MLB Tuesday best bets: McKenzie, Garcia face off in youthful duel
We went 2-1 with our MLB picks on Monday and would have pulled off the perfect slate if the Cleveland Indians didn't foil our plans late against the Houston Astros. Can we sweep the board on Tuesday?
Nationals under 4.5 runs (-130) vs. Marlins
The Miami Marlins' ineptitude at the plate has dragged down Trevor Rogers' record (7-6), but don't let that distract you from how dominant he's been. The 23-year-old has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 16 of 18 starts this season, helping Miami hold its opponents to four or fewer runs in 14 of those starts.
The Washington Nationals are scorching-hot of late, but they've still plated four or fewer runs in nearly 60% of their games this season, including their lone meeting with Rogers earlier this season. Expect a similar showing in this one.
Rays-Orioles under 7.5 (-110)
It's hard to know what to make of this Tampa Bay Rays offense, which has scored no more than one run in three of its last five games and plated seven runs apiece in the other two. They're more likely to struggle against Baltimore Orioles ace John Means, who boasts a stellar 2.28 ERA with seven quality starts in 12 contests.
On the other side, Shane McClanahan seems to be settling in after a bumpy stretch in early June, and his stuff should overwhelm an Orioles lineup that ranks among the worst in baseball. Games with a total below eight have gone under 58.3% of the time this season, so don't let the low number deter you here.
Indians-Astros under 9 (-115)
Whatever was ailing Triston McKenzie through his first 11 starts seems to have been cured by his recent trip to the minors, as the Indians righty fired off seven shutout innings and allowed just one run in the longest outing of his career. He struck out nine Kansas City Royals batters, one short of his career high.
Astros youngster Luis Garcia has been a steady force all season, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 11 of 15 starts while owning a 2.77 ERA since May 15. If he can carve up Cleveland's lineup like most have this year, this game won't approach the total.
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.