Eric Schroeder
My free play is on the Angels of Anaheim, over the Baltimore Orioles, and I want you to list the starting pitchers: Parker Bridwell and Chris Tillman.
There is no line on this one yet, but I suspect the Angels will be the chalk. Doesn't matter, just play the Halos.
Bridwell has been solid his past two starts, allowing a combined two runs over 13 innings. The right-hander recorded one of his best starts of the year when he faced these same Orioles on Aug. 8, and allowed just one run over seven innings with no walks.
Meanwhile, Tillman returns to the rotation after a brief demotion to the bullpen. In his last start, back on Aug. 3, he survived just two innings. The right-hander's return to starting simply allows the Orioles to rest some of their rotation down the stretch. He won't last long.
All Angels.
1* ANGELS
Jeff Benton
Your Sunday freebie is the same as yesterday's freebie, and that is the White Sox and the Rangers to land Over the total one more time.
Friday's game did hold Under, but yesterday it was status quo with a combined 24 runs between the teams - and another Over.
That makes 5 of the 6 season series games this year Over the total, and 8 of the last 9 games overall since last season Over the total.
Last night's Over also puts the Pale Hose at 4 of their last 6 Over the total, and the Rangers in the Over column in 4 of their last 5.
Miguel Gonzalez has pitched well over his last pair of starts, but is just 2-7 on the road with a 5.81 ERA away from the South Side.
A.J. Griffin will counter and is making his 4th start since the month of May. It should be noted that 6 of his last 8 starts have landed Over the posted price.
The offense is locked in right now, so play the White Sox-Rangers Over the total.
4* WHITE SOX-TEXAS OVER
Jack Brayman
My free play tonight is the Interleague battle between the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays, as I like the defending World Series champs to win this one at Wrigley Field. The line is too big to play, so I'm playing it on the Run Line.
The National League Central race has been intriguing all season, whether the Milwaukee Brewers were leading, or the Cubbies. Now the St. Louis Cardinals are dancing in the party, and things are getting interesting.
The Cubs lead the Brewers by 2 games, and the Cardinals by 2 1/2 games. The Pittsburgh Pirates aren't that far off, just 6 1/2 back.
Chicago needs to win this game, and end the weekend on a winning note, before leaving for three-game sets in Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
The Cubs are 22-12 since the All-Star break, and I like them to wrap up this series sweep.
3* CUBS -1.5
The Prez
Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
Play: Atlanta -2..5 & Under 39.5
The Super Bowl runners-up travel to the Ketchup Bottle with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Falcons and the Steelers are the first of a Sunday doubleheader that positions the Steelers in a precarious situation playing their second and third teams for the majority of today's game due to a plethora of injuries and missing player personnel.
With Major League Baseball becoming stale until the October postseason begins it isn't a stretch to state that preseason football is better than no football and while the Steelers won’t have their primary positional players dressing today it is still Sunday football.
Without going into in-depth detail and game analysis it is noteworthy to mention that the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin are not playing to win in the August glorified practice games. Pittsburgh starters that have been ruled out are quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Atlanta was on the short end of a 23-20 score in the first preseason event versus the Miami Dolphins. However, the evaluations by head coach Dan Quinn explained his staff's priorities during the preseason. Like the Steelers coaches there is little priority to play the projected starters in this second exhibition matchup.
“The most important thing for us, right now, is to find out (about) the players (rookies and backups),” Quinn told NFL.com. “And to not inhibit them from – especially a young player – of things that could jam them up where we don’t see them at their very best. For us to see the best version of themselves, we want them to be really clean-thinking, really straightforward. I’m not even concerned about a disguise on defense or particularly a motion or a concept offensively. It’s how hard do they play?”
The key figures from the Atlanta roster that will not see action are wide outs Julio Jones and Taylor Gabriel There is a slight chance that Gabriel could dress and see a series but he is questionable until game time.
Falcons fans may get their first opportunity to see first-round draft pick Takkarist McKinley in action but he won't see extended snaps. The pass rusher is still coming back from offseason shoulder surgery.
Atlanta starting running back Devonta Freeman will not play in Sunday’s game. The Pro Bowler left Atlanta’s final training camp practice with what were believe to be “heat-related” issues, but it was determined that he showed symptoms of a concussion and was subsequently placed into the league’s concussion protocol according to NFL.com
“He reportedly had some concussion symptoms so we put him in the protocol for that and he’ll be out this week,” Quinn was quoted after Monday’s practice. “He may start practicing as we go but we’ll rule him out now for the game as more of a precautionary note.”
Running back Tevin Coleman and newly signed backs Kelvin Taylor and Jhurell Pressley will see the majority of the tailback touches today.
While this is the Sunday afternoon primetime NFL event it won't sport most of the primetime players that we will see on Sunday during the regular season and defense, or lack of offensive execution, rules the contest. The Free Pick today is a double-down.
Prez' NFLX Free Pick is a play on the Atlanta Falcons -2.5 points and UNDER the TOTAL of 39.5 points