Jim Feist

The Cincinnati Reds still have a shot at that 2nd Wild Card spot. They trail the Cardinals by three-games for that playoff position. The Padres are one game back of the Reds and the Phillies 1.5-games back. So these games against the last place Pirates are important. Mitch Keller starts today for the Pirates with a 4-11 mark. He has a overall ERA of 6.14, but has been much better of late. Keller has a 4.80 ERA over his last seven starts and allowed six runs over his last 16 innings. Tyler Mahle will toe the rubber for the Reds. Mahle is 12-5 with a 3.58 ERA. He's been better of late, going 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA over his last seven starts. I'm going to take the UNDER here today with two decent starters.

Houston has a comfortable 7-game lead in the AL West over the Oakland A's and 8-games over the Mariners. They have won seven of their last 10 games and two in a row. They face the fourth place Angels today who are on a four-game losing streak and have also lost seven of their last 10 games. Jose Urquidy starts for the Houston and is having a fine season with a 7-3 record and 3.38 ERA. He's been better of late, going 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA in his last seven starts. In fact, he hasn't allowed over two runs in any of his last six starts. Packy Naughton makes only his fourth start for the Angels. Naughton is 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA. Naughton won't likely be around long, going past the fourth inning just once thus far and that was five innings. The Astros should score at will here today and may get this game over by themselves. Play the OVER.

While the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's are pretty much done for the AL West title, both teams still in the hunt for a Wild Card. Right now, the A's are 4th in the Wild Card race, 2-games back, while the Mariners are fifth at 3-games back. So it's a jumble between all five teams in the Wild Card with three teams missing out. Marco Gonzales starts today for the M's with a 8-5 record and 3.98 ERA. He's been slightly worse on the road where he is 4-3 with a 4.39 ERA. The A's will send Paul Blackburn to the hill. Blackburn is 1-2 in his six starts with a 4.94 ERA. I don't expect either starter to be very effective tonight. I'll just take the OVER in this one.