Scott Rickenbach Premium Picks

Total Annihilation - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #907 Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Miami Marlins vs Washington Nationals @ 7:10 ET - A lot of value here with low total posted on this game. I understand the low number of 7.5 (some odds makers opened up at 8) because Patrick Corbin had a great start versus the Marlins earlier this season and Zac Gailen had a great MLB debut last week. However, lets dive into the facts a little deeper and you can see why I am fading the line move on this one. The Nationals Corbin now has to pitch at Miami this time (first meeting was in DC) and the last time he pitched at Marlins Park he was rocked for 6 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings while allowing 3 homers! Corbin has a 5.82 ERA in his last 3 starts overall and a 5.91 ERA in road starts this season. The Marlins Gailen faced the team that drafted him (St Louis) last week so that was an emotional MLB debut for him. Yes he was successful in his 5 inning stint but it took 99 pitches to complete the 5 innings. The bullpen then imploded in that game and cost him a win. On that note, lets talk about these bullpens for a moment. The Nationals are the WORST bullpen in the majors this season based on team ERA and the Marlins certainly are NOT much better. That said, we've got a total of 7.5 in a game in which it wouldn't be a surprise if both starters got hit pretty hard and then weak bullpens also come into play. Note that the Nationals have won 7 of their last 10 games and have scored an average of 6.2 runs per game in doing so. Miami had won 6 of their last 9 games before yesterday's ugly loss and the Marlins had averaged 5 runs per game in winning 4 straight prior to that defeat. Look for the over to improve to 4-0 in Corbin's last 4 road starts. 10* OVER the total in Miami

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach MLB Rotation #915 Wednesday Free Pick OVER the total in Cleveland Indians vs Kansas City Royals @ 1:10 ET - With this total having opened as high as a 9.5 and now being bet down to as low as an 8.5 as of early game day morning, it is definitely "go time" with this one. The Indians lost 8 to 6 yesterday but, once again, they proved they are "feeling it" right now at the plate. Cleveland entered yesterday's game having won 9 of their last 11 games an the Indians have averaged 6.3 runs per game in their last dozen games. As for Kansas City, the Royals have now scored 6 or more runs in 6 of their last 10 games. KC is a respectable 6-4 its last 10 games and the Royals have averaged scoring 5.5 runs per game their last 10 games. The over is 6-3 in Trevor Bauer's home starts this season as he certainly has labored in home outings this season. At Progressive Field Bauer has a 5.56 ERA on the season. He also has given up 18 hits in his last 12 and 1/3 innings against the Royals. As for KC starter Jake Junis, he has given up 8 earned runs in 12 and 1/3 innings spanning his last two starts against the Tribe. Also, Junis has struggled in 3 of his last 4 road starts. Behind him is a weak Royals bullpen and, the way both of these teams have been hitting of late, this one should turn nto another crazy one that reaches double digits in runs just like yesterday's game did. Free Pick OVER the total in Cleveland

Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #921 Wednesday 8* San Diego Padres Money Line (-) @ Baltimore Orioles @ 3:05 ET - This line opened up as high as a -155 and has dropped to as low as a -125 as of early game day morning. In typical contrarian fashion, I am going against the line move. The Padres are offering great line value here because the Orioles are a horrific 9-29 at home this season. You read that right...they lose 3 out of every 4 HOME games...that is virtually unheard of futility. As for the Padres, their road record is nearly identical to their home record and, unlike Baltimore, San Diego is a team that plays .500 ball. With a win yesterday, the Padres are now 6-4 their last 10 games and they've averaged 7.4 runs per game during this 10-game stretch. At the other end of the spectrum, the Orioles are 1-12 their last 13 games! Baltimore has been held to 3 or less runs in 9 of its last 12 games. San Diego starter Matt Strahm has a 3.96 ERA on the road this season and that is even including a dreadful start at Colorado in his most recent outing. He'll surely fare much better here. Prior to that outing, Strahm had allowed just 31 hits in 33 innings spanning his first 6 road starts this season. The Orioles counter with Dylan Bundy in this one. The Baltimore right-hander is 0-2 and has allowed 15 hits in the 10 and 1/3 innings spanning hi last two starts.  On the season, the Orioles are 1-7 in Bundy's home starts! This is one is all about the right price for fading a horrible team. Even if you consider the starting pitching match-up even, note that the Padres also rate a bullpen edge here. 8* SAN DIEGO