This has been a strange baseball season today the least, with a lot of changes and new rules.
I have to admit I think I like it. I like pitchers having to face a minimum of three hitters. I’m beginning to like a man on second to begin extra innings. And I really like the 7-inning doubleheaders.
There are two DHs Tuesday and we’re actually selecting one of them.
Here’s Tuesday’s games.
Pitchers: Jose Suarez vs. Christian Javier
Odds: Angels +130; Astros -160
Pitchers: Kyle Hart vs. Chase Anderson
Odds: Red Sox +110; Blue Jays -120
Pitchers: Rich Hill vs. Shane Bieber
Odds: Twins +160; Indians -175
Single: The Astros saved us from a disastrous Monday night and we are coming right back with them in the first game of the DH. Houston is good at home (11-4), while the Angels are awful on the road (4-12). Rookie Christian Javier (2-1, 3.55 RA) has been decent for the Astros. Jose Suarez gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings last week against the Giants in his debut for an ERA of 33.75. It will likely come down Tuesday, but not enough. Take Christian over the Angels.
Double: Boston (9-20) is a bad team. There is just no getting around that fact. And the Sox starting pitcher Tuesday, Kyle Hart might need a GPS to find the plate after he walked seven batters in his last 5 innings of work. The Blue Jays, are 7-2 in their last nine games, and return to there home away from home in Buffalo. Take the Jays.
Triple: It’s hard to lay -175 against a team as good as the 20-win Twins. But it’s not that hard when they’re facing the best pitcher in baseball in Shane Bieber (5-0, 1.11 ERA), who is also 4-0 in his career against Minnesota. Twins starter Rich Hill is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in eight appearances against the Indians. Take Cleveland.
Home Runs: Let’s go with Washington’s Juan Soto against the Phillies; and the Blue Jays’ Vlad Guerrero Jr.