It’s a day to see who bares their teeth, baby as the Oakland A's take on the NY Yankees in this series finale from Yankee Stadium. The A's have been leveraging the underdog card all year long, and so 34-51 Oakland is here for it again. The A’s welcome Luis Severino (2–8, 4.83 ERA), who is making his return to Yankee Stadium as a member of the Athletics. In nine appearances at the stadium, Severino has managed just 0.9 innings per start, with a 6.90 ERA, and six walks to just four strikeouts. Away from the Bronx, however, Severino has shown markedly better performance, with a 2.27 ERA on the road -effectively flipping the script on disinterested crowds in hostile environments to delivering quality starts . By way of contrast, the Yankees are starting Marcus Stroman, fresh off the IL, and the command and consistency that he’s shown in previous years have yet to show up in his abbreviated starts this season (0.2 ERA and 11.57 ERA, respectively). Add in the fact that the southpaw righty is coming off the IL, and an exacta or trifecta wheel shot becomes enticing with the Yankees laying numbers, given the depth and difference in effectiveness of the two pitching staffs .

Oakland came out on top in a way that few would have predicted on Saturday, blanking the Yankees 7–0, led by JP Sears’ 5-shutout innings. Their offense did its part as well, homering twice in the game. It marked the Athletics’ first real statement win in some time, dating back to going 12-29 since roughly mid-May. If the A’s are given a modicum of breathing room, they can be dangerous, and they proved they’re not afraid to go deep.

The A’s are thin, sure, but Severino has been better pitching on the road, and with their offense and starting pitching seemingly perked by Saturday’s shutout, they don’t play the part of the patsy as well as they would have earlier this season. In fact, the betting on Oakland to keep this one close and pull off the shocker is the best underdog wagering of the weekend to me.

Jim's Play: 911. Oakland A's

It's the rubber match in Sunday's AL East showdown between the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Toronto will send lefty Eric Lauer (4–1, 2.21 ERA) to the hill, who has a solid record in 2025 so far against the Red Sox in particular. He’s allowed just a 3.00 ERA across two appearances against Boston this year. Opposite him is Walker Buehler, who has posted a disastrous 6.29 ERA so far this year, including several poor starts that have ballooned his total.

The Blue Jays are no strangers to success at the plate either, as their batting average ranks within the top 10 of the American League thanks to regular contributions from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Bo Bichette, and others. Meanwhile, Boston has struggled on the offensive side of things this season, trading away Rafael Devers midway through June while also dealing with a notably high “Drag Factor” among its hitters, that is, a lack of one-hit wonder players who help mask their offensive woes and wait to produce .

The Red Sox just put up a massive total on Saturday, but that was almost certainly an aberration, and their lineup will likely show its true face in this game after scoring two runs or less in four of the last five and splitting this series 1-1. 

Toronto has the pitching edge, with Lauer being able to hold down Boston’s offense, and Toronto’s bats have the juice to do some damage in this game too, resulting in a low-to-moderate scoring affair that the Blue Jays win to take the series.

Jim's Play: 913. Blue Jays

AL East clash as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Baltimore Orioles from Camden Yards here on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The Rays have been one of the hottest teams in baseball (24-10 in their last 34 games) and it’s starting to pay off as they are now just 1.5 games back of the Yankees for first place in the division. This has not only been an offensive surge for Tampa Bay but a momentum surge as well.

Zack Littell (6–7, 3.78 ERA) will start for Tampa Bay. The southpaw has not only been effective recently (earning his 10th quality start in his last 16 outings) but he has also been durable (pitching at least five innings in his last 13 starts) and Littell is getting the call to help a worn-down bullpen, which is another reason to like the Rays today.

Zach Eflin (6–4, 5.46 ERA), a former Ray, will start for Baltimore. Eflin has struggled to be effective this year and his matchups profile him as beatable—especially against a Tampa Bay lineup that has been hitting. The Orioles had a good offensive day on Friday but that was a 22-run explosion and that was both an outlier in their run of production and came against a vulnerable opponent.

The simple truth is the entire profile points in Tampa Bay’s direction today. Littell has been pitching well, Tampa Bay’s lineup is deep, they can use Littell to rest the bullpen, and the team has been hot and a smart play on the betting trends. 

Jim's Play: 965. Rays

6/28 10:10 AM PT / 1:10 PM ET  

MLB   (963) MINNESOTA TWINS VS  (964) DETROIT TIGERS

Take: 964. Tigers

The Minnesota Twins (40–42) will try to get the series win after winning three of the last four games. Byron Buxton was one of the big performers with a solo home run and two runs scored. However, it was a team effort and the real bright spot in Friday’s win was David Festa’s outing as he held the Tigers scoreless in 5-innings with six strikeouts and just two hits. Minnesota is now coming off their first three-game win streak since winning four straight from May 28-31.

The Tigers (51–32) got swept in the four game series against the Twins last week, but their season-long performance in the AL Central still leads them to open Saturday at +142. A big part of their season to this point has been a good rotation with Casey Mize being a bright spot. The 7–2 right-hander has a 2.87 ERA and 64 strikeouts in just over 72 innings pitched. Mize has not allowed more than two earned runs in a start all month and has made four quality starts on the season. He has been great at home where he is 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA in six starts at Comerica .

Minnesota will be sending Bailey Ober to the mound on Saturday. Ober has less consistent season statistics when compared to Mize, as he’s sitting at 4-5 with a 4.90 ERA this season . He’s had some outings that have been strong, like his last start with seven earned runs in seven innings. Ober has thrown at least five innings in each of his last two starts, so he has the durability to stay in the game if necessary .

The main matchup to look at here will be Detroit’s defense in addition to Mize’s home success. If Mize can keep the Twins’ bats under control in the first couple of innings, this bodes well for a Tigers’ bounce-back. As much as I like some of the Twins hitters, the Tigers have the pitching edge in this series and a big home field advantage for Mize. Because of that, I’m taking the Tigers to win the game. 

Jim's Play: 964. Tigers

The Mariners and Rangers are getting set to begin a weekend series Friday night in Arlington, Texas. Seattle is starting right-hander Logan Gilbert, while Texas counters with veteran righty Nathan Eovaldi. Gilbert has a 3.12 ERA and owns a good track record against the Rangers lineup over the course of his career. He’s also struck out 83 batters against them, which is the most of any team he’s faced. Eovaldi is 6-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 0.86 WHIP when healthy, and he’s even better at home where he’s made 5 starts and has an ERA below 2.00.

Seattle is batting .265 in their last 10 games while Texas is batting just .222 over their last 10. Both teams have been banged up in terms of power bats, with the Mariners missing Jake Burger and the Rangers also missing a couple bats in their lineup. The bullpens could factor in a close game on the backend and Texas has the advantage here after bolstering it this season. Texas has the advantage at home with a solid record on their home. The pitching matchup favors a low-scoring game and both starters should be able to go deep in the game. I favor the Rangers with Eovaldi pitching at home.

Jim's Play: 920. Rangers (AL West Game of the Week)

The Tampa Bay Rays (46-35) head to Baltimore on a three-game winning streak with righthander Ryan Pepiot on the hill. He’s been good for a 5-6 record with a 3.04 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 94 innings, and his home/road splits are especially strong away from St. Petersburg. Pepiot is 6-2 in his last seven starts as a favorite on the road this season. The Orioles (34-46) counter with Tomoyuki Sugano, who is 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA. He hasn’t faced Tampa Bay yet and isn’t exactly strikeout-heavy, which might be a liability against a Rays team that barrels at a high rate—especially at home.

The Rays enter with the momentum and a strong showing on the mound recently. Their lineup has also gotten good contributions from some key young players, namely Junior Caminero (20 HR, 51 RBI) and Brandon Lowe (16 HR, 43 RBI). The team’s bullpen has been especially effective this season with a 3.49 staff ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Baltimore has been impressive in relief as well, especially with a 1.76 pen ERA since late May - but their offense has not shown up in big moments. 

We should expect a pitcher’s duel early in this game with both teams fielding starters that could keep this game in hand. The Rays are clearly the better team in the long run with strong road splits, a more consistent offense, and some depth on the mound, especially in relief. 

Jim's Play: 911. Rays 

Final game of this NL East battle as the Mets host the Braves on Thursday, June 26, 2025. 

The Braves continue to put up just average numbers from the offensive side of the ball, currently holding a 17th-place OPS and scoring a paltry 4.22 runs per game on the year. Today's starter, Grant Holmes (4–6, 3.71 ERA), has been a tad more reliable than their inconsistent lineup over his last few starts, throwing five shutout innings against the Marlins last time out. However, walks remain an issue for the Braves starter, issuing a free pass in over 11% of innings pitched this year. He’s set to face a lineup missing key pieces, but that also has some steam with Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. returning and getting hot with a .385 average and 1.188 OPS since coming back. 

Braves first baseman Matt Olson has also found his power again and will be available to drive in multiple runs after contributing three RBI in their 7–4 win on Tuesday, and Atlanta will also get a boost from the return of Michael Harris II today. He hit the ground and was briefly in danger of missing a second straight game because of it, but the outfielder will rejoin a lineup also featuring the returning Alex Verdugo, though Verdugo’s numbers continue to lag a bit behind that of his OPS against Mets pitchers entering this matchup. Griffin Canning (7–3, 3.91 ERA) will toe the rubber today for New York. Canning has walked too many batters over 10% of his innings this year despite a fine 10.7% strikeout rate. His fastball spin rate also doesn’t grade out particularly well, ranking in the bottom 6% of MLB starters. The Mets likely have some moving pieces in their lineup ahead of this game, with Mark Vientos possibly being activated just a day after he went on the injured list with a hamstring issue. That would mean some shifting within their infield and potentially a top half of the order that creates more protection for Mets hitters like Pete Alonso and Juan Soto. It’s possible this move also opens up some time in the DH spot for lefty-hitting Manuel Margot. They’ll need more offensive help from those top-tier players, along with players in their young core like Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty as they get closer to opening up space in their own rotation. 

The slumping Mets have lost 10 of 11 and missed opportunities in tight games as of late and need that help even more against a potent Braves offense in this series. Good defense behind the Mets starter may also be in the cards, catcher Hayden Senger standing out of late and potentially giving the Mets pitchers a bit of an edge behind the plate.

The Braves vs Mets pitching matchup brings two starters to the mound who each have a greater tendency to induce grounders and fly balls rather than strikeouts with their stuff, which could add a bit of volatility to this game, along with lineups in need of getting a bit of a jolt. The Braves will need Holmes to go deep enough into the game for their own anemic offense to get the job done and not beat themselves, while the Mets need Canning to keep them in games while also getting some long-awaited consistency from the bats, especially if they’re going to have to shuffle things up a bit with the possible addition of Vientos.

Hard to back the Mets with their recent slump and the lineup that is in flux every day.  I'll stick with the Braves here tonight. 

Jim's Play: 957. Braves

Always exciting when these two rivals meet on the diamond as the Cardinals host the Cubs. The Cubs will welcome back Shota Imanaga (3-1, 2.82 ERA) who will get the start for Chicago, making his first start since coming off the IL. In his four starts this season, he has 34 strikeouts in 44 innings. He has struggled a bit at home, with a 5.75 ERA at Wrigley Field. 

St. Louis will counter with Andre Pallante (5-3, 4.48 ERA), who is enjoying more success at home (3-1, sub 2.00 ERA) than on the road (1-2, 6.50 ERA). Pallante last took the hill against the Giants. The Cubs are coming off an 8–0 victory last night in which Matthew Boyd pitched six shutout innings and Ian Happ hit a three-run homer. Chicago leads the NL Central at 47-33 and is seeking to open up its division lead. The Cardinals are just a couple of games behind at 44-37 and are hoping to turn it around at home in a division game with plenty at stake. Their defense has remained one of the best in baseball (leaders in Outs Above Average), and they have been playing their best ball of late, having won five of their last six games heading into the Cubs’ blowout. Brendan Donovan (.305) is leading the team offensively, and the Cardinals have found some power with Lars Nootbaar and Willson Contreras at first base. 

The game should come down to whether Imanaga can follow up on Matthew Boyd’s performance with strong pitching and a stifling Cubs defense or whether Pallante and the Cardinals’ defense can keep Chicago in check in this early season divisional matchup. 

I look for Imanaga to be strong here today and shut down this St Louis offense. 

Jim's Play: 951. Cubs 

The New York Yankees travel to Cincinnati tonight to face the Reds in a game where Carlos Rodón will toe the rubber for the Yanks. He’s 9-5 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 30% of batters he’s faced in about 95 innings. Rodón has been a bit more effective on the road and has been a little bit unlucky on the long ball. Chase Burns will make his major league debut for Cincinnati. Burns was the Reds’ second overall pick in 2024 and has pitched to a 2.76 ERA in the minors, striking out 25% of batters.

Cincinnati won the opener by a 6–1 final as Elly De La Cruz had a home run, triple, and three RBIs.  The bullpen continues to hold up, and Fernando Cruz’s splitter has been on point—he struck out three in a row last week in Cincinnati. The Reds are 41-38 and 3 games back in the NL Central. They’re no slouches, as they’ve won 6 of their last 11 as +136 or greater dogs.

We have a veteran pitcher going against a hot rookie. Rodón has to strike out a few and not let the long ball hurt him, but there’s a talent in Burns and he’s pitching at home. I look for live dogs and the Reds are very alive tonight as a home dog with a rookie who has great potential.  I'll give the Reds a shot here tonight. 

Jim's Play: 976. Reds

The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians begin their three-game series tonight at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6: 40 PM ET on Tuesday. Toronto will send lefty Eric Lauer to the mound. Lauer’s 3-1 record and 2.29 ERA are solid, and in his last start against the Diamondbacks on June 18, Lauer pitched five innings, allowing one run while striking out eight. He has an impressive 4.08 ERA on the road and a.241 batting average against. Cleveland will counter with southpaw Logan Allen, who is 5–4 with a 4.21 ERA. Allen has shown flashes of brilliance, as he struck out 12 batters over his last three starts and limited the opposition to two runs in 5.1 innings in his last outing . 

The Jays offense is hitting .257 as a team (7th in MLB) and averaging 3.8 runs per game, but they have been ice cold recently after losing two of three games to Chicago. Cleveland returns home from a road trip on the West Coast and have a home lineup that features a pair of producers in José Ramírez and new acquisition David Fry, who recorded an RBI single in Sunday’s win over Oakland. The Guardians also have a deep bullpen in which to lean on, especially closer Emmanuel Clase.

I expect a tight pitcher’s duel tonight. Lauer’s command and recent form give Toronto a good shot, but Allen’s recent strikeout run and Cleveland’s bullpen depth keep this close. I believe this will come down to the bullpens and that is where the Guardians have a huge edge. 

Jim's Play: 966. Guardians

American League action to start the week as the Seattle Mariners (39-37) and the Minnesota Twins (37-40) face off in Minneapolis. The Mariners start pitcher Bryan Woo (6-4, 3.12 ERA) is fresh off seven scoreless innings and one hit allowed in his last start. Woo has logged 10 quality starts in 14 starts and has surrendered only 14 walks in nearly 90 innings pitched . He’ll face Minnesota (10th in MLB in team ERA, 4.45). Woo will be opposed by Bailey Ober (4-4, 4.54 ERA), who has allowed 13 earned runs over his last three home starts and Minnesota has lost 13 of its last 16 games. 

Seattle is 10th in the league in runs scored, led by catcher Cal Raleigh, who became the first switch-hitting catcher to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break . Minnesota has some of its own stars in Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco and will look to gain ground early . 

Game 1 should be a good pitchers’ duel with strong bats and Seattle’s recent play and Woo’s reliability could make the difference at Target Field tonight. I like Woo a lot here on Monday against a struggling Ober. I'll take the Mariners to win game one on the road. 

Jim's Play:  911. Mariners 

The Atlanta Braves are coming in hot, sweeping the Mets last time out and winning four of the last five overall. The rookie arm of Spencer Schwellenbach has been one of the more reliable pitching finds this season with 11 quality starts in 97 IP and a complete game just last week. Paul Blackburn, meanwhile, has struggled to a 6.92 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in two previous starts, highlighted by a poor start against Atlanta last week. 

The Braves are also hitting on all cylinders with Matt Olson and Austin Riley have gotten hot, and Atlanta has largely been getting the job done all around. Meanwhile, the Mets are in a deep hole, losing eight of their last nine games. The team is hitting just.218 during the skid. Injuries have not helped, either: Kodai Senga is sidelined, and Frankie Montas is still working his way back, and the rotation is weak. 

Tonight’s matchup is a race between Atlanta’s emerging young arm and New York’s ailing staff and features Mets’ bats and pitching in crisis mode. The Braves are getting the edge as they come in hot and the Mets are cold.

Jim's Play: 901. Braves

The Cincinnati Reds (39-38) travel to St. Louis for a crucial NL Central matchup against the Cardinals (41-35) at Busch Stadium. The Reds have lost three of four in St. Louis, including an extra-inning loss on Saturday, but have an offense capable of scoring runs (4.62 R/G), as Elly De La Cruz has hit 17 homers and has an.837 OPS while TJ Friedl has been hitting.289. They rank 10th in steals (54) . Their pitching has been solid (16th in ERA, 3.91, and 10th in WHIP, 1.23) but their bullpen has struggled recently (5.25 ERA in last ten games).

Lefty Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.84 ERA) is on the mound for Cincinnati. Abbott has been impressive on the road (3-0, 1.45 ERA) and has a 3–2 record (4.31 ERA) against St. Louis . His ability to limit walks (1.01 WHIP) is an added bonus that gives the Reds the best chance to get a good start against the Cardinals’ bats.

St. Louis is hot, winning five in a row to get within striking distance of the top of the NL Central. Their offense has been about even (7th in R/G, 4.74; 14th in AVG,.256; 7th in OPS,.724) with Brendan Donovan leading with a.312 AVG and.817 OPS. Defensively, they’re around the middle of the pack (18th in ERA, 3.94; 15th in WHIP, 1.27).

Miles Mikolas will take the mound for St. Louis. Mikolas is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He’s struggled at home (1-2, 5.01 ERA) and has a 6-8 record with a 5.53 ERA against the Reds . This may be an opportunity for Cincinnati, if Abbott can get them an early lead and they get strong work out of their short-handed bullpen.

That sets up a very tight game with Cincinnati as a slight dog on the moneyline (+100 or around +106 on most books), but several factors work in the Reds’ favor: they’ve won six of eight games as an underdog.  In addition, St. Louis and Cincinnati have had a tendency to play low-scoring games in the early innings, and Abbott and Mikolas have been capable of limiting runs.

It sets up a low-scoring pitcher’s duel between Abbott and Mikolas, and this is one where I feel the short-handed Reds have a edge. 

Jim's Play: 953. Reds 

Interleague action here on Sunday, June 22 has the Milwaukee Brewers visiting Target Field in Minnesota to face the Twins. 

The Brewers arrive in Minnesota with momentum, having taken the first two games in the series by two runs apiece. Saturday, Jose Quintana (six innings, three hits, no walks) and Isaac Collins (two hits, four strikeouts) fueled a 9-0 victory . Friday, the Brewers put 17 runs on the Twins, driven by Christian Yelich’s career-high eight RBIs and Jacob Misiorowski’s no-hit effort through the seventh inning . The Brewers (42-35) are now riding high after these performances, and their rookie starter Quinn Priester (5-2, 3.46 ERA) has been strong in his last start, allowing just one run in six innings in his most recent start .

The Twins (39-37) have lost two of three at Cincinnati and now two games to the Brewers. Minnesota’s starter David Festa (1-1, 4.78 ERA) is capable of striking out batters (9.9 K/9), but he has never lasted long in a game this season and has been unable to keep runs from scoring . The Twins’ overmatched offense (.243 batting average, no power) looks vulnerable to the surging Brewers (4.4 runs per game in the last ten games) .

Despite this powerless lineup, the Twins find themselves aboutt a 1.45 favorite to a hot Brewers team. 

The Twins looking out of sorts and Priester in top form, the value here goes to the Brewers, to swing the upset. Another wild afternoon at Target Field is in the works, where Brewers pitching and plate discipline should be enough to keep the Twins from getting to the plate at the right times.

Jim's Play: 973. Brewers 

It’s going to be a busy day for the Braves at loanDepot Park. Atlanta is a strong moneyline favorite  but that’s not by accident . The Marlins opened the series with a 6–2 win behind a three-run homer from Agustín Ramírez, but Atlanta’s offense will likely bounce back. They’ve averaged 5.0 runs per game when favored and gone 7–3 in their last 10 such spots. They’ve also dominated the Marlins of late, winning three of the last four matchups. Matt Olson is on a 10-game hit streak and is tied for first on the team in home runs (15) . Austin Riley is providing solid support, batting.274. Atlanta looks fresh. 

Grant Holmes on the mound offers strikeout upside (he had a career-high 15 in his last start) but has a history of allowing home runs and a stretch of up-and-down results on the road . Miami counters with Eury Pérez, still working through the rust after injury and boasting elite velocity but shaky command. Perez hasn’t gotten that out-of-sorts game in his early home start and that opens the door for Atlanta to control the game.

The series gives Atlanta a chance to stay on track. They rolled into Miami with momentum after sweeping the Mets. I expect Atlanta’s offense to make a comeback early, attacking Perez’s inconsistent control and Holmes will eventually settle in. The bullpen has been steady lately and in a park that stifles offense, that’s the recipe for a win. 

Jim's Play: 903. Braves

Seattle and Chicago square off at Wrigley Field Friday, June 20, 2025. This interleague matchup should be a good one. The Cubs are a game out of first place in the NL Central at 45-28 . They will be starting lefty Matthew Boyd. He has been solid this year with a 6-3 record and a 2.79 ERA over 80 innings . They will be going against right-hander George Kirby. He has been up and down this year, but he has had 19 strikeouts in his last two games and won both . 

The offense has been better for the Cubs. They are one of the better offenses in baseball, scoring over 5 runs a game with 99 homers and a.436 slugging percentage . Pete Crow-Armstrong has been the big bat for the Cubs. He has 20 homers and 20 steals . Seattle’s offense has been good, but not great. They have hit 91 homers and have a.394 slugging percentage. They are slightly below league average in runs scored . Cal Raleigh has 27 homers to lead the M’s. Overall, they score about 4.3 runs a game .

Early on, I think it will be a close game. However, in the late innings, the power of the Cubs could open it up. If the game goes long, Chicago will win. I am taking the Cubs in a close one.

Jim's Play: 972. Cubs 

It's an Interleague battle as the Arizona Diamondbacks (35-35) take on the Toronto Blue Jays (38-33) on Wednesday, June 18, 7:07 p.m. EST, from the Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON. This match-up features the up-and-down Arizona Diamondbacks, looking to take on the hot Toronto Blue Jays.

Arizona comes into this game with some momentum, winning five of their last seven, and two of their last three against San Diego. However, their bullpen is near the bottom of the league in ERA, hovering around 5.20, and will have to step up as Eduardo Rodríguez (6.27 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) is the scheduled starter, with occasional flashes of excellence .

Toronto (38-33) has sold tickets more consistently and have been on a hot streak, but was swept by Philadelphia and may be a little out of sync . Toronto will send out lefty Eric Lauer (2.37 ERA, 0.92 WHIP over 30 innings), who has been a stabilizing force in the rotation with his ability to limit hard contact . With a better mound, the Blue Jays have a clear edge.

The Diamondbacks have some pop in the line-up with Eugenio Suárez (21 HRs) and Corbin Carroll (20 HRs), but the Blue Jays have Bo Bichette at the plate with a steady bat and George Springer, who can blast the ball . Toronto eked out a close win last night, scoring in the ninth on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s heroics, but the Blue Jays are looking to find the offense that went AWOL in the Philly sweep .

I'm taking the hot Jays here again on Wednesday after they big comeback last night. 

Jim's Play: 974. Blue Jays 

Coming off a clean six-inning performance against Detroit, the Orioles deploy right-hander Dean Kremer to the mound. Despite his season ERA sitting at 4.99 Kremer has shown consistent success against the Rays with a 2-1 record and a 2.31 ERA in seven starts against them. He faces Zack Littell as the Rays have a strong overall ERA of 3.84 and improved performance with a 3.10 ERA in his most recent 11 starts. Littell shows a pattern of allowing long balls as demonstrated by the 21 homers he has surrendered this season, a record high for the team.

Ryan Pepiot's 11-strikeout performance led Tampa Bay to a 7-1 victory on Monday giving them momentum before tonight’s game. The Rays now hold a 39-32 record which positions them second in the AL East while trailing New York by only 3.5 games. The Orioles have faced a difficult season with a record of 30-40 which places them at the bottom of the division standings.

When playing away from Camden Yards Baltimore’s offense produces an average of just 3.6 runs per game. The Orioles have shown inconsistent performance at the plate but managed to sweep the Angels during their previous series. In Tampa Bay’s lineup Jonathan Aranda leads with a .324 average and 17 homers alongside Junior Caminero who also hit 17 homers.

All signs point to another strong night for the Rays: The Rays benefit from having a robust pitching team and their boosted confidence following Monday’s decisive win while playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Orioles need Kremer to perform at his former level against Tampa Bay to generate early runs and secure victory. 

Jim's Play: 914. Rays 

The Twins travel to Cincinnati on Tuesday June 17 with positive spirits after having a day off. Right-handed pitcher David Festa gets the nod with a 1-1 record and a 4.76 ERA that includes 25 strikeouts across 22-innings. His performance has shown moments of skill yet his 1.32 WHIP combined with recent inconsistency raises doubts regarding his ability to confront the Reds’ powerful hitters.

Southpaw Andrew Abbott will start for the Reds with an impressive 6-1 record and a 1.87 ERA through nearly 63 innings. Throughout this season he has shown dominance by combining precise command with contact suppression making it difficult for adversaries to find weaknesses. The Reds have secured seven victories in their past nine matches while they have claimed four wins from their last five home games resulting in strong performance at Great American Ball Park.

Minnesota's offensive performance measures as average since they average 4.2 runs per game which puts them around the middle rank in MLB. Without power hitters Byron Buxton the Twins' lineup struggles since players like Brooks Lee and Carlos Correa must produce more for the team. The Reds maintain an average of 4.6 runs per game with Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl leading their lineup while De La Cruz hit a home run and drove in three during Sunday's victory against Detroit.

The Reds hold the advantage in tonight’s matchup. The Reds hold the advantage because Abbott has performed at an elite level this season while Cincinnati boasts strong recent home success along with powerful offensive capabilities. 

Jim's Play: 926. Reds 

 Brandon Pfaadt will pitch for Arizona with his 8-4 record. Pfaad has an inflated 5.50 ERA along with a 1.42 WHIP and 14 home runs allowed over 70 innings that raises concerns. Pfaadt faces new challenges against Toronto tonight which casts doubt on his performance effectiveness. Chris Bassitt stands strong for Toronto with a 7-3 record and a 3.70 ERA while striking out 78 batters and maintaining a 1.31 WHIP across his 80 innings pitched by consistently delivering seven innings each game and showcasing excellent command through June's outings.

The Blue Jays carry an edge into this series as light favorites (-130 moneyline) while they maintain a strong home record of 22-13 compared to the Diamondbacks' 16-17 road performance. The Diamondbacks have established themselves as a solid offensive team by averaging 5.1 runs per game which ranks fourth in MLB thanks to Eugenio Suárez's 21 home runs and Josh Naylor’s .300 batting average. Arizona’s bullpen faces heightened demands following ace Corbin Burnes’ Tommy John surgery which led to extra burdens for their rotation and relief staff.

Toronto should maintain control early with Bassitt on the mound. I look for the Jays better home record to stand out here tonight against an average road Arizona team. 

Jim's Play: 924. Blue Jays 

The Diamondbacks plan to finish their weekend series strongly at Chase Field on Sunday, June 15, 2025, when Merrill Kelly faces off against Padres' pitcher Nick Pivetta. Kelly demonstrated impressive performance during this season achieving a 6-2 record alongside a 3.43 ERA by maintaining consistency with his fastball-slider combination. While Pivetta shows inconsistent performance, Arizona’s hitters have been performing exceptionally well leading up to this match.

Arizona’s bats have maintained a strong performance throughout June as they’ve secured eight victories in their first 11 games while producing an average of more than five runs per contest with impressive offensive statistics including a .332 on-base percentage and .449 slugging percentage. Corbin Carroll excels as he hits his 20th home run already and continues to deliver power and speed from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Ketel Marte and Josh Naylor display strong hitting performances while Geraldo Perdomo provides essential lineup balance through his defensive skills and ability to bat from both sides.

The Diamondbacks offense looks to take advantage of Chase Field’s hitter-friendly afternoon conditions if Pivetta leaves any pitches in the strike zone. Kelly has shown strong performance on the mound against San Diego with a 9–4 career record and 3.36 ERA and consistently pitched deep into games this season proving Arizona needs such durability in tight series.

I'll be on the hosts in this one as I play Arizona. 

Jim's Play: Arizona Diamondbacks

Brandon Walter will make his home debut on the mound for Houston as a rookie lefty who permitted just two earned runs across his first 11 innings while striking out 10 opponents and maintaining a .220 opponent batting average despite recovering from a shoulder injury. The Twins respond by selecting Simeon Woods Richardson who stands at a 2-3 record with a 5.74 ERA and 1.61 WHIP after nine starts without any quality performances while struggling with command that lets opponents hit .300.

The Astros have a record of 39-30 which places them at the top of the AL West with a 4.5-game lead while maintaining a three-game winning streak and having won 7 of their last 10 games which results in an 89.8% playoff probability. Despite staying competitive in the AL Central race with their 36-33 record the Twins have shown recent struggles due to heavy scoring losses against Texas in their recent series. Houston's batting performance shows a slight advantage with a .254 average and .711 OPS compared to Minnesota's .244/.706 stats.

This game looks ready to become a battle between the two teams' pitchers. Walter possesses both poise and swing-and-miss capabilities but Woods Richardson has not yet achieved reliable consistency.  The Astros can secure their fourth consecutive win if Walter controls the zone and Houston’s lineup of Pena, Altuve, Paredes, and Christian Walker delivers runs. Minnesota's ability to create early pressure through effective scratching can push Walter into trouble and lead to a tense, low-scoring game.

The game will feature stellar pitching and strong defensive play while small margins like a walk or a timely hit will determine the outcome. I look to the Astros to win this contest on Sunday. 

Jim's Play: 920. Astros 

The Cardinals and Brewers revive their historic I-55 rivalry in Milwaukee on Sunday, June 15 with the game starting at 2:10 p.m. ET (11:10 a.m. PDT). 23-year-old pitcher Quinn Priester takes the mound for the Brewers after compiling a 3.65 ERA and a 4-2 record through 61.2 innings. Veteran right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas steps up for St. Louis with a 4-3 record and 4.48 ERA through 66.1 innings.

Milwaukee currently stands at 38 wins and 33 losses after losing their latest game against St. Louis by a score of 8–5 where they faced defeat despite Nolan Gorman hitting a three-run homer and Willson Contreras delivering a late homer. This victory ended a six-game losing streak for the Cardinals who now stand at 37–34 and are intent on creating momentum. The Brewers' momentum from May has decreased during June as they experienced a 2-4 start to their current home series.

The Cardinals lead offensively because they have a .255 batting average and a .326 OBP while tying Milwaukee with 63 homers. The Cardinals depend on the strong hitting performances of Nolan Gorman and Contreras while Milwaukee responds with Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick who maintains a batting average close to .300.

The matchup features Milwaukee's rising star Priester who shows impressive stats with a 1.30 WHIP and 43 strikeouts while facing off against Mikolas who shows veteran strength but allows more hits with 70 and maintains a higher ERA. The hitters enjoy a significant advantage at American Family Field where both starting pitchers must navigate a powerful batting order.

I look for the Brewers to rebound here on Sunday and take this final game of their rivalry series on Sunday. 

Jim's Play: 906. Brewers 

The MLB matchup between Rays and Mets takes place at Citi Field on June 14, 2025 at 1:10 PM PDT.

After achieving a 45-24 record and a six-game winning streak ended by Tampa Bay’s dramatic victory on Friday, New York emerges as the favorite team. Tylor Megill (5-4, 3.76 ERA) prepares to pitch with three consecutive starts of at least five innings and just two earned runs allowed in his most recent game.

Drew Rasmussen (5-4, 2.22 ERA) stands between the Rays and victory as he brings experience to the mound with six quality starts to his recent credit including a two-run performance over six innings against Miami. The Mets lineup presents significant challenges for right-handed pitchers as they rank among the top MLB teams in wRC+ over the past two weeks which could give New York an advantage today.

This promises to be a tight contest. New York Mets exhibit elite offensive capabilities with Pete Alonso’s seventeen homers and Juan Soto’s combination of power and patience while their pitching leads MLB with the best ERA and lowest opponent batting average. Tampa Bay relies on a dynamic young lineup with Junior Caminero (15 homers) and Jonathan Aranda (.322 average) while their pitching staff demonstrated resilience by closing out Friday’s comeback attempt.

The Rays have a great shot here on Saturday and that's enough for me to give them a shot. 

Jim's Play: Take: 979. Rays

 The Thursday night matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals marks the beginning of a fascinating encounter in their intense battle for supremacy in the National League Central. Jacob Misiorowski joins the Brewers as their top prospect for his major league debut while showcasing his 103 mph fastball and 2.27 ERA from Triple-A with 80 strikeouts across 63-innings and a minor league strikeout rate of 31.6%. The Brewers brought up their new starter to American Family Field to strengthen their rotation depth while also seeking a home game advantage.

Sonny Gray arrives on the mound with a 7–1 record while having achieved consecutive shutout performances across 13-innings where he allowed only one walk and struck out 15 batters. Gray continues to deliver dependable performances which give the St. Louis strong stability when facing a Milwaukee team that is still working to find its game this month.

While the debut story attracted media attention, this matchup extends beyond surface-level excitement. With Cardinals at 36–32 and Brewers at 36–33 both teams are just half a game apart in the Central standings and Thursday's game takes on major division race ramifications as four games are up for grabs this weekend. The St. Louis Cardinals need to break their current losing streak while the Milwaukee Brewers attempt to improve their underperforming home record of 2–4 for June.

The Cardinals depend on their leading batting average (.257) and double production for offensive power but experience difficulties when playing away from home. The Milwaukee lineup relies on veteran players and standout performances behind Misiorowski following multiple offseason losses. 

A high-stakes debut will produce a classic pitching showdown. Gray delivers consistency and a solid approach while Misiorowski offers promise with the potential to ignite the game. 

For me, I'm going with experience over the potential. I know what we have with Gray, a solid starter with a 7-1 record this year. The Brewers phenom might be great, might now, but tonight I'm taking the Cardinals in this one. 

Jim's Play: 955. Cardinals 

The Yankees will play their second game their series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Kansas City faced a punishing defeat as New York rushed to a 10–2 victory during Tuesday night's opening game. Austin Wells started the game strong by hitting a three-run homer and ending with five RBIs while Aaron Judge hit a towering 469-foot blast, which became the longest hit of the season next to Mike Trout and Logan O’Hoppe's shots with a rocket-like exit velocity of 117.9 mph. Following his only subpar performance Max Fried redeemed himself by pitching seven innings and conceding just two runs which helped maintain Yankee dominance throughout the game.

New York’s Clarke Schmidt (2–3, 4.04 ERA) will start tonight’s game against Kansas City’s Kris Bubic (5–3, 1.43 ERA). After performing well against right-handed batters yet struggling against lefties, Schmidt will take the mound with six days of rest to emulate Fried's successful return. While Bubic leads all Major League pitchers in ERA he also boasts five consecutive quality starts alongside keeping opposing hitters under a .100 batting average without allowing them to hit his changeup out of the park.

Despite inconsistent offensive performances Kansas City has managed to remain competitive. The team called up promising Jac Caglianone and picked up Nick Loftin and John Rave to strengthen their lineup but they have only recorded one victory in their last four games. Bubic maintained competitive games until Tuesday when he surrendered six runs yet his team initially took early leads before their performance declined again.

The Royals have a great chance tonight with Bubic on the hill. I'll take them as a small, live dog here on Wednesday. 

Jim's Play: Take: 922. Royals +1.04 

The Atlanta Braves face the Milwaukee Brewers for their second series game at American Family Field on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025. The Brewers have established a solid 35-32 campaign while the Braves continue to struggle through their season at a 28-37 record. The starting pitchers for this game both lack extensive track records for major success. Right-handed pitcher Grant Holmes will take the mound for the Braves with a 3-4 win-loss record and a 3.99 ERA. Right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester starts for the Brewers and brings a 3-2 record together with a 3.88 ERA. Both pitchers have demonstrated moments of success but remain vulnerable since Holmes allowed 11 home runs across 13 games while Priester showcased below-average strikeout capabilities.

Through the MLB season the Braves displayed offensive inconsistency as they placed 15th in OPS and 20th in runs scored. The Brewers face more significant challenges producing runs since they hold the 25th position in OPS and the 23rd spot in runs scored. Christian Yelich stands out as Milwaukee's key player recently hitting .356 with four homers across his latest 12 games which makes him a challenging opponent for Holmes who struggles against right-handed batters. Atlanta managed to win their opening game but their dismal 11-23 road record stands out as one of the worst in the National League which might affect this matchup.

Milwaukee's bullpen ranks 16th in MLB which gives them an advantage over Atlanta whose relief corps stands at 21st. Throughout this season both teams have experienced numerous games going under the total score which indicates their matches usually feature lower scoring results. 

I just can't back a bad Braves team on the road with a sub-par pitching staff and hitting. While the Brewers aren't lighting it up either, they have a strong home advantage and pitching advantage too. 

Jim's Play: Take: 958. Brewers

The Tampa Bay Rays face the Boston Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park to keep their AL East rivalry alive after winning the previous game against the Red Sox with a 10-8 extra-inning victory. The two teams will battle for supremacy in the competitive AL East division during their upcoming divisional match-up. The Rays who are in second place with a 36-30 record demonstrate their momentum by capturing six victories from their last seven matches. Since 2023 they have demonstrated significant resilience by achieving the most impressive MLB record for teams that were behind during the 9th inning. 

The Boston Red Sox currently stand at 32-35 and need to improve their consistency especially at home where their 15-18 record shows room for improvement while their divisional record of 12-20 reflects struggles there as well.

Right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot will make his start for the Rays with a 3-5 win-loss record and a solid 3.20 ERA. Pepiot's ERA signals strong pitching but his 4.24 xERA and home run susceptibility as a fly-ball pitcher suggest he may experience regression soon. Lucas Giolito represents the Red Sox and faces challenges this season with only one win against one loss and an ERA of 6.42. Advanced metrics reveal concerning trends for Lucas Giolito who holds a 5.80 xERA and a subpar Stuff+ rating and consistently suffers from blow-up starts including a recent game where he gave up eight runs. The Rays maintain a clear advantage in the pitching matchup because of Lucas Giolito's poor performance this season.

Offensively, both teams have shown recent flashes. The Rays offense has demonstrated exceptional performance with a 121 wRC+ over the recent two-week span while the Red Sox show competitive results with a 112 wRC+. Boston has experienced difficulties with runners in scoring position as they've managed only a .174 batting average during their previous ten games. The starting pitchers have uncertainties while the bullpens are likely to be strained after Monday's long game which suggests another high-scoring match will happen in Fenway Park’s conducive environment for hitters. I give all the edges to the Rays in this contest. 

Jim's AL East Game of the Week: 965. Rays 

Tonight the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies play their second game of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park following Monday's extra-innings match where Philadelphia won 4-3 in walk-off fashion. The Cubs who hold a favorable 40-26 record will strive to continue their strong season while the Phillies who stand at 38-28 intend to keep their momentum going after breaking through a five-game losing streak.

As the Cubs take the field they will send veteran right-hander Colin Rea to pitch who currently holds a 4-2 win-loss record alongside a 3.59 ERA after 13 appearances this season. He has maintained a strong 43:17 K:BB ratio while holding opponents to three runs or less in eight out of ten starts and his road ERA stands out at 3.20. The Phillies have promising newcomer right-hander Mick Abel ready to take the mound against the Cubs with a 1-0 win-loss record and a stellar 0.79 ERA from his two appearances. Abel has demonstrated exceptional talent but must now face a formidable Cubs lineup that will be a true challenge.

Kyle Tucker leads the Cubs' offensive charge with a .279 batting average and 13 home runs and 41 RBIs while Pete Crow-Armstrong supports with a .276 average along with 17 homers and 55 RBIs. Seiya Suzuki stands out as a major force with his 16 homers and 55 RBI tally. Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos have shown strong performance during the last ten games for the Phillies despite their recent offensive struggles with Turner scoring two home runs and five RBIs and Castellanos maintaining a batting average of .286 along with three doubles and two homers. The Phillies' offense plans to use their momentum from Monday night's exciting win to their advantage.

Jim's Play: 954. Phillies 

The Cincinnati Reds will face the Cleveland Guardians in an Ohio Cup matchup at Progressive Field on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. With nearly identical records both teams approach this matchup which promises to be a closely fought battle. The Cincinnati Reds hold a 34-33 record while the Cleveland Guardians possess a 34-31 record demonstrating close competitive balance between the two teams.

The starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds will be left-hander Andrew Abbott who stands out this season thanks to his 5-1 record and 2.18 ERA across ten starts. Abbott showed strong pitching performance with a 0.55 ERA across his last six starts before his poor performance against the Milwaukee Brewers where he allowed five earned runs. In his upcoming match against Cleveland, he intends to bounce back from past performances which show a 2-1 win-loss record and a 3.65 ERA from three games against them.

The Cleveland Guardians will put right-handed Slade Cecconi on the mound who carries a 1-2 record with a 4.87 ERA from his five starts this season. Cecconi has shown promise during a few games but fails to maintain lengthy appearances which might increase the workload on the Guardians' bullpen. Cleveland has displayed inconsistent offensive performance which places them 24th in runs scored at 3.9 per game with a team batting average of .234. Jose Ramirez stands out as Cleveland's top performer while leading the team in batting average (.333), home runs (12), and RBIs (31).

The Cincinnati offense stands out with a .717 team OPS which puts them at 12th in MLB and they average 4.56 runs every game. They demonstrate proficiency in drawing walks by standing seventh in league rankings. The Reds owe much of their offensive success to Elly De La Cruz who stands at the team forefront with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. The Guardians bullpen showcases a 3.75 ERA putting them in 15th place in MLB while the Reds bullpen has a 3.85 ERA ranking 16th. Because Abbott shows strong pitching capabilities and the Reds have a slightly better offensive output this game may end with few runs scored but Cincinnati is the side I will be on in this Rivaly matchup.

Jim's Play: Take: 975. Reds

Huge series starts tonight in the NL West as the division leading Dodgers have a slim 1-game lead over 2nd place San Diego. 

The Padres have selected Nick Pivetta to start tonight. Pivetta has maintained consistent performances at Petco Park throughout the season with a 6–2 win-loss record and a 3.16 earned run average. Throughout 76 innings he's maintaining a WHIP of 1.02 demonstrating his strong command abilities and efficiency. Pivetta demonstrates elite home performance with a 2.64 ERA when pitching in San Diego which makes him dependable during important divisional games.

Dustin May starts for LA with 3-4 record and a slightly high 4.09 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. May posted 61.2 innings that featured a recent game with two runs over six innings but his road ERA stands at 4.76 which is higher than his home performance .

When it comes to relief performance and present team strength San Diego holds the advantage over the bullpen depth. San Diego’s relief pitchers achieved a 3.21 ERA while successfully recording saves in 13 out of 15 opportunities during the past 15 games. The Dodgers experienced five road losses in their last seven games and their bullpen ranks among the bottom third of MLB teams for recent ERA performance. They have been hit hard by injuries to thier pitching staff with well over 10 arms on the IL right now. 

Petco trends indicate Padres have won 20 and lost 10 at home while maintaining an unbeaten streak in five consecutive divisional matches. The combination of Pivetta’s pitching control with strong bullpen assistance and Padres home field advantage makes the full-game play heavily favor a San Diego victory tonight.

Jim's Play: 908. Padres +1.04 

The Braves enter Sunday’s game on June 8 with several important things to demonstrate. The team has gone through a difficult period with six consecutive losses following their 3-2 defeat to San Francisco on Friday when Matt Chapman won the game with a walk off homer. The team is struggling to regain momentum and confidence after a tough losing streak while their lineup continues to perform below the National League's top tier. 

Spencer Strider steps onto the mound for Atlanta but hasn't shown the dominance he displayed in 2023. Strider stands winless after four starts while his 5.68 ERA highlights his battle to control hard contact and his lack of swing and miss performance in recent games. He has achieved a favorable 2-1 record against San Francisco with a tight 3.57 ERA and Oracle Park's expansive outfield may benefit his performance.

The Giants respond by sending Landen Roupp to the mound who has performed well throughout this season. Through his recent starts he’s posted a 3-4 win-loss record along with a 3.18 ERA and managed to shut out three opponents within his past four games. He maintains his position as a control pitcher by using a combination of sinker and curve to allow only one earned run throughout his last 22 innings in May. 

Offensively, both teams have had trouble producing. The Braves' batting average stands at .245 with a slugging percentage of .388 while San Francisco hitters have managed only .231/.302/.286 over their last two weeks. Both teams’ lineups struggle to perform against right-handed pitchers in this matchup.

The opening pitch for Sunday's game will take place at 4:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. PT). Pitching will dominate when you expect a game with low scoring. Atlanta's success depends on Strider’s ability to shut down the underperforming Giants offense. San Francisco needs Roupp to provide length followed by their bullpen's ability to finish the game. I'm a bit surprised that the oddsmaker has made the Braves a favorite considering their losing streak and lack of confidence. I'll take the home club here in the Giants. 

Jim's Play: 962. Giants 

The Great American Ball Park will host a thrilling final match-up between Arizona and Cincinnati this Sunday afternoon. The Diamondbacks who currently have a 31–31 record will depend on righty Zac Gallen who has demonstrated solid road performance with a 3.45 ERA across five away starts and 34 strikeouts in 31-innings. Gallen needs to maintain his road performance to effectively face the Reds' lineup and its top speed threat Elly De La Cruz.

The Reds respond by deploying right-handed pitcher Brady Singer who achieved a 4.67 ERA and 1.34 WHIP throughout the season while recording a 3-2 record and a 3.62 ERA across six home starts . Despite his recent control issues with multiple walks per outing Singer has limited Arizona hitters to a .194 batting average and .219 wOBA across 62 previous at-bats.

Arizona maintains a powerful offense that achieves both a .255 batting average and a .448 slugging percentage and it ranks fourth in the MLB with an average of 5.1 runs scored per game. Corbin Carroll shines but Ketel Marte's performance stands apart after he moved past Steve Finley on the franchise RBI list while delivering powerful hits. De La Cruz's power-speed mix propelled the Reds to an outstanding rebound game on Saturday when seven out of nine starting players recorded hits while Gavin Lux hit a grand slam during their 13–1 victory.

The game should be competitive with pitching matchups playing a crucial role and small advantages becoming significant. The game could remain close if Gallen maintains his performance on the road and Singer controls the strike zone. 

I'm taking the Reds at home as a nice dog here on Sunday. Singer is a quality starter and if he can control the walks he will have the team in this game at the end. 

Jim's Play: 956. Reds

On Friday, June 6th 2025 the Milwaukee Brewers' American Family Field hosts the opening of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. The game begins at 5:10 PM PDT.

With a record of 35-26 this season, the Padres will send right-handed pitcher Randy Vasquez to take the mound. Vasquez has a 3-4 record with a 3.99 ERA after pitching 58.2 innings this season. Vasquez has faced control issues by giving away 30 walks and recording 35 strikeouts while also surrendering seven home runs during his five most recent starts. During his latest game against the Pirates he allowed four runs throughout 3.1 innings.

The Brewers will counter with right-hander Chad Patrick. Patrick maintains consistent performance for Milwaukee's rotation with a 3-4 record, 2.97 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP through 63.2 innings. Throughout his 12 starts this season Patrick has maintained control by allowing three earned runs or less in each game including a recent six-inning performance against the Phillies where he gave up just two runs.

Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio are the primary offensive leaders for the Brewers. After earning National League Player of the Week honors, Yelich maintains a .237 batting average while producing 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. Chourio has a batting average of .260 with 10 home runs and 37 runs batted in. Manny Machado leads the Padres with a .317 batting average and Fernando Tatis Jr. tops the team with his 13 home runs.

I will take the home team here on Friday as the Brewers have been more consistent and I like their starter more in this matchup. 

Jim's Play:  956. Brewers -1.48 

Oracle Park hosts the conclusion of the four-game series between the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants today when first pitch is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. PT. With a 35–25 record the Padres strive to win the series while the Giants at 34–28 attempt to tie the series following their dramatic 6–5 comeback victory last night.

The San Diego Padres start their game with right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease who currently stands at a 1–4 record with a 4.66 ERA. Cease has shown impressive strikeout capability by securing 78 strikeouts during his 63.2 innings of work. Cease's 1.29 WHIP and 5.68 ERA during road games demonstrate his difficulty in controlling baserunners and runs.

Giants' ace Robbie Ray (7–1, 2.43 ERA) has maintained a dominant presence throughout this season while posting a 1.89 ERA during home games. San Francisco relies heavily on Ray's consistent performance and run suppression which proves essential since they face offensive challenges.

The Padres' offense received productive performances from Gavin Sheets who drove in four runs during last night's game and Fernando Tatis Jr. who keeps up his .273 batting average alongside his 13 home runs. The Giants ended their 16-game stretch of scoring only four runs or less thanks to Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman who hit his 11th homer this season.

The relief pitchers for the Giants stand out in this series due to Randy Rodríguez's first career save and their league-leading 2.38 ERA.

Jim's NL West Game of the Week: 904. Giants -1.20  

The Toronto Blue Jays will host the Philadelphia Phillies at Rogers Centre on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The Phillies ended their four-game losing streak with an 8–3 series opening win. Coming back from injury Bryce Harper delivered a home run on his first at-bat while helping the team score six runs during the first inning. Trea Turner delivered an impressive performance by hitting three singles and two home runs which resulted in three RBIs.

Rookie right-hander Mick Abel will start for the Phillies in his second big league appearance on the mound. Abel demonstrated his potential as a valuable rotation member during his debut on May 18 by delivering six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts while avoiding any walks. Veteran right-hander Jose Berríos is scheduled to pitch for the Blue Jays and he currently has a 2–2 record with a 3.86 ERA this season. Berríos delivered an impressive performance against the Athletics by pitching six scoreless innings and recording nine strikeouts.

The Phillies' hitters intend to keep their current winning streak alive while the Blue Jays plan to recover their standing and level the series. I like the Jays here in this nightcap. 

Jim's Play: 978. Blue Jays 

The Boston Red Sox host the Los Angeles Angels for their final series game at Fenway Park today as first pitch takes place at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Angels secured their first two games with a thrilling 4–3 extra-innings victory last night as they attempt to finalize their series sweep. The Red Sox will focus on preventing their sixth consecutive defeat while ending their recent run of narrow losses.

The game will feature right-handed pitchers Jose Soriano for the Angels and Lucas Giolito toeing the rubber for the Red Sox. Soriano has posted a 4–5 record and a 3.41 ERA so far this season while Giolito has a 1–1 record with a 4.78 ERA. Both teams are dealing with injuries: The Angels moved third baseman Yoan Moncada and reliever Robert Stephenson to the injured list while the Red Sox bullpen faces strain after their starters provided short outings recently.

In last night's victory the Angels' offensive success stemmed from Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel who delivered crucial hits. The Boston lineup has shown significant difficulties in high-pressure moments which is apparent from their 6–17 record in one-run games throughout this season. To avoid the sweep and regain momentum the Red Sox require both a powerful game from Giolito and well-timed hitting.

I'll take the Sox to avoid the sweep at home. 

Jim's Play: 964. Red Sox 

The Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates begin their three-game series tonight at PNC Park starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Astros hold a 32–27 record which places them second in the AL West whereas the Pirates trail are 22–38 and that puts them last in the NL Central.

The Astros begin their pitching rotation with Lance McCullers Jr. After coming back from a two-year injury layoff starting May 4 McCullers exhibited glimpses of his previous abilities with his most recent start against Oakland featuring 12 strikeouts. McCullers continues to develop consistency as he averages over three innings per start while maintaining a 5.89 ERA. The Astros need McCullers to pitch into later innings because injuries have limited their rotation options.

The Pirates respond by deploying Paul Skenes who maintains a 2.15 ERA along with 77 strikeouts across 75.1 innings. Skenes stands out as Pittsburgh's best pitcher and NL Cy Young candidate with five straight quality starts while maintaining a .187 opponent batting average.

The absence of Yordan Alvarez reduces the offensive power of the Astros' lineup. Andrew McCutchen has stepped up for the struggling Pirates' offense by hitting home runs in back-to-back games.

The Pirates may be having an off season, but Skenes is not and I'll back him here on Tuesday. 

Jim's Play: 926. Pirates -1.50

The Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros proceed with their weekend series on Saturday, May 31, 2025, when they play at Minute Maid Park. For their upcoming game Tampa Bay starts with right-hander Zack Littell who holds a 4-5 record and a 3.97 ERA. Throughout most of his appearances this season he’s proven dependable which helped give the Rays the opportunity to win games. Zack Littell relies on his command and weak contact control to perform effectively at Houston’s hitter-friendly stadium by maintaining command of the game.

Rookie lefty Colton Gordon has managed to quietly establish a respectable beginning to his MLB career evidenced by his 3.52 ERA across limited appearances. His ability to maintain composure along with precise control allowed him to navigate through challenging batting orders during his initial appearances. Saturday presents a chance to measure up against a Rays team that excels in extended at-bats and aggressive base running.

Houston secured a narrow 2-1 victory on Friday with Framber Valdez's complete performance and Yainer Diaz's walk-off homer. The outcome demonstrates that both teams' lineups are currently experiencing difficulties. Houston lacks several important players which has led to their inconsistent hitting performance while Tampa Bay struggles to produce runs during their away games.

With the injury difficulties the Astros have had, I look for the Rays to take this contest on Saturday. 

Jim's Play: 971. Rays +1.04

The Chicago White Sox face off against the Baltimore Orioles in their ongoing series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards beginning with first pitch at 4:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 31. ET. Each team works to create momentum after experiencing a difficult season.

Right-hander Davis Martin will take his place on the mound for the White Sox. As part of Chicago's pitching staff Martin has stood out by recording a 2-5 win-loss rate and a 3.45 ERA throughout his 62.2 innings this season. During his past three appearances, he allowed only five earned runs in 20 innings while delivering consistent quality starts. The White Sox have relied on Martin's skill to minimize damage and keep home runs to a minimum because their team has faced offensive difficulties.

Right-hander Dean Kremer from the Orioles takes the mound with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses and a 5.02 ERA through 61 innings pitched. Through an inconsistent season Kremer found success recently against the Red Sox by pitching 5.1 innings without allowing a run to help secure a 5-1 win. The Orioles expect Dean Kremer to replicate his recent strong performance to help stabilize their unpredictable pitching staff.

The White Sox have had offensive difficulties as evidenced by their team batting average of .221 and on-base percentage of .293. The team's highest batting average belongs to Lenyn Sosa at .286 while Miguel Vargas demonstrates power hitting with eight home runs and 26 RBIs. The Orioles have achieved a batting average of .237 along with a .303 on-base percentage. Ryan O'Hearn stands out as the team leader with a batting average of .335, a .423 OBP and a .543 slugging percentage. Cedric Mullins tops his team with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs.

The Orioles defeated the White Sox 2-1 in Friday's series opener because Zach Eflin delivered seven shutout innings and Ramón Urías hit a crucial sixth-inning sacrifice fly. Ryan Mountcastle successfully stole home during a double steal play but exited the game afterward because of a hamstring injury. The White Sox scored in the ninth inning but failed to finish their comeback attempt.

The White Sox have their best pitcher on the mound today and that will give them a shot. The O's are one of the biggest busts in baseball this year and we'll see that continue here on Saturday as the White Sox have a great shot at a huge upset win. 

Jim's Play: 965. White Sox +1.70 

The Cincinnati Reds face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field for their weekend series matchup on Saturday, May 31, 2025 with the game starting at 2:20 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs choose right-hander Ben Brown to start while the Cincinnati Reds respond with left-hander Nick Lodolo.

Brown has recorded a 3-3 win-loss record while posting a 6.39 ERA across 50.2 innings this season. Brown faced difficulties during his last appearance against the Reds on May 25 by surrendering eight runs on seven hits across 4.1 innings before the Cubs staged a comeback to win 11-8. Brown has struggled against Cincinnati as he holds a 0-2 record with a 10.80 ERA across 13.1 innings pitched against the Reds.

Lodolo has demonstrated reliable performance in the Reds' rotation by achieving a 4-4 win-loss record and maintaining a 3.39 ERA during 63.2 innings pitched this season. During his latest start against the Cubs on May 25 Lodolo permitted three runs while giving up six hits through five innings where he struck out six batters.

Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds' offense with his dynamic performances at the top of their lineup. Elly De La Cruz became the first Major League player to accumulate 115 extra-base hits and 115 stolen bases during his first 300 games.

The Cubs have maintained their home field advantage by securing six consecutive victories and winning eight out of their last nine outings at Wrigley Field. The Cubs suffered a 6-2 defeat from the Reds during their series opener on Friday.

Reds are a nice dog here on Saturday against a very poor Chicago starter. Lots of value taking the dog here on Saturday. 

Jim's Play: 951. Reds +1.35 

The New York Yankees face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium tonight to revive their legendary rivalry. The Dodgers took their 2024 World Series title in five games during their last matchup against the Yankees. The Yankees lead the American League with a 35–20 record while the Dodgers are 34–22 and 1st place in the NL West.

Max Fried leads the Yankees with a 7–0 record and 1.29 ERA against Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin who has a 2–1 record and 4.68 ERA. Max Fried has dominated the season so far whereas Tony Gonsolin looks to establish consistent performance on the mound.

Offensively, both teams are loaded with talent. Aaron Judge leads the American League with a .391 batting average and 18 home runs as Yankees captain. For offense, the Dodgers respond with Shohei Ohtani who leads major league home runs with 20 while Freddie Freeman maintains a solid .359 batting average.

Have to always love this rivalry but for me I'm sticking with a proven winner this year in Fried. 

Jim's Play 929. Yankees -1.13

The second game of today's doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park is shaping up to be a compelling matchup, featuring two of the National League's premier pitchers: Chris Sale and Zack Wheeler. 

Chris Sale, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, has been in excellent form this May, posting a 1.37 ERA over four starts and striking out 32 batters in 26.1 innings. Overall, he's 2-3 with a 3.36 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 61.2 innings this season. Sale's ability to dominate hitters with his sharp slider and pinpoint control makes him a formidable opponent.  

Opposing him is Zack Wheeler, last year's Cy Young runner-up, who enters the game with a 6-1 record and a 2.42 ERA. He's currently on a 22 2/3-inning scoreless streak, showcasing his consistency and effectiveness on the mound. Wheeler's command of his fastball and ability to mix pitches effectively have been key to his success this season.  

Offensively, the Phillies have been on a hot streak, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 18 home runs and 40 RBIs, while Trea Turner boasts a .305 batting average. The Braves, meanwhile, have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games. Marcell Ozuna has been a bright spot, hitting .279 with a .425 on-base percentage, and Matt Olson has contributed 12 home runs.  

Should be a great matchup here in the nightcap, but Wheeler has been better and the Phillies a much hotter team. I'll take the Phils in game 2.  

Jim's Play: 952. Phillies Game 2  (Wheeler)

The Cincinnati Reds face the Kansas City Royals for the final game of their series at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, with the first pitch at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Reds won their first two matchups with scores of 7-4 and 7-2 and now seek to complete the series sweep.

Ex-Kansas City pitcher Brady Singer delivered a performance that helped the Reds secure a 7-2 victory against his previous team on Tuesday. Traded to the Cincinnati Reds from Kansas City in November Singer limited his former team to two runs across seven innings while striking out three batters and walking one to achieve his sixth win this season. The Reds' offensive strength came from Elly De La Cruz who hit two solo home runs making this his second multi-home run game this season. Tyler Stephenson hit a home run while TJ Friedl compiled his fifth straight game with multiple hits. Santiago Espinal generated an RBI double while Spencer Steer brought in an RBI through a bases-loaded walk. Over two games in this series the Reds have scored a total of 14 runs.

Hunter Greene (4-2, 2.54 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds in the series finale as their starting pitcher. As a dependable member of the rotation Hunter Greene's performance becomes key to achieving the sweep. The Royals will send left-hander Noah Cameron (1-1, 0.93 ERA) to the mound who demonstrated promise during his few appearances this season.

The Reds' offensive production has been driven by Elly De La Cruz who has hit 11 home runs this season to match Pete Rose's team record for switch-hitters through five multi-homer games. The Royals face difficulties in producing runs and have averaged only 2.7 runs during their past 16 games while enduring a 5-11 losing streak.

I'll be taking the Reds here on Wednesday to sweep the series against Kansas City. 

Jim's Play: 927. Reds -1.17

The three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles concludes at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. The teams stand even at 1-1 in the series after the Orioles won the first game 5-2 and the Cardinals took the second game 7-4.

Nolan Arenado hit a pivotal go-ahead home run during the eighth inning to secure a comeback victory for the Cardinals in Tuesday's game. Earlier in the contest Lars Nootbaar delivered a two-run homer that helped his team. The Cardinals' relief pitchers performed well while the Orioles failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position, managing only 1 hit in 14 opportunities.

The Cardinals' Miles Mikolas takes the mound against Orioles' Cade Povich in Wednesday's pitching matchup. The Cardinals have earned five victories against one loss during Mikolas' six recent starts when he maintained a 1.34 ERA. Left-handed pitcher Cade Povich turned 25 this year and demonstrated recent performance gains with his ERA standing at 2.53 across his last two starts.

Brendan Donovan leads the Cardinals offensively with his .328 batting average and Willson Contreras tops the team with 29 RBIs. Ryan O'Hearn has stood out for the Orioles by maintaining a .340 batting average while achieving a .558 slugging percentage.

Both teams view this game as crucial because they seek to gain momentum. The Cardinals hope to maintain their position in the NL Central while the Orioles focus on reviving their season. I give the edge here to the visitors. I'm taking the Cardinals to take the rubber game and the series. 

Jim's Play 923. Cardinals +1.07

The Los Angeles Dodgers will face the New York Mets for the final game of their three-game series at Citi Field on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 7:10 p.m. ET. The series stands even at one game apiece after the Dodgers defeated the Mets 7–5 through extra innings on Friday and the Mets won 5–2 on Saturday.

The Dodgers will start right-hander Landon Knack who brings a 2–1 career record along with a 6.17 ERA from 23.1 innings pitched. Right-hander Landon Knack has yielded 26 hits, struck out 23 batters and issued 10 walks while giving up five home runs throughout his limited playing time this season. The Mets' right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga stands as the opponent with a 4–3 win-loss record and a remarkable 1.43 ERA after pitching 50.1 innings while accumulating 47 strikeouts and giving up 22 walks.

Shohei Ohtani leads the Dodgers' offense with his major league-leading 17 homers and a .296 batting average while driving in 31 runs. Teoscar Hernández stands out as a major contributor with 41 runs batted in. Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 38 RBIs and maintains a .292 batting average while Francisco Lindor contributes with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs.

The Dodgers have had major injuries to the pitching staff with 14 starters/relievers currently on the IL.  That has hurt the team, especially in holding leads of late. 

With Juan Soto finally lookign like his old self of last year, the Mets will take advantage of this LA depleted bullpen and take tonights rubber game and the series. 

Jim's Play: 962. Mets 

The three-game series between the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins concludes Sunday afternoon at Target Field with the first pitch at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Twins won the first two games of this series as both matches ended dramatically with Brooks Lee hitting the game-winning RBI single in the final inning on Saturday to secure a 5-4 victory.

Left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic will start for Kansas City. Bubic has performed exceptionally well this season with a 5-2 win-loss record and a 1.47 ERA while pitching 61.1 innings and striking out 61 batters but giving up only 47 hits. Minnesota's right-handed pitcher Bailey Ober will face him with a 4-1 win-loss record, a 3.68 ERA from 51.1 innings of work, and totals of 43 strikeouts against 12 walks .

Vinnie Pasquantino heads the Royals' offensive lineup while achieving a .244 batting average with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. Byron Buxton for the Twins has hit 10 home runs and recorded 27 RBIs while sustaining a .261 batting average.

The Twins have enjoyed a winning run by taking 16 out of their last 18 games while their bullpen performance ranks third in the MLB. The Royals have experienced offensive difficulties by scoring an average of only 3.4 runs per game as they stand at the 26th position in the league rankings.

A low-scoring game is anticipated because of the strong pitching matchup between both teams and the Royals' ongoing offensive difficulties. I will back the Royals here today as they look to salvage one game in this series. 

Jim's Play: 971. Royals 

Fenway Park hosts the final game between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. With their record at 27–27 Boston hopes to achieve a win in their series against the Baltimore Orioles who have a dismal 17–34 standing.

The Red Sox have maintained a strong offensive streak by averaging almost six runs during their ten most recent games. Rafael Devers stands at the forefront of the team's performance with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs while maintaining a .303 batting average. Jarren Duran has posted a batting average of .272 while Wilyer Abreu has shown power by hitting 12 home runs which matches Devers' total.

Walker Buehler will start for Boston and he currently stands at a 4–1 with a 4.00 ERA for the season. Buehler has limited his opponents to 32 hits across 36 innings while achieving 33 strikeouts.

Dean Kremer serves as Baltimore's starter with a challenging 3–5 record and a 5.50 ERA this season. Kremer's record of 62 hits and 10 home runs across 55.2 innings represents a significant risk when facing Boston's formidable lineup.

The Orioles' offensive performance shows inconsistency as they score less than four runs per game on average. Though Cedric Mullins leads the team with 10 home runs the rest of the lineup has not produced consistent results.

With Beuhler on the hill and their recent strong performances, the Sox look to be the standout play here on Sunday. 

Jim's Play: 966. Red Sox 

Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will play today at 4:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park.  The Cubs currently lead the NL Central with a 31–20 record following their dominant 13–6 win against the Reds last night. Pete Crow-Armstrong proved to be the most impressive player of the game by hitting two home runs including a decisive go-ahead grand slam and driving in a total of six runs.

Colin Rea, the right-handed pitcher for the Cubs has a 3–0 record with a 2.38 ERA after pitching 41.2 innings this season. Left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott will make his appearance for the Reds with a perfect 3–0 record and maintains an outstanding 1.80 ERA in 35 innings.

The Cubs sit atop Major League Baseball with an impressive average of 5.86 runs per game. The Cubs' lineup has received significant strength from Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki with additional support from Crow-Armstrong's latest standout performances. Elly De La Cruz tops the Reds with eight home runs and 33 RBIs yet their offense has failed to demonstrate consistent performance specifically against left-handed pitchers.

Today's game will deliver an exciting battle because both teams bring undefeated pitchers to the mound while the Cubs show strong offensive performance as they try to expand their division lead against a Reds team aiming to even their series record.  I will stick with the Reds here today as they bounce back after that embarrassing loss yesterday. 

Jim’s Play: Reds

The Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals meet today at Busch Stadium in their second matchup of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET. The Diamondbacks need to recover from their three-game losing streak while the Cardinals strive to extend their 4–3 victory from Friday night when Nolan Arenado hit a game-changing bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning.

The Diamondbacks will have right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly take the mound for this matchup. Throughout the season Kelly maintained consistency which resulted in a 5–2 record and 3.26 ERA. His career statistics against St. Louis show a 3–1 win-loss record and a 2.75 ERA from six total starts . Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore has compiled a 3–3 win-loss record and a 2.92 ERA throughout the current season. Matthew Liberatore will make his first start against the Diamondbacks during his career.

Corbin Carroll leads the Diamondbacks' offense with 15 home runs and 34 runs batted in while maintaining a batting average of .271. Geraldo Perdomo maintains a .299 batting average while accumulating 37 RBIs. Ivan Herrera demonstrated recent productivity for the Cardinals by achieving a 15-for-35 batting average and nine RBIs across his last ten games while Lars Nootbaar led the team in home runs with seven.

The upcoming match appears to be a competitive battle between two evenly matched teams as both sides strive to build momentum in their divisions with strong pitching performances from both sides.  I like the Cardinals today against a struggling D’backs team. 

Jim’s Play: St Louis Cardinals

The Miami Marlins will face the Los Angeles Angels to begin their three-game series at Angel Stadium with the first pitch at 9:38 p.m. ET. Following a series defeat to the Chicago Cubs the  Marlins stand at 19–29 and look for a win here tonight. Currently standing at 24–25 the Angels plan to extend their positive streak after defeating the Oakland Athletics 10–5. The Angels are also coming off a recent three games sweep of the Dodgers in their Freeway Series. 

Miami's pitcher Sandy Alcantara has recorded a 2–6 win-loss record and a 7.99 ERA during this season. Alcantara has struggled during his most recent six starts with a 9.91 ERA. The Angels will respond with Yusei Kikuchi who currently stands at a record of 0–4 and a 3.50 ERA. Kikuchi has managed to allow just two earned runs or less in six of his seven recent starts despite not achieving any wins.

The Angels' offensive strength comes from Taylor Ward and Logan O’Hoppe who each hit 13 home runs this season. Ward maintains an eight-game hitting streak while achieving a batting average of .372 and totaling six home runs and 17 RBIs throughout this period. Kyle Stowers leads the Marlins' unstable offense with his 10 home runs and 30 RBIs.

The team's pitching depth has been problematic for both clubs. The Marlins hold the 29th place in ERA with their mark at 5.46 while the Angels stand at 25th position with a 5.01 ERA.

Kikuchi has looked good this year despite not having any wins. I like him here tonight to get that first “W.”

Jim’s Play: LA Angels. 

Tonight at Busch Stadium the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks begin a three-game series with first pitch set for 8:15 p.m. ET. The Cardinals and Diamondbacks both aim to recover from their recent back-to-back series defeats. The Cardinals lost two out of three games to Detroit while the Diamondbacks couldn't complete their series against the Dodgers. The Cardinals stand second in the NL Central at 27–23 while the Diamondbacks occupy fourth place in the NL West at 26–24.

Arizona's right-hander Zac Gallen (3–5, 5.14 ERA) takes the mound to face St. Louis' Miles Mikolas (3–2, 3.77 ERA). Gallen struggled against Colorado in his most recent game when he gave up six runs and four home runs during five innings. Gallen's recent difficulties haven't overshadowed his impressive history against the Cardinals as he maintains a 3.12 ERA and 21 strikeouts across three career starts. Mikolas has shown strong performance by pitching six shutout innings against Kansas City in his most recent outing. His overall batting average against Arizona stands at .202 from six career matchups.

The Cardinals' offensive performance is driven by Brendan Donovan who maintains a .323 batting average along with Lars Nootbaar who leads the team with seven home runs. Corbin Carroll leads the Diamondbacks with 15 home runs this season which puts him fifth in the major league rankings. Carroll's performance has declined significantly with a batting average of .190 through his most recent five games.

I like Mikolas here tonight against Gallen. Plus the Cardinals have been better offensively of late. 

Jim’s Play: St Louis Cardinals. 

Tonight at Citi Field the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets will start their three-game series with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. The Dodgers defeated the Mets in six games during the 2024 National League Championship Series before winning the World Series title.

The Dodgers begin the series with a 31–19 record and sit at the top of the NL West. The Mets stand at 30–20 and trail the Phillies in the NL East. Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for Los Angeles. Kershaw makes only his second start this season season after giving up five earned runs across four innings during his first outing. Griffin Canning stands out in the Mets' rotation as their right-handed pitcher with a 5–1 win-loss record and a 2.47 ERA.

The Dodgers' offensive leader trio consists of Shohei Ohtani alongside Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Shohei Ohtani recorded 17 home runs and 31 RBIs through the season. Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor join Juan Soto in the Mets' batting order. Alonso has not hit any home runs in his most recent 15 games but continues to be among the top players in the league for both exit velocity and hard-hit percentage.

Both teams are dealing with injuries. Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Blake Snell6 and Roki Sasaki remain sidelined because of shoulder injuries. Plus they have a bullpen that has has been battling injuries. 

Not sure if Kershaw will regain the form he had two seasons ago. Tonight, the Mets have the better pitcher on the hill and that’s who I will go with.

Jim’s Play: NY Mets. 

The Seattle Mariners take on Houston Astros in a four-game series beginning Thursday at Daikin Park with first pitch at 8:10 p.m. ET. George Kirby makes his 2025 debut on the mound for the AL West leading Mariners at 28–20. Kirby has performed exceptionally against the Astros with seven career starts resulting in a 3–0 record and a 1.55 ERA. The Houston Astros send Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound with a 0–1 record and a 7.88 ERA this season while their standing remains at 25–24.

Houston's pitching staff suffered injury setbacks as Ronel Blanco joined Hayden Wesneski and Spencer Arrighetti on the injured list after developing elbow soreness. The Houston Astros expect Isaac Paredes and Jake Meyers to help Lance McCullers Jr. reverse their recent losing streak.

The Seattle bullpen excelled during the season thanks to closer Andres Munoz who delivered 15 straight scoreless appearances before earning the AL Reliever of the Month award for March/April. Cal Raleigh leads the team offensively with 16 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Seattle holds the advantage in the series opener because Kirby has performed well against Houston while the Astros struggle with their pitching. 

Jim’s Free Play: 915. Mariners

The Los Angeles Angels will face the Oakland Athletics in the final game of their four-game series today at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento starting at 3:35 p.m. ET. The Angels' winning streak reached six games after winning three consecutive matches including Wednesday's 10–5 victory. Logan O’Hoppe led the offense by hitting two home runs and collecting three RBIs while Jo Adell and Zach Neto both hit home runs.

The Angels' starting pitcher will be left-handed Tyler Anderson who boasts a 2–1 win-loss record and maintains a 3.04 ERA through 50.1 innings pitched. Anderson has consistently delivered strong performances in the rotation while maintaining control over opposing hitters. Facing him for the Athletics will be right-hander Luis Severino who brings a 1–4 record and a 4.22 ERA after pitching 59.2 innings. Luis Severino has demonstrated moments of his previous dominance but faces challenges with maintaining consistency throughout this season.

Multiple Angels players have driven their offense to a high level of performance which has led to their recent success. The Athletics find themselves trapped in an eight-game losing streak while facing difficulties achieving momentum from their batting lineup and pitching staff. The Oakland relief pitching remains a major problem since they frequently fail to maintain game leads and prevent opponents from gaining ground.

The Angels look to sweep the series while advancing their position in the AL West standings based on their present performance.  The Angels a nice dog here today despite having the better pitcher and momentum going in this matchup.  I can’t pass on such a live dog. 

Jim’s Play: Angels 

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers face off tonight at Dodger Stadium to decide their three-game series, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. PT. The series is currently tied 1–1, following a dramatic 4–3 Dodgers win in extra innings on Tuesday that snapped their four-game losing streak.  

On the mound for Arizona is right-hander Corbin Burnes, who has been in excellent form, posting a 3–1 record with a 2.56 ERA over 45.2 innings. Burnes has not allowed a run in his last two starts, totaling 13 innings with 15 strikeouts. He'll be looking to continue his dominance against a potent Dodgers lineup. 

The Dodgers counter with right-hander Dustin May, who holds a 1–4 record and a 4.43 ERA over 44.2 innings this season. May is coming off four days' rest and will be tasked with containing a Diamondbacks offense that ranks fifth in MLB, averaging 5.25 runs per game.  

Offensively, the Diamondbacks are led by Corbin Carroll, who has 15 home runs and 34 RBIs, and Eugenio Suárez, who leads the team with 38 RBIs. The Dodgers' lineup features Shohei Ohtani, batting .311 with a MLB leading 17 home runs and 31 RBIs, and Freddie Freeman, who boasts a .371 average with a .671 slugging percentage.  

The Dodgers also have one of the best teams in baseball with runners in scoring position (RISP) led by catch Will Smith who is hitting over .500 in that role this year. 

The Dodgers bullpen has been hit hard by injuries as they lack a right handed closer and Scott blew the save last night.  In addition, the Dodgers have fallen behind in four straight games giving up 1st inning runs.  All which the D’backs can take advantage of here  tonight. 

I’m taking the D’backs with the much better starter on the hill and a Dodgers team that has bullpen problems right now. 

Jim’s Play:  959. Diamondbacks

Tuesday night at Rogers Centre marks the start of a three-game interleague matchup between the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays with the first pitch at 7:07 p.m. ET. The San Diego team stands at 27–18 and trails the Dodgers in the NL West by just half a game while Toronto maintains a 22–24 record and seeks improvement in the AL East.

Right-hander Dylan Cease (1–2, 4.60 ERA) will be pitching for the Padres. Dylan Cease delivered a strong performance throughout May by producing a 2.60 ERA and maintaining a .153 opponent batting average across his last three starts. He demonstrated his past effectiveness against Toronto by giving up only one earned run during his two career starts against them.

Chris Bassitt (3–2, 3.16 ERA) will pitch for the Blue Jays against him. Bassitt demonstrated reliability by allowing just one run to Tampa Bay in his most recent game. His performance against the Padres shows a 4.91 ERA across five games.

The Padres typically score an average of 4.50 runs per game but their offense has faltered lately with only one run scored per game during their past three games. The Blue Jays have scored an average of 3.93 runs per game but their recent batting performance shows difficulties as they only managed 2.66 runs per game in their three most recent matches.

The Padres bullpen has shown better effectiveness during this season by maintaining a 3.26 ERA compared to the Blue Jays' 3.86 ERA. San Diego stands to benefit from their bullpen strength in the game's final stages.

The matchup between these two teams shows both sides searching for stable performance. The starting pitchers will control the game while both teams' offenses show signs of difficulty leading to a tight, low-scoring matchup. The Padres gain a greater advantage when Cease starts because his performance in May has been excellent. 

Jim’s Play: 923. Padres 

The Cleveland Guardians face the Cincinnati Reds in the final matchup of their three-game series at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati today Sunday May 18 2025. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET.

The Reds took the first two games of their series including their 4-1 win on Saturday and are now aiming for a full series sweep.

Lis Ortiz is 2-4 record with a 4.78 ERA and will serve as the starting pitcher for Cleveland today. Throughout the season Ortiz has shown inconsistent performance as a pitcher and allowed 17 runs in 21 innings away from home.

The Reds will counter with left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott (2-0, 2.10 ERA) to start on the mound. Abbott has demonstrated top-notch pitching by allowing only one run during his last 15 innings and seven runs over 30 innings this season.

The Guardians' recent performance shows struggles as their team lost three consecutive games plus two additional defeats in their last seven matches. The team is struggling offensively with a batting average of .232 that puts their run-scoring at the 20th position in the league standings.

After accumulating three consecutive victories the Reds plan to extend their winning streak. Baseball statistics reveal that the Reds rank ninth in runs scored and hold the top position for stolen bases showing their strong focus on aggressive baserunning.

The Reds have strong offensive momentum and Abbott's recent performance puts Cincinnati in position to win this game and sweep the series. The Guardians have struggled and their starter has not been good of late.  This one tilts big time to a Reds sweep on Sunday.

Take: 916. Reds -1.21 (MLB Game of the Week)

The Atlanta Braves face Boston Red Sox in an interleague matchup at Fenway Park with first pitch at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday. The Braves reached their first winning season record of 23–22 after their 4–2 Friday night victory which featured home runs by Matt Olson and Sean Murphy and a strong performance from former Red Sox ace Chris Sale.

Boston has lost four consecutive games and hopes Lucas Giolito can help them stop their losing streak. After allowing only one run across 6 2/3 innings during his recent start against Kansas City, Giolito (1–1, 5.51 ERA) is coming off a solid performance. In his upcoming game against Atlanta he'll make his first appearance since 2023 when he gave up 13 runs throughout under 10 innings in two poor starts against them.

Grant Holmes (2–3, 4.14 ERA) will pitch for the Braves but has struggled away from home with a 6.38 ERA across four road games this season. In his most recent game he pitched effectively against the Nationals allowing just one run through 6 1/3 innings.

Alex Bregman has driven Boston's offense with a .309 average and 11 home runs but the team has failed to convert scoring chances through their recent losses. If the Red Sox want to bring the series back to square one they need Giolito to perform well and their hitters to deliver at crucial moments.

With the Braves hitting over .500 now and the Sox on a losing streak, I’ll take Atlanta in this one. 

Jim’s Play: 973. Braves 

The second game of this series -between the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins will take place at loanDepot Park on Saturday afternoon. The Miami Marlins won Friday's game 9–4 which ended their six-game losing streak and moved their record to 17 wins and 26 losses. The Rays need to balance their series record through their starter Drew Rasmussen after their current 20–24 season standing.

Rasmussen has performed well throughout his season but has experienced inconsistency in his recent appearances. He began the season strongly but has since recorded a 6.05 ERA throughout his last four appearances. Sandy Alcantara will face Rasmussen after posting a difficult season with a 2–5 win-loss record and an 8.10 ERA. Sandy Alcantara looks to regain his Cy Young Award-winning performance from two years ago.

Jonathan Aranda leads the Rays offensively with a .315 batting average alongside Brandon Lowe who tops the team with 24 RBIs. The team has not been able to score runs consistently and finds itself in 23rd place among all teams. Connor Norby has propelled the Marlins to a recent offensive surge through his three-run double in last Friday's victory and his impressive .324 batting average across his past 10 games.

The Rays have maintained a strong edge in their encounters with the Marlins since 2019 with a 24–5 record while leading the all-time series 81–61. The matchup between Miami and Tampa Bay has become more evenly matched due to Miami's offensive surge and Tampa Bay's pitching inconsistencies.

The Rays dominance in this series is impressive.  Neither starter all that good here today, but I like Rasmussen more than Alcantara.  Alcantara has looked nothing like his former Cy Young self. I’ll take the home team to even the series here on Saturday. 

Jim’s Play: 965. Rays 

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Detroit Tigers will face the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre for their next game which starts at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Tigers maintain their position at the top of the American League Central with a 30–15 record after they secured a 5–4 win to extend their winning streak to four games. The Blue Jays who currently stand at 21–23 look to recover their performance and balance the series.

Right-handed pitcher Reese Olson will start for Detroit as he maintains a 4–3 record along with a 3.38 ERA for the current season. Olson has maintained effectiveness in his pitching with 45 strikeouts across 42.2 innings while holding a 1–0 record with a 0.87 ERA during three games against Toronto. During his most recent appearance, he gave up three runs across four innings while playing against the Texas Rangers.

Toronto sends their left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer to the mound for his season debut. Reliever Eric Lauer played three games this season where he earned a 1–0 win-loss record with a 2.00 ERA across nine total innings. His performance against the Tigers has been challenging as he holds a losing record of 0–2 and a high ERA of 19.80 over two starts.

Spencer Torkelson leads the Tigers' offensive lineup with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs while Riley Greene follows with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. Bo Bichette of the Blue Jays achieved a .407 batting average across his last seven games while achieving three home runs and collecting 11 RBIs.

I like the visitors in this one. They have been consistent all season and have the better pitcher going on the mound today. 

Jim’s Play: 955. Tigers

American Family Field will host the first game of a three-game interleague series between the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers tonight with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins maintain their 11-game winning streak and now possess a 24–20 season record. Following their 9–5 win against the Guardians, the Brewers' season record stands at 21 wins and 23 losses.

The Twins' starting pitcher Joe Ryan is 3-2 on the season with a 2.74 ERA and 54 strikeouts across 46 innings. In his recent appearances Ryan proved highly effective by conceding only one earned run across six innings during his last game against the Giants. The starting pitcher for the Brewers will be right-hander Chad Patrick who currently has a 2–3 record and a 3.19 ERA. Patrick has managed to give up three runs or less in every one of his nine appearances throughout this season.

The Minnesota Twins' offensive lineup is spearheaded by Byron Buxton who maintains a .261 batting average alongside 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. Rhys Hoskins leads the Brewers with a .292 batting average and a .396 on-base percentage while Christian Yelich has added seven home runs and 26 RBIs to their effort.

The Twins hold a advantage because of their recent wins and Ryan's good performance. I will be on the Twins here today in this matchup. 

Jim’s Play:  923. Twins -1.20 (5:10 PT / 8:10 ET)

Tonight loanDepot Park will host the opening game of a three-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins starting at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Rays who have a record of 20–23 and the Marlins with a 16–26 mark both want to build up their momentum. The Rays will send right-hander Taj Bradley (3–2, 4.24 ERA) to the mound while Miami will respond with right-hander Max Meyer (2–4, 4.37 ERA).

In his eight appearances so far this season Bradley has maintained stability in the Rays' rotation by achieving five quality starts. He delivers five innings or more per start but has given up one earned run each time he pitches. Max Meyer has demonstrated potential because of his 10.3 K/9 rate yet his performance has been inconsistent due to giving up five earned runs in his recent three starts.

Offensively, both teams have had their challenges. The Rays are producing an average of 4.0 runs per game while the Marlins surpass them at 4.1 runs per game. Yandy Díaz's return to Tampa Bay's lineup provides a significant boost because he maintains a .342 career batting average against Miami. Kyle Stowers leads the Marlins' offense with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs making him their top performer.

I like the road team here today with Bradley on the hill. 

Jim’s Play:  919. Rays -1.18 (4:10 PT / 7:10 ET)

Tonight marks the start of the Ohio Cup series between the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Guardians are 25–18 while the Cincinnati Reds maintain a 21–24 win-loss record.

Tanner Bibee pitches for the Guardians with a season record of 3–3 and an ERA of 3.80. He recently pitched against the Phillies and allowed only one earned run during seven innings. Bibee maintained consistency by pitching at least five innings during his past five starts. Brady Singer comes to the game as the starting pitcher for the Reds and currently holds a 4–2 record alongside a 4.97 ERA. Singer had a rough outing against the Astros as he gave up seven earned runs during his brief two-plus inning appearance.

The Guardians' offensive lineup features Steven Kwan who maintains a .325 batting average while Kyle Manzardo stands out with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs. Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds' offense with impressive statistics including eight home runs along with 31 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

The Guardians have the edge in this contest because of Bibee's strong recent performances and Singer's recent poor outings. Ther rivalry games always are fun to watch and this one won’t be any different. I’m taking the visitors tonight. 

Jim’s Play: 911. Guardians -1.20 (3:40 PT / 6:40 ET) 

The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The divisional matchup begins with both teams hoping to recover from their recent tough stretches.

After losing three games to the Minnesota Twins the Giants offense failed to produce runs. Manager Bob Melvin changed multiple players to try to improve the lineup's results. Due to his current slump with a .145 batting average and .491 OPS LaMonte Wade Jr. will rest to take a mental break. The Giants have moved Wilmer Flores to first base where he will hit fifth in the order. Manager Bob Melvin moved Willy Adames from the second batting position to the sixth spot to improve his run production. Matt Chapman now bats second while Heliot Ramos follows in the third position and Jung Hoo Lee takes on the cleanup role. Ramos has been performing well hitting at a .500 average with two home runs and seven RBIs during his latest road trip.

The Diamondbacks have recently encountered difficulties because their bullpen has failed to finish games successfully. The team's offensive performance has fluctuated as key contributors Ketel Marte and Christian Walker must improve their run production. The team anticipates that playing against the struggling Giants will help them regain their winning momentum.

Right-handed pitcher Brandon Pfaadt is projected to start for the Diamondbacks on the mound despite showing potential and inconsistency during the season. As a dependable Giants starter Merrill Kelly takes the mound the team continues to face obstacles.

This early-season matchup presents an opportunity for both teams to establish their performance baseline. The Giants have modified their lineup to boost their struggling offense.  I look for the Giants to get back to winning here on Tuesday as Melvin is an excellent coach and will make the right moves. 

Jim’s Play: Giants

The Tampa Bay Rays will face the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night starting at 7:07 p.m. ET. Toronto Blue Jays have a 20–20 record at .500 as they enter the game, while Tampa Bay Rays are 18–22 and seek to end their recent losing streak. Veteran handicapper Jim Feist supports the Rays as his American League East Game of the Week regardless of Toronto's recent offensive surge.

Feist trusts Tampa Bay's chances because starting pitcher Shane Baz has been performing well this season. The matchup features Shane Baz against Blue Jays starter José Berríos who has shown inconsistency in his performances. The Rays have a good chance to win because Feist thinks Shane Baz can hold Toronto's scoring lineup back despite their recent run of 29 runs in four games.

The Rays plan to center their offense around Yandy Díaz who maintains a .849 OPS with seven home runs across 64 matchups against Toronto. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s performance against Tampa Bay includes a .516 average along with two home runs during his last eight games.

According to betting odds the Blue Jays hold a slight edge as -129 moneyline favorites while the Rays are considered +110 underdogs. Feist's analysis indicates good value in betting on the Rays due to Baz's pitching performance and Díaz's history against Toronto.

Despite the Blue Jays' momentum Feist views the Rays as the better pick for this divisional game which he designates as his American League East Game of the Week. 

Take: 966. Blue Jays  

Tonight the St. Louis Cardinals begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park with the first pitch planned for 6:45 PM ET. Both teams are riding high. St. Louis is on an eight-game winning streak and Philadelphia has won five of their last six games.

The pitching matchup features two left-handers: The Cardinals' left-hander Matthew Liberatore will face off against Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez. In his most recent five starts, Liberatore has maintained excellent form by allowing no more than two runs in each appearance. Throughout the season he posted a 3.07 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP during his 41 innings of work. Sánchez delivered impressive performance with a 2.89 ERA and a 4-1 win-loss record. During his most recent game he pitched six scoreless innings against Tampa Bay. The matchup becomes more interesting because both pitchers have previously shown success against tonight's opponent.

Kyle Schwarber leads the Phillies offensively with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs while Trea Turner maintains a .310 batting average. Brendan Donovan leads the Cardinals' offense with a .318 batting average while catcher Willson Contreras contributes with 23 RBIs. The Phillies and Cardinals have shown strong offensive performances as the Phillies average 4.82 runs per game while the Cardinals trail just behind at 4.70.

This matchup will feature two teams that are currently performing at their peak level. The Cardinals are also a nice dog here on Monday. With their recent win streak and a decent pitcher on the hill, that makes the Cards a nice live dog play.

Jim’s Play: St Louis Cardinals.

The Boston Red Sox face the Detroit Tigers tonight at Comerica Park to begin a three-game series with the first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. The Tigers currently lead the AL Central with a record of 26-15 while the Red Sox stand second in the AL East with a 22-20 record as both teams aim to establish dominance in the American League.

Boston approaches this series with momentum from winning four out of their last five games due to effective pitching performances. The Red Sox pitching staff has shown impressive form during their past five games by conceding only eight runs. Despite strong pitching the team faces offensive inconsistency while waiting to confirm whether Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman can participate since they play essential roles in the lineup's productivity.

Right-handed pitcher Tanner Houck takes the mound for Boston and looks to secure his season's first victory. Houck's overall record stands at 0-2 and 6.10 ERA but he has performed well against Detroit with a 2-0 record and 1.42 ERA in four games against the Tigers.

Detroit sends rookie right-hander Jackson Jobe to the mound who has begun his major league career with two wins and a 4.88 earned run average. Jackson Jobe demonstrated exceptional performance at Comerica Park with a 2.70 ERA across two starts at home. The Tigers aim to recover from their defeat against the Texas Rangers by depending on their offensive strength and Spencer Torkelson who has achieved 10 home runs and 33 RBIs this season.

Still not sure if Jobe is the real deal or not. He should be tested by this Red Sox offense today. Plus Boston has been riding high on their pitcher.  This could be a low scoring game with the pitching matchup.  I’ll take the visitors here today.

Jim’s Play: Boston Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox will play the Kansas City Royals in the decisive third game of their series at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, May 11, 2025. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. 

The Boston Red Sox balanced their series with Kansas City by securing a 10-1 win on Saturday, which ended the Royals' seven-game winning streak. Rafael Devers powered the Red Sox's offense with a perfect four-hit game that included three RBIs as Trevor Story added a three-run homer. Garrett Crochet pitched seven innings while giving up only one run and recorded nine strikeouts in his strong performance on the mound.

The Red Sox will send right-hander Lucas Giolito to the mound for his third start of the season. Giolito's season has been challenging with an 0-1 win-loss record and an 8.38 ERA across 9.2 innings pitched. During his recent appearance versus the Texas Rangers he gave up six earned runs across 3.2 innings.

Royals' right-hander Seth Lugo stands as a steady fixture in Kansas City's starting rotation. Lugo has a 3-3 record with a 2.84 ERA after pitching 50.2 innings. Over his last four starts he achieved quality performances as he allowed only one earned run during his most recent game against the Chicago White Sox over 6.2 innings.

Alex Bregman stands as the offensive leader for the Red Sox with a .319 batting average and totals of nine home runs and 31 RBIs. Wilyer Abreu has hit nine home runs while Rafael Devers has contributed six home runs and 30 walks to his performance along with a batting average of .273.

Bobby Witt Jr. remains the core performer in the Royals' offense with a .323 batting average while hitting five home runs and driving in 23 runs. Maikel Garcia has maintained his steady performance through a batting average of .314 while hitting four home runs and drawing 16 walks.

I like Lugo a lot here on Sunday as the Royals take the series with the Red Sox.

Jim’s Play: Kansas City Royals

The San Francisco Giants will play against the Minnesota Twins in the second series matchup at Target Field tonight with a first pitch time of 7:15 p.m. ET. The matchup will feature both teams' aces starting on the mound which creates the possibility of a closely fought game.

Logan Webb will start for the Giants. Throughout this season Webb maintains a solid track record with a 4-2 win-loss ratio and a 2.61 earned run average while striking out 56 opponents during 48.1 innings pitched. Webb's success can be attributed to his talent for generating ground balls and maintaining a minimal home run rate with only one allowed this season. Logan Webb's first career game against the Twins introduces an unpredictable dynamic to this matchup.

Joe Ryan from the Twins will face him as his opponent. Joe Ryan enters the matchup with a 2-2 win-loss record and a 2.93 earned run average while pitching 40 innings and collecting 47 strikeouts. His track record against the Giants stands at 2 wins and 1 loss with an earned run average of 3.31 in those games. Ryan has demonstrated excellent control by issuing only five walks this season and will work to maintain this performance when facing the Giants who possess power but frequently strike out.

Matt Chapman led the Giants' offense when he hit his eighth home run of the season in Friday's game. As the lead hitter in the lineup Jung Hoo Lee has maintained a strong performance batting .293 while hitting 11 doubles and delivering 23 RBIs. Byron Buxton for the Twins has been performing well as he recorded multiple hits in 13 out of his last 23 games which included three triples and seven home runs.

The Twins achieved a 3-1 win in Friday's series opener extending their winning streak to six consecutive games. Chris Paddack maintained his perfect game through six innings before Christian Koss managed to break through with a single hit. Danny Coulombe secured his second save this season as the Twins' bullpen maintained the lead.

Expect an exciting pitchers' showdown tonight as both teams strive to improve their standing in the series. The Giants will try to recover and bring the series to a tie while the Twins aim to maintain their winning streak to return to .500 for the season. 

Jim’s Play: Minnesota Twins

927. Reds +1.18 (4:10 PT / 7:10 ET)

Tonight at Daikin Park, the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros will play the second game of their weekend series starting at 7:10 p.m. ET. Houston won the opening game 3-0 on Friday.

After recovering from flexor tendon surgery Lance McCullers Jr. returns to pitch for the Astros in his first home appearance since nearly three years ago. During his season debut last Sunday he pitched 3? innings without allowing runs against the White Sox and surrendered three hits and three walks while recording four strikeouts.

Brady Singer takes the mound for the Reds with a 4-2 win-loss record and a 3.66 ERA for his eighth season start. Over 39? innings Singer has demonstrated his effectiveness at minimizing baserunners by maintaining a WHIP of 1.14.

The Astros have not been successful in producing power hitting this season as they currently stand 25th in home run rankings. The team did get 12 hits during their victory on Friday thanks to plays by Jeremy Peña, Isaac Paredes, and Will Wagner. Following six defeats in their last seven games the Reds are seeking a comeback with Singer providing reliable pitching.

The two teams remain close to the .500 win-loss mark while trying to build momentum throughout the season. The pitching battle tonight will pit McCullers as he tries to regain form following an extended break against Singer who hopes to maintain his excellent season performance.

I like Singer  here tonight even though the Reds have not been playing well of late. 

Jim’s Play: Cincinnati Reds

05/10 03:10 PM PT / 6:10 PM ET  

MLB   (923) PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (R SUAREZ)  VS  (924) CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (T BIBEE) 

924. Guardians +1.02 (3:10 PT / 6:10 ET) 

Tonight at Progressive Field the Philadelphia Phillies will face the Cleveland Guardians with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p. m. ET. Tonight's matchup is the second game in their series of three games. The Guardians dominated Friday's game with a 6-0 shutout thanks to home runs by José Ramírez, Kyle Manzardo, and Ángel Martínez along with starter Gavin Williams who struck out eight batters in five innings.

Ranger Suárez will take the role of starting pitcher for the Phillies during tonight's game. Left-hander Ranger Suárez will make his second season start today following his unsuccessful debut against the Diamondbacks when he gave up seven earned runs in 3.2 innings. He aims to regain his form and deliver reliable performance to complement the Phillies' rotation which needs consistent results from their middle pitchers.

Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee will oppose Suárez and brings his 3-2 season record with a 4.26 ERA into his eighth start. Bibee excelled at home games with a 1.43 ERA in 17.2 innings at Progressive Field. Cleveland thrives because of his exceptional skill to minimize runs and disrupt hitters' timing.

Kyle Schwarber leads the Phillies offense with 12 home runs and 28 RBIs while Trea Turner contributes with a .315 batting average. Despite multiple opportunities to score during Friday's matchup, the team failed to get any hits in eight attempts with runners in scoring positions. The team must make the most of their scoring chances to remain competitive in the series.

The Guardians have won eight out of their last ten games.  Tonight's game outcome may depend on which team's starting pitcher establishes control early and which offense exploits their scoring chances. The Phillies seek to balance the series as the Guardians pursue another victory to keep their momentum in the AL Central division.

Bibee has been very good at home and  Suárez didn’t look good in his initial debut. I’ll take the home team here tonight. 

Jim’s Play: Guardians

Tonight the Seattle Mariners (22–14) host the Toronto Blue Jays (17–20) at T-Mobile Park to kick off their three-game series. The game will begin at 6:40 p.m. Pacific Time. The Seattle Mariners have found success in their recent games with an 8–2 record across their past ten matches while the Toronto Blue Jays aim to gain positive momentum following their victory against the Angels that ended their losing streak.

The pitching matchup features two right-handers: Tonight's pitching matchup will see right-hander Luis Castillo start for the Mariners while Kevin Gausman takes the mound for the Blue Jays. Luis Castillo has delivered consecutive quality starts with only one earned run given up across his last 12 innings. This season he has recorded a 3–2 win-loss record with a 3.29 ERA while demonstrating stronger performance at home with a 1.57 ERA at T-Mobile Park . Gausman delivered his top performance of the season when he pitched six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against the Guardians. He enters tonight's game with a 2–3 record, a 3.83 ERA, and a 0.93 WHIP.

The Mariners have maintained strong offensive performance averaging almost seven runs in each of their recent 10 games. Cal Raleigh leads the team with 12 home runs while Julio Rodríguez has excelled at reaching base in 15 out of his 16 recent games with a batting average of .284. The Blue Jays continue to search for plate consistency while sitting at 25th place in league runs with an average of 3.5 per game. Bo Bichette leads Toronto with his 44 hits and Anthony Santander leads the team with five home runs.

The Mariners are red-hot and Castillo has been very good of late. I’m taking the M’s here tonight. 

Jim’s Play: Mariners (AL Game of the Week)

Fenway Park will host the final game of the series between the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox on Thursday, May 8, 2025 when first pitch takes place at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox have similar records of 18-19 and 19-19 respectively which makes their matchup crucial for gaining momentum this weekend.

The pitching matchup features two young right-handers: The Rangers will send Jack Leiter to the mound whereas the Red Sox will counter with their pitcher Brayan Bello. In his first year with the team Jack Leiter has a 2-1 win-loss record while maintaining a 4.58 ERA throughout his 17.2 innings pitched. Brayan Bello has delivered strong performances for Boston with his two wins and 2.55 ERA spread over the same number of innings. The two pitchers intend to stabilize their teams' performances while extending their bullpens' rest periods.

Alex Bregman leads the Red Sox offense with a .327 batting average along with nine home runs and 30 RBIs. Wilyer Abreu emerged as an important player by achieving a .278 batting average and hitting seven home runs. Adolis García tops the Rangers with five home runs and 20 RBIs while Wyatt Langford hits .280 and contributes six homers. Texas brought on former All-Star Bret Boone to serve as their hitting coach with the intention of improving their faltering offensive performance.

The Rangers have under-performed much of this season, especially on offense. 

I’ll take the Red Sox here on Thursday.

Jim’s Play: Boston Red Sox

The Baltimore Orioles face Minnesota Twins for the final game of their three-game series on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Twins claimed victories in both initial games of the series with wins of 9-1 on Tuesday followed by another 5-2 win on Wednesday to push their ongoing winning streak to four games.

Right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer (3-4, 5.73 ERA) will take the mound for Baltimore. During his most recent outing, Kremer pitched seven shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals. Byron Buxton leads the Twins' batting lineup after hitting home runs in three straight games which included a three-run homer during Wednesday's match.

The Twins bring right-hander Bailey Ober (4-1, 3.72 ERA) who proves dependable in their rotation. Jhoan Durán added another save to his record by securing his fifth successful save this season on Wednesday .

Throughout the first pair of games the Orioles have only produced three runs on offense. Ramón Laureano delivered a solo homer that brought a bit of excitement on Wednesday yet the team must increase their offensive output to prevent a series sweep.

I don’t expect much different here on Thursday. The O’s won’t score much and the Twins will get the win and sweep the series.

Jim’s Play: Minnesota Twins

The three-game series between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs will finish with their final game at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Giants secured a 14-5 extra-inning win during Tuesday's game which included an impressive nine-run 11th inning to bring the series to a 1-1 tie. During that game, Cubs relief pitcher Ryan Pressly gave up eight earned runs without recording any outs which ranks among the toughest performances by a reliever in MLB history.

Robbie Ray, a left-handed pitcher for the Giants with a 4-0 record and a 3.05 ERA will start today. Ray delivered outstanding performances during his last two starts by completing seven innings each time while giving up only two total runs. Cubs right-hander Ben Brown will stand opposite him with a 3-2 win-loss record complemented by a 4.88 earned run average. In his latest outing against the Brewers Ben Brown delivered six scoreless innings.

Kyle Tucker leads the Cubs' offense with a .290 batting average, nine home runs, and 31 RBIs. The Giants respond with Wilmer Flores who hit seven homers and drove in 32 runs while Jung Hoo Lee maintains a .312 batting average. 

After that shocking extra inning win by the Giants on Tuesday, I’ll take them again here on Wednesday as a nice dog play. 

Jim’s Play: San Francisco Giants

American Family Field in Milwaukee will host the finale of the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers' three-game interleague series on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Milwaukee Brewers won the first two games thanks to a 4-3 triumph on Tuesday which featured a four-run first inning driven by Rhys Hoskins' two-run double and Jake Bauers' two-run homer that turned the game in their favor.

The Houston Astros will send left-handed starter Framber Valdez (1-4, 4.39 ERA) to pitch against Milwaukee in their attempt to stop their current three-game losing streak. Framber Valdez prepares for his debut start against the Brewers while looking to improve upon his recent White Sox performance that resulted in four runs across five innings. Brewers' right-hander Quinn Priester (1-0, 5.79 ERA) will be the opposing pitcher and has demonstrated control issues by walking 16 batters across 23.1 innings this season.

The Astros will operate without slugger Yordan Alvarez due to hand inflammation. Jeremy Peña maintains the team's highest batting average at .275 while Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve each delivered four home runs to their team's performance. Brice Turang leads the Brewers' offensive efforts with a .318 batting average and Christian Yelich tops the team with six home runs and 25 RBIs.

I don’t like the control issues that Priester has demonstrated this year. I’ll take the Astros to not get swept here on Wednesday.

Jim’s Play: Houston Astros

The Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox will commence their three-game series at Fenway Park on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 when the first pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET. The Rangers and the Red Sox approach this game with almost the same win-loss records at 17-18 and 18-18 respectively while both teams aim to build momentum within their divisions.

Veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for Texas. Eovaldi has performed impressively this season for his new team with a 2-2 record and a 2.11 ERA along with 46 strikeouts in 42.2 innings since leaving the Red Sox. During his most recent game he pitched six innings against the Athletics allowing only one run and striking out eight batters without giving up any walks. Boston responds by starting Lucas Giolito for his second time in the season. During his first appearance on the mound Giolito completed six innings where he surrendered three runs and five hits but struck out seven batters. The pitcher maintains a 4-1 record against the Rangers and demonstrates a 3.15 ERA through his 34.1 innings of work.

The Rangers' offense has produced only 3.3 runs per game during their most recent ten-game span. Josh Smith stands out as the team's positive performer with a .322 batting average and three home runs alongside 11 walks. Wyatt Langford tops the team home run tally with six while Adolis García leads in RBIs with 17. The team anticipates that new hitting coach Bret Boone will boost their offensive performance.

In their most recent ten games, the Red Sox have been more consistent at the plate by averaging 5.8 runs per game. Alex Bregman stands at the top of the team statistics with a .317 batting average while hitting eight home runs and recording 27 RBIs. Wilyer Abreu provided vital support by achieving a .279 batting average with seven home runs and 21 walks. The 4.22 ERA of Boston’s bullpen reflects its poor performance as it ranks 19th in the league.

Neither team playing up to preseason expectations at this point. However, I do like Eovoldi on the mound here today and that’s the difference for me.

Jim’s Play: Texas Rangers

The San Diego Padres will face the New York Yankees continue their series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Padres won the series opener 4-3 by building a late-inning rally during their six-game winning streak while taking advantage of the Yankees' bullpen problems.

Right-handed pitcher Michael King will toe the rubber for San Diego today. Former Yankee, King has a 4-1 record this season and has posted a 2.09 ERA while accumulating 46 strikeouts across 38.2 innings. In his last four starts he has permitted two runs or less. The Yankees will send right-hander Clarke Schmidt to face the Padres who has a 0-1 win-loss record and a 5.52 ERA from his 14.2 innings pitched. Clarke Schmidt achieved his finest performance this season by delivering five innings with only one run and one hit allowed.

Jackson Merrill's return to center field strengthens the Padres' offense after his impressive .378 batting average and three home runs with ten RBIs before a hamstring injury ended his play. Fernando Tatis Jr. stands atop the team's home run leaderboard with eight homers and maintains a .317 batting average. Aaron Judge maintains his exceptional performance this season with a .423 batting average and a 1.287 OPS while striking out at his career-low rate of 20.3%.

King on the hill is a big difference for the Padres. And, the return of Merrill to center field will help the offense. I’ll take the Padres here today .

Jim’s play: San Diego Padres

On Monday, May 5, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates will start a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET. Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski will take the mound for the Pirates who have a 12-23 record. Throughout the season Mlodzinski posted a 1-3 record and a 6.58 ERA while pitching across 26 innings. The pitcher shows excellence against the Cardinals in his career history with a 2-0 record and a 1.38 ERA across 13 innings including a standout performance on April 7 where he surrendered only one single run in five innings .

Right-hander Miles Mikolas from the Cardinals who is 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA over 29 innings this season will face off against the Pirates. Mikolas has performed well against the Pirates and achieved a 5-6 record with a 2.90 ERA across 124 innings in 23 career games. Mikolas pitched for 5.1 scoreless innings against the Reds while permitting only three hits in his most recent game.

The Cardinals rank higher in offensive production with an average of 4.6 runs per game against the Pirates' 3.4 runs per game. Brendan Donovan tops the Cardinals batting stats with a .339 average and 19 RBIs as Lars Nootbaar joins the offensive push with five home runs and 18 RBIs. Among the Pirates' players, Oneil Cruz stands out thanks to his eight home runs and 18 RBIs.

Given the pitching matchup and offensive disparities, the Cardinals are my pick to win this game here on Monday.

Jim’s Play: St Louis Cardinals

The Miami Marlins and Oakland Athletics will compete in the final game of their three-game series on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at loanDepot Park in Miami beginning with first pitch at 1:40 p.m. ET. Both teams stand even at one win each as the Athletics claimed the series opener with a 6-1 victory while the Marlins secured a thrilling 9-6 win in Saturday's game.

After trailing 6-4 the Miami Marlins made an incredible comeback by scoring five runs during the bottom of the ninth inning. Kyle Stowers delivered the game-winning grand slam and his second home run of the day to tie for the team lead with six homers and 25 RBIs this season. Lake Bachar secured the victory for the Marlins by pitching two innings in which he gave up only one run. Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, and Luis Urías delivered strong offensive performances by hitting home runs for the Athletics while their bullpen struggled late with Mason Miller surrendering the crucial runs.

The Sunday game will pit Oakland's left-handed pitcher JP Sears (4-2 record and 2.94 ERA) against Miami's right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera (0-1 record and 7.23 ERA). As a dependable starter for the Athletics JP Sears delivers an average of 5.5 innings per start while limiting opponents to a .231 batting average. During his most recent game he gave up only one earned run in 5.2 innings while facing the Texas Rangers. Edward Cabrera has faced difficulties throughout the season by giving up 20 earned runs during 18.2 innings while allowing a .286 batting average against him. The previous season saw him excel against the Athletics with six shutout innings and 10 strikeouts.

The Athletics' offensive leaders are Jacob Wilson with a .328 batting average and Tyler Soderstrom who has slugged nine home runs and delivered 24 RBIs. Kyle Stowers leads the Marlins' offense with a .324 batting average and six home runs along with 25 RBIs while Matt Mervis contributes seven home runs.

I really like Sears here in this spot on Sunday. I'll take the A's.

Jim's play: Oakland A's. 

Fans at Rogers Centre will witness the final game of the Guardians and Blue Jays three-game series on Sunday, May 4, 2025, when the first pitch launches at 1:37 p.m. ET. The series stands even at one game each as it moves into its critical deciding game.

Guardians delivered an exciting comeback win in their Saturday game with a final score of 5-3. Daniel Schneemann earned his hero status in Saturday's game with a solo home run during the eighth inning followed by a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning to achieve his first multi-homer performance. The offensive explosion from the Guardians eclipsed Kevin Gausman's impressive outing as he struck out nine hitters while keeping the Blue Jays in the lead throughout his six scoreless innings.

The Sunday game will see Tanner Bibee as Cleveland's right-handed pitcher while Bowden Francis represents Toronto. Tanner Bibee possesses a 2-2 win-loss record and a 4.36 earned run average this season while allowing nine home runs through 33 innings pitched. In his recent appearance against the Minnesota Twins he threw seven innings and allowed only one earned run as part of a strong performance. Bowden Francis maintains a 2-4 win-loss record along with a 5.28 earned run average. His latest pitching outing ended poorly after giving up seven earned runs in three innings against Boston Red Sox .

Steven Kwan leads the Guardians offensively with a .328 batting average while Kyle Manzardo contributes eight home runs and 20 RBIs. The Blue Jays respond with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who carries a batting average of .272 along with four home runs and 17 RBIs and George Springer who tops the team with a .322 batting average.

Each team strives to build momentum while progressing through their individual divisions. In the AL Central division standings, the Guardians hold the second position behind the Detroit Tigers and the Blue Jays occupy the third spot in the AL East. 

I'm taking the visitors in this one.

Jim's Play: Cleveland Guardians

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are set to continue their series on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Truist Park in Atlanta, with first pitch scheduled for 4:15 PM PDT. The Dodgers, boasting a 22–10 record and leading the NL West, are riding a six-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 12 matchups against the Braves. In contrast, the Braves stand at 14–17 and are aiming to rebound after a narrow 2–1 loss in the series opener on Friday. 

Saturday's pitching duel features Dodgers' rookie Roki Sasaki (0–1, 3.55 ERA) against Braves' right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (1–2, 2.87 ERA). Sasaki, making his MLB debut season, has shown promise with 20 strikeouts over 25.1 innings, though control has been an issue, evidenced by 18 walks. Schwellenbach, on the other hand, has been a bright spot for Atlanta, maintaining a sub-1.00 WHIP and delivering consistent performances across his starts. 

Offensively, the Dodgers are led by Teoscar Hernández, who tops the team with nine home runs and 32 RBIs, complemented by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman anchoring the lineup. The Braves, missing Ronald Acuña Jr. due to injury, rely on Matt Olson and Austin Riley to generate offense. Olson snapped a long dry spell for Atlanta home runs as he went deep on Friday for the Braves only run.  Atlanta's lineup will need to capitalize on opportunities against Sasaki to avoid falling further behind in the series. 

I'm sticking with the red-hot Dodgers and one of the best hitting teams in baseball. 

Take: LA Dodgers

The Texas Rangers will play the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on May 3, 2025 with the first pitch at 4:05 PM PDT.

The Mariners are on a five-game winning streak that features a dominant 13-1 win over the Rangers on Friday night. During that game Cal Raleigh hit two home runs including a grand slam while Bryan Woo pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing only one hit. The Mariners' offense shows strong performance by scoring more than five runs per game along with their pitching staff's consistent 3.74 ERA.

Right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo (3-2, 3.62 ERA) will take the mound for Seattle coming off his season-best performance of a six-inning, one-hit shutout against the Miami Marlins. The Mariners gain a dependable advantage because Luis Castillo can overpower opposing teams and consistently pitch deep into games.

The Rangers have experienced recent difficulties reflected by eight losses in their last ten games which led to their record falling below .500 for the first time since the beginning of the season. During this period their offensive production has been weak with an average of three runs per game. Texas will have left-hander Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.79 ERA) start the game on the mound. Corbin has performed better at home with a 2.77 ERA but must now compete against Seattle's strong lineup.

Both teams need to win this game as they fight for position in the competitive AL West division standings. The Mariners intend to build their advantage while the Rangers strive to stop their losing streak and build momentum.

Jim's Play: Seattle Mariners

At Angel Stadium, the Detroit Tigers begin a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels tonight when the first pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET. The Tigers who currently dominate the AL Central standings at 19–12 need to recover from their recent two-game loss to Houston Astros. Casey Mize, a right-handed pitcher with a 4–1 win-loss record and a 2.12 ERA through 29.2 innings pitched this season, will take the mound for the Tigers. Mize's early success stems from his excellent command and ability to keep base runners at bay.

The Angels' left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi will face Casey Mize after experiencing difficulties with his performance as evidenced by his 0–4 record, 4.31 ERA, and 1.60 WHIP over 31.1 innings. Kikuchi struggled significantly in his latest appearance versus the Minnesota Twins allowing four earned runs during his two-inning performance. The Angels find themselves fifth in the AL West with a 12–17 record after enduring a five-game losing streak while struggling to produce consistent offense which has resulted in a team batting average of .211, placing them towards the bottom of the league standings.

The Detroit offense produces 4.6 runs per game as Spencer Torkelson leads with a total of eight home runs and 24 RBIs. The Tigers maintain a leading position in the American League with their pitching staff's combined ERA of 3.01. At present both teams show contrasting performances which positions the Tigers to take advantage of the Angels' weaknesses and secure an early victory in their series.

Jim's Play: 969. Tigers 

The Cincinnati Reds look to recover from a tough doubleheader sweep when they face the St. Louis Cardinals in the series finale at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The Reds enjoyed an initial series win with a 3-1 score but subsequently lost two Wednesday games by scores of 6-0 and 9-1. The defeats revealed problems with both pitching and hitting because the bullpen could not hold their leads and the team produced only one run throughout the two games.

Cincinnati selects left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott (2-0, 3.60 ERA) to take the mound as he works to reinforce the team's rotation. Despite a strong season performance so far Abbott delivered a difficult outing against Colorado as he gave up five walks during four innings. Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 3.19 ERA) of the Cardinals will face him with his strong pitching performance demonstrated by excellent control and only two walks over 31 innings.

The Reds are counting on Elly De La Cruz to spark their offensive efforts. De La Cruz continues his 14-game hitting streak while maintaining the team lead in both home runs and RBIs. During Wednesday’s doubleheader the Cincinnati team failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, managing only one hit out of thirteen attempts with runners in scoring position. Former closer Alexis Díaz and the rest of the bullpen demonstrated instability as Díaz allowed five earned runs during a single inning in the first game of the twin bill.

The Reds remain slight favorites for Thursday's game despite their recent difficulties. Winning this game enables the Reds to secure a tie in the four-game series and maintain their standing above .500 in the competitive National League Central. The Reds stand as the preferred choice for this game because Abbott will pitch and their lineup should improve performance.

Jim's Play: TAKE: 954. CINCINNATI REDS (A ABBOTT-L)

The Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners will face off against each other on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle starting at 6:40 PM PDT. This game brings together two American League West rivals who are performing in contrasting ways.

The Mariners maintain their AL West lead with a 16-12 record after winning 12 of their last 16 matches on a hot streak. During their last 10 games the Mariners averaged 6.8 runs per contest while Cal Raleigh hit 10 homers for the team and Jorge Polanco led with 20 RBIs. Seattle's pitching staff has performed well during this period by maintaining a 3.79 ERA.

The Angels have performed poorly in their recent matches by losing five out of their last six games which resulted in them holding the bottom position in the AL West with a record of 12-15. The team's offense has been extremely weak as they scored only 28 runs in their last 13 games and maintained a .180 batting average. Despite Mike Trout's seven home runs and 18 RBIs which lead the Angels the team continues to struggle with delivering consistent run support.

Seattle's Bryce Miller will face Los Angeles' Jack Kochanowicz on Tuesday's pitching matchup. Miller maintains a respectable 4.21 ERA despite a 1-3 win-loss record and shows home game effectiveness with a 3.38 ERA at T-Mobile Park. Jack Kochanowicz has recorded a 1-3 win-loss record and a 5.47 ERA while facing difficulties in holding opposing teams back.

The Mariners are on a hot run while the Halos have cooled off.  I do like Miller here today also over Kochanowicz.  

Jim's Play; Seattle Mariners.

The Minnesota Twins will take on the Cleveland Guardians in their scheduled game at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 starting at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians will play their second game in their four-game series after the Twins won decisively 11-1 in the first matchup.

During the series opener the Twins' offense produced an impressive 17 hits which set a new season record. Edouard Julien immediately set the tone by hitting a home run on the first pitch of the game. Ryan Jeffers contributed both a two-run home run and three runs batted in while Ty France and Byron Buxton each delivered two hits and two RBIs. During his time on the mound Bailey Ober pitched a superb game by giving up only one run across 7 2/3 innings. Minnesota's winning streak reached four games after their victory which also brought their record to 13 wins and 16 losses.

Cleveland's Guardians currently stand with a 15-13 record after experiencing three straight defeats. Gavin Williams, the starting pitcher, faced difficulties during Monday's game and gave up four runs during his two innings on the mound. The Cleveland bullpen failed to perform in the game and gave up more runs which made it impossible to recover. Steven Kwan maintained his hitting streak at 11 games despite his team facing difficulties.

The Twins will face off against the Guardians with right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack while the Guardians counter with right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee. Chris Paddack starts the game with a 0-3 win-loss record alongside a 6.45 ERA throughout 22 1/3 innings where he allowed 23 hits and 13 walks, gave up five home runs but struck out 20 batters. Bibee maintains a 2-2 win-loss record and sports a 5.19 ERA after pitching 26 innings that saw him allow 24 hits and 14 walks while giving up eight home runs as he recorded 20 strikeouts.

Byron Buxton and Ty France spearhead the Twins offense through six home runs and 17 RBIs and a .248 batting average respectively. Kyle Manzardo with his seven homers and 18 RBIs provides the offensive backbone for the Guardians while Steven Kwan tops the team with a .345 batting average.

I will take the Twins here on Tuesday as they look to extend their win streak.  

Jim's Play: Minnesota Twins

The Chicago Cubs will start a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh when first pitch begins at 6:40 p.m. ET. The first matchup between National League Central rivals occurs this season.

The Cubs boast a 17-12 win-loss record while maintaining a 1.5-game lead in the NL Central standings. The Chicago Cubs suffered two defeats in their recent three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies and lost the final matchup with a 3-1 extra-inning defeat. Chicago's offense has shown strong performance this season by averaging 5.9 runs per game and hitting .260 while maintaining a .340 on-base percentage. Kyle Tucker stands out with seven home runs and 25 RBIs as the team leader.

The Cubs pitcher will be left-handed Shota Imanaga who has won two games and lost one and maintains a 3.18 ERA across 34 innings on the mound. 

The Pirates currently hold an 11-18 record and are seeking to recover from their recent series loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pittsburgh lost their most recent game with a final score of 9-2 although Andrew McCutchen completed four successful hits in four at-bats. The Pirates have been unsuccessful offensively with an average of 3.5 runs per game and a team batting average of .224. Oneil Cruz tops the team with eight home runs and 16 RBIs.

The Pirates will send left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney to the mound who has performed well this season with a 2-1 win-loss record and a 1.72 ERA across 31.1 innings. In his time on the mound Heaney gave up 18 hits while striking out 31 batters and walking six during his pitching appearances.

Heaney makes the Pirates a live dog here on Tuesday. The Cubs faltered a bit in their series with the Phillies and that may just carry over to Tuesday's contest.

Jim's Play: Pittsburgh Pirates

The New York Mets will face the Washington Nationals in the last game of their four-game series at Nationals Park on Monday, April 28, 2025, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET. Following their dramatic 8-7 loss on Sunday where they blew a 7-1 lead, the NL East-leading Mets with a 19-9 record target a series split. Currently standing at 13 wins and 15 losses, the Nationals have already won two matches out of the first three games and will fight to win the series.

Griffin Canning will start for the Mets. He maintains a 3-1 win-loss record and a 3.12 ERA while he delivered a strong performance against the Phillies by giving up just one run during five innings. The Nationals will put Trevor Williams on the mound who holds a 1-2 win-loss record and a 5.11 ERA. He gave up one run during his most recent start when he pitched five innings against the Orioles.

A recent collapse on Sunday underscores existing concerns about the Mets' bullpen performance. Reliever A.J.Minter has a lat strain and landed him on the 15-day injured list which led to José Ureña being called up from Triple-A Syracuse. Pete Alonso leads the Mets with six homers and 26 RBIs but Juan Soto has underperfored expections thus car with three homers and 12 RBIs along with a .770 OPS. 

The Nationals possess the worst bullpen ERA in the league at 6.49. The team's relief corps suffers from injuries while their minor league depth offers few alternatives. The Nationals have successfully taken advantage of the Mets bullpen problems to win multiple games in the series.

A lot of stress is on the Mets starter to go deeper into this game. Any team that has this bad a bullpen as the Mets do, should not be this big a favorite on the road. There is lots of value taking the Nationals today, especically if the game is close as the Mets pen gets involved.

Jim's Play: Washington Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies will face the Chicago Cubs to finish their three-game series on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Wrigley Field starting at 6:10 PM CT. Aaron Nola will take the mound for the Phillies with a record of 0-5 and a 6.43 ERA facing off against Cubs' right-hander Jameson Taillon who sports a 1-1 record and a 4.73 ERA.

Aaron Nola has had difficulties recently as he permitted 10 earned runs across 11.2 innings in his two most recent starts. The effectiveness of his changeup shows as hitters managed only 4 hits from 22 attempts with no extra-base hits. Jameson Taillon has demonstrated better consistency as he permitted two earned runs or less during three of his previous four outings.

The Phillies have experienced offensive inconsistency throughout the season with 121 runs scored and a .251 batting average. The Cubs boast a powerful offense which ranks first in MLB with 171 runs scored and maintains a .265 batting average.

Big edge to the Cubs here today on the mound. Plus the Cubs one of the best hitting teams in baseball.  That's a combo I really like. Yet, Cubs could be a small dog here today. 

Jim's Play: Chicago Cubs. 

The Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants will play their final matchup of the three-game series at Oracle Park on April 27, 2025 starting at 4:05 PM ET on Sunday. The series stands even at one game for each team after the Rangers won the first game 2-0 and the Giants secured a 3-2 win in the second match.

Right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter will take the mound for the Rangers. Jack Leiter has delivered exceptional performances in his initial two major league starts by achieving a 2-0 win-loss record alongside a 0.90 ERA and 0.70 WHIP across 10 innings pitched. He has given up only one earned run and six hits while achieving ten strikeouts. The Giants will respond by sending right-hander Jordan Hicks to the mound who has faced difficulties this season and holds a record of 1-3 with a 6.59 ERA across 27.1 innings. Hicks has given up 20 earned runs and 29 hits while recording 24 strikeouts and issuing 13 walks.

The Rangers are struggling offensively because they managed to score only 84 runs throughout the season, placing them at the bottom of league standings. The team batting average for the Rangers is .223 and they achieve a .276 on-base percentage together with a .375 slugging percentage. The Giants have maintained better productivity by scoring 132 runs with statistics of .231 for batting average, .312 for on-base percentage and .383 for slugging percentage.

Even though the Rangers offense hasn't been very consistent, I like Leiter on the hill for them today.  This whole series has been low scoring thus far so won't be surprised by another here. 

Jim's Play: Texas Rangers

The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles will play their doubleheader opening game at Comerica Park starting at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. ET. This game serves as the first encounter between the two teams during the season. Casey Mize will take the mound for the Tigers who lead the AL Central with their 15-10 record. Casey Mize has delivered impressive results this season which include a 3-1 win-loss record along with a 2.22 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP across 24.1 innings pitched. During his previous game, he maintained excellent control against the Kansas City Royals by giving up only one earned run across seven innings. Brandon Young will make his second MLB start for the Orioles as he faces Mize. Brandon Young's first MLB start against the Cincinnati Reds featured him pitching four innings during which he allowed three earned runs and seven hits. His performance shows a 6.75 ERA and a 2.50 WHIP so far. Spencer Torkelson leads the Tigers offensive lineup this season by accumulating seven home runs and 21 RBIs. During the season Kerry Carpenter managed to hit five home runs and produce 11 RBIs. Cedric Mullins leads the Orioles' offensive lineup with six home runs and 20 RBIs while maintaining a batting average of .295. Detroit looks primed to capitalize in game one of the doubleheader thanks to Mize's strong performance and their impressive 10-3 home record. 

Jim's Play: Detroit Tigers (Game 1)

The Boston Red Sox will have Tanner Houck start Game 1 at Progressive Field during Saturday's doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians. With a current 0-2 record and 7.66 ERA, Houck seeks improved performance following his latest start where he showed better control and effectiveness after struggling earlier. Ben Lively will start for Cleveland with a more consistent track record behind him and enters the game with a 1-2 record and a respectable 3.86 ERA. Rain forced both teams to cancel Friday's games which makes today's doubleheader especially important. Boston's offense depends heavily on Alex Bregman who maintains a .320 batting average with five home runs and 21 RBIs while Wilyer Abreu continues to perform as a reliable contributor. Steven Kwan leads Cleveland’s offense with a .337 batting average while José Ramírez contributes with five home runs and an .824 OPS. The Guardians are at home and have the better starter on the hill.  Doubleheaders usually rely heavily on managing the bullpen use and that goes to the Guardians here today.

Jim's Play: Cleveland Guardians (Game 1)

Oracle Park will host the start of a three-game interleague series between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM PDT. The Texas Rangers hold a 14-11 record and the San Francisco Giants are 17-9. This early-season game represents an exciting matchup between two playoff contending teams from different leagues.

The Texas Rangers will have right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi take the mound. Over 30.2 innings this season Eovaldi achieved a 1-2 record with a 2.64 ERA and a standout 0.75 WHIP. Through his 30+ innings he has struck out 31 batters and issued only two walks demonstrating elite command. The Rangers' offense maintains a poor performance by averaging only 3.2 runs per game which places them at 28th position in Major League Baseball standings. Wyatt Langford currently leads the team with six home runs and a .321 average while Corey Seager's absence from the lineup will be felt greatly by this already thin hitting Rangers lineup. Seager is on the IL and will miss today's contest after hitting .286 thus far on the season. .

Veteran right-hander Justin Verlander will start for the Giants as he searches for his first win of this season. Through 24.2 innings Verlander currently holds an 0-1 win-loss record along with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Giants' offense stands out by scoring an average of 4.92 runs per game despite inconsistent performance. Wilmer Flores dominates the batting order with seven home runs and 27 RBIs while Jung Hoo Lee maintains impressive performance with his .333 batting average.

The Rangers have shown strong defensive play by achieving a .987 fielding percentage which places them 14th in MLB while completing 16 double plays. The Giants lead the league with a .990 fielding percentage while they have also recorded 20 double plays on the field. This series opener seems destined for close competition because strong pitching and defensive performance will be essential as the Rangers work to resolve their offensive struggles while the Giants pursue continued success at home.

Pitching edge to the Rangers but the Giants have a big hitting advantage. And with Seager further depleating the Rangers lineup, I have to take the Giants at home on Friday. 

Jim's Play: Texas Rangers

The Cincinnati Reds face the Colorado Rockies in the opening game of their three-game series at Coors Field on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 8:40 p.m. ET. The Reds come into the game with a win-loss record of 12-13 as the Rockies battle through adversity with a disappointing 4-20 season performance.

Starting pitcher Andrew Abbott will take his position on the mound for Cincinnati. Andrew Abbott stands out as one of the Reds' top pitchers this season with a 2-0 win-loss record and a 1.64 ERA while striking out 16 batters in 11 innings pitched. Elly De La Cruz has powered the Reds' offense through five home runs and 22 RBIs while Gavin Lux maintains a .316 batting average for steady performance. Cincinnati’s pitching staff has remained effective throughout the season by sustaining a team ERA of 3.39 alongside a WHIP of 1.09.

Kyle Freeland represents Colorado as their veteran left-handed pitcher despite experiencing a difficult season with an 0-4 record and a 4.85 ERA. The Rockies finish near the bottom in league offense by averaging only 3.21 runs per game with a batting average of .213. Brenton Doyle emerged as one of the Rockies' standout players by leading the team with three home runs and 12 RBIs. The Rockies' defensive and pitching inconsistencies show in their team ERA of 5.91 and WHIP of 1.54.

The Reds have the pitching and hitting here today on their side. Colorado can already start looking forward to next season they way they are going this year. 

Jim's Play: Cincinnati Reds

On Friday, April 25, 2025, Wrigley Field will host a arly Friday game where the Philadelphia Phillies will face the Chicago Cubs who show contrasting performance trends. The Chicago Cubs lead the majors in batting average and OPS as they continue their season with an impressive 16-10 record and a robust offense that averages more than six runs each game. Kyle Tucker has maintained a strong performance with a .314 batting average and seven home runs to lead the Chicago offense. The Cubs' offense has repeatedly compensated for their bullpen's 5.17 ERA difficulties.

Philadelphia maintains a 13-12 record while facing a losing streak that extends to four games. The Phillies rank among the middle-tier teams offensively as they score 4.44 runs per game with a batting average of .251. Key offensive threats include Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Kyle Schwarber while Jordan Romano leads a problematic bullpen with his 13.50 ERA. Taijuan Walker will take to the mound for the Phillies as he has a 1-1 record with a 2.29 ERA this season and faces the Cubs with a 3.38 career ERA. Colin Rea from Chicago has demonstrated superb performance in 2025 with a 1.32 ERA while restricting Phillies hitters to just a .194 average during their previous encounters.

Recent head-to-head matchups show the Phillies winning nine of their last twelve games against the Cubs, despite the Cubs being the betting favorite. Both starters are very good, but I love the way the Cubs offense has been playing as they are coming off dominant performance against a very good Dodgers bullpen. 

Jim's Play: Chicago Cubs

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels wrap up their three-game series on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Angel Stadium, with first pitch set for 6:29 PM PDT. The Pirates have taken control of the series, winning the first two games by a combined score of 12-3 and riding high off Wednesday’s dominant 3-0 shutout. Andrew Heaney turned in a brilliant six-inning performance against his former team, allowing just one hit while striking out nine. Oneil Cruz provided the offensive spark with a towering 463-foot home run, his sixth of the season, while the Pirates' bullpen continues to shine as one of the most consistent in the National League.

Pittsburgh will send right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski to the mound. While he holds a 1-3 record and a bloated 7.41 ERA over 17 innings, he’s yet to allow a first-inning run in 2025, suggesting he can find early rhythm. On the other side, the Angels counter with left-hander Tyler Anderson, who has been one of their most dependable arms this season. Anderson enters with a 2-0 record, a sharp 2.08 ERA, and 21 strikeouts across 21.2 innings. He’ll look to stabilize an Angels rotation that has struggled as a unit, holding a team ERA of 4.50.

Offensively, both teams have labored at the plate. The Pirates are batting .222 on the year and averaging 3.6 runs per game, while the Angels sit slightly better at 3.96 runs per game despite a worse .216 average. Mike Trout leads the Angels with eight homers and 16 RBIs but is batting a lowly .169. Pittsburgh’s offense has seen stronger contributions from Bryan Reynolds and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who leads the team with a .291 average. 

If the Angels are to take a game in this series, then this is the game. They have the much better pitcher on the mound and neither team hitting all that well so no big advantage there. It's Anderson on the hill for the Angels that will make the difference tonight. 

Jim's Play: LA Angels. 

The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals are set to conclude their three-game interleague series on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Nationals Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET. The Nationals have taken the first two games, winning 7–0 on Tuesday and edging out a 4–3 victory on Wednesday, and will look to complete the sweep.

The Orioles will send left-hander Cade Povich (0–2, 6.38 ERA) to the mound. Povich has struggled in his early starts, allowing 30 hits and 18 walks over 18.1 innings, resulting in a 2.07 WHIP. Opponents are batting .375 against him, and he has surrendered four home runs. In his last outing, Povich gave up seven earned runs in just 3.1 innings against the Reds.

Opposing him will be Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore (2–2, 3.41 ERA), who leads the majors with 45 strikeouts over 29 innings. Gore has been a bright spot in the Nationals' rotation, averaging 14 strikeouts per nine innings and holding opponents to a .252 batting average. He is coming off a solid performance against the Rockies, where he allowed two earned runs over six innings.

Offensively, the Nationals have been led by James Wood, who hit his eighth home run of the season on Wednesday, and Josh Bell, who added a two-run shot in the same game. Luis García Jr.'s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning provided the go-ahead run in the Nationals' 4–3 victory. Keibert Ruiz has also been productive, batting .325 with a .372 on-base percentage.

The Orioles, now 9–14 on the season, have struggled offensively, with a team batting average of .224 and a 5.48 ERA, both ranking near the bottom of the league. Cedric Mullins has been a bright spot, leading the team with six home runs and a .297 batting average. Adley Rutschman showed signs of breaking out of a slump on Wednesday, recording two hits, including an RBI single.

The Nationals have the better pitching today and the more consistent hitting. 

Jim's Play: Nationals 

The Pittsburgh Pirates will play against Los Angeles Angels during their second match of a three-game series on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The game begins at 9:38 p.m. Eastern time. Pittsburgh Pirates aim to extend their positive trajectory following their decisive 9–3 win in the series opener that ended a three-game losing streak. Pittsburgh achieved their largest single-game hit total since April 2023 with 18 hits in the game while Andrew McCutchen delivered a three-run homer and both Bryan Reynolds and Isiah Kiner-Falefa recorded multi-hit performances.

The Pirates will start left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney who currently has a 1–1 win-loss record combined with a 2.13 earned run average. Andrew Heaney has stood out in Pittsburgh’s pitching rotation by permitting only 17 hits and one home run across 25.1 innings while achieving 22 strikeouts. The Pirates will face Angels' right-handed pitcher Jack Kochanowicz who has a 1–2 record with a 6.20 ERA. Jack Kochanowicz struggled in his initial outings as he gave up 23 hits and 14 earned runs during 20.1 innings.

The Angels have experienced six losses in their last eight games while maintaining an 11–11 season record in search of a performance comeback. The team continues to pose a significant threat at the plate since they stand fourth in home run rankings with 34 despite their recent performance issues. Mike Trout stands out as the team leader with eight homers and 16 RBIs while Taylor Ward contributes another six home runs. Their team batting average stands at a disappointing .220 which shows their performance inconsistency.

The Pittsburgh team has experienced offensive challenges during their 9–15 season with their batting average and slugging percentage ranking them among the league's lowest performers. Tuesday’s offensive outburst may signify a pivotal moment for their team. Oneil Cruz is the leading home run hitter for the Pirates with five homers and 11 RBIs while Kiner-Falefa maintains consistent performance with a .293 batting average.

Pittsburgh stands a good chance to win the series because of their improved offensive performance at the plate alongside Heaney’s consistent performance. If the Pirates can keep that hitting momentum going then they will win here tonight. I also like the fact that the Pirates are a nice dog play.

Jim's Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates