Jim Feist

The San Diego Padres are getting solid odds to win at home on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies in Jim Feist’s National League West Game of the Month. San Diego is coming into this one riding high, and they also boast the better lineup against a Colorado team that continues to sabotage itself with bad pitching and even worse defense.

Tuesday’s opener was an instant classic. The Padres won 8-7 after rallying multiple times before scoring the go-ahead run in the ninth. Fernando Tatis Jr. racked up five hits, but it was Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado who led the Padres lineup in piling up opportunities against Colorado starter Lucas Ott. San Diego finished the game with men on base several times, and they should have another good chance to score early against rookie Gabriel Hughes. 

Hughes has been effective through two starts, but he has yet to pitch in the hitter friendly confines of Petco Park against this deep Padres lineup. Tatis, Machado and Merrill can all mash the ball out of any yard, and Padres hitters can also draw walks to push up Hughes’ pitch count and force Colorado to rely on their overtaxed bullpen once again.

Speaking of Colorado’s bullpen, it was ugly Tuesday night. Five different relievers threw in the opener, and Colorado’s bullpen issued walks at key moments and coughed up scoring chances all night. Colorado’s defense didn’t exactly help matters, committing four errors. 

San Diego has late-inning advantage as well. Mason Miller struck out the side in Tuesday’s save situation, and while Colorado put up seven runs in the opener, two of their best hitters went a combined 0-10 with seven strikeouts. Hunter Goodman and TJ Rumfield were a combined 0-10.

The Padres have won four games in a row dating back to their comeback win against Miami on Sunday. They are taking the Rockies in what looks like a pitchers duel due to their superior offense, strong bullpen and inability for Colorado to take care of the baseball. 

Jim's Play: Take: 960. Padres (NL West Game of the Month)

The Tampa Bay Rays have several reasons they can beat the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Tampa Bay owns the more favorable starting-pitching matchup, ranks among baseball’ MLB betting predictions for Wednesday.

Tampa Bay will use Casey Legumina as its opener against Texas left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Legumina enters with a 2-2 record, 3.92 ERA and 29 strikeouts this season. He has previously opened games for the Rays, including 1 2/3 scoreless innings against Kansas City on June 25. He also started against Toronto on July 23, allowing one run before Tampa Bay turned the game over to its bulk reliever.

Legumina is not expected to pitch deep into Wednesday’s contest, but that is part of Tampa Bay’s plan. His job is to handle the top of the Texas order once before the Rays begin matching relievers against the Rangers’ lineup. Tampa Bay has successfully used this approach before, including a 13-2 victory over Kansas City in which Legumina opened and Ian Seymour followed with 6 1/3 hitless innings.

MacKenzie Gore is 6-8 with a 4.82 ERA and 1.31 WHIP entering Wednesday. Tampa Bay’s batting order has enough quality right-handed bats to lay into the southpaw early and often with players like Yandy Diaz, Junior Caminero and Christopher Morel behind the plate. Gore’s struggles to prevent walks and baserunners could be magnified against a Rays offense that is usually proficient at manufacturing runs and putting players on base in Tropicana Field.

Tuesday’s outcome lines up for a Tampa Bay bounce-back win as well. The Rays offense was held to one run on Tuesday, but scoring one run creates a prime spot to rebound. Tampa Bay entered play sporting the AL’s best record and team ERA of around 3.53. One subpar night at the plate shouldn’t erase all that progress.

Jim's Play: 966. Rays

The Chicago White Sox can beat the New York Yankees on Wednesday behind Davis Martin and an inviting underdog number at Rate Field.

Martin comes into the game with a respectable 9-5 and 3.49 ERA. 

Chicago will counter New York’s Cam Schlittler (2.07 ERA) and they don’t need a high-scoring game. A couple timely hits and another strong start from Martin should suffice. Chicago nearly did enough on Tuesday’’s 3-2 defeat. The White Sox loaded the bases against Gerrit Cole and tallied two runs in the ninth off David Bednar, thanks to a Chase Meidroth homer. Bednar worked four times in five days so this late charge proved Chicago can attack New York’s bullpen.

The Yankees also happen to be without several of their key bats like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger. Their absence makes Chicago’s lineup look deeper and limits the Yankees’ power. Martin has a better chance at going six innings against a line-up that has depth. Chicago is still a playoff contender and they have some youth power in Munetaka Murakami, Braden Montgomery and Meidroth to change a game with one hit. Chicago at home, Martin starting and New York’s lineup/bullpen compromised gives the White Sox plenty of upside.

Jim's Play: 968. White Sox

The Arizona Diamondbacks have plenty working in their favor on Wednesday if they hope to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eduardo Rodriguez and an Arizona offense that finally broke out during Tuesday’s 8-7 win both give Arizona a good chance to  Wednesday’s early game.

Rodriguez certainly gives Arizona the edge on starting pitching, as he owns a 9-3 record with a 2.64 ERA and 86 strikeouts on the season. The southpaw has been Arizona’s most reliable starter and should be able to contain a Pittsburgh lineup that has struggled against quality pitching at times. Jared Jones will toe the rubber for Pittsburgh after posting a 3.72 ERA in fewer starts than Rodríguez this season.

Arizona’s offense piled up 16 hits on Tuesday, scoring runs in each of the game’s first four frames to take an early 6-0 lead. James McCann went yard twice while collecting four hits on the day. Nolan Arenado had three hits while the Diamondbacks continued to manufacture chances. Arizona wasn’t able to score on every one of those opportunities, but repeating that kind of offensive activity is promising for the winner-take-all finale.

Arizona simply has more weapons and a deeper lineup than Pittsburgh. Entering Wednesday, Arizona ranked well above Pittsburgh in batting average, runs, hits and total offensive production. Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and the heart of Arizona’s order gives them more avenues to produce runs than Pittsburgh typically has.

Tuesday’s game wore both bullpens down as each team played until the 12th inning. For that reason, Rodríguez pitching deep into the game is even more important. If he can go six or seven innings while limiting Pittsburgh’s offense, Arizona can preserve its weaker relievers and give a late lead to its best relievers.

Arizona has the better starting pitcher, boasts a more powerful lineup and wins Tuesday’s marathon game. For those reasons, Arizona is the side I will be on early on Wednesday. 

Jim's Play: 953. Diamondbacks