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00:03 Let's talk about the best organization in baseball, Craig.
00:05 That's the Philadelphia Phillies.
00:06 Why?
00:07 Wins and losses equal success.
00:09 The Philadelphia Phillies are continuously getting it done right now.
00:12 They did it last night.
00:13 They're gonna take on again the New York Mets today.
00:15 Look for a four game short series sweep, home and home set.
00:19 Quintana's gonna be on the mound, the lefty for those Mets.
00:21 Walker, Tywon Walker going against his old team for the Phillies.
00:24 And the Phillies are a favorite today.
00:26 Do we see a four game set sweep here for the Phillies over the Mets?
00:30 >> You would have to say probably.
00:32 I mean, right now the Phillies are the hottest team in baseball and
00:35 they're pitching extraordinarily well.
00:37 They're hitting the ball.
00:38 We have, you know, Boehm is a potential MVP candidate.
00:40 Bryce Harper's always an MVP candidate.
00:43 And look, I've seen them up close and personal.
00:45 Their starting pitching is going very deep into games.
00:48 Maybe indeed that is the recipe for success in Major League Baseball,
00:51 is getting your pitchers to go seven or eight innings.
00:53 And maybe nothing else matters, not leaving it to the bullpen.
00:56 And that's what the Phillies have essentially done outside of that start
00:59 that Wheeler had, which was shocking, Donnie, on Sunday against Miami.
01:02 I don't know what happened in that game.
01:03 But beyond that, the Phillies have just been fantastic.
01:07 And look, I think the Mets are about a 500 team, maybe a little bit better,
01:10 a little bit worse.
01:11 But you can only beat who's on the schedule, so to speak.
01:14 And the Phillies are doing just that.
01:15 >> And they have the most wins in all of the bigs at 31.
01:20 Late night in Los Angeles as a part of this short Thursday slate.
01:24 Tyler Glass now gets the start for the Dodgers.
01:27 And it's reflected in the price.
01:28 LA a minus 310 favorite as of this moment on the FanDuel Sportsbook,
01:34 starting a four game weekend set in Los Angeles against the Reds.
01:38 Now, since Craig has dropped 12 of their last 14 games,
01:42 it doesn't seem as though it will be any easier in LA.
01:46 Will it be on cruise control for the Dodgers tonight against the Reds?
01:51 >> I mean, look, it's a minus 300.
01:53 So far be it for me to do anything except for look at a run and a half maybe.
01:58 I mean, you could do an alternate minus two or minus two runs and a half.
02:02 It was really interesting, I thought yesterday, maybe it was the day before,
02:05 that the manager of the nationally all star team, Tori Lavello.
02:09 I don't know if you guys caught this, but he added David Bell to his roster.
02:13 And they're good buddies and have been together forever.
02:16 Usually what happens, by the way,
02:18 when a manager requests another manager to join the staff,
02:21 it's because they're having a little bit of a shaky time.
02:24 And that is definitely the case for David Bell.
02:25 The Reds have just been underperforming all season long.
02:28 Their expectation was, hey, look, maybe we finish 500, maybe a little bit better.
02:32 It has not gone as planned, and now Nick Lodolo's on the injured list.
02:35 So the vibes are not good in Cincinnati, and the Dodgers are tough to beat.
02:38 So simply put, I'm not gonna take the money line with the Reds.
02:43 But at the same time, I don't lay a run and a half usually with the home team ever.
02:47 Usually if I'm gonna do that,
02:48 I would take a shot with the team on the road to get that extra run.
02:52 >> Teams playing well in Major League Baseball this year for
02:54 the regular season race right now.
02:55 The Phillies with 31 wins, followed by the Yankees at 29,
02:58 the Orioles at 27, Dodgers 29, Braves 26, and the Guardians at 27.
03:03 Teams that we pretty much expected to be at the top of the standings here.
03:07 Are there any surprises to you, Craig, for me being a Phillies fan?
03:10 I'm surprised the Phillies have 31-13 as a record, because we usually wait till
03:13 late August and September to start playing our best baseball.
03:16 But everybody else on there, we're pretty much expected those teams.
03:20 >> Yeah, look, I think the Twins have been a surprise because they started off so
03:23 poorly and have all of a sudden picked it up.
03:25 But lately, the Rockies have been a positive surprise to win as many games as
03:28 they have to taking care of San Diego.
03:30 That sort of came out of nowhere too.
03:33 And on the negative perspective, look, I think the team that we didn't think would
03:37 be in the conversation of trading players would be the Toronto Blue Jays.
03:40 They're really in a pickle right now.
03:41 I mean, you would think that their window is now and has been and
03:44 probably will be, but they're just not winning.
03:46 So Houston, from a negative perspective too,
03:49 they seem to be getting a little bit better.
03:51 But nothing is out of the ordinary, I would say this year,
03:54 maybe Oakland winning as many games as they did early on, as we've talked about.
03:57 Guys, next weekend, when we start doing the shows after Memorial Day,
04:01 we take a really definitive look as to who's in and who's out.
04:04 >> How about those Royals?
04:06 26 wins for KC, very much on track to go over a win total of 73.5 that
04:11 Craig Mish and I are equally invested in.
04:15 So Craig, as we look elsewhere around MLB, really good pitching matchup tonight in
04:19 the friendly confines in the final 40 seconds of this segment.
04:23 Who gets the better tonight in Chicago?
04:25 Justin Steele for the Cubbies, Jared Jones, the Rook for the Buccos.
04:29 >> Yeah, Pittsburgh's not playing good ball, okay, at all.
04:33 But I may lean Pittsburgh here.
04:35 Steele, remember, is not getting deep enough into games,
04:39 I think, to make a huge impact.
04:40 And while the Cubs' bullpen has been good,
04:42 I think Jones is definitely right now the hotter starter of the two.
04:46 So I probably would lean a little more the road team tonight.
04:50 The Cubs have had all kinds of issues in the ninth inning as well.
04:52 Steele later on in the season, guys, he's gonna be an eight inning pitcher,
04:56 maybe even a nine inning pitcher.
04:57 But coming off the injured list, he's made a few starts.
04:59 I still would probably be hesitant to take the Cubs today.
05:02 >> Chicago's starting staff this year has been really good.
05:07 All right, Craig, you got about 40 minutes to really dive into the giant
05:10 century red jersey, we'll look forward to that on Newswire at 11 AM Eastern.
05:14 More on the early line next.
05:15 A short Thursday slate around Major League Baseball.
05:18 Only six games on the card as of this moment,
05:22 as the rest of the bigs get ready for a weekend ahead.
05:26 But the series finale of three during the midweek in Minneapolis,
05:30 between the Twins and the Yankees.
05:32 The Yanks have won both games to start this series, 5-1 on Tuesday,
05:37 4-0 yesterday, led by Aaron Judge.
05:40 The Twins at home, Donnie, have only scored one run in two games.
05:44 Does that change with some afternoon baseball on this Thursday in Minnesota?
05:49 The Twins booked as a slight home favorite, minus 116 on the money line.
05:54 Total is eight.
05:56 Are we going to see some offense out of Minnesota?
05:59 >> Here's what's interesting about this one.
06:00 You take a look at Clark Schmidt, who's been decent this season.
06:03 On the whole season, 174 batters.
06:04 But let's take a look at what he's been doing from the first half of the season
06:07 to just the last 30 days.
06:08 In the last 30 days, he's really taken it on the chin right now
06:11 with left-handed batters.
06:13 A .244 ISO and a weighted-on-base percentage of .364.
06:16 But he's been electric against right-handed batters.
06:19 Now, the lineup just came out, as I'm looking here, for the Minnesota Twins.
06:22 And the interesting part is, most of the key ingredients are in this lineup,
06:26 and it is a lot of left-handed batters, which you're going to like.
06:29 But the best batter in the lineup is Ryan Jeffers.
06:32 This season, excuse me, even over the last 30 days, Ben,
06:34 .421 ISO power number to .449 weighted-on-base percentage
06:38 against right-handed pitching.
06:39 Now, I just told you, Clark Schmidt's been very good
06:41 against right-handed batters.
06:42 But typically, you like your best guy in there.
06:44 But he is a catcher.
06:45 He's not in the lineup today.
06:47 So maybe an extra left, he'll get in there once these lineups sort of
06:50 formulate.
06:50 And I can see the statistics on that.
06:52 I see we can make some changes.
06:54 But a lot of left-handed bats in the lineup.
06:55 Minnesota should be game in this one.
06:58 If we flip it over to the other side and take a look at the Yankee batters
07:01 in this game, you're saying to yourself, all right,
07:03 who should be able to provide what we need at the plate?
07:06 Well, granted, a lot of these guys are starting to get hot.
07:08 First six batters in the lineup, every single one of them
07:10 is a 167 or higher ISO power number against right-handed pitching.
07:14 But if we look at the season, Joe Ryan hasn't been that bad.
07:17 Combined ISO power number, 159.
07:19 Weighted-on-base percentage, 279.
07:21 That's really good here.
07:23 65-degree temperatures, but finally, wind was blowing in yesterday,
07:27 blowing dead out the center field at 10 miles per hour.
07:30 Maybe a team total is a look today for the Minnesota Twins.
07:33 They got to score sooner or later.
07:34 They have left-handed bats.
07:36 They should be able to get some today.
07:38 Fourth and final game of a divisional duel
07:41 during this week in Fenway between the Red Sox and the Rays.
07:45 The Rays have won games one and three.
07:47 Boston victorious in game two.
07:50 Can they get the series split of four today?
07:53 It's been a pick 'em in the series.
07:55 It's a pick 'em in the fourth and final game today.
07:58 Minus 108 now on FanDuel on both sides.
08:01 Total is eight.
08:02 What gives in Boston?
08:04 Rain in the forecast, Ben, about 55 degrees.
08:07 Wind blowing in nine miles per hour.
08:08 Probably looking more towards an under in this environment.
08:11 Zach Littell will be on the mound.
08:12 But over the past 30 days, he's been good.
08:14 ISO power number we like to look at is a 118, well below average.
08:17 His weighted-on-base percentage, 315.
08:19 That's just under average.
08:21 So he's been pretty good.
08:22 First four batters in the lineup today do look decent for the Red Sox.
08:25 But again, it's all about who that pitcher is going to be.
08:27 And can you take advantage of that?
08:29 Cooper Criswell on the opposite side here for the Boston Red Sox.
08:32 83 batters he's faced, Ben, in the last 30 days.
08:35 How about this, a 141 ISO and a weighted-on-base percentage of 266.
08:39 If we take a look at his season-long numbers,
08:40 doesn't walk too many guys, strikes at around 25%.
08:43 We're probably looking at an under today in Fenway
08:46 with those weather conditions and with those pitchers.
08:49 We've seen at least seven runs in all three games so far
08:52 between Tampa and Boston.
08:54 But every pregame total has been eight or higher.
08:57 So we have stayed under in all three games so far.
09:02 Are the Astros starting to turn things around?
09:06 Houston has won four straight.
09:08 Houston has won five of its last six.
09:11 Can they complete the sweep this week over Oakland?
09:14 It's greater than a $2 favored chance to do just that.
09:17 Christian Javier on the bump for the Stros.
09:20 Minus 210.
09:21 That hefty favorite money line price.
09:23 Will it be five in a row for the Astros?
09:27 It probably will be.
09:28 And yesterday, a little bit disappointing for me.
09:30 I thought the Astros would win, which they did,
09:31 and they got a shutout.
09:32 But I thought they would score five runs in that game
09:34 against a journeyman that was on the mound.
09:36 Didn't happen, even though they scored two runs
09:38 in the first inning.
09:39 If we take a look at today, Estes will be on the mound here
09:41 as we're anticipating for the Oakland Athletics.
09:43 Not many statistics, but not a very good pitcher.
09:45 Just a matter of Houston can scrape out a couple runs.
09:48 And as I say that, though,
09:49 Christian Javier on the opposite side,
09:51 he hasn't been all that good this season
09:52 and hasn't been that good in the last 30 days,
09:54 which he has missed some time with.
09:56 If you're looking in the middle of that lineup here
09:58 for the Astros, who could they get out?
10:00 It would be Rooker, Langeliers, and Satterstrom there.
10:03 Those are the RBI guys for the Oakland Athletics.
10:05 For Houston, which I got an RBI taken away last night
10:07 from Kyle Tucker, who in the first inning had a double,
10:10 but they chose to give an error and no RBI.
10:13 He's probably the best of it as well today.
10:15 Kyle Tucker should be a good RBI shot again for the Astros.
10:18 (upbeat music)
10:20 [MUSIC]