1-6 overall in their last 7 games. Taking them in the run line with Jake Arrieta on the hill thinking he puts forth a strong start and the Cubs build an early lead and take care of the Reds tonight.