Today we take a look at a game with huge implications in the National League Wild Card Race, as the Brewers and Pirates meet. We also have a strong play in the AL East matchup between the Blue Jays and Yankee. See which way we lean with today’s MLB picks.
Toronto at New York
The Blue Jays go into the Bronx to try and spoil the Yankees
post seasons dreams tonight. They will send a struggling Ricky Romero to the
hill, and he has been getting absolutely rocked lately. The Yanks will send a 40
year old Andy Pettite to the mound tonight, as they try to hold on to their
post season positioning. MLB odds makers have opened up Pettite and the Yankees
a huge -230 favorite with the OVER/UNDER set at 9.
Andy Pettite does not deserve to be a -230 favorite
First of all, what are these odds makers even thinking? Are
they absolutely insane? This guy is 40 years old, coming off the disabled list
and has not made a start since June! Now they just expect him to come in and
perform at his top level? I think not! First off, the 40 year old will be on a
70 pitch count, and who knows how he will come out, if he struggles he may
reach that pitch count by the 4th inning and the rest will be up the
bullpen. This line is just insane in my opinion, and this goes without even
mentioning that Pettite already has a lifetime ERA of 4.16 against the Jays in
his career.
Ricky Romero
What a story this guy has been. Romero started the year
strong as can be at 8-1, than continued to lose 13 of his last 14 starts. The
guy takes the mound with absolutely no confidence and it’s almost as if he has
no problem getting torched each start out. In his most recent start he only lasted
4 innings against a lowly Seattle offense, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and 4
walks. Romero’s ERA on the year is 5.87 and it is on the rise with each and
every start. New York has already beaten Romero twice this year, and lifetime
he is 3-7 against them with a 5.00 ERA. It is safe to say the Yanks have his
number.
Where we place our money
Look, when you have a 40 year old pitcher who has not been
reliable these past two seasons and has not pitched since June, it’s very
possible that he is going to have big time issues. It is going to be crisp and
a bit on the cold side in the Bronx tonight, so it is going to be tough for
Andy to get loose. With him being on a pitch count of 70 or less, we could see
the bullpen by the 5th inning, which could result in even more runs.
Meanwhile we don't feel the need to go into anymore depth about how bad Romero
is and how the Yankees have completely owned him. This game has slug fest
written all over it.
Over is 6-2 in Torontos last 8 road games.
Over is 7-2 in Yankees last 9 following a win.
Free MLB Pick: Toronto Yankees OVER 9 is our first MLB pick of the Day.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh
Both of these teams come into this series with a record of
74-72, and just 2.5 games out of the Wild Card spot. It’s safe to say the loser
of this series is going to have to dig themselves out of a huge hole. The good
news is that both teams look to start their aces in game Game1, as Yovani
Gallardo and AJ Burnett take to the mound.
Brew Crew
The Brewers can do no wrong right now. They are finding ways
to pull Houdini acts, as they are looking to be one of the hottest teams
heading down the stretch. Milwaukee has won 20 of 26, 7 of their last 10 ten
and are 8-4 against the Pirates this year. Their starting pitcher tonight,
Gallardo, is just about as hot as the team is. Since the All Star break
Gallardo has been on a tear racking up an 8-2 record, pitching absolutely
lights out. He owns the Pirates with 14 career starts against them going 8-2
with a 2.80 ERA.
Pirates
The Pirates are on a bit of a cold streak at the moment, and
they have dropped 8 of their last 10. Having once been in the lead of the
division, they now find themselves battling for a Wild Card spot if they hope
to make the playoffs at all. This is a very young team and its going to be next
to impossible for them to rebound from this slump.
Burnett has pitched well with a 3.50 ERA in his last three
starts, but he has come out 0-3 in that span. We all know how big of a head
case AJ can be, and this has got to be playing on him mentally. He is too mentally
weak to overcome these poor results and put a stop to his team’s losing skid.
The MLB betting lines list the Brewers a -118 road favorite
here and deservedly so. These two teams are going in complete opposite
directions right now, and tonight’s game will prove this to be the case.
Pittsburgh in a free fall and the Brewers on a complete tear. We will back the
team will all the confidence, who feel like they just cannot be beat at the
moment.
Free MLB Pick: The Brewers -118 is our final MLB Pick of the Day.