Larry Ness
Cleveland vs. Cincinnati
Pick: Cleveland
The Cleveland Indians were AL champs last yera and actually led teh Cubs 3-1 in the World Series, before succumbing. However, it's been a bumpy start to the 2017 season, although it has to feel good to Terry Francona's team that it just swept the Astros in Houston over the weekend. Even after the sweep, the 29-15 Astros still own MLB's best record but the sweep has the Indians at 23-19, leaving them in a virtual tie atop the AL Central with the 22-18 Twins. The Indians will now open a four-game, home-and-home Ohio Cup series with the struggling Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati got off to a promising 19-15 start but has dropped eight of its last nine contests and at 20-23, is just one-half game out of last place in the National League Central. The first two games are in Cincy, then it's on to Cleveland for Wednesday and Thursday contests.
The pitching matchup will feature Josh Tomlin (2-5, 6.86 ERA) vs Scott Feldman (2-4, 4.29 ERA). Tomlin saw a stretch of five solid starts end when he allowed six runs and seven hits (two HRs) over just 2.1 innings in a 7-4 loss to Tampa Bay at home on Wednesday. He had given up just 12 runs over 32 innings in his previous five outings and has walked just four in 40.2 innings this season.
Scott Feldman permitted seven runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks over only 2.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs in a 7-5 loss last Wednesday, after producing two of his best performances of the season. He had yielded just two runs on 11 hits over 16 innings over his previous two outings, both against San Francisco. Feldman is 2-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 15 games (six starts / teams are 2-4) vs Cleveland.
Tomlin is 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA in five career starts (team is 3-2) against the Reds but I see the Indians building off their sweep of the Astros. Let's not also forget that the Reds limp in having lost EIGHT of nine and have allowed 59 runs over their last seven games (that's 8.43 per).
Cleveland vs. Cincinnati
Pick: Cleveland
The Cleveland Indians were AL champs last yera and actually led teh Cubs 3-1 in the World Series, before succumbing. However, it's been a bumpy start to the 2017 season, although it has to feel good to Terry Francona's team that it just swept the Astros in Houston over the weekend. Even after the sweep, the 29-15 Astros still own MLB's best record but the sweep has the Indians at 23-19, leaving them in a virtual tie atop the AL Central with the 22-18 Twins. The Indians will now open a four-game, home-and-home Ohio Cup series with the struggling Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati got off to a promising 19-15 start but has dropped eight of its last nine contests and at 20-23, is just one-half game out of last place in the National League Central. The first two games are in Cincy, then it's on to Cleveland for Wednesday and Thursday contests.
The pitching matchup will feature Josh Tomlin (2-5, 6.86 ERA) vs Scott Feldman (2-4, 4.29 ERA). Tomlin saw a stretch of five solid starts end when he allowed six runs and seven hits (two HRs) over just 2.1 innings in a 7-4 loss to Tampa Bay at home on Wednesday. He had given up just 12 runs over 32 innings in his previous five outings and has walked just four in 40.2 innings this season.
Scott Feldman permitted seven runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks over only 2.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs in a 7-5 loss last Wednesday, after producing two of his best performances of the season. He had yielded just two runs on 11 hits over 16 innings over his previous two outings, both against San Francisco. Feldman is 2-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 15 games (six starts / teams are 2-4) vs Cleveland.
Tomlin is 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA in five career starts (team is 3-2) against the Reds but I see the Indians building off their sweep of the Astros. Let's not also forget that the Reds limp in having lost EIGHT of nine and have allowed 59 runs over their last seven games (that's 8.43 per).
Will Rogers
Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta
Pick: Pittsburgh
The set-up: What's going on with the Braves? Atlanta lost six in a row from May 3 through May 10 to fall to 11-20. However, the Braves took two of three in Miami and then won three of four at Toronto before falling just short of sweeping Washington on Sunday, when they dropped a 3-2 decision in the finale of their three-game series. Pittsburgh is 2-0-1 in its last three series, after capturing two of three against Philadelphia over the weekend. The Pirates visit SunTrust Park with a 20-24 record.
The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (2-4 & 2.84 ERA) will get the ball for Pittsburgh and Mike Foltynewicz (2-4 & 4.10 ERA) for Atlanta. Cole finally ended his five-start winless streak last Wednesday, when he limited Washington to one run on three hits over seven innings in a 6-1 victory. Cole has been unlucky in 2017, as after allowing five runs in his season debut at Boston on April 3, he's never allowed more than three runs in any his other eight starts. In fact, he has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last seven outings but is only 2-3 (team is 3-4). Foltynewicz has won two consecutive starts, including last Wednesday vs. Toronto in which he allowed three runs aon six hits over six innings of an 8-4 win. It was only the second time in seven outings this season that he has given up more than two ERs and fifth occasion in the last six starts in which he has worked at least six frames.
The pick: However, Foltynewicz remains in search of his first career win against the Pirates, as he fell to 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts against them on April 7 after yielding two runs on six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings at Pittsburgh in a 5-4 loss. As for Cole, he has yet to lose to Atlanta in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts all Pittsburgh wins. Can you say 6-0?
Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta
Pick: Pittsburgh
The set-up: What's going on with the Braves? Atlanta lost six in a row from May 3 through May 10 to fall to 11-20. However, the Braves took two of three in Miami and then won three of four at Toronto before falling just short of sweeping Washington on Sunday, when they dropped a 3-2 decision in the finale of their three-game series. Pittsburgh is 2-0-1 in its last three series, after capturing two of three against Philadelphia over the weekend. The Pirates visit SunTrust Park with a 20-24 record.
The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (2-4 & 2.84 ERA) will get the ball for Pittsburgh and Mike Foltynewicz (2-4 & 4.10 ERA) for Atlanta. Cole finally ended his five-start winless streak last Wednesday, when he limited Washington to one run on three hits over seven innings in a 6-1 victory. Cole has been unlucky in 2017, as after allowing five runs in his season debut at Boston on April 3, he's never allowed more than three runs in any his other eight starts. In fact, he has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last seven outings but is only 2-3 (team is 3-4). Foltynewicz has won two consecutive starts, including last Wednesday vs. Toronto in which he allowed three runs aon six hits over six innings of an 8-4 win. It was only the second time in seven outings this season that he has given up more than two ERs and fifth occasion in the last six starts in which he has worked at least six frames.
The pick: However, Foltynewicz remains in search of his first career win against the Pirates, as he fell to 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts against them on April 7 after yielding two runs on six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings at Pittsburgh in a 5-4 loss. As for Cole, he has yet to lose to Atlanta in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts all Pittsburgh wins. Can you say 6-0?
MLB
Short Sheet
Monday, May 22
Colorado at Philadelpia, 7:05 PM ET
Hoffman: Colorado is 15-7 in road games
Eflin: Phillies are 3-15 after losing 2 of last 3
Pittsburgh at Atlanta, 7:35 PM ET
Cole: Pittsburgh is 18-6 on the road after a one run win
Foltynewicz: Braves are 21-49 after scoring and allowing 3 runs or less
San Francisco at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 PM ET
Blach: San Fran is 5-19 after allowing 8 runs or more
Lackey: 16-2 UNDER at home against NL West opponents
Kansas City at NY Yankees, 7:05 PM ET
Vargas: 13-4 TSR in night games
Pineda: 10-16 TSR when total is 8 to 8.5
Minnesota at Baltimore, 7:05 PM ET
Gibson: Minnesota is 53-91 when total is 8.5 to 10
Jimenez: Baltimore is 17-3 at home vs AL Central opponents
LA Angels at Tampa Bay, 7:10 PM ET
Ramirez: LA is 23-10 UNDER vs AL East opponents
Odorizzi: 24-11 UNDER in first half of season
Detroit at Houston, 8:10 PM ET
Fulmer: 13-6 TSR as an underdog
Peacock: Houston is 20-27 after a loss by 2 runs or less
Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:10 PM ET
Tomlin: 14-6 TSR in road games
Feldman: 5-15 TSR at home vs AL Central opponents
Chicago White Sox at Arizona, 9:40 PM ET
Gonzalez: 6-0 TSR in Monday games
Greinke: Dbacks are 92-130 after scoring 1 or less runs in a loss to division rival
*TSR = Team Start Record
Short Sheet
Monday, May 22
Colorado at Philadelpia, 7:05 PM ET
Hoffman: Colorado is 15-7 in road games
Eflin: Phillies are 3-15 after losing 2 of last 3
Pittsburgh at Atlanta, 7:35 PM ET
Cole: Pittsburgh is 18-6 on the road after a one run win
Foltynewicz: Braves are 21-49 after scoring and allowing 3 runs or less
San Francisco at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 PM ET
Blach: San Fran is 5-19 after allowing 8 runs or more
Lackey: 16-2 UNDER at home against NL West opponents
Kansas City at NY Yankees, 7:05 PM ET
Vargas: 13-4 TSR in night games
Pineda: 10-16 TSR when total is 8 to 8.5
Minnesota at Baltimore, 7:05 PM ET
Gibson: Minnesota is 53-91 when total is 8.5 to 10
Jimenez: Baltimore is 17-3 at home vs AL Central opponents
LA Angels at Tampa Bay, 7:10 PM ET
Ramirez: LA is 23-10 UNDER vs AL East opponents
Odorizzi: 24-11 UNDER in first half of season
Detroit at Houston, 8:10 PM ET
Fulmer: 13-6 TSR as an underdog
Peacock: Houston is 20-27 after a loss by 2 runs or less
Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:10 PM ET
Tomlin: 14-6 TSR in road games
Feldman: 5-15 TSR at home vs AL Central opponents
Chicago White Sox at Arizona, 9:40 PM ET
Gonzalez: 6-0 TSR in Monday games
Greinke: Dbacks are 92-130 after scoring 1 or less runs in a loss to division rival
*TSR = Team Start Record
MLB Daily Line Drive: Monday's picks, betting odds and analysis
The Pirates are 5-0 in Gerrit Cole's five career starts against the Braves, where Cole has a 2.03 ERA. The Pirates are -130 favorites for today's matchup.
The Pirates and Braves are beginning to turn things around, but who has the edge when the two NL foes start a four-game series in Atlanta Monday. Plus, analysis on today's games as well as tips on weather, umpires, and other betting trends with our daily MLB Line Drive.
Double-Play Picks
Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves (+120, 8)
The Pirates and Braves begin a four-game series in Atlanta on Monday, in what is a battle of two National League teams starting to bounce back after slow starts.
The Braves are coming off series wins over Miami, Toronto and Washington, while the Pirates have won six of their last eight games. The difference in the opener of this four-game set should be starting pitching.
Pittsburgh sends ace Gerrit Cole to the mound Monday to take on Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz.
After getting off to a bit of a slow start this season, Cole has been fantastic over his last seven starts, pitching to a 1.96 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, while racking up 44 strikeouts. Additionally, the Buccos right-hander has had plenty of success against the Braves. The Pirates are 5-0 in his five career starts versus Atlanta, while Cole himself is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA, a 1.344 WHIP and 29 strikeouts.
Foltynewicz on the other hand got off to a hot start, but has cooled off recently, pitching to a 6.19 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in his last three starts.
On offense, the Pirates lineup is starting to find its way after the loss of Starling Matre to a suspension, while the Braves are still coping with the loss of Freddie Freeman to a broken wrist.
Pick: Pirates -130
Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia Phillies (-117, 8)
Many bettors believed this could be a breakout year for the Rockies, taking the Over when their season win total was released back in the winter, but not many expected them to be this good. The Rockies look legit, leading the National League Central at 28-17 as they begin a four-game set in Philadelphia with the Phillies.
The Rockies have always been known for their offense and this year is not different ranking 8th in runs, average, OPS while ranking 10th in home runs. They’ve been even better over the last seven games scoring 6.8 runs per game.
The difference has been the solid play of pitchers Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela with Greg Holland at the back end to close out games with his 19 saves and 0.96 ERA.
They send another young pitcher to the mound today in Jeff Hoffman, who is making just his second start of the season. Hoffman allowed 3 runs on six hits in 5.1 innings in his first start against the Dodgers.
Hoffman faces off against the Phillies Jerad Eickhoff. The Phillies right-hander has had an up and down season, but is 0-4 with a 4.53 ERA this season. Eickhoff has only pitched into the seventh inning once this year in eight starts. That exposes a Philadelphia bullpen that ranks 24th in the big leagues with a 4.86 ERA.
The Over is also 4-0 in the last four meetings in this matchup.
Pick: Over 8
Yesterday's Picks: 1-1
Season to Date: 40-31-3
Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking: Ty Blach, San Francisco Giants (1-2, 4.15 ERA, $-303)
Despite the Giants dropping four of Blach’s five starts this season, the young southpaw has actually pitched pretty well in the majority of his outings.
Blach has allowed two runs or fewer in four of five starts since joining the Giants rotation and in his last two starts he has allowed just three earned runs on 10 hits in 14 innings of work. Blach and the Giants are +175 dogs today at the Cubs.
Slumping: Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins (0-4, 8.20 ERA, $-198)
The whole season has been one big slump for Twins starter Kyle Gibson, who hasn’t won a decision since early September of last year.
Gibson has allowed three or more earned runs in each of his six starts, but his major problem has been control. The right-hander just three more strikeouts than walks this season (16-13), while opponents own a 4.19 on base percentage against him. Gibson and the Twins are +123 dogs in Baltimore tonight.
Monday's Top Trends
* Under is 6-0 in the last six when the Twins are in Baltimore. O/U: 9.5.
* Over is 6-0 in Rays last six games following a loss. O/U: 8 vs. Angels.
* Over is 15-2 in Cubs last 17 home games. O/U: 10 vs. Giants.
* White Sox are 0-6 in their last six during Game 1 of a series. +150 @ Diamondbacks.
Weather To Keep An Eye On
Tell me if you have heard this one before. It's going to be windy today inthe Windy City. In fact, hitters will be given a hand for when the Cubs host the Giants. There will be a 13-15 mile per hour wind gusting out to center field for tonight's game. Temperatures will be in the mid 60's and there will be approximately a 55 percent chane of rain during the game. The total is currently 10.
There is also a slight chance of rain Philadelphia, where the Phillies host the Rockies (O/U: 8), New York where the Yankees host the Royals (O/U: 8), in Baltimore, where the Orioles host the Twins (O/U: 9.5) and in Atlanta, where the Braves host the Pirates (O/U: 8).
The Pirates are 5-0 in Gerrit Cole's five career starts against the Braves, where Cole has a 2.03 ERA. The Pirates are -130 favorites for today's matchup.
The Pirates and Braves are beginning to turn things around, but who has the edge when the two NL foes start a four-game series in Atlanta Monday. Plus, analysis on today's games as well as tips on weather, umpires, and other betting trends with our daily MLB Line Drive.
Double-Play Picks
Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves (+120, 8)
The Pirates and Braves begin a four-game series in Atlanta on Monday, in what is a battle of two National League teams starting to bounce back after slow starts.
The Braves are coming off series wins over Miami, Toronto and Washington, while the Pirates have won six of their last eight games. The difference in the opener of this four-game set should be starting pitching.
Pittsburgh sends ace Gerrit Cole to the mound Monday to take on Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz.
After getting off to a bit of a slow start this season, Cole has been fantastic over his last seven starts, pitching to a 1.96 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, while racking up 44 strikeouts. Additionally, the Buccos right-hander has had plenty of success against the Braves. The Pirates are 5-0 in his five career starts versus Atlanta, while Cole himself is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA, a 1.344 WHIP and 29 strikeouts.
Foltynewicz on the other hand got off to a hot start, but has cooled off recently, pitching to a 6.19 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in his last three starts.
On offense, the Pirates lineup is starting to find its way after the loss of Starling Matre to a suspension, while the Braves are still coping with the loss of Freddie Freeman to a broken wrist.
Pick: Pirates -130
Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia Phillies (-117, 8)
Many bettors believed this could be a breakout year for the Rockies, taking the Over when their season win total was released back in the winter, but not many expected them to be this good. The Rockies look legit, leading the National League Central at 28-17 as they begin a four-game set in Philadelphia with the Phillies.
The Rockies have always been known for their offense and this year is not different ranking 8th in runs, average, OPS while ranking 10th in home runs. They’ve been even better over the last seven games scoring 6.8 runs per game.
The difference has been the solid play of pitchers Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela with Greg Holland at the back end to close out games with his 19 saves and 0.96 ERA.
They send another young pitcher to the mound today in Jeff Hoffman, who is making just his second start of the season. Hoffman allowed 3 runs on six hits in 5.1 innings in his first start against the Dodgers.
Hoffman faces off against the Phillies Jerad Eickhoff. The Phillies right-hander has had an up and down season, but is 0-4 with a 4.53 ERA this season. Eickhoff has only pitched into the seventh inning once this year in eight starts. That exposes a Philadelphia bullpen that ranks 24th in the big leagues with a 4.86 ERA.
The Over is also 4-0 in the last four meetings in this matchup.
Pick: Over 8
Yesterday's Picks: 1-1
Season to Date: 40-31-3
Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking: Ty Blach, San Francisco Giants (1-2, 4.15 ERA, $-303)
Despite the Giants dropping four of Blach’s five starts this season, the young southpaw has actually pitched pretty well in the majority of his outings.
Blach has allowed two runs or fewer in four of five starts since joining the Giants rotation and in his last two starts he has allowed just three earned runs on 10 hits in 14 innings of work. Blach and the Giants are +175 dogs today at the Cubs.
Slumping: Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins (0-4, 8.20 ERA, $-198)
The whole season has been one big slump for Twins starter Kyle Gibson, who hasn’t won a decision since early September of last year.
Gibson has allowed three or more earned runs in each of his six starts, but his major problem has been control. The right-hander just three more strikeouts than walks this season (16-13), while opponents own a 4.19 on base percentage against him. Gibson and the Twins are +123 dogs in Baltimore tonight.
Monday's Top Trends
* Under is 6-0 in the last six when the Twins are in Baltimore. O/U: 9.5.
* Over is 6-0 in Rays last six games following a loss. O/U: 8 vs. Angels.
* Over is 15-2 in Cubs last 17 home games. O/U: 10 vs. Giants.
* White Sox are 0-6 in their last six during Game 1 of a series. +150 @ Diamondbacks.
Weather To Keep An Eye On
Tell me if you have heard this one before. It's going to be windy today inthe Windy City. In fact, hitters will be given a hand for when the Cubs host the Giants. There will be a 13-15 mile per hour wind gusting out to center field for tonight's game. Temperatures will be in the mid 60's and there will be approximately a 55 percent chane of rain during the game. The total is currently 10.
There is also a slight chance of rain Philadelphia, where the Phillies host the Rockies (O/U: 8), New York where the Yankees host the Royals (O/U: 8), in Baltimore, where the Orioles host the Twins (O/U: 9.5) and in Atlanta, where the Braves host the Pirates (O/U: 8).
