Bob Balfe
Mets / Rockies Over 12.5
Both teams are going to put up a lot of hits tonight in this ballpark. When you throw in the fact both starting pitchers are prone to giving up walks it’s going to put even more men on base. The more men on the bases the higher likelihood of a high scoring game. Look for a slug fest tonight.
Will Rogers
Oakland vs. San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco -135
The set-up: The San Francisco Giants salvaged the finale of their five-game road trip Tuesday in Oakland against the A's and hope to begin a winning streak Wednesday against the visiting Athletics as the Bay Bridge Series shifts to AT&T Park for two games the next two days. San Francisco ended its four-game slide in a big way Tuesday, erupting for five runs in the first inning and rolling to a 10-4 victory. The Giants haven't had much to cheer about in 2017, as they welcome the A's to San Francisco with the second-worst record in all of MLB at 41-67, as well as owning MLB's worst moneyline mark at minus-$3168 (almost $1200 worse than the 29th-ranked team!). The A's aren't much better, as Oakland owns the AL's second-worst record at 47-60.
The pitching matchup: Rookie Daniel Gossett (2-6 & 5.74 ERA) gets the nod for Oakland and the hugely disappointing veteran Matt Moore (3-10 & 5.74 ERA) goes for the Giants.
Gossett makes his 10th career start (A's are 3-6) and takes the mound having lost three of his last four, including an outing against Minnesota on Friday in which he yielded five runs - four earned - on nine hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings. Gossett, who will be facing San Francisco for the first time. Moore has surrendered at least four runs and served up a homer in each of his last four starts. He is win-less in six outings since defeating Atlanta on the road on June 20. On the season, the Giants are 6-15 in Moore's starts, giving him a minus-$1006 moneyline mark (3rd-worst among all MLB starters). Moore owns a 1-1 record in four career starts against Oakland (teams are 1-3), posting an ugly 7.04 ERA.
The pick: Moore has nowhere to go but up, as do the Giants. As for the A's, they are 16-35 on the road, getting outscored 5.24-to-3.76 RPG.
MIKE ANTHONY
Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox
Play: Cleveland Indians +108
Cleveland is having a heck of a year. It is obvious to anyone watching. Their batting avg is already sitting in 6th in the majors. And their young 3B, Jose Ramirez, has been great, with his HR and RBI total this season - with the balls he is easily hitting .316. Cleveland has some very smart base runners, so even with small infield dinkers they can cover a lot of space quickly when running base to base, behind men. Opponents batting avg shows the difference in pitching talent on the two top notch teams. And the pitching talent on the Cleveland will eventually be shown, yet again. The BoSox game right now is about keeping teams to a low RBI total - and at a hefty 4.52 ERA for their pitcher, with this lineup placement, no batter is going to be all too worried about him. And there is no big slugger to back him up, besides Mookie Betts - that can do much about anything to help it. Boston and the rest of the team have just not been getting on board in front of the right guys. Cleveland blew it in the 9th last night, but they'll get the W tonight.
RICKY TRAN
Arizona vs. Chicago
Play: Arizona +150
The Diamondback RH pitcher Zack Godley has been lights out as of late with 39K's and only 2 home runs given up over his last 31 innings; including a 4-0 shut out win last time out vs. the Cardinals with only 4 hits and 2 walks over his 7 innings pitched. Sporting an impressive 3.06 ERA on the season and with the Diamondbacks being embarrassed last night to the same ball club they play today, expect a motivated outing tonight.
The Cubs send Jake Arrieta to the mound, but he's not been his Cy Young self this season picking up 7 losses and over a 4 ERA. A prime let down spot for the Cubs tonight as they are still celebrating a laughable win last night.
VIC DUKE
Royals vs. Orioles
Play: Royals +118
Orioles come out swinging in this series (2-0) as they continue to close the gap in the American League Central; however, we'll look for their momentum to momentarily end tonight facing All Star Jason Vargas. Vargas has done well against Baltimore with a 1.92 ERA and has been solid on the road (6-2 3.35 ERA). Immediately prior to and after the All-Star game, Vargas was pounded but settled in over his last two starts. We'll look for him to deliver tonight; after all, KC is a sweet 20-6 with Vargas as the starter. On the other hand, veteran Jeremy Hellickson, just acquired from Philadelphia, has not been solid at Camden Yards (5.01 ERA). KC should strike back and finally win at Camden Yards.
Jeff Benton
Your Wednesday freebie is the Cubbies over the Diamondbacks.
Talk about waking up and getting their act together....the Cubs have been doing just that!
With last night's win over Arizona, Chicago is now an eye-popping 14-3 since the All-Star Break.
The Diamondbacks have been scuffling for wins, as they enter play tonight with losses in 6 of their last 10 games contested. They are also just 1-5 the last 6 meetings with the Cubs, and just 2-8 overall in this series.
Zack Godley was able to end a 4 start winless streak with a "W" his last time out, but he will need to be at the top of his game if he is to outduel Jake Arrieta who has pitched 3 straight quality starts since the break, going 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA.
With that 14-3 mark on our side, I will lay the juice and side with the Cubs to improve to 15-3 since the All-Star Break.
4* CUBS
Eric Schroeder
My free pick for tonight is on the Colorado Rockies on the Run Line, against the struggling New York Mets, who have lost three in a row.
The Mets are in fire-sale mode, and did what they could to unload players at the deadline. Then they called up Amed Rosario, despite the potential clubhouse turmoil with disturbance with Asdrubal Cabrera.
New York is working toward next season, there's no doubt.
The Rockies, meanwhile, are working toward a run into the postseason, hoping for a wild-card berth. Take Colorado in a blowout.
3* ROCKIES -1.5
Chris Jordan
I'm ready to improve on this 126-108-4 run with free picks, including a 52-53 mark on the MLB season with freebies.
While I think the Kansas City Royals are clearly the better team, and have a better shot at getting into the postseason than the Baltimore Orioles, I'm siding with the O's in this game tonight at Camden Yards.
Oriole Park will be lit tonight, as the Orioles have won four in a row, and are at home, where they're 32-21 on the season, including last night's 7-2 victory over these same Royals.
With losses in the first two games in this series, the Royals have dipped two games below .500 on the road, at 25-27. They're still two games back of the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, and again, I think they're going to challenge for a spot in the postseason, but right now - in this series - the O's have the upper hand.
Take Baltimore here.
4* ORIOLES