Buster Sports
St. Louis at Miami
Play: Under 8
The Marlins send newly acquired pitcher RH Andrew Cashner (4-7, 4.76 ERA) to the mound and he has owned the Cardinals in his career with a 2-0 record and a 1.14 ERA with a WHIP of 0.803. Overall Cashner has pitched well of late having a 2.55 ERA with a WHIP of 0.792 in his last 3 starts. The Cardinals send RH Carlos Martínez (10-6, 2.87 ERA) to the mound and he has had an excellent 2016 campaign. On the road he has a 6-1 record with a 1.89 ERA and with a WHIP of 1.108. Buster Sports Systems have this line at 7 and we will gladly take the value under 8.
Scott Spreitzer
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
Play: Tampa Bay Rays -105
Tampa Bay looks to sweep the series against the Yankees after Saturday's 5-1 win. Blake Snell has pitched much better than his 2-4 record indicates as he has a 3.05 ERA and has allowed just seven runs his last four starts in 24 innings. Also in those four games, the left-hander gave up just one home run with 24 strikeouts. Snell allowed one run and two hits in five innings against New York earlier this season. Michael Pineda comes off two good outings, however, he is 0-2 against the Rays while being touched for 13 runs and 19 hits in only 8 2/3 innings. The Yankees have lost 13 of their last 19 road games against left-handed starters.
Gabriel DuPont
Complimentary play, I look to improve on my 93-76 run with free picks: Philadelphia at ATLANTA (+115).
Be sure you're listing De La Cruz over Eickhoff in this game tonight. I will be back with your analysis for this free winner, as I'm waiting to see the opening line.
The STORYLINE in this game today - The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves conclude their National League East series today, and my money is on the home team getting it done behind the pitching matchup we have staring us in the face. I want you to list Joel De La Cruz, who will be making his first start since giving up seven runs - four of them earned - against these same Phillies on July 4.
The X-FACTOR in making this choice on this game - I also want you to list Jerad Eickhoff, as I think he is the bigger key to this revenge game. Though he leads the Phillies in innings pitched and he has registered a quality start in 13 of his 21 outings this season, Eickhoff is tied for second in the Majors with 12 losses. He isn't as great as people are making out to be, and will struggle in this game tonight.
BOTTOM LINE is - Eickhoff was very close to snapping his winless drought last Tuesday, when he allowed one run across seven innings versus the Marlins. But as has been the case much of the season - it was the 13th time this year - Eickhoff received three runs or fewer of support in a 5-0 defeat. Take Atlanta.
2* BRAVES
Chris Jordan
Value play here with the Milwaukee Brewers, and I want you listing the scheduled starters, as I like Matt Garza over Francisco Liriano in revenge.
These two just met recently and the Pirates won with Liriano on the hill. Now it's time to bank on Garza, who took a step forward with his breaking pitches in his last start, allowing just three runs over six innings. It was his first time allowing less than four runs since June 19, and may have been the breakthrough he needed to get back on track.
Then we have Liriano, who took a step backward last Tuesday, when he faced the Mariners and was hammered for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings during a 7-4 loss. I think he's going to have a rough go in Milwaukee, as the Brewers have won three straight.
Your free winner is the home underdog Brewers.
1* BREWERS
Scott Delaney
My free winner for Sunday is on the Arizona Diamondbacks, as I'm playing this huge road underdog in Los Angeles, and want you listing Patrick Corbin over Bud Norris.
Corbin struggled in the first inning of his last start against the Brewers, as they jumped on him quickly for three runs. His maturity was there, though, as he settled in and allowed just one more over the next four innings. He also told reporters it was the best he's felt about his delivery all season.
He lost to the Dodgers not too long ago, and Norris was on the hill. Now the young left-handed Diamondback will be out for revenge.
Now get this, Norris is 1-7 lifetime against Arizona, the lone win coming his last time he faced them. He is going to get hammered today.
Take the road dog.
2* DIAMONDBACKS
Jeff Benton
Your Sunday freebie is the Yanks and Rays to conclude their series with an Under.
OK, so last night the Yanks and Rays did combine for an Over, that will not dissuade me from jumping right back on the Under here on Sunday.
New York is still on a 13-2 Under run their last 15 games played, while Tampa Bay is not far behind with Unders in 6 of their last 7. Overall, the Under is now 16-5-2 the last 23 for the Rays!
Series numbers show 8 of the past 11 games played at Tropicana Field between these division rivals having held Under, and the Under is also 15-7-2 now the past 24 overall series meetings.
Michael Pineda sports an ERA of 3 for his last 3 starts - all 3 of the starts holding Under the total.
Blake Snell has also found a groove with an ERA of 1.93 for his last 3 starts - all 3 of those efforts also holding Under the total. For the year, 6 of Snell's 8 starts have landed Low.
Have to look for another game that holds Under based on the stats listed above.
3* N.Y. YANKEES-TAMPA BAY UNDER
Brad Wilton
After some wild scores posted the other week at Fenway Park between Boston and Los Angeles, things have been a tad quiet this weekend in Anaheim.
Look for the bats to bust out here on Sunday when the BoSox and Halos conclude their weekend set.
Tyler Skaggs will make his second start of the season for L.A., and he did post 7 scoreless against the Royals just last week. It should be noted that the game did go Over the total despite Skaggs' stinginess.
The real key to this Over play is Boston starter Steven Wright and the fact he has lost command of his knuckler.
Wright has allowed 3 runs or more in 5 of his last 6 starts, with his last pair of starts, and 4 of those 6 starts overall having played Over the total. In his last trip to the mound, Wright was rocked for 8 runs on 9 hits in just over 5 innings of work.
Boston will head up the coast to Seattle to start the new week, but not before they combine with Los Angeles for enough runs to get this sucker Over the total.
2* BOSTON-L.A. ANGELS OVER
Brandon Lee
Pirates -137
The Pirates are going to come out with a chip on their shoulder to avoid suffering a sweep at the hands of the Brewers. I like Pittsburgh's chances of bringing home a victory on Sunday. The Pirates will send out veteran lefty Francisco Liriano, who is poised for a big bounce back start after an embarrassing outing at home against the Mariners. Milwaukee is definitely a team he's going to feel confident against, as he had 13 strikeouts against the Brewers in 6 2/3 innings back on July 21. Pittsburgh won that game 5-3 and the opposing starter was Matt Garza, who will also be taking the mound today. Garza is a mere 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA and 1.677 WHIP in 8 starts since joining the rotation. Liriano is 11-1 in his last 12 starts against NL teams scoring 4.3 or less runs/game in the 2nd half of the season.
Ricky Tran
Reds vs. Padres
Play; Reds -117
Paul Clemens takes the mound for San Diego with a 1-1 record and a 4.82 ERA. He has been more of a relief pitcher this season and may not log a lot of innings. Homer Bailey is on the mound for the Reds in his first start after Tommy John surgery. The last time he faced the Padres he pitched 8.1 innings and gave up 6 hits and just 1 unearned run. San Diego has been brutal offensively, and dealing Matt Kemp to Atlanta isn't going to help matters. Even with Kemp they rank 27th in team batting average, and 29th in on base percentage.