Favorite Pick of the Day:
Brewers (-140) over Giants
Fade Pick of the Day:
Diamondbacks (+160) over Nationals
Are You Sure? Pick of the Day:
Phillies (+126) over Braves
Pick’em of the Day:
Marlins (-110) over Pirates
The Skinny:
The Brewers are really good with Zach Davies on the mound, and the Giants are just . . . not good. In fact, the Brewers are 4-1 in Davies' last five starts, 10-1 in Davies' last 11 starts vs. a team with a losing record and 4-1 in Davies' last five starts during Game 1 of a series. . . . Fading Max Scherzer typically is a dumb thing to do. But I’m feeling dangerous, and the Nationals have not backed up their Cy Young winner in quite some time. The Nationals are 0-7 in Scherzer’s last seven home starts while the Diamondbacks are 6-1 in their last seven road games. . . . This is put up or shut up territory for the Phillies. They’ve been overtaken in the NL East for the first time this season, but have a chance to snatch it right back from the Braves. Sure, Nick Pivetta has been pretty bad this year, but the Phillies are 4-1 in Pivetta’s last five starts with five days of rest. The Braves are hot, but this seems like a spot the Phillies need a win in. . . . My Miami theory − that teams lose in their first game on the road in Miami − will be put to the test again. This time, it’s a pick’em with the Pirates. But instead of pure intuition, there is a nice trend to back me up − the Marlins are 4-1 in Trevor Richards' last five starts.