Xam’s Daily Gems:
Nationals Money Line -115 Fanatics 10 Units
Despite being 12 games under .500 and sellers at the Trade Deadline, the Nationals have still been a tough out for opponents. They have scored 4.6 runs over their last 10 games and impressive 4.85 runs over their last 20 games. The Angels managed to win a road series against the Yankees and beat them up in the process, but this is not a team that’s typically going to score a lot of runs. Southpaw Mitchell Parker goes for the Nationals tonight. While he’s struggled over his past 7 starts, he’s coming off a dominant start against the Brewers, pitching 6 scoreless innings at home. He’s been A LOT better at Nationals Park than he’s been on the road this year. The Angels counter with righty Jose Soriano, who’s putting together a nice season for the Angels in an otherwise lost season. However, his ERA is substantially higher at home than it is on the road, which suggests there’s some negative regression coming for his road starts. The key tonight will likely come down to Washington’s BULLPEN. It’s been dreadful lately and gave up SEVEN RUNS in the 9th and 10th innings yesterday ALONE! This is still a WEAK hitting Angels team and the Nationals should be able to contain their bats. If they can, expect Washington’s offense to keep the GOOD TIMES ROLLING!
Yankees Money Line -168 FanDuel 10 Units
The Yankees are coming off a WILDLY disappointing series loss at home and now face the reigning World Series champions. The Yankees NEED southpaw Carlos Rodon to continue his recent performances. He’s given up just 6 earned runs over his last 3 starts and has been pretty impressive at home this season overall. The Rangers counter with their own southpaw, Cody Bradford. In his only road start this year, he got absolutely ROLLED, giving up 5 earned runs and only lasting 2 innings against the Cardinals. That’s bad news for Bradford, as the Yankees have scored the MOST runs out of all the teams in the American League. They KNOW how to hit bad pitching! They still have a competent lineup, but there’s no denying the Rangers have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball this season. They’ve been a HORRIBLE road team as well, coming into play with a 23-34 road record! If the Yankees actually come out inspired, they SHOULD be able to get it done, and it should be noted they really need these wins as they come into play tied with the Orioles atop the AL East!
Blue Jays Money Line -134 FanDuel 10 Units
The Blue Jays have been a big disappointment this year, but they have a chance to enact a small measure of revenge as the Athletics come into town. Jose Berrios takes the ball against one of the worst teams in baseball. He’s pitched BRILLIANTLY in front of the home crowd this year, pitching to a 2.99 ERA and 1.08 WHIP at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have also been A LOT better at home this season and will get back to .500 at home with a win tonight. Meanwhile for the A’s, their road struggles, and struggles overall this year, have been well documented. They’re an UGLY 19-38 away from home, which is the 3rd WORST road record in baseball! Tonight’s starter, Mitch Spence, has certainly contributed to those struggles. His 5.22 road ERA leaves A LOT to be desired. If the Blue Jays can get their offense going, Berrios and the bullpen SHOULD be able to lock down a win against an INFERIOR opponent!
Padres Money Line -124 FanDuel 10 Units
The Padres just might be the hottest team in baseball right now, winning 14 of their last 16 games! Now, they are set to face off against one of the WORST teams in baseball! Martin Perez is set to make his 2nd start as a member of the Padres, and he was solid in his 1st start, going 6 innings and giving up just 1 earned run. He’s looking to make it 3 straight quality starts in a row, as he has gone 12 innings and given up just 1 earned run over his last 2 starts. He faces a Marlins lineup that has struggled to score for much of the year. That’s bad news for Marlins starter Edward Cabrera and his UGLY 5.96 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. He hasn’t even been good at home, coming into play with an ERA at 5.14 and 1.46 WHIP in front of the home crowd. All of a sudden, the Padres have their eyes set on not just the Wild Card, but the NL West division is now in play for them. Meanwhile the Marlins are just playing out the strings and looking forward to the offseason. If Perez can continue his good pitching, the hot Padres lineup SHOULD be able to stay hot and score enough runs for the Padres to win the first game of this series!
Padres/Marlins Over 8 Runs -118 FanDuel 10 Units
Both starting pitchers in this game have been prone to get hit and give up runs in DROVES! While Martin Perez has pitched better recently, his stats on the road are simply PUTRID! His 6.44 ERA and 1.79 WHIP on the road certainly suggests that the Marlins SHOULD be able to contribute a little bit here and score some runs. What the Marlins do offensively likely will be the difference in this Play winning or losing. This is because the Padres are AVERAGING a whopping 6.25 runs per game over their last 16 games and face Edward Cabrera, who’s been TERRIBLE all season long! The Marlins also played an extra inning game last night, so they may be even more tired and gassed in the bullpen than usual! To their credit, the Marlins are averaging 4 runs per game over their last 10 games. If they can add a few runs tonight, the Padres SHOULD take care of the rest!
Braves Money Line -160 Fanatics 10 Units
What else needs to be said about the Braves? They have lost 5 straight games, got swept in EMBARRASSING fashion at home against the Brewers, and now find themselves out of a playoff spot! Fortunately for them, there’s fewer things better for a team looking to get right than to face the woeful Colorado Rockies. At 42-74, they’re the 2nd worst team in baseball, ahead of only the HISTORICALLY INEPT White Sox. Their pitching has been nothing short of AWFUL, as they’ve given up 674 runs this season! That is by far the most runs given up in the Major Leagues this season. Tanner Gordon and his UGLY 6.75 ERA has certainly contributed to that. He was better in his last start, but in the 3 starts prior, he gave up 25 hits and 15 earned runs in just 15.1 innings of work! The Braves, quite simply, HAVE TO be able to score on him. The Braves counter with Grant Holmes, who started this year as a relief pitcher but has moved into the rotation. He’s pitched fine this season, albeit in limited innings of work. Coors Field can always be a tough place to pitch, but the Braves need to pull out ALL THE STOPS in this one. Their key bullpen arms should be WELL RESTED and ready to go in a series they just simply HAVE TO win. Look for Brian Snitker to do whatever it takes to get the job done tonight.
Phillies Money Line -150 Fanatics 10 Units
The Phillies seemingly have their swag back, winning 3 straight games and firmly reasserting control in the NL East. Tonight, they send their ace, Zack Wheeler, to the mound. He’s been FANTASTIC this year to the point that he is squarely in the Cy Young conversation in the National League. He’s coming off a DOMINANT 8 scoreless innings on the road against the Mariners, and he’s given up 2 earned runs or less in 6 of his last 7 starts! He gives the Phillies an EXCELLENT chance to win just about every time he takes the mound. He will certainly need to be on his game against a Diamondbacks team that can simply SMASH the baseball. Arizona’s starter, righty Ryne Nelson, has had a MUCH different season to say the least. His 4.65 ERA and 1.37 WHIP has left plenty to be desired. While he’s been a lot better over his last 7 starts, he’s still given up 4 earned runs in 2 of his last 3 starts. His ERA and WHIP are also SIGNIFCANTLY higher at home than they are on the road this year, so the Phillies SHOULD be able to take advantage with their STACKED lineup! The Phillies have a team built to make it to the World Series this year, and they certainly seem like a team on a MISSION. If Wheeler can keep his recent pitching success going, they SHOULD be able to score enough runs to win their 2nd straight game against the Diamondbacks!