The last day in August means only one thing… Baseball season is fully heated up and every game matters big time now.
Last night we saw a great grab in the Brewers game which would have been a go ahead home run. Instead, Broxton snagged the ball and brought it back into play to end the game. A huge win as the Brewers need every win possible as they chase down the Cubs who are hot. Javy Baez had a phenomenal display of baserunning last night as he stole home. Rizzo hit his 500 career double, and Schwarber isn’t totally dead. The Cubs are getting hot at exactly the right time.
It’s a travel day but still some big series in action.
Low-Scoring Plays
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds-The Mets got bullied yesterday by the Cincinnati Reds. I don’t know why but the Mets are sending deGrom to the mound today. The Mets have had terrible luck this year and I would shut everyone down. Regardless deGrom is a monster and should have no problem keeping the Reds under control. The Mets have no one that is able to hit so we know they won’t score.
Targets: deGrom
Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees-This is a massive series, if either team sweeps the series I think they win the division. Sabathia is pitching tonight which is huge for the Yankees. He knows how to handle the pressure and will keep the Red Sox under control. Eduardo Rodriguez gets the call for the Sox who is a young arm. However he does have experience while the Yankees line up does not. The Yankees lost the double header yesterday and I think they will win this one today but not by much.
Targets: Sabathia, Gardner
High-Scoring Plays
Toronto Blue Jays @ Baltimore Orioles- The Orioles are hot, and a team I love right now. At this point you have to believe that the Orioles will make the play offs. Playing at home against a struggling Blue Jays team makes me like the Orioles that much even more. Machado is a monster, Schoop is great and can score runs. Stack as many Orioles as possible it will be worth it.
Targets: Machado, Trumbo
Philadelphia Phillies @ Miami Marlins- Giancarlo didn’t hit a home run yesterday against Strasburg which leaves me to believe he will hit one today. The Phillies are the worst team in baseball so you have to think that they will pitch to him. Their season doesn’t matter so Stanton jacking one off of them doesn’t hurt them. Orzo is another great play, and the Marlins should win this one big.
Targets: Stanton, Orzo
Extra Innings
The Dodgers are facing the Diamondbacks today who are a great team. But Kenta Maeda takes the mound for the Dodgers who has been sneaky good. With Kershaw coming back tomorrow, if the post season were to happen next week we would see Kershaw, Wood, then Maeda get the call from the Dodgers. He has a WHIP of 1.08 and it is even lower than that since, Kershaw went down. Maeda will be a great play today and I will take him, however the Diamondbacks can put up runs and they are pitching at home so this could back fire quickly.
Check out our MLB Breakdown Spreadsheet and our Pitcher Breakdown Spreadsheet (these picks – all over/unders – are now at 56.7% accuracy since June 30) where you can compare key statistics and numbers for today’s games.