Sean Murphy

My selection is on the 'over' between Detroit and Kansas City at 7:40 pm et on Wednesday.

While the Tigers did manage to win last night's game in extra innings it may set them up poorly for Wednesday's contest as at least three bullpen arms may be unavailable.

Off last night's low-scoring affair, the weather could play a factor on Wednesday and certainly favors the hitters with the temperature expected to hover around the mid-80's with the wind blowing out to left field.

Detroit will send its ace Tarik Skubal to the mound. He eclipsed his career-high in innings pitched long ago and has shown signs of wearing out, allowing 25 hits and seven earned runs in 24 2/3 innings of work over his last four outings. He'll be up against a Royals club that is in line for a bounce-back performance and ranks eighth in the majors in weighted on base average at home this season.

Alec Marsh will counter for Kansas City. While he has pitched reasonably well lately, he's not a candidate to go deep into the ball game, leaving plenty of work for an up-and-down Royals bullpen. Detroit's offense has cooled slightly but still ranks a respectable 16th in the majors in wOBA over the last seven days. Take the over (8*).

Interleague Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between San Francisco and Baltimore at 6:35 pm et on Wednesday.

The Giants offense exploded for 10 runs in last night's rout of the Orioles. I'm anticipating a lower-scoring affair in Baltimore on Wednesday.

The forecast calls for relatively cool temperatures and the wind blowing in from right-center. That favors the pitchers in this matchup at Camden Yards.

Hayden Birdsong will start for San Francisco. He owns a FIP north of five this season so obviously we've seen some shakiness in his rookie campaign. With that being said, he is coming off a solid outing against the Brewers and the Giants have given him a rather short leash lately. San Francisco's bullpen should have all hands on deck thanks to an off day on Monday and using four relievers but for only 41 pitches in last night's blowout.

Dean Kremer gets the start for Baltimore. He's coming off consecutive strong outings, lowering his FIP to 4.23 and WHIP to 1.26 on the campaign. Current Giants hitters are just 5-for-26 (.192) off of the right-hander.

While the Giants bats did come alive last night, neither team grades out well offensively over the last seven days with San Francisco ranking 26th in weighted on base average and Baltimore checking in 30th. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Atlanta over Cincinnati at 6:40 pm et on Wednesday.

The Braves blew a 5-1 lead in an eventual 6-5 loss last night. I look for them to bounce back on Wednesday.

Atlanta now sits two games back of a Wild Card spot in the National League. The teams the Braves are chasing don't seem to be slowing down so they'll need to pick it up if they want to stay in the race.

Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach will take the ball for Atlanta on Wednesday. He's quietly having a fine debut campaign, sporting a 3.35 FIP and 1.10 WHIP in 18 starts. After a rocky outing against the Blue Jays, the right-hander rebounded by holding the Dodgers to two earned runs over six innings in a 6-2 Braves win in his most recent start.

Jakob Junis will counter for Cincinnati. Since being re-inserted into the Reds starting rotation earlier this month, he's been on the hill for losses against the Mets and Cardinals. Junis has posted solid numbers this season but much of his success has come out of the bullpen.

Despite struggling to tack on insurance runs last night, Atlanta still ranks inside the top-10 in weighted on base average over the last seven days. I like the fact that all of the key arms in the Braves bullpen should be good to go for this game after last night's disappointing result. Take Atlanta (8*).

Wednesday MLB Free play. My selection is on Baltimore over San Francisco at 6:35 pm et on Wednesday.

The Orioles got throttled 10-0 in the opener of this series last night but I look for them to bounce back on Wednesday.

Hayden Birdsong will get the start for visiting San Francisco. The Giants have lost each of his last seven starts. While he did turn in a solid five innings in his most recent outing, he's struggled as a whole since the beginning of August. Note that Birdsong has recorded an ERA more than two runs higher on the road compared to at home this season.

Dean Kremer takes the ball for Baltimore. He's coming off consecutive terrific outings. He was a 13-game winner a year ago but is just 7-9 this season. Interestingly, his numbers have actually improved as he sports a 4.23 FIP and 1.26 WHIP. Note that current Giants hitters are just 5-for-26 (.192) against him.

The key arms in both bullpens are in good shape entering this contest following last night's lopsided affair. Take Baltimore.

N.L. East Game of the Month. My selection is on New York over Washington at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday.

Maybe we have a bit of a false sense of security with the Mets right now but I'm going to back them at what I feel is a fair price given the matchup on Wednesday.

Washington isn't really hitting right now. It ranks 26th in the majors in weighted on base average over the last seven days (as of Tuesday evening). On Wednesday the Nationals will be up against Mets starter Jose Quintana. Note that New York has won each of his last three starts. Quintana enters this outing having allowed eight hits over 13 2/3 shutout innings over his last two starts. Also of note, current Nationals hitters are just 8-for-51 (.157) with a .501 OPS against the veteran left-hander.

Rookie D.J. Herz will counter for Washington. Like Quintana, he has also pitched well lately. Of course it helps that his last two starts came against the Marlins and Pirates. Current Mets hitters are 11-for-37 (.297) with an .874 OPS against Herz.

The better arms in Washington's bullpen have been overworked lately, leaving me concerned on Wednesday as Herz hasn't shown the ability to work deep into ball games. Take New York (10*).