Tuesday 5/28/19 Picks & Results:
Cardinals/Phillies over 10.5 -105 = LOSS (-1.05 units)
Diamondbacks/Rockies over 12 -105 = LOSS (-1.05 units)
Mariners Team Total Over 5.5 +110 = LOSS (-1.0 units)
Quick Fits of Rage:
…how the hell do the Cards score three runs in the first inning last night in Philly and then go o’fer in the final eight frames? (Let me answer this one: “Have you watched the Cardinals this month?!)
…why the hell can’t the Diamondbacks score at Coors?
…how the hell can the Mariners not figure out Adrian Sampson?
Wednesday 5/29/19 Picks:
901 Pittsburgh Pirates at 902 Cincinnati Reds, 11:35 a.m. CT
Anthony DeSclafani is Kiefer Struggling right now. The right-hander has surrendered three home runs in consecutive starts and has allowed four runs in each of his last four outings. A matchup with the Pirates won’t help, as DeSclafani surrendered six runs on seven hits (including two home runs) in a start versus Pittsburgh on April 7. Josh Bell and Adam Frazier each took DeSclafani (2-5 with a 4.53 ER in 10 career starts versus the Bucs) deep in that game.
Meanwhile, Steven Brault has allowed only two runs in three of his last four outings but he too has struggled with the long ball. Prior to his last two starts, Brault surrendered five home runs in 14 2/3 innings. With the way Derek Dietrich is swinging the bat (seven home runs versus the Pirates this season), Brault should struggle as well.
The over is 4-1 in DeSclafani’s last five starts against the Reds and is 5-2-1 in his last eight outings at the Great American Smallpark. The over is also 4-0-2 in Brault’s last six starts and is 3-0-1 in his last four outings on the road. Toss in 83-degree temps and wind gusts out to left field at 12 miles per hour and we’re looking at a recipe for a high-scoring affair.
The Pick: Pirates/Reds over 10.5 -110 (Risking 1.10 to win 1.0 units)
909 Arizona Diamondbacks at 910 Colorado Rockies, 7:40 p.m. CT
I’m not going to bypass a good opportunity to pounce on Rockies starter Jeff Hoffman because this piece of crap Diamondbacks team is the only one in baseball that can’t score at Coors. (For America’s sake, even the Orioles can score in Denver.)
Unfathomably, the Diamondbacks scored three runs in the first game of this series and only two runs last night. After taking Arizona’s team over on Monday and the over for the game last night, some would say I should cut my losses and move on. But that’s a loser’s mentality. I want winners (what?) and Jeff Hoffman, is not a winner (that’s harsh).
Hoffman allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings last Friday to the aforementioned Orioles. He’s 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Diamondbacks and nothing in Hoffman’s first two outings this season suggests that he won’t be tuned up tonight. While he hasn’t walked many batters thus far (4.5% BB rate), he’s also not missing many bats (20.5% strikeout rate) and his fly ball tendencies (36.4%) do not play well at Coors.
While you’ve single-handedly ruined my last two cards with your stagnant offense, I refuse to give up on you, Diamondbacks. Let’s prove the doubters (what doubters?) wrong.
The Pick: Diamondbacks Team Total Over 5.5 -125 (Risking 1.25 units to win 1.0 units)
(Check back for more picks throughout the day.)
2019 Betting Results:
MLB: 43-33-4 (+6.95 units)
NHL: 1-0 (+1.0 units)