Well the ups and downs of major league baseball continue to throw us for a loop but we’re still here, even because of our plus money picks and ready to take advantage of some more opportunity. Is it me or does it feel like there’s an abundance of good value on the card today? Always makes me pause when it’s baseball! Onto the picks–
White Sox -1.5 (+105), 2 units and CHW/BAL Over 10 (-110), 1.5 units: It’ll be swampy, hot and humid in Baltimore today and this feels like another ballgame where the O’s will get whacked. The White Sox had a June slump but seem to be on the mend, winning 6 of their last 9 contests and scoring a ton of runs in the process. Dallas Keuchel (4.48 ERA, 1.39 WHIP over 90.1 innings) isn’t a guy we love to get behind but his stats at Baltimore aren’t quite as insufferable, owning a 3.32 ERA in 3 career starts at Camden Yards. The Orioles will start Jorge Lopez (6.02 ERA, 1.60 WHIP over 80.2 inning), who along with Matt Harvey leave us questioning how these Baltimore pitchers are still playing major league ball. They’re bad. I like the over and I love the White Sox to win big.
Blue Jays (+110), 1.5 units: Alex Manoah (2.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP over 36.2 innings) gets another start for the blue birds and I’m not sure why Tampa is getting the love here. Sure they’re at home and Shane McClanahan (4.18 ERA, 1.23 WHIP over 56 innings) has a big arm and a ton of strikeouts to go with it, but the Blue Jay bats are worth getting behind. Tampa’s are not. We also think Toronto may have the better pitcher today. We played on Manoah early, which wasn’t always financially savvy, but he’s had to grow into his role and his command and confidence are clearly starting to show. Manoah has only allowed 1 run in his last two starts (including a 3 hits/0 runs showing over 7 innings against Tampa on July 2) and 9 runs in his last five. I’ll play on the big guy from Florida to limit the pedestrian Rays’ offense and a plus money win for the away team.
Reds (EVEN), 1.5 units: Let’s forget about the profiles of these pitchers today. Eric Lauer will go one on one with Cincinnati’s Wade Miley as the Reds continue to chase Milwaukee for the NL Central title. On paper these pitchers are pretty even. Good, not great. Commanding in spots. Eric Lauer doesn’t have a good history against the Reds, though. The Brewers have gotten by and stayed in the division lead thanks to the exceptional pitching of Woodruff and Burnes and most of their relievers. It sure as hell isn’t because of their offense, which continues to show unpredictable and unreliable results. Miley has his volatility too but he’s been stellar on the road, allowing only a .195/.251/.296 profile this year. The series is tied at 5-5 on the year as these two rivals reach the mid-point of their 2021 battle. The Reds have the bats and an opportunity to blast Milwaukee without the Brewers’ best throwers. I’ll take Cincinnati.
