Sean Murphy Handicapper Review & Free Sports Picks

My selection is on Toronto -0.5 runs first five innings over Cleveland at 3:05 pm et on Monday.

The Jays are coming off a three-game sweep of the Royals as they made their triumphant return to Rogers Center in Toronto. Now I look for them to get off to a fine start against the Indians on Monday as well.

Cleveland limps into this series off another series loss at the hands of the White Sox. Here, they'll hand the ball to Eli Morgan who gets another turn in the rotation despite his struggles. The Jays actually faced Morgan in his first big league start earlier this season, scoring six earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings. Morgan hasn't been a whole lot better since, failing to work beyond the fifth inning in any of his last six starts, allowing at least three earned runs in each of those contests. He's allowed seven home runs in his last four starts alone.

Toronto will counter with Robbie Ray. He's quietly anchored the Jays rotation this season, posting a 3.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 20 starts. Better still, he owns a 2.45 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in six daytime outings. He'll have the benefit of facing the Indians for the first time in his career on Monday.

By playing the first five innings only we should avoid the bullpens in this one. That's notable as I give the Indians a slight edge in that department. Take Toronto -0.5 runs first five innings (5*).

Monday MLB Free play. My selection is on San Francisco over Arizona at 9:40 pm et on Monday.

The Giants are rolling again, coming off consecutive series wins over the Dodgers and Astros and I look for them to keep it going on Monday as they open a series against the D'Backs in Arizona.

Anthony DeSclafani will take the ball for San Francisco. He's been terrific on the road this season, averaging over six innings per start while posting a 2.50 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with the Giants winning eight of his 13 outings. He's coming off one of his worst starts of the season but that came in a tough situation as he faced the Dodgers for the second time in six days. I'm confident he can bounce back against a D'Backs club that has seen him twice this season and managed just three earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.

Behind DeSclafani is a Giants bullpen that has been at its best against division opponents, recording a collective 3.08 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 15 saves converted and only six blown.

Taylor Widener will counter for Arizona. We successfully faded him in his most recent start - a 5-4 loss in Texas last week. Now that teams have a bigger book on Widener (he's now made eight big league starts) they've found success, as he's allowed 15 earned runs in his last five starts, covering a span of 19 2/3 innings. In two home starts this season, Widener has posted a 7.45 ERA and and 1.66 WHIP.

The D'Backs bullpen entered yesterday's action sporting an ugly 6.90 ERA and 1.74 WHIP with only five saves converted and 12 blown against division opponents this season. Take San Francisco.

Sean is coming off a PERFECT MLB Sunday, nailing his Interleague Game of the Month (STL won 7-3)! Murph has BIG PLANS for Monday as he goes for the SWEEP on the diamond! Your best bet is a weekly or monthly subscription package, giving you access to ALL of Murph's winners every day!

My selection is on the first five innings 'over' between Baltimore and New  York at 7:05 pm et on Monday.

Both of these teams are coming off low-scoring weekend series' but I expect a different story to unfold on Monday night in the Bronx.

Baltimore will give the start to Jorge Lopez. He'll be facing the Yankees for the fifth time since the start of last season and he's had very minimal success against them. New York has scored 10 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings against Lopez this season. He's topped out at four strikeouts over his last six starts, failing to last five innings in any of those outings.

Andrew Heaney will get his first start since coming over to the Yankees prior to the trade deadline. This might be a tougher matchup than it appears as the Orioles enter this game hitting better against left-handed pitching and also overall in their last seven games. Heaney struggled at the best of times at home as a member of the Angels this season, posting a 5.57 ERA and 1.39 WHIP and now faces the pressure of pitching in the Bronx. Here, he'll be starting on just four days' rest for the first time this season.

By playing the first five innings only we'll look to avoid factoring in a solid Yankees bullpen that has by no means been lately and owns a collective 3.55 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 12 converted saves and only three blown against division opponents this season. Take the first five innings over (7*).

A.L. First Five Innings Total of the Month. My selection is on the first five innings 'over' between Seattle and Tampa Bay at 7:10 pm et on Monday.

I'm anticipating a high-scoring start on Monday's showdown between the Mariners and Rays in St. Petersburg.

Chris Flexen gets the start for Seattle. The wheels have come off for him over his last couple of starts as he's been tagged for nine earned runs on 15 hits over just 9 1/3 innings of work. Note that he's recorded a grand total of only six strikeouts over his last three outings. He owns a 5.92 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in seven road starts this season with the 'over' cashing in all seven of those contests. To make matters worse he faces a Rays club that he has faced once before, back in 2018, when he gave up five earned runs and exited after just three innings.

Michael Wacha will counter for Tampa Bay. He's been terrific at home this season but I don't have a great deal of confidence in him as he pitches on just four days' rest here, and faces a Mariners club that has certainly had his number, facing him twice since 2019, including once already this season, scoring nine earned runs on 17 hits while drawing three walks and striking out only twice in just seven innings. It's worth noting that Wacha has allowed 11 earned runs on 22 hits in just 14 1/3 innings when pitching on four days' rest this season.

By playing the first five innings only we'll look to avoid (for the most part) a Rays bullpen that has posted a collective 2.56 ERA and 1.01 WHIP at home this season. Take the first five innings over (10*).

My selection is on Tampa Bay over Seattle at 7:10 pm et on Monday.

This one sets up well for the Rays as they look to keep rolling on their current homestand.

The Mariners will hand the ball to Chris Flexen on Monday. He's been a completely different pitcher on the road this season where he has posted a 5.92 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Given that he averages just 5.4 innings per start on the road this season we should see plenty from the Mariners bullpen, which has recorded a collective 4.86 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 14 saves converted and 11 blown on the road this season (entering yesterday's action).

While I don't love the setup for Rays starter Michael Wacha in this one, i do expect him to have a short leash as usual and behind him is a tremendous Rays bullpen that entered last night's action sporting a collective 2.56 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 11 saves converted and only three blown at home this season. On a positive note for Wacha, he has been terrific at Tropicana Field this season, posting a 1.93 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with the Rays having won five of his six starts. Take Tampa Bay (5*).