Today's Picks

Washington draws a Miami club that has been one of the worst road teams in baseball, badly outscored away from home all season. Sandy Alcantara has been a different pitcher on the road, giving up runs in bunches, while Cade Cavalli has been sharp and misses bats. The Nationals have swung it well against right-handers lately and should get to Alcantara early at home.

Cade Cavalli has carried a strong strikeout rate and faces a Marlins lineup that has scuffled against right-handed pitching on the road. He has the swing-and-miss stuff to work into the middle innings and pile up whiffs in a favorable spot at home, and plus money makes the number worth the price.

Two pitchers who limit damage open this one in a park that has played pitcher-friendly all year. San Francisco brings the weakest offense in baseball into Milwaukee, and the early innings set up low-scoring before either bullpen gets involved. The first five favors the arms here.

Texas is the steadier club and catches St. Louis with a home starter whose surface numbers hide real trouble underneath. Jacob deGrom is missing bats at an elite rate, and the Rangers hold the edge in the bullpen and the lineup. The Cardinals have had a hard time scoring at home.

Milwaukee is the stronger team top to bottom and runs out one of the best bullpens in baseball against the weakest offense in the league. San Francisco has struggled to score on the road all season, and the Brewers are built to grind out a low-scoring game and win it late at home.

Seattle plays in the most pitcher-friendly park in baseball, and the Mets bring one of the weakest road offenses into a cool, heavy-air night. Emerson Hancock has limited runs all season, and New York opens with a bullpen game. The setup points to a quiet first five.