Jim Feist – Sports Handicapper

Texas dropped their last game of their series at the Mets on Sunday, 1-4. The Rangers lost the series to the Mets one game to two. They open up this holiday Monday with a 3-games set at Baltimore before heading to Minnesota, Oakland and Seattle on what is a long road trip. The Rangers send Dane Dunning to the mound with a 1-6 record and 4.09 ERA. He's been a bit worse on the road with a 0-5 record and 5.58 ERA. In fact, the Rangers are 0-8 in Dunning's eight road starts. The Orioles beat Minnesota on Sunday, 3-1. Dean Kramer will toe the rubber for the Orioles. Kramer is 2-1 in his five starts with a 1.29 ERA. Kramer has not allowed a run in any of his last three starts (18 2/3 innings) and only four total runs all season. The Orioles look to be a good bet here on Monday with Kramer on the hill. Take Baltimore at this bargain price.

The St Louis Cardinals wrapped-up their series with the Phillies by getting shut-out on Sunday night, 0-4. The Cardinals recent 4-6 skid has seen them d rop to 2-games back of the Brewers in the AL Central. The Cardinals will send Dakota Hudson to the hill today. Hudson is 6-4 in his 15 starts with a 3.82 ERA. The Cardinals have not done well on the road vs a team with a winning record, evidenced by their 5-13 record their last 18 times. The Braves lost on Sunday to the Reds, 3-4. That loss coupled with the Mets win dropped the Braves to 3.5-games back in the AL East. The Braves send Kyle Wright to the hill with a 9-4 record in his 15 starts. Wright has the most wins on the team and just a 3.03 ERA this season. Atlanta is 23-7 their last 30 games and 11-3 in their last 14 home games. I'll take the Braves here on this Holiday Monday.