Big Al McMordie Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Milwaukee Brewers over Philadelphia.  The Brew Crew have dropped six straight, but I look for them to bounce back on this Saturday evening in the City of Brotherly Love.  Milwaukee is a solid 19-6 as a favorite this season (+11 games on the moneyline), while Philly is a poor 17-40 at night, and 23-50 (minus 17 games on the moneyline) as an underdog.  Take the Brewers.

At 7:10 pm, our selection is on the Toronto Blue Jays over Cleveland.  We've played on Marcus Stroman several times this season (as he's been the Jays' best starter), and will once again take him in an underdog role.  His ERA is 1.45 over his last three starts, and he'll match up against Danny Salazar, who is coming off the DL.  Even worse:  Salazar is a poor 4-8 with a 6.16 ERA over his last 20 appearances (dating back to last season).  And the Indians are an awful 1-6 vs. losing teams this season with Salazar on the hill.  Take the Blue Jays.

At 9:10 pm, our selection is on the Los Angeles Dodgers over Atlanta.  The Dodgers were the hottest team in baseball before dropping their last two games.  But, notwithstanding those two defeats, they're still the hottest team, as they're 31-6 their last 37.  Southpaw Rich Hill has been a big part of the Dodgers' success as he has an 0.95 ERA over his last three starts.  Additionally, he's 3-0 in his career vs. Atlanta, with a 1.93 ERA, while Julio Teheran is 0-6 vs. LA with a 6.47 ERA.  Finally, the Dodgers are 53-14 (+26 games on the moneyline) as a favorite priced at -150 or better.  Take Los Angeles.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 4:05 pm, our selection is on the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals.  If the Cubs are going to compete with the Dodgers and Nationals for a second-straight NL Crown and trip to the World Series, they're going to need LHP Jon Lester to step up in the final two-plus months.  To say 2017 has been a disappointment for the former Red Sox veteran would be an understatement as Lester is 6-6 with a 4.07 ERA in a league-leading 20 starts.  Some pitchers might be happy with those numbers, but not Lester.  Still, there are some reasons for optimism as he steps to the mound to face division-rival St. Louis.  First, Lester has pitched much better at home than on the road, with a 3.73 ERA and 1.23 WHIP here vs. just 4.47 and 1.37 elsewhere.  Second, he's pitched well against the Cards in the past, and the Cubs are 4-2 in Lester's last six outings vs. them.  And Lester is a very good second half pitcher winning almost 2/3 of his decisions after the break (72-37, .661) with a post-All Star ERA of 3.36 (vs. 3.57 pre-break).  He got 2017's second half off to a strong start with seven, three-hit innings in a victory over the Braves on Monday.  Take Chicago.

At 7:10 pm, our selection is on the Tampa Bay Rays over the Texas Rangers.  Don't look now, but here come the Tampa Bay Rays.  Heading into the weekend, the Rays are five games over .500 and sitting in second place in the AL East, just 3 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox.  Were it not for this unlikely position in the standings, the Rays might very well be shopping ace RH Chris Archer to contending teams before the deadline.  And Archer would likely return big value for the Rays as he is a relatively young strikeout artist with a very team-friendly contract that still has a couple of years left.  But instead Archer will now almost certainly spend the next couple of months trying to get his Rays a Division Crown - or at least a Wild Card.  He led the league in losses last season, but has improved in almost every category in 2017 and was an All Star for only the second time in his career.  Archer has a strikeout rate of almost 11 per nine innings and he's already beaten the Rangers this season, back on May 31 in Arlington.  The Rangers are 2-7 in RHP Andrew Cashner's last nine road starts.  Take the Rays.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 7:10 pm, our selection is on the Oakland A's over the New York Mets.  Sean Manaea has been solid for Oakland this season, as his ERA is 3.68, and his WHIP is 1.20.  Even better:  over his last three starts, those numbers are 2.95 and 1.17.  He'll match up against Zach Wheeler this evening at Citi Field.  Wheeler has been dismal at home, with a 2-5 record, 5.52 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.  And against the A's in his career, Wheeler's ERA is an awful 9.39, with a 1.95 WHIP.  Take the Oakland A's.