We’re about six weeks away from the end of the Major League Baseball regular season, and you’re starting to see some dynamics shift in the MLB series. Now that the pressure is really off the Texas Rangers, for example, they have won four of five and may actually have a chance to close in on that second wild card in the American League. The St. Louis Cardinals have woken up to find that the National League Central could be theirs with a hot streak.
Some things have not changed, though, as the Cleveland Indians are still fighting for their lives in that American League Central, as they simply haven’t been able to put together a streak. Take a look at our MLB betting odds and predictions for Thursday’s games as Cleveland visits Minnesota, Atlanta visits Colorado and Tampa Bay heads north to face Toronto.
Analyzing the MLB Series and Winning Favorites – August 17th
Cleveland at Minnesota (1:10pm ET, FSN)
MLB Series Pitching Matchup: Mike Clevinger (6-4, 3.65 ERA) (CLE) vs Jose Berrios (10-5, 4.27 ERA) (MIN)
The Indians look to finish their series in Minnesota against the Twins in strong fashion on getaway day. They clobbered the Twins on Tuesday, 8-1, and they send Mike Clevinger to the hill on the finale. He had gone a long way between starts, but he came out and threw his most dominating game of the season in his return to the rotation his last time out, fanning nine Rays in seven innings, scattering four hits and holding Tampa Bay scoreless. None of the Twins have faced Clevinger more than nine times — a nd only Miguel Sano and Brian Dozier have ever taken him deep.
Minnesota starts Jose Berrios on Thursday afternoon. He does have those 10 wins, but his last two starts have not been encouraging. He has permitted five runs in the first inning of each of them — and his last time out, against Detroit, he only went 3 ⅓ innings, permitting six hits and six runs. Carlos Santana (.444, 1 HR, 3 RBI) enjoys facing Berrios — but four of the Indians who have faced Berrios have never gotten a hit off him. Even so, I like the Trible to leave the Twin Cities with a win in this finale.
Tampa Bay at Toronto (4:07pm ET, SUN)
MLB Series Pitching Matchup: Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84 ERA) (TB) vs Chris Rowley (1-0, 1.69 ERA) (TOR)
Tampa Bay and Toronto are both still in the wild card conversation, as the Rays are a game out of the second wild card, and the Blue Jays are only two games behind them. Tampa Bay sends Chris Archer out to the hill in this series finale, and he just saw his 15-game streak of lasting six innings or more come to a halt when he permitted three runs in 5 ⅓ frames against the Tribe. He has started against Toronto three times this year already but has not yet poste a decision. He has a combined ERA of 2.57. Kendrys Morales (.600, 3 HR, 8 RBI) and Steve Pearce (2 HR, 4 RBI) have both hit Archer hard in the past.
The Blue Jays give Chris Rowley his second major league start, and he was terrific in his debut, permitting one run on five hits in 5 ⅓ innings back on August 12. He had a strict 75-pitch limit but should get more leeway against the Rays. Tampa Bay does not have that dominant of an offense, but I do see the Rays winning the battle of the bullpens and taking the win.
Atlanta at Colorado (3:10pm ET, FSSE)
MLB Series Pitching Matchup: Lucas Sims (0-3, 5.71 ERA) (ATL) vs Jeff Hoffman (6-4, 5.15 ERA) (COL)
Lucas Sims now has three major league starts under his belt for the Braves — and he is still seeking his first win. He didn’t look that bad against St. Louis hias last time out, permitting five runs (just four earned) on 10 hits over 5 ⅓ frames.
On the other side, the Rockies will start Jeff Hoffman, who took the loss against Miami back on Saturday. Giancarlo Stanton took him deep for a three-run blast, and it just took for Marlin runs for them to beat Colorado — and to send Hoffman to the shower after just five innings. Hoffman has never appeared against the Braves, so we have two pitchers facing brand-new opposition. I’m going with the veteran — and with the better offense — so give me the Rockies here.
