Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Handicapper Analysis
Supporters of today's starter for Boston, Michael Wacha, will surely point to his last start against the Yankees.
In that start, on August 14, Wacha shut out the Yankees over the course of seven innings.
However, the Yankees were a completely different squad at that point in time than they are now.
Whereas they were repeatedly struggling to score a run and to win a game, they have run three in a row and seven of their last nine.
During this ongoing nine-game stretch, they've scored over five runs nine times, and they've scored nine runs or more five times.
Yankee starter Jameson Taillon, though, promises to thrive because he repeatedly handles Boston at home, most recently allowing one run to them in seven innings when they visited Yankee Stadium on July 16.
Best Bet: Yankees RL (-1.5) at +126 with FanDuel
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Handicapper Analysis
The posted total is as low as it is because Max Fried is starting for Atlanta.
This total deserves to be this low because of how great Fried has been.
But oddsmakers do not account for the fact that Max Fried is not Max Fried when he pitches in Philadelphia.
In the Phillies' venue, his career ERA is 4.62 in six starts.
However, Philadelphia won't manage to win the game because it is starting Ranger Suarez.
Like Fried, Suarez just saw the opponent that he's facing tonight.
Both Fried and Suarez benefitted from fortunate starts in which they allowed few runs but yielded a high FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding).
Moreover, both lineups excel against lefties.
Best Bet: Over 7.5 at -106 with FanDuel
St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres
Handicapper Analysis
One has to fade St. Louis at all costs right now because the Cardinals are in the midst of a ridiculously bad slump.
They are struggling to beat lesser teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.
Most recently, Red pitchers shut them down, and now Padre pitchers, even ones like Mike Clevinger who are struggling, are doing the same.
To be exact, St. Louis has scored zero runs through nine innings in each of its past four games.
The fact that Cardinal starter Jack Flaherty is always liable to allow a few runs makes San Diego, led by an in-form starter in Joe Musgrove today, a solid option to win.
Best Bet: Padres RL at +146 with FanDuel
Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox
Handicapper Analysis
Shane Bieber starts today for Cleveland.
This fact normally means a win for Cleveland especially since Bieber is starting on the road where he has been great for bettors to back.
Most recently, he has been especially hard to hit.
One ought to expect him to thrive against White Sox batters because, preferring to hit lefties, they rank 23rdin slugging against his favorite pitches from righties.
White Sox starter Johnny Cueto, taking the mound today, does not share Bieber's strong form or solid consistency.
He'll encounter a Guardian lineup that is uniquely hot, having scored 29 runs in their past three games combined.
Best Bet: Guardians RL at -1.5 at +126 with FanDuel
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Handicapper Analysis
This will be a fun pitcher's duel, although one might be tempted to favor the Dodgers in some form.
This temptation would be wrong to indulge in because, while many pitchers struggle in Dodger Stadium, Zac Gallen, today's starter for Arizona, is not one of them.
He enjoys a 2.55 ERA in three career starts in this venue.
His historical success in Los Angeles is consistent with his most recent form.
Gallen has allowed zero runs in each of his last four road starts.
Julio Urias, today's Dodger starter, merits optimism for similar reasons of consistent success.
Urias has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last 11 starts.
Best Bet: Under 7 at -106 with FanDuel
