Jeff Benton
Your Tuesday freebie will be the slumping Mets to post a rare win over the first place Nationals.
New York has just one win since the All-Star break, and believe it or not, that win happens to be when R.A. Dickey was the winner over the Nats and Gio Gonzalez back on July 19th.
Dickey is now 13-1 for the season, and while his ERA has spiked the last few times he has been on the hill, the fact remains the Mets are 15-4 this year when the knuckleballer is on the mound.
Washington continues to hum, winners of three straight after last night's extra-inning win, but Gio Gonzalez is only 1-2 his last three starts, and his ERA in that span stands at 5.28.
The Mets chances of getting back in the playoff chase are fading fast, but at least for tonight they can take solace in knowing that their potential Cy Young award winner is on the hill.
I will go with the Mets to post a rare win this Tuesday night.
1♦ N.Y. METS
Dom Chambers
For the free play, let’s take a look at the Detroit Tigers to beat the Cleveland Indians.
Doug Fister starts for the Tigers and he has been on a tear lately, going 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last three starts. In those starts, he has given up only six runs in 21 innings.
Conversely, Ubaldo Jimenez starts for the Indians and he has struggled lately. In his last three starts, he is 1-2 with a 9.64 ERA. In those games, he has given up 15 runs in 14 innings.
The Indians are fading, going 1-4 in their last five games. The Tigers are just the opposite, winning their last five games and seven of their last eight.
The Tigers are the hotter team with the better pitching going.
Take the Tigers.
3♦ TIGERS
Chris Jordan
Coming in after a disappointing showing in Cincinnati, where I told you the Reds were my 1,000♦ Rivalry Game of the Year two days ago, I thought for sure the Milwaukee Brewers would struggle last night in the series-opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. As it turned out, the Brewers controlled the tempo and jumped all over the Phils.
Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn't maintaing the lead. The Phillies had been 0-42 when trailing after eight, but staged a four-run ninth for their second straight walk-off win. That has to be demoralizing for the Brew Crew, and tonight is going to be one of those games where the Brewers would rather not be in, back at Citizens Bank with all thoughts on last night's debacle.
And the fact right-hander Zack Greinke will likely be distracted by the trade rumors that have been surrounding him as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches, even he will have his mind elsewhere at times.
This is the right spot to play the Phillies, as they will send the Brewers to their fifth-straight defeat.
2♦ PHILADELPHIA
Scott Delaney
Now, let's get to my free pick for Tuesday night, as my money is on the two-time defending American League champion Texas Rangers, who host the struggling Boston Red Sox in game two of this three-game series. The Rangers have won seven of 11 after last night's 9-1 pasting of the Sox, and as long the Crimson Hose are reeling, there's no reason to overlook a value number like this. At most places I see this is virtually a pick'em game.
Now let me say from the start, I don't care about listing either pitcher: Clay Buchholz or Martin Perez. Again, this about momentum, not to mention a little weariness for the road team. The Red Sox arrived for this series after being swept at home by the Toronto Blue Jays, a team that had arrived at Fenway Park after being swept by the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
Then, leaving their climate in Boston, the Sox arrive in humid Arlington and get pummeled in the series-opener. This pitching staff is atrocious right now, and it only gets worse.
During this four-game slide, the staff has given up 37 runs. And it doesn't look any more promising in continuing this series against the No. 1 offense in baseball. And make note the Rangers went into Fenway Park back in April and won a two-game series by outscoring Boston, 24-6.
Texas leads the league with a .278 batting average and 482 runs, while it is tied for fourth in the bigs with 115 home runs. And here's where things get hairy for the BoSox - their starters rank 27th in the league with a 4.89 ERA. And once you've given up a lead - gotten hammered - in Arlington, it's just about over.
My money is on Texas tonight.
2♦ TEXAS
Craig Davis
Free play run stands at 47-31 coming into Tuesday.
Today's free play is on the LA Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw over the St. Louis Cardinals.
I like the way the Dodgers are playing lately, and if you consider they are rolling out their best pitcher AND the fact they seem to own the Cardinals, I like my chances even more. The Dogders are looking for their sixth straight win and their ninth straight against the Cards.
I remember when it seemed like more doom-and-gloom for the Dodgers when SS Dee Gordon went to the DL, but Luis Cruz has been a pleasant surprise. He nailed a three-run homer last night and has driven in eight runs over his past six games. Pleasant surprise, indeed.
Kershaw (7-5, 2.72 ERA) loves pitching against the Cards, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.75 ERA in nine career starts against the Cardinals, with an even better 2-1 record and 1.78 ERA against them on the road. Not only that... Kershaw has thrown 15 straight scoreless innings against St. Louis, including a six-hitter back on May 19th of this year (a 6-0 win).
St. Louis counters with Adam Wainwright (7-10, 4.42 ERA) who has lost back-to-back starts. Granted, he's 2-1 with a 0.70 ERA in his last three starts at home against the Dodgers, but times have changed. I have little faith in him right now, and facing Kershaw is never a healthy proposition.
Take the Dodgers as your free play of the day.
2♦ L.A. DODGERS
Rocketman
Tampa Bay @ Baltimore
Play: Baltimore -139
Tampa Bay travels to Baltimore to take on the Orioles in Game One of this three game series. Baltimore comes in winners of five of their last six games overall. Tampa Bay is scoring only 3.8 runs per game against left handed starters this year and 3.4 runs per game their past seven games overall. Baltimore is allowing only 2.7 runs per game their past seven games overall. Tampa Bay is 2-5 last 7 games on the road. Tampa Bay is 0-5 last 5 games against a left handed starter. Tampa Bay is 1-7 last 8 games when Hellickson starts after a loss by Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is 0-5 last 5 games overall when Hellickson starts. Baltimore is 5-1 last 6 games when Chen starts at home against a team with a winning record. Tampa Bay is 1-4 last 5 meetings in Baltimore. We'll recommend a small play on Baltimore tonight!