Ben Burns

I'm playing on PITTSBURGH. The Pirates bounced back from Sunday's 18-4 beating by delivering a 2-1 win yesterday. I expect them to carry the positive momentum into this evening's game. Having a stater in much better current form helps matters. Feltner has made just one start this season and he's got an ugly 7.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP to show for it. He's now 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA for his career. On the other hand, Thompson has a terrific 0.56 ERA his past three starts. I say the Pirates keep on "rolling." 

I'm playing on MILWAUKEE. I successfully played against the Padres in Snell's first start. It's not that I don't respect Snell. However, he was up against a tough pitcher and making his return from injury. He didn't fare too well. Snell would last 3 2/3 innings and give up three runs. Now, he goes up against an even better pitcher. Averaging better than six innings per, Burnes has a dominant 1.80 ERA through four road starts. Overall,through eight starts, he's got a 2.26 ERA and 0.832 WHIP. I don't believe Snell is yet in the type of form to match that. The Brewers have been strong off a loss and I expect them to bounce back with a big win here. 

I'm playing on SEATTLE. The Mariners got back on track yesterday. I expect them to carry the positive momentum into this evening's game. Kirby now has a few starts under his belt. While the highly touted rookie had some trouble on the road, he was excellent in his lone start here at Seattle. In that 2-1 win, he blanked Tampa for six complete innings, striking out seven without walking a batter. Needless to say, he's going to be thrilled to return home. Kaprielian is 0-2 with a mediocre 4.50 ERA. He gave up two HR's last time out. Only the Tigers score fewer runs per game than the A's. Seattle rolls. 

I'm playing on CHICAGO. These same starters opposed each other at Boston recently. Pivetta pitched well but the ChiSox still won 3-1. However, if he couldn't beat Cease at Fenway, I don't expect Pivetta to be able to do so here at Chicago. The (White) Sox are 3-1 in Cease's four home starts and he's got a stingy 0.882 WHIP in those games. Pivetta tossed a complete game last time out. That was impressive. However, it may catch up with him here. He'd only thrown 28 innings in his first six starts combined. While he went "only" 5 2/3 innings in his last start, Cease didn't allow a run and he recorded nine K's. The White Sox won that one by a 3-0 score and I expect them to finish on top again here. 

I'm playing on ATLANTA. The Phillies took yesterday's game but I expect the Braves to bounce back this evening. Fried gets the call and he's 4-2 with a solid 3.31 ERA and 1.041 WHIP, through eight starts. He averages just over six innings per start, too. Gibson goes for the Phillies and he's had real trouble on the road. In four road starts, averaging less than five innings, he's got an ugly 6.27 ERA and 1.714 WHIP. Look for the Braves to bounce back, moving to 80-48 the past 128 times that they were coming off a loss. 

I'm playing on SF. Off last night's blowout loss and having now dropped five straight, I expect the Giants to finally bounce back and stop the bleeding. The Giants, 7-3 the past 10 times that they allowed 10 or more runs in their previous game, send Logan Webb to the mound. They're 6-2 in his eight starts, a perfect 4-0 in his four home starts. In fact, they're actually a remarkable 18-1 his past 19 starts here. The lone loss (2-1 final) was a mid-October showdown against the Dodgers. Admittedly, Bassitt has also been pitching well. However, while Webb has allowed one home run in his past four starts combined, Bassitt has served up four in his past four games. Last time out, he gave up nine hits and was taken deep twice. By comparison, Webb has only given up two HR's in his last 14 starts combined. They both came on the road, at favorable hitters parks, too. That last start by Bassitt, the one where he gave up nine hits and 2 HR's, marked the first time where he'd faced an opponent for the second time, this season. (Remember, he'd spent his career in the AL.) Now, he'll be facing SF for the second time. I say the Giants get to him. A closer, they did get eight hits (1 HR) and score five runs against him last month. That marked Bassitt's worst start this season. Look for SF to bounce back, the Mets falling to 10-15 their past 25 road games, when the O/U line was seven or less. 

I'm playing on GSW/Dallas OVER the total. As you're likely aware, the series is now 3-0. It's going to be very hard for Dallas to dig its way back. That said, the Mavericks aren't going to go down without a fight. They're going to be aggressive on offense and they'll keep firing until the final buzzer. Remember, the Mavs still average 108 ppg here. They're still reached "triple-digits" in scoring their last six straight (and 12 of their last 13) games here. So, yes, I believe that the Mavs will put up a healthy number of points. Don't be surprised to see Doncic become just the third player to score 40 or more in three times in the Conf. Finals. Stopping the Warriors is a different matter. Curry and co. smell the blood in the water. Since the dud in Memphis on 5/11, the Warriors have scored at least 109 in every game, averaging more than 114. When the Warriors were up 3-0 against the Nuggets, Game 4 finished with 247 points. I'm expecting another relatively high-scoring affair, the OVER moving to 6-3 the past nine times that the Mavs were off three or more consec. losses.