By: Al Walsh – Follow him on Twitter @14AdotWalsh
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* 2019 MLB Record: 87-69-4 (55.8%) *
[7:05 p.m. EST] Boston Red Sox (ML: -150) at New York Yankees
BOS: Chris Sale – L (1-6, 4.19 ERA/1.06 WHIP)
NYY: J.A. Happ – L (4-3, 5.09 ERA/1.23 WHIP)
Chris Sale has been ridiculous over his last seven starts, striking out 74 hitters in 44 1/3 innings. This matchup has frequently gone well for the lanky lefty in the past, as Sale owns a 33.2% K-rate against the Yankees’ current roster.
While the Bronx Bombers have played well so far this season, they’ve been doing it against subpar competition. Not only that, but the Yankees have really struggled against left-handed pitching, with a .272 wOBA, .143 ISO and 33.8% K-rate over the last 14 days.
The Red Sox have been the polar opposite against lefties, tearing them up for a .368 wOBA and .223 ISO over the last 14 days. Most of J.A. Happ’s struggles have come at Yankee Stadium this season, as he’s 2-3 with a 5.93 ERA and nine homers allowed in 30 1/3 innings. The month of May hasn’t been kind to Happ either, as the lefty has a massive 5.61 ERA.
Look for Steve Pearce to have a big night against Happ because this is a matchup he’s dominated in the past. Pearce is 11-for-35 against Happ with a whopping six homers over his career. It’s also a good sign that three different Red Sox (J.D. Martinez: +210, Rafael Devers: +260, Michael Chavis: +270) have favorable odds on their home run prop tonight.
* Final Score Prediction: Boston Red Sox: 6 – New York Yankees: 3 *
[8:10 p.m. EST] Over 10 (-110) – Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox
CLE: Trevor Bauer – R (4-4, 3.99 ERA/1.16 WHIP)
CHW: Dylan Covey – R (0-4, 5.47 ERA/1.41 WHIP)
Trevor Bauer has been surprisingly bad more than a few times this season. In fact, he has now allowed at least four runs in five of his last six starts. This includes his last outing against the White Sox, where Bauer allowed 10 hits, eight runs (seven earned) and two homers over five innings back on May 6.
Dylan Covey hasn’t been much better, but we expect that from him. The righty has allowed five homers 13 walks over the last 20 1/3 innings – control issues and getting ripped, yikes!
If you couldn’t tell by now, over 10 runs is the play here. We’ve got 11 mph winds blowing out to left field and the two teams saw their IRTs jump significantly – Indians: +0.7, White Sox: +0.4.
One last nugget that should bode well, is that each of the last five Indians’ games has gone over the total.
* Final Score Prediction: Cleveland Indians: 7 – Chicago White Sox: 6 *
[8:40 p.m. EST] Over 11.5 (-106) – Toronto Blue Jays at Colorado Rockies (1.5-run line: -156)
TOR: Edwin Jackson – R (0-2, 9.00 ERA/1.64 WHIP)
COL: German Marquez – R (5-2, 3.56 ERA/1.12 WHIP)
Edwin Jackson just doesn’t have the goods to compete with this Rockies’ squad with the friendly hitting conditions at Coors Field — the wind will be blowing out to right-center field at 11 mph. Vegas knows this as well, and that’s why Colorado’s 7.6 IRT is a full 1.8 better than the second-highest mark on the slate. Jackson has allowed a total of 13 runs (12 earned) over his last nine innings of work and things don’t appear to be getting any better tonight. The Blue Jays have lost his last two starts by a combined score of 31-6.
That is a good enough reason to take the Rockies on the 1.5-run line alone. However, the total going over 11.5 runs is quite appealing here as well. The Rockies should do a fine job putting up runs on their own, but their starter German Marquez has struggled more in Colorado this season. These splits are absolutely staggering, as he’s allowed 49 hits and a .327 opposing batting average in 35 innings at home – compared to 25 hits and a .167 opposing batting average in 43 1/3 innings on the road.
We’re going to see plenty of guys on base tonight, and the Rockies will come up bigger in the clutch.
* Final Score Prediction: Colorado Rockies: 12 – Toronto Blue Jays: 6 *