Bryan Power

8* LA Dodgers (10:10 ET): The Dodgers are heading in the wrong direction right now. They've lost five in a row, four of them coming by exactly one run. The fifth loss saw them allow four runs in the top of the ninth (lost 5-2). So it's been quite the unlucky stretch. Closer Kenley Jansen is clearly missed, but I believe the team can fight through. Tonight, they hope to avoid being swept by the rival Giants. Despite what's happened the last two days, I feel the Dodgers are still the vastly superior team. They still own the NL's second best run differential (+92) while the Giants have been outscored by 33 runs this season. After losing four straight games in the ninth inning, it's time for LA to break through. 

Hyun-Jin Ryu will pitch tonight for the home team. This is his first start since May 2nd as he's been on the DL due to a groin strain. He's made two home starts in 2018 and didn't give up a run in either. He's 3-0 in six starts overall w/ a 2.12 ERA and 0.876 WHIP. Look for the Dodgers' bullpen to improve as starters Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda have both been moved there. The Giants aren't a particularly good road team as they only average 3.6 runs per game. They're also 5-9 off three or more consecutive victories. 

On the mound, the Giants go w/ Derek Holland, who has also spent time working out of the bullpen himself this season. He's also started 22 times. He's never beaten the Dodgers in four tries, posting a 6.38 ERA. Two of those four starts have come here in '18 and he's allowed seven runs in 8 1/3 innings. Look for the Dodgers to finally get it done tonight. 8* LA Dodgers

6* Houston (8:10 ET): The Astros have now lost NINE straight home games and five in a row overall. To call these streaks highly irregular would be putting it midly. This is a ballclub which still stands at 73-47 and has outscored its opponents by 191 runs over the course of the season. They are battling a number of injuries, yes, but one would have thought their pitching could have held things together. Last night's loss came as huge favorites w/ Justin Verlander on the hill. Verlander had retired 13 of 14 batters and had a 1-0 lead when things began to unravel. Colorado wound up scoring in each of the final four innings and the Astros managed little offensively. But still, with Gerrit Cole on the mound this evening, I have to believe this losing streak comes to an end. 

The current five-game skid matches Houston's longest of the entire season. They have not won a home game since before the All-Star Break, which - again - is downright shocking. Equally as shocking though is the fact Cole is 0-3 his L3 starts despite a 1.053 WHIP. He did allow four runs his last time out (tied season high), but consider he'd dropped only two decisions total before the current losing streak. He has an 8-3 team start record at home this season w/ a 2.76 ERA and 0.935 WHIP, right in line w/ his overall numbers. He's 3-1 w/ a 2.56 ERA all-time vs. Colorado. That won-loss record doesn't even include an 8-2 Astros victory over the Rockies earlier this season where Cole allowed just two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 IP (no decision for him). That was also in Coors Field where Colorado is obviously a lot more prolific offensively. 

While the Astros are underachieving this year relative to their run differential (they have the run diff of an 83-win team), Colorado is overachieving. They've been outscored by 13 runs this season, meaning they've played to the level of a 58-win team. Over the weekend, they pulled out three consecutive one-run victories over the Dodgers, which should be considered highly fortunate. Starting tonight for them will be Tyler Anderson, who has struggled of late w/ a 6.75 ERA his L3 starts. Like Cole, he has a 0-3 TSR his L3 outings. He is also winless in three Interleague starts this season and tonight marks the first time in his career he's ever started a game in an AL park. Anderson faced Cole back on 7.24 and also did not factor into the decision. 6* Houston

10* Under Indians/Reds (7:10 ET): Well, Cleveland's pitching has certainly done its job in this Interleague series, holding the Reds to just four runs in two games. Yet, both games have managed to go Over the total by virtue of the Indians' offense, which has exceeded expectations. The Tribe typically do no score as many runs on the road compared to at home. In fact, they are the second highest scoring home team in all of baseball. On the road, their scoring average dips down to 4.5 rpg, over a full run less per game than what they average at Progressive Field. The key in this series though has been a few big innings. Monday, they had a seven run inning, which was the difference in a 10-3 game. Last night, they jumped on the Reds early w/ six runs in the first two frames. If we can avoid that kind of "clustering," then I have no doubt that the Under comes in tonight. Something else to note is that the number is a lot better than last night as this time we're a half-run ABOVE the key number of 9.

As expected, Corey Kluber shut down the Reds w/ little difficulty last night. He allowed just one run on five hits. That followed a strong effort by Monday starter Mike Clevinger, who held the Reds to just two runs. Tonight's starter is Shane Bieber and he should continue the trend as he's off a very strong outing where he didn't allow any runs in 6 2/3 IP. In fact, he gave up only three hits. Sadly though, Cleveland lost the game 1-0. Still, the Under has come in for each of Bieber's last three starts and he should have little difficulty in shutting down a Reds offense that has shown little signs of life the last two days. 

Cleveland's offense, theoretically, should be hurt by the fact they lose the DH from the batting order. It's had no effect so far, but I believe tonight it will catch up w/ them. I already talked about how the number of runs per game scored declines on the road. Reds pitching simply has not done a good job in the series, but it might be different tonight w/ Robert Stephenson on the hill. Stephenson is off a successful stint in the minors where he went 6-0 w/ a 1.23 ERA in his final seven starts down at Triple A-Louisville. These teams have gone Over in every meeting this season, but tonight breaks the trend. 10* Under Indians/Reds