Dan Kaiser: Best Bets Daily & Top Free Picks from Expert Sports Handicapper

The New York Mets are 77-73 this season. New York has lost eight of their last nine games and they are second in the NL East standings. They have a team ERA of 4.01 and a 1.34 WHIP. Clay Holmes gets the start for the Mets. He is 11-8 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 151.0 innings pitched. The San Diego Padres are 82-68 this season. San Diego has split their last six games and they are second in the NL West standings. They have a team ERA of 3.64 with a 1.20 WHIP. Michael King gets the start for the Padres. He is 4-2 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 62.2 innings pitched this season. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. San Diego is 35-40 on the road this year, while New York is 46-29 at home. The Mets have been struggling down the stretch. Holmes has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five outings. King has allowed two earned runs in four of his last five starts, but he has only pitched twice since May due to injury. How many innings will you get from King in the question.

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The Tampa Bay Rays are 73-77 this season and dropped game one 2-1 on Monday night. Tampa Bay has lost five of their last six games and they are fourth in the AL East standings. They have a team ERA of 3.88 with a 1.21 WHIP. Tampa Bay will send Ryan Pepiot to the mound. He is 11-10 with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 163.0 innings pitched. The Toronto Blue Jays are 88-62 this season. Jose Berrios gets the start for the Jays. He is 9-5 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 160.0 innings pitched. The Jays are 38-37 on the road this year, while the Rays are 38-37 at home. Pepiot has allowed zero earned runs in three straight outings. The Blue Jays are going with Berrios, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Take the under in this matchup. Game one ended 2-1 and I see another lower scoring game in this one.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are 65-86 this season and lost game one of the series to the Cubs 4-0. Pittsburgh has lost nine of its last ten games, and it is last in the NL Central. Pittsburgh has a team ERA of 3.87 and a 1.22 WHIP. Paul Skenes will go for the Pirates. He is 10-9 with a 1.92 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 178.0 innings. The Chicago Cubs are 86-64 this season with a magic number of 2 to make the playoffs. Chicago has won five of their last six games. Chicago has a team ERA of 3.83 and a 1.19 WHIP. Cade Horton gets the start for the Cubs. He is 10-4 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 110.0 innings. The Cubs are just five games back in the NL Central. The Cubs are 40-35 on the road this year, while the Pirates are 42-34 at home. Skenes has allowed a total of one earned run in his last four outings. Horton has allowed a total of four earned runs in his last five starts. You have two of the better young pitchers on the mound today. Skenes is the better pitcher, but the Pirates are last in MLB in runs scored and can’t seem to score when Skenes is on the mound. I will take the Cubs to win this one late in what will be a pitcher's duel.

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