MLB Best Bets: Dodgers and Phillies Battle for Top

MLB Playoff Picture Overview For. The playoff picture around Major League Baseball. Outside of the National Football League. It is our focus. The October stretch run here to end out September again. Less than 20 games remain for every club around major League Baseball. About 1718 games National League Playoff Race left for most teams. We start Joe in the National League and what the postseason outlook is as of this moment. Now, the Dodgers have the best record alongside the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils walking it off yesterday. Thank you. Cody Clemens. The Dodgers actually got beat at home by the Chicago Cubs 10 to 4, despite Shohei Ohtani stealing another base. So that's the battle for the top spot in the National League that we'll look at in just a moment. But we expect both LA and Philadelphia to earn the opening round bye into the Division Series. That was not always the case, but Milwaukee has trailed off a little bit. Both LA and Philadelphia, three and a half games clear of the Brew Crew. The most compelling component, though, of the National League playoff picture, not the division races, where every divisional leader is up substantially. It's that wild card chase the Padres and the D-backs in front, and now the Mets, a four game up on the Atlanta Bravs for that third and final spot. But the Mets not all that far behind either San Diego or Arizona. The three teams that occupy the three wild card positions at this moment rarely separated all by just a game and a half. It's kind of crazy, and I will remind everyone what we watched a year ago. Then with Arizona, where, hey, none of us were talking about the Diamondbacks, and then slowly but surely in the August and September they were the hottest team in Major League Baseball, and they rode that right to a National League championship here. While other teams kind of ran out of gas. And the injuries started to catch up with them. It feels like the Padres, the Diamondbacks and the Mets are doing just that. And it feels like the teams that are already at the top of the their division leaderboards, they might be worried about injuries or even better yet, maybe slowing out of steam and played their best baseball. Then already they they played it back in in May and June and July and not now. So I think it's going to be absolutely wild. So what's really fascinating, the Padres and the Diamondbacks by far the two hottest teams following the all star break up until August 25th. Arizona was 26 and eight from the all star break in August. Up until August 27th. The Padres were 26 and nine since the all star break back in Arlington. Now they've cooled off just a little bit at least by those relative standards. The Padres in their last 11 games are five and six. Oh man, they're a game below 500 in the last 11 games for Arizona, they're four and seven. Again. They are going to be playoff teams more than likely. But with Atlanta behind New York by only a game for the third and final spot. And now with the Mets and the D-backs and the Padres separated by only a game and a half, all fourf those teams just a two and a half game distinction for the three wild card positions. There was a thought earlier this summer, or at least before we got to September, that we would see the Padres and the D-backs well clear of whoever won that third and final National League wild card spot. Now, they're not separated by all that much. Yeah, it's all it's a coin flip down the stretch, isn't it? Here. But I as good as you mentioned it after the all star break, the Padres and Arizona have been, the Mets team might just have them beat by the time we get to the end of the regular season. I don't particularly think it's going to be close. I think the Mets could very well. The way the schedule lines up, is it hard to think that they're the number one wild card team, when it's all said and done? Because I don't think that is I don't think the Cubs are done as far as I'm concerned. So it's a matter of who wins the top wild card spot. I would not be shocked if it's the Mets. Yeah, the cubbies still five games back of New York for what would be that third and final spot. All of the division prices around the National League are off the FanDuel sports book. Because of the substantial advantages the Dodgers, the Brewers and the Phillies. Have you mentioned the Braves who have made the postseason every year since 2017? In MLB, every year has been via winning the National League East, more than likely, their six season streak of winning the division comes to a close. What is really interesting as well is the top spot in the National League. The Dodgers, a -220 favorite despite having the same exact record as the Phillies right now. But in the season series, six matchups between these two teams, it was all Philadelphia. They won five of six. The tiebreaker could lead to home field advantage American League Playoff Race throughout the NL playoff picture. More From the National League to the Al. The playoff picture in the American League live right here on this Tuesday on the early line on sports grid. All season long. All summer long, all September long. It would seem Joe Ranieri the most fascinating battle in terms of playoff positioning in the Al. Who's going to win the American League East when the Yankees started to stumble? The Orioles never took advantage. And that's still where things are for Baltimore. They trail the Yankees by a game and a half. Now for that top spot in the American League East division. The Yankees winning yesterday 10 to 4 at home over Kansas City. Baltimore getting blown out in Boston by the Red Sox. The Sox winning 12 to 3 final in Fenway. So now a game and a half lead for the Yankees atop the American League East and a full game in front of the Guardians for the Yankees for what ise best record in the a l the Yankees, a game and a half lead in the American League East, the Guardians up by three and a half in the American League Central, and the Astros, still a four game lead in the American League West. The Mariners not necessarily out of it at this moment, as we are only three games back for Seattle and Detroit and Boston, who's not on that list of the third and final American League wild card spot, as the twins are in a little bit of a slide right now riding a four game skid. Yeah, and this is going to be kind of the best of the rest, right? I mean, the Guardians had such a great first half, Ben. And we've seen teams do this before where they've had Philadelphia did it in the National League here. They had such a successful first half. Took advantage of easy schedule. And they're kind of riding that to the end. The Guardians have not been good since the All star break either here. But you mentioned it. The twins didn't start great. They seem to have figured it out, but injuries continue to be a concern there. The Royals quite honestly, have been the most consistent team of any of them in that division, which is kind of laughable. I think. Baltimore two things have happened. The injuries with the pitching staff, and they have somewhere along the line morphed into a home run or bust type team that never wins in the postseason. And I think that very young, very inexperienced Baltimore is going to be around over the next couple of years, like it or not. But this year I think it's the Yankees to lose the American League East as well as the American League pennant. When you look at the odds right now in the American League East Division -264, New York plus 200 for Baltimore. The two will end the season, at least in their second to last set against one another. And that could also decide who earns the top overall seed in the American League as well. Because the Yankees are a -190 favorite to be the number one seed in the Al. The Guardians Plus 310. But Baltimore still has life in that market. Joe at Yankees' Playoff Push plus 390. Yeah Listen, anything that we it's so funny for the Yankees being in first place, having one of the best records right in in Major League Baseball, doesn't it feel like they have been the most up and down, inconsistent team that we have? And I think all of that stems from which Aaron Judge and which Soto show up. And do they show up together because you're not beating the Yankees. But if they don't, the Yankees are very beatable with that pitching staff, unfortunately. So when you look at the season series between these two teams, it was all Baltimore to start. They won five of the first seven. Recently. They played right before the all star break when the O's could have ran away. It seemed with the American League East against a slumping New York team, and the Yankees rallied to win two of those three games. So the Orioles still have the season series advantage at this moment, they've won six of ten, and again, the second to last set of the year between these two sides in the Bronx. Inside Yankee Stadium to end out their second to last series of this season. How critical will that set be? There is no doubt, though, Joe. The team that loses the American League East is going to factor into the postseason race. The Orioles three games in front of the Royals, who are now two and a half games in front of Minnesota. The twins on a four game slide. Again. They still have a the game cushion in front of the Mariners in front of the Red Sox, who have not been great since the all star break. But how about that? Those Detroit Tigers? If you want some optimism for a team that is under year number two of the management of A.J. Hinch, with a guy who is going to run away with the American League, Cy Young Award in Tarik Skubal in some exciting young bats. Riley Green, Matt Vierling some others there for Detroit. This Tigers team Joe they've won 18 of their last 26 games 18 and eight since August 10th because on August the 10th suffering yet another loss, Detroit was eight games below 500 at 55 and 63. Now two games north of that winning mark at 73 and 71. Is there any chance the Tigers, the Mariners, the Red Sox could rally here with less than 20 games remaining in this MLB campaign to storm all the way back and earn a playoff bid. Listen, you got to give them credit. They go back even further. Since July 1st, they're 35 and 25. That's the best record in the American League. Alongside the Houston Astros. Now the Astros had helped the Astros in that division obviously to claw their way to the top here. But it's put Detroit what three games out now of that wild card spot. And if that's going to keep happening if they're going to make this push then their team era over this. Since August 1st, Ben has been the best in major league Baseball. The pitching has been over the top, led by Tarik Skubal, the bullpen has been absolutely outstanding. If you get great pitching down the stretch and you still have those young hitters being able to drive in runs like they have been doing, and this isn't an anomaly, Ben. It's not like they've gone over in a nice seven game stretch here. They've been doing it since July 1st and nobody seems to have noticed. If the pitching holds up, the Tigers are very much in play for a wild card spot. It would be crazy to see that rally out of Detroit. It would be a very fun thing. The Astros, by the way, a hefty favorite to win the American League West. They have a four and a half game lead in front of the Mariners. Seattle has won four of its last five to make it respectable, but Houston since the all star break 27 and 20, they have just kept pace in front of the M's -3000. The price on the Astros. So Joe let's go. Big picture. We compared the two top teams in the American League East that for most of this MLB season had the two best prices to win the American League pennant. But now the Astros have moved in front of the O's by $0.20. They're a dollar behind the pinstripes. The Yankees plus 220. The Astros plus 320. The Orioles plus 340. The Yankees, of course, have failed to win an American League pennant since their last World Series in 2009. The Astros a very different story. They have at least played in the American League Championship Series seven consecutive seasons. Even after the cheating scandal came to a close. You said the Yankees are atop the American League. Who is that team you think would rival the Yankees for the pennant? Right now? Well, you have to go, Houston. Not because I think this is an exceptional Houston team. I think Houston, it has a little bit of luck rolling in them that they're stuck in a division in which everyone else, they're the best of the rest is really how I put Houston here. They're winning despite of themselves here. And but that experience matters Ben. This time of year they understand what it takes. Just get into the playoffs, right. And then anything can happen. They know how to win a short series. They know what this is all about. So from an experience standpoint, yeah I would favor them over the Orioles here. And then would we all be shocked if it came down to Houston and the Yankees? I don't think we'd be shocked at all. Wouldn't that be a very fun time? A rematch of the American League Championship Series from a few years back in the ALCS? Once again between the Astros and the Yankees? Quickly here and Arie, any of the three teams more than likely from the Al central that will get into the postseason. You could see making a run, or if you had to pick one of them, I don't see any. The only one would be the Guardians because of the bullpen. I don't trust either of the other two. They don't have the pitching. Listen, I love the Royals. They've already gone over their preseason win total that I bet Live right here on this Tuesday on the early Line. We welcome in now our MLB insider, the host of newswire and a college football aficionado Craig Mish. Live right here on this Tuesday on t e l Craig less than 20 games left for all 30 clubs around. Major League Baseball. The hunt for October is firmly on every day has an impact on the playoff race. We're glad for your insight on this Tuesday. Yeah, great to be back with you guys here on the show. Great to see Joe Ranieri in the house here with me. I almost had to call Joe. I almost had to call Joe on Friday for some, for some tech support. But we got through it. He was busy here. Yeah, he's too busy. Joe's a man of many talents here, right? You know, listen, you know that Joe has an eye. Joe, too. He works like eight jobs. That's right. He does different things. Yeah. He does. Listen, that's correct. Joe Ranieri, don't stop, that's for sure. One of the hardest working man at the Spears, Grizz, that is for sure. But Craig, as we go all around MLB today, as we often do, I think this is his first time seeing this lovely animation. It's time for daily basis. Yes, missed opportunity to put Lisa's voice in there and really spook Ranieri and have him ask, what the heck is going on? But maybe we'll do that next week or Thursday or Friday. Craig's not here on Friday. All right. Maybe not here on next Tuesday as well. We'll talk to you tomorrow, Craig. All right. So let's start with Craig's favorite topic each and every day to lead off a major League Baseball discussion. And that's the New York Yankees. A 10 to 4 win yesterday up in the Bronx over the Royals. Jason Dominguez gets the call up. The top prospect for the pinstripes, one for four at the dish. He scores a run. Austin Wells records four RBIs and the Yankees Craig now have a game and a half advantage in the American League East. What do you make of the Yankees? The call up of Dominguez and where this roster feels right now entering the end of September? I know we're not going to remember this next year, but this is a friendly reminder when the Yankees lose three games in a row in May, June or July, the sky is not falling. They may end up having the best record. I mean, really, the overreaction that I see every day for the Yankees. There's no team like this in baseball. But you know, last night, great win for them. You know, I thought they did a good job getting through the first five innings. Did Kansas City. But their bullpen really gave it up. And Tyler Wells has been really good. I mean how many catchers are batting fourth or fifth in any lineup in baseball? Wells has done a really nice job for them. So yeah, I mean, the Yankees are headed toward the playoffs. The Orioles have fallen back a little bit. And so barring a disaster from New York and really, where would that come from? Maybe only their bullpen in the ninth inning. Beyond that, the Yankees look like they've got a stranglehold for now on the division. And I still think Kansas City has got a great shot to make it, too. But great to see two teams that could play each other in the postseason this week. I'm guessing, Craig, that it's the Yankees American League East to lose here at this point. But how concerned are you with Baltimore, really, just even heading into the playoffs at this point, because they do finish, I think what second to last series against one Orioles' Strategy and Challenges another here. But by that point it could be over. Now Yeah. You know, it's funny, Joe, when Donnie is on the show along with Ben, we talked about this at the trade deadline. Ben. Right. Like the Orioles are never going to push their chips all the way in. Ever at the trade deadline. This is just not the way they're going to operate. They're very happy winning 88 to 93 games. Somewhere along those lines. And sort of recognizing that the postseason is a tournament, a lot of Orioles fans aren't happy with that. They probably wish they should have done a bit more, but this is just the way they're going to do business. They're going to develop prospects. They're going to get them to the next level, call them up, you know, have them for 5 or 6 years. And then inevitably some of them, they keep some of them they let go. So look Santander's been carrying them I believe he hit his 40th home run last night. If I'm not mistaken, he'll be a free agent at the end of the season, too. But the Orioles have enough prospects in the minors that they'll call up there. But I just don't see them ever making mega trades to, you know, to sort of put themselves over the top. If you think about it, guys, even the trade that they acquired, Corbin Burnes and Joey Ortiz has done a great job for Milwaukee. That was not really a blockbuster trade. When you consider the fact that Burnes is a free agent at the end of the year to the O's have lost three straight. They are just 16 and 19 or 17 and 19 rather. Excuse me, since the start of August, mediocre baseball Kumar Rocker's MLB Debut here in the second half. What a story it has been for one great college baseball pitcher that was supposed to revolutionize Major League Baseball. Kumar Rocker gets his call up today. He will start and make his MLB debut for the Rangers. Craig. It's been a wild story for rocker since he left Vanderbilt. Can you detail the story a little bit for some that do not know and what your expectation is for him today in Arlington? Yeah I mean it's pretty it's pretty simple. When you when you get drafted, you don't have to sign with the team. You get drafted with in baseball. You know, simply put rocker, you know, was drafted by the Mets. The Mets felt like he was injured after they signed him. And, you know, no one really knows specifically if the Mets went back on the deal or rocker's camp wasn't happy with the deal. But essentially, you know, he left, he came back. Then the Rangers ended up taking him and now they're hoping that rocker and Jack Leiter are fronting that rotation for many years to come. But it remains to be seen. It's very hard to tell at this point, you know, rocker comes with a lot of fanfare. He's supposed to be very good, but really, how many guys come up like Paul Skenes? Very few. So I would temper my expectations, at least initially for him. But it is cool to see the Rangers. They're really not back in the race. So to speak, but they're kind of like hanging around any team that wins 5 or 6 games in a row right now can put themselves back in it. We'll see if the Rangers get rocker and Scherzer and deGrom and all these guys back for the end. I mean, you're not buying the Mariners today against the, the Padres. I don't know, I can't trust the Mariners. Craig, can you, well, I mean, look, you can't bet the Padres today because you don't know what Yu Darvish is going to be. He did not look right at all in his last start. So either it's a pass or, you know, you have to sort of figure it out. I don't know, this is one of those games where I'm a little nervous about. So probably a pass for me. Yu Darvish made his first start since the end of May, just last Wednesday against the Tigers. Two and two thirds, four hits, three earned run given up, including a home run. Craig Seattle right now Seattle Mariners' Wildcard Hopes with a quick follow up here. Three games out of the third and final American League wild card spot the twins on a small slide. They've lost four straight. Is there any hope for Seattle making that postseason push? The Tigers? Could they make some noise? How do you see the wild card race? Yeah I mean twins had a team meeting last night to sort of get them back in the right direction. But look, this time last year guys, the Cubs had like an 85% chance to make the postseason. And they didn't make it. So hold on to your hats. Still three weeks to go. Two and a half weeks left. Three weeks left of this regular season. It's Time for some MLB breakdowns as we get you ready for a full Tuesday slate around the sport. A game, Joe, that we talked about with Craig Mish Kumar. Rocker makes his long awaited hold on a second. We got a doubleheader Thursday. It was Thursday. I swear the update that I saw said Tuesday. Hold on a second, Joe. I might need you to take this Thursday. Oh, no. Oh, it's Thursday, that's my mistake. Listen. Hand up. We all make some mistakes. I apologize for the incorrect information. So Kumar Rocker is going to start Thursday in a series against the Diamondbacks. Starting tonight in Arizona. That is my mistake. Once again, Nathan Eovaldi taking on Zac Gallen and the D-backs. You heard Craig Mitch say it. The Rangers, the reigning World Series champs, more than likely, unless they get really hot in their final 1718 games of this season. Not going to see the playoffs once again, but they're going to be a pesky foe for teams looking to improve their playoff positioning. That is the Diamondbacks. The D-backs have lost seven of their last 11, but greater than a dollar and a half favorite today. Joe at home in downtown Phoenix. Total 7.5 for Vivaldi and Gallen. How do you line this game up tonight in the desert? Oh, I think we got some technical difficulties there. I asked him to take it over for Kumar Rocker when I made my mistake and they had some technical difficulties in Florida as well. So again, the demon, the Diamondbacks struggling just a little bit here. They've lost seven of the last 11. Joe, you were so offended by me messing up the debut in Major League Baseball for Kumar Rocker. He needed a beat, I get it. Understandable. Well, the problem was, I bet him. And he's not even pitching tonight. That's the problem. So now I'm trying to get rid of bet here. Ben. We're on. Let's get it. Get it done, but no, I'm still. I would only look at the Arizona side in this one here. Gallon at home. Obviously. Issues when he's on the road, and of all the, starting to get, starting to see a little a few more barrels than he did early on in the season here. I do think Arizona at home. Definitely, the team that I would look here because that's a pretty decent price with your ace on the mound when they had lost their last two games for the Rangers against the Guardians, just about a week and a half ago, they were 11 games below 560 and 71. Almost inconceivable for a reigning World Series champ. They've won ten of their last 13 from that point in five of their last six. The Rangers, playing better baseball at this moment, won three of four against the angels over the weekend. Again, Arizona, still a lead over the Mets one game in front of New York for that second of three National League wild card spots. But it is getting a little bit tighter where we just gave it to San Diego and Arizona and said, we'll figure out that third and final National League wild card spot. The Rangers, still six games out of wild card contention and seven and a half behind the Astros atop the American League West. Do the Mariners have some life? They're three games back of the wild card chase. They're four and a half back of the Astros, probably a wild card, more likely at this moment. Seattle at home tonight. Total is seven as they host San Diego. We heard about you. Darvish with Craig Mish made his return since late May last week. Only went two and two thirds and gave up three earned runs. He makes his second start here now in September up in Seattle. What do you like? They've won what, four of their last five? Seattle. I think they've even managed somehow to score in double digits in, in a couple of those, wins there. Especially against the Cardinals there on Sunday here. But the Edgar Martinez is their new hitting coach and all of the reports and all the quotes coming out of the locker room is they love him, and they're starting to produce. So whatever changes he's making seems to be working with this lineup, including Julio Rodriguez, who absolutely loves him. The big question is, is it too little, too late? This is a seven total. We got seven. And Seattle is notoriously an under team at home here I'm with Craig I don't know what to expect from Darvish, but I do know what to expect from Kirby in Seattle. And this just feels like it's going to be an under game when it's all said and done. Maybe Yu Darvish knocked off the rust and he's feeling better and during this second start in September. You are correct Joe. Four of the last five victories for Seattle in all four wins at least six runs, double digits twice 16 against Oakland last week, ten in the finale in Saint Louis on Mets and Braves Battle for Wildcard Sunday. Under the arch, the Mets are the hottest team in baseball. New York has won ten of its last 11, and because of that, the Amazins now have a game advantage over Atlanta for the third and final National League wild card spot with a winning ways. Continue for a second straight day in Toronto. The Mets are booked as a -130 road moneyline favorite. Yeah, and they're doing it ugly right? And it's not pretty the way the Mets are winning, but they're scraping out you know, they're a scrappy team. They're getting runs. They're playing small ball, you know they are doing the kinds of things that you need to do, in order to be able to make a playoff push here. And to me, if it ain't broke, I ain't fixing it here. Although the pitching matchup is not great, didn't the Mets used to have one Chris Bassitt on their team? Didn't they had, yeah. This is going to be an interesting one here tonight. Feels like an over to me as well. Total is eight up in the six to your point of scratching runs across. It was Tyrone Taylor and Eddie Alvarez who scored the two game like tying. And then go ahead runs for New York last night in the eighth in Toronto, Tyrone Taylor scored on a wild pitch and Eddie Alvarez on a passed ball. So we go from the Mets, who now have that game lead over Atlanta. The Braves played Cincy yesterday. It was a makeup from the end of July. They were blanked. They only got two hits. Will there be more offense tonight in the nation's capital against the nationals Mackenzie Gore Reynaldo Lopez. Total is eight. What's the play here Joe. Oh the play is absolutely give me the home dog here in Washington. Plus a runner and a half. I will take the run and a half here. No way do I trust Atlanta's bats here. I do like Mackenzie Gore. And I do think they're going to be scrappy. And they are going to have their hands full here in Atlanta with this Nats team playing spoiler again, the Braves trying to bounce back. They have not been bad since the start of September. Outside of a series loss to Philadelphia, but the Mets have just been that good. They trail by a game looking A few more MLB breakdowns to send you into your full slate on this Tuesday. Late night at the Ravine in Los Dodgers vs. Cubs Showdown Angeles. It's the Dodgers playing host to the cubbies. And we've got a showdown of two Japanese armies on the bump. Shota Umino gets the start for Chicago. Yoshi Yamamoto, now back for the Dodgers. LA booked as a -164 hole money line favorite. It was the cubbies winning in plating ten yesterday against the Dodgers on a Monday night in Los Angeles. Will la return the favor tonight? Yeah I can tell you the big winner here is going to be Japanese television, which I can't even imagine what must be between Ohtani, Imanaga and Yamamoto now back. I guess the entire country is going to shut down here, what are we going to get from Yamamoto? Anybody know? I mean, I have a pretty good idea of what we're going to get from Imanaga, I'm going to keep it simple, man. I don't want nothing to do with the bullpens. I will, however, look for that first five under in this one here and expect that maybe, just maybe, a good old fashioned pitcher's duel breaks out on television. And when you look at Shohei Ohtani, of course, another member of what Japanese media will be following tonight. He is in the hunt for doing something historic once again. That is 50 stolen bases and 50 home runs to become the first ever MLB player to do that. He did have a stolen bag yesterday, albeit in the Dodgers loss. He has 46 home runs, 47 stolen bases. La has 18 games remaining in this major league Baseball season. You would think he is going to start a new club. The 50 over 50 club in MLB history. Yoshi Yamamoto making his return to the starting staff for the Dodgers his last outing in the middle of June against the Kansas City Royals. But when he left, he had a 2.92 ERA and a six and two record. The Dodgers, all of their injuries and I don't want to jinx anything for Los Angeles here, happened earlier in the season. A lot of the guys starting to get healthy and getting back 86 and 58 is the record for LA tied for the top mark in the National League, alongside Philadelphia. They walked it off yesterday at home. Did the Phils and their matchup against the rays. Ranger Suarez gets the start today. Minus one 64 for the Phils. Pretty hefty home favorite against Tampa Joe. Yeah big time. And neither of these two teams I think can be trusted. Offensively here it seems to be a battle for both of them. And I've got two, Taj Bradley and Suarez can miss some bats, then I got two pretty good strikeout pitchers here, in a spot where it would not shock me if we're going under the, say was eight. It's now seven and a half, and I still like the under in this one. Yeah, that total is dropping. The under has the juice at -122. Would not be surprised if we see Yankees vs. Royals Series even more movement on that total. Total eight and a half tonight up in the Bronx between the Yankees and the Royals. Second game of this midweek set, the Yankees scored ten yesterday to knock off Kansas City 10 to 4. Marcus Stroman starts for the pinstripes. -140 for the updated number on the money line. Seth Lugo, who was great early this year and hasn't been all that solid since the All Star break, but better in his last few starts for the Royals. Gets the nod today for Kansas City. Does Casey even up the set or do the Yankees win the first two? Yeah, it's going to be interesting, Lugo is not been striking out as many guys been. He's not been missing or getting guys to chase like he did early on in the season. That's kind of been what the issue with him. And over the last month is. But we all know that Stroman, what, five runs, nine hits, three and two thirds last time out against the Rangers this feels like an over. Call me crazy here, but I think both lineups will have success scoring runs in this game. Here tonight. Yeah, it's been really interesting to see what Seth Lugo has done this year. He has earned a ton of decisions, hoping for better today against New York. Casey entered this set on a four game win streak after losing seven in a row. They have lost the first one. We'll see if the Yankees can win this game, putting themselves in position to sweep in the midweek set over Kansas City. New York snapped a three game series losing skid this weekend with a series victory in Wrigley. LED to callers last week questioning if Aaron Boone was the right guy for the job for New York, despite the fact the Yankees were still in contention for that number one overall seed. The Yankees have not swept anybody since the Phils at the end of July. Just one more game to show you total nine and a half tonight between the Red Sox and the O's. Boston hammered Baltimore yesterday, 12 to 3 in the opener of this midweek set. Joe Ranieri, always a pleasure my friend. Great to have you here throughout football season on the early line Joe here Tuesdays and Fridays as well. The early line returns tomorrow, 8 a.m. Eastern time,