Bob Balfe
Brewers +110
The Giants are not a very good road team and struggle with right handed starters. Milwaukee is pretty decent at putting runs up at home. Jeff Samardzija has struggled on the road this year and I expect his woes to continue as his offense just can’t give him any run support.
The Prez
Miami at Chicago
Play: Over 8
Miami visits Wrigley Field on Monday evening to oppose the Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET when Fish right-hander Dan Straily (4-3, 3.56 ERA) takes the mound in a square off against Cubs righty Eddie Butler (2-1, 4.42).
While Chicago takes some momentum into tonight's contest at Wrigley, having won three straight finding a way to earn their fourth consecutive victory tonight will require scoring a large number of runs.
The Marlins have had a starting pitcher (Eddy Volquez) throw a no-hitter have won three straight and seven of their last eight. Additionally, the current Miami lineup, scoring runs, has had success at windy Wrigley.
Miami's Straily has won his last three starts, his last coming against a soft-hitting Philadelphia Phillies club, when he allowing two runs in nearly 7 innings of work. Straily is 1-1 with a 6-plus ERA in four career outings vs the Cubs.
Cubs' right-handed journeyman, Butler, has struggled to maintain any consistency this season and is off an outing in which he allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings -- and against a poor hitting San Diego club. Butler has not pitched past the fifth inning in three straight and the power hitting Marlins have feasted on Butler in his career, albeit a small sample. The Cubs right-hander is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA in two turns against the Marlins.
The Cubs offense has heated up recently as have the Marlins and warm temps with a strong wind blowing to right field make tonight's event a game where the first team to 6-plus runs is in a good position to win the game.
Rob Veno
Houston at Kansas City
Play: Over 9.5
Can’t be any hotter than the Astros are right now going 10-0 in their last 10 games and winning them by a combined 82-36. During the stretch, Houston is hitting .327 with a .425 OBP, .608 SLG% and 1.033 OPS. Facing Kansas City starter Ian Kennedy tonight could increase those numbers since Kennedy is on a rapid decline lately. In his four starts since the beginning of May, Kennedy hasn’t lasted more than five innings. During this current 14.1 inning stretch, he has posted an 11.30 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, allowed an alarming six home runs and thrown an average of 21.0 pitches per inning. Houston has feasted on right handed pitching all season ranking #2 in MLB with an .821 OPS and with Kennedy’s velocity ticking down a bit over the past month, this matchup looks good for the Astros bats.
Kansas City’s offense has been subpar through the first couple months of this season but seeing Houston RH Mike Fiers could help. The Royals have been a much better offensive team for about the last month scoring 5or more runs in 13 of their last 26 games and at least 4 in 16 of those. Their .265 BA, .335 OBP, .435 SLG% and .771 OPS are all decidedly improved over their full season numbers. This looks to be a spot where they can productive offensively. Also possibly providing an edge for the KC offense tonight could be the fact that Fiers hasn’t thrown more than six innings in a start all season. The Astros have a deep bullpen but it figures to be somewhat limited tonight as three of their top arms worked twice over the weekend and all of them threw 35+ pitches (Chris Devenski, Luke Gregorson & closer Ken Giles).
Going to get in line with the move on this game total which has been pushed from 9 to 9.5. Each starter could have difficulties keeping run production down and neither bullpen is fully rested which leaves the back third open for some extra runs.