Sunday 9/06/2020 Comps/Bonus Plays,Trends, Betting Info, Etc

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DETROIT TIGERS VS. MINNESOTA TWINS
The Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Target Field.

The Tigers will trot Casey Mize out to the mound in this one. Right hander Mize has a 0-1 record and a 6.75 ERA this season.

It'll be Rich Hill toeing the rubber for the Twins in this contest. Left hander Hill is 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Twins as -196-moneyline favorites versus the Tigers, while the game's total opened at 9.5.

The Twins were a 4-3 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Tigers. That made winners of bettors who got Minnesota at -280 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for UNDER bettors.

Detroit was a 4-3 loser in its last match on the road against the Twins. They lost as +255 underdogs, while the total score of 7 made winners of UNDER bettors.

Detroit:
Team record: 17-20 SU
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
Detroit is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 7 games

Minnesota:
Team record: 25-16 SU
Current Streak: won 5 straight games.
Minnesota is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games
Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games

Next up:
Detroit at Minnesota Monday, September 7

 

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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Divisional bragging rights will be on the line on Sunday when the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants meet at Oracle Park.

The Diamondbacks will trot Alex Young out to the mound in this one. Left hander Young has a 1-2 record and a 4.50 ERA this season.

The Giants will counter Young with Johnny Cueto. Right hander Cueto has a 4.75 ERA to go along with a 2-0 record this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Giants as -141-moneyline favorites versus the Diamondbacks, while the game's total opened at 9.

The Giants were a 4-3 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Diamondbacks. That made winners of bettors who got San Francisco at -136 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for UNDER bettors.

Arizona lost its last outing, a 4-3 result against the Giants on September 05. Bettors who backed the Giants at -136 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (7) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Arizona:
Team record: 15-25 SU
Arizona is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games
Arizona is 2-14 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Arizona's last 16 games

San Francisco:
Team record: 19-21 SU
San Francisco is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
San Francisco is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games
San Francisco is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home

Next up:
Arizona at San Francisco Monday, September 7

 

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HOUSTON ASTROS VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The division rival Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels are set to renew hostilities on Sunday when they meet at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Framber Valdez will be the starting pitcher for the Astros on this day. Left hander Valdez is 3-2 this season with a 2.38 ERA.

Starting this game for the Angels will be Jaime Barria. The right hander has a 2.63 ERA to go along with a 0-0 record this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Astros as -132-moneyline favorites versus the Angels, while the game's total opened at 9.5.

The Angels were a 7-6 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Astros. That made winners of bettors who got Los Angeles at 155 on the moneyline, while the total score (13) was good news for OVER bettors.

Houston lost its last outing, a 7-6 result against the Angels on September 05. Bettors who backed the Angels at 155 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (13) sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Houston:
Team record: 21-18 SU
Current Streak: lost 3 straight games.
Houston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 8 games on the road
Houston is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games when playing LA Angels

Los Angeles:
Team record: 16-25 SU
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
LA Angels is 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games
LA Angels is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels's last 5 games

Next up:
Houston at Oakland Monday, September 7
Los Angeles at Texas Tuesday, September 8

 

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SAN DIEGO PADRES VS. OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Ring Central Coliseum in an interleague contest.

Right hander Garrett Richards will take the mound for the Padres to start this game. Richards is 1-2 this season with a 4.63 ERA.

Starting this game for the Athletics will be Mike Fiers. The right hander has a 4.86 ERA to go along with a 4-1 record this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Athletics as -117-moneyline favorites versus the Padres, while the game's total opened at 9.

In their last action, Oakland was a 8-4 winner on the road against the Padres. Bettors on Oakland at -118 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (12) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.

The Padres were a 8-4 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Athletics. That made winners of bettors who got Oakland at -118 on the moneyline, while the total score (12) was good news for OVER bettors.

San Diego:
Team record: 24-17 SU
San Diego is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
San Diego is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of San Diego's last 18 games

Oakland:
Team record: 23-13 SU
Oakland is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Oakland's last 12 games
Oakland is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games at home

Next up:
San Diego home to Colorado Monday, September 7
Oakland home to Houston Monday, September 7

 

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TEXAS RANGERS VS. SEATTLE MARINERS
A winning streak will be on the line for the Seattle Mariners on Sunday when they battle the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park.

The Rangers will trot Jordan Lyles out to the mound in this one. Right hander Lyles has a 1-3 record and a 8.59 ERA this season.

Meanwhile, it'll be Justin Dunn who starts for the Mariners. Right hander Dunn is 2-1 with a 4.33 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Mariners as -143-moneyline favorites versus the Rangers, while the game's total opened at 9.

Seattle won its last outing, a 5-3 result against the Rangers on September 05. Bettors who backed the Mariners at -140 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (8) sent PUSH bettors to the payout window.

Texas was a 5-3 loser in its last match on the road against the Mariners. They lost as +130 underdogs, while the total score of 8 made winners of PUSH bettors.

Texas:
Team record: 13-25 SU
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
Texas is 5-14 ATS in its last 19 games
Texas is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Texas is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road

Seattle:
Team record: 17-22 SU
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
Seattle is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Seattle is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Seattle is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home

Next up:
Texas at Seattle Monday, September 7

 

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ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VS. CHICAGO CUBS
If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Sunday when the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs meet at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals will give the ball to starter Dakota Hudson in this one. Right hander Hudson is 1-2 this season with a 2.77 ERA.

It'll be Jon Lester toeing the rubber for the Cubs in this contest. Left hander Lester is 2-1 with a 5.11 ERA so far this season.

In their last action, Chicago was a 5-1 loser on the road against the Cardinals. Bettors on St. Louis at 100 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (6) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well.

In their last action, St. Louis was a 5-1 winner on the road against the Cubs. Bettors on St. Louis at 100 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (6) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well.

St. Louis:
Team record: 16-15 SU
St. Louis is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
St. Louis is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Chi Cubs

Chicago:
Team record: 23-17 SU
Chi Cubs is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Chi Cubs is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games at home
Chi Cubs is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing St. Louis

Next up:
St. Louis at Chicago Monday, September 7

 

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COLORADO ROCKIES VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Dodger Stadium.

The Rockies will pin their hopes on the pitching of right hander Ryan Castellani in this game. Castellani has a 1-2 record and a 4.81 ERA this season.

Starting this game for the Dodgers will be Julio Urias. The left hander has a 3.27 ERA to go along with a 3-0 record this season.

Oddsmakers opened the Dodgers as -252-moneyline favorites versus the Rockies, while the game's total opened at 9.5.

The Dodgers were a 5-2 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Rockies. That made winners of bettors who got Colorado at 170 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for UNDER bettors.

The Rockies were a 5-2 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Dodgers. That made winners of bettors who got Colorado at 170 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for UNDER bettors.

Colorado:
Team record: 19-20 SU
Colorado is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Colorado is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games

Los Angeles:
Team record: 30-11 SU
LA Dodgers is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
LA Dodgers is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
LA Dodgers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home

Next up:
Colorado at San Diego Monday, September 7
Los Angeles at Arizona Tuesday, September 8

 

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DALLAS STARS VS. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Rogers Place.

Oddsmakers opened the Golden Knights as -169-moneyline favorites versus the Stars, while the game's total opened at 5.5.

The Golden Knights were a 3-0 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Canucks. That made winners of bettors who got Vegas at -217 on the moneyline, while the total score (3) was good news for UNDER bettors.

Dallas was a 5-4 winner in its last match on the road against the Avalanche. They won as +103 underdogs, while the total score of 9 made winners of OVER bettors.

Dallas:
Team record: 46-31-8 SU
Dallas is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Dallas's last 8 games
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

Vegas:
Team record: 50-28-8 SU
Vegas is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas's last 5 games
Vegas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home

 

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MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS. MIAMI HEAT PREDICTIONS

PICKS

MIA Heat Win -2.0 Point Spread
-110

Over 218.5 Game Totals
-110

Point Spread Pick
It is only Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks are already facing elimination. Milwaukee, the top seed in the East, lost two of the first three contests by double-digits–including a 115-100 decision on Friday, when Miami dominated the fourth quarter by a ridiculous 40-13 margin. Oddsmakers are just begging for people to take the Bucks by suddenly making them underdogs, but don’t take the bait. This looks like a club built for the regular season, as it is getting outclassed and out-coached by a much deeper Heat team. Giannis Antetokounmpo looks like he is going need more help than he has right now in order to get over the playoff hump. Miami’s Jimmy Butler, on the other hand, is rolling nicely along with the likes of Goran Dragic, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson by his side. Look for the Heat to cap off an improbable sweep–and to cover the spread in the process.★


Game Totals Pick
Just as the Heat have suddenly become favorites, the total has dipped under the 220 mark for the first time this series. But whereas that spread shift does not mean it’s a good time to hop on Milwaukee, it does mean that the over has become a decent play. You pretty much know what you are going to get from this well-rounded Miami squad, which has scored between 114 and 115 points in all three games. At some point you also have to think Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are going to become more aggressive on the offensive end and get to the free-throw line; with their backs absolutely up against the wall would be a good time to start. Lean toward the over.★★

 

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HOUSTON ROCKETS VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

HOU Rockets Win +5.5 Point Spread
-110

Under 224.0 Game Totals
-110

Point Spread Pick
You have to like the Los Angels Lakers’ chances of leveling up this series, but the Houston Rockets are still getting 5.5 points despite their Game 1 dominance and those are too may to pass up. As whole, there looks like a lot of parity in the bubble–which is by no means surprising. Two of the conference semifinals series are tied, and the two that aren’t currently see the No. 1 seeds on each side trailing. More important, however, are the specifics of this series. Houston is now 3-1 against L.A. this season (2-1 in the regular season), including 2-0 in the bubble (also won back on Aug. 6). The Rockets also have Russell Westbrook back and he has been steadily improving with each game. His point totals have increased from seven to 17 to 20 to 24–the latter coming in Game 1 on Friday. With James Harden scoring 36 at the same time, Houston’s duo appears to be getting back into peak form. Take the Rockets and the points.★★


Game Totals Pick
Friday’s opener ended 112-97; that means only 209 points were scored in case you need help with match. The total still did not move much from Game 1, and therefore this is a good opportunity to jump on the under. Sure, Los Angeles is probably going to score more than 97 this time–but even if it does there is still plenty of room for this to stay under the number. The Lakers led the Western Conference in scoring defense during the regular season and they certainly weren’t bad at that end in Game 1. They simply could not find the range on offense following five days off. Harden had been 4-for-20 from three-point range over the previous two contests prior to the opener of this series, so it would not be surprising if he takes a step back (pun intended) to his previously lackluster form. The Lakers are going to ramp up the intensity down 1-0, and while that may show up on offense too it will be most evident in a commitment to stopping Harden and Westbrook. Take the under.★★

 

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NEW YORK YANKEES VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES PREDICTIONS

PICKS

NY Yankees Win Money Line
-230

Over 9.5 Game Totals
+100

Money Line Pick
The Yankees feel like every game is a must-win at this point if they want to assure a playoff spot after their recent slide. On Sunday they turn to Masahiro Tanaka, no longer their ace since the signing of Gerrit Cole, but still one of their most trusted rotation pieces. Tanaka struck out seven Rays in six innings on Tuesday, getting the win in just one of the Bombers’ two victories against Tampa Bay this season. They’re happy to face a division opponent below them in the standings, and want to head into a crucial series with the Blue Jays with some confidence. Tanaka will be opposed by Asher Wojciechowski, who has yet to go longer than five innings in any of his seven starts this season. Wojciechowski is just 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA, and he took the loss in his first start of the season against the Yankees, allowing five runs in 5.0 innings. The Yankees should be able to come through against a familiar pitcher with Tanaka on the mound. Take the away team.


Game Totals Pick
The Yankees and Orioles scored eleven and nine runs in each of yesterday’s two seven-inning games. They’ll look to keep up their high scoring efforts on Sunday afternoon, and with Wojciechowski on the mound for the Orioles, the Yankees have as good a chance as ever to put up a big offensive day. Tanaka hasn’t faced the Orioles yet this year, but his career 5.22 ERA at Camden Yards isn’t a good indicator. Go with the over.

 

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MIAMI MARLINS VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

TB Rays Win Money Line
-210

Under 7.5 Game Totals
-120

Money Line Pick
Trevor Rogers makes his first start against a team other than the Mets, and the first-place Tampa Bay Rays look to be a much tougher ask. Rogers walked five in four innings in his debut, not allowing any runs against the worst team in the Major Leagues with multiple runners in scoring position. Those kinds of mistakes won’t fly against the patient Rays, who lead the American League in walks and often turn those into runs, as evidenced by their 27 wins through 40 games this year. The Rays turn to Tyler Glasnow, who’s done a tremendous job turning his season around after a rocky start, throwing two consecutive quality starts including six scoreless at the Yankees his last time out. He has an impressive 57 strikeouts through 34.0 innings this season and should be able to keep that rate up against the Marlins, one of the weaker lineups in the National League. Look for the hottest team in the A.L. to keep it up with a series win on Sunday.


Game Totals Pick
Rogers definitely has the stuff to be a good Major League pitcher, and if he can throw strikes, which he was known to do in the minors, he’ll be tough to hit for many years to come. He should be able to shut down the lefties in the Rays’ lineup, including Brandon Lowe, who’s in an ugly slump, without a hit in his past five games. Glasnow’s confidence is as high as it’s been all season, and he’s taking every start as a tuneup for the playoffs. Take the under.

 

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WASHINGTON NATIONALS VS. ATLANTA BRAVES PREDICTIONS

PICKS

WAS Nationals Win Money Line
+110

Under 9.5 Game Totals
-115

Money Line Pick
The Nationals, effectively eliminated from the National League East, are now looking to play spoiler as they finish out a series against the first-place Braves. Patrick Corbin’s 2-3 record and 3.79 ERA are not the numbers Washington was hoping for when they signed him to a 6-year, $140 million contract before last season, but they know he’s capable of pitching better, as evidenced by his 2.81 ERA against the Braves last season. Corbin hasn’t faced Atlanta this year, but he’s been effective against their big guns in the past, holding Freddie Freeman to a .227 average and Ronald Acuna even lower at just .200. Veteran Josh Tomlin made all but one appearance for the Braves last season in relief, and since he’s been moved to the rotation he has struggled to go deep in games. Tomlin has given up seven earned runs in 7.1 innings across his last two starts. Washington has as good an opportunity as any to win a game this Sunday, so take them to finish the series strong.


Game Totals Pick
While Tomlin has struggled so far this year, a Nationals lineup that may be missing Juan Soto, who’s day to day with elbow soreness, is as easy of a task as he can ask for at this point. Even if Soto’s cleared to play, he’s never got a hit off Tomlin in four career at-bats. Corbin’s success against the Braves last season should continue into 2020. Tomlin won’t go deep enough into the game to be able to call it a pitchers’ duel, but the under should still hit.

 

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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. NEW YORK METS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

PHI Phillies Win Money Line
+135

Under 7.0 Game Totals
-110

Money Line Pick
Jacob deGrom was without a doubt the most dominant pitcher in baseball for his consecutive Cy Young seasons in 2018 and 2019, and yet the Mets’ record in his starts for those two years was 28-36. They can’t ever seem to provide deGrom with any run support, and when they do, the bullpen usually blows it. Runs won’t be easier to come by against Phillies ace Aaron Nola, who’s 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA this season. He threw seven innings two starts ago for a win and was even better his last time out, beating Washington with eight scoreless and striking out nine. deGrom wasn’t his usual self on Monday, failing to get out of trouble as he so often does and allowing four runs in a disappointing loss to Miami. He’s been dealing with what he describes as a “hot-spot” sort of a blister on his hand, and while that hasn’t set him back too much so far, Harper and Realmuto are a much tougher ask than the pre-Marte Marlins. Take the Phillies at a good price as away underdogs.


Game Totals Pick
deGrom’s starts seem to have a theme: low-scoring games. He’s allowed no more than one run in nearly half his career starts (not a small sample size as he’s been in the league for seven seasons), and the Mets never seem to score for him. Nola would have probably been a Cy Young winner two years ago had it not been for deGrom, and he has tremendous career numbers against the Mets, with an 8-1 record. Don’t expect many runs on Sunday afternoon, and take the under.

 

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MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS. CLEVELAND INDIANS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

MIL Brewers Win Money Line
+190

Over 7.0 Game Totals
-115

Money Line Pick
Shane Bieber may be the frontrunner for the American League Cy Young Award, but his 1.20 ERA won’t hold up for a full season, even in a 60-game abbreviated format. Bieber will continue to rack up strikeouts, but if he keeps having issues with his control, a team like Milwaukee can get to him. Bieber’s walked seven hitters between his past two starts. Even though Christian Yelich has been struggling this year, he’s the last guy any pitcher would want at the plate after he’s walked the bases loaded. The Brewers send veteran lefty Brett Anderson to the mound. Now 32 years old, he’s coming off a season in which he came within four innings pitched of his career high, and his modest 4.18 ERA is one that any team would take out of an inning-eating veteran like Anderson. He’s faced Cleveland plenty from his time in the American League and has had some success – Francisco Lindor is hitless in his career against Anderson. A Brewers win would nearly triple your money, and there’s tremendous value there, so go with the away team.


Game Totals Pick
Bieber is definitely due for a letdown. He’s been tough to hit, but his recent control issues are eye-opening. Anderson is one of the most hittable pitchers in baseball, striking out only 90 last season in a full 31 starts, and while he mostly gives up ground balls, Cleveland is a team that hits the ball hard enough to string together enough hits to score a few times. With a total as low as seven, take the over.

 

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TORONTO BLUE JAYS VS. BOSTON RED SOX PREDICTIONS

PICKS

TOR Blue Jays Win Money Line
-135

Under 10.5 Game Totals
-110

Money Line Pick
Two AL East rivals continue their weekend series here as the Toronto Blues push for a postseason berth. The Red Sox on the other hand, have looked like one of the worst teams in baseball this season, so missing the playoffs at this point is very likely. The Blue Jays will turn to Chase Anderson, who has quietly been decent for this rotation. He has yet to earned a decision, but has an ERA of 3.20. He had a solid outing last time out, allowing just one run over 5.0 innings to the Baltimore Orioles. He has two starts against Boston this year and will look to be more efficient, having only pitched a total of 8.0 innings against the Red Sox, while allowing five runs.

The Red Sox will start Ryan Weber, who is 0-2 on the season with an ERA of 5.79. He was decent at best last time out, allowing two runs against the Atlanta Braves over 4.0 innings. He has two appearances against Toronto this season as well (one start), allowing five runs over a combined 5.2 innings.

This is not a game I would be excited to bet, but I will take the Blue Jays because their offense has been more consistent and their pitching staff is a little more trustworthy. ★


Game Totals Pick
As for the total, it looks to be another toss-up. Neither pitcher has been shelled this season, so that is good news for the under. However, the Red Sox bullpen in particular could implode on any given night. Though Toronto is only averaging four runs over their last five games, so it may not make a difference if the Red Sox bullpen comes in. Like we saw in game two of the doubleheader on Friday (a 3-2 Boston win), I think we will get another lackluster effort from both lineups. The under is 4-1 in the last five games for Boston and 22-16-2 this season. The under is also 20-14-2 in games involving the Blue Jays, so my lean would be to the under. ★

 

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CINCINNATI REDS VS. PITTSBURGH PIRATES PREDICTIONS

PICKS

PIT Pirates Win Money Line
+120

Over 9.5 Game Totals
+100

Money Line Pick
In a standard 162-game season, even the worst teams in the league manage to win at least 50 games. It’s safe to assume that the bottom-feeders of the league in this abbreviated year should be good for 19 or 20. The Pirates are 12-25 and, more likely than not, will finish with the worst record in the National League, but their wins will come too, albeit more spread out. They’ll have a good a chance as ever on Saturday facing Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who has a 7.71 ERA through five starts. DeSclafani faced the Pirates three weeks ago and was rocked for nine runs in just 2.0 innings, and wasn’t much better in his last start, giving up seven to the Cardinals while pitching just 3.2 innings. Trevor Williams has already beaten the Reds once this year, and while he hasn’t been able to find the form that won him 14 games two years ago, he can still be depended upon for a quality start against a Reds offense that has cooled down in the past week. Take the Pirates.★★


Game Totals Pick
Williams, in fact, was the opposing starting pitcher in DeSclafani’s implosion on August 13. He was average in that game, giving up three runs in 5.0 innings, which was enough for a win but not promising for under bettors. The two teams scored just six and seven runs in the two games of their doubleheader Friday, but look for at least one of the lineups (more likely Pittsburgh) to break through Saturday. The Reds have given up 10 or more runs twice in the past week. Take the over again.★

 

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX VS. KANSAS CITY ROYALS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

CHI White Sox Win Money Line
-230

Under 9.0 Game Totals
-105

Money Line Pick
Lucas Giolito has looked like a Cy Young candidate his past three starts. He threw seven scoreless against Detroit before his no-hitter against the Pirates, which he followed up with a gutsy five-inning effort on Monday, allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight. He hasn’t faced the Royals yet this year but has dominated them in the past, with a 6-2 record and 2.75 ERA in 12 career starts against Kansas City. He’s clearly a level above Royals starter Kris Bubic, who has yet to record a win through six Major League starts since making his debut at the end of July. Bubic has already faced the White Sox twice this year and had a solid outing his last time, but the Chicago lineup will have a better read on the 23-year-old lefty this time. The Royals are second-to-last in the American League in both scoring and on-base percentage, and they’re just not good enough of a team to beat a confident Giolito without an ace of their own on the mound. Go with the White Sox.★★


Game Totals Pick
Giolito has held the Royals to an incredible .181 batting average in his 12 starts against them, in large enough of a sample size to account for approximately half an offensive season. Many of the Royals responsible for that low number are still on the team: Adalberto Mondesi is just 1-for-17 against Giolito, Whit Merrifield is hitting .160 against him, and Alex Gordon leads the pack with a .222 average. It’s hard to score runs when you don’t have baserunners. Take the under.★

 

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DETROIT TIGERS VS. MINNESOTA TWINS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

MIN Twins Win Money Line
-192

Under 9.5 Game Totals
-120

Money Line Pick
The Twins are starting to heat up again after a bit of a slump, having beat the Detroit Tigers three games in a row now and having won five games in a row overall. They will turn to Rich Hill in this start, who is 1-1 with a modest 3.94 ERA. He failed to go deep into the game in his last start, going just 3.2 innings against the White Sox, while allowing two runs.


The White Sox will counter with Casey Mize, who is still adjusting to being an MLB pitcher. The prospect is 0-1 on the season and has an ERA of 6.75 while dealing with command issues to start his career. He has yet to pitching 5.0 innings into a game and could be in trouble here going up against the Twins’ lineup. His last start was against Minnesota, where he allowed two runs over 3.0 innings.

Given how well Minnesota is playing right now, I am going to back them here to get the job done as a very small lean. ★


Game Totals Pick
I actually like the total much better here and specifically the under. The under is 5-0 in the Twins’ last five games and 27-10-2 on the season for them. The under is also 3-0 in the Tigers’ last three games (all against the Twins). Over the last three games of this series, the Tigers are averaging 1.67 runs per game and the Twins are averaging 3.0. I will look for each pitcher to hold their own and then for the bullpens to do the rest of the work. My pick would be the under and I would do so with medium confidence. ★★

 

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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

SF Giants Win Money Line
-130

Under 9.0 Game Totals
-110

Money Line Pick
Two NL West rivals will wrap up their weekend series as the Giants host the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon. Arizona will turn to Alex Young, while the Giants will start Johnny Cueto. Cueto is 2-0 on the year, but has an ERA of 4.75. He had his best start of the season last time out, going 6.2 innings against this very Arizona team and allowing one run.

On the other side will be Young for the Diamondbacks. He is 1-2 on the season and has an ERA of 4.50. He has just four starts this season, going 0-2 with an ERA of 4.42. His other appearances have been in relief, a total of seven trips out of the bullpen.

While Cueto has been somewhat inconsistent, his start against Arizona was promising and I think he can follow it up here with another one. The Diamondbacks are just 2-8 in their last 10 games, and are not a team I am looking to back. Because of their recent woes, I will take the Giants as a lean. ★


Game Totals Pick
The Diamondbacks are not a very high scoring team and with the struggles they had against Cueto, I do not expect them to have much success here either. The under is 6-2 in their eight head to head meetings this season, so a lower scoring game looks to be the most likely outcome. Even with Young on the mound, it is worth noting that he has not allowed more than three runs in any of his starts, so as long as he avoids early damage, he should be able to settle in nicely. San Francisco has shown the ability to score a ton of runs, but I do not think they will be able to do so here, so a lean to the under will be my play. ★