Sports Handicapper Dan Kaiser's Picks & Predictions

Kyle Hendricks has pitched better has of late but if he does struggle, the Cubs will not hesitate to go to their pen, which has been effective as of late. The Cubs have been struggling at the plate and Singer has pitched well. The Cubs have gone under in their last 6 six games overall. Just two of their last 12 games have seen more than nine runs on the scoreboard. The Royals have gone under in seven of their last nine. 

Play on the UNDER, This is a 5% play.

The Chicago Cubs take on the Kansas City Royals in the interleague showdown. The Chicago Cubs have dropped their last two series. The Cubs have gone 3-6 over their last nine games overall putting up a total of 24 runs. Kyle Hendricks makes the start for the Cubs. He is 2-8 with a 6.69 ERA, and a 1.49 WHIP. The Royals have won eight of their last 12 games overall but have lost 2 in a row. They have scored 69 runs in those 12 games. Brady Singer will make the start for the Royals. He will take the mound for the Royals. He is 6-6 with a 3.00 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP. He has allowed 8 runs over his last six starts. Over the past five games KC’s bullpen has posted a 4.11 ERA while the Cubs bullpen has a 0.81 ERA. The Cubs have been really struggling at the plate since the break and I will take the Royals in this spot.

Play on KC. This is a 3% play.

The Seattle Mariners head to the Windy City to take on the Chicago White Sox in a three game series. The Mariners were swept by the Angels in three games. The Mariners have lost eight of the last nine. Chicago has lost 10 straight. Chicago is 50 games under 500. Seattle has really struggled at the plate. George Kirby takes the mound for the Mariners, He is 7-7 with a 3.20  ERA. Chicago is next to last or last in four major hitting categories. Drew Thorpe will make the start for the Sox. He is 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA. Chicago has lost their last 10 games and  five of the last six played at home. Seattle has won three of the four head-to-head games this season with Chicago. Seattle is first in four major pitching categories and Chicago is next to last or last in four major pitching categories.The total has finished under in three of the four games played head to head between these two this season. Seattle is 28th in runs scored and has baseball's best in ERA, while Chicago is last in runs scored and next to last in ERA. Seattle has not been producing at the plate, and will not score enough to push this game over he total. The total has been under in six of Seattle's last seven games and in five of Chicago's last six games.

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

The Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers open a three game series. The last time these teams met the Marlins took two of three. The Marlins are 29th in runs per game at 3.57. Trevor Rogers will take the mound for the Marlins. Rogers is 1-9 this season with a 4.59 ERA, and a 1.550 WHIP.  Rogers hasn't been charged with more than two runs in any of his July starts. The Brewers are 8th in scoring at 4.77 runs per game but have lost Christian Yelich to a back injury. Freddy Peralta gets the start for the Brewers. He is 6-5 this season with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.165 WHIP. He has allowed more than three runs in just one of his last six starts. The Marlins are not a good road team. Overall, Miami is the worst offensive team in the National League. The Brewers have the third-lowest bullpen ERA. The Brewers got to Rogers last time out and I expect that to happen again.

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