Ben Burns' Blue Chip TOTAL BLOWOUT (1:05 est First Pitch!)
I'm playing on Texas and Detroit to finish UNDER the total in Game 1 of their Double-Header. Neither starter has very impressive stats for the season. However, both have pitched better lately and both are coming off excellent outings. In his last start, Durbin held the White Sox to four hits through five shutout innings. That game would finish with a final score of 3-2. Durbin, who will have the advantage of starting against Texas for the first time, has now seen the UNDER to 4-0 his last four starts. Padilla was even better in his last start as he allowed only two hits through six shutout innings vs. Kansas City. That game would also finish with a score of 3-2. Granted, the Tigers' offense is much better than the Royals' offense. However, Padilla has pitched well against the Tigers in the past. In fact, he is 2-0 with a stellar 2.70 ERA in three career starts vs. the Tigers, most recently allowing two hits through seven complete innings in a 3-2 loss at Detroit exactly one year ago. In his only other start at Detroit, Padilla also pitched seven complete innings and allowed only a single earned run. Including his gem vs. the Royals, Padilla has now seen the UNDER go 3-1-1 his last five starts. I'm expecting another relatively low-scoring affair with the final score finishing above the low number.