Big Al McMordie Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Atlanta Braves.  Knowing that they didn't have to wait any longer to make a run at the NL Title, the Braves made some deadline trades, and it seemed like their favorite hunting ground for pitching was in Baltimore.  Atlanta acquired both RPs Brad Brach and Darren O'Day and SP Kevin Gausman from the O's in two separate deals and with Nick Markakis already on the squad, it must seem like Baltimore south around the Braves' locker room lately.  Gausman will get his fourth start with the Braves tonight and while with the Birds, the RH faced the Bucs twice, going 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.  RHP Ivan Nova continues to excel at PNC Park.  Nova allowed only one run in 6 2/3 innings here on Thursday night, but lost to the Cubs, 1-0. The Pirates are 5-2 over his past seven starts, and Nova has posted a 3.72 ERA during that stretch. He owns a 3.32 ERA in 11 home starts this season.  Speaking of 1-0, the Braves took game one of this series by that score on Monday so look for the Pirates to exact some revenge tonight.  Take Pittsburgh.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 9:40 pm, our selection is on the Anaheim Angels over Arizona.  The Angels have been installed as a huge underdog, notwithstanding the fact that SP Felix Pena's ERA in his four road starts is 1.31.  Moreover, the Diamondbacks are a money-burning 25-25 (minus 12 games on the moneyline) as a home favorite this season.  Take the Angels.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Philadelphia Phillies over Washington.  The Phillies have been installed as an underdog at Washington.  And that bodes well, given that the Nationals are a poor 16-21 (minus 14 games on the moneyline) the past two seasons as a favorite with Roark on the mound.  Roark's home ERA this season is 5.00 (compared to 3.24 on the road), while Velasquez's road ERA is 3.02 (compared to 4.99 at home).  Take Philadelphia.

At 10:10 pm, our selection is on the Los Angeles Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals.  How ironic would it be if Hyun-Jin Ryu is the pitcher that gets the Dodgers to the promised land this season?  The 31-year-old LH Japanese import has been a huge disappointment over the last two seasons, heading to the DL multiple times for various ailments.  True to form this season, Ryu started strong in April, but hit the shelf after a month of action due to a groin injury.  Ryu returned on August 15 and fortunately for the Dodgers, he looked like he never missed a beat, tossing six shutout innings against San Francisco while allowing just three hits and striking out six Giants with no walks.  He gets a chance to prove that performance was no fluke tonight for his team which is in the midst of the tightest division race in the Majors.  The Cards will send rookie RH Daniel Poncedeleon to the mound for his second MLB start as Luke Weaver has been relegated to the bullpen for now.  But despite a successful starting debut (7 IP, 0 ER, 0 H), Poncedeleon is an unproven commodity, especially against a lineup like the Dodgers'.  Take L.A.

At 7:10 pm, our selection is on the Boston Red Sox over the Cleveland Indians.  In what could be a preview of the ALCS, the Indians came into Fenway yesterday for the first time this season with a showdown of the last two AL Cy Young winners (Porcello and Kluber).  Tonight in game two, the pitching match-up is without those marquee names, but at least one of these starters has been putting up Cy Young-type numbers here at home recently.  The Sox needed some pitching help, so they traded for RH Nathan Eovaldi at the deadline and the 28-year-old proceeded to get very comfortable in his new home.  His first two starts were at home and all Eovaldi did in those was not allow a run in 15 innings while notching a pair of victories.  His next two starts were on the road -- one of which was ugly while his last one (in Philly) was a fairly effective five innings.  He's back home tonight and looking to extend his Fenway success against a team which he has dominated in the past (Eovaldi is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career games (two starts) vs. the Tribe).  Take Boston.

At 7:05 pm, our selection is on the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Atlanta Braves.  Knowing that they didn't have to wait any longer to make a run at the NL Title, the Braves made some deadline trades, and it seemed like their favorite hunting ground for pitching was in Baltimore.  Atlanta acquired both RPs Brad Brach and Darren O'Day and SP Kevin Gausman from the O's in two separate deals.  And with Nick Markakis already on the squad, it must seem like "Baltimore south" around the Braves' locker room lately.  Gausman will get his fourth start with the Braves tonight and while with the Birds, the RHP faced the Bucs twice, going 0-1 with an ugly 8.44 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.  RHP Ivan Nova continues to excel at PNC Park.  Nova allowed only one run in 6 2/3 innings here on Thursday night, but lost to the Cubs, 1-0. The Pirates are 5-2 over his past seven starts, and Nova has posted a 3.72 ERA during that stretch. He owns a 3.32 ERA in 11 home starts this season.  Speaking of 1-0, the Braves took game one of this series by that score on Monday so look for the Pirates to exact some revenge tonight.  Take Pittsburgh.