Rating: 2 Units

The two starters, Bellozo and Cobrin, pitch to contact and have been hampered by the long ball this season. Bellozo has led up ten home runs in just over 50 innings this season, while Corbin has given up 23, including three in his last start. The Nationals have won three of Corbin's last five starts, and the veteran lefty has done a good job keeping his team in games, particularly at home. Despite being just 5-13 on the season overall, Corbin is 3-5 at home this year, and his ERA is nearly a run less at home. Bellozo has pitched well, but the Marlins are a dismal 27-45 on the road this season heading into Friday night. The Nationals have played better at home, winning 33 and losing 39. Look for the Nationals to outlast the Marlins this afternoon.

Rating: 2 Units

Oregon State is a rude host, going 4-0 ATS in the last four games of this series played in the Beaver Dam. The Beavers are 6-1 ATS with single revenge and 5-0 ATS as a game three dog. Consider that playing on any undefeated home dog if they were a bowl team last season and they are facing an opponent that allows 14 or more PPG is 24-7-1 ATS.

Rating: 3 Units

The Gamecocks crushed the Wildcats in Kentucky last week and are 5-1 in recent third games and 4-1 ATS in the last five as SEC home dogs. The ‘Cocks are 7-3 ATS in their last ten conference home games. The Bengal Tigers are a nice 5-1 ATS in their first conference game but 3-7 as a conference road favorite of 10 or fewer points. Kelly is 1-4 ATS in his last five road openers.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dolphins are 7-0 SUATS as single-digit home chalk, as well as 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS at home off a home game. QB Tua Tagovailoa chips in with a 21-6 SU and 18-9 ATS career mark at home with the Fish, including 12-3 SUATS when coming off a win. Finally, Buffalo is 1-5 ATS on Thursdays against foes coming off a win.

Rating: 3 Units

Arizona State is coming off the program’s first win against the SEC after beating Mississippi State, but The Sun Devils are 1-6-1 ATS in Game 3 when starting 2-0. Consider however, that playing on any undefeated home dog if they were a bowl team last season and they are facing an opponent that allows 14 or more PPG is 24-7-1 ATS.  Additionally, bringing this home dog off a double-digit win against the same opponent coming off a SUATS win, and they are 16-3 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Skubal is the leading AL Cy Young candidate for good reason. He sports the second-best Win Probability Added (3.77 WPA) with a 30.3% K% and 4.8% BB%. He hasn't regressed much in the second half of the season, either. Coming off a mediocre start (for his standards), I expect him to bring it on Thursday, putting down the Rockies like a professional bowler knocks down pins. Colorado ranks 29th in wRC+ (82) with the second-highest strikeout percentage (26.6%) in MLB. It also strikes out at an even higher rate (29.9%) against left-handers. The Tigers have been heating up offensively, too. They scored nine runs in their series finale versus Oakland and 11 in the series opener versus Colorado. They rank 7th in wRC+ (108), 7th in wOBA (.318) and 6th in WAR (4.8) in the last 30 days. On a quest to make the AL postseason field, Detroit will push Feltner around early and add on against the Rockies' bullpen, which has a 5.44 ERA (30th) and 1.55 WHIP (30th) this season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Los Angeles Angels (60-84, 75-59 RL, 67-71-6 O/U) clash with the Minnesota Twins (76-68, 64-80 RL, 71-67-6 O/U) in the last of a three-game series on Wednesday evening. The Angels will give the nod to Jack Kochanowicz. The Twins will reply with Zebby Matthews. Minnesota leads the season series 3-1

Rating: 2 Units

Wheeler will take the mound for Philly tonight. The veteran right-hander has been one of the top pitchers in MLB this season, ranking first in quality starts (22), ninth in innings pitched (173.2), seventh in win probability added (3.71) and seventh in Ks (190). He has also been clutch, ranking 24th in performance in high-leverage situations. The Phillies' starter has been dominant recently too, holding seven consecutive opponents to two or fewer runs (eight total earned runs in those seven starts). Tampa Bay starter is 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in six road starts. Baz may be due for negative regression, though, as his 4.05 xERA is 0.78 points higher than his actual ERA. He also has a 4.69 xFIP and 4.73 SIERA with a low K-BB ratio (10.1%). 

Rating: 2 Units

The Tigers suddenly find themselves in must-win situations now that they are back in the hunt for a playoff spot. They need to take advantage of this winnable series against the 90-loss Rockies at home. Rockies' righty Blalock is making just his seventh appearance of the season and has struggled to keep runners off base. He has allowed 30 hits in 26.2 innings of work and already has 15 walks. The Tigers have lost three of his last five starts coming into this game. The Tigers will counter with Montero, making his 15th start of the season. Montero has pitched better during this recent winning stretch for the Tigers. The Tigers have won three of his last five starts. While the Tigers are a respectable 35-34 at home this season, the Rockies are a dismal 22-53 away from home.

Rating: 2 Units

Frisco is just 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS hosting AFC opponents and 0-3 SUATS the previous three in Monday night non-division games. While Rogers is 25-12-2 ATS in his career against the NFC West, as well as 36-24-2 ATS when receiving points. Finally, playing against any NFL Monday Night favorite in Game One of the season is 32-29 SU and 19-41-1 ATS since 1980, including 0-3 SUATS the past three seasons. In addition, when the Over/Under total in the game is 41 or greater points, they fall to 25-24 SU and 12-36-1 ATS, including 2-15 ATS if the favorite won a dozen games or more last season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phillies, who average 4.92 runs per game, should constantly drive in runs with Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh, and the rest of the lineup making contact and powering the ball to easily plate baserunners. The Phillies should limit the Rays lineup with Cristopher Sanchez pitching multiple strong innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with a lead. The Phillies should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win at home.

Rating: 2 Units

Even though the Browns are 5-0 ATS in the previous five games against NFC East opposition, the loss of star RB Nick Chubb (knee) for the season’s first four games is immeasurable. Dallas enters as the only team in the NFL to have won 12 games three seasons in a row. They are also 9-2 ATS against the AFC North, while the visiting team in this series has bagged the cash in four straight games.

5* NFL Game of the Month

Rating: 5 Units

These teams have gone 49-81-1 SU and 52-74-5 ATS combined since 1980, including 4-17 ATS as division -favorites. The Colts are a putrid 2-13-1 SU and 1-15 ATS in season openers, but they never squared off against a “TLN” in any of those games. However, Houston is 1-8 SU in its last nine road openers, including 0-6 in the last six games

Rating: 2 Units

4 years ago, DeAndre Hopkins ripped the Bills hearts out with his 43 yard "Hail (Kyler) Murray" TD at the buzzer. 32-30 Cards. Last year, the Cards matched their franchise record for losses in a season (13). In fact, they have back to back seasons w/ 13 losses for the first time ever. 4 straight AFC East titles for the Bills as they ended LY on a 5 game winning streak. Despite the constant criticism from certain media members, Josh Allen managed to lead the NFL w/ 44 total TDs LY. Cards 8-3 vs non div opp in '23 but Bills 8-1 Sept HG. Marvin Harrison Jr makes his NFL debut.

4* Inter-Conference Game of the Week

Rating: 4 Units

Chicago is just 2-8 outright in its last ten season-opening games, as well as 3-7 SU and 3-6-1 ATS in its last ten contests against the AFC South. In addition, first overall picks of the draft starting a game as a QB in Week 1 are just 2-21 ATS, including 0-14-1 ATS in their debut game since 2003.

Rating: 2 Units

Last year, the Panthers became the first team since at least 1991 to fail to run a single play while leading in the 4th quarter of a game. Both of their wins last year came on FGs at the end of regulation when they were trailing. They also ended 2023 by being shutout in their last 2 games & scored 9 pts or fewer in 4 of the last 5 gms. Due to those abysmal numbers, the Dave Canales regime has officially begun. The Saints ended last season by scoring 48 points vs the Falcons, their most since 2020.

NCAAF Game of the Month

Rating: 5 Units

After last week’s systematic dismantling of Georgia Southern, the Broncos head to Autzen Stadium with a 3-0 SUATS series record, and they catch Oregon with hated rival Oregon State on deck. Boise has shined on the road in Game Twos, going 18-7 SU and 15-9-1 ATS, including 6-0 ATS as a pick or dog and 5-0-1 ATS when coming off an away game. Sooner or later, someone’s going to awaken the sleeping giant, but we can’t lay points like this with a team that is 11-29-1 ATS as a double-digit home favorite against foes coming off a win, including 3-11 ATS against undefeated nonconference opponents. Finally, Boise State is 19-5-1 ATS as a dog versus .750 or greater opponents, including 5-0 ATS as a double-digit dog.

Rating: 3 Units

CU finished 4-8 last year under Coach Prime’s leadership and they now head to Nebraska to take on an angry bunch of Cornhuskers that were trampled in last year’s meeting at Boulder, 36-14. The ‘Golden Rhule’ is in effect with NU this season as head coach Matt Rhule’s college teams are 45-23 SU and 42-22 ATS after his first year with a program. That’s a 66% winning proposition for those looking to risk money on Nebraska, and it fits nicely with the fact that the Huskers are playing the second of four straight home games to open the 2024 season.

South Alabama has only been 3-10 ATS as road chalk over the last ten years. New head coach Major Applewhite is also 2-6 SUATS as a favorite of six or fewer points.Applewhite’s opponent today finds themselves in a rare role: a 10-win team each of the past two seasons that has been installed as a home dog. Ohio is 11-1 SU at home over that span. Finally, Game Two bowlers, off a season opening defeat, need help getting their act together when laying points, going just 111-124-4 ATS, including 58-71-1 ATS when favored by 13 or fewer points.

SEC Game of the Week

Rating: 4 Units

Kentucky has turned the offense over to former Georgia QB Brock Vandergriff, whose debut against Southern Mississippi was adequate, especially with multiple weather delays. How UK fares in SEC play will be almost entirely on his shoulders. But Brock has some help on the sidelines. Stoops is 16-2 SU and 12-6 ATS as a home favorite coming off a home game and down the stretch and Kentucky is 15-0 ATS coming off a nonconference game when facing a .500 or greater opponent.

Rating: 3 Units

Get Tech on the road, and generally, the numbers will not be favorable for the Rambling Wreck, 3-8 SU and 2-9 ATS as road chalk in the last 10 years, plus an alarming 1-8 SU in road openers since 2015. Meanwhile, new Orange Coach Fran Brown was ranked the nation’s best recruiter by 247 Sports. The Cuse is 35-15-1 SU and 30-16-1 ATS at home when coming off a win, and while they were a bit vulnerable defensively versus Ohio in Week 1, Orange QB Kyle McCord had a career day with 354 pass yards and four TD passes. Consider that playing against any CFB road pick or favorite of fewer than 8 points in Game Three if they are 2-0 SUATS is 14-2 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

ACC powerhouse Mustangs are 7-0 ATS in their last seven as non-con home chalk and off to a quick 2-0 start, although they struggled with Nevada in Week 0. BYU has begun some slow slippage recently, and this year’s edition is younger than normal. 18 underclassmen, including eight true freshmen, saw action in a 41-13 home win over Southern Illinois. Traditionally, the Cougars are weak in the front end of consecutive road games, going 1-6 ATS in the fi rst game.

Rating: 3 Units

John Harbaugh, is looking to avenge a 17-10 home loss to Andy Reid in the AFC Championship Game last season while sporting a 30-15-4 ATS record as a dog of three or fewer points, including 10-2 ATS on the road with revenge. Look for KC’s 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS mark as small regular season home chalk of four or fewer points to come into play tonight. Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson’s is 4-1 SUATS in season openers and finally, Jackson is 11-4 SU and 13-1-1 ATS in his career as a regular season ‘pick’ or dog in the NFL.

Rating: 2 Units

The current Mariners are only 12-for-56 with two doubles and one home run against JP Sears, who pitched well of late. On the other side, the current A’s are 17-for-50 with four doubles and three dingers against George Kirby, who’s struggled a lot over the last few weeks. JJ Bleday is 4-for-6 with a homer, Zack Gelof is 3-for-5 with a double and a home run, and Brent Rooker is 3-for-9 with a double and a round-tripper versus Kirby. Hereof, I’m backing the A’s to come out on top even though the Mariners bullpen has done a great job over the last ten days (2.45 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 25.2 IP). The Athletics have been destroying the right-handed pitchers in the last ten days, tallying a .901 OPS and 153 wRC+ across 274 plate appearances. 

ACC Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Boston College has a significant revenge chip on its shoulder from a 31-29 home loss last season – a game in which the Eagles outgained the Seminoles 434-340. Anything remotely resembling that performance should improve their 4-1 ATS mark in Game One versus a conference opponent, 3-1 ATS record in this series, and 12-3 ATS log when playing on the road with ACC revenge. Finally, playing on any CFB underdog with revenge in its first game of the season facing a foe in its second game of the second game of the season if the foe won 10+ games last season is 14-2-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Osvaldo Bido is on the bump for the A’s as he logs his 15th appearance, ninth start, of the season here on getaway day. He is 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.071 WHIP, 24 walks and 56 strikeouts over 56 innings of work on the year. Bido didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came against the Reds on the road Wednesday. He threw six frames, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts in a 9-6 A’s victory. In his last three starts, Bido is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA, a 0.65 WHIP, five walks and 17 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Bido, in his 31st career major league appearance and 18th start, pitches against the Mariners for the first time here. He makes his 10th career appearance, sixth start, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in this contest. Bido is 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA, a 1.163 WHIP, 16 walks and 36 strikeouts over 32.2 innings of work in those outings.

Rating: 3 Units

USC head coach Riley is a Hot Rod Lincoln as an underdog, going 6-1 ATS in his career when taking more than three points, including 4-0 ATS during the regular season.  Additionally, Lincoln Riley is 38-4 SU in the first six games of the season, including 12-0 with USC. 

Rating: 2 Units

Pfaadt has stepped up while the lineup has been the best in the majors, scoring 5.36 runs per game. Joc Pederson is slashing .283/.405/.541 with 21 home runs and 170 total bases while Jake McCarthy is slashing .299/.371/.442 with 152 total bases but the rest of the lineup has been great. Geraldo Perdomo is slashing .276/.345/.390 with 96 total bases while Eugenio Suarez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. have added 37 home runs and 405 total bases to add depth to the lineup, making the Diamondbacks tough to put away at the plate.

Rating: 2 Units

The A's offense has been rolling lately, particularly via the long ball. They have averaged three home runs per game over the last five games and are second only to the Yankees in runs scored via the long ball. The A's offense has been particularly potent in the afternoon this season with 70 home runs in 58-day games. They will get their swings on Sunday against a patched-together pitching staff in what appears to be an opener-game for the Rangers. The Rangers picked up three straight wins against the White Sox but, at this point, what team hasn't dominated the White Sox? They have been through a long, arduous season trying to defend their title and look like a tired team trying to wrap up the season. The A's are riding recent momentum and will roll on Sunday thanks to their powerful lineup and the Rangers' depleted staff.

Rating: 2 Units

We realize that Old Dominion is 0-3-1 ATS all-time away in season openers since joining the FBS, but they are also on a current 9-2 ATS overall ATS win skein. Sure, a bounce back by Shane Beamer’s bunch appears in order this season. But we’re in no hurry to lay this kind of wood with a team that is 3-7 ATS in home openers as a favorite of 15 or more points. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Padres have done a better job on the offensive end, scoring 18 runs in their last four games to Tampa Bay’s seven runs during the same span. Expect the Padres to play well offensively because they have had a lot of success batting against right-handers and Baz has been shaky on the mound in recent starts, giving up seven runs in his last three starts. He gave up eight runs in his last three home starts, and with Tampa Bay’s bullpen struggling in recent games, they will have a hard time slowing down the Padres. The Rays won’t be as successful offensively because they haven’t hit the ball well against right-handers and Vasquez has been solid on the mound in recent starts, giving up six runs in his last three starts. He gave up five runs in his last two road starts and will keep Tampa Bay’s offense in check. Go with San Diego to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

Florida has now suffered losing seasons three consecutive years for the first time since 1945-47. Napier’s chance at redemption starts here, with his 4-1 SUATS career as a home dog and 11-2 SUATS as a dog of fewer than five points in his career. Consider that Florida is 41-1-2 SU in home openers since 1980, including 37-0-1 against nonconference opponents.

NCAAF Game of the Week

The Nittany Lions laid a 38-15 whipping on the Mountaineers, a bludgeoning in which a coach who owns a 12-6-2 ATS career mark in games as a dog can return the favor. His counterpart, PSU coach James Franklin, stands 2-2 SUATS in season-opening road games, with the two wins by six and four points. Finally, West Virginia is 19-1 outright in its last twenty home openers.

Rating: 2 Units

Kent is 1-17 SU and 4-13-1 ATS as a road dog this decade. Pitt is 6-0 SU in this series by an average of 29 points, 27-5 SU vs. the MAC, and 21-5 SU in home openers. Finally, the Flashes’ are a horrible 0-7 SUATS in season road openers.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dodgers come into Arizona hoping to extend their lead in the NL West Division but will have to deal with Zac Gallen in game one. Gallen can be a streaky pitcher and is currently in the middle of one of his hot streaks. He was dominant against the Red Sox at Fenway, allowing just two hits without a run in an easy Arizona win. The Diamondbacks have won four of his last five starts overall and the veteran righty has kept the opposition in check. Gallen, despite pitching in one of the league's better hitter's parks, has allowed just eight home runs total this season which will serve him well against the powerful Dodgers. The Dodgers' Kershaw is still working his way back into form and has looked like a pitch-to-contact pitcher since returning from the IL. He has 24 strikeouts in 29 innings and the Dodgers have lost three of his last five starts. Arizona has taken five of the first nine matchups with the Dodgers this season, all played in LA. They'll keep winning, this time at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rangers are having a rough season and look poised to miss the postseason just one season after winning it all. Jon Gray will start the upcoming game and he is having a rough season as he's allowing 50 runs in 98 innings pitched. Moreover, with a .282 expected opponent Batting Average, a 42.0 Hard-Hit Rate, and a 4.62 expected ERA, opponents are making contact and powering the ball against Gray to easily drive in runs this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Martin Perez will be on the rubber for the Padres. Perez was sharp in his previous outing, conceding one run in 3.2 innings against the Mets, resulting in a no-decision in a game the Padres won. The veteran southpaw has posted a sharp 2.70 ERA since he was acquired last month and has recorded a 4.60 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP accompanied by a 3-5 record in 109.2 innings on the year. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Dodgers are primed to grab the win in this one and being at home will be a massive advantage. For the Orioles, being across the country comes with its own issues, while they are eyes might be starting to turn towards the next series in Colorado as well. Adding in that Baltimore will be leaning on one of their worst starters of late, is only going to add to some of the worry coming into this one. For the Dodgers, depth in the bullpen gives them the ability to not be as worried about the pitching matchup, while the offense will certainly take some heat off. Both teams are missing a key bat but with depth being a massive advantage for LA, that'll be felt as they get the win in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

Mack Brown is not the card you wish to draw early; he boasts a 27-4 SU record and is 20-1 outright against teams that won six or fewer in the previous season. UNC is also 5-1 ATS as a dog of six or less. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Twins love hitting at home, where they jump up to 5.05 runs per game and a .793 OPS. For the season, Minnesota averages the eighth-most runs per contest, 4.87. Minus Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Max Kepler, this year's lineup is eighth in batting average, eighth in OBP, and sixth in slugging percentage. They're seventh in home runs, 10th in strikeout percentage, and 20th in walk percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

Colorado’s pitching has been one of the worst in the league, with the team giving up 5.38 runs per game. Opponents have a .286 batting average against the Rockies, which is 30th in the league. Their 5.49 ERA is also the worst in the league, as is their 1.52 WHIP.

Rating: 2 Units

On the mound, Toronto has regressed hard from 2023. That's a major reason why Toronto won't sniff the playoffs. Their bullpen is 28th in ERA, last in FIP, and last in WAR. A lot of players who began the year as Blue Jays relievers were DFA'd or traded. That makes closing games tough, adding pressure to starters like Yariel Rodriguez. He enters Tuesday's start with a 4.40 ERA, 4.42 FIP, and 1.331 WHIP after 14 career starts. Rodriguez's only outing against Boston, and in Fenway, was the June game that was finished on Monday, so he only has one inning to show for it. His past five starts have ended with a Blue Jays loss and Rodriguez has a 5.16 ERA in away games.

NFLX Game of the Week

Rating: 4 Units

The Broncos have moved the ball well over their previous two showings, and their defense was outstanding against the Packers in Week 2. On the other side, the Cardinals have struggled with discipline thus far. Moreover, their pass rush hasn’t impressed, and it seems like the Cardinals lack depth, which is an important thing when it comes to preseason betting. Even if Nix doesn't play, the Broncos still have more competent backup quarterbacks in Wilson and Stidham, so I’m backing the Broncos to win and cover.

Rating: 2 Units

The Mariners look to close out this series strong but the Giants are turning to one of their better pitchers and look to take over this game from the first inning. The Giants should constantly plate baserunners with Heliot Ramos, LaMonte Wade Jr., and the rest of the lineup making contact and putting together strong plate appearances. The Giants should limit the Mariners lineup, which averages only 3.95 runs per game, with Robbie Ray pitching multiple strong innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with a lead. The Giants should win the game and provide great odds in the process as road Underdogs.

Rating: 2 Units

Teams who are coming off two home wins in a row (Tennessee) and were not favored by 4 or more points in their last game are 33-13-2 ATS –including 7-0 SUATS the last seven games.

Rating: 2 Units

Playing on any 0-2 SU Game Three away favorite (Cleveland) or dog of 2 < points is 27-9 (75%) since 1983.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams are starting pitchers who began the season in the bullpen, but Toronto's starter has had the more successful season. The Angels are starting Carson Fulmer, who is still searching for his first official win of the season, as he has an 0-4 record on the year. He has lost four of his last five starts and has allowed two or more earned runs in all five games. Fulmer pitched three innings against the Blue Jays earlier in the year and quickly gave up five runs in a loss. Francis is starting for the Blue Jays and has six wins on the year, including his last game where he pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just three hits against the Cubs.

Rating: 2 Units

Playing on any 0-2 SU Game Three away favorite (Carolina) or dog of 2 < points is 27-9 (75%) since 1983.

Rating: 2 Units

FSU is 2-5 outright in season openers plus 1-7 ATS and 4-4 SU vs GT. Tech is 9-3 as a season opening Irish Setter, and please don’t forget double-digit dogs are 13-6 ATS (3-0 last season) in openers when a bowl team last year. 

Rating: 2 Units

Atlanta entered this preseason on an inglorious 1-11 ATS losing skein at home in these contests. Flipping the script, we find the Jaguars a stellar 7-0-1 ATS in preseason contests after hooking up with the Buccaneers.  Additionally, teams who are coming off two home wins in a row (Jacksonville) and were not favored by 4 or more points in their last game are 33-13-2 ATS –including 7-0 SUATS the last seven games.

Rating: 2 Units

Colorado has lost four out of the last five on the road, six of the last nine on the road against Washington and four of the last five overall against the Nationals. Colorado starting pitcher Cal Quantrill has allowed 18 runs and 31 hits over the last 25 innings pitched. Washington starting pitcher Patrick Corbin is coming off a solid outing in which the left-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings and over the last three starts has allowed 10 runs in 14.1 innings. Both starting pitchers have had below average seasons, but as mentioned earlier, Washington's starter Corbin had a strong outing against Philadelphia last week and will carry that over into Thursday's game against the Rockies. Colorado is last in three major pitching categories including ERA, WHIP and batting average allowed.

Rating: 2 Units

Colorado has lost four out of the last five on the road, six of the last nine on the road against Washington and four of the last five overall against the Nationals. Colorado starting pitcher Cal Quantrill has allowed 18 runs and 31 hits over the last 25 innings pitched. Washington starting pitcher Patrick Corbin is coming off a solid outing in which the left-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings and over the last three starts has allowed 10 runs in 14.1 innings. Both starting pitchers have had below average seasons, but as mentioned earlier, Washington's starter Corbin had a strong outing against Philadelphia last week and will carry that over into Thursday's game against the Rockies. Colorado is last in three major pitching categories including ERA, WHIP and batting average allowed.

Rating: 2 Units

There’s no easy money on the side bet in this game. The Rays’ offense has been pretty bad of late and has an 80 wRC+ against the right-handed pitchers in the last ten days. However, their pitching staff looks good, and the Rays bullpen has registered a 2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a .211 batting average against over the past ten days and 43.1 innings of work. The Athletics have a 123 wRC+ against the righties in the last ten days which is the main reason why I’m going with Oakland. Their bullpen has been solid during that span, notching a 3.29 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a .186 batting average against across 27.1 frames of work. 

Rating: 2 Units

In his last three starts, Verlander has no record with a 4.76 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, three walks and 16 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Verlander logs his 21st career start against the Red Sox in this contest. He is 6-6 with a 2.74 ERA, a 1.096 WHIP, 38 walks and 114 strikeouts over 131.1 innings of work against them.

Rating: 2 Units

Oakland has secretly been one of the best bets of the past two weeks. A team that was in the bottom of their division has now won three of their last four series and has not gotten swept in any series since the All-Star Break. The Athletics can scrape together wins, and they will do so here at home with Estes on the mound. He is the more experienced of the starting pitchers, doubling the innings pitched from Tampa's Baz. Estes has allowed two of fewer earned runs in five of his last six games, and will be able to limit this Tampa offense which traded their big names at the deadline. Tampa swept the D-Backs, but that had a fluke-feel to it, as they lost eight of their last ten going into that series. Shane Baz starts for Tampa, and he has given up seven runs over his last two games, and has not been able to dominate late into a game all season. Oakland has been sneaky good lately, it is time to start making some money on them. Take the Athletics to win.

Rating: 2 Units

Neither team is playing well at the moment, with the White Sox losing seven of their last nine games and the Giants losing five of their last seven games. The Giants have done a better job offensively, scoring 11 runs in their last four games to Chicago’s nine during that span. San Francisco will score a lot of runs in this game because Cannon hasn’t looked good on the mound in recent road starts, giving up 16 runs in his last five road starts. With Chicago’s bullpen also struggling, they will have a hard time slowing down San Francisco’s offense. The White Sox won’t have as much success offensively because they are one of the worst hitting teams in the league and Harrison has done a great job on the mound at home, giving up only six runs in his last four home starts. With San Francisco’s bullpen also doing a better job, they won’t have trouble keeping Chicago’s cold bats in check. Go with San Francisco to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

Scoring has been a struggle for Pittsburgh all season, as they're 21st in runs per game (4.15). August hasn't offered much improvement in that department either. The team is 23rd in batting average, 27th in OBP, and 26th in slugging percentage. They're only 24th in homers and 26th in strikeout rate. Pittsburgh has the fourth-highest stolen-base percentage (84%), but only has 74 swipes (18th) to show for it. The Pirates also have a modest 8.0% (17th) walk rate. Still, the runs don't cross the plate often enough because the team doesn't put together enough quality swings.

Rating: 2 Units

Milwaukee’s pitching has been good, with the team giving up 3.68 runs per game. Opponents have a .241 batting average against the Brewers, which is 16th in the league. Their 3.71 ERA is third, while their 1.25 WHIP is 13th.

Rating: 2 Units

Arizona is 6-1 in the last seven games overall and the Diamondbacks have won five of the last six games against a team from the American League. Tampa Bay has lost five of its last seven games overall and the Rays are 2-6 at home over the last eight games. This matchup is a contrast in hitting as Arizona is in the top five of four hitting categories including first in runs scored, while Tampa Bay is 20th or worse in four hitting categories including 28th in runs scored. Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has made just one appearance since April 15. Last Sunday, the right-hander gave up three hits and two runs in five innings with Arizona defeating Philadelphia 12-5. On the season, the Arizona right-hander has a solid 2.43 ERA after allowing a total of just eight runs in 29.2 innings. Tampa Bay starter Taj Bradley has a very solid ERA at 3.49 but has been hit hard in three straight outings, giving up 15 runs in 14 innings with Tampa Bay losing each of the three to Miami, St Louis and Houston.

Rating: 2 Units

Jags enter knowing that they ran the table in a 3-0 SUATS sweep during the 2023 preseason. The problem is Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson is just 2-4 SUATS in his last five preseason games at home. Additionally, teams playing during this stage of the season are just 6-17 SU and 7-15-1 ATS at home after going toe-to-toe with defending SB champs. Toss in Tampa’s steady 6-3 SUATS mark in its last nine as a preseason AFC guest.

Rating: 2 Units

There may not be two teams in baseball heading in more distinctly opposite directions than the White Sox and Astros right now. The White Sox just ended a 21-game skid but then reeled off four losses in five games heading into the series opener on Friday night. The White Sox offense is a mess and the team has few reliable pitchers that they can count on. Flexen will take his turn on Saturday night and the Astros have dropped each of his last five starts. Flexen pitches to contact while also struggling with his command with 50 walks in 118 innings. The Astros' Brown has won each of his last two starts and three of his last five. He will dominate what is a very pedestrian White Sox lineup , one that has scored a total of 10 runs in their last four losses while scoring 12 in their lone win. The Astros will roll to a comfortable win on Saturday and keep pace in the AL West.

Rating: 2 Units

In his last three starts, Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA, a 1.57 WHIP, three walks and 13 strikeouts over 14 innings of work. Eovaldi makes his ninth career start against the Twins in this contest. He is 4-3 with a 4.89 ERA, a 1.239 WHIP, 14 walks and 31 strikeouts over 46 innings of work in those outings.

Rating: 2 Units

Cade Povich is slated to be recalled from Triple-A to be on the mound for the Orioles as he logs his ninth start of the season in this contest. He is 1-5 with a 6.27 ERA, a 1.688 WHIP, 23 walks and 25 strikeouts over 37.1 innings of work this season. Povich took the loss in his last start, which came against the Blue Jays at home back on July 29. He threw 4.1 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits with five walks and one strikeout in a game the Orioles dropped 8-4. In his last three starts, Povich is 0-3 with an 11.81 ERA, a 2.81 WHIP, 13 walks and eight strikeouts over 10.2 innings of work.

Rating: 2 Units

The New York Jets play to win in the preseason. Robert Salah has an 8-2 record in 10 preseason games as coach of the Jets. The Carolina Panthers were the worst team in the NFL last year. The Jets have more depth at all positions, especially at defense. Also, two of the Panthers' top draft picks are injured in Xavier Legette and Jonathan Brooks. The Jets have the better depth at backup QB. They have Tyrod Taylor who has been a starter in his career. Carolina backup Andy Dalton did not return to practice until Wednesday due to injury. This leaves Jake Luton and Jack Plummer at QB. Plummer signed with the Panthers after he was passed on this past draft. Jets QBs Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez were solid in the preseason win against the Commanders last week, connecting on 66% of their passes for a total of 177 yards.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bengals will be focused on re-establishing a winning culture that has betrayed them lately – 1-6 outright in the last seven preseason contests; but 4-1 ATS the last five games overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Padres are one of the hottest teams in baseball, but cannot seem to separate from the D-Backs in the standings, as Arizona continues to win as well. San Diego will want to keep the pressure on the rest of the division, and will get an easy win here against the Rockies. Matt Waldron will start for the Padres, he faced the Rockies twice this season and has completely dominated them. He has pitched 11.2 innings against Colorado, and only allowed two earned runs, working out to a strong 1.54 ERA. Cal Quantrill has not done as well against the Padres, as his ERA is up at 3.48 against San Diego. The Rockies just lost three straight to the Diamondbacks, and have the worst record in the National. 

Rating: 2 Units

Tampa Bay has won five of the last seven head-to-head versus Arizona and the Rays have won eight of the last 10 against a team from the National League West. Ketel Marte, who is leading Arizona in home runs and RBI, is listed as questionable but could miss and the Diamondbacks are also playing without Christian Walker, who is second in both home runs and RBI. Arizona starting pitcher Ryne Nelson has had three consecutive average outings, allowing a total of six runs in 17.1 Innings pitched. Tampa Bay starter Ryan Pepiot has not pitched since July 14 but before being injured allowed a total of just six runs for 24.1 innings and over that five-game stretch had victories over Pittsburgh, Cleveland and the New York Yankees.

Rating: 2 Units

The Philadelphia Eagles don’t necessarily play to win in the preseason. They are 2-6 SU in their eight preseason games under coach Nick Sirianni. The Patriots have a new coach who is interested in building a winning culture immediately. The Eagles don’t have a QB battle ongoing this preseason. Kenny Pickett will be the backup, but probably won't play as much as he did last week as he threw 22 passes. QB Tanee McKee, who is 3rd on the depth chart, struggled last week, connecting only 38% of his passes for 39 yards. Meanwhile, the Patriots do have a QB competition underway. Jacoby Brissett is clashing with rookie and 3rd overall pick Drake Maye for the #1 QB spot. Bailey Zappe who saw most of the action in the preseason opener, is also battling for the 3rd spot on the QB depth chart. Maye only attempted three passes last week but coach Jerod Mayo has stated Maye will see an increase in playing time in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pirates have not done well against the NL West. In 12 games since the All-Star Break, they have gone 2-10 overall against the division. The NL West is likely to get three teams into the postseason, and they will show their overall strength in this matchup. The Padres just swept the Pirates last week, and both of these starting pitchers were used in that series. Luis Ortiz lost when he was on the mound against the Padres, Manny Machado and Donovan Solano both hit early home runs off of him, and he only managed three strikeouts over six innings. King struck out seven batters in a winning effort in his game against Pittsburgh. The Padres just took a bad loss in their last game against Miami, they will not let another one slip away here as they are the better team and will grab a big win here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Colorado Rockies are abysmal when on the road, standing 26 games below .500 on the year. The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to shine, winning eight of their last ten games including three straight home wins against the Phillies. Rockies pitcher Austin Gomber has struggled against Arizona, giving up six runs in 10.2 innings this season, and has a recorded poor 5.29 career ERA against the rivals. Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was solid in his season debut last week, holding a potent Guardians offense to just three runs in 5.2 innings. Four of the Diamondbacks' five wins against the Rockies have been by two or more runs.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rangers and Red Sox are both in desperation mode now after the weekend but the Red Sox look to be in a better position to take Tuesday's game. The Sox send Crawford to the hill and, while he has had trouble with the gopher ball, he has been able to give the Red Sox quality innings and save a percentage of the Red Sox bullpen. Rangers' starter Urena has been hit hard in each of his last two starts, failing to get through five innings in either start. One of those starts was against the Red Sox at home, with the righty giving up seven runs and eight hits. The Rangers come in after coughing up 22 runs in three games against the Yankees and face one of baseball's best offenses in the Red Sox. Take Boston with the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

The Seattle Mariners left home with a renewed spirit. They'll embark on a nine-game road trip riding the high of a four-game winning streak. The Mariners will begin their journey with three games at the Detroit Tigers, beginning on Tuesday night. Detroit took two of three from the Mariners last week in Seattle. The Mariners won the last game of the series, then swept a three-game series against the New York Mets. The last of those games was nationally televised on Sunday night. It turned into a 12-1 rout, capping a series in which the Mariners outscored the Mets 22-1. The Mariners and Houston Astros are battling for American League West Division supremacy. Seattle's road swing could be pivotal. The Mariners will also visit Pittsburgh, then head to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rating: 2 Units

The Marlins aren’t very good, but they’ve played well in recent road games, winning three of their last five away from home. This can happen when a young team has competition for spots. Their offense has been very good during that stretch and they scored 14 runs in their last three road games. They’re not going to have trouble scoring in this game because Walker wasn’t playing well before he went on the 15-Day IL and gave up at least three runs in four of his last five starts. Philadelphia’s bullpen has also struggled in recent games, with the unit giving up 12 runs in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Marlins in this game. The Phillies have lost three straight games and their last four home games. Even though they have one of the best offenses in the league, they couldn’t get going in recent games and scored only eight runs in their last three games. Their offensive slump comes at a bad time because Bellozo has done a great job on the mound for the Marlins, giving up only seven runs in four starts. He gave up two runs in two road starts, which came against two good offensive teams in Kansas City and Atlanta, so expect him to keep Philadelphia’s offense in check. Go with Miami to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

These teams are trending in opposite directions, and it will continue as San Diego makes their push for the NL West crown. The Pirates are starting Marco Gonzales, the team has gone 1-4 overall in his last five starts, and he has given up four or more earned runs in each of his last two games. The last time Gonzales was on the mound he faced this Padres team, he gave up a home run to both Jackson Merrill and Kyle Higashioka, while giving up five runs and eight hits in four innings. The Padres will get a boost from the return of Joe Musgrove, as the pitcher makes his return after a long stint on the IL. San Diego just dominated the Pirates in Pittsburgh, it will be even easier for them at home, and the Padres will win by two or more runs. Take the Padres to win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Red Sox need to take advantage of a weakened Rangers staff in this series. The Rangers starter Mahle will be making just his second start in nearly a full season of baseball and will again be on a pitch count. He was surprisingly sharp in his first outing against the Astros, scattering five hits in five innings. The Rangers will be happy to get five innings again out of Mahle in Boston. He will likely be out of the games by the middle innings and the Rangers' bullpen has been taxed, particularly after the weekend doubleheader and injuries to several pitchers. The Red Sox took two of three games at Texas last week and pounded the Rangers' pitching for 22 runs in the three-game series. The Red Sox have also won four of the last five games pitched by Bello. It is getting late in the season and winnable games are imperative for the Red Sox if they want to sneak into a wildcard spot

Rating: 2 Units

The Mets are currently listed as slight underdogs for Sunday Night Baseball, but they are the better play as the pitchers are relatively even, and New York has more firepower. Severino and Castillo are the two pitchers on the mound in this game, and they have both pitched over 20 games this season. Castillo strikeouts out more batters, but allows more home runs, and their ERAs are only off by a half run. If both pitchers are on the top of their game, there is even more reason to back the Mets, because Seattle has secretly had one of the worst offenses this season while still sitting second in their division. The Mariners have the worst team batting average in all of baseball at .217, which is even lower than the White Sox or Athletics. Seattle is only 27th in run production, Randy Arozarena has not been producing and Julio Rodriguez will not be in this game. The Mets' offense will not get shut out twice in a series, the New York offense will get going again and pick up a win under the bright lights.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phillies look to end this series strong but the Diamondbacks have looked remarkable lately and they look to take over this one. The Diamondbacks, who average 5.14 runs per game, should drive in runs at will with Joc Pederson, Ketel Marte, and the rest of the lineup making contact and putting together strong plate appearances. The Diamondbacks should limit the Phillies lineup with Merrill Kelly stepping up on the mound and pitching multiple scoreless innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with the lead. The Diamondbacks should win the game with a strong performance at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Tigers did not trade away their best hitters, but they are still not in the lineup, as both Greene and Vierling are out with injuries. That is their top two home run hitters, on a team that is already only 23rd in the league in home runs. Detroit is also only 21st in run production, so an offense that is not very strong at full strength is even weaker for this series in the Bay. The Giants are sending Birdsong to the mound, and they have high hopes for the young pitcher. He was not great in his last game, but pitched five scoreless innings in his previous outing against the Rockies. The young pitcher has been better at home where his ERA drops to 2.45 and he will be comfortable on the mound against this weak Detroit lineup. Montero is starting for the Tigers, and he has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his last five starts. San Fran has the better pitcher on the mound, and Detroit has no weapons in their lineup.

Rating: 2 Units

The injuries seem to have finally caught up to the Braves with the team dropping in the NL East Division and battling with the Mets in both the division and wildcard chase. The team has had difficulty overcoming the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr for the season as well as center-fielder Michael Harris II for the past several weeks. Last season, the Braves had one of the league's most prolific offenses, but they are now ranked 21st in baseball in runs per game. Still, the Braves have enough to close out this series with a win on Sunday thanks to the rise of rookie righty Schwellenbach. Schwellenbach started slowly upon his arrival from the minor leagues, but he has thrived in recent starts, including back-to-back seven-inning stints with a total of 21 strikeouts. He has found his command and kept the opposition off balance and will keep that rolling against a mediocre Rockies' lineup. Rockies' starter Freeland has an ERA of nearly six this season and has given up 78 hits in 63.2 innings. I'll lean on the rookie in what has turned into a nearly must-win series for the Braves. Colorado is also just 13-30 in day games this season and the Braves have won four of Schwellenbach's last five starts.

Rating: 2 Units

Minnesota’s pitching has been good, with the team giving up 4.10 runs per game. Opponents have a .233 batting average against the Twins, which is fourth in the league. Their 4.15 ERA is 20th, while their 1.17 WHIP is second. In his last start, Festa gave up two hits and no runs in five innings, leading to a 3-0 win over the Cubs. They will need another solid performance from him if they want to win this game.

Rating: 2 Units

JP Sears gets the call for the series finale here as he makes his 24th start of the season for the A’s. He is 9-8 with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.211 WHIP, 34 walks and 97 strikeouts over 126.1 innings of work on the year. Sears picked up the win in his last start, which came against the White Sox Monday at home. He threw seven innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a 5-1 A’s victory. In his last three starts, Sears is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, two walks and 17 strikeouts over 20 innings of work. Sears makes his third career appearance, second start, against the Blue Jays in this contest. He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, a 1.333 WHIP, four walks and four strikeouts over six innings of work against them.

Rating: 2 Units

For as much of a slump as Stroman is in, he has nothing on Heaney's struggles at Yankee Stadium. Heaney also leads AL pitchers in losses. Considering that New York's lineup is much more dangerous, they'll have the early edge in this game. The Yankees have a bullpen with the fourth-lowest ERA. Rangers relievers are 26th in ERA. Pitching favors New York, and scoring does too. At home, anticipate a multi-run Yankees victory.

Rating: 2 Units

Gavin Williams is on the mound for the Guardians in this contest as he makes his eighth start of the season. He is 1-4 with a 4.91 ERA, a 1.485 WHIP, 13 walks and 39 strikeouts over 33 innings of work this year. Williams took the loss in his last start, which came against the Orioles at home Sunday. He threw four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in a 9-5 Guardians defeat. In his last three starts, Williams is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, five walks and 25 strikeouts over 15 innings of work. Williams, in his eighth career major league start, pitches against the Twins for the first time here. As a result, this marks his first career start at Target Field as well.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rangers are sinking fast in the standings and it appears more and more likely that they will be unable to defend their World Series title in this year's playoffs. The Yankees, meanwhile, are in the thick of the AL East title hunt and are positioned to go for their first World Series since 2009. The Texas Rangers come into this series in third place in the AL West Division but seven games under .500 after losing two of three games to the Astros at home, including the final two games of the series. They have lost four of their last six games, losing each of their last two home series to the Red Sox and Astros. 

Rating: 2 Units

Carlos Rodon has been limiting the homers to solo shots lately. It's keeping the runs, and the wins, in manageable situations for New York. Texas isn't leaving the yard like they did last year and their power dips on the road (.360 slugging). That bodes well for Rodon. Offensively, the Yankees seldom have to worry. Their lineup has a .872 OPS since the All-Star break. The Rangers have a bad bullpen (27th in ERA; 26th in FIP) and Eovaldi has allowed eight runs in his past 11 inings innings. Back the Yankees to beat a struggling Texas team by multiple runs.

Rating: 3 Units

Jets head coach Robert Saleh is 7-2-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in his three years during the preseason with the Flyboys, but new Commanders’ boss Dan Quinn carries a 6-15 SU and 5-16 ATS career preseason ledger into this contest, while riding a jaw-dropping 1-12 SUATS losing slide in his last thirteen imitation games. Thus, it’s no surprise to see Washington wilt to 1-7 SUATS in preseason openers in the 12:00 Noon kickoff, as well as 0-5 SUATS in its preseason series with Gang Green.

Rating: 2 Units

The Arizona Diamondbacks are the hottest team in baseball, and have won eight of their last nine games coming into this series. The swept the Guardians and Nationals in the stretch, and took two of three from the Pirates. Arizona is attempting to close the gap on the Dodgers, who have led the NL West for the majority of the season. The Diamondbacks are now only three games behind the division leading Dodgers, and currently hold the second Wild Card spot. In their last game against the Guardians, Josh Bell hit two home runs to win in the second game of the double-header. Ryne Nelson will get his 20th start of the season in this game. He is a 26-year old right-hander with an 8-6 record, but the team has won in all of his last six starts.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cubs have won six of their last eight games. They are playing well offensively and scored 15 runs in their last three games. Expect them to play well offensively in this game because they’ve done a great job batting against left-handers and Crochet has struggled on the mound in recent starts, giving up eight runs in this last three starts. He is also backed up by the third-worst bullpen in the league, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Cubs in this game. The White Sox have lost 22 of their last 23 games and 11 straight home games. They are not playing well offensively and scored eight runs in their last three games. Their offensive struggles will continue in this game because they are barely batting over .210 against right-handers and Taillon hasn’t didn’t give up more than one run in two of his last three starts. He gave up five runs in his last four starts against the White Sox and with the Cubs having the eighth-best bullpen in the league, they will keep the White Sox offense in check.

Rating: 2 Units

For some NFL head coaches, it’s about making your prep time count. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni adheres to this philosophy during the preseason, bringing 1-6-2 SU and 2-6-1 ATS career mark in exhibition games into this Friday Night lights affair. And, then there is the Preseason King, better known as John Harbaugh, who takes the field tonight sporting a startling 44-14 SU and 38-19-1 ATS career record during the preparation phase of a new NFL season. Yes, he stubbed his toe last year with a 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS mark last year, but did so playing largely 3rd and 4th string QBs.

Rating: 2 Units

Berrios has allowed at least three runs in five of his past six starts. He gave up three homers in his only August start so far. The Athletics score by hitting homers, and have the perfect matchup for that today. Behind Berrios, the Blue Jays boast a bullpen that's near the bottom of every statistic. Oakland will have a great day at the plate. Spence has held three straight foes to fewer than three runs and is facing a subpar offense. The Athletics have a competitive bullpen. This game is Oakland's to lose.

Rating: 2 Units

Minnesota will have Bailey Ober on the rubber. Ober was sharp again in his previous effort, conceding two runs in seven innings against the White Sox and earned the win. The veteran righty has been hard to solve, conceding four runs in his last three outings, and has issued a 3.69 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP complemented by an 11-5 record in 122 innings. 

Rating: 2 Units

Expect Bryan Woo to dominate the Tigers, who have a .560 OPS and 57 wRC+ against the right-handed pitchers in the last ten days. Just one guy from this Detroit team has seen Woo before. Woo has been nothing short of spectacular so far this season and boasts a 0.95 ERA at T-Mobile Park (five starts, 28.1 IP). Of course, Woo can’t win this game on his own. Hopefully, the Mariners’ offense will get things going in a favorable matchup against the Tigers bullpen. The Mariners bullpen has struggled in the last ten days, too, notching a 5.72 ERA and 5.04 FIP through 28.1 innings of work. Anyway, I’m backing Woo to pitch six strong innings and earn a win.  

Rating: 2 Units

Neither starting quarterback is expected to figure into this matchup. The Lions already announced that Goff will not play, and the Giants have been quiet about the potential of Jones playing. In all likelihood, this will be a battle of the backup quarterbacks, with Detroit rolling with Hooker and Sudfeld, and New York going with Locke and DeVito. Drew Lock was drafted into the NFL to be a starting quarterback and still believes he can land a starting spot in the league. There were offseason rumors that Locke may be better for the offense than Daniel Jones, leaving the Giants with a difficult decision surrounding their 35-million-dollar quarterback. Locke will look to excel in this game, he will not be looking for check-downs to play it safe, he will want to air it out and make a statement in the first game of the preseason. Dan Campbell (3-6 SU) cares more about the regular season. Tommy DeVito excited New York with his play last season, and the Giants will be able to win this by more than a field goal.

Rating: 2 Units

Since the All-Star break, these pitchers are in a very similar spot as one another as Randy Vasquez is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA and a .250 opposing batting average in 13.0 innings (three starts) while Luis Ortiz is 1-0 with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 17.1 innings (three starts). In the previous five games, these offenses show a bit of a difference as the Padres are scoring six runs per game in that span while the Pirates are averaging five runs per game in that five-game stretch.

Rating: 2 Units

The New York Mets are battling for the last wildcard spot. This is a game and series they must win against a Rockies squad on pace to lose 95 games. The Mets won two of three against the Rockies in the encounter last month. The Rockies are only 4-6 in their last ten games. Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn was outstanding in his Mets debut this past weekend, holding the Angels to one run in six innings in a win. Rockies Ryan Feltner has been better recently but has a disastrous 6.14 ERA and a 0-3 record at home. Feltner has surrendered 11 runs in 11.2 career innings against the Mets. The Rockies have lost in five of his last six outings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Milwaukee Brewers have cooled down, losing four of their last six games after a series defeat against the Nationals this past weekend. The Atlanta Braves are not happy after a blowout defeat in the opener on Tuesday and will be eager to rebound. Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta has been mediocre, issuing a 4.10 ERA in his last five outings. Peralta has subpar career numbers against the Braves, posting a 4.19 ERA. Braves pitcher Chris Sale has generated a sharp 2.45 ERA in his last five outings. He has completely dominated the Brewers, posting a minuscule 1.66 ERA in 21.2 innings against the rivals. The Braves have won in four of his last five outings.

Rating: 2 Units

Texas took the opening game of this set but some of that was good fortune as neither team generated much in the way of offensive production. Kikuchi was solid in his Astros debut as he held Tampa Bay in check, fanning 11 hitters in 5.2 innings, though he didn’t factor in the decision. Urena is in the rotation at the moment mainly due to the injury issues that have sidelined Max Scherzer and Jon Gray from the mix. He was shelled by the Red Sox in his last start Friday night and it’s tough to see him turning in a solid outing here against a team he has struggled against in his career. Look for Houston to bounce back and take the finale of this set.

Rating: 3 Units

The hapless White Sox certainly stand a chance of upsetting the odds in this game. As I’ve mentioned, Jonathan Cannon has done a great job over his last two outings. However, he’s been bad on the road thus far, posting a 0-4 record with a 5.76 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in six starts and 29.2 innings of work. In addition, the White Sox bullpen has registered a horrendous 7.33 ERA and 6.73 FIP over the last ten days and 43 frames of work, so I cannot back Chicago to beat Oakland.  The current White Sox are 6-for-21 with a triple and a home run versus Ross Stripling. However, they are hitting just .218/.275/.352 against the right-handed pitchers over the past ten days. The Athletics haven’t impressed either (.213/.265/.355 against the righties in that span), but their bullpen has been decent, notching a 4.68 ERA and 3.53 FIP through 25 innings of work.

Rating: 2 Units

Lugo makes his fifth appearance, second start, against the Red Sox in this contest. He is 0-2 with one save, a 7.56 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, one walk and nine strikeouts over 8.1 innings of work against them. Bello makes his third career start against the Royals in this contest. He is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.231 WHIP, three walks and five strikeouts over 13 innings of work against them. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Giants have won three of their last five road games. They are playing well offensively and scored 19 runs in their last four road games. Expect them to play well offensively in this game because they’ve had a lot of success batting against left-handers and Gore has struggled on the mound in recent starts, giving up 12 runs in his last three starts. He gave up nine runs in his last three starts against the Giants and will have a hard time slowing them down in this game. The Nationals have won five of their last nine home games. They’re not playing well offensively and scored 16 runs in their last six home games. Their offensive struggles will continue in this game because Birdsong has done a great job on the mound for the Giants, giving up eight runs in his last five starts. He gave up six runs in his last three road starts and will keep Washington’s offense in check.