Tuesday 9-12-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Power Sports

San Diego vs. Minnesota
Pick: Minnesota -177

The next two days figure to be an excellent opportunity for the Twins to square away their home record (currently two games under .500!) as they get to welcome in the lowly Padres for a late-season Interleague set. Really, given the sub-.500 home mark, it's pretty remarkable that the Twins are in the position they are in, which is leading the chase for the AL's second Wild Card. The problem for them this year, at least at home, has been giving up too many runs. But that shouldn't be an issue here against the Padres (even w/ the DH) as they are the lowest scoring team in all of baseball.

In order to compete, the Padres need quality starting pitching, but they don't figure to get it tonight from Travis Wood, who has a 5.03 ERA his L8 starts and now must deal w/ an AL lineup. Wood has been brutal in two of his last three starts, resulting in an 8.74 ERA and 2.560 WHIP during that timespan. The Padres are a bad road team (26-44 record) as they allow 5.5 runs per game and that's facing mostly NL lineups.

Kyle Gibson has been sharp of late for Minnesota w/ a 1.83 ERA his L3 starts, all of those resulting in wins for the team. Going back, Gibson has allowed 3 ER or fewer in eight consecutive starts. This should be one of his easiest ones of the year.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ben Burns

New York at Chicago
Play: Chicago

Catching the Cubs off three straight losses, the Mets are in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The last time that the Cubs lost three straight, Quintana took the mound to snap the slide. He delivered, tossing six shutout innings. The Cubs got back on track with a 1-0 victory. Quintana was on the other side of a 1-0 game, in his lone start against the Mets. That was in 2016, before he was with the Cubs and he was up against Harvey. Now with the support of the Cubs and up against Gsellman, Quintana figures to get considerably more support. Gsellman has made seven road starts. In those games, he's got a dismal 8.75 ERA and 1.895 WHIP, averaging less than five innings per start. With the Mets, who don't hit southpaws well, just 13-40 (-27) against winning teams, I'm laying the wood with Quintana and the Cubs.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Joey Juice

The Phillies and Marlins get set to start a three-game series in Philly at Citizens Bank Park tonight. The Marlins are an awful 1-7 in their last eight, this after losing three of four in Atlanta over the weekend.

The Phillies, not much better, they have lost four of their last five.

A look inside the numbers reveals that Miami is 2-12 in their last 14 games overall, they are 1-6 in their last seven on the road, and they are 2-9 in their last 11 games vs right-handed pitchers.

In the other dugout, the Philadelphia Phillies are 5-0 in their last five games against lefties, and 4-0 in their last four at home against lefties.

While the Phillies have not been getting many W's lately, they seem to have Miami's number. but it has done just fine against Miami who has run out of steam as they were officially ousted from the NL East playoff picture when they went down to Atlanta in extra innings on Sunday.

Bottom line, the Marlins ship is sinking like the titanic. Need more numbers? They are 3-13 in their last 16 against vs the National League East, 1-5 in their last 6 when they are following a loss, and they are 1-7 in their last eight against starters with WHIPs over 1.30.

Miami has emotionally checked out of the season, making this the perfect opportunity for the Phillies to grab a home win.

1* PHILADELPHIA

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bob Balfe

Rangers -120

Both pitchers have the same first initial and their last names sound the same and truth be told neither have been any good this year. Seattle starter Marco Gonzales has given up on average about 2 hits per inning this year. That won’t win too many games. The Rangers hit left handers well and should win this one at home.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tommy Brunson

For Tuesday, play the Twins on the Run Line to dispose of the visiting Padres.

The Padres saw their 3-game winning streak halted on Sunday, while the Twins enter tonight with losses in their last pair of games at Kansas City, as Minnesota was outscored 16-5 over the final 2 games.

Minny still has a slim hold of the second wild card spot, but if they wish to keep a hold of that spot, they will need to win tonight's game.

Chances of that happening appear good, as Kyle Gibson has found another gear for Paul Molitor's club, as he enters this start on a 3-0 roll his last 4 starts, allowing just 5 earned runs in 26-plus innings.

That solid pitching should bode well against the Padres and starter Travis Wood who was just torched by the St. Louis Cardinals in his last start, and sports an over 7 ERA for his last 3 starts.

The time is right for the Twins to find themselves back on the plus side of things, and I will back them tonight on the Run Line.

4* MINNESOTA -1.5