Bobby Conn Free Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

1* Free Play on Pirates +161

The Pirates (44-49) haven’t had much to be happy about since the All-Star break, dropping all four games. However, they can be excited for another start from rookie Dario Agrazal (2-0, 2.81 ERA), who will make his fourth start in the majors.

Agrazal lasted a total of 16 innings in his first three appearances, including a six-inning start in which he gave up just two runs in a victory over the Brewers his last time out.

The young right-hander will be going up against Jack Flaherty (4-6, 4.64 ERA) when Pittsburgh visits the Cardinals (47-45) in St. Louis this evening.

The Pirates’ bats have had some success against Flaherty. Josh Bell is hitting .333 in nine at-bats while Adam Frazier holds a .375 average in eight at-bats against the Cardinals right-hander.

A relatively underwhelming St. Louis lineup will be without their best hitter on the season in Marcell Ozuna, who has 62 RBIs and 20 homers on the season, and could be missing third baseman Matt Carpenter, who fouled a ball off his foot in last night’s game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Braves +148

When the Brewers (48-47) host Atlanta tonight, they’ll have to overcome a very hot Braves (58-37) squad that’s won five straight and eight of its last nine games.

Add their impressive streak to a fantastic 30-18 record on the road, and Milwaukie All-Star Brandon Woodruff (10-3, 3.67 ERA) will have a lot on his plate when he takes the mound.

Keep a close eye on the matchup between Woodruff and Freddie Freeman. Homering on both of his hits since the break, Freeman has a home run and two hits on just three at-bats against the Brewers’ right-hander. Freeman has been good this year with 74 RBIs, 25 homers, and a .302 average, and will look for continued success against Woodruff.

For Atlanta, rookie Bryce Wilson (1-0, 6.14 ERA) will make his fifth start in the majors after a series of call ups of returns to Triple-A ball to keep him on schedule. On July 3, Wilson looked solid when he threw six innings and gave up two runs with five strikeouts against the Phillies.

In sharp contrast to the Braves’ good form, the Brewers have just one win in their previous six games, and are 0-7 in their last seven games against right-handed starters.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Royals +120

Despite a weak away record of 17-28, the White Sox (42-48) will be the favorites tonight when they visit the Royals (33-62), and they’ll be counting on the inexperienced Dylan Cease (1-0, 5.40 ERA) to shut down Kansas City and get their first win since the break.

This will be Cease’s second career start in the majors after giving up five hits and three runs in five innings in his major league debut.

Although the Royals have struggled this season, their lineup must be salivating to face the right-handed rookie. Over the last seven days, Kansas City has five players batting .300 or higher, including a .417 average from Jorge Soler, who leads the team with 25 home runs and 64 RBIs.

Hoping to build on the back end of his previous six-inning start for the Royals, righty Glenn Sparkman (2-5, 5.18 ERA) will make his second start against Chicago this year. In his last outing, Sparkman settled in after giving up four runs in the first two innings, closing out his appearance with four straight scoreless innings.

Sparkman and the Royals will be counting on Nicky Lopez, who’s registered six hits in 15 at-bats since the All-Star break, and Whit Merrifield, who’s riding a 13-game hitting streak, to keep up their form.

50* Powerhouse Play on Marlins +113

If the Marlins (34-57) can shut down one-man wrecking crew Manny Machado, they’ll give themselves a great chance to win this evening’s contest against the visiting Padres (45-48).

Machado hit three homers in three games against Atlanta coming off the All-Star break, but will be up against rookie Jordan Yamamoto (3-0, 1.24), who’s undefeated in his five games in the majors. In his last outing, Yamamoto gave up just two hits in six scoreless innings against the Braves.

Opposite Yamamoto will be rookie left-hander Logan Allen (2-1, 4.50 ERA). Allen didn’t even last five full innings when he gave up six runs on seven hits against the Giants in his last start.

Allen will look to jumpstart a sleepwalking club that’s gone winless in its three games since the break, but he’s struggled to match his strikeout performances for the majority of his minor league career, in which he averaged more than a strikeout per inning. In the majors, Allen is registering just 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings thus far.

Although the Marlins are dead last in the majors in homers hit this season, Miami’s Garrett Cooper has notched two dingers in his last 11 at-bats alongside a .364 average. He’ll look to pair with Starlin Castro, who holds a .385 average in his last three games, to give Yamamoto run support tonight.