Rob Vinciletti
Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago Cubs
Play: Chicago Cubs -158
The Cubs have won 12 of the last 13 are 6-1 at home off a road loss. Detroit is 0-3 on the road off a road dog loss and for the system we are playing on certain home favorites off a +140 or higher road dog loss and scored 2 or less runs and are taking on an opponent also off a +140 or higher road dog loss. These home teams have won 9 of 11 the past few years. Chicago has Hammel going and he has a 3.03 home era and has won his last 3. Detroit counters with Sanchez and he has an elevated 5.09 road era losing 6 of 9 away. He has terrible current form with a 7.50 era in his last 3 stats. Look for the Cubs to take the opener.
Jim Feist
Marlins vs. Brewers
Play: Over 8½
Milwaukee is a small park, great for hitting home runs, and the Marlins are in town on a 4-1 run over the total, as well as 12-3 over on grass. Miami starter Adam Conley (5.00 ERA) is not used to starting, off a game allowing 8 hits and 4 runs in 4+ innings, a 14-6 win over Boston. The over is 11-1 in the Marlins last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter and they face righty Tyler Cravy (0-4, 5.92 ERA), who is struggling. He has walked 10 in 24 innings while allowing 27 hits (.293).
Art Aronson
White Sox vs. Angels
Play: Over 7½
The visitors hand the ball to John Danks (6-9, 4.58 ERA) who looked decent in his last start, giving up one run off five hits over 7 1/3's innings in a no-decision vs. these very same Angels last Wednesday. If there's one thing that Danks has been this year though, it's been "inconsistent," and note that this is a spot in which the veteran has struggled in all season as well, as he comes to LA with a poor 2-6, 6.09 ERA road record. The home side counters with Garett Richards (11-9, 3.35 ERA) who gave up three runs off eight hits over six innings in a no-decision vs. the Royals on Thursday. Richards has been pretty mediocre down the stretch, he's now given up at least three runs in each of his past five starts and it's resulted in his ERA rising from 3.25 to 3.55 over that stretch. We have a hard time seeing either of these guys staying in the game too long and as a result, we'll recommend a second look at the OVER in this one.
Marc Lawrence
New York Mets vs. Baltimore Orioles
Play: New York Mets -108
Edges - Mets: Jacob DeGrom 1.49 ERA last eight overall starts, and 50 strikeouts and 8 walks last six overall starts. Orioles: Kevin Gausman 2-5 with 4.57 ERA last seven overall team starts, and 2-4 team starts at night this season. With New York 14-5 the last nineteen games in this series, we recommend a 1* play on the Mets.
Scott Spreitzer
Kansas City Royals vs. Cincinnati Reds
Play: Cincinnati Reds +113
The Reds enter on a 17-5 run at home in IL action against teams with a winning record. Tonight, while they will start yet another rookie on the mound, Iglesias certainly has the potential to be a good one. The right-handed starter has a 2.89 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and .156 BAA in three August starts. He's pitched well in four of his five home starts, allowing just eight earned runs, 28 base runners, and two home runs in 25 1/3 IP. And last time out, Iglesias retired the final 16 batters he faced. Edinson Volquez returns to Great American. The former Reds' hurler was tagged for a 5.82 ERA in three games at this venue with the Pirates last season and he's been saddled with an ERA approaching five in his last six starts against Cincy. Kansas City is just 1-5 in their last six roadies against righties and we'll go against them here.
Jesse Schule
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros
Play: Tampa Bay Rays +105
Tampa took Game 1 of this series in Houston by a score of 9-2, and the Rays appear to have a favorable matchup here in Game 2 tonight. Jake Odorizzi will toe the rubber for the Rays, and he's undefeated in his last five starts. Odorizzi (6-6, 3.09 ERA) allowed six runs on nine hits, fanning six in six innings in a 9-6 home win over the Braves his last time out. This will be his second start versus the Astros, and he shut them out through 5 2/3 innings in a home win earlier this year. Houston will hand the ball to Scott Feldman, who appears to be the weakest link the Astros rotation. Feldman (5-5, 4.17 ERA) has won back to back starts on the road, allowing just a pair of runs over 12 innings. He hasn't had nearly as much success at home though, with a record of 2-4 with a 5.56 ERA in eight starts at Minute Maid Park. He's also been hit hard by the Rays, who are batting a combined .344 against him. Asdrubal Cabrera comes in hitting .475 since the All Star break, and he was 2-for-4 with three RBIs last night. He's 4-for-7 (.571) lifetime versus Feldman.
Mr Vegas
Washington at Colorado
Play: Under
The under is 21-7 in the Rockies last 28 vs. the National League East. Into town comes Washington, a squad that is 8-2 under the total following an off day. Washington has Jordan Zimmermann (3.34 ERA) going, with a 114-26 strikeout to walk ratio. Zimmermann (8-8) gave up two hits and one run in seven innings Wednesday against the Dodgers. The 29-year-old has a 1.35 ERA against Colorado this season and the under is 5-2 in Zimmermann's last 7 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. And when these teams clash the Under is 3-1-2 in the last 6 meetings in Colorado.
Tony Stoffo
Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: Washington Nationals -145
The Nationals who can't afford to lose this series against Colorado will send Jordan Zimmermann and his 5-0 career mark with an ERA of 2.10 and a WHIP of 1.150 against the Rockies to the mound in Tuesday night's three-game series opener in Denver. Washington is 38-15 against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons. Zimmerman has the Team's Record of 43-20 against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. The Rockies will activate right-hander David Hale with a 3-4 record and a 5.69 ERA and give him his first start since July 4. Hale, who was out with a groin strain, will replace the demoted Eddie Butler in the rotation. Colorado is 114-164 against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. The Rockies are also 90-113 against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
Sleepyj
Arizona / Pittsburgh Over 7
Pitt has been hot and yesterday was just a bad spot to backt he bucks...I'm not to worried about one bad day with the bats from them..They should be able to take care of business in the run dept today against Chase Anderson...Anderson hasn't looked very good this season and his 4.31 ERA tells us that...Anderson in his last 3 road starts has been a disaster..He has given up 16ER in his last 3 road starts and has walksed 6 batters...He also has given up 8 HR's in those last 3 road games as well..If you want Anderson, it's at home in AZ...Still, his home numbers are not all that great either..He just got touched up in 2 of his last 3 home games..He allowed 12ER in his last 3 starts...I'm not sold on him going into Pitt tonight against a hot club coming off a loss...On the flip side Pirates look to Liriano to get them a win tonight...He has been hit up in his last 2 starts..Walks are up since the break and only going 9 innings total in his last 2 games draws concern...Strikeouts are down and i'm worry Liriano is just a little tired right now..He hasn't gone more than 6 innings in his last 6 starts..Bullpen for Pitt has been used in recent games and may be rather thin here tonight...AZ can hit and they recorded 9 hits off of the Pirates and Cole last night..I look for them to attack Liriano early..The D-Backs have nothing to lose right now....They sit 8.5 games back in the division and the season is all but lost..It would take a big run for this team to sniff the playoffs..I think we get a big effort from them tonight..It won't surprise me if they win either..This one gets over the total tonight...This number is generous IMO.
Wunderdog
Kansas City @ Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati +119
Cincinnati has a winning home record and the Reds are 17-5 in interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record. The Royals just wrapped up a long homestand and are on a 2-6 run on the road. The Royals go with Edinson Volquez, with the team 1-2 his last three starts. Volquez was charged with six runs on eight hits over seven-plus innings Wednesday against the Tigers in a 7-4 defeat. He is 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA in six starts against his former team, the Reds. The Royals are 1-5 on the road against a right-handed starter and face Cincinnati righty Raisel Iglesias, who has allowed 3, 1 and 2 runs his last three starts. He is 2-0 at home where opponents hit .238 off him. Iglesias put together his third straight quality start at San Diego on Wednesday in a 7-3 win. The Reds are 4-1 in interleague games against a team with a winning record, making this a great spot for the home dog. Play the Reds.
Rocketman
Seattle Mariners vs. Texas Rangers
Play: Seattle Mariners -136
The Seattle Mariners travel to Texas to take on the Rangers on Tuesday night. Seattle sends Hisashi Iwakuma to the mound where he is 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA overall this year, 1-0 with a 3.08 ERA on the road this season and 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA his last 3 starts. In his last start he pitched a complete game no hitter against Baltimore. Chi Chi Gonzalez gets the call for the Rangers where he is 1-2 with a 5.90 ERA at home and 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA his last 3 starts. Gonzalez has had control problems as he has 24 walks compared to only 19 strikeouts overall this season. Iwakuma is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA in all starts vs Texas in his career. Seattle has won 7 of 10 overall vs Texas this year including 3-1 record in Texas. We'll recommend a small play on Seattle tonight!
Power Sports
Seattle vs. Texas
Pick: Texas
Last time out, Hisashi Iwakuma tossed a no-hitter, a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Mariners, who based on run differential are the worst team in the A.L. (-80). Following up a no-no can prove difficult and considering Seattle lost here in Texas last night, I find it difficult to endorse the visitors here.
Iwakuma got off to a slow start in his abbreviated 2015 campaign, but clearly has turned things around of late. In his start before the no-no, he did hold Texas to just three runs in seven innings and the M's won as underdogs, 4-3, against Cole Hamels. But that was in Seattle, not Arlington, where the Rangers have won eight in a row. That streak has enabled them to climb back over .500 and remain in the Wild Card race. Moving forward, the Rangers have a lot more on the line compared to Seattle.
Texas has won five in a row overall as they swept Tampa Bay here over the weekend. Seattle's pitching staff got hammered over the weekend in Boston, allowing 45 runs. I readily admit that Rangers' starter Chi-Chi Gonzalez is not good and didn't look any better in his first start back (Thursday) after a demotion to the minors. But offense should carry the home team here. Good underdog value here.
Will Rogers
Toronto vs. Philadelphia
Pick: Toronto
The Toronto Blue Jays are still a game behind the Yankees in the AL East, but they come into Philadelphia as winners of 12 of their last 14. The Phillies went on a run after the All Star break, but have since cooled off losing five of their last six.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Pitching - The Blue Jays hand the ball to R.A. Dickey, who hasn't lost since the All Star break. He's 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA in six starts. The Phillies counter with rookie Aaron Nola, who only has five starts under his belt. He gave up four runs on nine hits over five innings in a no decision at Arizona in his last outing, and it won't get any easier against the best offense in the majors.
2. Joey Bats - Jose Bautista is hitting .305 with seven home runs and 14 RBIs in August, and he hit a game winning two run homer against the Yankees on Sunday.
3. X-Factor - The Jays have won six straight trips to Citizen's Bank Park.
Big Al
Twins vs. Yankees
Pick:Yankees
There is certainly nothing pretty (or very little) about CC Sabathia's overall numbers this season, but for the month of August, he's been a very unlucky southpaw pitcher, posting a 2.25 ERA in two starts without managing a victory. Strong finishes to the season are nothing new for Sabathia, whose best months historically have always been August and September. In 76 August starts, Sabathia is an incredible 47-16 (.746) with a 3.41 ERA and in 68 September starts, that ERA drops to 2.92. He gets his 23rd start of the season tonight against the Twins, a team he's done very well against, not only as a member of the Yankees, but also when he was with the Indians. In 35 lifetime starts vs. Minny, Sabathia is 17-9 (.654) with a 3.14 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in just under 238 innings. Minnesota is 13-39 in the last 52 meetings with the Yanks, as well as 4-18 in its last 22 games as an underdog.