Here are my nine plays for Sunday May 29
1. Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays (Red Sox -1.5, +120)
Red Sox (Price 7-1, 5.34) Blue Jays (Dickey 2-6, 4.60)
After a rough start to the season, David Price is now 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA over his past three starts. Price is also 8-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his last 10 meetings against the Blue Jays. Since the start of last season, RA Dickey is 0-5 with a 5.21 ERA in eight starts against Boston. I like the Red Sox here.
2. Baltimore Orioles @ Cleveland Indians (Orioles Moneyline -125)
Orioles (Tillman 6-1, 2.61) Indians (Clevinger 0-1, 8.71)
Baltimore has lost five out of six games but I think things will begin turn around for the Orioles here. Chris Tillman has been the Orioles best starting pitcher this season.
Cleveland rookie Mike Clevinger has allowed 10 earned runs in his first two starts over 10 1/3 innings. I like the Orioles to win here.
3. Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Royals (Royals +1.5, -125)
White Sox (Sale 9-1, 2.26) Royals (Volquez 5-4, 3.67)
White Sox are beginning to struggle coming in as loser of five in a row. Saturday the Royals scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Sox. Several Royals have very good career numbers against Sale.
I like the Royals here, but coming off of a bad start I do not doubt Chris Sale’s ability to get back on track and lead Chicago to victory. If Volquez can keep the Royals in the game before the bullpens take over then the advantage is in the Royals favor. I am picking the Royals to cover -1.5 here, meaning either Kansas City wins or loses by one run or less.
4. St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals (Nationals -1.5, +125)
Cardinals (Wacha 2-5, 5.04) Strasburg (8-0, 2.79)
Michael Wacha has given up 14 earned runs in his last eight innings pitched and lost his last five decisions. I am picking the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg, who has a chance to improve to 9-0 on the season.
5. Detroit Tigers @ Oakland Athletics (Athletics Moneyline-165)
Tigers (Pelfrey 0-4, 5.55) A’s (Hill 7-3, 2.18)
The Tigers are 3-6 against left handed pitchers on the season. Rich Hill beat the Tigers on April 26, allowing no earned runs over seven innings. Hill gives the A’s the clear pitching advantage here. The Tigers offense has been hot, but Mike Pelfrey starting does not give Detroit the best chance. I like Oakland to win.
6. San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks (Padres Moneyline -120)
Padres (Pomeranz 4-4, 1.70) Diamondbacks (Bradley 1-0, 7.84)
Arizona is starting Archie Bradley who has just been called up from AAA. Over 10 career starts he has a 6.26 ERA and 1.72 WHIP. The advantage here is with Drew Pomeranz and the Padres.
7. Minnesota Twins @ Seattle Mariners (Mariners -1.5, +120)
Twins (Nolasco 1-3, 5.54) Mariners (Walker 2-4, 2.70)
The Twins have won three in a row, I trend that should be coming to an end soon. The Twins have lost the last five games that Nolasco has started.
Despite losing his last four decisions, Taijuan Walker has not allowed more then four earned runs in any starts this season. The Mariners are the better team with the better starting pitcher here. I like Seattle to win by more than a run.
8. Miami Marlins @ Atlanta Braves (Braves Moneyline -130)
Marlins (Koehler 2-5, 4.79) Braves (Teheran 1-4, 2.57)
On April 16 Tom Koehler gave up five earned runs in 3 2/3 inning to the Braves. Current Braves hitters are batting .370 against Koehler overall.
As bad as Atlanta has been this season, the Braves are 5-0 against the Marlins.Julio Teheran has allowed only one run or less in his last six starts. For his career Teheran is 5-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 12 starts against the Marlins. I like Atlanta to complete the sweep.
9. Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets (Dodgers Moneyline -210)
Dodgers (Kershaw 7-1, 1.48) Mets (Colon 4-3, 3.44)
The Dodgers defeated the Mets 5-0 when Clayton Kershaw faced Bartolo Colon on May 17 in Los Angeles.
Kershaw is 7-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his ten career regular season starts against the Mets. I am expecting a Dodgers win.
The Tigers have been struggling, but the Twins coming to Motown should be recipe for the Tigers to get back on track. Jose Berrios is a very promising young pitcher, but with Jordan Zimmerman on the mound I like the Tigers to beat the Twins for the fourth straight time this season.
All of Shoemaker’s losses have been by at least three runs this season. Current Dodgers have a .353 batting average against Shoemaker. Led by Kenta Maeda, I like the Dodgers to win by more then one run here.
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