Detroit (Maeda) at Tampa Bay (Pepiot) -160; Total 8u -115… The Rays are treading water at 12-12, and we’re still waiting for them to begin a trademark win streak and extended uptick. But Tampa Bay also hasn’t lost more than the current two in a row, wither, and expect the Rays to have much better luck tonight at the Trop than last night against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, when Detroit cruised to a 7-1 win.
“Ace” and “Kenta Maeda” are not often used in the same sentence these days, however, and the Tigers have had to hold their breath in his starts, two of those (including late Thursday vs. Texas, when unable to get out of the third inning) getting completely destroyed. With a 7.38 ERA, Maeda isn’t fooling anyone, further confirmed by his seven homers allowed in just 17 2/3 IP across four starts.
Expect the Rays to capitalize and provide some breathing room for ex-Dodgers starter Ryan Pepiot, who hasn’t performed all that badly (4.337 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) and is off of a solid effort last Thursday vs. the Angels, tossing six innings of one run, three-hit ball in an eventual 2-1 Rays win. It’s bounce-back night on Tuesday at the trop for the Rays.
PLAY RAYS ON RUN LINE (-1.5 runs, +135)
Chicago White Sox (Fedde) at Minnesota (Lopez) -260; Total 7.5 u -115
It’s about time we start talking about the White Sox in historically bad terms. Last night’s 7-0 blanking at the hands of the Twins marked the right time the Chisox have been shut out in the first 22 games–an all-time MLB record for futility in the modern era, dating to 1901. (Sheesh!) Moreover, the 3-19 break from the gate is the worst in team history, and injuries have been piling up, with OF Luis Robert (right hip flexor strain), sidelined since April 6, is expected to be on the injured list until late May or early June, while 3B Yoan Moncada (left adductor strain), who has been sidelined since April 10, is expected to be out until perhaps the All-Star break.
By that time, we might be seriously talking about the Pale Hose writing the MLB record book for futility and challenging the 1962 Mets and their 40-120 mark as the modern-day worst. It all makes things very tough for starting pitchers like Erick Fedde, who actually hasn’t fared too badly (3.10 ERA) and did get credit for a rare Sox win last Thursday in the doubleheader nightcap vs. the Royals, but being effectively asked to shut out the opposition to give the Pale Hose a chance.
After the Chisox made Chris Paddack look like an all-star on the mound ro the Twins on Monday, tonight’s it’s the turn of Pablo Lopez, who finally catches a break as he seeks his first win of the season. In his last start, Lopez pitched well enough to win (one run and two hits allowed in 6 IP) though the offense didn’t cooperate in a loss to the Orioles. Even a modest minus price laying the extra run with the Twins seems a worthwhile risk tonight at Target Field
PLAY TWINS on RUN LINE (-1.5 runs, -120)
Baltimore (Rodriguez) -145 at LA Angels; Total 8.5o -115.
The Halos offense has stalled like the rush-hour traffic on 57 Freeway adjacent to the Big A, shackled again last night by Albert Suarez and the Baltimore bullpen in a 4-2 loss. That stretched the losing streak to five games, with just nine runs scored across that span.
The frailties of the Angels lineup are hard to disguise when Mike Trout is slumping, which he certainly is at the moment, just 2 for 18 with no homers or RBIs that span. With the continually disappointing Anthony Rendon now on the Injured List and no one else picking up the slack (plus four others in last night’s lineup batting below .200), Angels droughts are likely to coincide with Trout slumps all season. It would be risky to count upon Griffin Canning to keep the Birds bats in check; though serviceable in his most-recent start last Thursday at Tampa Bay, Griffin still has an 8.05 ERA in four starts, and the Halos have lost in every one of his appearances this season. Meanwhile the Birds have won seven of eight, starter Grayson Rodriguez has a 2.63 ERA with the O’s winning in all four of his starts, and the Baltimore bats have come alive, scoring 50 runs across the past eight games.
PLAY ORIOLES ON MONEY LINE