Neil The Greek
Navy at Florida Atlantic
Play: Navy -9.5
Most people are thinking Navy's offense is going to slow down just because they are bringing in so many new people. But that's what they do, and the offense will just keep rolling on. On the other side, I do not see Navy getting much better on defense, so they will once again have to outscore folks. They will do just that in this one.
Will Rogers
Tampa Bay at Chicago
Pick: Tampa Bay -160
The set-up: The Tampa Bay Rays sit four games behind Minnesota in the race for the AL’s second wild card after winning seven of the last 10 contests. They NEED to take advantage of the American League-worst White Sox (52-80) when they open a three-game series on Friday night in Chicago. “Win series,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Wednesday’s 5-3 victory at Kansas City. “If we win series, we’re going to put ourselves at the end of this thing in a pretty good spot.” The White Sox did win five of eight on their last homestand but return home off a three-game sweep at Minnesota, after coughing up a ninth-inning lead in Thursday’s 5-4 loss.
The pitching matchup: Blake Snell (2-6 & 4.29 ERA) starts for Tampa Bay and Reynaldo Lopez (0-1 & 6.97 ERA) for Chicago. Snell is now unbeaten in his last six starts (Rays are 4-2) with two wins after completing seven innings in each of the last two while allowing two runs and six hits combined with 15 strikeouts. He has given up three or fewer runs in eight of his last nine outings, posting a 3.31 ERA during that stretch. Snell yielded one hit and one walk while pitching 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the White Sox in his last start of 2016 (only career appearance vs. Chicago). Lopez will make his third start of the season, after spending a little over two weeks on the disabled list with a back strain. He allowed two runs over six innings against Kansas City on Aug. 11 (White Sox won 6-3) but then six runs over 4 1/3 innings on Aug. 17 in a 9-8 loss at Texas.
The pick: The White Sox have nothing to play for and Lopez owns little experience or success. Prior to Snell's current six-start stretch, he was 0-6 on the season, with the Rays going3-9. He's made quite a turnaround and the Rays get the win on Friday. They need wins Saturday and Sunday as well, but that's for later.
MICHAEL ALEXANDER
Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh
Play: Pittsburgh -127
Cole supported himself with a solo home run off Castillo on Saturday and did not walk a batter while scattering five hits over seven scoreless frames. The former No. 1 overall draft pick entered that start 0-6 in nine career outings against Cincinnati but struck out six while improving his ERA to 4.50 against the division rivals. Cole is 12-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 18 career starts in September.
Washington vs. Rutgers
Play: Washington -27
There is always the chance that huge chalks when opening on the road in weekday games, may come up a bit flat, early, only to chase the spot for the remainder of the game. However, if ever a team was focused for a seemingly "nothing" game, the Huskies are that team. They've had to live with their poor showing in last year's semifinal loss to Alabama, in which a 7-0 lead turned into a 24-7 loss. They are +244 points ATS in their last 26 games, have 14 returning starters, including their very good QB Browning (43 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions last year). The Knights have a 40-16 points per game deficit in their last 18 lined games. Give the points.
CHIP CHIRIMBES
Kansas City vs. Minnesota
Play: Kansas City +105
If the Kansas City Royals are to make a move on the AL Wild Card spot they best start here where the Twins hold a 4.5 game lead over them for the final playoff spot. They have lost six of their last seven and were shut out for 45 consecutive inning at one stretch and now face Minnesota who has defeated them eight of 12 meetings this summer. KC needs a big turn-around as they start Jason Hammel (6-10, 4.76 ERA) who is 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts against the Twins. Minnesota will start Dillon Gee (1-1, 3.53) who is just making his fourth start of the season and was blasted in his last start. T
DOUG UPSTONE
Navy vs. Florida Atlantic
Play: Navy -10
Bettors have taken Navy down from opening number of 14.5 to current level and I'm not seeing it. You should know home teams like Florida Atlantic in the first month of the season, after closing out last season with two or more straight losses, against opponent in the first month of the season that was a bowl team from prior season who lost their last three games are miserable 6-30 ATS the past 24 years.
JIMMY BOYD
7
Colorado St vs. Colorado
Play: Over 67
These two teams combined for just 51 points last year, but it was all Colorado on the scoreboard as they won 44-7. That was by far the worst offensive performance for the Rams on the season, as they went on to average a respectable 35.3 ppg and 462 ypg.
The offensive didn't waste any time getting going in 2017, as Colorado State hung 58 points and well over 500 yards in a 58-27 win against Oregon State last Saturday. No surprise as the Rams return their starting QB and top skill players from last yer.
Key here is the Buffaloes defense figures to regress some from last year. Not only do they have just 3 starters back on defense, but they lost one of the best defensive coordinators in the college game in Jim Leavitt, who is now with Oregon.
As for Colorado's offense, they figure to be just as potent, if not more, than last year's team that averaged a respectable 31.1 ppg and 437 ypg. They got 9 starters back and while they have to replace their starting QB, sophomore Steven Montez is poised to step in and play well. He showed flashes last year in 3 starts, throwing for more than 1,000 yards on just 140 attempts (is also a threat on the ground). This is also a Colorado team that loves to play at a fast pace, which is ideal for high scoring games. I see both teams easily eclipsing 30 points and this one cruising past the total.
JACK JONES
Angels vs. Rangers
Play: Rangers -101
The Texas Rangers are four games out in the wild card. One of the teams they are chasing is the Los Angeles Angels, meaning this is a critical series for them. I look for the Rangers to play motivated baseball to take Game 1 of this series Friday night.
Cole Hamels is having a very good season at 9-2 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.149 WHIP in 17 starts. He has yet to lose at home, going 6-0 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.087 WHIP in eight home starts. And Hamels owns the Angels, going 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA and 0.988 WHIP in eight career starts against them. He has given up just 3 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings in three starts against Los Angeles in 2017.
Tyler Skaggs is 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.364 WHIP in 10 starts this season, including 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA and 1.435 WHIP in his last three. Skaggs is 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.429 WHIP in seven career starts against Texas. He has allowed 10 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings in three starts against the Rangers in 2017.
The Angels are 24-50 in their last 74 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. The Rangers are 24-6 in Hamels' last 30 home starts. Texas is 11-1 in Hamels' last 12 Friday starts.
TONY KARPINSKI
Navy vs. Florida Atlantic
Play: Navy -10
Athletically - Florida Atlantic will be greatly outmatched, as the Owls haven't defended advanced running sets with any sort of running game strength as the Midshipmen will bring. Navy have a natural and smooth feel and are exceptional with fundamental running talent - as their 5.9 YPC has confirmed over last season. Navy has been nothing short of a constant "you know what you are getting" team. Especially on the rushing side. Florida Atlantic is a bad team across the board. With a bad passing game, along with their subpar ability to not get the running game contained early in games. Yeah, they have a new coach but it will take a while to get all of the right players in place. Problem really is, with their main guy, Devin Singletary as their obvious bell cow back - Florida Atlantic have actually only gotten 3 big time games from him since last season, where around 50% of his yards on the year, came in those games. He will need to show more consistency to fully believe in him. Midshipmen are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. CUSA and I say they win by 20 or more on Friday night. Navy wins giving the points
Bruce Marshall
Royals at Twins
Pick: Twins
The Royals look to have surrendered in the AL playoff chase after losses in 6 of 7 to fall off the pace. Now a difficult September awaits as several FAs-to-be contemplate their futures. Meanwhile the Twins have moved into a wild card spot and need only 5 innings or so from Dillon Gee to get the edge on Jason Hammel, in whose last five starts KC has lost four.
MIKE ANTHONY
Utah State vs. Wisconsin
Play: Wisconsin -27.5
Bradrick Shaw will contribute in a big way, and obviously see his share of time with Wisconsin's running game. The Badgers win the game - and I don't think Utah State will stand a real chance. LB T.J. Edwards will show up for the defense with a wicked attacking game - especially when the Badgers defense game is firing on all cylinders. Ron'Quavion Tarver, is talented, but just wont contribute quite enough for Utah State - and the Aggies are also slow in their switch sets when facing down a mauling defense like Wisconsin. The offense of Utah State is going to struggle - and with the RBs and Oline getting a push, their backs are going to be having a problem getting into open field - it will struggle tremendously vs the line of Wisconsin. Aggies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
DAVE PRICE
Diamondbacks vs. Rockies
Play: Under 12
This is a very high total when you consider the talent of the two starting pitchers going at it today at Coors Field. Taijuan Walker is 7-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 starts this year, 4-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 12 road starts, and 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his last 3 starts. Kyle Freeland hasn't let Coors Field bring him down this year, going 6-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 13 home starts. Walker is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in 4 lifetime starts vs. Colorado, while Freeland is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his one previous start against Arizona. The UNDER is 12-1 in Freeland's last 13 home starts. The UNDER is 6-0 in Rockies last 6 home games. The UNDER is 14-5 in Diamondback's last 19 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The UNDER is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings.
JOHN MARTIN
Nationals vs. Brewers
Play: Brewers -139
The Milwaukee Brewers continue to try and chase down the Cubs in the NL Central. They haven't folded as they have played well here down the stretch in winning four of their last five coming in over the Dodgers, Cards & Nationals. Jimmy Nelson has been great all season at 10-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 27 starts, including 5-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 14 home starts. Tanner Roark is 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA in 25 starts for the Nationals. Nelson has yielded only 2 earned runs in 12 innings in his last two starts against the Nationals. The Brewers are 6-1 in their last seven home games. Milwaukee is 6-1 in Nelson's last seven home starts.
Eric Schroeder
My free play is on the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and I want you listing the scheduled starting pitchers: Luis Castillo and Gerrit Cole.
Castillo continued his impressive rookie season with an impressive and dominating performance, when he allowed just one run over seven innings in a 1-0 loss to these same Pittsburgh Pirates last Saturday. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs seven times in 13 starts. His loss to the Bucs is still stinging, and he'll be out for revenge.
Cole was on the winning end of Castillo's loss. He was a one-man show, throwing seven scoreless innings and hitting a home run in the 1-0 win at Cincinnati. He has pitched at least six innings in each of his last 10 starts. Tonight the Reds get him.
Take the road team.
2* REDS
Tommy Brunson
Friday night's free play winner is the Red Sox and the Yankees to land Under the total with Doug Fister and Sonny "Pickles" Gray doing the mound work in the Bronx.
Last night's first of four from Yankee Stadium ended up with 8 combined runs and an Under. That puts the series numbers at 3 straight this month, and 4 of the last 5 this month between the clubs Under the total. It also runs things to 7-3 Under the total in the past 10 series meetings this year.
Doug Fister is back in the rotation for the Sox, and has posted 4 quality starts over his last 5 outings this year, as he allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits over 7 innings his last trip out against Baltimore.
Gray meanwhile is looking to improve to 3-0 in as many starts in New York since coming over to the Yankees. Gray just worked 7 innings of 3 run ball at home in a win over Seattle, and the start before allowed 2 runs to Boston in 5 innings worked.
Rights hard to come by again tonight in the Bronx.
Red Sox-Yankees Under the total.
4* BOSTON-N.Y. YANKEES UNDER
Jack Brayman
My free play is off the baseball card, as I like the Angels, in from Anaheim, at the Texas Rangers tonight. And in this game I want you listing the scheduled starting pitchers: Tyler Skaggs and Cole Hamels.
These two recently met, with Hamels and the Rangers defeating the Halos with Skaggs on the hill. So a revenge game is in order.
Skaggs is on the hill after coming away with a no-decision in his last start against the Houston Astros on Saturday, after he allowed five runs - four of them earned - over five innings. In seven career games against the Rangers, Skaggs is 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA. Tonight he will shine.
Hamels, meanwhile, is 5-2 with a 4.01 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break. The lefty has excelled against the Angels this year, pitching to a 1.25 ERA over 21.2 innings, with just 10 hits allowed.
But Hamels' impressive number won't scare me off. This number is low enough to think the Angels have a shot here.
4* ANGELS