Will Rogers Handicapping Review & Free Picks Page

RH Soroka started for the first time in three years, lasting 6 innings and allowing four runs.  That game was against the A's.  Today he will face  RH Gallen and the D-backs.  Gallen wasn't as overpowering in May (3.34 ERA) as he was in April, but he has been absolutely overpowering at home, posting an 0.64 ERA while going 6-0 in six starts.  Arizona is 6-1, hitting well lately and are 7th in OPS vs right-handers this season.  The Braves are in a bit of a slump at 3-5.  They managed just 8 runs total in the Oakland series, and have seen 4 straight Unders.  Both bullpens are effective at the moment.  As promising as Soroka once was, the jury is still out on his early effectiveness.  The Jury is in on Gallen. Gallen is a very fine starter, especially at home.  Take Arizona to win game three of the series today.

After a hot Friday night I’m carrying right on.  Probable pitcher for the Cubs Stroman has been on fire lately.  He has averaged almost 8 innings and only 1 earned run against over each of his last 3 starts.  Against a weak batting Padres team (29th avg and 23rd OPS in the majors) his dominant streak should continue. 

Young Weathers is a recent callup for the Padres who has had decent starts as of late.  If he gets in trouble his bullpen has an ERA of 2.98 in their last 10 so this should keep the score down against a Cubs team that has been struggling at the plate lately.  In their last 10 they have the 29th ranked OPS and 28th ranked avg. so they shouldn’t be a threat to run up the total.

If that doesn’t convince you, the Cubs are under in their last 4 and the Padres are under in 2 of their last 3.  Make some money thunder with the under on this one.

The Rangers are hard to beat at home, and have taken two straight from the Mariners.  Make it three on Sunday, although it might not be as easy a win as Saturday's thumping.  Mariners' wunderkind rookie Miller off to a very impressive career start, spiraled back down to earth courtesy of the Yankees, who tore him up with a pair of homers and eight runs over four plus innings.  We will see how the Kid responds against an even better-hitting team.  The Rangers are the top offense lately, hitting .304/.855 OPS over the last 15 games.  Texas will run out May's AL Pitcher of the Month in  right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.  He was 4-0 for the month with an 0.96 ERA and 31 strikeouts.  Very good lenth in his starts, including a complete game in his second last appearance.

The Mariners have won just one of four games, allowing a pair of tens and a sixteen run game, highly irregular for a team that prides itself on pitching.  Seattle is 27th in offense over the last week, and 26th against right-handers this season. Irregardless of how Miller pitches, I am on Eovaldi and the Rangers' offense on Sunday.  Take Texas to win.