Rays vs Orioles Run Line
Since losing 14 straight games, the Orioles haven’t been terrible winning five of their last eight. That said, the Rays beat them yesterday by a score of 4-2. With a record of 40-24, Tampa Bay has the most wins in baseball. The O’s have the second-fewest wins in baseball with 22. This afternoon, Rich Hill (5-2, 3.05 ERA) will face off against Jorge Lopez (2-6, 5.30 ERA). This game is a clear example of a good team/good pitcher matched up against a bad team/bad pitcher.
In one start against the Orioles this season, Hill went six innings while allowing one run in a 10-1 win. Lopez has yet to pitch against Tampa Bay this year. In my opinion, this game should be an easy win for the Rays. Hill will coast and the Rays will pile up runs.
Pick: Rays -1.5 (+102, DK)
Pirates O/U 2.5 Runs
The Pirates do not have a lot going for them in tonight’s matchup against the Brewers. One, as a team, they have the second-worst wRC+ in the sport this season (81). Two, they have to face Corbin Burnes (3-4, 1.97 ERA). In his last start, Burnes mowed down another bad team in the Diamondbacks. He went seven scoreless while striking out a baker’s dozen 13. Against the Pirates tonight, a similar type line is more than possible.
That said, 2.5 runs as a total for one team is ridiculously low. The Pirates offense has been putrid this year, yes. That said, since the return of Ke’Bryan Hayes, they have averaged four runs per game in eight games. Playing in Milwaukee, I believe that they will be able to scratch across three runs today, even against Burnes.
Pick: Pirates over 2.5 runs (-115, DK)
Dodgers vs Rangers Alternate Run Line
Similar to the pick above, this pick here is based on a good team theoretically beating up on a bad team with the Dodgers and Trevor Bauer (6-4, 2.40 ERA) facing the Rangers and Kolby Allard (1-2, 3.41 ERA). Although not particularly sharp in his last start against Atlanta (six innings, three earned runs allowed), Bauer was nearly untouchable in May putting up a 1.98 ERA. Tonight, he gets to face the fourth-worst offense in baseball according to wRC+ (86).
After spending most of the season as a reliever for the Rangers, Allard will get his third start this season tonight. His first two starts were not awful as he went four and five innings respectively, allowing two earned runs in each. Unfortunately for him, the Rangers did score a single run in either of those starts. Personally for myself, I’d like to see that trend continue for the sake of my pick. Even if that is not the case, I still believe that Bauer and the Dodgers will win this game handily.
Pick: Dodgers -2.5 (+120, DK)
Nathan Hursh Overall Record: (20-36-1)
Net Money (assuming all wagers are $100): –$1,633.15
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)