All posts by h716a5.icu

Doran’s 73 got Tasmania close to the home side’s total after they had been facing a large deficit

Alex Malcolm29-Oct-2025Test allrounder Beau Webster was knocked over cheaply while Mitchell Perry continued his outstanding start to the season with a five-wicket haul to hand Victoria a narrow but important lead over Tasmania at the Junction Oval.Perry claimed the second best figures of his Sheffield Shield career, 5 for 58, as Tasmania were bowled out for 232 on day two with wicketkeeper Jake Doran continuing his excellent start to the season with a fighting 73 on a difficult batting surface.Victoria turned a 24-run first innings lead into 59 by stumps for the loss of only Harry Dixon.Webster, in his first Shield innings of the summer, was clean bowled for 11 by a cracking delivery from Will Sutherland that snaked back through the gate off the seam as he tried to defend on the front foot.That backed up some great early work that Perry, Fergus O’Neill and Todd Murphy and left Tasmania struggling at 126 for 7. After Perry had made the big breakthrough on the first night dismissing Test hopeful Jake Weatherald for a duck, O’Neill took two key wickets on the second morning. He had nightwatcher Gabe Bell caught behind and then later trapped Tim Ward lbw from around the after he had played nicely for his 42.Ward and Caleb Jewell had put together a 50-run stand in challenging conditions in the morning against a ball that was still relatively new.The introduction of spin turned the momentum back in Victoria’s favour. Todd Murphy extracted some turn to have Jewell caught at slip as he lunged forward to defend.Mitchell Perry celebrates a wicket•Getty ImagesPerry returned from the southern end and had Brad Hope and Jordan Silk caught down the leg side in almost identical fashion either side of Ward’s dismissal. Tasmania lost 3 for 2 and 4 for 18 in 11.1 overs. When Webster fell five overs later Tasmania were staring a three-figure first innings deficit in the fcae.But Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary dug them out of trouble with an excellent 60-run eighth-wicket stand. Doran rode his luck early, top edging a pull shot over the keeper. But thereafter he played with great control off the back foot to the quicks and handled Murphy with ease including launching him against the turn over long-on.Chaudhary struck five boundaries in his 38 and scarcely looked troubled as he rotated the strike beautifully. But he was the architect of his own demise when he fell for a short ball trap, pulling a Perry bouncer with no control to a well placed man at deep square.That left Tasmania 186 for 8, still 70 runs behind Victoria’s first innings total. However, Doran extracted another 46 runs with Kieran Elliot and Riley Meredith, who contributed just three between them. Doran was the last man out, clean bowled trying to lunch Perry down the ground. It handed Perry his third five-wicket haul in Shield cricket and made it 13 wickets in five bowling innings so far this season.Victoria’s lead swelled in a 14-over final session with Dixon and Campbell Kellaway playing positively. Dixon struck four crisp boundaries, including a couple of superb cover drives, in his 19 before the extra pace of Meredith caused a mistake. He attempted to leave a rising delivery outside off but failed to withdraw his bat in time and it came off the bottom edge onto the stumps.

The San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 21-0 on Saturday night. With the latest embarrassing loss, the Rockies have fallen to 6-33 on the season. But as bad as things have gotten, at least the social media team can still get a win by dunking on Bill Belichick.

Shortly after the game went final, the Rockies X account posted the screen-grab of Jordon Hudson interrupting Belichick's interview with to say they weren't going to talk about how they met. It's the perfect thing to post after a 21-run loss to a team in your own division.

For Belichick, this should be a moment worth reflecting on. Much like when Martin scored on Bart Simpson, it's the kind of thing that should make him think about how bad things are going. No matter what the official response from work is.

As for Colorado, they remain on pace to have maybe the worst season ever.

Manchester City are now reportedly willing to launch a stunning £100m+ move to sign a young talent who’s been compared to Lamine Yamal.

Guardiola: Man City "had everything" in Sunderland win

Say it quietly, but we might just have a Premier League title race on our hands. After Arsenal slipped up against Aston Villa, courtesy of a dramatic Emi Buendia winner, Man City took full advantage. The Citizens shoved Sunderland aside in vintage fashion as goals from Josko Gvardiol, Phil Foden and a Ruben Dias stunner sealed all three points.

Arsenal’s lead at the top has now been cut to just two points and Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his delight at full-time, telling reporters: “It had everything. It was one of our best performances of the season, against a great team, considering what they have done so far.

“Definitely [pleased to get a clean sheet], as they don’t concede much. One action from Ruben [Dias] when he lost the ball and they had a chance, but the rest of the match we were composed. We created a lot.”

The Spaniard, a title veteran, also assured reporters that there’s still a long way to go before the season concludes, saying: “Many things are going to happen still. It’s down to the way we play, not how many points behind we are. It’s the way you perform. The players are not stupid, consistency doesn’t come from one result.

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“In the last 9 to 10 games, we have been good. We have suffered a lot but we have to learn from it so it doesn’t happen again. When you score five goals against Fulham, you are doing good things.”

Back in their groove on the pitch, City are now reportedly willing to send shockwaves away from the action with a stunning bid to sign Chelsea’s Estevao Willian.

Man City willing to launch Estevao offer

According to reports in Spain, Man City are now willing to launch an offer to sign Estevao worth as much as €120m (£105m). The Brazilian has enjoyed a sensational rise since arriving at Stamford Bridge and is now recognised as one of the best young players in the world.

The 18-year-old recently stole the spotlight from Yamal when he scored an excellent solo goal against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge and that only added credit to Gus Poyet’s comparison between the two.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has also been full of praise for the teenager, dubbing him “special” earlier this season. Everything is pointing towards a generational star that Man City should be desperate to sign.

Chelsea hatch Mykhailo Mudryk plan in 'carefully considered' roadmap to rescue career

Hazlewood will miss the entire series after picking up an Achilles issue and will now target the T20 World Cup for a comeback

Alex Malcolm09-Dec-20251:02

Finch: Neser ‘nailed it’ but selection debate remains

Pat Cummins will return to captain Australia for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide next week but Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the series with an Achilles issue with his recovery now set to focus on getting ready for the T20 World Cup.Usman Khawaja is also expected to be fit and available for Adelaide, with Australia set to announce a 15-man squad on Tuesday featuring Cummins as the only addition. Coach Andrew McDonald gave an update on Cummins and Hazlewood on Tuesday, confirming that the captain was ready to return.Related

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“His body’s ready to go and barring anything else happening in the next week, I’d be expecting Pat to be tossing the coin and putting the blazer on,” McDonald saidHe also confirmed that Hazlewood would play no further part in the series after suffering an Achilles issue following on from his hamstring strain.”Unfortunately, Josh won’t be a part of the Ashes,” McDonald said. “Really, really flat for him. A couple of setbacks that we didn’t see coming, and we thought he would play a huge part in the series.”It’s a totally separate injury. It’s somewhere lower in the calf to Achilles region. His preparation will then shift towards the World Cup, which is an incredibly important campaign for us.”McDonald said there are no concerns over Cummins’ preparation heading into Adelaide despite not played any cricket since July coming off a lumbar bone stress injury. He added the selectors were very close to picking him in Brisbane.Pat Cummins will return in Adelaide but Hazlewood has been ruled out of the Ashes•Getty Images”There won’t be any match opportunities for Pat, and this is something we’ve done with Pat before, off long layoffs, where we’ve put some time and effort into rebuilding his body,” McDonald said. “He was out at Allan Border Field, whilst everyone was out at the Gabba. So he simulated pretty much what a match will look like out there with multiple spells. So we feel as though he’ll be as best prepared as he can be.”He was well ahead of where we thought he’d be at. And it did create a real live conversation for Brisbane, the skill readiness, the loads, how he was pulling up. It was debated a lot leading into that Test match. So with that in mind, us seeing him further advanced, we feel it’d be really well placed for the challenges of Adelaide, albeit off a long way off. We feel as though the simulation in the nets have got him skill ready.”Meanwhile, McDonald added that Australia still valued spin bowling and the role of Nathan Lyon in their XI despite leaving him out of a home Test for the first time in 13 years. He has missed two of Australia’s last three Tests, however McDonald stated it was because both were pink-ball day-night Tests and the coach was adamant Lyon and spin would have a big role to play in the final three Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.”We just value different things in the pink-ball game, and unfortunately, that meant Nathan had to be squeezed,” McDonald said. “That’s nothing to do with his skill set. Not a reflection on where he’s at from his own performance. It is a reflection on pink-ball cricket and a reflection on the surface that was presented to us.”We still do value spin. The surfaces have pushed us in different directions, and that’s the first game that Nathan’s missed in Australia for a long time.Nathan Lyon will return for the third Test•Gareth Copley/Getty Images”I think Nath is going to have an incredibly huge impact in the last three Test matches. If you look to what he did at the MCG last year, when the surface became benign, sort of day three onwards, he was able to navigate through and hold an end. And that’s the rhythm we want.”We want the spinner down one end and rotating the three quicks. That’s when we feel like we’re at our best. But you sometimes can’t play in spite of what’s presented in front of you and some of those decisions have been difficult, and they’ve been two pink-ball games that have put us in that position.”The likelihood of Cummins and Lyon returning to the XI in Adelaide creates a further selection squeeze. Brendan Doggett is almost certain to miss out but Michael Neser would be unlucky to be omitted after taking his maiden Test five-wicket haul in Brisbane to help swing the game in Australia’s favour.But it appears likely Australia will go with a first-choice attack with no thoughts of resting Scott Boland given there is only a short four-day turnaround between the Adelaide Test and the fourth Test in Melbourne starting on Boxing Day.”In the pre-planning, which is something we do around the Test matches and work out where the stress points potentially will be, the gap between [Test] one and two and two and three was something we think we could manage, so it would be more than likely the best balanced and available attack for Adelaide,” McDonald said. “We wouldn’t be thinking about [whether] someone would need a rest there, but it’s probably more so in Test match four and five.”McDonald confirmed that his star quick Mitchell Starc had pulled up well following some side soreness during the Gabba Test.”Starcy had a little bit of a hindrance with, I think it was his left side with a bit of a jamming injury there that probably you saw visibly on TV,” he said. “But nothing to worry about. That’s something he’s had before. It was just annoying during the game. But an incredible workload from him with both bat and ball, and he’s pulled up well, which is a real positive for us.”

James Milner has paid an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota, saying it was a "special moment" to make his return to Liverpool while wearing his former team-mate’s number 20. The Reds legend received a warm ovation from the Anfield crowd as he came off the bench for current side Brighton in Saturday’s Premier League fixture between the two teams.

AFPEkitike scores twice as Liverpool secure first home win since November

After recording successive draws against Sunderland and Leeds United, Liverpool returned to winning ways in the league against Brighton. Collecting their first three points on home soil since 4 November, Arne Slot’s men moved up to sixth in the table courtesy of a brace from Hugo Ekitike.

Building on his double against Leeds last weekend, the France international latched onto Joe Gomez’s knockdown to put Liverpool in front inside the first minute. And the striker then headed home from Mohamed Salah’s inswinging corner on the hour mark.

Salah was making his return to the Liverpool fold after being left out of Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan following his incendiary interview in the aftermath of the draw with Leeds. The Egypt star was a first-half substitute after Gomez was forced off with an injury.

AdvertisementAFPMilner wears Jota's No. 20 as midfielder makes emotional Anfield return

The match was also significant as Brighton ace Milner, who represented Liverpool between 2015 and 2023, returned to his old stomping ground. With just three minutes of normal time left to play, the midfielder received a standing ovation from the Anfield faithful after emerging from the substitutes bench.

Milner’s introduction was particularly poignant as the 39-year-old acts as Brighton’s No. 20 – the same number which was worn by former Liverpool forward Jota, who tragically passed away in a car crash in July. Jota and Milner were Liverpool team-mates for three seasons before the latter departed for Brighton at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. 

Reds legend pays heartfelt tribute to former Portugal international

And in an emotional tribute to Jota at the end of the match, Milner took to social media to send a heartfelt message to both the former Portugal international and the Liverpool supporters.

On Instagram, Milner wrote: "Disappointing result but happy to be back out on the pitch and a special moment to play at Anfield wearing the #20. A massive thank you for the incredible welcome from the Anfield crowd YNWA."

And speaking to the Brighton fanbase, he added: "Also to the travelling fans for you [sic] continued support, we need you with us over this period."

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Milner wrote emotional message following Jota's tragic passing in July

Following the devastating news that Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who also died in the accident in the Spanish province of Zamora, had passed away, Milner honoured both men on social media.

Writing on X in July, Milner said: "Devastated for the loss of Diogo and Andre. Absolutely loved sharing a dressing room with him, having so many laughs together, constantly winding each other up with our stubborn nature and truly marvelling at the stuff he did on the football pitch. 

"All my thoughts, love and support goes to his family, friends and the Liverpool family. Rest In Peace Jots. Love ya mate. YNWA."

Things are not going well for manager Stephen Vogt and the Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians, once battling the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL Central, have plummeted to fourth place as they stumble on an ongoing nine-game losing streak. Cleveland has been shut out four times and has failed to score more than two runs six times during its nine-game skid.

Perhaps in an attempt to lighten the mood Friday during Cleveland's 2-1 loss to Detroit, Guardians TV cameras captured associate manager Craig Albernaz tossing sunflower seeds onto his buddy, manager Stephen Vogt. In that moment at least, Vogt wasn't having it.

The Guardians TV cameras panned away from Vogt after the exchange, and the broadcasters on the mic had a chuckle about it.

If Vogt looks a bit stressed out, it's because, well, he probably is.

In addition to the nine-game losing skid that has the Guardians 12.5 games back in the division and five games out of a playoff spot, Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on leave earlier this week due to an MLB betting investigation.

A long skid and a controversy in the clubhouse? That'll have any skipper on edge. And a handful of sunflower seeds to the face probably don't help the cause.

The Guardians will try to snap their nine-game losing streak Saturday in a rematch against the Tigers at Progressive Field.

The Australians know what they are in for at the MCG, but India may be a little shocked by what they see compared to what they remember

Alex Malcolm24-Dec-2024Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald must have had flashbacks to their club cricket days as they walked to the middle of the MCG on Monday.With the exception of the MCG’s head curator Matt Page, there were no ground staff around, and the Test pitch was fully covered after some morning rain. Cummins and McDonald had to peel the covers back themselves to take a look at the strip. Their eyebrows might have gone up at seeing how green it looked, but they would not have been surprised.”It looks pretty similar to the previous few years,” McDonald said on Tuesday. “It’s going to be a big decision, though, come the day of the game. I think traditionally it’s been bowl-first, but with the heat around and it looks similar but probably a little bit better than what it has in previous years. So a decision for the captains to make at the toss, I think.”Related

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While the Australians know what they are in for at the MCG, India may be shocked by what they see compared to what they remember.The MCG has been a home away from home for them in each of the last two Test tours. The Gabba will always hold a special place in Indian hearts, but the MCG has been the lifeblood of both series triumphs.In 2018-19, they came here having been rocked by a pace barrage in Perth. They batted first on a slightly less turgid surface than the one Alistair Cook made 244 on the previous year. But Cheteshwar Pujara batted for 11 hours as India racked up 443 for 7 in 169.4 overs before Jasprit Bumrah put on a masterclass of fast bowling as the surface began to go up and down.The blueprint was pretty similar two summers later. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja thrived in slower conditions more akin to home than Australia. And after being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, Ajinkya Rahane ground out a famous match-winning century.But the MCG has undergone a complete transformation since then under Page’s watch. The nadir of 2017 sparked a five-year plan to revitalise a drop-in square that had become one of the worst in Australia. The complete transformation of that plan did not take effect until 2021, when the last four of the new drop-in pitch trays were installed after India’s most recent visit.”We sat down seven years ago, after 2017, and discussed where we wanted to go as an organisation and what we wanted to be renowned for and that’s producing Test matches that are going to provide a thrilling contest,” Page said. “It gives the bowlers an opportunity at various points in the game, but it also gives the batters a chance if you play well. We then tried and played around with our grass lengths, our compaction levels, moisture levels, and that probably took us three years to where we wanted to get to, and then I would say the last two or three years, we’ve been quite consistent in what we’ve rolled out. We leave a bit more grass on them now than what we used to but it’s provided thrilling contests, and that’s what we want to do.”Since 2018-19, the MCG has had the lowest bowling average of the major venues in Australia at 26.57. Pace has dominated, averaging 24.50. But spin has averaged 35.24, the second lowest of all venues behind Perth, remarkably.For the 2021 Boxing Day Ashes Test, Page left 10mm of grass on the surface, having experimented with 12mm in a Sheffield Shield game earlier in the summer. Australia won inside seven sessions, with Scott Boland famously taking 6 for 7 and England losing by an innings despite Australia only scoring 267.

“I think both teams have got similar challenges at the moment – how do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top, and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on”Andrew McDonald

The following year, when South Africa arrived, Page trimmed it back to 6mm and produced a Test pitch where Cameron Green took 5 for 27 on the first day, David Warner made 200 on a 40-degree second day, Alex Carey plundered 111 on the third, and Nathan Lyon took three wickets on the fourth.Page rolled out a similar surface last year when Pakistan toured. The highest innings total in the match was 318, the lowest was 237. Cummins took ten for the match and Lyon bagged four in Pakistan’s first innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza took six wickets each across two innings and had Australia 16 for 4 in their second innings before Mitchell Marsh made 96. Pakistan reached 219 for 5 chasing just 317 to win in the fourth innings before collapsing to an extraordinary spell from Cummins.Some of India’s players have already seen the new MCG pitch. The Australia A vs India A game in early November was a rollicking affair where the seam bowlers held sway, much like they do in Shield matches at this venue. But it is arguable that KL Rahul’s two brief innings in that game and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s performance with bat and ball prepared both of them well for the Test series that has unfolded. Australia’s debutant Sam Konstas made 73 not out in that game and India are pondering whether to bring in Prasidh Krishna, who also took six wickets for India A.”It looks pretty similar to the previous few years,” Andrew McDonald said after he and Pat Cummins looked at the MCG pitch•AFP/Getty ImagesBut any fears that the Test pitch will be as lively as that are unfounded, according to Page, who does trim the grass according to the quality of bowling on show.”It probably won’t be as much seam in this as probably the Shield games,” Page said. “As you go to that next level, bowlers get a bit more out of it than in the Shield. So we tend to pull it back just that fraction for Test match cricket, because the quality of players goes up. But in terms of pace, bounce and the excitement, then we’re looking for exactly the same in all our long-format pitches.”What does that mean for this Boxing Day? Can India renew their love affair with the MCG pitch despite it being nothing like the flame they fell for the last two trips they had here?”I think both teams have got similar challenges at the moment,” McDonald said. “How do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top, and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on.”But I’m not a big believer in history repeating itself, so it starts afresh. Different groups, different challenges. We’ll go in with an open mind to what it looks like.”

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly added a starting pitcher—but not one that many envisioned.

The Red Sox are acquiring pitcher Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers for first baseman and outfielder James Tibbs, according to Thursday afternoon reports from Robert Murray of FanSided and Jeff Passan of ESPN.

May, a 27-year-old Texas native who once ranked among his organization's most prized prospects, has spent his entire six-year career with the Dodgers. In 2025, he is 6–7 with a 4.85 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 114 innings.

He finished fifth the National League's Rookie of the Year voting in 2020, but was soon felled by a barrage of injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and elbow surgery in '23; an operation on his esophagus quashed his chances at a comeback in '24.

Boston is currently 59–51, and holds the second of the American League's three wild-card spots in a crowded race. Los Angeles, meanwhile, holds its usual perch atop the National League West division.

Jen Pawol officially made history on Saturday when she became the first female to umpire a regular season game in Major League Baseball.

Pawol was one of the field umpires for Saturday's contest between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. She will work both games of Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's series finale as well, when she will serve as the home plate umpire.

Pawol's ascent to this historic day began in February of 2024, when she became the third woman to ever umpire a spring training game. A year-and-a-half later, she gets an opportunity in a regular season contest.

The spring training game came one year after she became the first woman to umpire at the Triple-A level in 34 years in 2023.

The 48-year-old Pawol played collegiate softball at Hofstra and was a member of the 2001 U.S. women's national team that won the first Baseball Women's World Series.

Fresh out of the holiday on Thursday, Major League Baseball is back with 15 more games for us to dive into, with multiple afternoon matchups to get our weekend of betting started early!

Every day here at SI Betting, we give out a moneyline pick for every MLB game, and July 5 is no different.

With the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renewing their historic rivalry tonight, let's break down that matchup — and the rest on this 15-game slate — for Friday.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction and Pick

I don't love laying this price with the last-place Chicago Cubs, but Justin Steele (3.20 ERA) gives them a huge advantage over the Los Angeles Angeles and Griffin Canning (4.71 ERA).

Los Angeles has dropped four games in a row, and it is just 6-11 straight up when Canning is on the mound in 2024.

Steele has allowed three or fewer earned runs in seven straight starts, a solid floor that should give the Cubs a chance to win this afternoon.

New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Pick

Happy Paul Skenes Day!

I'm rolling with the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie to earn another win on Friday, as he's 4-0 and the Pirates are 6-3 straight up in his nine starts this season.

Luis Severino gets the ball for the New York Mets, and he's been solid in 2024 — posting a 3.42 ERA — but the Mets are just 8-8 in his 16 outings.

Skenes has been red hot, allowing one or fewer runs in four straight starts. I'll roll with him on Friday.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Washington Nationals Prediction and Pick

I have to take Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals against Washington and Patrick Corbin on Friday.

Gray has been one of the best pitchers in the league, posting a 2.98 ERA and 2.56 FIP through 15 outings. Meanwhile, Corbin has a 5.49 ERA, and the Nationals are just 5-12 when he's on the bump.

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Pick

I can't back the New York Yankees right now, who have dropped eight of their last 10 games and three in a row against the Cincinnati Reds heading into Friday's matchup with Boston.

The Red Sox are starting Tanner Houck (2.67 ERA), who should be able to lead Boston to a win in this one.

Chicago White Sox vs. Miami Marlins Prediction and Pick

Both of these teams are in last place, but the Miami Marlins have struggled a lot at home (16-30 straight up).

Miami is going with a bullpen game in this matchup, which isn't ideal since it has a 4.10 bullpen ERA this season. Meanwhile, the White Sox will start youngster Drew Thorpe, who has allowed two or fewer earned runs in three of his four starts in 2024.

Detroit Tigers vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Pick

I actually think Detroit Tigers starter Reese Olson (3.32 ERA, 2.90 FIP) is the better starter in this matchup with Carson Spiers and the Cincinnati Reds, but I can't get past one stat.

The Tigers are just 3-13 (!!) when Olson is on the mound this season. I'll take a shot on Cincy — especially at home — on Friday.

San Francisco Giants vs. Cleveland Guardians Prediction and Pick

Cleveland has been great this season, especially when righty Tanner Bibee is on the mound.

In 17 outings, Bibee has led Cleveland to a 14-3 record. I expect that to continue against the San Francisco Giants tonight.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves Prediction and Pick

Max Fried has been red hot as of late for the Atlanta Braves, leading them to a 12-4 record in his starts this season and lowering his ERA from 3.20 to 2.91 in his last three starts.

I'll give the star lefty a slight edge over Aaron Nola, who struggled in June, posting a 4.45 ERA in five starts.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers Prediction and Pick

Texas Rangers starter Michael Lorenzen is due for some regression, as he's posted a 5.07 FIP so far in 2024 and his ERA jumped from 2.96 to 3.40 over the last month.

Tampa Bay has taken a step back in 2024, but it's three games over .500 on the road.

Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins Prediction and Pick

Houston is rolling with a bullpen game this season, but it has been solid out of the pen (3.60 ERA) in 2024.

The Minnesota Twins are starting Pablo Lopez, who was an All-Star last season, but he has a 4.88 ERA in 2024. This is one of my favorite underdog bets to make tonight.

Kansas City Royals vs. Colorado Rockies Prediction and Pick

Kyle Freeland (7.94 ERA) is making another start for the Colorado Rockies, and I can't back him against another lefty — Cole Ragans (3.33 ERA) — on Friday.

Ragans has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 15 of his 18 starts this season, a great floor to set for a Kansas City team that is eyeing a playoff spot in 2024.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Pick

San Diego has been hot as of late, winning seven of its last 10 games, and I will give the Padres a shot at home with two young pitchers on the mound.

Slade Cecconi (5.81 ERA) is on the mound for Arizona against Randy Vasquez (4.88 ERA), who had just one start where he allowed more than three earned runs in June. If he can keep that up, the Padres should be in a good spot at home.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland A's Prediction and Pick

Can the A's keep their three-game winning streak going on Friday?

I'm not sold in this one, as Albert Suarez (2.43 ERA) has pitched well for the first-place Baltimore Orioles so far in 2024. Hogan Harris (3.18 ERA) could be due for some regression with a 4.77 FIP on the season.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners Prediction and Pick

Luis Castillo vs. Kevin Gausman should be a great pitching matchup, but the Seattle Mariners' home record is what is swaying me in this one.

Toronto is six games under .500 on the road, while Seattle is 29-16 at home, one of the best marks in the league.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction and Pick

When Tyler Glasnow is on the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers are a must bet.

They're 11-6 in his 17 starts, and Glasnow has a 3.23 ERA and 2.69 FIP in 2024. That should be enough to take down the Milwaukee Brewers tonight.