Teams are battling through injuries late in the year and continue to make a playoff push. Our team of writers and handicappers gathered three of their top picks for Tuesday’s MLB action.
New York Mets (73-59) at Philadelphia Phillies (72-59)
The New York Mets lead the NL East by a slim margin over the Philadelphia Phillies. That slight edge can be directly attributed to their success against their division rivals.
The Mets look to create some breathing room in the tight race Tuesday night when they visit the surging Phillies in the opener of a key two-game set.
The Mets (73-59), who lead the division by one-half game over the Phillies (72-59), hold a 9-4 advantage in the season series, including a 5-2 mark at Philadelphia.
Chase Utley has been outstanding in the last 11 home games against the Mets, hitting .348 (16-for-46) with six homers and 10 RBIs. The All-Star second baseman enters this series on a tear, going 10-for-22 (.455) with one homer and three RBIs in the last six games.
Jamie Moyer (11-7, 3.54) is hoping for better offensive support after getting four runs or less in 13 of his last 14 outings, going 5-4 with a 2.66 ERA in that span.
Pick: Philadelphia - Best line -125 SBG Global
Oakland Athletics (60-71) at Los Angles Angels (79-51)
John Lackey had nothing to show for his best outing in almost a month. He usually seems to enjoy plenty of success when facing the Oakland Athletics.
The Los Angeles right-hander looks to continue his dominance of the visiting Athletics while trying to help the Angels bounce back from a series-opening loss Tuesday night.
Lackey (10-2, 3.09 ERA) allowed one run and five hits while striking out six in eight innings, but received little support in a 2-1, 12-inning loss to Minnesota on Thursday. It was the first time in four starts Lackey allowed two or fewer runs.
Rookie Greg Smith (6-12, 3.75), who has 14 of those pickoffs, will take the mound for Oakland trying build off his last start against Los Angeles when he allowed one run and four hits in a 6-1 victory at Anaheim on June 30 for his first complete game.
Pick: Los Angles - Best line -255 SBG Global
Florida Marlins (67-64) at Atlanta Braves (57-74)
With five weeks to go in the regular season, the Florida Marlins need to string together wins to have any chance of making the playoffs.
After closing their last series with an important victory, the Marlins look to win back-to-back games for the first time this month when they open a three-game set Tuesday against the stumbling Atlanta Braves.
Florida (67-64) was in second place in the NL East on Aug. 7, 1 1/2 games out of first, but dropped to third by losing 10 of its next 15 and was a season-worst six games off the division lead heading into Sunday's series finale in Arizona.
The Marlins have not won consecutive games since July 30 and 31, and they might not have the best option on the mound Tuesday in Scott Olsen (6-8, 4.11 ERA).
Florida has lost Olsen's last six starts, and 13 of his last 17. On Wednesday, the left-hander did not get a decision, giving up four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 6-5 loss to San Francisco.
Olsen is 0-4 with a 5.05 ERA in his last six, and is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in his three road starts in that span. In his only start at Turner Field this season on June 2, he gave up three runs and four hits in six innings of a 7-5, 10-inning loss. He is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against the Braves this year.
Pick: Florida - Best line +140 SBG Global