Sports Handicapper Dan Kaiser's Picks & Predictions

Milwaukee is 8-2 in their last ten games, with one of those losses being 4-3 to Colorado last time out.  New York was just outscored 30-4 in losing three games to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freddy Peralta is 8-4 with a 2.90 ERA, and 1.13 WHIP. He is 3-0 in his last three starts, and has allowed only ten earned runs in five games and 28 innings. As a team, they are 13th in ERA and 13th in WHIP. The Mets are just 3-13 in their last 16 games and have been decimated by injuries to their pitching staff. They rank fourth in ERA but only 19th in WHIP, and they just gave up 30 runs to the Pirates in three games. Clay Holmes will start for the Mets. He is 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.  These teams have been heading in opposite directions as the Brewers have been red-hot while the Mets are ice cold. The Brewers are averaging 6.5 runs per game over the last 15 while the Mets have put up 2.9 runs per game during their last 15 games. You can’t back the Mets the way they are playing. The Mets bullpen has a 6.95 ERA over the past 10 games. I have to take the + money on the Brewers in this one.

Play on Milwaukee. This is a FREE play.

Joe Ryan takes the mound for the Twins. He is 8-3 with a 2.86 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. The Marlins have won seven in a row. Edward Cabrera gets the start for the Twins. He is 2-2, with a  3.78 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Marlins are playing really well right now and are at home.  During their winning streak, they are putting up 7.4 runs per game. Cabrera has not given up more than two runs in any of his last five starts. I am all over the + money on a red hot team.

Play on Miami. This is a 3% play.

This game features two strong starters and two rested pens. Cabrera has allowed six total earned runs over his last five starts.  Joe Ryan pitched six scoreless innings in his last outing, and is in the top 20 in the MLB in ERA. Ryan posted a 3.49 ERA in five June starts while Cabrera has posted a 2.89 ERA in four June starts. I am looking for a low scoring game.

Play on the UNDER. This is a 3% play.

The Tigers rank third in team ERA and fourth in WHIP. On the offensive end, they are seventh in on-base percentage and fifth in slugging percentage. Offensively, Washington ranks 22nd in on-base percentage and 19th in slugging percentage. Their pitching ranks 28th in team ERA and 25th in WHIP. Neither pitcher gives you a lot of confidence. Jack Flaherty is 5-9 with a 4.80 ERA while Trevor Williams is 3-9 with a 5.65 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He is 0-4 in five June starts.  The Tigers are the better team in both hitting and pitching. They have won five of their last seven games, while Washington has won five of their last 21 games. Williams has given up two or more earned runs in each of his last five games. 

Play on Detroit. This is a 3% play.

The Colorado Rockies are on pace to take the mantle of the worst team in baseball history off of last year's Chicago White Sox. The Houston Astros are just 18-20 on the road despite being one of the best teams in baseball. The Astros rank 20th in runs scored, and are in the top 10 in ERA at 3.47. Colton Gordon gets the start. He has posted a 3.98 ERA in 40.2 innings. The Colorado Rockies are a dismal 8-32 at home this season. They are last in team ERA at 5.50 and 28th in runs scored. Chase Dollander, has posted a 6.06 ERA in 62.1 innings. The Astros have won nine of their last 10 head-to-head meetings with the Rockies. The Astros have not been great on the road but Colorado is terrible no matter where they play.

Play on Houston. This is a 3% play.

The Dodgers are an impressive 30-14 at home this season . They have been even more dominant against the White Sox, winning seven of their last eight, when facing the Sox. The Sox on the other hand, have been dreadful at home, going just 9-32 on the road and they are 4-15 in their last 19 road games. The Dodgers have outscored opponents by 2.3 runs per game at home, while the White Sox have been outscored by 1.8 runs per game on the road. The White Sox rank 28th in scoring and 25th in runs allowed. The Dodgers are third in runs scored and have a decent team ERA while Yamamoto has one of the best ERA’s in the league.The line is a little steep but I will lay it with the Dodgers.

Play on LA minus 1.5 runs. This is a 3% play.