This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Previous article (7/17): 3-1, 1.87 RW Bucks
Season: 35-36-3, -3.08 RW Bucks
I've got my eye on an interesting matchup in each league, with three young, promising pitchers on the hill in those contests and a couple of potentially tired/vulnerable bullpens coming into play.
Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals 7:05pm ET
Starting Pitchers: Trevor Rogers vs. Paolo Espino
The Pick: Over 9.0 runs (-105 at DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Secondary Pick: 1st Half (5 innings) Run Line: Marlins -0.5 runs (+118 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Rogers will check into Tuesday's game with plenty of rest, last having pitched in the All-Star Game a week ago and having tossed just 18 pitches at that. The left-hander is enjoying a solid season overall and owns a 4-3 mark, 2.12 ERA and 1.04 WHIP on the road, but the Nats did get to him for three earned runs over five innings May 2 at Nationals Park. Additionally, Washington has been one of the most dangerous teams against southpaws in home splits all summer, posting a .286 average, .860 OPS, 10.7 wRAA and .371 wOBA in that split since June 1.
Espino isn't likely to go more than three innings in Tuesday's game after tossing 51 pitches in long relief on Friday, which will naturally make the Nats bullpen a big factor in this contest. That's hardly ideal for run-limiting purposes, considering Washington relievers have pitched to a 6.95 ERA, .305 BAA and .388 wOBA thus far in July. With respect to Espino and other righties the Marlins might face out of the pen, it's also worth noting Miami has posted a solid .320 wOBA versus that handedness on the road in July.
Texas Rangers at Detroit Tigers 7:10 pm ET
Starting Pitchers: Dane Dunning vs. Tarik Skubal
The Pick: Tigers moneyline (-117 at PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook) for 1 RWBuck
Secondary Pick: Under 9.0 runs (-120 at BetMGM Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Dunning has had his moments this season but also taken his share of lumps, giving up between four and seven earned runs in three of his starts. He does head into Tuesday's matchup on an impressive stretch, however, generating a 1.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 0.6 HR/9 across the 14 innings covering his last three starts. The most recent outing came against these same Tigers (5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K), but Detroit comes in with four straight wins (including three shutouts) and just taxed the Rangers bullpen a bit Monday night with a 14-0 throttling of Texas.
Skubal has a ton of upside but has experienced some of typical ups and downs of a young pitcher himself, posting a 5-8 mark that's accompanied by a serviceable 4.36 ERA and impressive 10.7 K/9. He has been appreciably better at home (3.72 ERA and 1.1 HR/9, compared to respective 5.45 and 3.3 figures on the road) and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts. The Rangers aren't an intimidating matchup, either, posting a .229 average, .268 OBP and paltry .298 wOBA against lefties on the road since June 1.