Stephen Nover’s Free Sports Handicapping Picks

Like a bad penny, Drew Hutchinson is back in the big leagues. The Tigers had enough of Hutchinson when they designated him for assignment on May 11. Hutchinson declined the trip back to the minors to become a free agent.

No team signed Hutchinson, who has a seven-year career big league mark of a 4.96 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Desperate for starting pitching, the Tigers re-signed Hutchinson giving him his third stint with them.

Not a surprise, but Hutchinson is well below par this season going 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.499 WHIP in two starts. He gives a bad name to the term innings-eater, which is the best the Tigers can expect from him.

Hutchinson is an autofade for me. The Guardians certainly weren't pleased being swept two games by the Tigers during Monday's doubleheader. Even with that sweep, Cleveland still has won 41 of the past 60 times in Detroit.

Guardians starter Cal Quantrill is a sizable upgrade on Hutchinson with a 4-4 record, 3.72 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 14 starts. He has a 2.76 ERA in five career appearances versus the Tigers that includes two starts.

The Guardians' strength is their pitching, particularly a deep bullpen. Detroit ranks last in runs and homers. Cleveland's problem is offense. Getting to face Hutchinson should alleviate that concern, though.

(Editor's note: Stephen Nover is on another baseball hot streak going 11-3-1 on his last MLB premium plays, including 5-0 on his last five. Stephen has three MLB premium plays today in addition to this free selection.) 

I guess the Braves have to be favored at home here in a pitching matchup of Cardinals rookie Andre Pallante versus Ian Anderson.

But based on the current form of these two starters, St. Louis is the team that should be a hefty favorite.

Pallante has been brilliant with a 2.10 ERA. His road ERA is even better at 1.31.

Anderson, on the other hand, has been terrible with a 7.82 ERA in his last three starts. His home ERA this season is 6.28. The Braves are without their star closer, Kenley Jansen, too.

So you would be Thick as a Brick if you backed Ian Anderson in this spot.

Coming off a rare loss followed by a day off, the Yankees should be primed to bury the Pirates. New York has the best record in baseball. Pittsburgh is 15 games below .500. 

The Yankees go for their 15th win in their last 21 games with former Pirate Jameson Taillon on the mound. He's been outstanding this season with a 9-1 record and 3.32 ERA. That ERA shrinks to 2.70 when pitching on the road away from hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Certainly Taillon won't lack motivation against his ex-team. 

Pittsburgh starter Jose Quintana has turned into a journeyman. The Pirates are his fourth team in the last three years. 

The Yankees have scored the second-most runs in the league. The Pirates rank 28th in runs. 

Fresh off sweeping three games from the Giants in San Francisco - all in an underdog role - the White Sox returned to Chicago and lost Monday to the Twins. The White Sox's concentration could have been impacted by a tragic Fourth of July shooting that took place during an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago. The Twins also turned a key triple play.

I like the White Sox to bounce back today. Minnesota is 4-15 (21 percent) following a victory. The White Sox are 20-8 during the second game of a series.

Even with that victory, the Twins still are 3-9 during their last dozen road games against the White Sox.

The pitching matchup is Chris Archer versus Michael Kopech. Archer has pitched well with a 3.08 ERA, but he's not the strikeout pitcher he once was and he doesn't go deep into games. Kopech is a rising star with a 2.78 ERA, who has been held back by arm injuries. He's healthy now.