Jac Caglianone @ Chicago White Sox
- I don’t think it will be long before the Royals’ 2024 first round draft pick goes yard. He hit a ball hard into right field that was caught when he debuted on Wednesday, showcasing the plus power he’s become known for in the minors.
Teoscar Hernandez @ St Louis Cardinals
- The Dodgers outfielder owns some nice career numbers against Cardinals righty Sonny Gray, including a double and a pair of homers from 19 at-bats.
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs Nick Lodolo (CIN)
Good lefty on lefty matchup here between two middling ball clubs.
Lodolo was solid last week holding the Cubs scoreless across six frames, but I’m wary of the fact the DBacks rank seventh in runs scored against southpaws with the lowest strikeout percentage in the league.
On the other side of the coin, the Reds rank fifth in K% against lefties, so I think this is a good spot to back Arizona outright, and maybe the Over.
TBD (CHC) vs Tarik Skubal (DET)
Skubal is back in the driver’s seat in the AL Cy Young chase, but he faces a big test against a Cubs team that ranks towards the top of the league in on-base percentage, walks, and hits.
Chicago has been one of the best base-running teams all year, while they aren’t striking out a whole bunch either, currently ranked 15th over the last seven days.
This is a tough travel spot for the Cubbies flying from Washington to Detroit on short rest, but with the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki in line for an All-Star nod, I think you can play the under on Skubal’s K Total.
Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) vs Hayden Birdsong (SF)
Schwellenbach has been hot and cold on the mound at times over the last month, but I’m happy to back his arm after striking out 11 hitters in back to back games against the Padres and Red Sox.
You could argue both of those lineups are a little more potent offensively than the Giants, who have scored the fourth-fewest runs in the league over the last week.
In a pitcher’s park with the Braves starting to find some rhythm now that Ronald Acuna Jr is back in the lineup, I think there are a few plays you can make on this game.