Game Day: Monday, May 18th
The Guardians are winners of two in a row and seven of their last ten heading into the new week. At 26-22, Cleveland sits atop the AL Central, a game up on the Chicago White Sox and 5.5 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers.
The Guards travel to Detroit to open a four-game series with their Central Division rivals. This is the biggest rivalry in the AL Central, with the two teams less than 100 miles apart if you take the shortcut across Lake Erie.
Cleveland resides on the coast of Lake Erie, Detroit on the coast of Lake Ontario. "The Battle of the Lake Front Towns" begins with second-year phenom Slade Cecconi (2-4) facing off against all-star veteran Framber Valdez (2-2). The Tigers seemingly have an edge in the pitching matchup but Valdez hasn't been as sharp this season. He is still wearing Astros' colors on his heart. He was an Astro his entire career, signing with Detroit this off-season in free agency. Tigers opened at (-145) with Valdez on the mound but it's the Guards who are swinging the hot bats. Cleveland has averaged 5.6 runs per game over their Last10. It is a 5:40 PM CDT start from Comerica Park in Detroit, MI.
Tampa has won seven straight series. They get the Orioles to open the week in a clash of AL East division foes. The O's may be ten games back of the Rays but they have shown some signs of life, winning a home-series against the Yankees last week. Their bullpen shut the door on the Nationals yesterday and has pitched well all season despite some nagging injuries. Colton Cowser is back in the lineup and Coby Mayo has contributed some power. Baltimore is still without Jackson Holliday, Holliday had hamate surgery in the spring, but his return is imminent. The Orioles' rotation, however, hasn't pitched well. Trevor Rogers (2-4) starts this afternoon. Rogers is carrying a 5.97 ERA this season. Rogers was slotted in at the top of the O's rotation after a strong '25 campaign but he has regressed significantly. His ERA is a full three runs higher than the mark he posted in '25. On the other side of the ball, Shane McClanahan (4-2), takes the mound for Tampa. McClanahan has been about as good as any starter in MLB. McClanahan and the Rays look like a great bet on the surface but the O's are at home and this is a dangerous team that is starting to put it together. It's a 5:40 PM CDT start from Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD. Baltimore is a home dog tonight at (+145) but with how well McClanahan has pitched and with how well the Rays have been playing, that's a tough bet to make.
Brewers and the Cubs, it's a rivalry. This is a scrap on par with the Guards and Tigers. The Cubs are coming into the week having just dropped a series on the Southside to the White Sox. It was a disheartening loss. They are back at the confines known as Wrigley Field with their ace, Shota Imanaga (4-3), on the bump. A win and they are a strong and resilient ball club. A loss and they have a three-game skid in the works. Brandon Sproat (1-2) starts for Milwaukee. Sproat is a rookie, has made some rookie mistakes, but if you have followed him closely, he has slowly progressed and improved as he has settled in this season. He is a pitcher with a big arsenal. A high-nineties heater and a filthy slider. Brewers are fully healthy behind Sproat tonight with Chourio, Vaughn and Yellich all back in the lineup. Brewers are 8-2 over their Last10 and playing good baseball. Plus money (+145) on the Brewers tonight is interesting. It should be a dog fight. Brewers and the Cubs tonight, I'll be rooting for the Brew Crew. It's a 6:40 PM CDT start on the Northside of Chicago.
Dodgers and the Padres square off at PETCO Park. Dodgers and Giants is a rivalry. Dodgers and Padres is a dirty and mean fight. Like a pair of old seals trying to bite each other on the beach. These teams don't like each other. Padres' ace Michael King (3-2) faces off with Dodger's phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-3) in a late game on the West Coast. Yamamoto allowed three homers in his last start against the Giants. Padres don't hit all that well but they can slug it out. It's a big game tonight. The Padres are home dogs at (+130) with their ace on the mound. It looks like a bet worth taking a risk on. It's an 8:40 PM CDT start in San Diego.
It's a great slate of games tonight with the division series and the rivalries heating up across the league. I'll be back with a pick later this afternoon. 1-0 on the season, 2.25 units in play.
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