Sunday 7-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ross Benjamin

Jul 22 '18, 2:20 PM in 3h
MLB | Cardinals vs Cubs
Play on: Cardinals +134 at 5Dimes

Ross Benjamin is 15-6 (71%) L21 with his MLB totals picks. Furthermore, Ross has gone a fabulous 48-30 (62%) L78 and 70-47 (60%) L117 with all his 10* Top Play picks. Don’t miss his highest rated pick on Sunday’s card.
Cardinals (Mikolas) @ Cubs (Quintana) 2:20 PM ET
Game# 909-910
Play On: Cardinals +134
The Cardinals Miles Mikolas is a perfect 8-0 in his team starts during day games this season with a stellar 3.19 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Mikolas was outstanding in his lone start of 2018 against the Cubs while allowing 0 earned runs during 7.0 innings of work. Conversely, Jose Quintana of Chicago has pitched substantially better in 2018 during away games than at home. Quintana has compiled a lofty 5.50 ERA in 7 starts at Wrigley Field this season. Bet on the Cardinals for my Sunday 7/22 MLB free pick of the day.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Scott Rickenbach

Jul 22 '18, 4:10 PM in 5h
MLB | White Sox vs Mariners
Play on: Mariners -1½ +100 at 5Dimes

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach MLB Game #924 Sunday Free Pick Seattle Mariners Run Line -1.5 runs vs Chicago White Sox @ 4:10 ET - The Mariners got shutout 5-0 yesterday. Seattle had been 23-7 their last 30 home games before losing to the White Sox 5-0 Saturday. Payback time here for the Mariners and they have the right pitching match-up here to exact revenge. Seattle's Marco Gonzales is 3-0 with an 0.82 ERA in his last 3 starts. Also, at home this season the Mariners are 7-2 in his starts as the southpaw has compiled a stellar 2.38 ERA in Safeco Field starts this season. He'll be opposed by Chicago's Reynaldo Lopez. The White Sox are 3-8 in his road starts this season. The right-hander has allowed 8 earned runs in 12 and 1/3 innings spanning his last two starts. The White Sox have been horrible on the road this season, are 7-15 versus left-handed starters this year, and are also an awful 11-34 in day games this season! The Mariners are 31-14 against teams with a losing record this season and also a powerful 43-25 against right-handed starters on the year. 9 of the last 11 White Sox losses have come by a margin of 2 or more runs. 8 of the Mariners last 9 wins have come by a margin of 2 or more runs. This one has the makings of a home blowout and though I would never lay 2 to 1 odds on the money line, I certainly like having the M's -1.5 runs here at EVEN money in this spot! Look for the Mariners to improve to 4-0 this season when off of a shutout loss this season. Free Pick SEATTLE Run Line -1.5 runs

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Brad Diamond

Jul 22 '18, 2:15 PM in 3h
MLB | MIN vs KC
Play on: UNDER 9½ -105

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Brandon Lee

Jul 22 '18, 8:05 PM in 9h
MLB | Mets vs Yankees
Play on: Mets +170 at MyBookie

10* FREE MLB PICK (Mets +170)
I'll take my chances here with the Mets finding a way to win on the road against the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball. This is just too good a price to pass up on the Mets with deGrom on the mound. deGrom has a 1.68 ERA and 0.973 WHIP in 19 starts. He's been just as good on the road as he has at home and was great in his earlier start against the Yankees on 6/8. In that start he held the Yankees to just 2 earned run on 4 hits in 8 innings of work. While deGrom keeps the Yankees bats in check, I look for the Mets to have some success against Masahiro Tanaka, who has a 4.64 ERA in 15 starts and a 4.60 ERA in 5 home starts. Give me the Mets +170!

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Steve Janus

Jul 22 '18, 1:35 PM in 2h
MLB | Braves vs Nationals
Play on: Braves +205 at BMaker

1* Free Sharp Play on Braves +205

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Lundin

Jul 22 '18, 4:05 PM in 5h
MLB | Giants vs A's
Play on: A's -135 at pinnacle

#MLB FREE PICK FROM MIKE LUNDIN
The Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants have split the first couple of games of this three-game series. I like the price we get on the A's to claim the rubber-match Sunday afternoon.
Sean Manaea (9-6, 3.42 ERA) will toe the rubber for the A's. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, and went undefeated 4-0 in eight starts leading up to the All Star break. Giants are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
The Giants counter with Johnny Cueto (3-1, 2.36 ERA) who has struggled since returning from an elbow injury, surrendering eight runs on 16 hits and five walks covering 10 innings of work through two starts.
I think the All Star break came at a bad time for Cueto as regular starts to get back in the groove would've benefited him more. Giants are 0-4 in Cueto's last 4 starts with 10 or more days of rest.
Free pick on Oakland Athletics.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Padres at Phillies (Game 1)
Gracenote
Jul 21, 2018

The Philadelphia Phillies finished the first half of the season as the National League's best home team, and that success at Citizens Bank Park has played a critical role in allowing them to position themselves atop their division. Following Saturday's rainout, the Phillies look to keep it rolling at home on Sunday when they wrap up their three-game set with the split doubleheader against the San Diego Padres.

Philadelphia won for the seventh time in eight contests at Citizens Bank Park and improved to 31-16 at the venue following Friday's 11-5 triumph over the Padres, rallying from a four-run first-inning deficit to maintain its one-half game edge over Atlanta in the NL East. Carlos Santana did the bulk of the damage with a three-run homer during the Phillies' six-run second inning as the first four hitters in the lineup accounted for five runs and nine RBIs. San Diego fell to 1-7 during its 10-game run against each of the division leaders in the NL, dropping three of four to the Los Angeles Dodgers before getting swept by the Chicago Cubs leading into the All-Star break. Freddy Galvis tallied three hits in his first game against the team that traded him in the offseason, including a pair of run-scoring singles.

TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (5-8, 4.32 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (6-7, 4.58)

After surrendering 15 runs across seven innings in his previous two outings, Ross rebounded with the quality start in a July 12 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, yielding only two runs over 6 1/3 innings. The 2008 second-round pick had been San Diego's best starting pitcher this season prior to his rough beginning to July, posting a 3.32 ERA through his first 16 turns. Ross hasn't enjoyed much luck in five career appearances (three starts) against Philadelphia, however, going 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA.

Pivetta turned in his finest outing in nearly a month while getting the victory on July 12 at Baltimore, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven over 6 2/3 frames. The 25-year-old native of British Columbia was pounded for 10 runs and 12 hits across 4 1/3 innings over his previous two starts before defeating the Orioles. Austin Hedges (2-for-4, two homers) and Wil Myers (3-for-4, double) have fared well versus Pivetta, who went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against San Diego last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies OF Odubel Herrera went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the opener and is batting .354 with 11 RBIs in 18 career games versus San Diego.

2. Padres CF Manuel Margot left in the eighth Friday after suffering an apparent left wrist injury. His status for Sunday is unknown.

3. Philadelphia is 62-31 against San Diego since 2004 - the club's best winning percentage (.667) versus any opponent over that span.

PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Padres 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Orioles at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Jul 21, 2018

The Toronto Blue Jays will try to maintain their dominance over the hapless Baltimore Orioles when the teams wrap up a three-game series in Canada on Sunday. With a 4-1 win over the Orioles on Saturday, the Blue Jays improved to 8-1 against Baltimore in 2018, including victories in each of the last six meetings.

The last six of those have come at home, where Toronto moved over .500 (26-25) with Saturday's win. A day after hammering four home runs in an extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays, the Orioles managed only five hits - four singles - and two walks against Marcus Stroman and two relievers Saturday. They are 0-2 since trading away All-Star shortstop Manny Machado and 11-37 since May 26. Baltimore tries to avoid a sweep behind veteran Andrew Cashner, who gets the start Sunday opposite struggling southpaw J.A. Happ.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (2-9, 4.56 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (10-6, 4.29)

Cashner is 6 1/3 innings shy of 1,000 for his career as he prepares to meet the Blue Jays for the third time in 2018. He blanked Toronto over seven frames April 10 at home and then allowed three runs in six innings at the Rogers Centre on June 8. The 31-year-old was put on the disabled list with a neck issue after giving up five runs in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision July 10 against the New York Yankees.

Happ earned his first All-Star bid after opening 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA through June, but he is 0-3 with a 9.75 mark in three July starts. He has surrendered seven home runs over a span of five starts after giving up just one over his previous six outings. Mark Trumbo is 1-for-21 with eight strikeouts against the 35-year-old Happ, who has a 3.09 ERA in 17 career meetings (16 starts) with the Orioles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Trumbo is 5-for-32 over his last eight games.

2. Blue Jays SS Aledmys Diaz is 6-for-8 in the series.

3. Toronto is 146-92 against Baltimore at the Rogers Centre.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Orioles 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Red Sox at Tigers
Gracenote
Jul 22, 2018

The Detroit Tigers look to keep Boston’s major league-best offense in check for a third straight day and win their first series in nine tries when they host the Red Sox for the finale of a three-game set Sunday afternoon. The Tigers, who are 0-6-2 in their last eight series, dropped a 1-0 decision in the opener before three pitchers combined on an eight-hitter for a 5-0 victory on Saturday.

Shortstop Jose Iglesias punished his former club with a two-run homer and a two-run double in Saturday’s victory as Detroit won for just the sixth time in their last 27 games, but the Tigers can even the season series with Boston with a victory in the finale. Left-hander Blaine Hardy, who is 3-1 with a 3.71 ERA in eight starts this season, rejoins the rotation Sunday after a stint in the bullpen while All-Star Chris Sale goes after his sixth straight victory for the Red Sox. Boston was without major-league RBI leader J.D. Martinez (general soreness) on Saturday, but Rafael Devers (shoulder) went 1-for-4 in his return to the lineup after missing six games. Mookie Betts leads the majors with a .355 batting average and had a pair of hits in the loss to drop his average to .406 in July while Andrew Benintendi is 9-for-21 against the Tigers this season after recording two singles Saturday.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (10-4, 2.23 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Blaine Hardy (3-2, 3.31)

Sale has won four straight outings, pushing his career total to 101 victories, and is unbeaten in his past six while stringing together seven consecutive quality starts. The 29-year-old Floridian has given up just one run total in his last four starts and struck out at least 11 batters in five straight games - and at least 10 in six of the last seven. Victor Martinez is 22-for-52 with four homers versus Sale, who is 9-8 with a 3.05 ERA in 31 career appearances (21 starts) against Detroit.

Hardy replaces the injured Michael Fulmer (oblique) and makes his first start since June 26 when he allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits (two homers) over four innings in a no-decision versus Oakland. The 31-year-old has yielded one run on five hits across 6 2/3 innings over five relief appearances since, while striking out seven combined. Benintendi is 2-for-3 with a homer against Hardy, who gave up five runs over six innings in a loss to Boston on June 6.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston INF/OF Brock Holt (knee) reportedly could return to the lineup as early as Monday after missing Saturday’s contest.

2. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos owns at least one hit in eight of his last nine starts, going 11-for-34 during that stretch.

3. The Red Sox, who lead the majors in runs, hits, doubles, RBIs and batting average, have left 19 runners on base in the series.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Tigers 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Pirates at Reds
Gracenote
Jul 22, 2018

Corey Dickerson has enjoyed his time swinging the bat at Great American Ball Park and looks to finish off another big series there when his Pittsburgh Pirates try to extend their season-high winning streak to nine Sunday against the host Cincinnati Reds. Dickerson belted a pair of homers in Saturday’s 6-2 triumph to improve to 14-for-33 with five blasts in eight career games at the Reds’ home park.

While Dickerson has strung together three straight two-hit contests overall with four homers, Pittsburgh’s center fielder Starling Marte is riding a career-best 14-game hitting streak in which he is 22-for-59 with 14 RBIs. The Pirates will send Ivan Nova to the mound as they go for the three-game sweep and their ninth win in 13 contests against the Reds this year, while rejuvenated right-hander Matt Harvey gets the start for Cincinnati. The Reds have dropped three straight, allowing 24 runs in the process, after winning four of five and are 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series. Outfielder Jesse Winker is 21-for-42 with 10 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak for Cincinnati and has multiple hits in seven contests during July, hitting .489 this month.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (5-6, 4.38 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (5-5, 4.63)

Nova could not get through five innings with a lead last Saturday against Milwaukee to get a second win in as many starts but allowed one run on seven hits over 4 2/3 frames. The 31-year-old Dominican ended June with three straight quality starts, yielding four runs over 20 innings combined, but is 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA over three outings in July. Winker is 5-for-9 with two homers versus Nova, who is 4-7 with a 4.39 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Reds.

Harvey has turned his season around while going 4-0 over five starts, posting a 1.86 ERA in that stretch, but has yet to complete seven innings in a game this year. The 29-year-old Connecticut native, who has not served up a homer in six straight starts, limited St. Louis to one run on four hits across five innings in a 9-1 triumph on July 13. Josh Bell is 4-for-10 with a homer against Harvey, who is 2-2 with a 4.85 ERA versus the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati SS Jose Peraza is 15-for-27 with five RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak to raise his batting average to .293.

2. Bell had four hits Saturday and is 11-for-22 with three doubles and eight runs scored over his last seven contests.

3. Reds 1B Joey Votto needs one more intentional walk to pass Johnny Bench (135) for the franchise record.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Reds 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Marlins at Rays
Gracenote
Jul 22, 2018

The Miami Marlins are playing some of their best baseball of the season and will go after a fifth straight victory when they try for a three-game sweep of the host Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon. The Marlins clinched the "Citrus Series" after a 3-2 victory on Saturday, taking their fourth win in five matchups with the Rays this year and seventh in nine overall, as veteran Martin Prado registered a pair of hits and an RBI.

Miami’s Starlin Castro added a hit, scored a run and is a gaudy 11-for-22 with two walks against Tampa Bay this season as the teams prepare to break the tie in the all-time series (56-56). Trevor Richards will attempt to match a strong performance from fellow Marlins rookie Pablo Lopez, who gave up one run in six innings Saturday when he takes the mound for the finale against Rays two-time All-Star Chris Archer. Tampa Bay went 14-4 during a stretch in late June and July but has dropped five of its last six contests straddling the All-Star break. The Rays could see third baseman Matt Duffy (back) return to the lineup Sunday after missing two games, but center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (left foot) will likely not play and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique), who left Saturday’s contest, is questionable.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-5, 4.74 ERA) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (3-4, 4.29)

Richards posted the third scoreless outing of his rookie season last Saturday against Philadelphia, allowing four hits over six innings in a 2-0 triumph. The 25-year-old Illinois native earned his fourth quality start of the campaign with the last effort and owns a 3.68 ERA over three July appearances. Mallex Smith went 2-for-2 versus Richards, who gave up four runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Rays on July 3.

Archer pitched much better in his second outing last Saturday at Minnesota since spending more than a month on the disabled list, but he was pulled after his pitch count rose to 93 over 4 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old North Carolina native posted a 2.47 ERA in May and June combined before suffering an abdominal injury, but he has yet to win in six home starts this season. Castro is 8-for-20 with a homer against Archer, who is 1-1 with a 0.64 ERA in two career starts versus Miami and 6-9 in interleague matchups.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay OF Justin Williams was recalled and went 0-for-1 in his major-league debut Saturday. LHP Hoby Milner was sent to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

2. Miami RF Brian Anderson is 0-for-8 in the series after batting .350 with three homers and eight RBIs in his previous nine games.

3. Rays INF/OF Joey Wendle belted his career-high fifth homer Saturday and is 9-for-21 with seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Marlins 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Braves at Nationals
Gracenote
Jul 21, 2018

The Washington Nationals hope Saturday’s rainout provides a reset entering Sunday’s finale of a three-game home series against the Atlanta Braves, following an 8-5 loss in Friday’s first game since the All-Star break that featured subpar pitching and dugout fireworks. Stephen Strasburg struggled in his return from the disabled list, giving up six runs in 4 2/3 innings and getting a tongue-lashing from Sunday starter Max Scherzer after being pulled as the Nationals again fell below .500.

The overwhelming favorite to win their third-consecutive National League East title, the Nationals (48-49) sit 6 ½ games behind first-place Philadelphia and six games back of the Braves (53-42) despite the efforts of the youngest player in the majors. Nineteen-year-old Juan Soto belted his 10th homer of the season in the series opener and enters Sunday batting .302 with a .944 OPS in 52 games while collecting at least one hit in eight of his past 12 contests. The series also features the second-youngest player in the big leagues in Atlanta 20-year-old Ronald Acuna Jr., who responded to his first career start at leadoff with three hits, a homer, three runs scored and two stolen bases Friday. Acuna, who missed five weeks with a left knee injury, has slugged eight homers while batting .260 with a .468 slugging percentage in 44 games.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), MASN 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 2.66 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.41)

Foltynewicz earned his first All-Star berth with an excellent first half but seeks a better showing to kick off the second half after allowing five runs on six hits in each of his final two starts before the break. The 26-year-old, who ranks fourth in the NL in ERA and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.6), pitched to a 0.87 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .146 average in nine turns before his final two outings. Foltynewicz is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in three starts against the Nationals this season.

Pitching five days shy of his 34th birthday, Scherzer looks to build off his sixth All-Star appearance and get back to his dominant self. After giving up just nine runs in five June outings, the three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed 10 runs on 16 hits in 20 innings in his first three starts in July, yet still posted victories over Miami and the New York Mets entering the break. Scherzer faced the Braves twice in April, giving up five runs (two earned) in an April 4 loss before striking out 10 in a two-hit shutout five days later.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies is not expected to play Sunday after being pulled Friday for precautionary reasons due to a right hamstring injury.

2. Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez and Braves LHP Sean Newcomb, both scheduled to start Saturday’s postponed game, will instead pitch series openers Monday (Washington plays at Milwaukee; Atlanta travels to Miami).

3. The Braves have defeated Washington five times in the past six meetings and lead the season series 7-4.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Braves 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Dodgers at Brewers
Gracenote
Jul 22, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers were hardly in must-win territory two games into the second half of the season, but Saturday's victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers may be just what they needed to forget what had been a rough week and a half. One day after stopping a seven-game slide, the Brewers set their sights on a series victory Sunday when they host the Dodgers in the rubber match of their three-game set.

Milwaukee, which led or held a share of first place in the National League Central for all but one day from May 18-July 13, handed over control of the division to the Chicago Cubs last week midway through its 1-7 road trip leading into the All-Star break. The deficit reached 3 1/2 games following the Brewers' 6-4 defeat in the series opener, but they were able to get back on track with the return of Ryan Braun from the disabled list as he scored twice in Saturday's 4-2 triumph. The Dodgers did themselves no favors in the setback, however, committing three errors behind ace Clayton Kershaw - including two that led to both of Braun's runs. After reaching base four times in his Los Angeles debut Friday, Los Angeles slugger Manny Machado singled in five at-bats and grounded out in the ninth to end the game with a runner in scoring position.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Wisconsin, Dish455 (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Alex Wood (5-5, 3.92 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Brent Suter (8-6, 4.39)

Wood is riding a four-game winning streak but has not factored into the decision in his last two following a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday, permitting three runs over six innings. Since beginning the season 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA in his first 13 turns, the Georgia product is 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA during his six-game unbeaten streak. Christian Yelich (11-for-29) is the only Brewer to log more than three at-bats against Wood, who is 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA in five appearances (one start) versus Milwaukee.

Suter bounced back from a pair of poor starts but still took a hard-luck loss last Saturday at Pittsburgh despite yielding one run on two hits across five innings. The 28-year-old Harvard product enters the second half of the season sharing the team lead in victories but has surrendered a home run in four straight outings and posted a 5.63 ERA over his last three. Machado (0-for-3) is the only Dodger to face Suter as he prepares to make his first career start versus Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yelich, who homered to spark a three-run rally in the sixth inning, is batting .500 during a five-game hitting streak.

2. Dodgers OF Joc Pederson went 2-for-3 on Saturday to increase his road batting average to .315 (.198 at home).

3. Milwaukee RHP Corbin Burnes earned his first big-league win by pitching two scoreless frames Saturday in his Miller Park debut, even escaping the bases-loaded jam he inherited with no outs in the fifth.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Brewers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Twins at Royals
Gracenote
Jul 22, 2018

The Kansas City Royals didn’t sweep a single series in the first half, but they have a chance to change that Sunday. The Royals look to take three in a row from the visiting Minnesota Twins when the American League Central rivals wrap up their series Sunday.

The Royals lost 13 of their last 15 games before the All-Star break, but they’ve come out of the All-Star break strong. A third consecutive win would match the longest streak of the season for Kansas City (29-68), which owns the second-worst record in the majors. The Twins won nine of 11 going into the break to preserve their slim playoff hopes, but they struggled in clutch situations in the series opener and struck out 11 times Saturday. Minnesota has lost eight straight on the road.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (4-6, 4.54 ERA) vs. Royals RH Brad Keller (2-4, 3.13)

Odorizzi had a rough outing in his last start before the All-Star break, allowing six runs (five earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay. The 28-year-old had allowed only two runs over 17 frames across his previous three outings. Odorizzi is 2-4 with a 4.75 ERA in seven games (six starts) against the team he made his major-league debut with back in 2012.

Keller was a Rule 5 pick who was excellent in the bullpen before moving into the rotation in late May. The 22-year-old had posted three straight quality starts before getting roughed up for nine runs in 7 1/3 innings across his last two outings before the break. Keller made his first big-league start against the Twins on May 30 and allowed one run and three hits over three innings in a no-decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals C Salvador Perez is 10-for-33 during an eight-game hitting streak and has reached base in 15 straight contests.

2. Twins LF Eddie Rosario is 16-for-40 during a nine-game hitting streak and has hit safely in his last 13 games against the Royals.

3. Royals 2B Whit Merrifield, who is 3-for-5 with two homers versus Odorizzi, has reached base in 18 consecutive games.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Royals 5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Cardinals at Cubs
Gracenote
Jul 22, 2018

The Chicago Cubs let a doubleheader sweep slip away, but they still can secure a series victory when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday for the finale of their five-game series. The Cubs won 7-2 in the first game of Saturday's twinbill, but the Cardinals rallied late for a 6-3 victory in the nightcap to even the series at two wins apiece.


Chicago’s depleted bullpen missed injured closer Brandon Morrow, as the Cardinals scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings and three in the ninth to hand the Cubs just their third loss when leading after seven frames in 50 such instances this season. The Cubs hope Jose Quintana can do what no other pitcher has been able to do in the series — shut down Matt Carpenter. The Cardinals’ first baseman is 11-for-20 with three doubles, eight homers, nine runs and 12 RBIs in his last six games, and his last 12 hits have all gone for extra bases. St. Louis is 7-5 against the Cubs this season, and Carpenter is a big reason why as he has belted eight homers in the series.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, TBS, FS Midwest (St. Louis), ABC 7 (Chicago)


PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (10-3, 2.79 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (8-6, 3.96)

Mikolas will return from paternity leave looking to build on his All-Star first half. The 29-year-old gave up three runs over four innings in his last start before the break, snapping a streak of four straight quality starts. Mikolas scattered seven hits across seven scoreless frames to defeat the Cubs on May 4.

After going winless in five starts in June, Quintana has won his first two outings this month. The 29-year-old allowed two runs over six innings to beat Detroit on July 4, then tossed six scoreless frames to win at San Francisco six days later. Quintana is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in six career starts against the Cardinals, with both losses coming this season.


WALK-OFFS

1. Carpenter has homered in six straight games, the longest single-season streak in Cardinals history, to equal Mark McGwire’s franchise-record streak that bridges the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo reached base in eight of his 10 plate appearances during Saturday’s doubleheader and is 13-for-24 with five doubles and a triple over his last seven contests.

3. St. Louis 3B Yairo Munoz is 11-for-31 during his nine-game hitting streak.


PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Cubs 3