Bruce's Picks (3 Live)
Bruce's Past Picks
Knee-jerk anti-Chisox recommendations are very 2024 these days. In 2025, the Pale Hose have demonstrated enough solid pitching from their various young rotation pieces to move well beyond last year's automatic go-against status. Along with one vet, ex-Brewer Adrian Houser, who has been plugged into the rotation and is also excelling (1.48 ERA in four starts). Yet the Rangers seem about ready to explode, twice having blasted 16 runs in the previous series at Minnesota, and having won four of five. (Six homers on Thursday, too!) Bruce Bochy likely to make this a bullpen game tonight, but not a bad time to perhaps catch Texas in the early stage of an uptick. Play Rangers on the Run Line.
Yes, we must acknowledge the Blue Jays (12-1 last 14) are hot, and off of a sweep of the Cards at Busch Stadium. Still, a new adventure awaits tonight at CBP, where the Phils might be stirring a bit after their own recent problems. Ranger Suarez back into the rotation has provided a nice plus for Rob Thomson, as Ranger (2.70 ERA) has a succession of solid outings, especially his last four in which he's allowed only three earned runs and has posted a 1.05 ERA. Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman a bit less consistent on the Toronto side, and his road starts (4.35 ERA) have been nothing special this season. Play Phils on the Money Line.
We feel pretty confident that Paul Skenes is going to outpitch Cade Horton this afternoon at Wrigley Field. Now, can the Bucs translate that into a win? Skenes has an 0.57 ERA in two June starts, and a 1.36 ERA his last nine starts. On the road this season, his ERA is 1.19. Horton? The Cubs did win his first five starts, mostly because they scored plenty of runs, but Horton faltered in his last outing, allowing 4 runs and seven hits across just 5 IP in last Sunday's loss to the Tigers. Skenes on the mound is the one scenario in which we don't mind backing the Pirates on the road! Play Pirates on the Money Line.
It the same drill for the Pirates in games started by capable Andrew Heaney (perhaps soon to be dangled at the trade deadline to any contender looking for a rotation piece), who has been mostly effective with a 3.24 ERA but usually doesn't last much beyond the fifth inning. Moreover, he was dealing with a minor calf issue when he left the game last weekend vs. the Phils. The Bucs have won five of six, but their bullpen has proven unreliable all season, and ex-Pirate Jameson Taillon (1.75 ERA his last four starts) should pick up where he left off last time for the Cubs, allowing just one run across 7 IP in a win over the Tigers. Play Cubs on Run Line
If any team is capable of quick recovery, it's the Tigers, who also have Tarik Skubal on the mound with a score to settle from last night when the Birds romped 10-1. It's also a chance to go against Baltimore's erratic Dean Kremer, who has stabilized somewhat since a poor April when posting a 6.75 ERA, though he had problems last Friday in Sacramento vs. the A's, allowing five runs and eight hits across just 5 1/3 IP in a Baltimore loss. As for Skubal, nothing bad to say, especially his last three starts, allowing just one run and 12 hits across 24 1/3 IP (0.37 ERA!) while striking out 26 and walking ZERO! Play Tigers on Run Line
Much like Sinner vs. Alcaraz at Roland Garros last Sunday, this series has swung back-and-forth. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the Rangers were held to two runs in Wednesday's loss after piling up 16 on Tuesday. But if these results are indeed see-sawing, we don't mind backing Texas to square this series behind Patrick Corbin (3.52 ERA), who has been serviceable all season and yet to allow more than three runs in one of his starts. The Rangers also catch the Twins' Bailey Ober off of a shallow effort last Friday vs. Toronto, allowing five runs (two homers) in 7 IP of a 6-4 loss. Play Rangers on Money Line
Who is the AL's hottest pitcher since the beginning of May? It It can be argued that it's KC's Kris Bubic, as across his last six starts, he has an 0.69 ERA and an 0.86 WHIP, both stellar numbers. The Royals should also be in a very ornery mood tonight after being whipped 10-2 last night as rookie starter Noah Cameron finally hit the wall against the big Yankees bats. For New York, however, it's not Max Fried on the mound tonight, but rather Clarke Schmidt, whose numbers are not quite as impressive (including a 4.79 ERA on the road), and the Yanks have lost in three of his last four starts. Play Royals on Money Line
Call us a bit perplexed by the prices in this series and Detroit not being favored for a second straight night in Baltimore. With MLB's best record (Tigers 44-24) against arguably its most disappointing team, the markets seem to be reading a bit too much into efforts by the respective starting pitchers. Which shouldn't be the end-all anyway, especially as the last two quality starts by the Birds' Zach Elfin have come vs. the inconsistent bats of the Chisox and Mariners. Would much rather back the Tigers and Casey Mize, who despite a couple of subpar recent efforts still has a 2.91 ERA this season, and, most importantly, Detroit a winner in seven of his ten starts. Play Tigers on Money Line
Here come the Reds! Don't look now, but Cincy is just 3.5 games out of the last NL wild card spot and gaining momentum fast. Pitching continues to impress, especially Andrew Abbott's complete game shutout in Cleveland last night. Now, it's the turn for Nick Lodolo, who has been very representative this season with a solid 3.21 ERA into Wednesday afternoon as Terry Francona is on the verge of a sweep in his return to Cleveland. The Guardians' offense continues to be in and out, and hardly sure Logan Allen (6.75 ERA last three starts) can outpitch Lodolo. Play Reds on the Money Line.
Jesus Luzardo better hope his last two starts were an aberration....if not, he and the Phils are in trouble. Consider that in those last two outings, Luzardo has been raked for 21 runs and 21 hits, plus 5 walks, across just 5 2/3 IP. To summarize, that's an ERA of 33.33, and a WHIP of 4.59. Sheesh! Let's see Luzardo pull out of this major tailspin before considering a recommendation on the Phils (already 2-10 their last 12) with him on the mound. Meanwhile, the Cubs' Ben Brown is off of his two best starts of the season, surrendering just 2 runs across 13 IP, with 16 Ks, against the Reds and Tigers. Play Cubs on the Money Line.
The Bucs reminded us last night why we don't trust them as favorites, as the offense stalled again in a 3-2 loss to the Marlins. The 10 runs on Monday night were an outlier, as Pittsburgh was held to just 2 runs for the third time in four games. The 27-41 Pirates now turn to matinee starter Bailey Falter, off one of his worst efforts of the season on the mound, surrendering 4 runs and 5 hits across just 3 2/3 IP last Friday vs. the Phils. Note serviceable efforts in the last four starts made by Miami's Cal Quantrill, who's posted a 2.95 ERA that span. Play Marlins on the Money Line.
The Chisox seem to have progressed beyond the knee-jerk, go-against phase mostly because of a young and emerging pitching staff, with rotation pieces like tonight's starter Shane Smith, with a very solid 2.45 ERA across his 12 starts this season. At the moment, however, the go-with vibes are with the ascending Astros, who won another series on the weekend in Cleveland, and look to be into one of their patented June surges, having won 10 of 14 to take control of the AL West race. Lance McCullers is also off of his best effort since his return to active duty, spinning six shutout innings last Tuesday at Pittsburgh, and Houston has won in his last four starts. Play Astros on Run Line