Bobby Conn

1* Free Play on Red Sox -201

The Red Sox (53-45) will take their 29-20 away record with them when they visit Camden Yards to face off with the Orioles (30-66) this evening.

For Baltimore, this game could largely be a trial for right-handed starter Tom Eshelman (0-1, 5.06 ERA). After not managing to find a single strikeout in his debut, Eshelman struck out seven batters in five innings in his second go, earning him his third Major League start.

Boston will be sending out right-hander Rick Porcello (7-7, 5.37 ERA), who earned the win in his previous start that lasted six innings. Porcello has a long history against Baltimore slugger Chris Davis, who’s notched just one home run and four RBIs with a .175 average in 40 at-bats against the veteran pitcher.

The Red Sox can lean on a strong lineup, who stand ready to test Eshelman early and often. With a .322 average, 19 homers, and 73 RBIs, third-baseman Rafael Devers may be the most dangerous of the bunch. However, Devers is the tip of the iceberg when you consider Mookie Betts’ .398 on-base percentage and Xander Bogaerts’ 21 home runs and 74 RBIs also await Eshelman.

50* Powerhouse Play on Giants -129

If the Giants (49-49) are able to continue their current seven-game win streak today when they host the Mets (44-53), they’ll finally creep over .500.

Attempting to hold of the hosts will be minor league call-up Walker Lockett (0-1, 11.74 ERA), who takes the place of the injured Zack Wheeler. Lockett allowed 10 total runs in his two previous starts this season.

Opposite Lockett will be right-hander Jeff Samardzija (7-7, 3.93 ERA), who’s looked good over his last three outings. In that period, Samardzija has carried a 1.66 ERA and 3-0 record.

Look for Samardzija to get some run support from a hot Brandon Crawford, who’s managed 14 RBIs and four homers in his last 10 games.

Beyond pitching, recent history also favors the Giants. 14-3 in their last 17 games overall, San Francisco has won their last six straight against right-handed starters. In contrast, New York has just 8 wins in their last 27 games on the road when they face a righty on the mound.

50* Powerhouse Play on Dodgers -303

It’s no surprise that the Dodgers (65-35) come into this evening’s matchup with the Marlins (36-59) as heavy favorites. While Miami sits 20 games back of the Braves in the NL East, the Dodgers lead the majors in wins and are currently 14 games clear of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

More than the 38-12 home record of the hosts, the Marlins also have to fear the man on the mound for LA, All-Star Clayton Kershaw (8-2, 3.00 ERA).

Looking healthy and as dominant as ever recently, Kershaw has given up just two total earned runs in his past two starts. In his career against the Marlins, Kershaw has thrown 82 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings with a 2.76 ERA.

Facing Kershaw will be Sandy Alcantara (4-9, 3.94 ERA), who’s been poor of late. The right-hander has suffered three losses with a 6.11 ERA in his last three starts, including nine hits and four earned runs in his last outing.

While the Marlins have just one win in their last seven games versus a team with a winning record, the Dodgers can boast a 45-14 record in their last 59 games at home against a right-hander.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Twins -134

As winners of 13 of their last 16, the Athletics (56-42) will visit Minneapolis tonight to take on the Twins (59-37). The A’s are a scary team right now, having outscored their opponents by a margin of 55 to 22 over their last eight games, but their six-game win streak came to a screeching halt in the series opener at the hands of the Twins.

Minnesota will turn to All-Star Jose Berrios (8-5, 3.10 ERA) to keep or extend their three-game lead in the AL Central. In his last 12 home starts against teams with a winning record, Berrios is a solid 9-3.

The right-hander should have plenty of support from a very strong lineup to defend the club’s 29-18 home record. The Twins come into this evening’s contest leading the league in homers with 178, second in the league in scoring with 5.6 runs per game, and third in hitting with a .270 average.

Oakland will start left-hander Brett Anderson (9-5, 3.79 ERA). Anderson will have to carry a heavier load than Berrios, as the A’s rank just 18th in hitting with a .251 team average.

50* Powerhouse Play on Astros -135

Coming into this afternoon’s game in Houston on a six-game losing streak, the Rangers (50-48) will face a tough task against a strong Astros (63-37) squad that holds a 35-14 record at home.

Texas will offer up right-hander Lance Lynn (12-5, 3.87 ERA) to face off with Houston’s Rogelio Armenteros (0-0, 2.00 ERA).

Despite being tied for the Major League lead in wins, Lynn has suffered four of his five losses on the road this season, and is coming off a rough performance his last time out. Against Arizona, Lynn gave up five earned runs on eight hits in six innings.

Armenteros gets the ball for the Astros with the club shuffling the rotation around. Although this will be his first start of the season, Armenteros has made several appearances out of the bullpen, including four quality innings in his last go that yielded just one unearned run.

Hoping to provide Armenteros with run support will be Houston slugger George Springer, who’s terrorized the Rangers this season. In 56 at-bats against Texas, Springer has managed six hits and 12 RBIs on his way to a .393 average. And with four homers and seven RBI’s over his last five games, the Astros look exceedingly dangerous.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on A's +134

No matter how you look at it, Oakland is on fire. The Athletics (57-42) have won 21 out of their last 27 games, and are a blistering 8-1 over their last nine.

Now, the A’s will turn to right-hander Daniel Mengden (5-1, 4.21 ERA) in an attempt to hand the Twins (59-38) their second three-game losing streak of the season; something they didn’t experience even once before the All-Star break. In parallel with his club, Mengden is on his own hot streak of four wins in his last four starts. In his last outing, Mengden allowed just a single run in seven innings.

Over the last several weeks, Minnesota has seen their sizeable lead in the AL Central dwindle to just three. They’ll hope right-hander Michael Pineda (6-5, 4.38 ERA) can help them stop the bleeding this afternoon at home.

If the A’s are able to get to Pineda, there’s a good chance Matt Chapman will play an important part. Chapman has batted in seven runs on nine hits over his last six games, and he leads the Athletics with 22 home runs.