Milwaukee (Peralta) -120 at Pittsburgh (Keller); Total 7u -110.
It was good for the Brewers to win on Wednesday to shake a mini-slump before it turned into something more ominous. As it was, last night’s 3-2 verdict stopped a three-game skid and was the latest solid effort put forth by the Milwaukee staff, which allowed only four hits all evening.
Good things expected this afternoon from Freddy Peralta, whose form has been sensational, especially his last two starts vs. the Orioles and Cardinals, allowing just one run and nine hits across 12 IP, striking out 18 and walking just two in the process as the Brew Crew looks to salvage a split of this midweek set at PNC Park.
This looks ominous for the Pirates, whose offense has stopped like a stalled cargo barge on the Allegheny, scoring just 17 runs across the last 9 games, as the Bucs have lost seven of those. The pressure is on starter Mitch Keller, who hasn’t been all that effective in his last two starts (six runs and thirteen hits across 13 IP).
PLAY BREWERS on MONEY LINE
Philadelphia (Wheeler) -155 at Cincinnati (Martinez); Total 8o -110.
After getting swept three at Seattle last week, the Reds needed some Skyline Chili and home cooking to get back in gear. The return to Great American Ballpark came at the right time as Cincy has won five of six on this homestand that has featured plenty of big hits by the offense (including 3 RBIs last night by Santiago Espinal in a 7-4 win) that has scored 32 runs in the five wins.
Fifteen of those runs have been scored in the last two days vs. Phils pitching, though it might get a bit tougher today vs. Zack Wheeler and his 2.30 ERA. But Philly has also lost in four of Wheeler’s five starts, and the recent seven-game win streak was mostly compiled at the expense of the lowly Chisox and Rockies, who accounted for six of those Phils wins.
Meanwhile, David Bell seems to be putting a low pitch count on ex-Padre Nick Martinez, but his performances have improved in his last two starts, allowing just one run on a combined 7 IP before Bell decides to make use of his bullpen, which has been a pleasant surprise for the Reds this season and saw Fernando Cruz pitch out of a jam in the 7th inning last night to quell the Phils’ final threat.
PLAY REDS on MONEY LINE
Chicago White Sox (Soroka) at Minnesota (Woods Richardson) -250; Total 7.5u -110.
The worst start in franchise history shows no sign of abating for the White Sox, about to get swept in Minneapolis after losing a staggering 21 of 24 games into Thursday. Even as the offense has stirred mildly the past two nights, the Twins have made sure to score more and take advantage of this schedule break as the Tigers, Royals, Phillies, and a few others have already done.
Of the last 18 losses by the Pale Hose, 15 of those have been by more than one run, so against the Sox on the Run Line remains a viable default option. Ex-Brave Michael Soroka hasn’t helped much on the mound, battered in his last two starts and now sporting a 7.50 ERA and 1.79 WHIP this season. Given that Chicago has already been blanked eight times, Soroka isn’t giving the Sox much of a chance.
Meanwhile, they can’t wait at Target Field to get another look at young starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who in his lone start and appearance completely flummoxed the Tigers, allowing just one run and two hits across 6 IP on April 13 in an eventual 4-1 Twins win.
PLAY TWINS on RUN LINE