Sean Murphy – Sports Handicapper

My selection is on St. Louis over Cincinnati at 7:10 pm et on Thursday.

I simply feel the wrong team is favored in this matchup as the Cardinals look to build off a series win over the Pirates when they head to Cincinnati to face the Reds. Dakota Hudson will take the ball for St. Louis. He has quietly put together an 8-4 record this season with the Cardinals winning nine of his last 10 starts overall. He has worked at least six innings in nine of his last 11 trips to the hill. Tanner Roark will counter for the Reds. They've won just three of his nine home starts this season. Most concerning is the fact that Roark has allowed eight home runs in his last four outings, even if his most recent came at Coors Field. Both pitchers have fared well against tonight's opponent so not much to look at from that standpoint. I simply feel that the Cardinals have a little more upside and are being undervalued due to their losing road record this season. Take St. Louis (10*).

MLB American League Game of the Month. My selection is on Oakland over Minnesota at 8:10 pm et on Thursday.

Despite his 9-3 record and 3.61 ERA bettors aren't buying into A's journeyman starter Mike Fiers. He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last month or so, allowing a grand total of four earned runs over his last five starts, spanning 33 innings of work. His road numbers aren't great but he certainly hasn't struggled away from home recently, working at least six innings and allowing three earned runs or less in each of his last four road outings. In his last start here in Minnesota, the A's won by a 6-2 score last August. Kyle Gibson will counter for the Twins. He's had an up and down season and checks in on a downward trend, having allowed 13 earned runs on 24 hits over his last five starts, covering a span of just 22 innings. The A's can obviously slug with the best of them and I'm confident they'll be able to get to Gibson tonight. This is a classic case of two clubs heading in opposite directions and I look for the A's to stay red hot, at least in the opener of this series. Take Oakland (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Philadelphia at 12:35 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the 'under' in this matchup last night and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play on Thursday afternoon. Ross Stripling will take the ball for the Dodgers. In four starts since returning to the rotation he has lasted a full five innings only once but he has also been asked to throw 81 pitches or fewer in all four of those outings. Last time out he allowed just one earned run over five frames in a tough setting in Boston. Aaron Nola will counter for the Phillies. He's been the picture of consistency this season, working at least into the sixth inning in 10 of his last 11 starts. Over his last four outings he has allowed just two earned runs in 27 2/3 innings. Nola owns a stellar 2.74 ERA at home this season. Last night's game ended up approaching the total thanks to some late runs. I still feel we're dealing with a higher number than we should be on Thursday. Take the under (10*).