JutPicks
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Pickswise was nice enough to give me the opportunity to write up my plays for you all. For those of you who don’t know me, they refer to me as JutPicks on Twitter. I post all my plays with brief writeups every day. Now I get to write even more with no character limit!
I pride myself on being as transparent as they come. My MLB record from last season and this season is listed in my bio. On the year, I’ve recorded 167 wins and 124 losses for a gain of +29.53 units. Without further ado, let’s dive into my favorite plays for Wednesday.
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Lucas Giolito (CWS) Over 5.5 hits allowed (-115)
Line available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox is up there with the likes of Jose Berrios for most disappointing pitchers in baseball. In 22 starts this season he has an ERA of 5.34 and allows over 1.15 hits per inning pitched. He ranks in the top 15 in hits allowed at 134 and it does not get easier tonight against a Baltimore Orioles squad that is hungry for a postseason bid. The Orioles are fresh off a gritty win against AL Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease. They accumulated 4 runs in 5.1 innings pitched by the 26-year-old.
The O’s have taken huge strides against right-handed pitching since the all-star break. They are hitting .267 and have a slugging percentage of .422; both top 10 in the majors during that span. The top of their lineup consists of Cedrick Mullins, Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and Ryan Mountcastle, who all possess an average of at least .245 against right-handers and are more than capable of driving the ball out of the park.
Giolito is over this line in 14 of 22 starts with half of the misses being against teams that rank in the bottom half of average against right-handed pitching. On the road Giolito has allowed at least 6 hits in 7 of 12 road starts while the Orioles have a top 10 batting average and on-base percentage against right-handed pitching at Camden Yards.
Be sure to check out our Baltimore Orioles vs Chicago White Sox predictions
Kansas City Royals Under 1.5 runs First 5 Innings (-115)
Line available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen has been one of our most profitable pitchers this season. The 27-year-old has found a home in Arizona after being traded away from the Miami Marlins. In 23 starts this season Gallen has an ERA of 2.78 and an opponent batting average of .195. He’s a name that you’re going to want to know leading into next season as he could contend for a Cy Young Award.
Gallen and the Diamondbacks will travel to Kansas City and take on the 50-75 Royals. The Royals were sellers at the trade deadline and have struggled against right-handed pitching since then. They are hitting at a bottom-10 rate in terms of average at .237 and on-base percentage that ranks 7th worst in the majors. In 19 games started by right-handers in August, the Royals have failed to score 2 runs in the first 5 innings in 11 of them. Queue in Gallen, who has been sensational since the break. In 7 starts since July 13 Gallen has held his opposition to under 2 runs in 5 of those starts — including a current 21-inning shutout streak.
I expect Gallen to continue to prove to the baseball world that he belongs in the conversation of the best young arms in the game.
Be sure to check out our Arizona Diamondbacks vs Kansas City Royals predictions
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