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. 

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: 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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: 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

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

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. 

Rating: 2 Units

Philadelphia is in their biggest slump of the season. The good news is they built a cushion atop the division, remaining six games ahead of the Braves. The Phillies were dealt a home sweep by the Yankees last week and hit with a series defeat in Seattle on the weekend, plating 13 runs while conceding 16 runs. The group is four games above .500 on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The lowly White Sox have scored three or fewer runs in each but one of their previous 15 games. Hereof, there’s no way I’m going to back the White Sox under any circumstances. Frankly, I don’t care who’s on the other side of the field. Jonathan Cannon has pitched lights out over his past two starts. However, the White Sox bullpen is capable of blowing any lead and has a 6.98 ERA and 6.94 FIP in the last ten days. On the other side, the Athletics bullpen has registered a 4.62 ERA and 3.29 FIP in the last ten days. JP Sears is coming off a tremendous performance against the Giants, and I expect another strong display when he faces off against the White Sox. The current Chi Sox are 6-for-24 with a pair of doubles and home runs against Sears. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Cincinnati Reds have fallen to last place in the tightly contested NL Central after losing three of their last four games. They dropped the final game against the Cubs, then lost two of three against the Giants at home. They were outscored 15-8 by San Francisco, and lost Sunday afternoon's game by a count of 8-2. The Reds only managed four hits in the loss, with their only runs coming from solo home runs by Jeimer Candelario and Santiago Espinal. The Reds are now 6.5-games out of the final Wild Card spot.

Rating: 2 Units

Seattle is first in three pitching categories and second in a fourth. Seattle is first in Quality Starts (67), WHIP (1.08) and batting average allowed (.221), while 2nd in ERA (3.45). Luis Castillo is leading Seattle in wins with 9, while Logan Gilbert, who will start for Seattle on Sunday, is the leader in strikeouts with 136 and George Kirby is the leader in ERA for starting pitchers at 3.04.

Rating: 2 Units

The Padres certainly have more to gain with a win in this game and have put themselves in a good position with a well-rested King scheduled to start on a full six days of rest. King was outstanding in his last start at Baltimore against a much more potent lineup. The Rockies are scoring more than a run less per game on the road this season. Rockies' starter Quantrill is 4-4 on the road this season but with an inflated 5.02 ERA away from home. Quantrill is coming off a tough road start, allowing seven runs in 3.2 innings of work. The Padres are the hotter of the two teams and have won four of King's last five starts this season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Boston Red Sox won a home series against Seattle this week and are 3-1 in their last four games. The Texas Rangers have been a disappointment. They have lost four of their last five series including a series defeat against the Cardinals. They stand at 1-5 in their last six games. Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta has silenced the Rangers in his career, holding them to only three runs in 15.2 innings. Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has not been as sharp recently, conceding 11 runs in his last three outings spanning 18 innings. He has generated a weak 4.85 career ERA against the Red Sox.

Rating: 3 Units

There's no other way to bet on White Sox games at this point. They've lost 19 straight, and only five of them were by a single run. Consistently, Chicago is getting blown out. Their offense is the worst in the league, so Minnesota's pitchers should be fine. The Twins are averaging 6.00 runs per game against this team. Flexen has started 15 straight losses. 

Rating: 2 Units

Toronto has lost six of its last nine against a team from the American League East, while New York has won five of the last six overall. New York is in the top 10 of four major hitting categories and the Yankees are in the top 12 of four major pitching categories. In contrast, Toronto is from 14th to 25th in four major hitting categories, while 11th to 28th in four major pitching categories. New York has baseball's best slugger in Aaron Judge who is leading the majors in home runs with 40 and RBI with 101. New York Yankee starter Gerrit Cole was hit hard last time out by the Mets, allowing six runs in 5.2 innings, but in two starts prior to that gave up a total of just two runs in 12 innings to Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

MLB Play of the Day

Rating: 3 Units

The White Sox have one of their best pitchers on the mound but the Twins are having a great season and look to dominate this game. The Twins, who average 4.81 runs per game, should drive in runs at will with Jose Miranda, Byron Buxton, and the rest of the lineup making contact and putting together strong plate appearances to easily plate baserunners. The Twins should limit the White Sox lineup, which averages only 3.07 runs per game, with Bailey Ober pitching multiple strong innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with a comfortable lead. The Twins should win the game with a strong performance at home.

Rating: 2 Units

Aaron Civale is on the mound for the Brewers as he makes his 22nd start of the season overall and his fifth with Milwaukee in this contest. He is 2-7 with a 4.92 ERA, a 1.389 WHIP, 36 walks and 105 strikeouts over 108 innings of work this season. Civale didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came Saturday at home against the Marlins. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts in a game the Brewers lost 7-3. In his last three starts, Civale is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.375 WHIP, six walks and 13 strikeouts over 16 innings of work. Civale took the loss in his lone career start against the Nationals, which came with the Rays on June 29.

Rating: 2 Units

The Yankees offense has been bolstered by the addition of Chisholm Jr. and the return of Giancarlo Stanton to the lineup. Their presence has provided support for the Yankees' two-headed monsters, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Rodon comes in with a solid 5-2 record at home this season including a 3.61 ERA. He has won each of his last two starts coming in as well. The Blue Jays' starter Berrios has been far less effective on the road this season than at home. On the road, Berrios is 2-6 with a near 5.00 ERA. His propensity to give up home runs will be an issue against the Bombers at the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium.

Rating: 2 Units

The Athletics have won four of their last six home games. They’ve been on a roll offensively and scored 13 runs in their last three home games. Expect them to play well offensively in this game because Stone has struggled on the mound in recent starts, giving up 13 runs in his last four starts. He gave up eight runs in his last two road starts. With Los Angeles’ bullpen sporting a 5.49 ERA in July, expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Athletics in this game. The Dodgers have lost six of their last seven road games. Even though they have one of the best offenses in the league, they didn’t play well offensively in recent games, scoring 12 runs in their last three games. Their offensive struggles will continue in this game because Estes has done a good job on the mound for Oakland in recent starts, giving up five runs in his last three starts. He gave up two runs in his last two home starts and will keep the Dodgers’ offense in check. Go with Oakland to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

Randy Vasquez should have learned a lesson after a couple of rough outings against the Rockies this season. Vasquez can only pitch better than he did versus the Orioles last Sunday, so I’m backing the Padres to stay on the right track. Before that bad performance at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Vasquez had strung five solid starts. He posted a 1.71 ERA and 3.13 FIP during that stretch.  The Rockies don’t have quality options in the minors pitching-wise. Their bullpen has recorded a 4.15 ERA and 4.75 FIP over the last ten days, whereas the Padres bullpen has done a great job in that span, posting a 1.78 ERA and 2.64 FIP.

Rating: 2 Units

The San Francisco Giants roll into Cincinnati on a bit of a roll with five wins in their last six games. The Giants are now 52-54 on the season and just five games behind the San Diego Padres for a potential wildcard spot. The Giants swept the Rockies in a four-game series at home and followed that up with a split of their brief two-game set with the Oakland A's at home. The Giants will now turn to 22-year old righty Kyle Harrison in the opener vs. the Reds. Harrison is 6-4 with an ERA of 3.69 and a WHIP of 1.28. He has eight quality starts in 18 starts overall and has allowed 92 hits in 97.2 innings pitched. In his last outing, Harrison gave up just one hit in 6.2 innings while giving up a single run and striking out 11 as the Giants rolled to an 11-4 win over Rockies.

Rating: 2 Units

Arizona just won a three-game series against the Pirates last week and kept that momentum going as they swept the Nationals in the next three games. They have now won five of their last six, and are holding on to the final Wild Card spot. Pittsburgh is one of the National League teams competing for that Wild Card spot, so Arizona will want to win this series again to keep the Pirates at bay. Arizona is sending out their most trusted pitcher, as Pfaadt has started 21 games this season, and leads the team in innings pitched. Pfaadt started against the Pirates last week, in a game that Arizona won 9-5. He has given up one or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts and has only allowed two home runs in the same amount of games. Ortiz will start for the Pirates, he gave up three earned runs in a loss against the D-Backs in his last start and is not typically a starter as he spent the whole beginning of the season in the bullpen. Arizona has the advantage on the mound and has more momentum, they will grab a win in the series opener here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Royals were active at the deadline and made subtle moves that will bolster their young roster. Lorenzen is an innings eater who pitches to contact but can be a groundball-inducing machine. DeJong can play all five infield positions and gives the Royals another bat that can add pop to their lineup. The Tigers' decision to move on from Flaherty is an admission that their 2024 push is over and the team is looking ahead to the next couple of seasons. It is encouraging for Detroit fans that the team held onto their ace, Tarik Skubal. With all that in mind, I like the Royals to get off on the right foot with a win in game one. Lugo has stumbled a bit recently but has still pitched like a top 2 starter all season. Lugo consistently gets the Royals into the late innings and is top three in the AL with 16 quality starts. Montero has been hit hard this season and sports and ERA of nearly 6.50 after seven starts. The Royals have won four of the first six meetings between these two teams as well this season.

Rating: 2 Units

On paper, this is a top-flight pitching matchup but, in reality, Kershaw is still working his way back into form and will likely be long gone by the early middle innings. The Dodgers are playing the long game with Kershaw and want him healthy and working on all cylinders by the time the playoffs roll around. On the other side of the diamond, Padres' starter Cease is in the midst of his best stretch of pitching in his career. He's coming off his first career no-hit game and has allowed just three hits without a run over his last three starts. He faces a Dodgers' lineup that is still banged up, missing both Betts and Muncy, and should be able to hold his own with his high strikeout rate and low WHIP. The Padres have hit the ball well over the last ten games, hitting .285 as a team with 11 home runs.

Rating: 2 Units

Washington has lost five of its last seven overall and the Nationals have lost six of the last seven against Arizona. The Diamondbacks have won five of the last seven overall and Arizona has won seven of the last nine against a team from the National League. Washington starter MacKenzie Gore has struggled in each of the last four starts, giving up 18 runs in the last 15 innings. Gore has not pitched more than five innings in any of the last four starts and pitched just two innings in one of the four. Arizona starter Zac Gallen has allowed three runs over the last 11 innings resulting in victories over the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Arizona is in the top nine of four hitting categories and will face a Washington pitching staff that is 22nd or worse in four pitching categories. Arizona first baseman Christian Walker, who is second in home runs and tied for first in RBI, left Monday's game with a sore oblique but is expected to play today.

Rating: 2 Units

The White Sox have played poorly enough that even if they were to win the rest of their regular season games starting Monday, they could only finish at .500 on the year. Given what we’ve seen this season, we know that the odds of that are actually worse than you winning the lottery. Cannon has been okay as a rookie and has turned in four straight starts where he has gone at least six innings. With that said, the White Sox have a pop-gun offense that is dead last in the majors when it comes to putting runs on the board. Kansas City hasn’t been as prolific offensively on the road as they are at home but facing a Chicago team that doesn’t score much means that they don’t need a big showing. Give the advantage to Wacha and the Royals here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Astros have won six of their last nine home games. They are playing well offensively and scored at least five runs in three of their last four games. Expect them to play well offensively in this game because they are one of the best hitting teams in the league and Pittsburgh’s pitching hasn’t been very good in recent games, with the team giving up more than five runs per game in their last three games. They’ve given up at least four runs in four straight road games and will have a hard time slowing down the Astros in this game. The Pirates have lost two of their last three road games. Despite their slump, they are playing well offensively, scoring 14 runs in their last three road games. But, they will struggle offensively in this game because they haven’t hit the ball well against right-handers and Brown has done a good job on the mound in recent starts, giving up only three runs in his last three starts. He didn’t give up a run in two of his last three home starts and will keep Pittsburgh’s offense in check. Go with Houston to cover the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

The Chicago Cubs need wins as their wildcard hopes slip away. They won a series against the Royals before this series. The Cincinnati Reds have dropped six of their last ten games including series defeats against the Nationals and Rays. Cubs pitcher Justin Steele has silenced the Reds, holding the rivals to only two earned runs in 12 innings this season. The ace has conceded two or fewer runs in two of his last three outings. Reds pitcher Frankie Montas has struggled recently, squandering 18 runs in his last 21 innings. The Reds have lost in six of his previous eight outings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Diamondbacks' offense has been heating up in recent weeks and they have been outstanding against left-handed pitching this season. The Diamondbacks are hitting .276 against lefties this season with the likes of Walker and Marte leading the way. The team has added to its bullpen depth with the acquisition of AJ Puk and that should make life easier for Diamondback starters. The Diamondbacks have also won four of Montgomery's last five starts this season as the veteran lefty returns to form since his return from the IL. Montgomery should have a good night against a Nationals' lineup that is hitting just .235 against lefties this season. The Nationals have lost three of Parker's last five starts this season and the lefty was roughed up in his last outing, going just three innings in a home loss to the Padres. The D-Backs have taken two of three over the Nats already this season in D.C. Take the Diamondbacks with the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

This is a matchup of a pair of teams that have different outlooks over the final couple months of the regular season. The Royals are battling for a wild card spot in the American League while trying to chase down the Guardians in the AL Central. Meanwhile, the White Sox are going nowhere and may well have several pieces moved ahead of the trade deadline Tuesday evening. Flexen has been roughed up all season long, leading the majors by allowing 62 earned runs on the season. He has dropped each of his last three starts and has been less than impressive to say the least. Look for the Royals to break out the bats and take advantage of Flexen’s struggles to earn a victory in this contest.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cardinals look to step up at home but with the Rangers turning to one of their better starting pitchers, they look to take over this game from the first inning. The Rangers should constantly plate baserunners with Corey Seager, Josh Smith, and the rest of the lineup making contact and putting together strong plate appearances to easily drive in runs. The Rangers should limit the Cardinals' lineup, which averages only 4.12 runs per game, with Nathan Eovaldi pitching multiple strong innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with the lead. The Rangers should win the game with a strong performance on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

Giants pitching has dominated the first three games of the series, with starters Kyle Harrison, Blake Snell and Hayden Birdsong limiting the Rockies to one run and six hits in 17 2/3 innings. They combined for 34 strikeouts in the 11-4, 4-1 and 5-0 wins. Giant starter Hicks' allowed just one run and three hits in five innings the last time he faced the Rockies. The 27-year-old is 3-1 with a 4.08 ERA in nine career meetings with Colorado, two of which have been starts. Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.70), who has won just one of his last 10 starts despite getting eight or more runs of support on four occasions. The 30-year-old has missed the Giants in all three previous series this season. He's just 2-4 with a 7.27 ERA in eight games (six starts) against San Francisco in his career.

Rating: 2 Units

Washington Nationals first baseman Juan Yepez is enjoying his weekend return to St. Louis. Yepez, who spent parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Cardinals, is 5-for-9 with five RBIs and three runs in the first two contests of the three-game series. He comes into Sunday's series finale at Busch Stadium as one of baseball's hottest hitters. Yepez is hitting .377 with a 1.037 OPS in 18 games since arriving from Triple-A Rochester earlier this month. The Cardinals have lost nine of their last 14 games. They have allowed 24 runs over the first two games of this series.

Rating: 2 Units

The Atlanta Braves are in a big rut, dropping six consecutive games entering Saturday. The Mets continue to thrive, winning five games in a row including a sweep of the Yankees and victories in the opening two games of this series. Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has not been quite as dominant recently. He conceded four runs against the Reds last week and has squandered 18 hits in his last two performances. Mets pitcher David Peterson is in a groove, conceding two or fewer runs in five of his previous six outings. The Mets win games with Peterson on the mound, posting an 8-0 record in his last eight outings.

Rating: 2 Units

Right-hander Mitch Spence (6-6, 4.67) will make his 13th start (24th appearance) for Oakland on Saturday. He is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA against the Angels in three starts, with all three coming over a 3 1/2-week span this summer. While A's outfielder Lawrence Butler has been the hottest hitter in the majors in the month of July, outfielder Brent Rooker has not been far behind. Rooker, who went 1-for-4 with a home run in Friday's game, is hitting .389 (28-for-72) with 10 homers, 25 RBIs and a 1.326 OPS in July.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams are in the thick of the NL wild card chase as we head into the final weekend before the trade deadline. The Pirates have gotten solid pitching, led by rookie Paul Skenes along with Mitch Keller, but their offense still has had issues putting up offensive production consistently. Arizona showed grit by rallying late in their last two games against Kansas City, including a five-run ninth Wednesday, to pick up wins. The Diamondbacks have the better offensive output and Pfaadt has been solid in his last few outings. Gonzales is a mixed bag and his injury issues are well known. Give the edge to the Diamondbacks here as they earn the home victory.

Rating: 2 Units

It's tough to bet against Gallen in Chase Field, where he has a lifetime 2.90 ERA even after two terrible outings this month. Especially against a Pirates offense that's 20th in scoring and missing its most dangerous bat. Gallen will follow up on last Saturday's scoreless outing with another strong performance. Considering that the Diamondbacks have one of the league's most productive lineups, that should be enough for a comfortable victory. Ortiz has a 4.71 ERA at night. Pittsburgh's bullpen is shaky. Take the Snakes to win by multiple runs for a third straight game.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams come into this one riding losing streaks but the Cardinals will be the ones to snap out and grab the win. The home team has a winning home record, as compared to struggles on the road for the Nationals. It helps the Cardinals dominated the Nationals across a four game set just a few weeks ago and get to lean on an offense that carries slightly more experience into this one. Adding in a more experienced and reliable arm and it makes sense that St. Louis are the ones in the playoff hunt and will be the ones to grab the win in the series opener in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

Kikuchi has been batting practice for a month, hence a 7.49 ERA since June 17. Toronto has arguably the worst bullpen in baseball. Don't be surprised if a Texas team that improves against lefties (.249 average and .711 OPS) has a great night. Then, Rangers pitchers have been on fire and get an offense that's 25th in scoring. Texas has limited five straight foes to three or fewer runs. Heaney hasn't been charged with more than two runs in five consecutive starts. They will silence Toronto's bats. Take Texas to extend the winning streak on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The Mets are even money to win by two on the road, which highlights the disparity on the mound in this matchup. The Mets are sending out David Peterson, and the team has found magic with him on the mound as of late. He has started in eight games this season, the Mets lost the first game, but then won the following seven as Peterson has been strong. His ERA is far better than his competitor's, as Peterson's ERA is 3.09, while Chironis has a 5.76 ERA. Peterson just pitched six scoreless innings against the Nationals, while Chironis is coming off a game where he allowed seven earned runs to the Reds. The Marlins caught a little momentum, but nothing like the heater the Mets have been on to climb back to the final Wild Card spot. The Mets will not want to lose any more ground against the Marlins and will score big in a win here.

Rating: 2 Units

The Giants have won two of their last three games. They are playing well offensively and scored 12 runs in their last three games. Expect them to play well offensively in this game because they’ve had a lot of success batting against left-handers and Freeland has struggled on the mound, giving up 21 runs in his last seven starts. He gave up 18 runs in his last five home starts against the Giants and with Colorado having the worst bullpen in the league, they will have a hard time slowing down the Giants in this game. The Rockies have lost three of their last four games. Despite their slump, they are playing well offensively and scored 17 runs in their last three games. But, they will struggle offensively in this game because San Francisco’s pitchers have done a great job against them this season, giving up 25 runs in six games against them. With their bullpen also playing well in recent games, they will keep Colorado’s offense in check.

Rating: 2 Units

Gray should have a distinct advantage in this pitching matchup against Elder. Gray has a 9-6 record but has a stellar WHIP of just 1.05. He has struck out 121 batters in just 99.2 innings pitched and allowed just 81 hits. The Cardinals have won three of Gray's last five starts as well. The Cardinals can count on Gray to get them deep into the game consistently, including his eight quality starts this season. Elder is not a swing-and-miss pitcher and relies on balls hit at his fielders. He hasn't been lucky in that category this season, giving up 43 hits in 34.2 innings pitched with just 24 strikeouts. The Braves have lost four of Elder's last five starts this season and the righty has just two quality starts. The Cardinals come into Saturday's doubleheader having won two of the three games between the two teams this year. Take the Cardinals with the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phillies are having a great season and look to control this game from the first inning. The Phillies, who average 4.97 runs per game, should drive in runs at will with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and the rest of the lineup making contact and powering the ball to easily plate baserunners. The Phillies should limit the Pirates lineup with Cristopher Sanchez pitching multiple strong innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with a comfortable lead. The Phillies should win the game with a strong performance on the road. Take the Phillies money line as road Favorites.

Rating: 2 Units

The Red Sox and Dodgers ended the first half of the season going in opposite directions. The Dodgers lost seven of their last ten games while the Red Sox won seven of their last ten games. The Red Sox will send righty Pivetta to the hill in game one and he has excelled on the road this season. Pivetta is 3-2 on the road with a 2.97 ERA. He also does a good job overall of getting swings and misses with 88 strikeouts in just 75.1 innings of work overall. The Dodgers' Stone has been hit hard in each of his last two starts, both losses, failing to get through the fifth inning in each start. Stone does not put up the strikeout numbers that Pivetta does and must rely more on his defense with more balls in play. The Red Sox team speed will be a factor in this one given the number of balls put in play. The Red Sox have also won three of Pivetta's last five starts. I like the recent trends to continue here and the Red Sox to steal the series opener.

Rating: 2 Units

New York has won five of the last six overall and the Mets have won 12 of the last 18 played on the road. New York is 11-5 over the last 16 when playing on the road against the Marlins. Miami has lost five of the last six. New York is performing well at the plate as the Mets are 7th in slugging percentage, 8th in runs scored, 9th in on-base percentage and 10th in batting average, which plays to the weakness of Miami, as the Marlins on the mound struggle. Miami is 25th in batting average allowed, 28th in WHIP, 29th in ERA and 30th or last in Quality Starts.  Miami also struggles at the plate as the Marlins are 25th or worse in batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea has had four consecutive strong outings, allowing 14 hits and just four runs over the last 25 innings, resulting in New York winning each of the four games. New York's left-hander was on the mound May 19 when the Mets defeated Miami 7-3. Manaea gave up just two runs in 5 innings of work.

Rating: 2 Units

Nola has been consistently solid all season, including five straight quality starts to close the first half. Philadelphia's bullpen is incredible too. Fully rested, they should slow down a Pittsburgh lineup that's 20th in scoring. It's also known that the Phillies are third in scoring this season with a mostly healthy lineup. Whoever starts for the Pirates will have a tough time. So will a bullpen that's 26th in ERA. Roll with the best record in baseball to notch another win, by multiple runs.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Reds have been handling business against these bad teams, and that won't change today. Their offense is averaging 7.6 runs per game in their last five. Against Rogers, who has a 4.82 ERA this season, Cincinnati should have no issues scoring early and often. Cincinnati's bullpen should silence a Miami lineup that's the NL's worst. The Marlins dip to a .595 OPS against lefties, a .599 OPS on the road, and 2.93 runs per game on the road, so Lodolo should be fine. Expect the Reds to crush Miami.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

It’s tough to get a good read on what to expect in this one. Atlanta has seen their offense fall off from last season and while injuries like the one that ended Ronald Acuna Jr.’s season are part of the problem, the fact remains that other guys have fallen off as well. Lopez has pitched well this season but let’s not overlook that he’s thrown his most innings since 2019 and is tied for the second-most wins he’s posted in his career. He’s pitching nearly a run and a half better than his FIP ERA (3.10) so regression is poised to make an impact. San Diego is sputtering with four straight losses and six defeats in their last nine but they have a talent-laden lineup. Waldron turned in one of his best starts of his career against the Braves back in May. Pitching at home, look for San Diego to come up with the win in this contest.