Nats game totals have gone Under in 10 of their last 12 and both teams have been in the bottom of the league in OPS since before the All Star break. Soroka has allowed just 2 ERs or fewer in 12 of his 16 starts this season and Sanchez is scary for taking the under, is backed by a bullpen that has been much better as of late ranking 2nd in FIP since June 27 - a large part of the reason this team is back in contention.

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The wind is howling out to center today but we have two pitchers that are just a littel above average. The Padres are loaded with right handed bats and the ideal fantasy stratagy is to load up on them but I have feeling we see a let down game. I want to take the under but I have issues with Lucchesi and don't really buy into the guy. if he gets rattled early it's over because he does a bad job staying composed in moments so pressure. I'm hoping the cubs get to him early and it justgoes down hill from there and i'm on the cubs

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talk about a let down yesterday, everyone and their dog had the over and they didn't come close. Pittsburgh isn't a hitting friendly park and we need to remember that because I actaully like Joe Musgrove and think he's going to be a good pitching (he's already a pretty decent pitcher) option for a few years. He does a great job limiting contact and this philies team just hasn't had the pop people expected. Eflin has extreme splits with lefties but this pirates team doesn't have any lefties that make an impact outside of bell. I'm going to ride the under in this game because both pitchers limit walks and don't really give up the long ball and giving the park I think that will be the case again.

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3 main factors for me. The Phillies are 6-1 in their last 7 games against the Pirates, 7-3 in their last 10 games against a team with a losing record, and 7-3 in their last 10 games against the NL Central. Phillies is the play here

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Royals are brutal on the road with a 14-34 record and I dont think that turns around here. Plutko should get plenty of run support as Jakob Junis has gone 2-4 with a 6.43 ERA in nine games against the Indians in his career, including 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against them at Progressive Field.

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Keep a look out for the wind conditions. Likely to take a toll on some of these fly balls that got hit after what we saw yesterday.

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I like the Phillies at plus odds if you can get it. The Pirates are falling off a cliff right now, losing six out of their last seven games, while their bats have gone cold as they have only scored 18 runs in that six-game span. This looks like a good opportunity for Eflin to get back on track. Plus I like the way the Phillies have been playing as of late winning three out of their last four games which included two wins against the first-place Dodgers, and a 6-1 win last night.

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Too hard for me to trust Thornton here even against this terrible Tigers offense. In his last start, Thornton gave up five hits and five earned runs in 1.1 innings, leading to a 10-8 loss to the Boston Red Sox. and hasnt looked good all season. Not saying Norris is a shinning star but he is better in this match up.

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THe White Sox showed they can play with the Rays in yesterdays game with a 9-2 beat down. They get their ace in Giolito on the mound. The White Sox right-hander has yet to face the Rays this season, but hes performed well against them in the past, posting a 1.29 ERA and a 1-0 record in two career starts. Giolito also tossed seven innings of one-run ball in his only start at Tropicana Field.

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Miami Marlins on Twitter: "WEEE DIIIDN'TT GET NOO HIIIIIIIIIIITTTTT. #JuntosMiami "WEEE DIIIDN'TT GET NOO HIIIIIIIIIIITTTTT. #JuntosMiami https://t.co/cqdqo1QABd https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/1151662940908662785

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TheRecDegen on Twitter: "Strasburg (Was) has not given up a run in the 1st Inn in 10 road starts. Teheran (Atl) has given up a run in the 1st Inn only once in 8 home starts. I'm guessing that 1st Inn Score NO price will be somewhere around -150 to -180 #SDQL #MLB"Strasburg (Was) has not given up a run in the 1st Inn in 10 road starts. Teheran (Atl) has given up a run in the 1st Inn only once in 8 home starts. I'm guessing that 1st Inn Score NO price will be somewhere around -150 to -180 #SDQL #MLB https://twitter.com/TheRecDegen/status/1151792516724772865

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Astros manager: Angels got 'free shot' on Jake Marisnick hit by pitchLos Angeles Angels pitcher Noe Ramirez says he accidentally hit Jake Marisnick with a pitch, but Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch isn't buying it. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/astros/2019/07/17/jake-marisnick-aj-hinch-hit-by-pitch-astros-angels/1753338001/

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Pedro Martinez says Cincinnati Reds' Luis Castillo pitches like he didMLB managers and players have attested to how much the Reds ace reminds them of Pedro Martinez. And the Hall of Famer completely agrees. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2019/07/12/cincinnati-reds-luis-castillo-pedro-martinez-comparison/1711125001/

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Federal Baseball: Max Scherzer pulling hair out waiting for return to Washington Nationals' rotation

Max Scherzer was pulling his hair out waiting for the cortisone shot he received four days back to do its work and provide some relief from the back issue he's been dealing with in the last few weeks that landed him on the Injured List.

"When you get a cortisone injection," the 34-year-old Nationals' ace explained before the second of four for Washington in Atlanta's SunTrust Park.

"Usually after Day 3 that's usually when you feel your best, in my experience all my life, and so yesterday I was kind of pulling my hair out because it was Day 3 and it wasn't better.

Max Scherzer was pulling his hair out waiting for the cortisone shot he received four days back to do its work and provide some relief from the back issue he's been dealing with in the last few weeks that landed him on the Injured List.

"When you get a cortisone injection," the 34-year-old Nationals' ace explained before the second of four for Washington in Atlanta's SunTrust Park.

"Usually after Day 3 that's usually when you feel your best, in my experience all my life, and so yesterday I was kind of pulling my hair out because it was Day 3 and it wasn't better.

• Federal Baseball

Fansided: Blue Jays: Does Ross Atkins receive fair value at the trade deadline?

Based on comments on sports talk radio and Twitter, two mediums noted for thorough analysis, the J.A. Happ and Josh Donaldson trades in 2018 are cited as examples of the trade ineptness of Atkins. "Do you have confidence that Atkins will obtain good value in exchange for Marcus Stroman and Ken Giles?" is a question often heard. In my opinion, the criticism of the Happ and Donaldson deals is misplaced: the issue with those trades is more timing than the value received when executed.

The Blue Jays have been a team in transition since the 2015 and 2016 playoff runs.

Based on comments on sports talk radio and Twitter, two mediums noted for thorough analysis, the J.A. Happ and Josh Donaldson trades in 2018 are cited as examples of the trade ineptness of Atkins. "Do you have confidence that Atkins will obtain good value in exchange for Marcus Stroman and Ken Giles?" is a question often heard. In my opinion, the criticism of the Happ and Donaldson deals is misplaced: the issue with those trades is more timing than the value received when executed.

The Blue Jays have been a team in transition since the 2015 and 2016 playoff runs.

• Fansided

Fansided: Texas Rangers: Former player, Harold Baines, set to enter Hall of Fame this weekend

Harold Baines' time with the Texas Rangers was short-lived at best. The long-term big league outfielder was acquired by Texas back in the 1989 season while he was in the midst of an All-Star campaign. Baines played all of 153 games for the Rangers between the 1989 and 1990 seasons, hitting .288 with a .791 OPS in that stretch, before being dealt to the Oakland A's midway through the 1990 season.

Baines Hall of Fame bid was steeped in a bit of controversy if you'll remember. In a year that will see Mariano Rivera become the first unanimous selection inducted into the Hall, Baines' path wasn't quite as straightforward.

Harold Baines' time with the Texas Rangers was short-lived at best. The long-term big league outfielder was acquired by Texas back in the 1989 season while he was in the midst of an All-Star campaign. Baines played all of 153 games for the Rangers between the 1989 and 1990 seasons, hitting .288 with a .791 OPS in that stretch, before being dealt to the Oakland A's midway through the 1990 season.

Baines Hall of Fame bid was steeped in a bit of controversy if you'll remember. In a year that will see Mariano Rivera become the first unanimous selection inducted into the Hall, Baines' path wasn't quite as straightforward.

• Fansided