Let's keep the week rolling along with four #HomeRunLine plays today!!! As we head down the final two weeks of the season please know there is some uncertainty of who is good and who is not. Fatigue is setting on some teams, pitchers might be limited on a pitch count so they are fresh for the playoffs, and batters have hit against some pitchers previously so they know what to look for. Will we see more bad teams look to the future and try to tank for better draft picks? Will the good teams finish strong going into the post-season? Here are my thoughts on today's slate. Best of luck if you follow or fade!!!
Record: 17-13 for +3.8 units
Detroit Tigers
F5 ML (+110)
This one started out about me being frustrated that the White Sox team total over, looked like a rocking chair win all season until about two weeks ago where the team decided they would take the rest of the regular season off. Not sure why they would do that as the teams that are playing the best down the stretch do much better in the playoffs. Also, as I looked into this one I noticed the Dallas Keuchel has not done well this year during day games nor on the road. So this is not a play on the Tigers so much as it is a play against the White Sox.
Pittsburgh Pirates
F5 ML (+175)
Truthfully, when I first looked at this game I was on the Red F5 RL. Tyler Mahle has been lights out against the Pirates this season. So why would I want to back the Pirates if that is the case? It starts with Mahle being abysmal at home this season with a 6.09 ERA, 18 home runs in 13 games, and a less than 1 K to walk ratio. Mitch Keller is on the bump for the Pirates and usually, I would not even look his way. He's terrible against the Reds this season but he is just like Mahle where he is much better on the road this season. It's a very tough ask here but as we work down the final two weeks, I want to find value not just tickets to cash.
New York Mets
F5 ML (+120)
The Mets badly need a win or their chances at the Playoffs are done. They are currently six games back with only 12 to go. With Marcus Stroman on the mound, it will help them to get off to a strong start defensively. The Red Sox are fighting to hold that top AL wild card spot and they are turning to Eduardo Rodriguez. I am not sure why the Mets are not getting more love on the F5 here as Rodriguez is not very good at home. Normally I would not go against a pitcher facing a team for the first time this season but in this case, neither pitcher has faced the opposing lineup this season and Stroman is just better so I give him the edge.
Chicago Cubs
F5 ML (-115)
Both these teams mailed it in at the All-Star break. Trading away the best hitters they have but the Cubs did one thing right, they held onto their young pitchers and Alec Mills in going out there today. He has not faced the Twins this season and is respectable at home. I am no meteorologist but it appears the wind will be blowing in so small ball is how the team will win today. As the only favorite I am playing today, I am looking to the Cubbies being just slightly better than the Twins.
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