Sports Handicapper Will Rogers's Picks & Predictions

The set-up: This series features a couple of competitive match-ups on the mound, and this is one of them. For a number of different reasons though, I think this one favors Miles Mikolas and the hard-hitting home side. The visitors turn to Wade Miley. The pitchers: Miley is so far 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA. It’s hard to say anything negative about Miley, I simply feel that he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time here (note that St. Louis is 7-2 in it last nine night time home games as a favorite in the -125 to -150 range.)  Mikolas is so far 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA. His peripherals suggest that his numbers are sustainable. That said he’ll be looking to get back on track here after allowing four runs over seven innings in a no-decision to the Nationals on Monday. Previous to this sub-par effort Mikolas hadn’t allowed more than three earned runs since mid June though.  The pick: There’s absolutely no reason not to think that Mikolas can’t bounce back here, as note that he’s already 5-2 with a 2.29 ERA at home this season. Miley’s been good, but I like Mikolas to out-duel his counterpart today and for the Cards to take advantage. Lay the price.

The set-up: This series features a couple of lop-sided match-ups on the mound and this is definitely one of them in my opinion. Great value here on Zack Godley and the hard hitting visiting side. The light-hitting home side sends Clayton Richard to the hill this evening. The pitchers: Godley is so far 13-6 with a 4.20 ERA. He most recently gave up two runs off six hits with one walk while striking out six over 6.2 innings in a victory over the Reds on Sunday. Godley comes in on top form with three straight victories. Richard is so far 7-10 with a 4.98 ERA. He most recently gave up two runs over eight innings in a no-decision to the Angles on Monday. Starts like that have been few and far between for Richard though and note that he’s a terrible 5-8 with a 5.12 ERA in all “night” games this year. The pick: Richard has struggled against the harder-hitting line-ups this season, so despite having the home field advantage tonight, I do absolutely feel that this one favors the big bats’ of the Diamondbacks. Lay the reasonable price on Godley and Arizona.

The set-up: This series features a couple of competitive match-ups on the mound and this is definitely one of them in my opinion. The visitors hand the ball to Dallas Keuchel, while the home side goes with Trevor Cahill.

The pitchers: Keuchel is so far 9-9 with a 3.43 ERA. He hasn’t been perfect this year, but since the start of July he’s almost resembled the dominant figure on the mound he was about two years ago. Note though that Keuchel has been at his best on the road this season with the respectable 6-4, 3.00 ERA record to this point.

Cahill is so far 4-2 with a 3.39 ERA. He most recently gave up four runs off seven hits with three strikeouts in a no-decision to the Angels on Sunday. It wasn’t a great start, but overall the veteran has been solid, posting a 1.10 WHIP over 79.2 frames of work. Note as well that Cahill is 3-0 with 0.99 ERA at home this season.

The pick: With these two studs facing off on Saturday afternoon, runs would definitely appear to be at a premium. Play the “under.”

The set-up: Seattle comes in motivated here after its 19-17 home loss to the Colts. With a tough Week 3 matchup in Minnesota next week, the Seahawks will be looking to punch one into the win column here. LA won’t be going down without a fight, it comes in equally motivated after a 24-17 setback at Arizona.

The teams: There were many positives for the Seahawks in their Week 1 setback on both sides of the ball. Whether or not starting QB Russell Wilson sees any time today, Seattle’s secondary offensive unit looked decent, but not spectacular in Week 1. The defense looked sharp though, with rookie Shaquem Griffin making nine tackles.

LA got decent production from QB’s Cardale Jones and Geno Smith in the Week 1 loss to the Cardinals. Smith was 14 of 23 for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception. With starting QB Philip Rivers expected to see little to no time this week again, LA’s offense looks poised to struggle again against the Hawks’ deep defensive unit.

The pick: With New Orleans coming to town in Week 3, I think LA gets caught looking ahead. Play on the Seahawks.

The set-up: Oakland comes in off 16-10 home win over Detroit in its opener and I think it goes through the motions today as it gets caught looking ahead to the all important Week 3 “dress rehearsal.” LA on the other hand comes in much more motivated after a humbling 33-7 road loss in Baltimore in Week 1.

The teams: Oakland’s offense didn’t look great last week, but it didn’t have to with the defense playing so well. Last year the Raiders were 23rd in the league in yards allowed and 20th in points allowed. Slowing down the Lions’ back-ups at home is one thing, but trying to contain a Rams team which led the league in scoring last year (29.9 PPG) is quite another obviously. The ground game was a positive on offense with 147 total yards.

It must be noted that starting QB Jared Goff didn’t play in the Week 1 setback for LA, so I’m reading absolutely nothing into the Rams’ inefficiency on the offensive side of the ball. Brandon Allen and Sean Mannion were decent, but not spectacular. The ground game looked decent with 121 yards. The defense looked horrible and clearly the unit will be looking for a better effort with a few more starters in the line-up this time around.

The pick: Connor Cook and EJ Manuel looked decent under center for the Raiders against Detroit, but in my opinion they look poised for a step back in this difficult venue. I’m expecting the Rams to come out much more focused on both sides of the ball in this one and their added motivation proves to the be the difference in my opinion. Lay the points.