Jim Feist – Sports Handicapper

Both these clubs off to hot 2nd half starts with the Mets winning four straight and the Giants five straight. The Mets are still only 44-51 while the Giants are almost back to .500 at 47-49. The Mets will start Noah Syndergaard tonight, who is 7-4 in his 18 starts with a 4.55 ERA. Syndergaard has been one of the better pitchers for the Mets this season. He will face Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner is 5-7 on the season with a 3.78 ERA. However, he's pitched much like his old self here lately, allowing just four total runs over his last four starts (19 innings. The Giants are far back in the West, but they are making a big move with five straight wins and 12 wins in their last 14. I like the Red-Hot Giants a lot here tonight. Play San Francisco.

Early action here on the diamond for Thursday has baseball's best team (by record), the Dodgers, taking on the Phillies. The Dodgers have a league leading 64 wins this season and did take Wednesday's game with the Phillies, 7-2. LA has now scored 31 runs in the three games with the Phillies and taken two of the three. However, they could easily be up 3-0 in this four-game set. But as good as LA is, their one Achilles's Heal is their bullpen. The middle relief has been sketchy at best and the closer, Jansen, well lets just say he's always a gamble when he takes the mound. LA was leading in the 9th inning on Tuesday night when Jansen came in and gave up four straight hits, including the walk off winning hit by Harper. If there is one area LA needs to improve on before the trade deadline if they want to WIN the World Series and not just go there, that would be a closer. Ross Stipling is 2-2 in his 10 starts with a 3.53 ERA. Stripling has been inconsistent this season. Aaron Nola will oppose him for the Phillies. Nola is 8-2 in his 20 starts with a 3.63 ERA and has been very good of late. Nola has allowed just three total runs over his last five starts (35 2/3 innings). As good as the Dodgers are, Nola is the better starter today. I'm taking the Phillies and hoping they are close in the late innings when the LA bullpen takes to the hill. Play Los Angeles.