Michael Alexander Sports Handicapper

Rating: 2 Units

Home field advantage is very cool for the Padres in this matchup.   The Padres have another quality pitching matchup in their favor…  It’s worth it to keep pushing the Padres.  Padres: RHP Yu Darvish, 4-1, 3.91 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched.  Yu has been around the block.  The 6’5, 35 year old,  Japanese import has pitched himself into an impressive career winning record since his debut in 2012.  He has spent a lot of years in bullpens… but the 83-68 record as a starting pitcher is very nice.  His current WHIP is 1.13. Brewers: LHP Aaron Ashby, 0-3, 3.49 ERA, 34 strikeouts in 28 innings.  1.38 WHIP.  Aaron is very green with only 609 innings pitched in his entire MLB career so far.  He has been on the losing end of the stick more times than not. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Oakland Athletics' Paul Blackburn has been a master at that this season, while the Seattle Mariners' Robbie Ray, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, has frequently been stung by crooked numbers. The two veterans are scheduled to square off this afternoon in Seattle in the finale of a three-game series between the AL West rivals. Blackburn (4-0, 1.91 ERA) has allowed more than one run in an inning just once this season, and that came in the only game among his eight starts that the A's lost. Meanwhile, Ray (4-4, 4.77 ERA) has allowed a four-run inning four times this season, a three-run inning and three two-run innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Detroit will turn today to right-hander Rony Garcia (0-0, 2.57 ERA), who is scheduled to make his first start of the season and only the third start of his three-year major league career. He has shined out of the bullpen this season, recording 17 strikeouts in 14 innings while posting a terrific 0.714 WHIP. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic has faced Minnesota three times out of the bullpen in his career. He is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in those appearances, having allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings. The Twins will counter with right-hander Dylan Bundy (3-2, 5.14 ERA), who is set to make his seventh start of the season. The 29-year-old Oklahoma native is looking for the 50th win of his major league career. In his most recent outing, Bundy gave up two hits in three scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics on May 17. He walked two and struck out three, and he threw 35 of 54 pitches for strikes. The Twins kept him on a limited pitch count because it was his first start back after a stint on the COVID list.

Rating: 2 Units

The New York Yankees won't bring a losing streak into their series finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles tonight, but they might be down a few more key players. Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu was a late scratch before Tuesday's game because of left-wrist discomfort, and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton departed in the seventh inning because of right-calf tightness. Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells (1-3, 4.41 ERA) is scheduled to make his third start of the season against the Yankees in the series finale. He did not receive a decision in the first two appearances, both 5-2 wins by New York. Wells threw four shutout innings in Baltimore on April 16, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking two. He left with the Orioles leading 2-0. He allowed two runs and three hits over five innings on April 27 in New York, striking out four without a walk.

Rating: 2 Units

The Dodgers will turn to left-hander Julio Urias (3-3, 2.63 ERA), who has gone 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA with 17 strikeouts and four walks in five career appearances (four starts) spanning 23 2/3 innings against the Nationals. Washington, which has lost nine of its past 12 games, will counter with Erick Fedde (2-3, 4.08 ERA). The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 5 2/3 innings in a 7-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. He has faced the Dodgers only as a reliever, pitching a scoreless frame in 2019. Urias is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in five career games (four starts) vs. the Nationals. While the Dodgers have won nine of their past 10 games, the Nationals have gone 5-14 since they last won consecutive games, May 1 and 3.

Rating: 2 Units

Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen has sizzled in his last five starts, and the Rays will turn to their converted starter in this evening's series finale against the visiting Miami Marlins in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rasmussen (4-1, 2.33 ERA) has slotted into the No. 2 spot and has been a shutdown starter for manager Kevin Cash, though his longest outing so far is only six innings. Across his past five showings, the Oregon State alum has won four times without a defeat while posting a 1.01 ERA. He has allowed three runs and 15 hits in 26 2/3 innings pitched, with 25 strikeouts and five walks. In two career relief appearances against Miami, Rasmussen has no record and has pitched three scoreless, hitless innings. He closed the Milwaukee Brewers' 2-1 win over the Marlins on May 9, 2021, for his only career save.