Xam’s Daily Gems:
Mets Money Line -192 DraftKings
The Mets are looking for a sweep of the rival Marlins as they look to keep pace in the Wild Card race. Paul Blackburn got absolutely torched in his last start, but he threw back-to-back quality starts in his first two starts with his new team. With the Mets getting a complete game from Luis Severino yesterday, they will have their ENTIRE BULLPEN ready to go! The Marlins are an EXTREMELY weak hitting team and have been UNCOMPETTITIVE on the road, coming into today’s game with a WOEFUL 21-39 record! The Mets have one of the deepest lineups in the sport and Starling Marte is back in the lineup as well! It’s all shaping up to be a big day for the Mets as they go for the sweep!
Phillies Money Line -178 FanDuel
THE PHILLIES ARE BACK ON TRACK! They’ve won 4 straight games and go for the SWEEP of the division rival Nationals today. Taijuan Walker goes for the Phillies. He’s been a disaster this season, pitching to an ugly 5.68 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. He’s also just back from missing two months due to injury. He’s been consistently bad at home and on the road. This is a good spot for him to get back on track and give the Phillies some length. The Phillies SHOULD be able to score some runs off Nationals starter Jake Irvin, who has an UGLY 6.23 ERA over his last 7 starts. The Nationals have no momentum going right now and the Phillies have every reason to be amped up for today’s game. The Phillies have the best homefield advantage in baseball AND the Nationals aren’t a good road team. They have struggled scoring runs on the road. If Walker can get himself on track, the Phillies SHOULD be able to score some runs and finish off the sweep!
Mariners Money Line -154 FanDuel
The Mariners have lost 5 straight games and are in TOTAL FREEFALL. They NEED George Kirby to step up and help them end their losing streak. Kirby has had a solid season but is coming off a DISASTROUS start his last time out. He got blasted for 12 hits and 6 earned runs (several more unearned) and failed to make it out of the 4th inning. All of a sudden, the Mariners find themselves 4 games back of the Astros in the AL West and 5.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot! Jake Woodford goes for the Pirates today. He has gone back and forth between being a starter and reliever, but he only has 23 innings pitched on the year. His 5.87 ERA leaves PLENTY to be desired, however. The Mariners, quite simply, NEED a win in the worst way. This is a good spot to get one against a pitcher who doesn’t have a lot of innings under his belt this year and hasn’t been very effective. Expect George Kirby to be LOCKED IN today. Manager Scott Servais knows how important this game is. If the Mariners can put some runs on the board, Kirby and the Mariners bullpen SHOULD take care of the rest!
Diamondbacks Money Line -116 FanDuel
The Diamondbacks have cooled off a little in Tampa Bay and now need a win to avoid getting swept by the Rays! Merrill Kelly makes his 2nd start coming back from a shoulder strain that cost him 4 months! He pitched well in his start against the Phillies, and he has an EASIER matchup now! The Rays counter with Drew Rasmussen, who has a grand total of 5 innings pitched on the year! He’s going to operate as the opener today. Southpaw Tyler Alexander is expected to get a bulk of the innings for Tampa Bay today, and that’s good news for Arizona. Alexander has REALLY struggled this year, pitching to a 5.20 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. The Diamondbacks have been STRAFING teams offensively all year and need that lineup to come through today. If Kelly can put together some quality innings, the lineup SHOULD be able to do the rest!
Diamondbacks/Rays Over 7.5 Runs -112 DraftKings
The Rays have shown some sparks offensively in this series, putting 11 runs on the board in the first two games of this series. In Arizona’s offensive showed up yesterday, both games in this series would’ve gone Over this Total! The Rays are using ineffective pitchers today, highlighted by southpaw Tyler Alexander. The Diamondbacks don’t have too many poor offensive showings in a row, and they’ll be ready to go as they try to avoid getting swept. Despite how this series has gone, this will likely come down to what the Rays can do offensively. They’re facing a pitcher in Merrill Kelly who’s young and a good pitcher, but who’s still working his way back from injury. If the Rays can continue their recent scoring prowess, we SHOULD be in store for ANOTHER high scoring affair. The Diamondbacks will do what they have done ALL YEAR LONG: score quite a few runs!
Dodgers Money Line -118 FanDuel
The Dodgers are sending Clayton Kershaw to the mound to try and take the rubber game of their series against the Cardinals. Kershaw hasn’t pitched particularly long in games, but he’s pitched well, coming into today with a 3.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. The Cardinals counter with Sonny Gray, who’s REALLY struggled in recent starts. He has a 5.86 ERA over his last 7 starts and 4.33 over his last 15 starts. The Dodgers have an ELITE lineup that can score runs in droves. The Dodgers NEED this game, as they are just 2 games ahead of the Padres and 3 games ahead of the Diamondbacks for the NL West crown. If Kershaw can continue his recent run of success, the Dodgers SHOULD be able to score enough to capture the series win!
Cubs -1 -134 DraftKings
The Cubs are going for the SWEEP today with Shota Imanaga on the mound. The southpaw has been nothing short of GREAT in his first season with the Cubs. Now he faces a Blue Jays team that is just REELING! The Blue Jays have struggled to score runs this year and the Cubs have ALL the momentum. Bowden Francis has been underwhelming for the Blue Jays this year and the Cubs SHOULD be able to put enough offense together to take advantage!
Padres Money Line -198 FanDuel
The Padres have an opportunity to take the series with Joe Musgrove on the mound. While he’s been disappointing overall this season, his last few starts have been better, even if he’s not providing any length. The Rockies can be tough to pitch against at Coors Field, but this is a lineup that can REALLY struggle to score runs. Bradley Blalock has just 6.2 innings pitched for the Rockies this year, and the Padres will be ready to POUNCE on this youngster! This is a tough matchup for your 2nd career start!
Giants -1 -135 DraftKings
Blake Snell has been ABSOLUTELY LIGHTS OUT for the Giants recently, pitching to a BEAUTIFUL 0.99 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over his last 7 starts! Now he gets to face one of the WEAKEST hitting teams in baseball? Now THAT is a great matchup! The Athletics counter with their own southpaw, JP Sears. The Giants SHOULD be able to enough runs off a pitcher who has a 4.32 ERA and 1.19 WHIP on the year. The Giants have the pitching in this game to completely contain Oakland’s lineup. If the Giants can actually score some runs, they SHOULD get the job done!
Braves Money Line -175 BetMGM
The Braves NEED a win today. The Mets are breathing down their necks for the last Wild Card spot, and the Braves can’t afford to lose a series to the WOEFUL Angels. Charlie Morton is a veteran pitcher who has pitched in so many big games in his career. He’s been inconsistent but has 3 quality starts over his last 5 starts. Morton is facing a weak Angels lineup that has been ANEMIC without Mike Trout in the lineup. Jack Kochanowicz has been AWFUL in 3 starts this season. He has an UNBELIEVABLE 7.98 ERA and 1.64 WHIP on the year. The Braves have picked it up offensively and SHOULD produce against this weak pitcher. If Morton can put together another quality start, the Braves SHOULD be able to get it done and win the series!