Sportsline

Chase Burns has 72 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings this season...

The Marlins are a pitiful 8-19 on the road this season...

Carolina enjoys a three-day break before Game 1…

Jordan Wicks makes his second start of the season for the Cubs; the first was a disaster. A converted reliever, Wicks gave up eight earned runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings at Pittsburgh. In seven starts at AAA this season, Wicks posted a 4.44 ERA while allowing a 10.7 percent barrel rate. Back the hosts in the rubber game.

The San Francisco Giants remain favorites against the Colorado Rockies, despite losing the first two games in the series as favorites. They blew a large lead in the ninth inning on Friday, and lost in lopsided fashion Saturday. Today’s starter in Robbie Ray is 0-5 on the road this season, where the Giants have been shutout three times. They’ve actually been outscored 24 to 3 in those five road games. Yet, I’ll jump in on the discounted offering, as the Giants avoid the road sweep.

The Athletics ended a six game home losing streak, in defeating the Yankees on Saturday. It did not come easy as the bullpen allowed five walks in the ninth inning. Back in the starting lineup Sunday will be Jose Caballero. He provided a spark in game one when he went two for four with a double and a run. Over his last six starts, he has had a multi hit game twice, along with two doubles. Grab Caballero to clear his combination line against the Athletics.

The Kansas City Royals had one of their best comeback wins yesterday against the Texas Rangers, in which they won 7 to 6. It ended a poor stretch that saw the Royals score just five runs over their prior four games. Today’s starter for the Rangers in Jack Leiter has given up four runs in consecutive games, and was rocked by the Royals in both starts last season. One start he gave up a season high six runs, and the other lasted just 3 2/3 innings. Grab Michael Massey to take advantage of base traffic in front of him. He clears his total bases, and don’t mind a sprinkle on a run/RBI.

Hoping these clubs tired themselves out last night combining for 19 runs scored. Weather not a factor today (winds very slightly in) and two pitchers who have had success thus far in Zebby Matthews (2.37 ERA) and Braxton Ashcraft (2.75 ERA). The full-game total is 7.5 and I'd not go lower than 4.5. It's our only 4.5 on the board and a tad pricy as you can see. Byron Buxton (team-leading 17 HR) is out for the Twins.

The Griffin Canning experiment has not gone well for the Padres. At 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA, if things don't turn around soon, I expect him to be demoted from his starting role. In the meantime, Nationals cleanup hitter, C.J. Abrams, is 4-for-8 lifetime against Canning with two doubles and a home run. Nearly half of Abrams' hits have gone for extra bases, so I'll look to capitalize on an advantageous matchup today.

Caesar’s. Robbie Ray has struggled over his last three starts: 13 innings, 20 hits, 18 runs, 11 walks. As is, his ERA sits at 4.60 (with a 5.35 xERA), and he’s under in 7/11 starts. On the road is where is struggles have been exacerbated, as his opponents have a .931 OPS off him. And today, he’ll be tested in the optimal hitting conditions of Coors Field. Ray has struggled traditionally in the altitude with a lifetime 5.33 in Colorado.

Spencer Miles gets his second start in MLB level and this number is just rather low for a guy that's likely to see around 70 pitches if not more today. While he's been an opener or bulk reliever in the past, he is being stretched out to a full starter with all the injuries that have piled up, and he's got strikeout stuff that will play. Miles' last two appearances have both been 4.1 innings, with 63 and 66 pitches, and he's hit 5,6 and 3 strikeouts when working at least 50 pitches. This number and price is more in line with of his previous shorter outings than a guy who should be pushed at least into the 5th inning if he's going well.

DraftKings / Caesar’s. This is an ambitiously high line for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers ace is under this mark in 7/10 starts, sporting a .183 OBA. Despite some big names in the lineup, the Phillies sport a .231 average against righties (25th), and only .216 against righties in away games (28th). Even the under at 4.5 hits allowed at plus odds is worth a look for a half unit.

The Braves are 23-9 on the road, and I like their chances to sweep Cincinnati behind Spencer Strider. Atlanta has won all five of Strider's starts this season. Reds lefty Nick Lodolo was solid last time out, but in his first three starts he surrendered 12 earned runs on four homers and nine walks. Strider also has been vulnerable to the long ball, but he's been limiting baserunners (1.15 WHIP) to minimize the damage.

Rays to not bat bottom of nine is -135 at DraftKings and that's a pretty good price (-1 works too) but in lieu of not having that option, I'll eat this money line number. I suppose Tampa Bay was due one lousy home game as it had been so dominant at the Trop, and that certainly happened Saturday in a 14-3 loss. But it's the end of a trip through the Eastern Time Zone for the Halos, who at a minimum are likely without SS Zach Neto after he left Saturday with an injury. Rays lefty Shane McClanahan has not allowed a single run in five of his past six outings. Counterpart Jack Kochanowicz has a 6.25 ERA on the road.

For a second consecutive night the LA Dodgers are slight home favorites. The Philadelphia Phillies after a road sweep against the Padres, did lose game one to the Dodgers. A catalyst in their turn around has been their excellence on the road, as they have not lost two in a row on the road since April 24th. This coincides with Jesus Luzardo who has won four of five road starts this year, with a 1.21 road era. Back the Phillies.