Royals vs Orioles Free Pick July 31, 2017 – Jesse Schule

The Royals come into Game 1 of this series in Baltimore as winners of nine of their last 10. This win streak has helped them decide to become buyers rather than sellers at the trade deadline. No such luck for the Orioles, who have won five of their last 10, and sit 6.5 games back of the first place Yankees in the AL East. Ubaldo Jimenez will toe the slab for Baltimore in Game 1, and he’s been perhaps the worst pitcher in the major leagues this year. He’s allowed 14 runs on 24 hits over 15 innings in three straight losses. He’s 1-2 with an 8.42 ERA in eight appearances at home this season. Making matters worse, the Royals have really hit him hard, batting .273 with six home runs and 30 RBIs over a combined 231 at bats. The Royals hand the ball to Danny Duffy, who is having another solid season. Duffy allowed just two runs on eight hits, striking out six in seven innings in a win over Baltimore earlier this season. He’s a solid 4-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 10 starts on the road this season. The Orioles have gone over the total in six of Jimenez’s last seven home starts, and these two teams have gone over in seven of the last nine at Baltimore. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule