White Sox @ Athletics Moneyline
Two teams with playoff aspirations, the White Sox and Athletics have split the first two games of this pivotal late-season series. If you have read any of my previous articles, you know how much I focus on the White Sox ability to pound left-handed pitching. The team has the 2nd-highest wRC+ in baseball against LHP and they have been missing several big RH bats for most of the year. Now with the likes of Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez back in the fold, Sean Manaea could be in for a tough outing on Thursday afternoon. In Chicago’s 6-3 win over Oakland on Tuesday, the team was able to tag LHP AJ Puk for 5 hits and 3 ER in just 0.1 IP and more of the same should be expected for today’s matchup. Reynaldo Lopez hasn’t been tremendously effective in his last two starts, but he was able to shut the A’s out for five innings on August 17th, allowing just 1 hit in the process. At +130 on DraftKings, I really like the value here for a White Sox victory.
Pick: White Sox ML (+130 DK, +124 FD)
Twins @ Indians Total Runs O/U 9
Over the first three games of this series between Minnesota and Cleveland, the teams have scored just 13 runs. That’s total, between both teams. In 3 whole games. That’s not good. With Randy Dobnak and Cal Quantrill on the mound, you might think that they will turn that trend around. You would be wrong. Quantrill has been a surprising bright spot for Cleveland over the 2nd half and he was extremely effective in the month of August, pitching to a 1.42 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 38 innings. While Dobnak certainly doesn’t strike fear into opposing batters with his stuff, he does do an effective job of limiting hard contact. He struggled over 7 innings in his first start back from the IL, but Dobnak did throw 6 shutout innings back in May on the road against this Cleveland squad. Ultimately, 9 runs are just too high a number for two teams that have averaged just a little over 4 runs per game in this series.
Pick: UNDER 9 (-105 DK, -115 FD)
Rockies @ Phillies Pitcher to Record a Win
If you had Ranger Suarez being a difference-maker in fantasy playoffs at the beginning of this year, you are some kind of wizard and should start playing the lottery immediately. The young lefty has been carrying the Phillies’ late-season run at a playoff spot and has allowed just 2 ER in his last three starts, spanning 17 innings. Over the last two weeks, the Rockies have struggled big time to put up runs, with the 2nd-worst wRC+ in that stretch at 71. Meanwhile, the Phillies have the 6th-highest wRC+ over the last two weeks at 117 and Bryce Harper is making an interesting late-season case for NL MVP. I like the Phillies to get out to an early lead and hold on for Suarez who should pitch well enough to secure a win if he can get through the necessary five innings. At +175, I love the payout here for the Phillies and Suarez to take down a Rockies team with one foot already into the offseason.
Pick: Ranger Suarez to Record a Win (+175 DK)
Kyle Stanzel Overall Record: 46-55-3
Net Money (Assuming all wagers are $100): $74.14
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)