6* Yankees/Astros American League *CA$H COW* on Houston -1.5 (+115)

The Key: The Astros have a huge advantage on the mound in Game 1 of this series.  Dallas Keuchel is 7-3 with a 2.21 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 12 home starts this year.  Keuchel is 5-2 with a 1.24 ERA in 7 lifetime starts vs. New York.  Masahiro Tanaka is 4-7 with a 6.48 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 15 road starts this year.  Tanaka is 0-3 with an 8.86 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Houston.  Take Houston on the Run Line.

6* Cubs/Nationals NL *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 7.5

The Key: All hands will be on deck for this Game 5 between the Cubs and Nationals.  Both offenses have struggled thus far in the series, and that should continue here tonight.  Plus Kyle Hendricks has been great with a 0.70 ERA in his last 4 starts.  And Kendricks sports a 2.17 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Washington.  Gio Gonzalez is having a great season overall with a 3.01 ERA in 33 starts and a 2.90 ERA in 16 home starts.  If he does happen to struggle early, he will get the quick hook, and even the likes of Max Scherzer may be available for the Nationals.  The UNDER is 24-5-1 in Hendricks' last 30 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The UNDER is 10-1 in Hendricks' last 11 road starts.  The UNDER is 9-2-1 in Nationals' last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Hendricks' last 4 starts vs. Nationals.  The UNDER is 3-0-1 in the 4 games in this series thus far.  Take the UNDER.

6* Nationals/Cubs National League *CA$H COW* on Washington -110

The Key: Max Scherzer is arguably the best starter in baseball.  Having him for Game 3 here is huge for the Nationals because the winner of this game will likely win the series.  I think Scherzer gets it done against the inexperienced Jose Quintana, who is making his postseason debut.  Scherzer is 10-2 with a 1.82 ERA in 16 road starts this year.  Quintana is 6-4 with a 4.94 ERA in 16 home starts.  Scherzer is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Chicago.  Scherzer is 21-4 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in road games vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse over the last 3 seasons.  Washington is 12-1 (+10.9 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 7 to 7.5 this season.  Take Washington.

6* DBacks/Dodgers NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 8

The Key: I cashed in the OVER 7 yesterday with ease as 14 combined runs were scored between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.  I'm going back to the well here as I think this 8-run total is too low.  Rich Hill and Robbie Ray have posted good numbers this season.  But Ray was forced into action in the wild card game and won't be on normal rest.  And he has struggled of late.  Hill can't figure out Arizona, going 1-6 with a 5.02 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against them.  The OVER is 5-0 in DBacks last 5 vs. a left-handed starter.  The OVER is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 home games.  The OVER is 4-0 in Ray's last 4 starts vs. Dodgers.  Take the OVER.

6* Diamondbacks/Dodgers NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 7

The Key: Give me the OVER in this game between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.  Clayton Kershaw sports a 4.23 ERA in his last 5 starts and just doesn't look completely healthy.  He has posted a 4.55 ERA in the playoffs lifetime as well.  Taijuan Walker is just an average starter, and the Dodgers could cover this 7-run total on their own.  Walker is 2-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 4 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  Walker sports a 5.27 ERA in his last 3 starts coming in as well.  Take the OVER.

6* Red Sox/Astros American League *CA$H COW* on Houston -129

The Key: Justin Verlander is 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA following his trade-deadline acquisition from the Detroit Tigers.  He has been absolutely dealing, and deserves this Game 1 start.  The Astros come into the postseason with a ton of momentum as a team after going 6-1 in their final 7 games, scoring 11 or more runs in 4 of those victories.  The Red Sox slumped to a 2-5 finish and scored 4 or fewer runs in 5 of those 7 games.  Chris Sale was very hittable down the stretch.  The right-handed heavy lineup of the Astros makes this a bad matchup for him, especially with the short porch in left field.  Verlander sports a 2.77 ERA in 18 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  He sports a 1.37 ERA in his last 7 starts against Boston, giving up only 7 earned runs in 46 innings.  Verlander is 22-4 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in home games vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season lifetime.  Take Houston.

7* Rockies/DBacks National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona -168

The Key: Simply put, Zack Greinke doesn't lose at home.  He is used to the playoff atmosphere as well, which is a big advantage for him over the Colorado Rockies and Jon Gray.  Greinke is 13-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 18 home starts this year.  Gray is 5-3 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 12 road starts.  Greinke has allowed 4 earned runs or less in 7 starts starts against Colorado, 3 or less in 6 of those, and 2 or less in 4 of those.  Gray is 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts versus Arizona.  Greinke is 91-25 (+46.9 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -150 or more lifetime.  Greinke is 75-19 (+40.6 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 or more lifetime.  Greinke is 15-3 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in home games this season.  Take Arizona.

6* Twins/Yankees American League *Total* Annihilator on OVER 7.5

The Key: Both Ervin Santana and Luis Severino are having fine seasons for their respective teams.  But this total is too low here and we should see plenty of runs in hitter-friendly Yankees Stadium.  Santana doesn't enjoy facing the Yankees, going 6-10 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 20 lifetime starts against them.  Severino sports a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in one lifetime start versus Minnesota.  The Yankees are scoring 5.3 RPG overall and 5.6 RPG at home.  The Twins are scoring 5.0 RPG overall and 4.9 RPG on the road.  The Twins are 25-9 OVER in road games vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better over the last 2 seasons.  The Twins are 34-12 OVER in road games vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better over the last 2 seasons.  The Yankees are 8-0 OVER in home games after allowing 3 runs or less 3 straight games this season.  The OVER is 10-2 in Severino's last 12 starts, and 7-1 in his last 8 home starts.  Take the OVER.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Oakland A's +107

The Key: The Texas Rangers have completely quit.  They are 0-7 in their last 7 games overall.  They can't be favored here against an Oakland A's team that has not quit, going 9-2 in their last 11 games.  The price is simply too good to pass up here, starting pitchers aside.  But Martin Perez is 0-2 in his last 2 starts against the A's and has allowed 9 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings as well.  Raul Alcantara pitched 5 shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Rangers on September 23rd in his last start.  Take Oakland.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Pittsburgh Pirates +134

The Key: I cashed the Phillies +150 yesterday fading the Washington Nationals.  I'll do the same on the underdog Pirates here at a great price.  The Nationals have nothing to play for right now as they are locked in to the No. 2 seed in the National League, and they'll now face the Cubs in the Divisional Round series.  The Pirates have won 4 straight coming in and have scored a total of 30 runs in those wins, or an average of 7.5 per game.  They should light up Edwin Jackson, who is 5-6 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 12 starts, 3-3 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 6 home starts, and 0-2 with a 15.68 ERA and 2.71 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Ivan Nova is 11-14 with a 4.14 ERA in 30 starts this year.  Nova is 1-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Washington.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -1.5 (-110)

The Key: The Colorado Rockies have huge mound and motivational advantages here over the Miami Marlins.  They are trying to clinch the wild card spot and lead the Brewers by only 1.5 games.  Ace Jon Gray gets the ball looking to build on his 9-4 record with a 3.62 ERA in 19 starts this year.  Gray has gone 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 7 starts at Coors Field.  He has come up clutch down the stretch too at 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Adam Conley is 7-6 with a 5.71 ERA in 19 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 10.49 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Conley sports a 5.90 ERA in 2 lifetime starts vs. Colorado.  Take Colorado on the Run Line.

7* AL West Game of the Month on Houston Astros -132

The Key: The Houston Astros are still battling for home-field advantage in the American League with the Cleveland Indians.  They are doing their part, going 9-2 in their last 11 games overall.  The Texas Rangers are going in the opposite direction.  They were just swept by the Oakland A's over the weekend that killed their wild card chances.  They have now lost 4 straight.  I don't look for them to offer much resistance over the final week of the season now, and that showed last night in an 11-2 home loss to the Astros.  We are getting Houston ace Dallas Keuchel at a tremendous price here.  Keuchel is 13-5 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  Texas is 1-11 (-12.9 Units) against the money line in home games off 3 consecutive losses by 5 runs or more to division rivals.  The Astros are 10-2 in Keuchel's last 12 road starts.  Take Houston.

6* Mariners/A's AL West *BAILOUT* on Oakland -102

The Key: The Oakland A's are quietly going on a tear to close out the season.  They are now 7-0 in their last 7 games overall and playing with pride.  The Seattle Mariners just can't wait to go on vacation.  They are 1-8 in their last 9 games overall.  These are two teams headed in opposite directions, and we'll back the more motivated A's here at basically even money at home.  The A's are 45-33 at home this year.  Felix Hernandez is 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA in his last 3 starts.  The A's are 10-1 in their last 11 vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Oakland.

6* AL West *CA$H COW* on Oakland A's -106

The Key: The Oakland A's are on a tear right now in going 6-0 in their last 6 games overall.  The Texas Rangers have had their fate sealed by losing the first 2 games of this series, and are now 4.5 games back in the wild card.  I look for the Rangers to tank the rest of the way.  Jharel Cotton is 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Texas.  Martin Perez is 6-6 with a 5.03 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 14 lifetime starts vs. Oakland.  Take Oakland.

6* Saturday MLB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Chicago White Sox +170

The Key: We are getting an excellent price on the Chicago White Sox at home today.  This lineup is now loaded with young talent as the White Sox have brought up their prospects late in the season and they've gotten significant playing time.  The Royals are 75-78 on the season and basically eliminated from the postseason after losing to the White Sox yesterday.  The White Sox won that game 7-6.  The Royals singled with a runner on 2nd in the 9th, and that runner was thrown out at home, plus the guy that singled was thrown out at 2nd trying to advance on the throw.  That was a heartbreaking way for the Royals to lose and I don't think they'll recover today.  Danny Duffy is 0-3 with a 9.56 ERA in 3 starts against the White Sox in 2017.  He has allowed 17 earned runs in 16 innings in those 3 starts.  He can't be this big of a favorite Saturday.  Take Chicago.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Indians -129

The Key: The Indians are rolling right now and can't be tamed.  The Mariners are on an extended losing streak and are just ready for the season to be over.  Take Cleveland.

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -127

The Key: I know the Rockies have not been good on the road this season, but I have to back them at this price given the situation.  They are only one game up in the wild card race with the Brewers.  They need wins right now.  Tyler Anderson has owned the Padres, going 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against them, allowing only 1 earned run in 12 1/3 innings.  Clayton Richard is 4-6 with a 5.62 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts vs. Colorado.  He has given up 14 earned runs and 25 base runners in 9 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Rockies this season.  The Rockies are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.  The Padres are 3-8 in Richard's last 11 starts vs. the Rockies.  Take Colorado.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee Brewers -113

The Key: I've cashed the Milwaukee Brewers the last 2 days and I'm back on them again Wednesday.  Their win yesterday got them to within just one game of the Colorado Rockies for the 2nd wild card spot.  The Pirates have clearly packed it in over the last few weeks, going 1-12 in their last 13 games overall.  The Brewers have gone 9-2 in their last 11 games for a really impressive run with what's at stake.  Aaron Wilkerson gets called up from the minors after going 11-4 with a 3.14 ERA in Biloxi this season.  He has struck out 143 and walked only 36 in 142 1/3 innings.  He has had a long journey to the majors and I look for him to seize this opportunity, because he has earned it.  The Brewers are 7-1 in their last 8 road games.  The Pirates are 6-21 in their last 27 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NL Central Game of the Month on Milwaukee Brewers -117

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers are just 2 games behind the Colorado Rockies for the 2nd wild card spot.  That makes this a big series for them at Pittsburgh here.  The Pirates could clearly care less as they've packed it in over the last few weeks.  The Pirates are 1-11 in their last 12 games overall.  Chase Anderson is the better starter here as he's 10-3 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  Trevor Williams is 5-7 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 23 starts for the Pirates.  Anderson is 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 10 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh as well.  Take Milwaukee.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Brewers +100

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers are just 2.5 games behind the Colorado Rockies for the 2nd wild card spot.  That makes this a big series for them at Pittsburgh here.  The Pirates could clearly care less as they've packed it in over the last few weeks.  The Pirates are 1-10 in their last 11 games overall.  Brent Suter is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 11 starts this year.  He is a better starter than Jameson Taillon, who is 7-6 with a 4.78 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 22 starts, including 3-4 with a 5.37 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 13 home starts.  The Brewers are 7-0 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.  Take Milwaukee.

6* Sunday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Red Sox/Rays OVER 8.5

The Key: This is a very low total for the Red Sox at Rays game today.  Neither of these starting pitchers are very good.  Eduardo Rodriquez is 5-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 21 starts this year, and 3-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 11 road starts.  Jake Odorizzi is 8-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 25 starts this year, and 4-6 with a 4.60 ERA in 14 home starts.  Rodriquez is 0-1 with a 7.58 ERA in 4 lifetime starts vs. Tampa Bay.  Odorizzi is 3-5 with a 4.56 ERA in 16 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  Rodriguez has allowed 10 earned runs in 8 innings in his last 2 starts against Tampa Bay.  Odorizzi has yielded 8 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against Boston.  Take the OVER.

6* Interleague Game of the Week on Philadelphia Phillies -111

The Key: The Philadelphia Phillies have won 3 of their last 4 games coming in.  They scored 27 runs in the 3 wins before getting shut out yesterday by the A's in Game 1 of this series.  I think they get back in the win column here in Game 2 thanks to their big advantage on the mound.  Ben Lively is 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 12 starts this year.  He is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Kendall Graveman is 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 7 road starts this year for Oakland.  The A's 20-47 in their last 67 road games.  Oakland is 8-20 in Graveman's last 28 road starts.  The Phillies are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a loss.  Take Philadelphia.

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Chicago White Sox +103

The Key: Chicago White Sox fans are getting a chance to see their young prospects get significant playing time down the stretch.  And the results have been impressive in their rotation and their lineup.  They are 5-1 in their last 6 games overall.  The Sox have scored 11 or more runs in 3 of their last 6 games, including their 17-7 beat down of the Tigers last night.  The Tigers are the worst team in baseball right now with all of the players they traded away.  They are 0-6 in their last 6 games overall.  Carson Fulmer allowed 1 earned run while striking out 9 in 6 innings of an 8-1 victory over San Francisco on September 10th in his last start.  Anibal Sanchez is 3-4 with a 6.90 ERA in 13 starts this year, including 0-1 with a 15.43 ERA in his last 3 starts.  The Tigers are 1-10 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.  Take Chicago.

6* Astros/Angels AL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 9

The Key: Look for the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels to go well OVER this 9-run total.  Ricky Nolasco is 6-13 with a 4.96 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 29 starts this season.  The Astros should light him up.  Brad Peacock has posted some good numbers this year, but he's up against an Angels lineup that has gotten stronger via trades in the second half.  Peacock has allowed 12 runs in 13 2/3 innings in his last 3 starts against the Angels.  Houston is 9-1 OVER in road games after a 5 game span where the bullpen ERA was 6.50 or worse this season.  Take the OVER.

7* Dodgers/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on OVER 7.5

The Key: This is a very low total for 2 struggling starting pitchers tonight.  Yu Darvish is 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA and 2.19 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Matt Moore has been one of the worst starters all season, going 5-13 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 28 starts.  Moore has allowed 12 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Dodgers this season.  The wind is expected to be blowing out to center at about 13 MPH come game time as well, which will help aid this OVER.  The OVER is 13-3 in Dodgers last 16 games overall, and 7-0 in their last 7 vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  The OVER is 6-0-1 in Giants last 7 games overall.  Take the OVER.

7* AL West Game of the Week on Texas Rangers -116

The Key: The Texas Rangers are only 2 games back in the wild card to the Minnesota Twins.  They continue to fight in spite of all the injuries and trades that have occurred.  And the Rangers should be a bigger favorite here against the Mariners given their advantage on the mound.  Miguel Gonzalez has been great at home this year, going 4-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 9 home starts.  Marco Gonzales is still looking for his first win, going 0-1 with an 8.25 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 6 starts, and 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 3 road starts.  The Mariners are 0-6 in their last 6 road games.  The Rangers are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a left-handed starter.  The Rangers are 10-3 in their last 13 home meetings with the Mariners.  Take Texas.

6* Dodgers/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on San Francisco +188

The Key: The Dodgers have now lost 10 straight and are 1-15 in their last 16 games overall.  Yet, here we are again, with the Giants in the role of -200 favorite.  The Giants will play hard in this series and want to win with the Dodgers being their biggest rivals.  And the Giants have the advantage on the mound to boot.  Chris Stratton is 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 6 starts, including 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 2 home starts.  Kenta Maeda is 4-5 with a 5.46 ERA in 12 road starts this year.  Maeda is 3-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  The Giants are 8-2 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The Giants are 20-7 in their last 27 home meetings with the Dodgers.  Take San Francisco.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-125)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox are now 80-61 on the season.  They Tampa Bay Rays are getting closer to being eliminated from postseason contention at 70-72.  The Red Sox should win their 4th straight game with ease tonight thanks to their advantage on the mound.  Chris Sale is 15-7 with a 2.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 28 starts this year.  Sale is 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts vs. Tampa Bay.  He has struck out 13, 12 and 12 batters in his last 3 starts against the Rays this season.  Matt Andriese is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 5 road starts this year, and 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Andriese sports a 4.67 ERA in 5 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  He has yielded 11 earned runs in 15 innings in his last 3 starts against the Red Sox.  Sale is 17-3 vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.  His teams are winning by 3.1 runs per game on average.  Take Boston the Run Line.

7* Angels/Mariners AL West *BAILOUT* on Seattle -128

The Key: The Seattle Mariners trail the Los Angeles Angels by 3 games in the wild card chase.  They now get to host the Angels, making this a big game for them.  I like Mike Leake and the Mariners here over Ricky Nolasco and the Angels.  Leake sports a 3.51 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 15 home starts this year.  Nolasco is 3-7 with a 5.17 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 14 road starts.  Leake is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in one lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles, which came last year.  Nolasco sports an 8.68 ERA in his last 2 starts at Seattle, yielding 9 earned runs and 4 homers in 9 1/3 innings.  The Angels are 1-8 in their last 9 games following an off day.  The Angels are 0-6 in Nolasco's last 6 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Mariners are 5-0 in their last 5 games following an off day.  Take Seattle.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -122

The Key: I've backed the Cardinals with success the past 2 days and I'm jumping back on the money train tonight.  This is a Cardinals team that has gone 6-1 in their last 7 games to get within 2 games of the Colorado Rockies for the last wild card spot.  The Cardinals are 10-2 in their last 12 meetings with San Diego, including 5-0 in their last 5 road meetings.  Lance Lynn is the better starter here.  Lynn is 10-6 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 28 starts this year.  Clayton Richard is 6-13 with a 4.94 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 28 starts.  Lynn is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. San Diego.  Take St. Louis.

7* Cards/Padres National League *BAILOUT* on St. Louis -105

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals just keep hanging around.  They are just 3 games back in the wild card and they are the type of team that will step it up in the month of September.  I backed them yesterday with success, and they are now 5-1 in their last 6 games overall.  This is an excellent price to back them at nearly even money against the San Diego Padres, who are out of contention and just playing for pride.  The Padres are 17-36 in their last 53 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Padres are 0-5 in Lamet's last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Cardinals are 9-2 in the last 11 meetings, including 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in San Diego.  Take St. Louis.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -154

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals are still very much alive for the postseason.  They are 3 games back of the Rockies in the wild card.  They have gone 4-1 in their last 5 games to make their run, and opened this 4-game series against the lowly Padres with a 2-0 victory.  Look for Michael Wacha to shut them down tonight in Game 2 as well.  Wacha has never lost to the Padres, going 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Travis Wood is 2-2 with a 5.36 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 10 starts for the Padres.  He is also 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 18 lifetime starts against the Cardinals.  The Cards are 10-1 in Wacha's last 11 starts during game 2 of a series.  The Cards are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.  Take St. Louis.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -122

The Key: The Rays have to get going if they want to make the postseason.  They are 4 games back of the Minnesota Twins for the last wild card spot, and that's convenient because they host the Twins in this series.  They need a sweep, and I like them in Game 1 here tonight.  Alex Cobb has been great at home this year at 5-4 with a 2.34 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 11 starts.  He sports a 2.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in his last 3 starts overall as well.  Cobb has never lost to the Twins, going 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against them.  Jose Berrios is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in his lone lifetime start against the Rays.  Berrios is 4-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 11 road starts this year.  The Twins are 0-7 in Berrios' last 7 road starts.  Take Tampa Bay.

7* Red Sox/Yankees ESPN *BAILOUT* on Boston -109

The Key: Rarely will you get to back Chris Sale at this kind of price.  And when you look at the numbers he has posted against the Yankees, it's certainly worth taking the Red Sox here.  Sale is 15-6 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 27 starts this year with a ridiculous 264 K's.  He is 4-3 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 11 lifetime starts against New York.  Luis Severino is 1-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  He gave up 8 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Red Sox in his last start against them on September 12th.  The Red Sox are 5-1 in Sale's last 6 road starts.  Take Boston.

6* AL East Game of the Week on Baltimore Orioles -116

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall to make a serious push toward being a wild card team in the American League.  Their offense has been on fire in scoring a combined 61 runs in those 9 games.  The Toronto Blue Jays are done at 62-73 on the season.  Wade Miley is 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Miley has allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 6 consecutive starts against Toronto.  He sports a 3.11 ERA in those 6 starts while allowing 13 earned runs in 37 2/3 innings.  Marcus Stroman has allowed 4 earned runs or more in 3 of his last 5 starts against the Orioles.  He is 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA in those 5 starts.  The Orioles are 5-1 in Miley's last 6 starts.  The Blue Jays are 3-9 in Stroman's last 12 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.  The Orioles are 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.  Take Baltimore.

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Baltimore Orioles -1.5 (+120)

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles are 7-1 in their last 8 games overall to make a serious push toward being a wild card team in the American League.  Their offense has been on fire in scoring a combined 60 runs in those 8 games.  Kevin Gausman has been great in the second half.  He is 5-2 with a 2.26 ERA in his last 8 starts, allowing only 13 earned runs in 51 2/3 innings.  Guasman is 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 11 lifetime starts vs. Toronto.  Guasman is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Blue Jays as well.  Joe Biagini is 2-8 with a 6.02 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 12 starts this year, including 0-3 with a 9.42 ERA and 2.30 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Biagini is 0-7 (-10.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.  The Blue Jays are losing by 5.8 RPG in this spot.  He'll get rocked today as the Orioles stay red hot at the plate and cover this run line.  Take Baltimore on the Run Line.

6* Dodgers/DBacks NL West *CA$H COW* on Arizona +105

The Key: The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling right now.  They have won 6 straight and are 8-1 in their last 9 games overall.  The Los Angeles Dodgers have relaxed now that they basically have home-field advantage locked up in the postseason.  They will remain fade material going forward.  They are 0-4 in their last 4 games overall.  Getting Zack Greinke as a home dog is a gift today.  Greinke is 12-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 15 home starts this year.  Kenta Maeda is 4-4 with a 4.61 ERA in 11 road starts.  Maeda is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA in 3 starts against the Diamondbacks in 2017.  He has allowed 11 earned runs in 14 innings in those 3 starts.  The Diamondbacks are 13-2 in Greinke's home starts this year.  Take Arizona.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies -107

The Key: Chad Bettis has made a successful return from testicular cancer.  He sports a 3.79 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 3 starts this year, including a 1.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in his 2 home starts.  Now I look for Bettis to take down the Detroit Tigers today at this generous -107 price.  This is a Tigers team that has quit while going 6-17 in their last 23 games overall, including 2-10 in their last 12 road games.  Justin Verlander is 3-6 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 14 road starts this year.  The Tigers are 1-9 in Verlander's last 10 road starts.  The Rockies are 14-2 in Bettis' last 16 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Colorado.

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Colorado Rockies -142

The Key: The Colorado Rockies lost to the Tigers yesterday and will be hungry for a victory today.  This is a Tigers team that is just 6-16 in their last 22 games overall.  They haven't won back-to-back games since August 3-4 and are 0-6 in their last 6 games following a win.  German Marquez has been solid this year at 10-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 22 starts this season.  He'll be up against a depleted Tigers lineup that is missing Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.  The Tigers are 2-9 in their last 11 road games.  Detroit is 1-6 in Fulmer's last 7 road starts.  The Rockies are 8-0 in Marquez's last 8 home starts.  Take Colorado.

7* Giants/Padres NL West *BAILOUT* on San Diego -109

The Key: The San Diego Padres are showing great value as small home favorite over the San Francisco Giants today.  The Padres have been a profitable bet at home all season, going 33-30 (+6.9 units).  San Francisco is 21-45 (-23 units) on the road.  Jhoulys Chacin has been untouchable at home, going 7-2 with a 1.86 ERA in 13 starts.  Jeff Samardzija is 3-7 with a 5.05 ERA in 13 road starts.  Samardzija has given up 12 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his last 2 starts against the Padres in 2017.  Chacin is 8-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  The Padres are 4-0 in Chacin's last 4 starts vs. Giants.  Take San Diego.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -125

The Key: The Colorado Rockies have a massive advantage on the mound today over the Atlanta Braves.  Jon Gray returned from injury this season and is starting to find his groove, giving up just 4 earned runs over 12 2/3 innings his last 2 starts.  Gray has never lost to the Braves, going 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Mike Foltynewicz is starting to wear down, and that's evident by the fact that he's 0-3 with a huge 15.42 ERA and 2.91 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Foltynewicz has never beaten the Rockies, going 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Take Colorado.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on New York Yankees -1.5 (+100)

The Key: The Yankees have a big advantage on the mound today and should have no problem winning by 2 runs or more over the Seattle Mariners.  The Yankees will be extra hungry after losing 2 straight games coming in.  Sonny Gray has been great this year at 7-8 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 20 starts, and 6-2 with a 3.07 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 11 home starts.  Gray owns the Mariners, going 4-2 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 10 lifetime starts against them.  Yovani Gallardo is the weakest link in Seattle's rotation.  He is 4-9 with a 6.28 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 20 starts, and 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  Gallardo is also 2-3 with a 6.32 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts vs. New York.  The Yankees are 6-0 in their last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.  Take New York on the Run Line.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (-112)

The Key: Zack Greinke is virtually unbeatable at home.  He is 11-1 with a 2.34 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 14 home starts this year.  Ty Blach is 3-4 with a 5.33 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 8 road starts.  Blach is 1-2 with a 6.87 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in his last 3 starts as well.  Greinke is 9-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 15 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  Greinke is 73-18 (+40.5 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 or more since lifetime.  Take Arizona on the Run Line.v

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Minnesota Twins -165

The Key: The Twins have gone 13-5 in their last 18 games and 6-2 in their last 8 with both losses coming by exactly one run, including last night's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.  They'll come back hungry for a victory here Thursday and they have a huge advantage on the mound in this one.  Jose Berrios is 11-5 with a 3.99 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 18 starts this season.  He pitched 7 shutout innings against Arizona in his last start.  Derek Holland has been awful of late, going 1-2 with a 14.80 ERA and 3.09 WHIP in his last 3 starts, yielding 17 runs and 32 base runners in 10 1/3 innings.  Berrios has never lost to the White Sox, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts.  Holland is 2-6 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 11 lifetime starts vs. Minnesota.  In his last 2 starts against the Twins this season, Holland has yielded 14 runs and 5 homers in 7 2/3 innings.  Take Minnesota.

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -1.5 (+100)

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have gone 13-4 in their last 17 games overall to jump into the 2nd wild card spot in the American League.  Their offense is on fire as they have scored 47 runs over their past 6 games, including 20 in the first 3 games of this series against the White Sox, who now have a taxed bullpen.  Making matters worse is that they traded away their best bullpen arms to the Yankees.  Ervin Santana is 13-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 25 starts this year, including 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 12 road starts.  He'll be opposed by James Shields, who is 2-4 with a 5.72 ERA in 14 starts, including 2-3 with a 6.14 ERA in 7 home starts.  Santana is 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA in his last 5 starts against the White Sox, yielding only 9 earned runs in 31 innings.  Shields is 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA in his last 3 starts against Minnesota, yielding 11 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.  The Twins are 4-0 in Santana's last 4 starts.  The White Sox are 17-40 in their last 57 games overall.  Take Minnesota on the Run Line.

7* National League Game of the Month on Chicago Cubs -153

The Key: The Chicago Cubs appear to have turned the corner.  They have gone 6-2 in their last 8 games behind an offense that has scored 57 runs in those 8 games and an average of 7.1 RPG.  I'll lay the price with them today given their advantage on the mound.  John Lackey is pitching his best baseball since the All-Star Break.  He is 5-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his last 6 starts.  Lackey is 6-5 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 16 lifetime starts vs. Cincinnati.  Homer Bailey has been one of the worst starters in baseball this year.  He is 4-6 with an 8.44 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in 11 starts, including 0-4 with a 14.33 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Bailey sports a 4.66 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts vs. Chicago.  He gave up 6 earned runs and 12 base runners in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-7 loss to the Cubs in his last start on August 16th.  Cincinnati is 1-11 after scoring 1 run or less this season.  The Cubs are 11-0 in their last 11 road games vs. a right-handed starter.  Chicago is 7-0 in Lackey's last 7 starts.  The Reds are 0-5 in Bailey's last 5 home starts.  Take this combined 34-1 angle straight to the bank tonight.  Take Chicago.

7* Brewers/Giants National League *BAILOUT* on Milwaukee -117

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers have gotten back on track with a 7-1 run over their last 8 games to pull within 2 games of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.  Now they have an easy series coming against the Giants starting Monday.  This is a Giants team that just lost back-to-back games to the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, the only team with a worse record than them in the National League.  Zach Davies has yet to lose on the road, going 7-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 12 road starts this season.  Chris Stratton is 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 3 starts for the Giants.  He has already walked 10 batters in 18 1/3 innings as control has clearly been an issue.  Buster Posey is expected to sit tonight, making Davies' job a little easier.  Davies is 10-1 (+10.7 Units) against the money line after a win this season.  The Brewers are 7-0 in Davies' last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.  Take Milwaukee.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies -123

The Key: Getting the Rockies at this low of a price at home is a nice value.  Especially when you consider that starting pitcher Kyle Freeland is 6-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 12 starts at hitter-friendly Coors Field this season.  Chase Anderson makes his return from the DL today with his first start since June 28th.  He'll be on a pitch count and the Rockies should get into Milwaukee's shaky bullpen early.  The Rockies are 38-23 at home this season, hitting .301 and scoring 6.2 RPG.  Colorado is 10-1 (+10.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 54%) this season.   Freeland is 10-2 (+8.1 Units) against the money line in day games this season.  The Brewers are 1-10 in their last 11 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  Take Colorado.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Miami Marlins +105

The Key: The Miami Marlins have quietly gone 6-1 in their last 7 games overall.  They continue to try and get to .500 on the season as they currently sit at 59-61.  The Mets appear to have quit as they are 0-5 in their last 5 games overall to fall to 53-67 on the year.  The Marlins have the hotter starter in Vance Worley, who is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Rafael Montero is 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA in 10 starts this year, 0-5 with a 6.52 ERA in 6 home starts, and 0-1 with a 6.13 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Montero sports a 5.02 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Miami.  The Marlins are 6-0 in Worley's last 6 starts, while the Mets are 1-6 in Montero's last 7 starts, and 0-5 in his last 5 home starts.  Take Miami.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Tampa Bay Rays -123

The Key: The Tampa Bay Rays, at 60-63, realize this is a huge series for them if they want to stay alive in the wild card chase.  They haven't played well over the last 2 weeks, but now they have 6 straight home games to get back on track.  I'll gladly back Austin Pruitt, who is 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 5 starts this year for the Rays.  He has a 1.96 ERA in his last 3 starts, which is impressive considering he has faced 3 of the best teams in baseball in the Indians, Red Sox and Astros.  Erasmo Ramirez has been awful on the road this year, going 0-3 with a 10.35 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in 5 starts for the Mariners.  The Mariners are 6-16 in Ramirez's last 22 starts.  Take Tampa Bay.

7* Nats/Padres National League *BAILOUT* on San Diego -109

The Key: The Washington Nationals will be just coasting to the finish line since they essentially have the NL East wrapped up already.  That's especially the case with all of the injuries that are piling up.  They are without Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Jayson Werth, Adam Eaton and Stephen Strasburg.  The Strasburg injury is a big reason why Edwin Jackson has been added to the rotation.  While he's held his own thus far, it's only a matter of time before he starts getting blown up like he has throughout his career.  Jhoulys Chacin has been one of the most underrated starters in the big leagues.  Chacin has been especially good at home, going 7-2 with a 1.86 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 12 starts at Petco Park.  Chacin is 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 7 lifetime starts vs. Washington.  Jackson has never beaten the Padres, going 0-6 with a 6.98 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 10 lifetime starts against them.  The Padres are 32-27 (+8.6 units) at home this year and will get up to play the Nationals in this series.  Chacin is 10-2 (+8.4 Units) against the money line at home when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.  Take San Diego.

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Texas Rangers -1.5 (+110)

The Key: The Texas Rangers are still very much alive in the AL wild card race.  They have gone 5-1 in their last 6 games overall coming in.  The Detroit Tigers have gone in the other direction.  They are 2-9 in their last 11 games overall while losing all nine games by 2 runs or more.  The Rangers should roll today thanks to their huge advantage on the mound.  Cole Hamels is 7-1 with a 3.31 ERA in 14 starts this year, 5-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 7 home starts, and 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Anibal Sanchez is 3-3 with a 5.80 ERA in 10 starts this year, including 1-2 with an 8.62 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Hamels is 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 5 lifetime starts vs. Detroit, while Sanchez is 2-4 with an 8.48 ERA in 6 lifetime starts vs. Texas.  The Tigers are 0-6 in their last 6 road games.  The Rangers are 23-6 in Hamels' last 29 home starts, including 14-1 in his last 15 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Texas on the Run Line.

7* American League *Total* Annihilator on Tigers/Rangers UNDER 10.5

The Key: I cashed in the Rangers/Tigers UNDER 11 yesterday and I'm going to back the UNDER 10.5 again today.  For whatever reason, the books have set the number too high once again tonight.  This is an especially high total for a game involving Detroit ace Justin Verlander.  He has been spectacular of late, going 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in his last 3 starts while allowing only 2 earned runs in 21 innings.  A.J. Griffin has held his own for the Rangers at 5-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 10 starts.  The Rangers have been held to 5 runs or fewer in 8 of their last 11 games, while the Tigers have been held to 5 or fewer in 17 of their last 21 games.  Verlander is 11-1 UNDER vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .320 or worse in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.  The UNDER is 13-1-2 in Rangers last 16 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.  The UNDER is 5-0-1 in Rangers last 6 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* MLB Total of the Month on Tigers/Rangers UNDER 11

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the UNDER in the Tigers/Rangers Game 1 battle Monday.  It's not like either offense is lighting it up.  The Rangers have been held to 5 runs or fewer in 8 of their last 10 games overall.  The Tigers have been held to 5 runs or fewer in 16 of their last 20 games overall.  One of these teams is going to have to get to at least 6 runs to tie or beat us, and I'm just not seeing it.  Michael Fulmer sports a 3.48 ERA in 10 road starts this season, and he pitched a 9-inning shutout in his only lifetime start against the Rangers.  Martin Perez hasn't been great, but his job could be much easier today considering both Ian Kinsler and Miggy Cabrera are questionable for the Tigers after sitting out yesterday.  Texas is 7-0 UNDER after a combined score of 3 runs or less this season.  The UNDER is 23-8 in Perez's last 31 starts during game 1 of a series.  The UNDER is 23-8-2 in Rangers last 33 during game 1 of a series.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take the UNDER.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Baltimore Orioles -108

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles are only 1.5 games back in the wild card race.  Another victory here Sunday would get them back to .500 on the season.  The A's are the second-worst team in the AL with a record of 51-66 on the year.  They have lost 4 of their last 5 games overall.  Jeremy Hellickson has allowed just 3 earned runs in 13 innings in his last two starts for the Orioles.  Kendall Graveman has allowed 10 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings in his last two starts for the A's.  Hellickson is 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. Oakland.  Graveman is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts vs. Baltimore.  This one looks like a blowout in favor of the Orioles today, and we're getting them at basically an even money price.  Hellickson is 8-2 (+8.5 Units) against the money line in day games this season.  TheOrioles are 7-1 in their last 8 Sunday games. Take Baltimore.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (-115)

The Key: We'll continue riding the red hot St. Louis Cardinals here Saturday on the run line against the Atlanta Braves.  The Cardinals are 7-0 in their last 7 games overall.  They have scored 8 runs or more in 6 straight games and are averaging 9.7 RPG during this stretch.  The Braves have lost 4 straight while scoring a total of 10 runs, or an average of 2.5 RPG.  Carlos Martinez is 5-3 with a 3.27 ERA at home this year.  Lucas Sims is 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in 2 starts this season for the Braves.  The Braves are 0-6 in their last 6 road games.  Atlanta is 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.  Take St. Louis on the Run Line.

7* AL West Game of the Year on Texas Rangers +113

The Key: It's now or never for the Texas Rangers, who are still very much alive in the wild card hunt at just 3.5 games back of the second spot.  They have a chance to get back on track against a slumping Astros team that has many key injuries right now holding them back.  The Astros have gone 2-7 in their last 9 games overall, and they were just swept by the White Sox in Chicago last series.  The Astros played an extra innings game on Thursday, while the Rangers had yesterday off, giving the home team a huge edge in rest.  Rarely will you get to back Cole Hamels as a home dog.  He is 4-0 with a 3.12 ERA at home this season.  Charlie Morton is 3-2 with a 4.08 ERA on the road.  Hamels has allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in 5 straight starts against the Astros.  He is 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in his last 3 starts against Houston, yielding only 4 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings.  Houston is 0-6 in its last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.  The Rangers are 6-1 in their last 7 games following an off day.   The Rangers are 22-6 in Hamels' last 28 home starts, and 10-1 in his last 11 Friday starts.  Take Texas.

7* Interleague *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis Cardinals -140

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals are on fire at the plate right now and feeling good about themselves.  They have won 5 straight games and have scored a combined 42 runs over their last 4 games, or an average of 10.5 RPG.  The Royals are in free-fall mode in going 2-8 in their last 10 games overall.  And a big part of this poor run is that they have been without their best player in catcher Salvador Perez.  The Cards have the advantage on the mound tonight with Lance Lynn, who is 10-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 23 starts, 5-3 with a 2.58 ERA in 10 home starts and 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Jason Hammel is 5-9 with a 4.73 ERA in 22 starts for the Royals, including 2-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 8 road starts.  The Royals are 0-6 in their last 6 interleague games.  The Cardinals are 5-1 in Lynn's last 6 starts.  Take St. Louis.

7* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on St. Louis Cardinals -127

The Key: The Cardinals' offense has exploded for 10 or more runs in three straight games and a total of 34 runs the past 3 days.  They have a huge advantage on the mound tonight that should lead to another victory against the slumping Royals, who are 2-7 in their last 9 games overall.  Mike Leake is 7-10 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 22 starts this year, and 3-6 with a 3.20 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 12 home starts.  He has been one of the most consistent starters in the National League.  Trevor Cahill is 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 13 starts this year, 0-3 with a 6.30 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 8 road starts, and 0-0 with an 8.75 ERA and 2.35 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  His transition from the Padres of the NL to the AL has not been a smooth one.  And Cahill has never beaten the Cardinals, going 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against them.  Take St. Louis.

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-110)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs have actually gotten back on track by performing well on the road.  They are 13-3 in their last 16 road games, and 21-7 in their last 28 vs. left-handed starters.  They have the 3rd-best OPS in baseball against left-handers this season.  They will get after southpaw Ty Blach, who is 7-7 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.31 WHIP and just 58 K's in 115 1/3 innings this season.  Jose Quintana has been at his best on the road this season with a 3.56 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 12 starts away from home.  The Cubs are hitting .283 with a .368 OBP and 6.3 RPG against lefty starters this season.  Quintana is 16-1 vs. poor baserunning teams - averaging 0.5 or less SB's/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  HIs teams are winning by 3.4 RPG on average.  Quintana is 9-0 when playing against a team with a losing record this season.  His teams are winning by 4.0 RPG.  Take Chicago on the Run Line.

7* Interleague Game of the Month on St. Louis Cardinals -120

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals look to get back to .500 with a win today over the rival Kansas City Royals in this interleague showdown.  The Cards should do just that thanks to their big advantage on the mound.  Carlos Martinez is 7-9 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 22 starts this year.  Martinez pitched 6 shutout innings in his only lifetime starts vs. Kansas City last season.  Ian Kennedy is 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 20 starts, 0-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 9 home starts, and 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Kennedy is 3-5 with a 7.20 ERA in 8 lifetime starts vs. St. Louis.  The Cardinals are 27-11 in their last 38 meetings in Kansas City.  Take St. Louis.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies -107

The Key: I love the price we are getting Sunday with a contender in the Colorado Rockies (64-47) at home against the worst team in baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies (39-69).  The Aaron Nola love has gone too far here.  He can't do it all for the Phillies, who are scoring 3.8 runs per game on the road this season, while the Rockies are scoring 6.2 runs per game at home.  Jeff Hoffman faced the Phillies back on May 22nd, giving up just 1 earned run and 3 hits in 7 innings of an 8-1 victory for the Rockies.  Philadelphia is 3-14 after allowing 8 runs or more this season.  The Phillies are 17-49 in their last 66 road games.  The Rockies are 9-2 in their last 11 home games.  Take Colorado.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Pittsburgh Pirates -152

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates have a big advantage on the mound today over the San Diego Padres.  Gerrit Cole has delivered five straight quality starts with a 2.25 ERA during that stretch.  In five lifetime starts against the Padres, he is 4-1 with a 1.47 ERA.  Dinelson Lamet is 5-4 with a 5.62 ERA in 11 starts this year, including 2-3 with a 7.22 ERA in 6 road starts.  The Padres are 30-61 in their last 91 road games.  The Pirates are 5-0 in Cole's last 5 starts.  Pittsburgh is 4-0 in Cole's last 4 starts vs. San Diego.  The Padres are 1-5 in the last 6 road meetings.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* NL Game of the Month on Colorado Rockies -144

The Key: The Colorado Rockies have won 4 of their last 6 and are pursuing a wild card spot in the National League.  They can't afford to slip up against the Philadelphia Phillies in this series.  The Phillies were just swept by the Angels on the road last series and outscored 5-19 in the process to fall to 16-39 on the road this season.  Kyle Freeland comes in hot at 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in his last 3 starts.  He sports a remarkable 3.21 ERA across 10 starts at hitter-friendly Coors Field this year.  Vincent Velasquez is 2-6 with a 4.91 ERA in 13 starts for the Phillies.  He sports a 4.59 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Colorado.  The Phillies are 17-48 in their last 65 road games.  Philadelphia is 6-16 in Velasquez's last 22 starts.  The Rockies are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.  Take Colorado.

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -122

The Key: The Minnesota Twins are coming off an 8-game road trip.  Now they have 6 straight games at home and need to do some work to make up some ground in the AL Central and wild card races.  They are still trying to win, while the Texas Rangers were in sell mode at the deadline in trading away Jonathan Lucroy and Yu Darvish.  The Rangers have lost 4 of their last 5 games coming in.  The edge on the mound clearly goes to the Twins and Alberto Mejia in Game 1 of this series.  Mejia is 4-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 starts, including 0-0 with a 2.46 ERA in his last 3 starts.  A.J. Griffin is 4-2 with a 5.77 ERA in 8 starts for the Rangers, including 0-2 with a 15.84 ERA in his last 3 starts, yielding 17 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings.  Griffin sports a 5.00 ERA in 3 lifetime starts vs. Minnesota.  Texas is 1-11 in road games with a team slugging percentage .400 or worse on the season (AL) this season.  The Rangers are 2-10 in their last 12 vs. a team with a losing record.  The Twins are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take Minnesota.

7* American League Game of the Week on Boston Red Sox -158

The Key: This series is the first chance for the Boston Red Sox to avenge their 3-0 sweep at the hands of the Indians in the 2016 postseason.  They won 6-2 last night and certainly want to return the favor with a series sweep.  Look for them to take Game 2 tonight behind the best starter in baseball in Chris Sale, who is 13-4 with a 2.37 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 21 starts with 211 K's in 148 1/3 innings.  Sale has been untouchable of late, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his last 3 starts while pitching 20 2/3 shutout innings and striking out 33 batters.  Carlos Carrasco is 0-1 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.96 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  The Red Sox are 12-4 in Sale's last 16 starts.  The Red Sox are 5-0 in Sale's last 5 starts vs. AL Central opponents.  Take Boston.

7* Indians/Red Sox ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -115

The Key: The Cleveland Indians are 9-1 in their last 10 games overall to take a 2-game lead on the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central.  I like this price on the Indians Monday considering their massive advantage on the mound.  Mike Clevinger has gone 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 13 starts this year, including 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 7 road starts.  He'll be opposed by Doug Fister, who is 0-3 with a 7.58 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 4 starts, and 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA and 2.03 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Fister gave up 6 runs and 12 base runners in 4 1/3 innings in his last start against the Indians in 2016.  Neither Andrew Miller nor Cody Allen pitched yesterday, so both will be fresh and ready to shut it down after Clevinger leaves this game with the lead.  Fister is 5-21 (-17.7 Units) against the money line against AL Central opponents lifetime.  The Indians are 7-0 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Red Sox are 2-6 in their last 8 games overall.  Take Cleveland.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis Cardinals -121

The Key: There's a lot to like about the St. Louis Cardinals as short home favorites against the Arizona Diamondbacks today.  The big advantage for the Cardinals is on the mound, where Lance Lynn is having a fine season and has been dominant of late.  Lynn is 8-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 21 starts, 4-3 with a 2.53 ERA in 9 home starts, and 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA in his last 3 starts.  He has never lost to the Diamondbacks, going 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in 8 lifetime starts against them.  Taijuan Walker is 6-4 with a 3.47 ERA in 16 starts for the Diamondbacks.  He faced the Cardinals back on June 27th, giving up 5 runs and 11 base runners in 6 1/3 innings.  The Cardinals are 7-2 in their last 9 games following a loss.  The Diamondbacks are 16-35 in the last 51 meetings in St. Louis.  Take St. Louis.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-165)

The Key: The Chicago White Sox are going to be the worst team in baseball from the All Star Break-on.  They traded away almost all their best players throughout their starting pitching, lineup and bullpen.  They have been gutted, and that's why they are struggling in a big way right now.  The White Sox are 1-13 in their last 14 games overall, and they have lost four straight by 3 runs or more.  Conversely, the Indians are one of the hottest teams in baseball, going 8-0 in their last 8 games overall while winning 6 of those by 4 runs or more.  Expect more of the same today.  Corey Kluber is 8-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 16 starts this year, and he'll be opposed by Miguel Gonzalez, who is 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 15 starts.  Kluber is 8-4 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 16 lifetime starts vs. Chicago, while Gonzalez is 4-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts vs. Cleveland.  The Indians are 4-0 in Kluber's last 4 starts against Chicago, which have all come over the last 2 seasons.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line.

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-140)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs are 10-2 since the All-Star Break and rolling right now.  They should have no problem beating the Chicago White Sox by 2 runs or more once again tonight.  The White Sox are 1-11 in their last 12 games overall and have traded away many of their best players prior to the deadline.  Jon Lester has been very sharp in his last 2 starts since the break, giving up just 3 earned runs in 15 innings while striking out 16 for a 1.80 ERA.  All of their starting pitchers have stepped up after they traded for Jose Quintana, and the competition amongst themselves has helped that.  Mike Pelfrey is not a very good starter as he has gone 3-7 with a 4.19 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 16 starts this year.  Pelfrey is only averaging 4.8 innings per start.  That is bad news because the White Sox traded away all of their best bullpen arms before the deadline.  The Sox have allowed 5 or more runs in 6 of their last 7 games overall.  Lester is 50-8 (+31.1 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -200 or more lifetime.  His teams are winning by 3.2 RPG on average in this situation.  Take the Cubs on the Run Line.

7* Interleague *HEAVY HITTER* on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-125)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs are 9-2 since the All-Star Break and rolling right now.  They should have no problem beating the Chicago White Sox by 2 runs or more tonight.  The White Sox are 1-10 in their last 11 games overall and have traded away many of their best players prior to the deadline.  Now they throw their worst starter in James Shields, who has gone 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA in 9 starts this year, and 0-1 with a 9.60 ERA in his last 3 starts in which he has allowed 16 runs and 5 homers in 15 innings.  Jake Arrieta has been great of late in giving up only 3 earned runs and 12 base runners in 13 2/3 innings in his last 2 starts since the All-Star Break.  Arrieta is 28-4 (+20.7 Units) against the money line after giving up 2 earned runs or fewer in his last 2 outings over the last 2 seasons.  The Cubs are winning by 2.6 RPG in these spots.  Take the Cubs on the Run Line.

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Texas Rangers -128

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the Texas Rangers as only -128 home favorites today.  They have the clear advantage on the mound with Cole Hamels, who is 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 starts this year, and 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Daniel Straily has been one of the more lucky starters in baseball based on sabermetrics.  He sports a 3.49 ERA in 20 starts this year, but a 4.27 ERA in 9 road starts.  Hamels is 24-6 (+15.3 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 3 seasons.  The Marlins are 17-35 in their last 52 interleague road games.  The Rangers are 13-1 in Hamels' last 14 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Texas.

7* Pirates/Giants National League *BAILOUT* on Pittsburgh -146

The Key: The San Francisco Giants aren't used to being out of contention.  They are just 38-62 on the season and really have nothing to play for the rest of the way.  They just lost 3 out of 4 at home to the lowly San Diego Padres.  The Pirates have won 6 of their last 8 and are right in the thick of the NL Central race.  I trust them a lot here, especially with Gerrit Cole coming on strong.  He has gone 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in his last 3 starts while striking out 22 and walking just 1 batter in 19 innings.  Cole is 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. San Francisco.  Matt Cain is 3-8 with a 5.42 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 18 starts for the Giants.  The Pirates are 6-1 in Cole's last 7 starts, including 4-0 in his last 4 road starts.  The Giants are 10-29 in Cain's last 39 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 meetings in San Francisco.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies -108

The Key: We're getting a great price on the Colorado Rockies at home Sunday.  This team is usually a big favorite at home, but at -108 we'll definitely pull the trigger on them.  The Pirates are overvalued right now because they had a 6-game winning streak before losing 3-7 to the Rockies yesterday.  Now they'll be deflated after their streak came to an end.  Kyle Freeland has had no troubles at hitter-friendly Coors Field this year.  He has gone 5-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 9 home starts.  Ivan Nova has never beaten the Rockies, going 0-2 with an 8.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  He should get lit up in this one Sunday.  Take Colorado.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Indians -123

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Cleveland Indians at home today as you'll rarely get them as this small of favorites.  The bats came to life yesterday in a 13-3 win over the Blue Jays.  Now Danny Salazar is back from the disabled list and will certainly improve their rotation.  Salazar went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in four minor league rehab starts.  He has some of the best stuff in baseball as he struck out 73 batters in 52 1/3 innings before going on the disabled list with shoulder soreness.  Cleveland is 34-13 after having lost 5 or 6 of their last 7 games over the last 3 seasons.  Toronto is 4-17 in Saturday road games over the last 2 seasons.  The Indians are 14-6 in Salazar's last 20 home starts.  The Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 home meetings with the Blue Jays.  Take Cleveland.

7* MLB Run Line Game of the Week on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-110)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox should have no problem winning by multiple runs over the Los Angeles Angels today.  The Red Sox have a massive advantage on the mound in this one.  Chris Sale is 11-4 with a 2.59 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with a whopping 191 K's in 135 1/3 innings.  He is well on his way to winning the Cy Young.  Not to mention, Sale has never lost to the Angels, going 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against them.  Ricky Nolasco sports a 5.68 ERA in 7 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  Nolasco is 4-10 with a 4.49 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 19 starts this year.  Sale is 23-4 vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse over the last 2 seasons.  His teams are winning by 3.3 RPG on average in this spot.  The Angels are 2-12 in Nolsaco's last 14 starts overall.  Take Boston on the Run Line.

7* Tigers/Royals AL Central *HEAVY HITTER* on Kansas City Royals +100

The Key: We are getting a great price on the Kansas City Royals as home dogs to the Detroit Tigers today.  Danny Duffy is 5-6 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 14 starts this season.  Duffy has been very good at home, going 2-3 with a 2.41 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in six home starts.  The Tigers just traded away arguably their best hitter in J.D. Martinez, and they have one of the worst bullpens in the majors with a 6.91 ERA in road games this season.  That's a big reason why they are just 18-29 on the road this year.  The Royals are 20-8 in Duffy's last 28 home starts.  Take Kansas City.

7* NL Central Game of the Week on Pittsburgh Pirates -152

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates have shown a lot of emotion in taking the first two games of this series from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.  They now sit just 5 games back of the Brewers and should pull closer with another win today due to their advantage on the mound.  Gerrit Cole is coming off two straight good starts where he has posted a 3.00 ERA in beating both the Phillies and Cards.  Cole is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts vs. Milwaukee.  He has faced them twice this season, giving up just 2 earned runs in 14 innings for a 1.29 ERA.  He'll be opposed by Zach Davies, who is 11-4 in spite of a 5.08 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 19 starts this year.  Davies is 1-3 with a 10.29 ERA and 2.24 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh.  He has allowed 9 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings over two starts against the Pirates in 2017.  The Pirates are 6-1 in their last 7 games overall and 5-1 in Cole's last 6 starts.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* American League Game of the Year on New York Yankees -139

The Key: The New York Yankees should roll the Minnesota Twins tonight.  It's embarrassing that the Twins actually signed Bartolo Colon in the middle of a playoff race.  Colon has gone 2-8 with an 8.14 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 13 starts this year.  He was brutal in his last 3 starts, going 0-3 with a 14.40 ERA and 2.80 WHIP.  Colon is 7-8 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 21 lifetime starts vs. New York.  The Yankees are 17-3 after a 5 game span where the bullpen ERA was 2.00 or better this season.  The Twins are 24-54 in their last 78 home games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Yankees are 46-16 in the last 62 meetings.  Take New York.

7* NL Central Game of the Week on Pittsburgh Pirates -116

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 7 games in the NL Central.  This is a huge series for them if they want to get back in the race for the division.  It starts with Game 1 tonight.  The Pirates are 7-2 in their last 9 games overall to build some momentum.  Chad Kuhl has pitched well of late going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  Kuhl has never lost to the Brewers, going 2-0 (4-0 money line) with a 2.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  The Brewers are 0-4 in Suter's last 4 road starts.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* American League *Total* Annihilator on Twins/Astros OVER 9.5

The Key: The Houston Astros are scoring 5.9 RPG on the season and the Minnesota Twins are scoring 5.0 RPG against right-handed starters this year.  Expect a slug fest between these two teams Sunday given the starting pitchers.  Kyle Gibson has been the Twins' worst starter at 5-7 with a 6.31 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 16 starts.  Mike Fiers is 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 17 starts for the Astros.  Houston is 11-1 to the OVER in Sunday games this season.  Take the OVER.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-115)

The Key: The Cleveland Indians will be hungry for a win Saturday after getting shut out 5-0 by the A's in their first game back from the break last night.  Ace Corey Kluber should get them back in the win column promptly.  Kluber is 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 123 K's in 93 1/3 innings this season.  Kluber has gone 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his last 2 starts against the A's, pitching 13 shutout innings.  He sports a 2.55 ERA in 6 lifetime starts against the A's overall.  Oakland is 3-17 after having won 4 or 5 of their last 6 games this season, losing by 2.7 RPG on average.  The Indians are 11-2 in Kluber's last 13 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line.

7* Indians/A's American League *BAILOUT* on Cleveland -137

The Key: The Cleveland Indians had a nice finish to the All-Star Break to climb to 47-40 and in first place in the AL Central.  They are far and away the best team in this division even though they haven't played like it at times.  And Carlos Carrasco has been their best starter, going 10-3 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 17 starts, including 7-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 9 road starts.  Carrasco has never lost to the A's, going 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA and 0.61 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Sonny Gray is 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 13 starts this season.  Gray has allowed 14 earned runs over 8 innings in his last 2 starts against the Indians over the past 2 seasons for a 15.80 ERA.  The Indians are 9-0 in Carrasco's 9 starts as a favorite of -125 to -175 this season.  The Indians are 9-2 in their last 11 road games.  The A's are 2-8 in their last 10 home games.  Oakland is 10-21 in Gray's last 31 starts.  Take Cleveland.

7* Tigers/Indians ESPN *BAILOUT* on Cleveland -1.5 (-105)

The Key: The Detroit Tigers have the look of a team that has packed it in and is just ready for vacation and the All-Star Break.  They have been outscored 15-2 by the Indians through the first two games of this series.  The Indians have gone 5-2 in their last 7 games and are looking to finish strong before the break.  They have scored 11 runs or more in 3 of their last 6 games overall.  They should continue to swing a hot bat against Michael Fulmer, who is 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA and 1.966 WHIP in four career starts against Cleveland.  Corey Kluber is having another Cy Young-caliber season, going 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 13 starts, 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 8 home starts, and 1-1 with a 0.78 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in his last 3 starts with 35 K's in 23 innings.  Cleveland is 18-2 after 2 straight wins by 4 runs or more over the last 2 seasons, winning by 2.6 runs per game.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on St. Louis Cardinals -131

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals should make easy work of the New York Mets today.  Adam Wainwright has been on top of his game at home this year with a 6-1 record and a 3.42 ERA in 9 starts.  Wainwright is 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA in his last 4 starts against the Mets while allowing only 6 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings.  Zack Wheeler is now 3-5 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 14 starts this year after going 0-2 with a monstrous 18.39 ERA and 2.86 WHIP in his last 3 starts.  The Cards are 14-3 in Wainwright's last 17 starts vs. NL teams scoring 4.5 or more runs/game on the season.  The Cardinals are 37-15 in Wainwright's last 52 home starts.  Take St. Louis.

7* AL West Game of the Year on Texas Rangers -141

The Key: The Los Angeles Angels have been ravaged by injuries in their rotation and to their best player in Mike Trout, who has missed 47 games and counting.  They've held their own up to this point, but it's only a matter of time before the bottom falls out.  I trust in the Rangers, who are 3.5 games out of the wild card, to have a big second half due to the talent they have on board.  And one of their aces in Cole Hamels is now back healthy and coming off a great start in which he allowed just 2 runs and 2 hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 10-4 win over the White Sox.  Hamels is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. Los Angeles.  Ricky Nolasco is coming off a complete game shutout and is in line for a letdown because of it.  Nolasco is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts vs. Texas.  He gave up 5 runs in 5 innings of a 3-8 loss to the Rangers in his only start against them in 2017.  Hamels is 23-6 (+14.3 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 3 seasons.  Hamels is 14-2 (+11.8 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .320 or worse in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.  The Angels are 2-10 in Nolasco's last 12 starts and 0-9 in his last 9 starts when working on 5 days of rest.  The Rangers are 24-4 in Hamels' last 28 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  Take Texas.

7* MLB Total of the Week on Astros/Blue Jays OVER 9

The Key: The Houston Astros are on an absolute tear at the plate.  They have scored 26 combined runs the past 2 days while sweeping the Braves in Atlanta.  They are now hitting .296 and scoring 6.9 RPG on the road this season.  They could easily cover this 9-run total on their own today.  They'll feast on Francisco Liriano, who is 4-4 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 13 starts this year.  Lance McCullers has been very good for the Astros, but he is notoriously a bad road starter throughout his career when comparing his home/away splits.  Houston is 8-1 OVER in road games after scoring 7 runs or more in 2 straight games this season.  The OVER is 5-0 in Astros last 5 games overall.  The OVER is 6-2 n Liriano's last 8 starts.  Take the OVER.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Colorado Rockies -145

The Key: Jon Gray is probably the most talented young starters in the Rockies' resurgent rotation.  He was dominant in his return from the DL at Arizona on June 30th, striking out 10 batters while allowing just 2 earned runs in 6 innings of a 6-3 victory as +135 dogs.  He'll be opposed by Scott Feldman, who is 3-3 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 8 road starts this year.  The Rockies really need a big finish to the All-Star Break and they have 5 straight home games coming up to do just that.  They are hitting .290 and scoring 5.7 runs per game at home this year.  The Reds are 6-22 in their last 28 road games.  The Rockies are 4-0 in Gray's last 4 starts.  The Rockies are 33-15 in their last 48 home meetings with the Reds.  Take Colorado.

7* Interleague Game of the Week on Chicago Cubs -132

The Key: The Chicago Cubs want to finish strong prior to the All-Star Break.  They sit at 41-41 on the season and have a 5-game homestand here.  The Cubs have a big advantage on the mound today with Jone Lester, who is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 9 home starts this year.  Chris Archer is 3-3 with a 4.21 ERA in 8 road starts, and 2-1 with a 5.00 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Lester is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last 4 starts against the Rays in which he has allowed just 6 earned runs in 27 innings.  The Rays are 26-54 in their last 80 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Cubs are 84-39 in their last 123 home games vs. a right-handed starter.  Chicago is 22-5 in Lester's last 27 home starts.  Take Chicago.

7* Blue Jays/Yankees AL East *HEAVY HITTER* on New York -121

The Key: It's rare that you get the chance to back the Yankees as this small of home favorites.  They are undervalued right now due to going 5-14 in their last 19 games overall.  But the Blue Jays haven't been any better.  They have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games overall.  They have only scored more than four runs once during this stretch.  They have hit .224 as a team with only 9 homers and 29 runs scored, or an average of 2.9 RPG.  Masahiro Tanaka has given up just 2 earned runs over 14 innings in his last 2 starts.  Tanaka is 7-3 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 11 lifetime starts vs. Toronto.  The Yankees are 16-2 in Tanaka's last 18 starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The Yankees are 17-4 in Tanaka's last 21 home starts.  Take New York.

7* NL Central Game of the Month on Chicago Cubs -136

The Key: The Chicago Cubs are getting healthy as both Ben Zobrist and Kris Bryant has recently returned to the lineup.  After losing the first two games of this series to the Reds, they'll be hungry to not get swept here in Game 3.  Jake Arrieta should shut down the Reds.  He is 6-2 with a 3.76 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 8 lifetime starts against them.  Tim Adleman is 5-4 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts this year, and 1-2 with a 5.62 ERA in his last 3 starts.  Arrieta is 20-3 (+15.5 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons.  Take Chicago.

7* AL East Game of the Month on Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+100)

The Key: The Boston Red Sox should have no problem winning by multiple runs today thanks to their advantage on the mound over the Toronto Blue Jays.  Chris Sale has been a Cy Young candidate at 10-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 155 K's in 113 2/3 innings.  He is 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in his last 3 starts as well.  Sale is 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts vs. Toronto.  His teams have won each of his last 5 starts against the Blue Jays, including the last 4 by 2 runs or more.  Francisco Liriano is 3-3 with a 5.11 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts vs. Boston.  Liriano is 4-3 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 12 starts this season.  Sale is 22-4 vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse over the last 2 seasons.  His teams are winning by 3.3 runs per game.  Take Boston on the Run Line.

7* Mariners/Angels AL West *BAILOUT* on Seattle -118

The Key: Ariel Miranda has been very good for the Mariners this season.  He is 6-4 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in his 16 starts.  Miranda has never lost to the Angels, going 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.  Parker Bridwell is very raw for the Angels as he has made just 3 starts this year.  He has already given up 5 homers in 17 2/3 innings pitched.  The Mariners are 7-1 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.  The Mariners are 6-0 in Miranda's last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.  The Angels are coming off a huge 4-game series against the Dodgers and could certainly have a letdown here in Game 1.  Take Seattle.

7* AL Total of the Month on Yankees/White Sox OVER 10.5

The Key: The conditions favor the OVER in today's game between the White Sox and Yankees.  The wind is expected to be blowing out to left center at 12 miles per hour around game time.  The Yankees have one of the best lineups in baseball as they are scoring 5.6 runs per game.  They hung 12 on the White Sox yesterday.  They should feast on James Shields, who is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 5 starts this year, including 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Luis Cessa is just a fill-in starter for the Yankees.  He has gone 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in 2 spot starts this year for them.  The White Sox are scoring 4.8 runs per game at home.  Shields is 7-0 to the OVER in June games over the last 2 seasons.  The OVER is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Chicago.  Take the OVER.

7* National League *HEAVY HITTER* on Arizona Diamondbacks -132

The Key: The Arizona Diamondbacks are 16-3 in their last 19 games overall.  They are also 30-10 at home this season. This is a very nice price here on the Diamondbacks when you consider how big of an advantage they have on the mound in this game.  Zack Godley has been flying under the radar, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 9 starts, and 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Adam Wainwright has been getting absolutely crushed on the road this year, going 2-4 with a 9.48 ERA and 1.91 WHIP in 7 starts.  The Cardinals are 3-12 in their last 15 road games.  The Diamondbacks are 5-0 in Godley's last 5 starts.  Take Arizona.v

7* Interleague Game of the Week on Seattle Mariners -1.5 (+115)

The Key: The Seattle Mariners have a big scheduling advantage here.  They had yesterday off while the Phillies played a Game 4 in Arizona.  We're getting the better, fresher team with easily the better starter on the mound here, and I like this plus price with the Mariners on the Run Line as a result.  James Paxton is 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 11 starts this year, including 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 7 home starts.  He'll be opposed by Aaron Nola, who is 4-5 with a 4.32 ERA in 10 starts this year for the Phillies.  The Mariners are 25-15 and scoring 5.3 RPG at home this year, while the Phillies are 10-31 and scoring 3.5 RPG on the road.  Philly is 1-12 after scoring 1 run or less this season, losing by 2.8 RPG.  Take Seattle on the Run Line.

7* Rockies/Giants NL West *BAILOUT* on Colorado +125

The Key: The Colorado Rockies are coming off 5 straight losses.  They'll be hungry to get back in the win column today, and now they get to face the 27-51 San Francisco Giants to do just that.  I just can't fathom how the Giants are consistently favored like they are today.  Their name recognition gets them too much respect, but they simply aren't a good team this year.  And Jeff Samardzija is almost always favored despite the fact that he's 2-9 with a 4.74 ERA in 15 starts this year.  We'll gladly back German Marquez against him.  Marquez has gone 5-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 11 starts, 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 6 home starts, and 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Samardzija is 0-3 with a 9.33 ERA in his last 3 starts against Colorado, yielding 19 earned runs in 18 1/3 innings.  The Rockies are 20-6 in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  Colorado is 7-1 in Marquez's last 8 starts.  The Giants are 5-21 in their last 26 overall.  San Francisco is 1-10 in its last 11 home games.  Take Colorado.

7* Pirates/Cardinals ESPN *BAILOUT* on St. Louis -140

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals will be hungry for a victory tonight after dropping the first two games of this series to the Pittsburgh Pirates and three straight overall.  Now the Cards have a big advantage on the mound with Mike Leake over Chad Kuhl.  Leake is 5-6 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 14 starts this year.  Kuhl is 2-6 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 14 starts.  Kuhl has never beaten the Cards, going 0-2 (0-3 money line) with a 4.85 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against them.  Leake is 10-5 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 29 lifetime starts vs. Pittsburgh.  Take St. Louis.

7* MLB Dog of the Month on Seattle Mariners +130

The Key: I've cashed in the Mariners a lot recently and will continue to ride them tonight, especially at this great underdog price of +130.  The Mariners have now won 6 straight while scoring at least 5 runs in all 6 games, including 13 last night against the Astros.  They are getting healthy and will be a dangerous team moving forward.  Sam Gaviglio has held his own this year for Seattle, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 7 starts, including 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 4 home starts.  Lance McCullers is 5-9 with a 4.31 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 23 lifetime road starts.  The Mariners are 25-13 at home this year.  Seattle is 5-0 in Gaviglio's last 5 starts.  Take Seattle.

7* Astros/Mariners AL West *BAILOUT* on Seattle -114

The Key: The Mariners have now won 5 straight while scoring at least 5 runs in all 5 victories.  They are getting healthy in their lineup and on the mound as Jean Segura just returned, and Felix Hernandez will be making his first start since April 26th.  Hernandez pitching 6 shutout innings while striking out 8 in his final rehab start last week.  Hernandez is 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA in 2 home starts this year.  He'll be opposed by Joe Musgrove, going 4-6 with a 5.09 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 12 starts this year.  Musgrove sports a 4.36 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts vs. Seattle.  The Mariners are 24-13 at home this year and scoring 5.3 runs per game.  Seattle is 20-7 as a home favorite of -110 or higher this season.  The Astros are 1-7 in Musgrove's last 8 starts vs. a team with a slugging percentage of .410 or worse this season.  The Mariners are 8-2 in Hernandez's last 10 home starts.  Take Seattle.