HOUSTON @ SAN DIEGO (HOU -112, 7)
ASTROS ML
We have a stellar pitching matchup here. Framber Valdez starts for Houston and Dylan Cease takes the mound for San Diego. Cease had a good start last time out, but he's been more inconsistent than Valdez lately. In Cease's six starts prior to his last one, he gave up 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, and 5 earned runs. The Padres went 3-3 in those six games.
Valdez, on the other hand, is 14-6 this season with a 2.91 ERA. In his last 14 starts, Valdez has allowed more than 3 earned runs just once. Houston is 13-1 in those games. Over his last three starts, Valdez has pitched 20.1 innings and allowed just 1 earned run. Advantage Houston.
PHILADELPHIA @ MILWAUKEE (MIL -110, 7.5)
BREWERS ML
On paper, this looks like a great pitching matchup, but Aaron Nola of Philadelphia has been struggling recently. In his last two starts, Nola has allowed 15 base hits, 2 homers in each game, a total of 10 earned runs, and he's taken two losses. Nola is now 12-8 on the season with a respectable 3.62 ERA. That ERA spikes up to an even 4.00 when he pitches on the road.
Freddy Peralta is 11-8 with a 3.75 ERA this season. He has not allowed more than 3 earned runs in any of his last six starts. In those six games, Peralta is 4-1. The last time Nola pitched in Milwaukee was almost exactly a year ago. He pitched 4.2 innings, allowed 8 hits, walked 3 batters and gave up 7 earned runs. Milwaukee won that game 7-5. Expect a similar result tonight.
TORONTO @ TEXAS (TEX -124, 7.5)
BLUE JAYS ML
Bowden Francis is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now. He's probably the hottest pitcher you've never heard of as well. Francis is 8-4 with a 3.50 ERA for the season. In his last six starts, Francis has pitched 43 innings and has an ERA of 1.25. Over those six starts, he's got 1 no-decision, 1 loss, and 4 wins.
Texas starter Cody Bradford was pitching well up until his last start. He got the hook after 3.2 innings because he gave up 9 hits, 3 home runs, and 8 earned runs. Bradford took a 14-4 loss to Arizona. Toronto is no Arizona, but the Blue Jays have won 3 of their last 4 and I think they'll play well with Francis on the mound.
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