Bobby Conn Free Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

50* Powerhouse Play on Braves +169

When the Braves (77-52) go into New York to take on the Mets (67-60), supremacy in the NL East will be at the forefront of the conversation. While the Mets have been looking at the Wild Card race for a path to the playoffs, this series provides a chance to cut into Atlanta’s nine-game lead over New York in the division.

As winners of five straight games, both come into this evening’s game very hot. The Mets were able to sweep the Indians while the Braves took a pair of games off the Dodgers.

For Atlanta, Mike Foltynewics (4-5, 6.09 ERA) will start. The right-hander held a good Dodgers lineup to just two runs in his last outing.

Foltynewics appears to have the number of a couple of Mets hitters. In at least 12 at-bats versus the Braves starter, Todd Frazier is 1-for-13 while Joe Panik is batting .167.

The Mets will be sending out right-hander Jacob deGrom (8-7, 2.61 ERA). Josh Donaldson has been particularly good against deGrom, batting .375 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs in eight at-bats.

Other Braves hitters have dominated the season series with New York, which Atlanta leads by a tally of 8-5. Against the Mets this season, Ronald Acuna Jr. is batting .393 and Freddie Freeman is batting .327 with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on White Sox +140

After taking the win in Game 1 of a four-game series, the White Sox (58-69) improved their home record to an even 31-31. Riding the momentum of three wins in their last four contests, Chicago will try to improve that record yet again as they host the Rangers (63-66).

This hasn’t been the year Chicago wanted it to be, but the club has been good offensively as of late. Over the past seven days, the White Sox are ranked 10thin the MLB with 34 runs scored.

That White Sox lineup will try to do some damage to Rangers right-hander Lance Lynn (14-8, 3.60 ERA). Despite a good overall record, Lynn is 5-7 in 13 starts on the road. In his last three outings, Lynn is 0-2.

Against Lynn, several White Sox have a good batting history. In nine at-bats, Welington Castillo is 5-for-9 with two homers and two RBIs. In 10 at-bats, Leury Garcia has five hits. And in 13 at-bats against Lynn, Tim Anderson is batting .309 with a homer and four RBIs.

On the mound for Chicago will be Dylan Cease (2-6, 5.93 ERA), who will make his first career start against the Rangers.

1* Free Play on Red Sox -104

Coming off a pair of losses to Cincinnati, the Padres (59-67) will play host to the Red Sox (68-61) in San Diego this evening. Boston will put its 34-27 away record up against the Padres’ relatively weak 29-33 record at home.

Getting the start for the Red Sox will be left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (14-5, 4.10 ERA), who was great against the Orioles his last time out. Through 7 1/3 innings pitched, Rodriguez allowed zero earned runs. Rodriguez has 13 career starts against NL competition, in which he’s tallied a 6-2 record with a 3.61 ERA.

Manny Machado has struggled against Rodriguez throughout his career. In 33 at-bats versus the Red Sox lefty, Machado is batting .182 with no home runs.

Chris Paddack (7-6, 3.44 ERA) will take the mound for San Diego. The right-hander leads the majors with a 70.1% strike rate, but that hasn’t translated into dominant pitching. A week ago, Paddack allowed nine hits and five total runs in 4 2/3 innings against Philly.

While San Diego has just two wins out of their last nine home games against teams with a winning record, the Red Sox have been dominant with Rodriguez on the mound. When Rodriguez starts in interleague play, Boston is a perfect 11-0 in his last 11.

50* Powerhouse Play on Yankees +139

In a potential World Series preview, the Yankees (83-46) will go into Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (85-44) in tonight’s game with New York filling the rare role of underdog.

Although the Dodgers have Cody Bellinger and his 42 home runs in the lineup, the Yankees are the better offensive baseball team. With 756 runs scored, the Yankees lead the majors. The Dodgers trail behind with 714 runs scored on the season.

While both teams have great power, the Yankees have the slight edge with 232 home runs (2nd) to L.A.’s 225 home runs (3rd).

Tonight’s pitching matchup will feature Yankees left-hander James Paxton (9-6, 4.53 ERA) against Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-3, 1.64 ERA).

Paxton has been on a roll this month. In his four outings in August, the Yankees lefty is a perfect 4-0. Paxton will be looking to continue his streak of a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his six seasons in the majors.

In his third multi-homer game of the year, Ryu looked vulnerable in his last start. The Braves were able to take Ryu deep in back-to-back fashion in the sixth inning.