MLB | N.Y. Mets @ Atlanta | 08/17 | 11:20 PM UTC
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ANALYSIS: Max Scherzer pitches for the Mets on Wednesday. ... Join SportsLine here to see the full pick!
ANALYSIS: Max Scherzer pitches for the Mets on Wednesday. ... Join SportsLine here to see the full pick!
ANALYSIS: Nebraska faces Northwestern in Ireland. ... Join SportsLine here to see the full pick!
ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh put third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes on the IL today. Boston gets back leadoff man Enrique Hernandez from the 60-day IL (although he may not hit leadoff immediately). However, All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts is sitting in a surprise, so I've just changed my mind mid-sentence and will take Pittsburgh on the runline (-140) because it's cheaper than the Sox ML (-145). Mitch Keller was once a very touted pitching prospect for the Bucs. His career ERA is 5.32, but Keller has a 2.23 ERA over his last six outings since July 11. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 11 of his last 13 starts since returning to the rotation on May 31. (Note: It's not Roansy Contreras on the mound -- he's starting Wednesday). Boston's Nick Pivetta is 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in eight starts since the beginning of July.
ANALYSIS: Believe this is the first time this season that I've played a side and total on the same game (at least on the site). I played the Under this morning and I now like that a bit better knowing Luis Robert remains out for Chicago. I am going to play Houston to win now because of that and the fact both Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena are in the lineup when they weren't Monday for the Astros. Sox All-Star closer Liam Hendriks may not be available as he has pitched three of the past four nights. But then again if some fan tells Tony La Russa what to do managerial-wise, apparently Sleepy Tony now listens.
ANALYSIS: There aren't many MLB regular-season games the rest of the way that I will make a point to watch, but this is clearly one in a spectacular matchup between AL Cy Young favorites Justin Verlander and Dylan Cease (see news feed). They were the two MLB ERA leaders as as well, but Cease fell to third on Monday when Miami's Sandy Alcantara dominated the Padres (and got us a win on that Under). Just out of principle I have to go Under here. Cease has allowed 1 ER or fewer in 14 straight starts. I tend to think that streak ends tonight but even if he allows two ER, I don't think the White Sox sans Tim Anderson and maybe Luis Robert are scoring more than four off Verlander or the Houston bullpen. I could see this total dropping to 6.5 as action is heavy on the Under.