Toronto is at home for Game 6 at Rogers Centre with a 3-2 lead in the series and just one win away from a World Series championship. The Blue Jays turned in a commanding performance in Game 5 to take a decisive 3-2 series lead and position themselves as the favorites to close out the Dodgers on their home field. Conversely, Los Angeles is a defending champion seeking a back-to-back title and is now fighting for their playoff lives with the luxury of facing elimination only once. A classic win-or-go-home playoff night is upon us.

For the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound. The veteran starter has been elite this postseason and has already produced a complete-game gem in Game 2. Yamamoto’s performance will ultimately determine the Dodgers’ chances at extending this series: if he’s on, they have the best shot yet to win a Game 7. Toronto’s probable starter is Kevin Gausman, a dependable veteran with a strong track record that they need to tame a dangerous Dodgers lineup in order to close out. Both starters project to be at or near their peak, so the start should be a close one with selective offense on each team’s behalf rather than a more free-wheeling slugfest.

Even though the Dodgers have the big names in their lineup with MVP and Hall of Famers, the Blue Jays have been the better offensive unit overall this World Series.  The question is will Yamamoto silence them like he did in game two?  I believe he can. This guy has ice running through his veins and the Toronto crowd won't faze him.  

Both starters should go deep into this game - especially on the Dodgers side. They know they have a starter that can go the distance and won't hesitate to utilize him in that roll. 

As for game 6 side winner. I can't go against Yamamoto.  He has the stuff and the experience to shut down this big hitting Blue Jays squad. I think we are looking at a game 7. 

Jim's Play: 931. Dodgers 

Blue Jays and Dodgers Offenses Both Riding High While Pitching Depth Is Worn Thin After 18-Inning Game 3. Dodgers-Blue Jays Game 4 of the 2025 World Series is set to top the total of 8.5 on Tuesday night in Los Angeles as both offenses hit cruise control while the depth of both pitching staffs are stretched to the limit after the 18-inning Game 3.   The teams battled through one of the longest, most exciting games in World Series history on Monday, with L.A. edging Toronto in the extra innings to take a 2-1 series lead, 6-5 behind Freddie Freeman's home run to dead center field for the walk off.   Dodgers’ offense is likely to be a problem for Toronto all series, as Los Angeles is led by MVP Mookie Betts and has Freeman, Ohtani and catcher Will Smith who can all punish a mistake.

Toronto has a loaded core of its own that can match LA punch for punch, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Alejandro Kirk all able to put paws on a fastball. Kirk hit a three-run homerun in Game 3 and Toronto batted around to rack up 15 total hits.

Shane Bieber will start for Toronto with Ohtani expected on the mound for L.A. Toronto manager Pedro Grifol said after the game that he thinks Bieber has the “stuff” to be successful and Ohtani has dominated all season but he is not a starting pitcher by trade.  Both teams used all of their relief pitchers in game 3 with starters warming up if the game where to continue.    Toronto starter Shane Bieber has been in rough waters against the best lineups in the majors and Ohtani will be throwing on limited rest and with a Dodgers bullpen that threw 200-plus pitches less than 24 hours prior to Game 4.  Ohtani was on base a record 9 times in game three including a record-setting FOUR extra base hits. At one point he cramped up while running the bases.  Cramps have been an issue for Ohtani on the mound before and with very little rest I have to wonder how long he can go tonight.  

Toronto and Los Angeles are both playing with house money but have also have gone to war in their previous three games. Los Angeles has won two of three but both teams have exceeded the run total in two of the first three games combined.

Toronto can win this game against the tough Dodgers if their bats are hot. Toronto’s bats are capable of cooking at any time and that will test a Dodgers bullpen that was on the mound for nearly 50 innings over three days.

I'm counting on Ohtani not making it long and turning the ball over to a pen that was used to the max last night.  Price just too high on the Dodgers here on game four with the Jays being a nice live dog in this.  

As for the total, again with pens depleted and no rest, this could be another slug fest.  I'll be on the OVER once again as I was last night. 

Jim's Play: 927. Blue Jays

Game 5 of the American League Championship Series with the series even at two games apiece between the Blue Jays and Mariners. Both clubs have shown flashes of dominance in this tightly contested series, and Friday’s game could swing the momentum for good. Toronto will turn to veteran ace Kevin Gausman, while Seattle counters with young right-hander Bryce Miller. It’s a compelling pitching matchup featuring Gausman’s refined command and devastating splitter against Miller’s high-velocity fastball and aggressive approach.

Gausman has been excellent this postseason, posting a 2.76 ERA with 22 strikeouts in just under 20 innings.  His ability to get ahead in the count and neutralize right-handed power makes him a strong fit against a Mariners lineup led by Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh. Miller has been impressive for Seattle, showing maturity beyond his years with a 3.48 ERA and a .220 opponent batting average in two playoff starts. His fastball-slider combination can be overpowering, but facing a patient Toronto lineup that thrives on extending at-bats could challenge his efficiency.

The Blue Jays’ offense once again revolves around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, who have combined for 15 RBIs in the postseason. Daulton Varsho continues to provide clutch hitting and defensive spark, while George Springer’s veteran presence remains invaluable at the top of the lineup. For Seattle, Rodríguez has been the driving force, hitting .318 in the playoffs with three homers. Ty France and Raleigh have added timely extra-base hits, and the Mariners’ bullpen, anchored by Andrés Munoz and Matt Brash, remains one of baseball’s best - though fatigue could become a factor after four high-leverage games.

Friday’s game should come down to which starter settles in first. Seattle really in a must win spot here as they cannot afford to go back to Toronto down 2-3 in this series and losing all three at home. I see them salvaging at least one game on their home field.  

Jim's Play: 964. Mariners 

Even though the the Mariners come into this game 3 having a 2-1 series lead, they may feel urgency here tonight.  They lost Game 3 in a rout, giving up five home runs, and they’ll be motivated to respond at home. Toronto’s offense showed it’s dangerous in big bursts, so the Mariners can’t afford to be passive. Julio Rodríguez, Jorge Polanco, and Josh Naylor remain threats - they’ll need to get “on” early and force the Jays’ pitchers to work deep into their counts.

On the mound, Seattle is expected to send out Luis Castillo, a reliable arm in big spots. Toronto counters with Max Scherzer, who brings experience and a track record of stepping up in October. But if Castillo allows a couple of base runners or Scherzer has command issues, we could see a quick trip to the bullpen for both sides. And in playoff games, that often loosens things up - more matchups, more chances for runs.

Defensively and bullpen-wise, neither side is flawless. Seattle’s relievers have shown they can be beat, especially under pressure. The Jays’ bullpen isn’t infallible either. If one inning opens up, this game has the potential to snowball into a high-scoring affair. Given the stakes - both teams needing to swing - I expect both clubs will push hard offensively and not sit back.

I'll take the Mariners and the OVER tonight. 

Jim's Play: 956. Mariners 

The Dodgers took Game 1 on Monday behind a balanced effort from their offense and steady pitching, but Milwaukee is well-positioned to respond. The Brewers will turn to right-hander Freddy Peralta, who finished the regular season with a 16-7 record, a 3.12 ERA, and 226 strikeouts across 181 innings. Peralta’s ability to command both sides of the plate and generate swings-and-misses with his high-spin fastball makes him a tough matchup, especially against a Dodgers lineup that thrives on fastballs over the heart of the plate.

Los Angeles counters with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who went 13-8 with a 2.49 ERA. The Japanese ace has been dominant when his splitter and curveball are working, but the Brewers’ patient approach could push his pitch count early. Milwaukee’s offense, led by Christian Yelich, William Contreras, and rookie standout Jackson Chourio, will look to capitalize on any control lapses and create traffic on the bases.

The Dodgers’ bats - powered by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman - have been relentless all postseason, but Peralta’s high strikeout ability gives Milwaukee a legitimate chance to neutralize the top of the order. If Peralta can get six strong innings and hand the ball to a rested bullpen anchored by Joel Payamps and Devin Williams, the Brewers are in good position to grind out a win.

Expect a tightly played, low-scoring affair early before Milwaukee’s offense breaks through in the middle innings.

Jim's Play: 952. Brewers 

Seattle was the sharper team in Game 1, Bryce Miller was able to keep the Jays at bay for six innings (on short rest), and a Cal Raleigh homer combined with a clutch Jorge Polanco RBI were the difference-makers. But Toronto isn’t the type of team that’s going to fold after one defeat in the postseason, they have the depth, the firepower, and the sense of urgency to respond now that the series is in their building.

Tonight, the Jays’ counter to Seattle: rookie Trey Yesavage. He’s fresh off of a dominant outing in the previous round, in which he did not allow a hit. There’s some risk in going with a rookie in this spot, but the upside is high, and the fact that Toronto’s comfortable putting him on the mound suggests his stuff checks out. The Jays’ lineup (Springer, Guerrero Jr., Varsho, etc) can rattle any pitcher who has a wobble, and I think they’ll force Seattle’s bullpen to burn bullets early. Toronto’s bullpen isn’t without its flaws, but this group has had their backs on the wall before in this postseason and has been up to the task.

Seattle, on the other hand, will go with Logan Gilbert. He’s a safe choice, but Toronto’s hitters can’t wait for the Mariners’ best this time of year, especially early in the game. Seattle’s bullpen is stretched, coming off a long ALDS and a strong performance in Game 1. I think the Jays can take advantage as the game goes on.

Toronto’s the side I like to take this one. Yesavage gives up his share, Seattle’s arms bend in this game of attrition, and Toronto’s offense makes key contact. Give them a hard-fought win to even the series.

Jim's Play: 944. Blue Jays 

It's game 5 of the ALDS as the Tigers and Mariners play for the right to move on the the ALCS.  Detroit will send left-hander Tarik Skubal to the mound, and he’s been outstanding all season. Skubal finished the regular year with a 13-6 record, a 2.21 ERA, and over 180 strikeouts in 175 innings. He’s been Detroit’s most dependable arm, combining excellent command with swing-and-miss stuff. His ability to keep the ball in the park and limit walks has been key to his success, and he’s shown poise in high-pressure games.

Seattle counters with right-hander George Kirby, who went 10-8 with a 4.21 ERA during the regular season. Kirby is known for his pinpoint control and low walk rate, but when his fastball command drifts, he can be hittable. Against a Tigers lineup that’s starting to find rhythm - with Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter all swinging the bat well - he’ll have little room for error.

Both teams feature strong bullpens, but Detroit’s has been a bit sharper this postseason, led by closer Alex Lange and setup man Jason Foley. The Mariners’ relievers have logged heavy workloads through the first three games, which could be a factor late if this one stays close.

If Skubal gives Detroit six strong innings and the Tigers’ offense can capitalize early on Kirby’s fastball, they’ll be in position to win the series. The Tigers’ momentum, strong starting pitching, and slightly fresher bullpen should make the difference.

Jim's Play:  925. Tigers 

Chicago just got mauled at Milwaukee, dropping both Games 1 and 2. Game 1 was a rough outing from Matthew Boyd that devolved into a 9-3 debacle, while Game 2 saw Shota Imanaga surrendering multiple homers before getting yanked early. (Milwaukee’s offense was both timely and aggressive in this stretch.) Now, the Brewers can wrap things up with a single win on the road at Chicago. 

The Cubs will likely lean on Jameson Taillon for Game 3. He has not been a perfect pitcher, but Taillon has been one of Chicago’s more reliable starters this year, and his control of the game, ability to log innings, and comfort in big spots gives them a puncher’s chance. The Brewers are more likely to roll with Quinn Priester, who posted a 13–3 record with a 3.32 ERA in 2025 and therefore is the sort of pitcher that you absolutely want to take to a playoff game. He has nasty stuff that can rack up strikeouts deep into games.

The Brewers have one glaring question mark, which is what to do at the back end of the rotation now that Brandon Woodruff is done for the series with a lat injury. This both thins the depth of their pitching and could mean even more bullpen shuffling for them, which is one lever Chicago can pull at to make up ground. The Cubs still have an offense with pop and can manufacture mistakes behind Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, and Dansby Swanson. If Taillon can keep Milwaukee to at least some quality innings and Chicago’s bats can work counts, then a path opens.

For those reasons, factoring in the series leverage and the Cubs’ desperation to push things, their home crowd and the deficit in Brewers’ rotation depth now, I see Chicago coming back. Pick: Cubs win Game 3.

Jim's Play: 908. Cubs

The Blue Jays come into this game three of the best of five riding momentum, scoring 23 runs over the first two games of the series and taking a 2-0 lead back to the Bronx.  The Yankees face elimination if they don't win here today.  The pitching will have to improve greatly after those first two contests. 

Toronto will turn to Shane Bieber, who made a welcome return from injury this season. He’s appeared in 7 games with a 4–2 record, a 3.57 ERA, and 37 strikeouts over 40.1 innings. Bieber looks sharp, with a WHIP around 1.02 and decent control, though his long layoff and health will be questions under postseason pressure.

The Yankees will counter with Carlos Rodon, who’s been one of their most dependable arms this year. He posted an 18-9 record, with a 3.09 ERA and 203 strikeouts. His command, ability to pitch deep into games, and veteran presence give New York stability on the mound in a must-win spot.

At the plate, both lineups are loaded. Toronto’s offense can swing in bunches, and they have shown they can take advantage if pitching falters. The Yankees’ hitters are battle-tested and won’t hesitate to punish mistakes. If Rodon holds his composure and the Yankees' bullpen locks things down late, New York has the upper hand in this matchup.

Jim's Play: 902. Yankees (ALDS Game of the Year)

The Chicago Cubs look to even teir NLDS best of five series tonight in Milwaukee. The Cubs are down 0-1 after being blown out in game one, 3-9.  The Cubs will send  Shota Imanaga out to the hill for Game 2. He has a 9-8 record with a 3.73 ERA and a WHIP below 1.00 this season. Against the Brewers this year, he’s made three appearances with a 3.57 ERA, striking out 17 batters and walking three in 17.2 innings. 

Milwaukee plans to counter with Aaron Ashby out of the bullpen as an opener. Ashby made it 1.1 inning in Game 1 and allowed no hits and no runs.  Looks like he'll open here on Monday and then hand the ball over to middle relievers like Quinn Priester, assuming he’s a favorable matchup. Milwaukee has the kind of depth across its pitching staff that gives them options to target the bottom half of the Cubs’ lineup, however.

One thing to watch will be how Milwaukee responds to the injury of left fielder Jackson Chourio, who was removed from the game in the second inning after feeling tightness in his hamstring. If he’s unable to play, the Brewers will be forced to call on their internal options for left field. Chourio was 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in multiple runs in the top of the second before leaving the game.

In the batter’s box, the Cubs will look for greater consistency across their lineup. The Brewers jumped on the Cubs’ pitching and exposed their defense in the early innings. They Cubs’ top of the lineup will have to be careful about being overmatched, particularly in high-leverage situations. Milwaukee’s offense, especially the trio of William Contreras, Christian Yelich and Brice Turang, will have to be aggressive all night long and trust bullpen matchups late.

Overall I expect a tight game here in game two. However, with Imanaga a more solid option in this game than a reliever out of the pen for the Brewers, I'll take Chicago here in game two to even the series at 1-1. 

Jim's Play: 945. Cubs 

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming into this series feeling very confident. They finished the season with one of the best records in the game at 97-65, and Freddy Peralta has been named the starting pitcher for Game 1 after an incredible year, with a 17-7 record, 2.70 ERA, and over 200 strikeouts. The Brewers lost their starter Brandon Woodruff for the season with a lat injury, but with a deeper rotation than Chicago and a very reliable bullpen, they have a decided advantage. Milwaukee’s offense has gotten hot at the right time: Christian Yelich has been crushing the ball, and the contributions of young outfielder Jackson Chourio, as well as stalwarts like William Contreras, Brice Turang, and Sal Frelick have made this lineup a dangerous one all the way down. Defensively, Milwaukee has also been one of the most reliable teams in baseball, led by their stellar fielding and a shutdown bullpen anchored by Abner Uribe and closer Trevor Megill.

Chicago finished this year’s season at 92-70, which is a really good campaign for them. While their pitching staff has largely been reliable, with both Jameson Taillon and Jordan Wicks capable of quality starts, their pitching has been less consistent against high-end offenses. Chicago’s lineup features power and athleticism in players like Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, which gives them both pop and speed. But Chicago’s offense is also one that has shown a tendency to be streaky, and has been unable to string together runs on the road against some of the top pitchers in the league.

To win this game, all Milwaukee really needs to do is let Peralta go six strong innings, turn the ball over to their well-rested bullpen, and make Chicago’s pitchers work early on with strong base running and disciplined at-bats. Chicago has the players to be able to compete, but Milwaukee has more balance, more pitching depth, and the home-field advantage on their side. Pick: Brewers win Game 1 and jump out to an early lead in the series.

Jim's Play: 938. Brewers -1.36 (Diamond Dominator)

Pitching, bullpen depth and postseason leverage will be on full display in a winner-take-all Wild Card matchup. The Red Sox won the opener in New York when lefty starter Garrett Crochet gave up one hit and zero runs over 7 2/3 innings while striking out 11. The Yankees adjusted their bullpen usage and lineup in Game 2 to beat Boston, which now sets up a winner-take-all Game 3.

The Red Sox are very much in a position to win this game. First of all, Boston has had the better of New York in 2022, they won the season series 9-4 and also went 5-2 in Yankee Stadium. Boston has also constructed a roster with bullpen arms that they can lean on, and have gotten key at-bats from their position players (Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, Masataka Yoshida) when they needed them to be productive.

The Yankees are a good ballclub, though, and have their own advantages. They have a potent lineup and an energy boost from home crowd support. But it’s very difficult to leverage those things in a winner-take-all, sudden-death game if the other team’s pitching and bullpen hold up. I believe the Sox bullpen is the difference makere here in game three. Add in their ability to win at Yankee Stadium and I'll take a very live dog in Boston. 

Jim's Play: 913. Red Sox

Chicago has the home field advantage in the winner-take-all matchup. They went 92-70 during the regular season and split the season series with San Diego, 3-3. Chicago’s second-half rotation has had a better run prevention profile, posting a 3.48 ERA to San Diego’s 4.28, so they have a slight edge on the side where pitching makes a difference. The Cubs also had the home field advantage in this Wild Card matchup.

The Padres will send veteran right-hander Yu Darvish to the mound. Darvish went 12-8 during the regular season with a 3.64 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 184 innings. He still has the ability to miss bats and rise to the occasion, but at 39, his consistency has wavered, especially against patient lineups that can run up his pitch count. On the other side, the Cubs will counter with Jameson Taillon, who turned in one of his steadier campaigns, finishing 11-9 with a 3.81 ERA and 153 strikeouts over 171 innings. Taillon doesn’t dominate with overpowering stuff, but his command and ability to limit damage have been keys to his success.

Chicago should have enough offense to take it either way. Between the homer power and patient approaches, the Cubs showed in Game 1 that they can beat San Diego’s staff even if they have a good day. The Padres also have offense that can come alive in a hurry, with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez all dangerous at the plate. 

The Padres bullpen is deep and has been dominant recently with guys like Mason Miller pitching as good as any reliever in the league, but San Diego has also shown weaknesses in this postseason. If the Cubs can force them to go through a bunch of arms early or at least spot them some runs, they have a great shot to win here.

With both teams being able to swing for the fences with a win-or-go-home situation, I like a bit more offense than Game 2 saw. Chicago has the matchup advantages, crowd and a track record of punching back when they go down early.  I will be ont he Cubs here in this game three. 

Jim's Play: 911. Cubs  (WildCard Game Year)

Cleveland comes into this Wildcard elmination day riding some actual momentum. The Guardians answered their Game 1 loss with a booming Game 2 comeback, one punctuated by a pair of home runs in the 8th inning from Brayan Rocchio and Bo Naylor. Home runs late in the game like that give Cleveland something to feel good about as they head into a winner take all Game 3. Detroit has been opportunistic at times this series, their starters giving them a chance to win each game, but their lineup has left way too many men stranded at the times they needed a hit most.

Pitching and making adjustments in game will likely win this, a mix of having a big night out of your starter and then relying on a bullpen to close it out. Cleveland’s bullpen is built to handle late-inning high-leverage situations and has been fairly sharp in these spots throughout the postseason so far, and the Guardians hitters aren’t going to burn themselves chasing offspeed early in counts like some Detroit hitters might. Detroit is going to need a near flawless game from their starter and then zeroes from every reliever to have a chance. Give Cleveland’s bullpen one inning to blow up, and it could be lights out.

Fielding and pitching-wise the Guardians do bend a little bit, but rarely break. They’ll take chances when they need to, but they’ll come into this with a need for a lead entering the late innings and those tendencies work well when you need a win. Detroit will feel the heat on every pitch, because every mistake can feel so much bigger in this game with Cleveland’s crowd right behind them. If Cleveland can get a one or two run cushion and their bullpen doesn’t let them down they have the matchups and the momentum to close out the series. My Pick: Guardians win Game 3 and advance. 

Jim's Play: 910. Guardians 

Fresh off a frustrating 2-1 Game 1 loss despite a near no-hit performance from Tarik Skubal, the Cleveland Guardians will be looking for a quick response. Cleveland has the desperation and late-season momentum a short series can hinge on. Detroit is 87-75, Cleveland is 88-74, Cleveland’s late-season surge allowed them to snatch the AL Central lead away from Detroit. They also won the season series 8-5 and five of six in September.

Detroit will turn to Casey Mize, who has battled back this season to give the Tigers solid innings down the stretch. While his raw numbers haven’t always been dominant, Mize has shown the ability to pitch to contact and limit damage when his command is sharp. On the other side, Cleveland counters with Tanner Bibee, who has emerged as one of the most reliable young arms in the American League. Bibee mixes a lively fastball with a sharp slider and has been effective at keeping hitters off balance, especially in big spots.

Both pitchers are capable of settling in early, but Cleveland has a clear advantage in bullpen depth. Their relievers have been more consistent and are better equipped to navigate high-leverage innings if Bibee can hand them the game with a lead. The Guardians’ lineup has also been timely against Detroit late in the season, and their patient approach could push Mize into high pitch counts by the middle innings.

With Bibee’s upside on the mound, a superior bullpen, and the confidence that comes from winning the late-season series against Detroit, Cleveland has the pieces in place to bounce back and grab the win in Game 2. My call is the Guardians to win behind Bibee’s steady hand and late offensive execution.

Jim's Play: 902. Guardians -1.30 

Boston is the underdog in this rivalry, but they’ve dominated New York of late. The Red Sox took the regular season series 9-4. Boston’s ace, Garrett Crochet, in particular has rattled Yankee bats, he even tossed a five-hit shutout (one run, one walk, 11 strikeouts) against them in his last start. That means he has the arsenal and the confidence to swing for the fences in Game 1. (He also extended Boston’s winning streak over New York to eight games.)

The Yankees have other plans, though. They counter with Max Fried on the mound. Fried has been solid all year, but against Boston he hasn’t fared as well, especially when the Boston bullpen and offense come to play. Speaking of offense, New York runs through Aaron Judge, who blasted 53 homers and batted a league-best .331. He will be the focal point in every at-bat. Boston will have to counter with Trevor Story, who has given New York fits, with power and consistency in their direct matchups.

Boston’s bullpen is deep and battle-tested, which gives them an advantage to preserve a lead into the late innings. New York’s relievers have a lot more on the line, especially if it’s a close game. In a short, high-leverage contest, it might come down to executing and having the clutch pitching and offense to make the other team make a mistake.

All things considered: Boston has the momentum, head-to-head matchups in their favor, a dominant ace in Crochet, and bullpen depth to back him up. I think Boston wins Game 1 outright in nine innings, no extra innings needed.

Jim's Play: 945. Red Sox

Chicago enters this series on a high note, having gone 92–70 in the regular season for the NL’s best wild card spot. The elements all favor Chicago in this matchup. They have a better run differential, a deeper pitching staff, and built a late-season clubhouse buzz that should not be overlooked. San Diego ended the regular season with a solid, 90–72, record, but come into this series as the underdogs and with a tougher path, playing every game away from home.

The Cubs are heading into this series having split the regular season series with San Diego 3–3. The close head-to-head series between the teams says the two squads know each other well and that execution and matchups will be more of a factor than talent level. The Cubs will have to lean on the depth of their rotation and the flexibility of their bullpen since their ace Cade Horton is out with a rib injury and will miss this series. Chicago will go to Matthew Boyd or Sh?ta Imanaga early and trust their consistency and composure while leaning on the bullpen to go deep.

San Diego will start Nick Pivetta in Game 1 and have a guy with big inning capability when he’s right. The Padres also have offensive promise with their late-season bats and will be looking to force the Cubs into hard bullpen usage early in games.

Chicago, on the other hand, is superior in balance and depth, particularly. They will have to mix and match without their ace Horton, but their relievers have been in the bullpen battles all year. Chicago also will know that in a short series every mistake is amplified. They will likely play more conservatively and work to force the opponent to beat them and stay in games rather than take chances.

Chicago’s ability to absorb pressure and a hungry San Diego squad needing to force the Cubs’ bullpen early, along with a Wrigley home crowd in do-or-die mode, are the reasons I like the Cubs to take this series.

Jim's Play : 944. Cubs -1.22 

Dodgers at Mariners has division winners squaring off in a late-season finale. They come to the game having won their respective division titles last night,  Los Angeles defeated Arizona 8-0 to clinch the NL West and Seattle topped the Rockies 6-2 to wrap up the AL West. The Mariners have also been on fire at home all year, winning 11 of their last 12 overall there. In addition, the M's have won seven straight games and 17 of their last 18 overall. 

Los Angeles has starter Emmet Sheehan (6-3 with a 2.86 ERA) on the bump. He’s been very consistent this year, and the Dodgers can rely on a pitcher who won’t allow a lot of runs on a nightly basis. Seattle has George Kirby (roughly 10-7 with a 4.24 ERA) going. His 4.24 ERA is fine and he’s good at stranding baserunners, but he also surrenders a bit more in runs and overall baserunner rates compared to Sheehan.

Seattle has a team that can win several different ways. Julio Rodríguez has led the way with 173 hits and 95 RBIs this year and Cal Raleigh has been on a career-year home run pace. Add in J.P. Crawford (hits/contact, defense) and other complementary pieces and the Mariners have a very deep lineup. Los Angeles is different. Their team slash of about .253/.328/.405 slugging belies how loaded and dangerous their lineup can be. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts,  et al. are just going to hit, and they can put runs on the scoreboard in a hurry with power and the ability to extend innings.

Seattle’s been a monster in its own building all year. They’ve won 11 of their last 12 at home and they’ve kept up that pace since their division-clinching win against Houston last night. Los Angeles has pitched well lately and is playing with some momentum of their own, but these last few weeks also serve as an opportunity for the Dodgers to “keep pushing” even after clinching. Dodgers' starters have been the best in baseball in September. However, their bullpen has been horrible - blowing save after save.  If the Dodgers hope to make it far in the playoffs they will have to fix this bullpen and in a hurry. 

I'm not going against this red-hot Mariners' teame, especially at home where they have been dominant. Expect to see starters rested here tonight on both sides. Still, Seattle will be tough at home and get my nod here tonight. 

Jim's Play: Mariners 

This game carries enormous weight in the AL Central and postseason race. The Tigers and Guardians currently stand neck and neck for the Division lead, and Cleveland comes in riding serious momentum. Detroit has stumbled late, losing 10 of their last 11 games, while Cleveland has surged, winning 17 of its last 20, and now holds the tiebreaker over Detroit. Their bullpen and starters have been dependable, and they’re playing with urgency.

For this matchup, the probable starters are Jack Flaherty for Detroit (8-14 record, 4.60 ERA) and Tanner Bibee for Cleveland (11-11 record, 4.34 ERA). Bibee has been more consistent at home and has shown flashes of dominance against Detroit in past starts. Flaherty, meanwhile, has had moments of brilliance but also bouts of inconsistency, especially in allowing free baserunners and getting hit in crucial innings.

Cleveland’s offense has stepped up when needed, feeding off their pitching and bullpen strength. While they’re not top of the league offensively, they have enough weapons, Jose Ramírez, Kyle Manzardo, and others, to push scoring in tight games. Detroit can produce too, but with Cleveland’s bullpen guards tightened and protection for Bibee, the matchup favors the Guardians.

Given the starting pitcher edge, Cleveland’s momentum, and their need to win, I will be on the Guardians taking this one. 

Jim's Play: Guardians (A.L. Game of the Month)

Cleveland (84-71) has been riding a hot streak in the late season, stacking up wins and tightening their grip in the AL Central. Minnesota (66-89) is well out of the playoff picture and playing for pride, but the Guardians are in a position where every game counts. The momentum clearly lies with Cleveland right now, and they’ll try to carry their recent success into this matchup.

The probable pitchers are Joey Cantillo (5-3, 3.27 ERA) for Cleveland and Simeon Woods Richardson (7-4, 4.31 ERA) for Minnesota. Cantillo has shown he can be effective when he commands his fastball and keeps hitters off balance, while Richardson has had moments of strength but has also been hit around when his control slips. The stat line gives the edge to Cleveland’s starter, especially considering his recent starts and how the Guardians have tightened up their defense during this stretch.

Offensively, the Guardians have sparked at the right time. Players like José Ramírez, Bo Naylor, and others have been delivering in clutch situations, and Cleveland’s scoring, while not always explosive, has been timely. Minnesota’s offense has more firepower in terms of raw skills, especially with home run potential, but they’ve been inconsistent and are likely to be tested more than once by Cantillo’s ability to work out of trouble.

Given the combination of Cleveland’s pitching advantage, offensive timing, and momentum, I lean heavily toward the Guardians winning this one. I expect a relatively modest scoring margin, nothing too wild, but enough to keep Minnesota from mounting a comeback.

Jim's Play: 915. Guardians

Cleveland enters this contest at 81-71, coming off of a hot stretch that included a series sweep of the Tigers that tightened their Wild Card deficit to just a game. Minnesota on the other hand is languishing deep in the division standings at 66-86, lacking consistency across their pitching staff and defensive play. The Guardians still have every game here on out that counts for something with the Wild Card being essentially a play-in this season, so road series like this hold added weight on nights like this at Target Field.

Messick, who is making his third start of the season, owns a 3-0 record with an immaculate 1.84 ERA and has fanned 22 in 29 1/3 innings to go with the strong results. He’s showed a good amount of poise and damage limitation ability on nights when his stuff isn’t cooperating, which is a good sign for the young righty. Lopez is 5-4 with a 2.64 ERA who has, in many ways, been the Twins’ best hope of keeping games within striking distance. He hasn’t received the run support he’s deserved in many instances but the collective play around him has shown weaknesses, particularly in a shaky bullpen and defensive lapses.

Offensively, Cleveland has Jose Ramirez (who owns a high wRC+) and Kyle Manzardo to mention a few that can turn it on in clutch moments. The Guardians’ pitching, bullpen, and defense have also been strong in the stretch that has helped them finish off close games. Minnesota has some offensive threats, but their pitching depth has been taxed and bullpen ERA in recent outings has been bloated, so they may not be able to mount an offensive attack should Cleveland establish a lead.

Between Messick on the bump, the Guardian bullpen, and Cleveland’s recent play, they have the advantage. I expect this to be close early on but Cleveland to pull away late thanks to a strong start from the Guardians’ rotation and key late-inning small ballances.

Jim's Play: 919. Guardians

The Reds need to get themselves relevant again in this Wild Card picture which is suddenly beginning to sort itself out, and this home stand is their chance to get some momentum. The Cubs have played well and have been consistent but Imanaga has shown a propensity to allow hard contact at times to survive and that gives the Reds a chance if Lodolo is on top of his game, and he has been when he’s healthy.

Imanaga has been able to sustain quality starts while mixing up pitches to keep hitters off balance but he really doesn’t have much room for error at this point in the season. Lodolo has posted an 8-8 record with a 3.30 ERA, 137 strikeouts, and a 1.04 WHIP over approximately 144.2 innings pitched. He’s also been much more consistent over his last few starts by limiting walks and pitch counts.

This should favor the Reds because of Lodolo’s command of his pitches, plus his ability to suppress runs at home and it’s rare when that won’t happen. If they can get on Imanaga early, maybe with some smart hitting and aggressive baserunning to get him out of his rhythm and then pick up some runs in the mid-to-late innings while the Cubs have shown some vulnerabilities there as well.

This should be close for a few innings before Lodolo holds his shape and the Reds get timely offense. 

Jim's Play: 902. Reds (NL Central Game of the Week)

The Tigers are 85-68 and lead the AL Central by 3.5 games. They are tough at home and playoff bound, but they’ve been showing some chinks in their armor in this recent skid, and they could get back to winning ways with a win today. The Braves are 70-83 and long out of contention. They’re dangerous though, and this is an important divisional game against a team that could mess with other teams’ playoff chances. This has all the makings of a trap game for Detroit: at home against a team with nothing to lose, and who should be swinging for the fences to the extent that they can.

Atlanta sends Bryce Elder to the mound, who is 7-10 with a 5.56 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 142.1 innings. He’s very hittable, but he’s also good enough to have quality starts if he can get a little help from his offense to start an outing. Detroit is starting Charlie Morton, who is also 5.56 ERA and 9-10 on the year. He’s been in a ton of battles and has more experience, but he’s also given up enough hard contact all year long that if things go south early, he could quickly get in trouble.

If the Braves can get Elder some run support early, keep this from being a marathon game, attack any mistake pitches Morton throws, and force Detroit to grind out runs, they could get it done. The Braves have hitters capable of doing that, particularly in situations like this against pitchers with ERAs in the 5s. Atlanta’s bullpen is also more resilient to an early deficit, and also more capable of eating some innings if Elder can keep things close through 5 or 6.

It’s a weird spot with the pitching matchup and with Atlanta’s propensity to steal a win or two in series like this. So with that in mind, I’ll say the Braves, in a mild upset.

Jim's Play: 923. Braves 

San Diego is sitting at 83-69, firmly planted in second for the NL Wild Card while also still in the hunt for the NL West as they trail the Dodgers by 2-games with about 10 games left in the regular season. Every game is huge down the stretch, but the Padres in particular need to take care of business with the Mets (78-74) on their tail in the Wild Card race. The Mets are just a half game back of the Padres for that 2nd Wildcard spot. A win for San Diego keeps them on top and may lock in a tiebreaker since the Padres swept New York earlier this season. The Mets meanwhile have to be in “must win” mode as dropping too many more could see them fall completely.

Add it all up and the likely starters make this a San Diego game. The Padres will roll with Randy Vásquez, who has a 5-6 record with a 3.72 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts over 123.1 innings pitched. He’s been solid, mostly keeping opponents in line, limiting the bleeding when he gets into jams, and generally showing good control. On the other side, New York turns to Jonah Tong, who is 1-2 with an 8.49 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 11.2 innings of work. Tong has shown some good potential at times, but he’s a free-swinging pitcher who walks too many and right now just has that ERA inflation written all over his stats that will make him susceptible on a high-leverage day like this.

Offensively, San Diego has the pieces to get the job done. Manny Machado has been a consistent force while Fernando Tatis Jr. is getting it together. Plus, the Padres’ lineup has shown in spurts the ability to do just enough, whether that means stringing together hits to manufacture runs or pounding opposing pitching for a heavy margin of victory. New York has been better recently at the plate, but Tong will either walk too many or get hit around with some regularity. Throw in the added intensity of this setting and that means a San Diego jump early could force the Mets to chase the game.

Add it up and the Padres have the upper hand thanks to their pitching depth and bullpen superiority too. If Vásquez can give San Diego a quality start, five or six innings with two or three runs or less, then they should be able to hold. nd and timely offense.

Jim's Play: 951. Padres 

Tonight’s game has big Wild Card implications, as the Padres and Mets battle it out in the race for the last spots in the playoffs. Both teams know that this is an important series to establish momentum, as the Giants, Reds, and Diamondbacks are lurking just a few games behind. However, with both teams splitting the season series and little room for error for both clubs, this is a critical matchup for both sides. In addition, the Padres are contending for the NL West title, trailing the Dodgers by just two games. 

Starting for the Padres is right-hander Michael King, who has posted a 4-2 record and 2.87 ERA for San Diego this season. King has given the Padres quality innings down the stretch and will look to be aggressive and efficient on the road. On the mound for the Mets is righty Clay Holmes, who has an 11-8 record and a 3.75 ERA. Holmes has shown flashes of effectiveness this season, but the Mets have to hope he minimizes hard contact and avoids having San Diego’s powerful lineup beat around the park. Offensively, this is a battle of two clubs trying to play more to their potential. The Padres have been led by their stars, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado, while the Mets will need timely hitting and improved execution with runners in scoring position, something that has eluded them throughout the season. This game has to be won, for the Mets to keep the pressure on in the NL Wild Card race, otherwise their season will be in jeopardy with how close the race is right now. Finally, the mental state of the Mets is another factor, as this has been a disappointing year for the Mets and a loss in this series could tighten the race and diminish the Mets chances of catching the playoff hopefuls.

As much as I would like to see the Mets win this series, this sets up as a tight, competitive game in which the Padres have the momentum and the advantage with King on the mound. It’s hard to predict by much, but the edge goes to San Diego in this one as I’ll take the Padres in a win.

Jim's Play: 909. Padres 

The Orioles come into this game at 71-80. They are officially out of the playoff race, but with no expectations on this roster, they still want to end the season as well as possible and not fall back too far under .500. The White Sox have had a very poor season so far, with a record of 57-95. They have been eliminated from contention for a while and have used the remaining games to see what they have in younger players and give playing time to players they will build around in the future.

Pitching for Baltimore will be Tyler Wells. In his limited appearances, Wells has gone 1–0 with a 2.31 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. He has walked just one batter and held opponents to a .146 average on the season. Pérez will pitch for Chicago. The veteran has put up a 1-5 record with a 3.27 ERA, which is a respectable ERA, but the lack of run support he has received and some inconsistency have led to an ugly record for Pérez despite holding opponents to a .188 average.

If Wells can keep the White Sox lineup in check during the early innings, Baltimore has the advantage. The Orioles have the offensive depth to put up runs with a few hits and can score quickly, with a young core led by Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday able to lead rallies. Baltimore’s bullpen is not one of the best, but if Wells struggles or doesn’t go deep enough into the game, they might be able to limit the damage.

Baltimore has the advantage and should be able to control most of the game, taking advantage of mistakes by the White Sox.

Jim's Play: 915. Orioles 

The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals both enter this matchup still in contention for one of the last two NL Wild Card spots. Cincinnati is at 75-76, three games back of the Mets for the final Wild Card spot and in the thick of the battle with the Giants and Diamondbacks. St. Louis checks in at 74-78, roughly 4.5 games back of New York. Each team will approach these final games of the season with every game having a taste of postseason do-or-die. Add in that this is a divisional matchup, and both teams will enter the game with the intent to either flip the momentum of this series in their favor or to keep it.

Cincinnati has elected to turn to Brady Singer, who has been one of the more dependable pieces in their rotation this year. Singer is 13-10 with a 3.94 ERA in 155 innings, punching out 149 while limiting opponents to a .235 average. He had a good last start, tossing six innings and allowing just two earned runs. St. Louis will have Andre Pallante on the mound, who has had a tough year with a 6-14 record, a 5.34 ERA, and a 1.43 WHIP. Pallante has had trouble with consistency, giving up quality starts less than 50% of the time. He is prone to working himself into trouble by falling behind in counts.

Cincinnati’s strategy is simple: get another quality start from Singer and rely on the bullpen to hold late if they can. The offense for Cincinnati features the star power of Elly De La Cruz and a speedy lineup that can get on base and work the gaps. That will be their approach with Pallante, to work him around early and go after him if he continues to give up free passes. For the Cardinals, veteran bats like Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras must continue to produce, especially if Pallante does not give them length. The Cardinals have batted with plenty of fight in the lineup all season but continue to leave way too many men on base.

This is a game for Cincinnati to keep their playoff chances alive. They have the edge in starting pitching and their Wild Card situation has a little more urgency than St. Louis. I'll be on the Reds here today. 

Jim's Play: 903. Reds (NL Central Game of the Week)

An intradivisional matchup of two clubs with drastically different goals, as the Cubs are one game away from clinching a playoff WildCard spot and the Pirates are completely out of playoff contention. 

The Cubs have an 87-64 record and while the Brewers are out of their reach in the division race, they hold a tight grip on the 1st Wild Card spot. The Pirates are sitting at 65-87 and have been completely out of playoff contention since before the All-Star break; their motivation will likely be finishing the season with respectability and tuning up for the post-season. 

Pitching for the Cubs will be Matthew Boyd, who is 13-8 with a 3.05 ERA and 171.2 innings pitched. He has a 146 to 39 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and his opponent’s batting average is .233. Boyd has recorded 17 quality starts for the Cubs this season. On average, he has pitched to a total of just under six innings per start. Boyd started against the Rays last game, and it did not go well, as he lasted just five innings, allowing four earned runs, four hits, and three walks while striking out eight. Boyd will look to bounce back, and be back to his consistency in this one.

For the Pirates, the Cubs will see Johan Oviedo on the mound. He is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 25.2 innings pitched. He has a 31 to three strikeout-to-walk ratio, and his opponent’s batting average is .176. He has not had a quality start yet this season, however, as it takes six innings with an ERA lower than three to qualify as a quality start for a starting pitcher. He has yet to pitch to a total of six innings in a game. Oviedo has been very impressive, however, in his limited work. He is showing the ability to miss bats at a solid rate (K/9 in the nine-to-ten range), and he has been able to limit hard contact in his limited starts. He is unproven and more of a wild card for this one, but as long as the Cubs’ offense doesn’t jump on him early he should have a chance.

The Pirates have a great shot here today as a nice priced dog. WIth Oviedo on the hill he will keep them in the game and that's all you can ask of a dog. Let's take a shot with the Pirates here on Wednesday. 

Jim's Play: 902. Pirates 

Seattle Mariners (82-68) are one of those teams to keep a close eye on late in the season, especially considering their play as of late. The club currently finds itself leading Houston Astros in AL West by 0.5 games. Kansas City Royals, on the other hand, are fighting for their postseason lives, currently 3.5 games out of the last playoff spot, and there is a lot of work to be done.

Mariners have several hitters in their lineup on quite the roll at the moment, most notable of them is probably Randy Arozarena, who went 6-for-15 with 4 home runs against Royals in the early-season meeting. Kansas City currently relies on Vinnie Pasquantino, who has fared especially well post All-Star break with 15 HR and 48 RBIs.

Probable pitchers for today’s game are Logan Gilbert for Seattle and Michael Wacha for Kansas City. Gilbert has had a pretty good year, if a little spotty at times with regards to control; Wacha is a bit of a challenge with a couple of bright spots as an experienced vet with occasional really good showings under fire.

A couple of things to keep an eye on today: how quickly can Seattle’s lineup jump on Wacha and his early pitches, whether Royals can answer with runs of their own, and perhaps how clean the bullpen can stay, as late inning relief is likely to be a big part of this one. Kauffman is also a decent home run-friendly ballpark where extra base hits may count.

I like Seattle here now that they have taken over 1st place in the division. 

Jim's Play: 973. Mariners 

The Guardians have scuffled a little bit lately, but they remain a well above .500 team with a 78–71 record entering play tonight. The Guardians are tied for the last playoff Wildcard spot so they can't letup as this point as every game is big for them. They will rely on strong pitching and some timely hitting to outlast the Tigers in this game. Detroit has been one of the best teams at home and will make this game a tough one for Cleveland. This is a divisional game with playoff implications down the stretch as both teams continue to fight for playoff spots. The Tigers pretty much have the division locked, as they lead 2nd place Cleveland by 6.5 games. That makes this game less important for the Tigers then it does for the Guardians. 

The Guardians will send 5-3 Joey Cantillo to the mound tonight. He is coming into the game with a 3.36 ERA and 92 strikeouts in his 73.2 innings this season. Cantillo has been beyond his years in the big leagues this season, as he has managed to limit the damage and give his team a chance to win nearly every time he takes the ball. He should do a solid job against the Tigers, as the lineup has been about consistency and not necessarily over-the-fence power. Casey Mize will toe the rubber for the Tigers tonight. He is coming into this game with a 14-5 record and a 3.83 ERA in his 143.2 innings this season. The Guardians have been able to exploit him a bit in the past and the key to the game will be if José Ramírez can see the ball well again like he has in previous encounters. Cantillo and the Guardians need to grind out at-bats and make something happen when they have runners on base. If Cantillo can work through the Tigers’ lineup twice and get out with minimal damage each time, the bullpen will be able to keep them there. Detroit has been great at home, but Cleveland’s bats with Ramírez at the top of the lineup and just finding runs in clutch situations might have the edge. The Guardians have been red-hot, winning nine of their last 10 games. I expect them to be right there at the end tonight with this game possibly coming down to the wire with a late win by the Guardians.  

Jim's Play: 967. Guardians (AL Central Game of the Week)

The San Francisco Giants are 75-74, just ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild card picture at 75–75. The Giants sit fourth in the Wild Card, 1.5 games back of the Mets while the D'backs are 2-games out. That means this series could have major implications on making the postseason. 

Arizona is led on the mound by Zac Gallen (11-14, 4.84 ERA). Gallen has made 30 starts this season and averages about 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He has struggled to maintain a low ERA but generally comes around and settles in alright. He has definitely been more consistent at home in Chase Field and will likely need to give Arizona a solid start. For the Giants, Kai-Wei Teng is expected to start but with much more inconsistency. The righty is 2-4 with a 7.54 ERA in his few starts. He shows the ability to miss bats (11.1 K/9) but is all over the place with command and location. He also gives up a lot of baserunners and hasn’t been able to make it into the later innings of games recently.

The Arizona offense has been the better of the two in recent weeks with some solid home power and just more reliable bats, especially in big situations. The Giants bats have been up and down, including a bit of a cold spell coming off a loss to the Dodgers. However, they have managed to cobble together enough offense when they needed to to stay relevant and have had a better road record than their record would lead you to believe for a team generally at or around break-even.

I expect this one to come down to the depth of the pitching and usage of the bullpen. Gallen has to give Arizona a chance with a solid start and Arizona bullpen will be called upon; if the Giants can manufacture early traffic in the game, they can create some trouble. Teng has not been able to consistently get into the later innings and it puts Giants in a more tenuous position.

I’m taking Arizona to win this one with the better recent offense, home field and veteran starter.

Jim's Play: 908. Diamondbacks

The Reds are 74–75 and just under .500; the Cardinals are 73-77, which is atrocious but still not quite dead yet in the NL Wildcard Race. Since neither club is yet comfortably in playoff-territory, this one and the rest of the remaining games take on a greater sense of urgency. Cincinnati currently is 2.5 games back in the Wildcard race while the Cardinals are 4-games back. 

Probable pitchers: Zack Littell for the Reds and Matthew Liberatore for the Cardinals. Littell, as usual for a young pitcher with flashes of promise and success, has had stretches where he’s been quite good and other times where he’s been a hot mess. When he’s right, the right-handed Littell has put up a 9-8 record with a 3.78 ERA and about 120 strikeouts in just about 140 innings of work. Liberatore, on the other hand, has had a more tough time finding his footing. The lefty’s overall numbers so far are a 7-12 record with a higher ERA (4.35), with road games showing more extreme tendencies in terms of run suppression. For Liberatore to win this one, the Cardinals’ bunts, command, and hard contact suppression on defense will play significant roles.

Offensively and defensively, this one is very close and the pitching matchups gives the Reds the edge. Cincinnati features a relatively balanced attack that should be able to do some damage; Elly De La Cruz has been one of the big stars in this series for the Reds, with timely hits for power and speed that should put pressure on the Cardinals’ mid-pen. On the other side, if the Cardinals are to have a chance here, they’ll have to do so with offense from the likes of Willson Contreras, and hope to get an early lead since Liberatore, if he continues his recent past struggles, will likely put this game away early. On defense, this series has exposed some cracks in the bullpen and defense for both teams; which bullpen can step up in the later innings here will likely determine this one.

Taking into account the current situation, the pitching matchups, and recent performances by both teams, I’ll go with the Reds here on Monday. 

Jim's Play: 906. Reds 

The LA Dodgers (83-65) evened their series with the Giants with a come from behind win on Saturday, 13-7. The bats finally came alive as they received big hitting from the top to the bottom of the lineup.  The Dodgers hold a slim lead in the NL West over the Padres. The Giants (75-73) are right in the Wild Card mix after being one of the hotter teams. Couple that with the Mets losing streak and the Giants are in the thick of things. 

Tyler Glasnow will start for the Dodgers. He’s been much better than his 2-3 record with a 3.21 ERA and close to 100 strikeouts suggest. Glasnow is showing the swing-and-miss stuff he has throughout his career, but at times command hasn’t been there. The Giants will counter with lefty Robbie Ray, who is having a reliable season for San Francisco and has been a workhorse in the past as well. Ray is 11-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 176 strikeouts. His ability to go deep into games will be key for the Giants against one of the league’s best lineups.

Dodgers hitters appear to be coming on strong down the stretch led by a power spike from Shohei Ohtani and a steady presence from Freddie Freeman. If Glasnow can avoid free passes and keep the ball in the zone he should be in position to dictate the pace of the game. Giants will need Ray to be able to work through the heart of the Dodgers order and induce soft contact when runners are on base. San Francisco has an offense that can produce timely hits, but struggles in pitching and defense have resulted in some costly games over the last few weeks.

Divisional rivalry games against teams with something to play for are almost always hard-fought. Giants will be fired up at home and won’t go away easy. Dodgers have star power, depth, and more importantly recent history of offensive explosion on their side. 

Jim's Play: 955. Dodgers 

The Reds visit the A's in an AL West/NL Central interleague play-in clash on Saturday night in Oakland at Sutter Health Park. On the bump, Cincinnati sends aces while Oakland answers with a resurgent righty: Reds SP Hunter Greene (2025 line: 6-4, 2.59 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 113 SO/90.1 IP) opposes A's SP Luis Severino (2025 line: 6-11, 4.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 114 SO/146.1 IP). Greene’s upper-90s fastball-slider combo provides a high ceiling for the Reds with strikeouts, but avoiding free passes is crucial for them to mitigate hard contact with traffic. On the other side, Severino needs to be ahead with first-pitch strikes and fast outs to keep Elly De La Cruz and the top of the lineup from pounding him and turning the lineup over. Oakland won Friday’s opener 3-0, so Cincinnati needs to focus on early run scoring and defending the long ball in a park that will serve well-struck fly balls on warm nights. I’m taking Cincy here on Saturday in what could be close then expected. 

Jim's Play: 929. Reds 

This should be an interesting interleague tilt at Truist Park on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET. The Astros will send righty Hunter Brown to the mound, who is breaking out in a big way (11-7, 2.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 190 K). The Braves will counter with Bryce Elder, a pitch-to-contact righty with a less favorable line (7-9, 5.35 ERA, 1.41 WHIP). The Astros cruised on Friday, winning 11-3 behind a pinch-hit rookie sensation named Zach Cole. It was a very well-timed injection of power for an offense that has lacked consistency of late. Houston is 80-68 on the year while Atlanta is at 65-82 and prices are indicating a small road favorite and a mid-range total. If Brown’s four-seam fastball and slider keep the Braves swinging and off balance while also not giving away free baserunners, this could get shortened up into matchups for Houston late. For Atlanta to have a chance, Elder will have to strike early and induce ground balls to prevent getting into traffic against the heart of the Astros’ order. I look for the Astros to win here on Saturday. They are the better team with the better pitcher on the hill. 

Jim's Play: 975. Astros

The Reds begin a three-game series in Oakland on Friday night (7:05 p.m. PT). The mound match-up tilts Cincinnati’s way: Brady Singer has shown consistency in his first season with the Reds (13-9, 3.98 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 145 K) and most recently put together a six-inning, one-run outing against the Mets. Oakland will counter with a right-handed pitcher in J.T. Ginn (3-6, 4.95 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 86 K), a contact-oriented arm who is at his best when he pounds the zone early and induces ground balls. Though officially the A's have yet to say Ginn will start and going with undecided. 

Sutter Health Park’s dimensions are nearly a carbon copy of the old Coliseum, but a warm summer and autumn and persistent wind have resulted in the park playing closer to neutral or a touch lively at times. In that case, avoiding traffic on the bases is key. Cincinnati (74-72) is still very much in the mix for a playoff spot in the NL while the A’s (67-80) have leaned on a bunch of young arms and will look to hand a lead to their bullpen as they try to remain afloat in the AL West. The sum here is Singer’s command and length against whether Oakland can make contact early and put a lead on the scoreboard. Reds with Singer are the play here on Friday evening. No matter wich starter the A's use, whether it's Ginn or someone else, I'm sticking with a proven vet in Singer.

Jim's Play: Reds

It’s a fun setup at Citi Field Friday night (7:10 p.m. ET) with Jacob deGrom making his first start in Queens since leaving the Mets, and he brings ace-level numbers into it for Texas: 11-7, 2.78 ERA, 0.93 WHIP with 169 strikeouts in 155.2 innings. New York hands the ball to rookie Jonah Tong, who’s shown poise in two MLB starts (1-1, 4.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 12 K in 11.0 IP) after a rapid rise through the system. The matchup angle is clear: if deGrom commands the zone early and keeps the ball on the ground, Texas can ride length and hand a lead to a rested back end. For the Mets, Tong’s path is first-pitch strikes and avoiding traffic against the middle of the Rangers’ order. Layer on the emotion of deGrom’s return and a Mets rotation leaning on multiple rookies this month, and this has the makings of an excellent game. For me, I'm sticking with the Rangers' vet pitcher who will have extra incentive to perform well tonight before his old home crowd. 

Jim's Play: Rangers

The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies square off on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Citizens Bank Park in a game with playoff implications. The Phillies have pretty much wrapped up NL East crown with a 10-game lead over 2nd play NY Mets. They come into this matchup in strong form, while the Mets are battling to stay relevant in the Wild Card race. Philadelphia has been playing with consistency and power in recent weeks, while New York has shown flashes of promise but has struggled to maintain momentum against playoff-caliber opponents.

The probable pitching matchup features left-handers David Peterson for the Mets and Jesús Luzardo for the Phillies. Peterson enters with a 9-5 record and a 3.72 ERA, giving New York stability when he’s on his game, but he has shown some vulnerability against deep lineups. Luzardo has been sharp for most of the season, carrying a 13-6 record and a 4.01 ERA, and his strikeout ability makes him a dangerous matchup against a Mets lineup that can be prone to inconsistency. 

The storylines are clear: the Mets will need Peterson to deliver length and efficiency to keep their bullpen fresh, while the offense leans on stars like Juan Soto to spark run production. For Philadelphia, the power bats of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, along with a deeper lineup overall, give them multiple ways to generate offense. The Phillies also hold the edge in bullpen stability, which could loom large in the later innings if the game remains tight.

Looking at the matchup overall, the Phillies have the upper hand at home. Their combination of a potent offense, reliable pitching, and momentum makes them tough to beat in this spot. 

Jim's Play: 904. Phillies (NL East Game of the Week)

The Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays will play their final game of a three-game series on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Rogers Centre. Each team is playing for postseason positioning as the calendar flips to September. Houston won Wednesday night’s game 3-2 on the back of timely hitting late in the game and a strong bullpen. Toronto also has a lot to play for as they look to solidify their standing in the AL East and a playoff seeding. 

The pitching matcup here on Thursday has the Astros going with Cristian Javier (1–2, 4.43 ERA) while the Jays will counter with Kevin Gausman (9–10, 3.63 ERA). Both teams are atop their respective divisions, with the Astros leading the AL West 79-67 over Seattle and the Blue Jays 83-62 over the Yankees in the AL East. However, their paths to Thursday’s matchup have been a bit different and Toronto is much more aligned for success against the Houston rotation.

The starting pitcher edge leans Blue Jays for this one with Gausman continuing to whiff batters and work deep into ballgames. Javier has yet to find his rhythm in an inconsistent season where he’s struggled with command and been prone to the long ball. The Astros lineup is nowhere near the strength of Toronto’s on the road, where they did find some positivity with a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday powered by a Yainer Díaz homer in the ninth. But even that came against a bullpen that’s just as shaky as Houston’s and the continued depth of the rotation will be questioned after Luis Garcia was placed on the IL.

I like the Jays to bounce back after that previous loss here Thursday. 

Jim's Play: 910. Blue Jays

Wednesday, September 10 the Minnesota Twins and LA Angels finalize their series in Anaheim, with right-handers Taj Bradley (MIN) and José Soriano (LAA) penciled into the respective starting lineups. Bradley (6-7, 4.92 ERA) gives Minnesota a legitimate live fastball since arriving at the deadline. Soriano (10–10, 4.07 ERA) matches him with a sinker/splitter-heavy profile that has cut up Angel Stadium when he’s been getting ground ball outs.

Pitching’s clear-cut home side advantage here in the Angels. The Angels erupted in Tuesday’s series opener with 17 hits in a 12-2 rout, shutting Minnesota down with seven innings of zeroes from Kyle Hendricks while the Twins’ rotation coughed up a two-out rally each. That outburst was powered by extra-base hits from Chris Taylor and Yoán Moncada and a three-RBI game from Luis Rengifo, proof that L.A. can manufacture damage even without much exit velocity.

Minnesota’s ideal game plan runs through Bradley keeping the free passes in check early so the Twins’ bats can apply pressure late, where Royce Lewis has been a particularly potent change of pace this month. If Bradley can maintain his four-seam/slider tandem’s success the first time through, it could shorten the game for a bullpen that may need a chance to catch its breath after Tuesday’s avalanche. For Los Angeles, Soriano’s command could be the x-factor; when he’s living down in the zone he can corral Minnesota’s lift-and-pull tendencies.

All in all, the third game of the set figures to be a narrower, more pitching-dominated effort than Tuesday’s laugher. If Soriano’s putting on a ground ball display and Bradley’s strike throwing carries over, this has the makings of a mid-game standoff won by whichever lineup converts its sparse traffic. While I don't expect a 12-2 Angels blowout, I do expect another home win by the Halos here on Wednesday.

Jim's Play: 966. Angels

In the second game of a four-game interleague set in Arlington, the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers square off on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Milwaukee assigns right-hander Chad Patrick to the mound. Acquired in the offseason to fortify the Brewers rotation, Patrick has stabilized the rotation behind Josh Hader. The right-hander is 3-8 with a 3.60 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 105 innings. Patrick isn’t overpowering, but his efficiency at limiting damage has been a steadying presence this season as the Brewers pitching staff required as much depth as it could get.

Texas counters with Jack Leiter. As is always the case with Texas starters, there is a premium level of intrigue whenever Leiter takes the mound. A fixture in the club’s future plans for years, the former first-round pick is 9-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 127-innings this season. He’s flashed elite potential at times in his rookie year, blending his strikeout stuff with advanced poise.

Patrick is the reliable grinder who can eat up innings, while Leiter is an electric young arm who has the ability to flip the switch on a lineup when his command cooperates. Texas will need a strong showing from Leiter here on Tuesday against the Brewers. 

Jim's Play: 928. Rangers

The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs will match up in the second game of their series on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Chicago sends righty Cade Horton to the hill. Horton has been a model of consistency for the Cubs, posting a 9-4 record with a 2.78 ERA, 87 strikeouts, and 32 walks on the year. He has been especially effective on the road, where his ERA is even lower, making him a key figure in the Cubs’ rotation this season.

Atlanta will counter with righty Spencer Strider. The season has been a frustrating one for Strider, who has a 5-12 record with a 4.97 ERA. Despite the ugly stats, Strider’s stuff is always electric, and when he’s on, Atlanta has a chance to win. The key for Strider has been maintaining his command and avoiding the kind of mistakes that lead to the long inning that can be his undoing.

If Horton continues his solid work, the Cubs will be in the driver’s seat. Take the Cubs here on Tuesday. 

Jim's Play: 905. Cubs 

The Kansas City Royals host the Cleveland Guardians for the second game of this three-game series on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. It’s early in the week but this game has late-season, playoff implications for both clubs, as they’re both in the hunt for a wild-card spot, with Cleveland coming in with a lot of momentum after blowing out the Royals in the opener.

Kansas City will send lefty Noah Cameron to the mound. The lefty has been one of the Royals’ more reliable starters this season, posting a 7-6 record with a 3.03 ERA and 88 strikeouts. He’s kept hard contact in check while being able to work deep into games and put his defense in position to make plays, but he has likely benefited a little from those plays based on some of the advanced metrics this season. Nonetheless, it’s enough for the Royals to hope that he can keep things close for them.

Joey Cantillo will take the ball for the Guardians. The lefty is 4-3 on the season with a 3.73 ERA and 87 strikeouts. He’s probably not a strikeout machine, but he’s been able to keep his innings manageable while generating enough ground balls and staying out of bad situations for the Guardians to keep a lead or a deficit manageable.

Cleveland enters this game with a lot of momentum after their offense finally came alive in an 10-2 victory Monday behind the strong pitching of Slade Cecconi. That game shifted momentum in the division race and really set the tone for this series.

It’s kind of a matchup of two young lefties with similar steady stats, with the Royals hoping Cameron can be even better than the Guardians’ Cantillo. But if Cantillo can gain an edge on the Royals early, and Cleveland’s offense gets another day of running in the park, this could turn into a series in which the Guardians really take control.

Jim's Play: 914. Guardians

The Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics are set to square off in an interesting matchup. Boston counters with lefty Garrett Crochet, while Oakland goes with righty Luis Morales.

Crochet enters with a 14-5 record, 2.67 ERA, and 218 strikeouts. The southpaw has proven himself as the ace of the Red Sox rotation this season. Crochet has been able to consistently stymie opposing offenses and pitch deep into games all year. For Oakland, the Athletics choose to start Morales in this one. Morales is 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 30 strikeouts on the season. Morales has been a revelation in his limited appearances for the Athletics. Morales is an improved command righty who has also shown the ability to miss bats. The one question on Morales has been if he could hold up over the course of the long season.

Crochet should hold a significant advantage in this area simply from the number of starts and innings he’s logged this season. Morales has not been truly tested by a more disciplined lineup like Boston’s this season, so this will be a major step up in competition for the young right-hander. While the Sox hold the edge, I have to looks at Morales and see that he does have that live dog perspective. He's been pitching great and no reason he can't carry that over to tonight. If he keeps the A's close into the late innings then the playing field levels off and this dog has a great shot at the win. 

Jim's Play: 968. Athletics

The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals will play the final game of the series in the 2025 season at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, September 7, 2025, 1:10 PM ET. The Twins are starting Bailey Ober for this game while the Royals are countering with Michael Lorenzen.

Bailey Ober (4-7, 5.23, 99) will make his 27th start of the season for the Twins. He has pitched 124 innings while striking out 99 batters and his 1.35 WHIP indicates the number of baserunners he has permitted. Ober has shown up-and-down results in 2025 with some solid outings and some rather poor ones.

Michael Lorenzen (5-9, 4.54, 105) will get the nod for the Royals on Sunday as he takes the mound for his 24th start of the year. Lorenzen has not been a front of the rotation starter but he has been better than Ober as he has pitched 119 innings and 105 strikeouts and has a 1.33 WHIP. Lorenzen has not been able to get into a rhythm of putting together quality starts at any point in the season and tends to be susceptible when facing lineups that can take a lot of at-bats.

This matchup could easily be a bullpen game as both starting pitchers have an ERA well over 4.50. The Twins have had to rely on Joe Ryan and Pablo López but have not had much behind them in the rotation. The Royals aren’t a great offensive team but they do have home-field advantage and could muster enough offense against Ober to at least win the final game of the series. 

Jim's Play: 920. Royals

The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds conclude their series on Sunday, September 7, 2025, in a game with big Wild Card implications. The Mets hand the ball to Brandon Sproat, a rookie making his Major League debut. Sproat is here on merit, as he notched a 2.59 ERA in his last 11 starts at Triple-A and has a polished arsenal that gives New York reason to believe that his unflappable presence can steady the back end of the rotation.

The Reds respond with one of the hardest throwers in the league in Hunter Greene. Greene, whose tenure in Cincinnati has always been about the future of this club, goes for the staff. The 5-4 starter enters with a 2.70 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 83.1 innings this season and his numbers reflect his ability to pound the strike zone and dominate lineups. His fastball-slider combination has been nearly unhittable, and he gets the ball at home in a true leverage spot.

Cincinnati trails the Mets by a few games in the Wild Card standings, and this matchup has big implications for both teams. The edge in this spot goes to Cincinnati, who have the pitching in Greene to beat New York and silence Sproat in his debut. But for this game to have its full impact, all eyes will be on New York and what Sproat can provide against an outfield that includes Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain. The Mets will need big games from Pete Alonso and Juan Soto against Greene to stay in the race. With Cincinnati pitching a frontline starter against a rookie, the Reds have the edge in a low-scoring game, which sees Cincinnati taking the game.

Jim's Play: 906. Reds -

The Minnesota Twins are at Kauffman Stadium this Saturday to face the Kansas City Royals, September 6, 2025, and will have Joe Ryan on the mound. Ryan has been a workhorse all season, leading the rotation with a 13-7 record, an ERA just over 3.00, and a WHIP below 1.00. In his last outing, Ryan tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing only five hits while striking out six. He has excellent control of the strike zone, which is why he should lead the Twins to victory against Stephen Kolek.

Kolek has gone 4-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 85.2 innings pitched this year for the Royals. While he isn’t much of a strikeout pitcher, averaging just under 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings, he can pitch effectively to keep his team in the game. Kolek features a heavy sinker, but it also produces a lot of fly balls that can carry in Kauffman Stadium. In his last start, Kolek worked six innings, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out four and walking one. In a matchup that features two shaky offenses, expect a lot of pressure on the starting pitchers. Kolek will need to keep runs off the board early in the game if the Royals want to win. I like the Royals at home here on Saturday to pull out a low scoring final with the Twins. 

Jim's Play: 970. Royals 

The Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves are set to play on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Truist Park. On the mound for Seattle is Bryce Miller. He has a 4-5 record, a 5.71 ERA, and a 1.41 WHIP in 64.2 innings so far this season. Miller is a fly ball pitcher who has consistently allowed an unsustainable number of baserunners and hasn’t been able to contain home runs. On the opposite side is the Atlanta Braves rookie, Hurston Waldrep. He is 4-0 so far this season, and has a 1.01 ERA with 33 strikeouts and only one home run allowed in 35.2 innings. The rookie has shown an advanced level of control and poise for his experience.

The Mariners still have one of the more dangerous offenses on paper with Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, and Randy Arozarena anchoring the lineup, but they are in a prolonged slump on the road and have particularly struggled in recent outings against NL East teams. Atlanta doesn’t have the pitching staff they’ve had in previous years, but they still have the lineup depth and home-field advantage to support their young starter. The Braves should be able to take advantage of the pitching disparity and set the tone early with Waldrep on the hill. 

Jim's Play: 978. Braves 

Two teams fighting for a playoff spot, the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays, open a weekend set on Friday, September 5, 2025. Gavin Williams (9-5, 3.26 ERA, 143 strikeouts) is set to pitch for Cleveland, as he has been one of the more reliable starters for the Guardians this season. On the other side, Tampa Bay has been working with Griffin Jax (1-7, 4.98 ERA) as a starter but he has not found success with the ballclub. The Rays have been hot as of late, winning seven straight games, and getting an offensive spark from Junior Caminero, who is already at 40 home runs for the year. Cleveland is most dangerous when José Ramírez (27 home runs) is at the plate, so they are getting a boost in the middle of the lineup with the presence of Kyle Manzardo. This is a team that desperately needs a stop in its tracks as Cleveland has won only two of the last six meetings this season. Cleveland needs to get some early run support by laying off Williams’ fastball as Tampa Bay is forced to chase pitches. If Cleveland can get baserunners in front of Ramírez, then that will force Jax into action. I have to stick with the hot team here on Friday and that's Tampa Bay!

Jim's Play: 918. Rays 

The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds square off on Friday night, September 5, 2025, at the Great American Ball Park. The Mets will start lefty David Peterson, who owns an 8-5 record with a 3.61 ERA and 136 strikeouts over his past 26 starts. The 27-year-old has given 15 quality starts this season, but he came up limp against Miami in his last outing by surrendering eight earned runs on seven hits and three walks over two innings. The Reds counter with Andrew Abbott, who has also produced an 8-5 record, but has been more solid on the mound. He has 125 strikeouts over his past 24 outings, to go along with a 2.65 ERA and 10 quality starts on the year. Abbott’s last start was good enough as he was able to limit the Phillies to two runs on nine hits over five innings.

Peterson has been more consistent this season than in previous years, but he hasn’t been able to finish the way that the Mets needed him to in September. Abbott has more upside and he has also been able to limit the damage of late. Cincinnati is right on the postseason bubble and can’t afford to lose at home, so this will be a must-win for a team that still has a shot at the Wild Card. Abbott will have the Mets at bay, as they’ll look to Peterson’s last outing to establish a blueprint for their offense. 

Jim's Play: 906. Reds 

The Chicago White Sox face the Detroit Tigers in an AL Central contest on Friday, September 5, 2025. Shane Smith takes the mound for the White Sox and has a 4-7 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 120.1 innings, striking out 112 and issuing few walks. He has been able to limit damage and keep the Sox in games deep into counts. The Tigers start Jack Flaherty, who has struggled for consistency. Flaherty has a 7-13 record with a 4.74 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, striking out 169 in 142.1 innings. He has had swing-and-miss stuff but also has been victimized by big innings due to an erratic command, with one late in August against Kansas City being a good example. The White Sox have generated more balance in their offense in recent weeks and should be able to get to Flaherty early, and Smith has been steady enough to keep Detroit’s offense in check. Chicago’s bullpen has improved and can handle the Tigers if Smith can get a solid start. The Tigers don't justify the high price tag on them today. I'll take the nice dog play with the Sox.  

Jim's Play: 913. White Sox 

The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins will meet Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Target Field for their game with a first pitch of 7:40 p.m. ET. The Twins are favored to win but both of these teams need to play with more consistency the rest of the way. The Twins will send Taj Bradley to the mound, he’s 6-7 with a 4.82 ERA. Bradley can be quite erratic at times, but when he’s on with his command, he can miss a lot of bats and pitch deep into games. The White Sox will counter with Frasier Ellard, who’s had some good starts this season, but needs to contain this Twins lineup that has been very streaky lately.

Overall this should be a game that could come down to who can avoid the big inning as much as possible. Minnesota hasn’t been very much of a power offense lately and the White Sox have really needed to grind out their hits rather than string many rallies together lately. It should also come down to how Ellard can pound the zone and avoid the big inning while Bradley tries to settle in as early as possible against a Chicago team that has had a hard time stringing many runs together recently.

The expected outcome is a low-scoring game where both pitchers keep it in hand for the late innings and a where the bullpens take over and decide the outcome. If the White Sox stay in this game until the pens come around then we have a great shot at another live dog winner here today. 

Jim's Play: 959. White Sox 

The Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays will finish their series Thursday, September 4, 2025. The first pitch will be thrown at 6:40 p.m. ET and both the Rays and Guardians are heavily involved in the American League playoff picture, so stakes will be high in every game. The Rays are currently 2.5 back in the Wildcard with the Guardians at 3-games back. 

Pitching for Cleveland will be left-hander Logan Allen. He will be making his 30th start and is 7-10 with a 4.42 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 134 innings. Allen has been somewhat up-and-down this season but has settled in of late with five straight starts allowing three runs or fewer. Cleveland will need him to limit the damage and go deep into the game to give the rotation a boost late.

Right-hander Ryan Pepiot will get the nod for Tampa Bay. He comes in with a 10-10 record and a 3.70 ERA and has fanned 155 batters in 158 innings with a strong 1.15 WHIP. The 27-year-old has a good feel for all of his pitches and his ability to limit hard contact could lead to another quality start.

Tampa with home field here and I believe is the better pitcher in Pepiot. He strikes out a lot of batters and has an excellent WHIP. 

Jim's Play: 956. Rays 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Pittsburgh Pirates will meet at PNC Park on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 for a Game 2 clash at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Dodgers are significant favorites to win, but the Pirates are playing well and have done a good job against the Dodgers during the series so far. The Pirates took game one on Tuesday, 9-7 as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning. The Dodgers do have the firepowe and tied the game, but the bullpen let them down in the late innings. 

Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani has name power and is one of the best names in baseball, but he has struggled with consistency this season. Ohtani has a 4.18 ERA in 11 starts this season and an ERA over 6.00 on the road. He’s also had some starts this season where he’s not gone deep into the game, including a few three-inning outings. Los Angeles has one of the best offenses in baseball and can bail him out at times, but they have allowed some offense to counter-balance their rotation’s weaknesses, and Ohtani has shown some weaknesses in particular.

Braxton Ashcraft is a starter who’s been one of Pittsburgh’s best pitchers in a good rotation. He is 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA on the year and has an even better 3.13 ERA at PNC Park. Ashcraft has a lot of momentum in his favor as well as since the All-Star break, the lefthander has continued to be effective at limiting hard contact and working deep in the game.

I see a closer game than the line suggests. It’s tough to bet against a power-hitting Dodgers lineup, but Ashcraft has been good and Ohtani hasn’t been able to put the Pirates away this series so far. This has live dog written all over it again for the Pirates as they remain a thorn in the Dodgers side. 

Jim's Play: 904. Pirates 

Wednesday, September 4, 2025, the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers close out their series with the first pitch at Comerica Park at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Mets have won the first two games of the set with a dominating 12-5 victory the night before and are looking to finish Detroit off and help clinch a playoff spot of their own.

New York’s starting pitcher will be Clay Holmes who is pitching to an 11-6 record with a 3.60 ERA this season. Holmes has been pretty consistent all year, allowing the Mets to consistently get to their dangerous bullpen with good innings and a chance to win every time he takes the mound. Casey Mize will toe the rubber for Detroit, who has also been one of the most consistent arms on their roster this season with a 12-5 record and a 3.95 ERA. Mize has the ability to keep runs down at home for Detroit and will need to be at his best to keep this Mets lineup in check, who have been producing all series long.

Detroit will be looking for offense off the bat of Riley Greene and the bat of Javier Báez who have the potential to hit the ball out of the park at any time. However, the Mets have a much deeper lineup and bullpen to hold an edge if the game gets to a close one late. Both starters are steady but not dominant, so this could turn into a close game where bullpen performances will determine who comes out ahead.

The Mets have the momentum and a overall edge here.

Jim's Play: 921. Mets 

The Toronto Blue Jays (79-59) and Cincinnati Reds (70-68) square off Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Toronto is holding down the AL East first place with both the Yankees and Red Sox 2.5 games back. Meanwhile Cincinnati is trying to keep pace in the NL Wild Card race with the Cardinals and Giants. 

Toronto will start José Berríos on the mound. Berríos has posted a 9-5 record and 3.95 ERA this season, recording 14 quality starts and averaging just under six innings per outing. His pitch command and ability to avoid early damage is a reason to trust him when he takes the ball. He’ll face off against lefty Nick Lodolo, who is currently at 8-7 with a 3.22 ERA. Lodolo has recorded 130 strikeouts in just over 134 innings of work and possesses swing-and-miss stuff.

Offensively, Toronto still has one of the most prolific lineups in the league, residing in the top 5 in hits, slugging and runs scored. The Reds have been extremely streaky this year and rely on timely power from their middle of the order to post an offensive showing. The Reds have been particularly potent at home. Both teams have solid bullpens, although Toronto’s rotation depth has helped it to keep its bullpen in good shape.

This is the type of pitching matchup that could go a long way in this game, with the possibility of both Berríos and Lodolo keeping things tight early. If both can pitch to form, it could very well be a low-scoring game that comes down to the later innings. The Reds trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th yesterday and rallied to win the game, 5-4. I look for the Reds to keep winning here on Tuesday. 

Jim's Play: 972. Reds 

The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs clash from Wrigley Field on this Labor Day Monday at 4:05 PT ET. The Braves will start Spencer Strider who is 5-12 with a 4.95 ERA. The right-hander has had a streaky year but he can miss bats and threw a no-hitter. This should be a quick reminder that he is among the league leaders in strikeouts. In his past three starts, he has 44 strikeouts to 19 walks over 31 innings. Colin Rea will toe the rubber for the Cubs with his 10-6 record and 4.23 ERA and his strength has been allowing right-handers to hit only .233 on the season.

The Cubs enter with one of the best records in baseball at 78-59. This team has been extremely hot and they are 41–25 at home. With good offense and consistent starting pitching, Chicago is still in the playoff mix in the National League. The Braves have not found a groove in a crowded NL East but they can still compete if Strider has a good start.

This should be a low to moderate scoring game. Strider can slow down Chicago’s offense early and give the Braves a chance then the Braves can pull out a win here on Monday. 

Jim's Play: 903. Braves 

The Blue Jays will travel to Great American Ball Park to open a set against the Reds in the first game of the series. Toronto is hitting their stride at the right time and is ready to test the Reds at home, where Cincinnati is the -112 favorite. 

Hunter Greene has had a great season so far and has been impressive with a 2.81 ERA. The Reds will be sending their ace, who is known for his heat and is one of the top pitchers in the league when it comes to strikeouts. Toronto also has a great option in their rotation with Chris Bassitt. Bassitt is coming in on form, as he’s posted 16 strikeouts and has only allowed four runs in his last 11.1 innings pitched. If he continues this, the Jays have a chance to shut down the Reds early in the game.

Both the Reds and Blue Jays are likely to see their starting pitchers eat most of the innings as Greene and Bassitt are in form. With the latter holding opponents to 4 runs in his last 11.1 innings, and the former having an impressive 2.81 ERA so far, the early stages of the game will likely be shut down by pitching. 

Great American Ball Park will favor the pitchers over the hitters, especially with such a great starting pitching matchup on the field. It also gives the Reds that home field advantage here on Monday. It's difficult not to take Hunter Greene when you can, especially at home. 

Jim's Play: 920. Reds 

Sunday at Citi Field, we see the conclusion to a series between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins on August 31, 2025. The Mets are solid favorites, but the Marlins are an interesting play at live underdog prices for this divisional matchup. Miami gets starting pitcher Sandy Alcántara on the mound, who is just starting to find some of his groove with an offense that isn’t very helpful. Alcántara has been underwhelming across the board on the season, but he can still produce ace level pitching on any given night. When his sinker is working and he’s keeping hitters on the ground, he is an entirely different pitcher who can stifle even the New York Mets lineup. On the other side, the Mets counter with Kodai Senga. Senga has been quite excellent in terms of both command and swing and miss stuff this season and is a significantly better pitcher on paper.

On the season, the Mets own a better record and a better playoff standing, but the Marlins have actually shown flashes as a live dog in multiple games this year. The Marlins scored 11 runs on Saturday to upset the Mets so they have the bats to make some damage. 

Miami offers value as a live underdog in this game. If Sandy Alcántara can get back to pitching within his limits and this Miami offense can show some patience at the plate as they did on Saturday, they can win games against the Mets. I won't be shocked at all by a Miami Win on Sunday. 

Jim's Play: 955. Marlins (Dog Shocker)

Prevailing in this classic meeting of two of baseball’s top clubs, the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays get set to conclude their three-game series with Sunday’s contest at Rogers Centre, as first pitch is scheduled for 1:37 p.m. ET. Both teams have been among the best in the league through two months of play. The Brewers, in fact, rank number one in baseball when it comes to total record, while the Blue Jays own a first-place standing in the American League East, as well.

Brandon Woodruff (5-1, 3.10) will start the game for Milwaukee and has been a model of consistency throughout the season. Posting quality innings and an ERA just under three at this stage of the schedule, the Brewers have been rewarded with his reliability each time he’s gone to the mound. Max Scherzer (5-2, 3.82) gets the nod for Toronto and will have to go up against a lineup featuring an extremely dangerous Christian Yelich and a dynamic power threat in the emerging star Jackson Chourio, who mashed a late-inning homer earlier in the series. The Jays have been a dangerous offensive unit as well, however, featuring many legitimate threats. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger, who is having a breakout season, all present problems for Milwaukee, as does the squad’s elite talent at the top of the rotation with Scherzer on the mound.

The Brewers have obviously had the better of things so far, as they have won the first two games in this series. However, Toronto has the ability and should have the home-field advantage to keep this one competitive. Both teams have solid starting pitchers, which bodes for a close game. I look for Toronto to pull out the final game and salvage one in this series of top teams. 

Jim's Play: 978. Blue Jays 

This Sunday series finale is set for 12:10 p.m. ET between the Cardinals and the Reds, a contest that will end the St. Louis road trip. Cincinnati is slightly favoured in the latest Cardinals vs Reds odds and this is due in part to the Cincinnati pitching match-up. Both teams have something to play for in this game as the Cardinals are still in the Wild Card race and an outright win will help their cause, whereas the Reds are trying to maintain their current Wild Card standing after disappointing results in their last few series. Cincinnatti do hold the edge in the offensive department, though the St. Louis Cardinals also have their own top-of-the-lineup bats in Willson Contreras and Alec Burleson.

The Reds will start Brady Singer (11-9, 4.06 ERA) and he’ll face off against Andre Pallante (6-12, 5.44 ERA). Singer has been quite consistent and serviceable and he does have the benefit of starting the game in his home park, which does provide an edge. Singer and the Reds have had success against Pallante this season, having held him to two ER or less in each of their past three meetings (April 29, May 13 and August 22). The Cardinals right hander has not had a good season at all as his ERA paints a picture of an opponent the Reds lineup should be able to put up a runs against and he may need big days from his lineup if he’s going to keep the Reds in check for the whole game.

Jim's Play: 951. Reds

The Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros will continue their series on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Daikin Park in Houston.  The Astros (75-60) have fared well at home, posting a 41-28 record. The Angels (62-72) are having another season that doesn’t live up to their potential. Los Angeles is sending Kyle Hendricks (6-9, 5.04 ERA in 130 IP) to the mound. The left-hander’s record is better than his ERA suggests, but Hendricks has also struggled against the Astros this season with a 8.00 ERA in their meetings this year. The Astros are starting Spencer Arrighetti (1-5, 6.21 ERA in 34 IP). This will be his first start back since he was injured with a broken thumb in early June. He’s still an unknown at this point after a few months on the sidelines.

The Angels have had a roller coaster season with no consistent group on the lineup card. They rank in the bottom five in both batting average and on-base percentage. Taylor Ward is their best and most consistent hitter, but Mike Trout is still in the mix. He’s not at MVP-level anymore but he still hits for power and he’s on the verge of a career milestone. Los Angeles’ pitching staff ranks in the bottom five in ERA and WHIP. Their defense isn’t helping them either as they’ve committed many errors and have below-average metrics when it comes to saving runs.

The Astros have been more consistent at home, where they’ve won the majority of their games. Their offense is top five in batting average but they’re middle of the pack in runs scored. Their rotation has been decimated by injuries but the recent returns of Cristian Javier and the recent bullpen shuffle with Lance McCullers Jr. at least gives them some options. Arrighetti’s spot start will be a tell but the Astros should still have faith in their lineup and hope to get a few innings out of him while he eases back into form.

I don't usually like laying over 1.50 on a team, but this is getting late in the season and you have to take money opportunities when they arise. Lay the price with the Astros here on Saturday. 

Jim's Play: 914. Astros (AL Game of the Month)

The Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals square off Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Nationals Park. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. ET. Ryan Pepiot (3.82 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 3.8 BB/9) will toe the rubber for the Rays, while Jake Irvin (5.40 ERA, 6.7 K/9, 4.5 BB/9) gets the nod for the Nationals. Irvin has struggled mightily this season with poor control, issuing too many walks, and failing to contain hard contact. His WHIP, which was already too high, has ballooned to 1.83 over the last 30 days. The pitching matchup favors Tampa Bay, but Pepiot will need to be mindful of the walks with a Nationals offense capable of capitalizing.

Offensively, Tampa Bay is the better all-around team. They can score in a variety of ways, while Washington has relied on the production of the middle of its lineup to stay afloat. The Nationals pitching staff has largely been a black hole, which is why its offense has had to rely on coming from behind.

Take the Rays here on Saturday with Pepiot on the mound. 

Jim's Play: 923. Rays 

The Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers will take the field again Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Milwaukee’s last game was a 7–2 victory in the series opener, thanks to a six-hit shutout from Freddy Peralta. The Blue Jays answered with a quality start from Shane Bieber. The Brewers will send Quinn Priester to the mound. He is 11-2 with a 3.44 ERA, and while he has been effective in all his starts, he has also been especially dependable by going at least five innings in nearly all of them. The Blue Jays will start Kevin Gausman. Gausman is 8-10 with a 3.87 ERA, but is a well-known commodity with a strong lifetime record against Milwaukee.

In terms of how good the Brewers and Blue Jays are overall, these are two of the top teams in baseball. Milwaukee has the best record in baseball. Toronto has the best record in the American League. Of course, the Blue Jays also have a home-field edge, having the best record at Rogers Centre in 2025. 

I'll take the host in this one as I expect the Blue Jays with home field to bounce back with a win. 

Jim's Play: 922. Blue Jays 

The San Diego Padres and Twins will square off on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Target Field in Minnesota. The Padres will go with left-hander Nestor, while the Twins will counter with Zebby Matthews. Cortes is 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. The issue with Nestor is the stark difference between the times he looks dominant, and the innings he can give up just because his command slips. For that reason, San Diego will be challenged in this one, despite a fairly decent matchup, by Matthews and the Twins. The Twins pitcher is 3-4 with a 5.30 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, and he has struggled to put up acceptable results in his outings this year against teams with the level of contact and power this Padres lineup has.

On the offensive side of things, the Padres average just a hair under four runs per game, and they have a fairly dependable lineup from top to bottom, as well as key power threats in Manny Machado and Luis Arraez, who is one of the best in the league in terms of simply reaching base. The Twins hope to be able to get some pop from Byron Buxton and their other bats in the middle of the order, as Minnesota has not been consistent but can certainly put up big innings against pitchers that allow traffic on the basepaths.

The Twins sold out big at the trade deadline as they look to rebuild. The Padres are right in the mix for both the NL West and a Wildcard spot. Cortes looked very good in his last start agains the Dodgers as he was dominant throughout. I'm looking for that Cortes to return here and once again dominate the Twins lineup. 

Jim's Play: 977. Padres

The Toronto Blues welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to town here on Friday for their three-game series. Toronto looks to start Shane Bieber, who is making only his second start since coming off of IL. In his first outing, Bieber was on his game - six innings, one run, nine strikeouts. His command and swing-and-miss stuff came right back and he should enjoy a huge talent advantage in this one.

Milwaukee will counter with Freddy Peralta, who has been sharp all season long with a 2.68 ERA and a league-high 15 wins. But the advanced metrics show Peralta pitching behind traffic a lot this year, and while he has done a nice job of winning games, this is not an easy matchup versus a deep Toronto lineup on the road.

Milwaukee does have the best record in the league, but they have not been on top of their game recently, falling in seven of their last 11. Toronto has ridden a hot stretch to the top of the AL East and plays with momentum.

Toronto has a very strong home record this season at Rogers Centre and will present a significant challenge for the Brewers and Peralta. Milwaukee’s season-long stats vs. good starting pitching have been solid but their offense of late has not been making enough hay to cover, especially with B.J. Ryan and Bobby Lemos behind the plate. Toronto has plenty of power in Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer to take advantage against Peralta, who has had some soft batted ball luck this year.

This spot lines up nicely for Toronto for multiple reasons: They are getting a sharp Bieber back on the mound; They are at home in Rogers Centre, and they are riding strong momentum while the Brewers are scuffling.

I'll take the Jays here at home on Friday. 

Jim's Play: 974. Blue Jays 

The Pirates and Cardinals will complete their four-game set on Thursday, August 28, 2025, with first pitch at 2:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. Pittsburgh will send Braxton Ashcraft to the mound. Ashcraft is having a breakout season thus far, boasting a 2.70 ERA and a fastball in the upper 90s. The righty has been able to elevate the ball and induce swings and misses while limiting the long ball (only one home run on the season). St. Louis will counter with Miles Mikolas. Mikolas is having an uninspiring year, with a 6-10 record and a 5.17 ERA. The veteran starter has given up hard contact at an alarming rate and his command has left something to be desired as well.

The Pirates have won two of the first three games of this series and might be gaining some momentum at the right time. The Cardinals have lost three of their last four and are more playing out the string.

I think Ashcraft should be able to work his way through the Cardinals lineup for five or six innings. This should give the Pirates bullpen an opportunity to continue to show they can finish games. As for the Cardinals offense, the key will be their approach against Ashcraft. The Pirates lineup can certainly exploit Mikolas, especially if he struggles with command.

Jim's Play: 903. Pirates 

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday night at Camden Yards. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. The Red Sox will start Brayan Bello who is 10-6 with a 3.07 ERA. Bello has been able to go deep into games and deliver quality starts at a consistent rate. The Orioles will counter with left-hander Dietrich Enns, who is 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. Boston has the edge on the mound in this one, as Enns has not been able to keep baserunners off the scoreboard.

The Boston Red Sox are among the top ten offenses in baseball this season, and the Orioles are in the bottom third. Jarren Duran has been on base at a high clip and slugged well this season. Trevor Story has driven in the most runs on the Red Sox. Baltimore has struggled with both offense and pitching. They have to rely on spot starters and have overworked their bullpen. Baltimore has the home field advantage, but the Red Sox have also traveled well this season and have more momentum heading into this series.

This is a lopsided matchup in nearly every aspect, from the starting pitching to the depth of the lineup. Bello should be able to control this game, keeping the Orioles in check and keeping pressure on their bullpen. This should be a moderately scoring game, with the Red Sox picking up a win. 

Jim's Play: 965. Red Sox

On Wednesday, August 27 the Atlanta Braves take on the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. The first pitch of the game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET. Atlanta will send left-hander Joey Wentz to the mound for this contest, and he will be opposed by right-hander Ryan Gusto of Miami. Wentz is 4-4 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He has had a pair of decent starts in between two very poor outings, most recently giving up six earned runs in a shade over three innings. Gusto is 7-6 with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Neither of these starters is overpowering, so run support and bullpen efficiency will be paramount.

In terms of individual match-ups, Atlanta also has slight edge at the plate. Marcell Ozuna is the big power bat in the Braves lineup, but there is enough pop around him. Miami’s offense is more one dimensional, and it has been prone to inconsistency throughout the season. If Wentz can weather an early storm, Atlanta’s bats have the pop to pick him up if he struggles early. Miami’s best chance is to work the Braves starter early and test Atlanta’s bullpen depth.

While Atlanta might have a slight edge in the lineup, I like the scrappy Marlins team at home where they have surprised many.  I'll take the Marlins a small home dog here today. 

Jim's Play: 952. Marlins 

The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians will meet Wednesday, August 27, 2025 in Game 1 of a three-game series at Progressive Field, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET. The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far in 2025 with a 10-5 record, a 2.62 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00. He has been consistent with quality starts and provides the Rays with a clear advantage on the mound. The Guardians counter with Slade Cecconi, who is just 5-6 on the season with a 4.41 ERA. Cecconi has had some good starts but has been more uneven than Rasmussen and will likely be at a disadvantage against a Rays lineup that has been potent when healthy.

The Rays’ offense has been anchored by Junior Caminero, who has put together a breakout year with power numbers that should put him at an elite level in the league. Tampa Bay has relied on his bat and steady production from the supporting cast to remain in the Wild Card mix. Cleveland has once again had to rely on José Ramírez as the linchpin in their offense with players like Kyle Manzardo and Steven Kwan to support them, but the lineup has been inconsistent.

The reason to lean toward Tampa Bay in this matchup is the clear advantage on the mound and their ability to string together big innings when they put runners on the bases. Cleveland has home field advantage but their offense has had issues against top-end starting pitching and Rasmussen is squarely in that category. Tampa Bay will likely be able to control the tempo of this game. 

Jim's Play: 963. Rays

The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants square off Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at Oracle Park in a matchup that highlights two pitchers at very different points in their seasons. The Cubs will turn to left-hander Matthew Boyd who owns a 12-6 record, 2.61 ERA and 129 strikeouts. He has been lights out all year, throwing 16 quality starts in 25 appearances while also stringing together 15 consecutive games pitching at least five innings. The Giants will counter with Justin Verlander who is in the midst of a terrible season where he is 1-10 with a 4.64 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. The issue for Verlander has been getting runners on base while also surrendering the home run.

The Cubs have been playing their best baseball of the season of late as they own an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, being driven by quality pitching while being opportunistic at the plate. Their rotation in particular has a collective ERA under 3.00 during this stretch. The Giants have been hit and miss at home recently and have particularly had a tough time winning games where their pitching staff gives up runs and especially the long ball.

We trust the Cubs in this spot as Boyd has been one of the best starters in the game this year and the Cubs are rolling after a very solid road trip. Verlander has been so bad it is hard to trust San Francisco at any point in the year but even more so here. If the Cubs can keep playing like they have recently and continue to take advantage of mistakes then they should control the game. 

Jim's Play: 909. Cubs (NL Game of the Month)

The Red Sox and Orioles are back at it Tuesday night in this series finale at Camden Yards. The visitors are the slight favorites in this one as they put Lucas Giolito on the mound while the Orioles go with Kyle Bradish. Giolito has been serviceable all year and stands at 8-2 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 91 strikeouts in 111.1 innings. He is a flyball pitcher who suppresses traffic at the plate and has given his team quality innings this year. With that said, he also has a track record and is more than reliable in a big divisional game. Bradish, on the other hand, will make his first start of the season as he was coming off the IL. His innings will be under a microscope with some mystery around how deep he can go and if he will have good stuff out of the gate.

The Red Sox will be coming into this one riding a wave after Jarren Duran homered in the walk-off three-run shot in the series opener. The bats have been swinging on timeliness across the order in their last few games. Baltimore has struggled as of late and the pitching has especially seen cracks against the division, exposing their bullpen early.

Between Giolito’s dependability against Bradish’s unknowns with the Red Sox swinging the bats, Boston takes the edge in this one. The Sox should make Baltimore pay for it and come out on top to complete the sweep against their division rival.

Jim's Play: 913. Red Sox 

The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins go head to head Monday, August 25, 2025, in Miami, and this opener bodes well for the Marlins. Edward Cabrera is handed the ball for Miami and has been solid all year for the Marlins. The 25-year-old has a 6-7 record with a 3.52 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 117.2 innings. Cabrera has earned plenty of starts for Miami this year while mixing power stuff with improved command to keep hitters off balance. Atlanta will counter with Spencer Strider, who has been terrible this season. He has a 5-11 record with a 5.24 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 102 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. His ERA and WHIP have climbed because he has been hittable and given up too many runs at one time.

Miami is the clear-cut mound winner in this matchup, and home field is another plus for the Marlins. Cabrera’s ability to pitch to contact and keep the zone tidy while limiting traffic will be key in keeping Atlanta’s power in check. The Marlins’ bats have the potential to hit Strider early, and if Cabrera can give Miami a quality start while the bullpen continues to shine, the Marlins are in a great spot to win this opener. Miami to win is the play here. 

Jim's Play: 952. Marlins 

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels close out their weekend series on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Angel Stadium. Chicago sends Jameson Taillon to the mound for this series finale against former Cub Kyle Hendricks. Taillon has been durable and productive in his starts when healthy this season. He enters this game at 8-6 with a 4.26 ERA, 78 strikeouts and a stingy 1.11 WHIP. He recently returned from a short stint on the IL earlier this summer, but he’s been strong in giving the Cubs quality innings while limiting damage when runners have been on base. Hendricks has struggled mightily for the Angels this season. The former Cub enters at 6-8 with a 4.93 ERA, 85 strikeouts, a 1.30 WHIP, and a FIP around 4.83. These peripherals are consistent with the issues Hendricks has faced with commanding the zone and staying ahead of hitters.

This game shapes up in the Cubs’ favor. The Cubs offense has been patient and opportunistic, so Hendricks won’t have the same margin for error he once had in his prime. Taillon’s tendency to work ahead in counts while keeping traffic off the bases gives Chicago the more steady arm in this matchup. If the Cubs’ bats can jump on Hendricks early and get the Angels into their middle relief, the edge only increases from there. I like the Cubs with the pitching edge and a more consistent offense to pick up a win in this series finale.

Jim's Play: 929. Cubs 

The Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros play the final game of their 3-game set here on Sunday. The Astros have taken both Friday's and Saturday's games. 

Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers has been one of baseball’s most consistent pitchers in 2025. Rogers (6-2, 1.41 ERA, .168 opponents’ batting average) has rarely been on the losing end of a game this season, going deep into games, and blanking opponents for the majority of his starts. Houston will counter with right-handed Spencer Arrighetti (1-4, 6.94 ERA), who has struggled mightily since the start of the season. Arrighetti has been hammered at the plate and his lack of command and poise has never allowed him to be effective in a full nine innings, especially against a lineup as tough as Baltimore’s.

The Orioles lineup is in full-swing, batting .248 as a team and slugging .356. Baltimore has averaged 6.5 runs per game since acquiring top prospects Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo in a trade that also landed the club fellow top prospect Drew Romer. Over the course of the Orioles last 10 games, Baltimore has hit .254, with 10 home runs and a team slugging percentage of .390. Pitching is 2.96 over the course of the last 10, which shows how well-rounded the club has been between the rise of the offense and continued run prevention.

The Orioles have the clear advantage over Houston in each key category: starting pitching, offense, bullpen. Baltimore has the better pitching, better bats.I look for the O's to avoid the sweep here on Sunday and salvage the game behind starter Rogers. 

Jim's Play: 914. Orioles

Play: Astros

The Houston Astros open their series at Camden Yards with plenty to prove. After a frustrating stretch at the plate, Houston enters this game looking to reset and lean on their veteran experience. The Orioles, meanwhile, are energized by recent contributions from young bats and home-field momentum, but this matchup sets up as an opportunity for Houston to turn the tide

Houston sends Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound. While his 6.90 ERA shows he’s been inconsistent, he has the stuff and experience to settle into a groove when he’s healthy. His curveball remains a dangerous weapon, and if he limits walks early, he can keep Baltimore’s lineup off balance.

Baltimore counters with Cade Povich, who is 2–6 with a 4.98 ERA. Povich has struggled with command, posting a 1.44 WHIP across 81 innings. Against a Houston team hungry to snap out of its funk, his tendency to fall behind hitters could be costly.

The Astros’ recent offensive struggles can’t overshadow the talent in their lineup. With proven run producers like Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman, Houston’s core is capable of breaking out at any time. A matchup against a young, inconsistent starter like Povich could be exactly the spark they need.

On the pitching side, McCullers’ veteran presence gives Houston stability that Baltimore’s starter can’t match. Even if he isn’t dominant, he’s more likely to grind through five or six innings and give his offense a chance to establish a lead.

The Orioles’ hot streak is fueled by prospects who have injected energy into the lineup, but youth can also be prone to streakiness. Facing a motivated Astros team with playoff urgency, Baltimore may find it harder to sustain their recent run production. 

This game has the makings of a bounce-back spot for Houston. The combination of McCullers’ experience and the Astros’ proven hitters facing a hittable lefty in Povich points toward the visitors. Baltimore’s momentum is real, but this is a prime spot for Houston to flex its veteran edge and start the series with a win.

The Brewers and Cubs conclude a five-game set at Wrigley Field on Thursday, August 21. Milwaukee leads the NL Central, but the Cubs have clawed back into this series, winning three of the first four and still just trying to hang on with the NL Wild Card. These teams have a lot on the line, and both are treating this series as a postseason barometer.

Milwaukee’s starter is right-hander Quinn Priester. He’s 11-2 with a 3.48 ERA on the year, and he’s been even better on the road (5-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 13 starts). That hasn’t carried over to his last few starts, however, as he’s allowed eight runs on 16 hits in his last 9 2/3 innings. The Cubs will start left-hander Shota Imanaga, who has an 8-5 record with a 3.06 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. At home, he’s got a 3.02 ERA in eight starts and has allowed five runs in his last 20 innings.

Total runs have been at a premium in this series, as three of the first four games have come in at under seven total runs. You can bet on a continuation of that pattern here, with both starters capable of running efficiently through lineups. The Brewers don’t have Jackson Chourio or Rhys Hoskins in the lineup and have had to lean on Christian Yelich for offense, while the Cubs’ lineup has looked deeper in recent weeks.

Expect another low-scoring game in this series finale. Priester is good enough to keep the Brewers in it, and the Brewers’ bullpen is likely to be a difference-maker if that happens, but Imanaga has been solid at Wrigley this year and the Cubs have the edge. I like the Cubs to take the final game of the series in a close contest. 

Jim's Play: 952. Cubs

The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals wrap up their four-game series on Thursday, August 21 at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals have won two of the first three games and will try to take the series in their last outing, while the Rangers will be looking to tie things up before heading home. 

Texas has veteran southpaw Patrick Corbin on the bump. The 6-9 hurler has a 4.45 ERA in his starts this season. Corbin came out strong in his last start, pitching five innings in the Rangers’ 6-3 victory, so if he can limit the Royals’ potent offense and get run support, he should be in line for another solid outing. The Royals, on the other hand, will turn to right-hander Michael Lorenzen. He is 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA. Lorenzen is still trying to regain his form after a stint on the IL but in his last start, he tossed four scoreless frames, so there is reason to believe he has some bounceback ability at this point.

Considering the way both Corbin and Lorenzen have gone back-and-forth this season, this should be a competitive but not excessively high-scoring affair. Kansas City’s lineup, powered by bats such as Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel García, has actually been a bit more consistent this month, while Texas continues to search for more big hits to support their veteran pitching.

Kansas City has the stronger lineup and Lorenzen coming off that fine outing will hve me on the Royals in this early game. 

The Orioles will look to pull the upset at Fenway Park on Tuesday night as they look to complete a two-game sweep. They will turn to veteran Tomoyuki Sugano (10-5, 4.13 ERA) who has been pitching well lately, posting a 3.00 ERA over his last five starts. Sugano’s command and knack for suppressing hard contact is enough to make the Orioles believe he can control the Boston lineup long enough for the Orioles’ bats to do damage.

Walker Buehler (7-7, 5.43 ERA) takes the hill for the Boston Red Sox. Buehler has turned in a better second half but comes into this game with a hint of unreliability. He’s been capable of flashing that dominance he showed early in the season, but he also has been susceptible to bouts of bad command, and the Baltimore offense has the patience that can force him to work deep into counts. If the Orioles can put pressure on Boston’s bullpen early, this game tilts their way.

One last factor, which might be very real, is motivation. The Boston Red Sox are scrapping for a Wild Card spot and are the favorites in this matchup, but the Orioles will happily play spoiler. Baltimore has seen a good dose of fight from its young lineup in recent weeks and if Sugano can go toe-to-toe with Boston, this is a series they can steal on the road.

Jim's Play: 963. Orioles

On Monday, the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals begin a series at Kauffman Stadium. The first game of the series sees the Rangers’ Jack Leiter (7-6, 3.94 ERA, 96 SO) on the mound, while the Kansas City Royals send out Michael Wacha (7-9, 3.35 ERA, 137 IP). Wacha will look to build off a solid season, while Leiter is going to need a bounce-back start after an inconsistent recent stretch.

The Royals have to view the series as a big one, as they sit in the thick of the Wild Card race, within four games of the leader. However, with three straight victories, plus a six-for-seven record at home in recent games, the Royals are likely feeling good about where they are at. Texas, meanwhile, can’t seem to find their footing after a hot start to the year, as the Rangers have lost eight of nine recently and five of six on the road. Kansas City is certainly the team playing with more momentum, and are currently the favorite in this series, while Texas’ play is concerning. On the mound, Wacha has the clear edge, but Leiter can limit mistakes and keep the game close.

The Royals are likely looking for an opportunity to continue their hot streak, and should have the edge at home against a Texas team that can’t seem to play at a consistent level on the road. 

Jim's Play: 914. Royals 

Two pitchers with completely different seasons start this three-game series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox here on Monday. Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers has been on the money all season long, sitting at 5-2 with a 1.43 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in his innings pitched. He limits baserunners and mixes his pitches well to keep opposing hitters off balance, which allows the Orioles to remain in games even when they’re facing a team that’s vying for a playoff spot. Dustin May, on the other hand, has had his good days but hasn’t quite lived up to the hype this season. May is currently 7-8 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Boston’s success against the Orioles will depend largely on whether or not May can get those early strikeouts and avoid giving up a big inning.

The Red Sox continue to keep themselves in playoff contention at this point in the season, which is all that matters to them now. They’re only five games behind in the AL East, and they hold a one-game lead in the Wild Card. Every win matters, and both teams know it. Baltimore has given up at this point in the season, sitting 57-67 on the year. As for them, their team is a little more development focused, so they’ll want to see what the team can do and which young players they have in the pipeline to take into next season with confidence. The Orioles know the situation, but their lineup looks a little more fun because their top prospect, Samuel Basallo, will be making his debut.

The Red Sox have momentum on their side because they’ve used their hot starts at home to remain in the race. Baltimore has only gone 7-8 in August so far, which isn’t great, but they can still win some games. However, because Trevor Rogers is on and Dustin May has been all over the place, the numbers set up for a battle. Baltimore may be in the development stage, but it’s always fun to watch a young player. I don't think May is nearly as good as Rogers and I look for the Orioles to be in this one to the end. 

Jim's Play: 911. Orioles 

The St. Louis Cardinals visit the Miami Marlins for a Monday Night MLB matchup on August 18, 2025, at loanDepot Park. St. Louis takes on Miami in this pitcher’s duel as left-handed starter Matthew Liberatore (6-10, 4.08 ERA) squares off against young right-hander Eury Perez (5-3, 3.58 ERA, 0.98 WHIP).

The Cardinals lefty has been solid but inconsistent at times, relying more on command and mixing pitches than big stuff. He is certainly hittable against tough Marlins offense. Miami will send out Perez, who has flashed plenty of upside early in his career. Perez has a 3.58 ERA in 60 innings and has been especially effective at home, fanning hitters at a high rate while limiting hard contact.

St. Louis has lost five straight games leading into this matchup and is looking to break the streak. Miami, on the other hand, has played better at home than on the road and is looking to continue to ride the wave of its young players. The Cardinals’ offense has been quiet throughout the losing streak, so it will put even more on Liberatore to execute right from the start of the game. Miami will look to Perez to have command of the strike zone and keep the St. Louis bats quiet while the lineup itself must look to manufacture runs against a hittable lefty.

I like this young Miami team the way they have been playing of late. I'll take them here at home on Monday night. 

Jim's Play: 902. Marlins

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs play a doubleheader here on Monday. The Brewers saw their 14-game winning streak snapped by the Reds on Sunday. The Brewers took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth but could not hold on as the Reds tied the game and then won in extra innings. Freddy Peralta will start game one for the Brewers. Peralta has been on absolute fire all season, boasting a 14-5 record, 2.90 ERA, 148 strikeouts, and 1.12 WHIP in 136.2 IP. But he’s been especially effective against the Cubs throughout his career, having gone 8-3 with a 3.42 ERA in 21 career meetings. Peralta is a true ace who knows how to make quality pitches.

The Cubs will counter with Cade Horton. In his first year in the bigs, the 24-year-old is putting up 7-3 record, a 3.07 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and 1.18 WHIP in 85 innings. Since the All-Star break, Horton is nearly unhittable, with a 0.32 ERA in 28-innings, including a recent outing in which he notched eight strikeouts and surrendered just one hit.

Milwaukee is up eight games on the NL Central and in a comfortable position at the top. The Cubs, on the other hand, are up just one game for the second Wild Card, so every game they can get could be a big deal at this point.

What we could be looking at here is a true pitcher’s duel: Milwaukee puts their trust in ace Peralta to shut down the Cubs at the top, while the Cubs are making a big bet on their own rookie Horton. If Horton can start this one clean, there’s a chance he could carry that momentum. Plus, when a team breaks a winning streak you have to look for a letdown in the next game. And that's this one. I'll take the Cubs here in game one. 

Jim's Play: 926. Cubs Game 1

The Seattle Mariners and New York Mets play in the annual Little League Classic in Williamsport, PA, on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Seattle’s starting pitcher is George Kirby, who has an 8-5 record with a 3.71 ERA. Kirby has displayed command and efficiency on the mound to keep the Mariners in games late into the late innings. He matches up against Mets’ pitcher Clay Holmes, who also holds a 3.71 ERA and a 9-6 record, but has been more erratic over the course of the season. The starters are pretty well-matched on paper, but Seattle’s depth in the rotation has been one of their best assets.

Seattle has been moving in the right direction, winning nine of their last twelve as they continue their pursuit of an AL West title and a wild card spot. On the other hand, New York is in a state of freefall, having lost thirteen of their last fifteen. With the exception of Juan Soto, the Mets offense has been largely anemic in run production and their pitching has been leaned upon heavily to pick up the slack.

The Mariners have the advantage in terms of momentum and pitching and that's who I will be on here on Sunday evening. 

Jim's Plays: 979. Mariners 

The Rangers and Blue Jays finish their weekend set here on Sunday. The Rangers have Nathan Eovaldi on the bump. The starter is one of the most dominant pitchers in the league this season, sporting a 10-3 record with a 1.71 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. What Eovaldi has shown this season is the ability to go deep in games, which is huge against the Toronto offense, and keep hard contact to a minimum. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have Jose Berríos on the mound. The right-hander is a solid 9-4 with a 3.74 ERA. But, as you can see from the numbers, Berríos hasn’t had the season that Eovaldi has had. He’s been less consistent, and not nearly as overpowering.

Toronto has some steam coming into this game on offense, but in my mind, Eovaldi has the overwhelming advantage in this pitching matchup. He’s got more velocity than Berríos and his command of his pitches makes him nearly unhittable at times. The Rangers have been fading recently, and that usually means there’s value. Add in the fact that they have their ace on the hill, and this is a great spot for them to turn things around. The Rangers still have enough pop in their lineup to take advantage of a mistake, led by Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Plus, Toronto’s starter was once a member of the Rangers, so it’ll be a comfort level there.

Jim's Play: 961. Rangers

The Seattle Mariners and New York Mets will meet Saturday afternoon at Citi Field for game two of this weekend’s series. The Mariners have been playing well recently as they fight for a playoff spot in the AL while the Mets have gone in the complete opposite direction, losing 13 of their last 15 and dropping out of first place in the NL East. It’s been the Mets offense that has been in a big funk, with the lineup outside of Juan Soto being completely quiet in recent games.

Bryan Woo (10-6, 3.08 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) will get the nod for the Mariners. Woo has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the Mariners rotation all year as he has been able to work efficiently while limiting baserunners. He’ll face New York Mets righty Nolan McLean who will make his MLB debut in this game. McLean is a top Mets prospect who has had a strong season in Triple-A where he carried a sub-3.00 ERA. His stuff will play at the big-league level but don’t be surprised to see some nerves and adjustment issues in this debut.

Hard not to take the Mariners and their Ace here against a unknown pitcher making his MLB debit. I will take the Mariners against a struggling Mets team.

Jim's Play : 923. Mariners -1.10

The Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants take the field Friday night at Oracle Park, first pitch at 10:15 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay starter Joe Boyle (1-2, 3.82 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 30.2 innings) will be opposed by Giants starter Landen Roupp (7-6, 3.11 ERA, 95 strikeouts in 101.1 innings).

It’s been tough sledding on offense for the Giants, who have managed only 3.71 runs per game while batting around league-average and ranking in the bottom third of the league in both average and slugging. Tampa Bay has been more steady and looks to be able to manufacture a run even in the later innings, so the Giants may struggle to outslug their opponent. Roupp’s been a steadying force in the Giants rotation, and he’s up against a deep Rays lineup with some power. Boyle has some strikeout stuff that may give him an edge on this lineup.

Tampa Bay can drive in runs and the Giants’ lineup is capable of giving a little at home, so this could be a game with some reliable scoring from both sides. I look for the Rays to take the opening game of this series as a small road dog. 

Jim's Play: 979. Rays

The Miami Marlins and Cleveland Guardians will square off at Progressive Field — with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. ET. Edward Cabrera (6-5, 3.08 ERA) takes the hill for the Marlins and has been sharp away from home with a 3.40 ERA and impressive swing-and-miss stuff. He has also been stingy in allowing runs, limiting extra-base hits to give the Marlins a chance to win each start. The Guardians will turn to Tanner Bibee (8-9, 4.60 ERA), who has struggled to miss bats this season (posting the lowest strikeout rate of his career) and has been inconsistent in most outings. The home team is only a small favorite, but Miami is a live dog, and their Underdog value is worth shopping.

The Marlins are 17-13 since the start of July and are motivated to get back on track after two brutal weeks against Atlanta. The lineup has proven itself at making contact in critical spots and will hit better on the road again. Cleveland is playing well as a whole, but Bibee’s recent performance is less than optimal, and Miami will manufacture runs with an all-righty lineup. 

Edward Cabrera has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last seven outings. Run producers, including Kyle Stowers, Heriberto Hernández and Xavier Edwards, have been timely in driving in runs. The bullpen has registered 9 scoreless appearances in their last 12 outings when entering the game to protect a lead.  I believe the Marlins are a live dog here on Thursday. Let's see if they have some bite to go with that bark. 

Jim's Play: 913. Marlins 

The Boston Red Sox will try to take the good vibes from the last couple of weeks and turn them into a positive road trip, starting with Wednesday night’s series opener at Daikin Park. After a slow start to the season, the team has been mashing the ball lately and that strong offense is the foundation of any possible success at Houston. Walker Buehler (7-6, 5.40 ERA) will lead the charge on the mound for Boston. He’s been all over the place this year but was solid in his last start, throwing six shutout innings in San Diego. Buehler’s best chance is to get some early run support, which would be the best case scenario for him to relax and get into a groove.

Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.51 ERA, WHIP 0.99) takes the mound for the Astros. The righty has been one of the best starters in the American League, posting an impressive blend of strikeout numbers and control. He’s been particularly sharp in recent weeks and has thrived at home, where he will start Wednesday. Houston has stumbled a little bit over the last week after a red-hot start, but remain in first place in the AL West. Having Juan Ramirez and Jose Altuve back in the lineup also brings some juice to the team’s depth chart.

Houston is clearly the favorite here, not only because of Brown’s excellence but also because of the home-field advantage. If Boston wants to steal a win, the Buehler would need to reproduce the last start and keep it close going into the late innings. The Astros have a big-time bullpen and the advantage of the home crowd.

Jim's Play: 968. Astros 

The Chicago Cubs will try to rebound from a 5-1 drubbing in the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday at Rogers Centre. The Cubs offense was shut down in the opener as they failed to muster a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. Cade Horton will get the start for Chicago on Wednesday. Horton is 6-3 with a 3.18 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 79 innings. The 24-year-old will try to build on a 5-scoreless inning appearance in his last start. The Cubs are going to have to get more offense from this pitching performance if they want to slow down Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman will try to keep the Cubs offense in check as well. Gausman is 8-8 with a 3.85 ERA and has been much better in his last two starts, allowing only one run in seven innings in his last start. The Blue Jays have been on fire at home recently, hitting .323 with 21 homers and a .566 slugging percentage in their last ten games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette have been the most productive hitters for Toronto in the heart of the order. Gausman will have to be at his best to limit the big bats for the Jays. Chicago’s offense has not been nearly as good, hitting only .223 with nine homers and a .341 slugging percentage in the same ten-game span.

The Blue Jays are the clear favorites to win in this one for me. 

Jim's Plays: 978. Blue Jays 

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Oakland Athletics play the second of their series here on Tuesday after the Rays took game one on Monday. Tampa Bay Rays send Shane Baz to the mound. He’s posting a 8-8 record and 4.92 ERA this season (with an expected ERA of 3.83) but has struggled lately, allowing 4+ runs in 3 of his last 4 starts. Oakland Athletics counter with Jacob Lopez, who brings a 5-6 record and 3.59 ERA into the contest. Lopez has been great of late, with three straight shutout outings. The Rays are 58-62, having just been swept in Seattle, and are now 5.5 games back in the AL Wild Card race. The Athletics (53-67) may be out of the playoff picture, but their offense is heating up. Rookie Nick Kurtz (.305 AVG, 23 HR, 174 wRC+) headlines a lineup with power threats like Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom. Lopez’s strong form and Baz’s recent inconsistency, combined with Oakland’s potent lineup, give the A’s value as home favorites.

Jim's Play: 920. Athletics 

Detroit won a weekend series in Anaheim to improve to 68-51, remaining in first place in the AL Central with a +77 run differential. The White Sox have about a month left to figure something out and are in last place at 43-75, but did beat the Indians on Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak. 

Detroit will send Chris Paddack (4-10, 4.91 ERA) to the mound, as the White Sox will go with Elvis Peguero in his first MLB start with a 4.91 ERA. 

Riley Greene is leading the Tigers in homers and RBIs while Spencer Torkelson has already hit 25 homers and has 65 RBI. Team-wise, their slugging is one of the best in MLB. For the White Sox, Lenyn Sosa is one of the few reliable bats, hitting .278 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI. Sosa's .218 average against right-handed pitching won't be much of a problem for Detroit since their entire pitching staff has an ERA under 5.00.

Detroit again in first place and looking to stay close to the Twins on the first day of a series in Chicago leans on a more proven, deeper lineup and more experienced pitchers. Chicago looking for an upset, or at least the first game in a competitive series from a wounded, scrappy ballclub.

Jim's Play: 961. Tigers 

The Diamondbacks head into Arlington on Monday, August 11, 2025, for the first game of a three-game set at Globe Life Field, with first pitch at 8:05 p.m. ET. 

On the mound, Arizona will send Ryne Nelson (6-3, 3.20 ERA) to face Nathan Eovaldi (10-3, 1.38 ERA), a big edge for Texas based purely on numbers.

Offensively, Corey Seager has been a tough matchup for right-handed pitching and looks especially dangerous at home-he’s logged multiple total bases in three of his past four games. 

Texas boasts both the stronger starter and a hot bat in Seager. Arizona can hang tough if Nelson settles in and cold-hitting Texas bats don’t show up. But as far as I'm concerned, Eovaldi is the key here tonight as he shuts down this Diamondbacks offense. 

Jim's Play: 970. Rangers 

Detroit won a weekend series in Anaheim to improve to 68-51, remaining in first place in the AL Central with a +77 run differential. The White Sox have about a month left to figure something out and are in last place at 43-75, but did beat the Indians on Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak. 

Detroit will send Chris Paddack (4-10, 4.91 ERA) to the mound, as the White Sox will go with Elvis Peguero in his first MLB start with a 4.91 ERA. 

Riley Greene is leading the Tigers in homers and RBIs while Spencer Torkelson has already hit 25 homers and has 65 RBI. Team-wise, their slugging is one of the best in MLB. For the White Sox, Lenyn Sosa is one of the few reliable bats, hitting .278 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI. Sosa's .218 average against right-handed pitching won't be much of a problem for Detroit since their entire pitching staff has an ERA under 5.00.

Detroit again in first place and looking to stay close to the Twins on the first day of a series in Chicago leans on a more proven, deeper lineup and more experienced pitchers. Chicago looking for an upset, or at least the first game in a competitive series from a wounded, scrappy ballclub.

Jim's Play: 961. Tigers 

The Nationals and Giants each have one win in the three-game series, and will play their rubber game at Oracle Park on Sunday, August 10, 2025. Washington will turn to lefty MacKenzie Gore (4–12, 4.29 ERA), who is at 126 innings, 148 strikeouts, 1.36-/1.37 WHIP. He’s averaged just under 5.5 innings per start and 12 quality starts, but wasn’t very sharp last time out: eight earned runs on 12 hits, in just three innings.

The Giants will go with Justin Verlander (1–8, 4.29/4.39 ERA), at 81 strikeouts in about 94 innings, and a 1.45-/1.46 WHIP. He’s making this his 20th start, and has averaged around five innings per start and six quality starts. However, he was quite good in his most recent start: five innings of no-run ball on three hits.

It’s a fascinating matchup. Gore has much higher peak-stuff potential, as long as he doesn’t get into big innings early, which he has had a problem with in the second half. Verlander has been a model of consistency and efficiency, especially at home. Neither has had a lights-out season, so the advantage will probably go to the pitcher who can go deep (5+ innings) — especially through the middle innings — and keep his team in the game.

I like what I saw in Verlander last time out compared to Gore. And since San Francisco's at home I give him that edge on top. San Francisco at home with Verlander looks like the side for me today. 

Jim's Play: Giants

Take: 921. Guardians -1.33 

The Cleveland Guardians (61-55) and Chicago White Sox (42-75) will play the final game of a three-game series on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Guardians will look to complete a series sweep after winning their last five games, nine of their last ten and are 2nd in the AL Central. Cleveland has surged in the second half by winning in a variety of ways whether it be aggressive baserunning, stout defense, or a reliable bullpen. The White Sox have remained near the bottom of the AL standings and have lost six straight games. Chicago has had some sparks of offensive production but has failed to string together many games of it.

Cleveland will start Slade Cecconi (5-4, 3.72 ERA, 82 1/3 IP) who has been a workhorse in his last few starts, lasting at least six innings in each of his last six starts. Chicago will counter with Davis Martin (3-9, 4.11 ERA) who will be looking to bounce back after his last start where he gave up four runs.

Cleveland’s pitching depth combined with their ability to produce runs in a variety of ways gives them the edge in this one. Plus we get a hot team in Cleveland against a cold White Sox club. If the White Sox cannot score early against Cecconi and get behind the Guardians, it is tough to see them notching a run support win for Martin. Expect Cleveland to sweep the series and continue their win streak.

Jim's Play: 921. Guardians

The Miami Marlins (57-60) host the Atlanta Braves (50-67) for the conclusion their series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. First pitch is scheduled for Truist Park, where the Braves hope to emerge victorious in the series finale. Miami comes in having gone 5-5 in its last 10, though they were a letdown in dropping both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, while Atlanta will look to carry some momentum into a must-win at home.

Cal Quantrill will start for Miami with a 4-9 record and 5.21 ERA. He has been a sinkerballer for most of his career and has leaned into that side of his game this season. He has shown a good deal of sink with his four-seamer, with nearly half the ground ball rate in MLB. 

The Braves will counter with LHP Joey Wentz (2–3, 5.34 ERA in 57.1 IP). The left-hander will be in search of a quality start against the Marlins. Wentz has a nice high spin four-seamer, but his stuff has been up and down at times, and he’s struggled with home runs. The southpaw has a 35% strikeout rate with a 22.7% swinging-strike rate on the season.

Cal Quantrill and Joey Wentz both have their fair share of issues. Quantrill is still a sinkerballer with good ground ball rates, and Wentz has his own sinker with solid movement. Both offenses have underwhelmed recently, and both clubs have had their fair share of offensive explosions. While I expect a close game, I look for a Braves win. They have trailed in games in this series and found ways to come back and win. I expect much the same here on Sunday. 

Jim's Play: 904. Braves

It's the second game of a Day/Night doubleheader between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves here on Saturday, August 9, 2025. The Marlins send Sandy Alcántara to the hill. Once a Cy Young Award winner, Alcántara has regressed significantly this season, arriving on Tuesday with a 6-10 record and 6.44 ERA and lofty 1.42 WHIP after allowing six earned runs in his last start. Alcántara’s control and overall consistency have been big question marks in 2025.

In response, the Braves will go with Erick Fedde, an experienced arm who joined the rotation this season in an attempt to add some stability as others have gone down with injuries. Unfortunately for the Braves, Fedde’s own performance has been spotty. The veteran has a 3-12 record, 5.32 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. In addition he has only 10 quality starts in 24 overall appearances since donning the Atlanta uniform. In short, neither of these starters can be trusted, and we could be looking at a matchup full of adjustments and adversity.

Relative to their opponents, the Marlins have a more experienced and reliable bullpen behind starting pitcher Sandy Alcántara, featuring solid arms like Calvin Faucher, Anthony Bender and Ronny Henríquez. Meanwhile, the backend of Atlanta’s relief corps has been littered with inconsistentri arms all season. The Marlins are very much alive in the Wild Card picture and are on the cusp of returning to .500 for the first time since late May, while the Braves have lost 12 of their last 16 and feel more like a team in evaluation mode with each passing day.

Considering both starters have been equally as bad, everything else is lining up ont the Marlins side. I'm going to take the fish here in the 2nd game of their doubleheader. 

Jim's Play: Marlins (Game 2)

Houston and New York square off at Yankee Stadium in the second game of their weekend set. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros look to take a 2-0 series lead after their 5–3 extra-inning victory on Friday night. The New York Yankees, meanwhile, seek to salvage a split and reassert themselves in the crowded American League Wild Card race.

Framber Valdez (11-5, 2.83 ERA, 144 K in 140.1 IP) takes the ball for Houston, as the veteran lefty has served as a workhorse atop the Astros’ rotation all season. Luis Gil (0-1, 13.50 ERA, 6 K in 5.2 IP) will make his Yankee Stadium debut for the Yankees, though his time there has not been prolific thus far. Gil will look to find his footing and give his team a bounce-back performance on the mound.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are the leaders of an aging but still potent Astros lineup that’s led the way in the early going. Each of Houston’s top batters was a key part of the previous game’s offense, as Correa drove in the go-ahead run in the 9th. Houston’s bullpen, and in particular closer Josh Hader, were also taxed in Friday’s victory but came through when needed. The Yankees have not been able to fully lean on the deeper parts of their lineup with Aaron Judge still on the IL with a flexor strain. Giancarlo Stanton could get some at-bats in left field on Saturday to give New York’s offense a spark.

Houston is a slight -124 moneyline favorite, with the over/under right around 8 runs. The projections all point to a mildly high-scoring game, with most pegging Houston’s pitching advantage as the deciding factor. The Yankees are desperate for a win at home, however, and any live arm has the potential to be a smoke show with Luis Gil on the mound for New York.

Bottom Line: Houston has an edge in starting pitching and a full series win to keep their confidence high. Valdez should make it a long day for the Yankees, but anything can happen with a pitcher of Gil’s upside and the visitors’ situation on the backs of their necks. This will be a competitive game with scoring chances on both sides.

Jim's Play: 965. Astros 

The NL East 2nd place New York Mets (63-52) travel to Milwaukee to face the red-hot NL Central 1st place Brewers (70-44) at American Family Field. The Brewers are baseball’s hottest team over the last few weeks, as they are currently riding a six-game winning streak and have won 12 of their last 13 contests overall. Pitching, timely hitting, and one of baseball’s most well-rounded rosters have been driving Milwaukee’s success.

The Mets will counter with ace Kodai Senga who has a 7–3 record with a 2.31 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over close to 90 innings pitched this season. Despite pitching well overall, Senga is in need of a bounce-back after his last start. The Brewers will put right-hander Brandon Woodruff on the mound, who has been nearly unhittable since returning from the injured list. Woodruff has a 3–0 record, a stellar 0.64 WHIP, and elite strikeout numbers over 28+ innings this season.

The Mets are hitting .197 and slugging .312 since the start of June, which is among the worst in baseball over that stretch. Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo are the club’s most important bats, and none of them are heating up at the moment. In comparison, the Brewers have been timely at the plate during their winning streak and appear to have figured things out, which is a plus for Milwaukee considering how good their pitching has been.

This is a matchup of two clubs going in opposite directions. The Brewers have all the momentum, and a great chance to win behind Woodruff on the mound. The Mets have their season in Senga’s hands, who is going to have to dominate for New York to have any chance. Milwaukee is at home, and primed to get out to a strong lead, so this should be a low-scoring, competitive matchup that I see the Brewers taking easily.

Jim's Play: 906. Brewers (NL Game of the Week)