Ben Burns Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

Ben Burns has been WHITE HOT since Day 1 of the baseball season and he's currently making picking winners look like shooting fish in a barrell. Now a SENSATIONAL 17-3 on the week, he's GOING BIG on Sunday. Expect nothing less than a PERFECT 3-0 SWEEP! 

While we won with the Giants yesterday, I feel that today's matchup favors the visitors. Even with yesterday's loss, the Brewers are still a healthy 16-9 in day games. Anderson has a stellar 2.63 ERA on the road and he's had success against SF the past couple of seasons. In three starts, since 2017, vs. the Giants, he's allowed just three combined runs, through 18 2/3 innings. His teams won those games by scores of 5-2, 3-1 and 4-2. Samardzija hasn't had that type of success against Milwaukee. Not even close. In fact, his teams are 1-9 his last 10 starts vs. the Brewers. Consider Milwaukee. 

I'm playing on LA. The price on the Dodgers came down overnight. Given the venue and pitching matchup, I feel thats providing us with excellent value. Off a tough loss last night, LA is going to be in angry mood. Ryu has been amazing all season. He's got a 1.36 ERA and 0.802 WHIP through 13 starts overall. At home, he's practically unhittable and he's been unbeatable. Through six home starts, he's 6-0 with a remarkable 1.01 ERA and 0.649 WHIP. He's struck out 45 here while walking a mere two. He averages 7.4 innings per start here, too. On the other hand, Quintana is 2-4 with a 5.83 ERA on the road. While Ryu hasn't walked a batter in either of his last two starts, Quintana walked four (while striking out only three) in his last start alone, a span of just five innings. Even after yesterday's loss, the Dodgers are still a dominant 19-5 when listed as home favorites in the -150 to -200 range. Payback time tonight. 

I'm playing on Texas/Cincinnati OVER the total. While the Reds have been involved in a lot of 'unders' this month, I expect the bats to come alive Sunday afternoon. Jurado has seen both his road starts finish above the total. He's allowed at least a home run in each of his past three games, posting a mediocre 4.00 ERA and 1.389 WHIP in those games. He's backed by a Texas bullpen which entered the weekend with a 5.09 ERA and 1.62 WHIP on the road. Gray, 0-4 in this season's daytime starts, has faced the Rangers plenty of times from his days in the AL. Each of his last four starts against them produced a minimum of nine runs. The most recent (2017) had a score of 6-5. Last season, Gray pitched an inning of relief against the Rangers. That didn't go well, as he gave up five hits and two runs. The 'over' has been money in Ranger day games this season. Look for this one to hit double-digits.

I'm playing on COLORADO. The Rockies have been outstanding as home favorites and they're going to be licking their chops at the opportunity to face Margevicius again. They've seen him twice this season, once in April and once in May. Colorado won both games comfortably, winning by a combined score of 18-9. Margevicius gave up 10 earned runs in nine innings. He allowed 15 hits, three of them leaving the yard. On the season Margevicius has an ERA above five. That includes an ugly 8.43 ERA (1.781 WHIP) his last three starts. As Margevicius averages less than five innings per start, note that San Diego relievers have really struggled on the road all season. Lambert, who hails from Southern Cal (San Dimas) will be fired up to face the Padres. Making pitching in the bigs look easy, Lambert comes in full of confidence. The former 2nd round pick has made two starts, both against the Cubs, and he's 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. In 12 innings, he's recorded 12 K's. Opposing batters are hitting .167 against him. Rockies roll.