It has not been a great MLB weekend in large part because of the Padres, so I must be a glutton for punishment going back to them again. I just can't believe they will get swept at home in a supposed rivalry series. Seattle's bullpen is pretty taxed. Young starting pitcher Bryan Woo is darn good, but his road/day splits are significantly worse than his home/night ones. San Diego's Michael King has a 1.64 ERA at home. The Padres bullpen is in good shape. And any lineup of theirs without Jason Heyward (.177) in it is a better lineup. He's sitting today.

Definitely lost on the Padres on Friday, but this just makes me like them better on Saturday. Yeah, one game in theory should not influence the next, but I think it depends. It was a bad loss and the bullpen got reset for SD. Punt game. I honestly had forgotten this is the "Vedder Cup" series. Dunno, I don't like coffee or flannel. But I do like Pearl Jam (who doesn't?): "I'll ride the wave where it takes me." I try to live my life that way ...

This play flopped yesterday, but I'm going back as the scorching-hot Twins are without three regulars due to injury, etc. Ty France is the cleanup hitter today and Kody Clemens is in the 5 hole. I don't think Kody Clemens batted in the top five of the order at his own family softball gatherings. Who the heck is DaShawn Keirsey? He's the starting center fielder today and DaBad (not to be confused with Da Bears) offensively: hitting just .116. I might play Twins TT Under 4.5 looking at this motley crew today. Which means they will score 15. Do I even have to say this would be unlucky win No. 13 in a row for Minny? If you believe in such things ...

Seems a little light on the Padres, who have been one of the best teams in the majors at home. Seattle is starting to show its flaws -- i.e. can't hit -- in a 3-7 run. Rookie pitcher Logan Evans was torched in his lone road start. Anyone who has Miles Mastrobuoni in their starting lineup as Seattle does should lose. If this were my Best Friend's Fat Greek Wedding or something, maybe I want Miles around. Although Mastrobuoni is probably Italian. OK, Nonnas then (good flick).

The Twins are absolutely on fire but it seems like both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa will sit today after they collided on Thursday in Baltimore and landed in the concussion protocol. And the bullpen is pretty thinned-out having played a DH on Wednesday and then having to use their two top guys again Thursday. I tend to think the 11-game skid ends here but obviously we don't turn down +1.5. Milwaukee was off Thursday and is 12-7 at home.

I like to look at mismatches -- at least in my mind. So I generally avoid great pitching matchups like we have Friday ... but there is no absolute way I am not playing the "Former White Sox Bowl" of Chris Sale vs. Garrett Crochet. We also call it the "Red Sox Ripped Us Off" game. Guess we shall see on Crochet but not looking great so far in terms of the ChiSox's return. The Red Sox had the benefit of being off Thursday, while the Braves played and used all their key relievers. Not saying not available today, but it doesn't hurt in regards to this pick. But I will admit this is partially for my anti-Jerry Reinsdorf entertainment.

I can't not bet the first White Sox-Cubs game of the season. I am a fan of both. Yep, I know, not supposed to be. But I root for "Chicago." If these teams ever meet in Game 7 of the World Series, then I'll pick a side. And die happy regardless. I'd say there's a decent chance the Pope is watching today as he apparently had an in-home Sox-Cubs rivalry (only 8:20 p.m. in Rome start time). Although he might be busy. I can't justify the full-game ML price of -230, and I'm not planning to play -1.5 all season (may change mind). I would really like -1 full game if offered. Winds are howling out at Wrigley today -- total is up to 12.

Hope I'm not forcing this simply because I don't like much today. I would play F5 Under 5 if offered here, but we are only seeing 4.5s. I do like Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA at home in three starts. One of the few Rays with good career splits off him is Yandy Diaz, who isn't available in the series due to passport issues. Tampa starter Zack Littell has a 4.92 ERA in four day starts. The Jays have woken up offensively of late, hitting .285 over the past two weeks.

Obviously would much prefer 5.5 ... but would much prefer a lot of things (taller, younger, wealthier, etc.). Really same reasoning as us winning easily on Under 5.5 in this matchup yesterday: The Sox can't hit lefties and the Reds don't hit much at home. Cincy managed one run in 10 innings in Tuesday's loss. They start another good lefty today in Nick Lodolo (3.23 ERA). Any winds will be blowing in slightly.

Feels like a tricky spot for the Yanks at the end of a six-game West Coast trip and with a massive home game vs. Juan Soto and the Mets up next on Friday. Austin Wells and Paul Goldschmidt are out of the lineup. New York's best reliever, Luke Weaver, pitched two innings on Tuesday so can't imagine he's available. Devin Williams has pitched Monday and Tuesday so probably not him, either. And I all but guarantee you the Yanks will need the bullpen a fair amount today behind Will Warren (5.06 road ERA). Seattle's Luis Castillo has a 2.89 home ERA.

Bit surprised the Giants are home dogs here with Robbie Ray on the mound as the lefty looks finally healthy and back to his Cy Young form from a few years ago with the Blue Jays with three straight quality starts. He's also 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four home outings overall. Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt is having a nice season but not on the road for the most part with a 6.06 ERA. The Giants roughed up him in Pfaadt's lone start against them in 2024. I really don't look at models for MLB but ours has SF winning outright -- and I tend to think that way but won't turn down +1.5.

Here's guessing Nats starter and one-time Braves touted prospect Michael Soroka -- he looked like a future ace in 2019 for Atlanta but then injuries started derailing things -- gives up four runs and five hits over five innings as that's exactly what he has done in his first two starts of the year. Atlanta's Spencer Schwellenbach has a 2.93 home ERA. Very few Nationals have seen him.

Note that rain is in the forecast, but that seems to be the case for a lot of games tonight, and they think they get this in even if starts a bit late -- shoot, it even rained in South Florida yesterday for the first time in 4 months it felt like. Winds are blowing in slightly at GABP and it's not warm at all. Good pitching night it would seem. The White Sox can't hit much and especially lefties .594 OPS) and face a good one in Andrew Abbott (2.25 ERA). The Reds have a home OPS of just .658 (25th in MLB). Sox pitcher Jonathan Cannon has allowed exactly two ER over six in B2B starts -- and Cincy hasn't seen him.

The Angels' Yusei Kikuchi is 0-4 with a 5.19 ERA in five road starts. I'm sure the Padres won't be flat in a return from a trip after getting embarrassed in Denver on Sunday. Stellar young outfielder Jackson Merrill, who is batting a cool .446 on the year, missed that with an illness but should be back in there Monday. Pitcher Michael King has a 1.32 ERA at home.

Note that some rain is in the forecast Monday in Atlanta, so perhaps this gets washed out. The Nats are flailing right now on a five-game skid, all by multiple runs. And those were at home. Washington is 7-12 away, and it wouldn't shock me if Manager Dave Martinez is sacked this week if the team is swept in this series. Atlanta is 12-6 at home. Can't say I trust Braves starting pitcher Grant Holmes a ton, but he has been better at Truist Park with a 3.00 ERA in four outings. Only a few Nats have seen him career.