This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Previous: 2-4, -1.93 RW Bucks
Season: 44-44-4, -2.00 RW Bucks
We're set for another split slate Thursday, and I'm focusing on both a matinee and nightcap divisional battles in which I like the prospects for the visitors.
Dodgers at Giants, 3:45 p.m. EDT
Starting Pitchers: David Price vs. Johnny Cueto
The Pick: Dodgers Over 4.5 runs (-105) for 1 RWBuck
Secondary Pick: Dodgers -125 for 1 RWBuck
Price has been quite the versatile asset for manager Dave Roberts, going 4-0 with a 3.35 ERA while working as both starter and reliever. The veteran southpaw has seen a drop in strikeout rate to 21.5 percent, but the extra contact isn't resulting in an inordinate amount of balls leaving the park (1.1 HR/9). Price has been very effective in a pair of relief appearances versus the Giants as well, logging 3.2 scoreless innings during which he's allowed just one hit while recording six strikeouts. Current San Fran bats have struggled overall during their careers against Price, producing a collective .187/.227/.367 in 41 plate appearances.
Cueto is holding his own for the division-leading Giants , but things have been a bit rocky since mid-June. Cueto has a 4.58 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 2.1 HR/9 in 39.1 innings in his last seven starts. He has better home numbers overall (5-3, 3.42 ERA, 1.06 WHIP), but he's also yielded a 1.4 HR/9 at Oracle Park in 52.2 innings. The Dodgers have a solid .267 average and .737 OPS against righties on the road in July, which, when paired with Cueto's occasional hiccups, leads me to believe L.A. can score some runs and ultimately prevail.
Athletics at Angels, 9:38pm ET
Starting Pitchers: Frankie Montas vs. Dylan Bundy
The Pick: Athletics (-140) for 2 RWBucks
Secondary Picks:
Athletics Over 2.5 runs - first 5 innings (-105) for 1 RW Buck
Athletics -1.5 (+115) for 1 RW Buck
Montas has just an 8-8 record and a serviceable 4.34 ERA, but he's actually had only three poor outings all season, and none since an unusual June 21 blow up at Texas where he gave up eight earned runs. Montas has responded to that stumble by producing a 3.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 and 0.9 HR/9 in the 29.1 innings covering his subsequent five starts, and he's given up three or fewer runs in 15 of 20 trips to the mound overall. He also has a 4-2 record on the road, along with a 4.27 ERA and 1.19 WHIP that's lower than his respective 4.39 and 1.34 home figures. Montas also has a 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over 12.2 innings (two starts) against the Angels this season.
Bundy is taking the place of Alex Cobb on Thursday, as the latter has gone on the IL with a finger injury. Bundy was booted from the starting rotation earlier in the season and is 1-7 with a 6.69 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and bloated 2.2 HR/9. The veteran right-hander has a 6.82 ERA and 2.4 HR/9 over the 34.1 innings he's worked at home, and he's been banged around by the Athletics for 11 earned runs, including three homers, over 4.2 innings in two of his three encounters with Oakland this season.
