Michael Alexander
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks
Play: Brewers +127
Milwaukee starter, Garza is 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against Arizona, including a no-decision on July 26 in which he gave up three runs and five hits in six frames. While Arizona starter, Corbin fell to 0-4 over his last seven starts when he yielded six runs - three earned - on eight hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings of a loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday. The 27-year-old New Yorker hasn't won since holding the Blue Jays to two runs over 6 1/3 frames in Toronto on June 21 - the last time he gave up fewer than four runs. Corbin's career record against the Brewers remained at 2-2 as he escaped with a no-decision in Milwaukee on July 26 after yielding four runs on six hits and three walks in five innings.
Carmine Bianco
Chicago at Real Salt Lake
Play: Real Salt Lake
Very solid home form this past year and moving up the playoffs standings means they'll need to avoid a misstep against a Chicago side that may be playing out the string and have looked terrible away from home this season.
The Prez
Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox
Play: Baltimore Orioles -128
The Baltimore Orioles are doing what they do best, hit home runs and close out games. One of the top bullpens in the American League play the second of a three-game set in the Windy City on Saturday night. The AL East-leading Orangebirds send right-hander Chris Tillman (14-3, 3.46 ERA) to the hill to square off against White Sox southpaw Carlos Rodon (2-8, 4.67)
Baltimore
Consistent and reliable are the bet words to describe O's starter Tillman. The right-hander earned a no-decision after allowing two earned runs on five hits combined with three walks and six strikeouts in just under 6 innings of work against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Baltimore veteran has lifted his swing and miss rate by nearly two percent and lessened opponents hard contact percentage, compared to last seasons numbers and it has resulted in a career year for Tillman. The Baltimore righty is due for some regression with his .275 BABIP and 79 percent strand but his current form and his career numbers (3-1 with a 3.29 ERA in five starts) against the Pale Sox make him a solid option from Saturday's baseball betting board.
Tillman has surrendered two runs or less in five of his last six turns on the hill.
White Sox
Rodon returned to the White Sox rotation after a one-start Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte in Louisville. The Chicago lefty was out of the team's regular season slate for nearly four-weeks. His first outing with the big club saw the lefty allow five earned runs in six-plus innings. Rodon has had very little success against the White Sox lineup. The southpaw is 0-2 overall against Chicago allowing 10 runs on 12 hits in just over 13 innings in three appearances.
Outlook
The Orioles have been a confident team when Tillman has taken the mound. Baltimore sports a stellar 19-4 record in the right-handers 23 starts this season.
Buster Sports
New York at Detroit
Play: Under 9.5
The Tigers are looking to start another long winning streak after beating the Mets last night and they send LH Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.71 ERA) to the hill tonight. Boyd has been very good for the Tigers of late with a 2.35 ERA and a WHIP of 0.913 in his last 3 starts. At home he has pitched very well also with a 3.18 ERA and with a WHIP of 1.059. The Mets send RH Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.20 ERA) to the hill tonight and he has had his troubles this year for the Mets. For his career he has a fairly respectable 3.97 ERA with a WHIP of 1.27 in 14 big league starts. The Mets have all kinds of troubles scoring runs and they are 28th in the MLB in runs scored on LH pitching. Also with Cespedes not playing, the runs will be hard to come by for the Mets. The oddsmaker has this line at 9 1/2 and we believe that's a little high. Verrett will do enough to keep the Mets in this game and the game under the total. Backing our selection is the fact that the UNDER is 8-1-1 in Mets last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Chris Jordan
My free play for Saturday night is on the Philadelphia Phillies, over the San Diego Padres. And in this game I want you listing Philly's Jake Thompson ONLY, as I'm banking on his MLB debut here.
Thompson makes his highly anticipated big-league debut as the Phillies' top pitching prospect and the No. 70 prospect in baseball, according to one source. He has a 2.50 ERA this season at Triple-A in 21 starts, and brings a solid arsenal that will work well at Petco Park. The right-hander went 11-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 21 starts this season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He went 8-0 with a 1.21 ERA in his last 11 starts.
Thompson came to the Phillies as part of the deal with the Texas Rangers for Cole Hamels at last season’s trade deadline. The 6’4, 235 pounder was originally chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 2nd round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft.
Thompson throws both a low-90’s two-seam fastball and a four-seamer, a curve, and a changeup. But the most notable pitch he brings, and will be used as an out-pitch often, is a deadly slider. He induces lots of ground balls, and can use his pitches to end an inning with a double play or to get out of a jam.
Play Philadelphia and list Thompson only.
2* PHILLIES
Brad Wilton
I know Baltimore's Chris Tillman stands at 14-3 for the season, but he is just 1-1 over his last 3 starts, and his ERA in that stretch is up there at 4.58. I expect Tillman and his counterpart Carlos Rodon to be a bit yielding on Saturday night as the O's and Pale Hose sneak Over the posted total.
Rodon has been battered for 14 earned runs, and 25 hits over his last 17 innings pitched. That translates to a 7.41 ERA, and it has also translated to 3 straight Overs when he has started.
After last night's meeting, these teams stand at 5-0-1 Over the total dating back to last season.
The Over is also 5-1 in Chicago's last 6 games overall.
Warmer weather upon us on the South Side of Chicago, and the runs add up to an Over in this Orioles-White Sox meetings.
Baltimore-Chicago Over the total.
3* BALTIMORE-WHITE SOX OVER
Gabriel DuPont
Complimentary play, I look to improve on my 96-79 run with free picks: Baltimore (-140) at CHICAGO.
The STORYLINE in this game today - The Baltimore Orioles are on the road against the Chicago White Sox, and after scoring a 7-5 win yesterday, I think the O's will dominate in this one. I'm not necessarily thinking we need a Run Line play here, so I'm siding with the American League East leaders straight up, and want you listing the scheduled starters: Chris Tillman and Carlos Rodon.
The X-FACTOR in making this choice on this game - I swear Tillman has been the guy who can turn things around when Baltimore needs it. And tonight he'll be looking to deliver the Orioles a deep start after failing to complete six innings in each of his past two outings. The team's staff ace will be out for redemption, as he's 0-1 over his last two starts. But keep in mind, the Orioles have been nearly unbeatable behind its ace, going 19-4 in his starts.
BOTTOM LINE is - On the other hand, Rodon is in after allowing five earned runs over 6 1/3 innings his last time out, which was his first start since returning from the DL with a sprained left wrist. He gave up four earned runs in seven innings the last time he faced the Orioles, and tonight could be worse.
3* ORIOLES
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday freebie is to stick with the hot-hurling of Aaron Sanchez and Danny Duffy as they mow the hitters down and the Toronto-Kansas City game holds Under the total.
Last night the teams opened their weekend set with a 4-3 Under, as the Under is now 5-1 the last 6 series meetings between the clubs.
Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez is making a strong case for Cy Young consideration with his 11-1 season mark, and league best 2.71 ERA. Over his last 3 starts his ERA is an even better 1.29. Each of his last 7 starts have played Under the total, and for the year the Under is 15-6 when he makes the start.
Danny Duffy is fresh off flirting with a no-hit bid against the Rays, and has easily been KC's most consistent starter, going 7-1 with a 2.98 ERA for the year.
Duffy owns a 1.74 ERA over his last 3 starts, and 2 of the 3 have held Under the total.
Low the way to go in Kansas City on Saturday.
5* TORONTO-KANSAS CITY UNDER