Joe D’Amico

Boston Red Sox.

Winners of eight of their last 10, the Boston Red Sox are now on the right side of the playoff picture. Trust me when I tell you my friends, they plan to stay there. With a combination of explosive hitting and stable pitching, this team is now a force to be reckoned with (55-50). On the other hand, early on this regular season, the Athletics were one of the most pleasant surprises. But over recent months, they have come back down to Earth, and are just 44-62. The Red Sox have dominated the Athletics taking six of the last 10 overall meetings going back a little better than two years. The Athletics are a train wreck. Even if their offense starts to score, their pitching falls way short. As a matter of fact, they rank at or near the bottom in just about every major pitching category out there. Speaking of which, today’s starters are scheduled to be Bennett and Jump. The Boston left-hander is a very respectable 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA this season, while the Athletics left-hander is just 3-6 with a 4.42 ERA. No matter what happens here, I expect the Red Sox lineup to continue to surge, and get to the struggling Athletic starter. When the Athletics pull their starter, their atrocious bullpen will get steamrolled even further. Take Boston. Thank you.

Detroit Tigers.

A lot was expected of both Baltimore and Detroit this season. However, as we just passed the midway point of the regular season, both the Orioles and the Tigers possess losing records. It’s true, Baltimore has gotten the better of Detroit this season taking three of four matchups thus far, including the series-opener yesterday. But I think things turn around for the Tigers here, and they and their current three-game slide. I like the pitching matchups very much. Dean Kremer and Troy Melton are slated. The Baltimore right-hander is just 1-3 with a whopping ERA of 5.06 this season. He is making just his fourth start since missing a little better than 2 1/2 months due to a quad injury. He has gone just 1-1 with an ERA of 4.20 in the prior three turns. In three career appearances against Detroit, which includes two starts, he is winless at 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA. The Tigers right-hander has been solid this season, earning a 5-1 record with an anemic ERA of 1.95. He has allowed two runs or less in nine of his 10 turns this season. The team has won his last four outings, and going back a bit further seven of his last eight starts. At home this season has been nearly unbeatable, possessing a 3-1 record with a 2.63 ERA. I just feel Detroit bounces back here in a big way following yesterday‘s defeat. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Despite the loss yesterday, the Milwaukee Brewers are still one of the most consistent teams in all of baseball thus far this season. They currently are perched atop the National League Central with a 6.0-game cushion, at 66-40. They’re one of the best road teams in the N.L. as well, sporting a 30-20 away record in 2026. It’s true, San Francisco has gotten the better of them taking three in a row and three of the five matchups thus far this regular season. However, the Giants are certainly not in their class. They sit in fourth place in the National League West, 22.0-games back at 45-61. I feel the fact the Brewers lineup was blanked yesterday, 3-0, will further compel them to come back here in a big way and make a statement. Prior to yesterday‘s loss, this team had prevailed in seven of their previous nine outings. With the combination of explosive hitting and consistent pitching, this team can do it all. Speaking of pitching, Logan Henderson takes the hill today. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA on the campaign. The team has won his last six outings, as he has been superb. At home here, Landen Roupp will take the bump. The right-hander is 7-8 with a 3.93 ERA on the campaign as the team has prevailed in just two of his last 14 turns this season. He has pitch well over his last few outings. But at home, he is just 3-4 with a 3.80 ERA. I really feel Milwaukee turns things around today and makes a statement. Take the Brewers. Thank you.

Joe D’s MLB is RED HOT. Today, we continue to SCORCH THE BOOKS on the diamond with 3 BIG MLB WINNERS: (3-0 L3) HOME RUN, (3-0 L3) DOUBLE PLAY, and (4-1 L5) GRAND SLAM.  

Tuesday Free winner: Cincinnati Reds.

Game 932.

10:40 AM PST/1:40 PM EST.

Yes, it’s true, the Cincinnati Reds sit in last place in the National League Central, 16-5-games back, possessing one of the worst overall records in the N.L., at 49-55. It is also true the Cleveland Guardians are sitting in second place in the American League Central, 2.5-games back, at 54-53. It is also true the Guardians have taken two of three meetings so far in 2026 against the Reds. However, baseball is a very streaky sport. Right now, Cleveland is sliding while Cincinnati is starting to find their legs. The Guardians have dropped five in a row, being outscored by a combined, 28-10 during that span. Meanwhile, the Reds have won four of their last five with a combination of solid hitting and very strong pitching. Prior to this season, Cincinnati had gotten a better of Cleveland, taking five of the previous six matchups, all played between May and June last season. In my opinion, with a big difference in this matchup giving the home team a big edge is the starting pitchers. The Guardians will send Slade Cecconi to the hill while the Reds give Chase Burns the nod. The Cleveland right-hander is just 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA on the campaign, as he has seen his ERA skyrocket over his last three outings, going 0-1 with a 7.42 ERA. Over his career, Cecconi has struggled against Cincinnati, going winless at 0-3 with a 4.05 ERA. The Reds right-hander has been superb this season, earning a 12-1 record with a very respectable ERA of 2.42. Remarkably, the team has won his last seven turns, and 11 of his last 12 outings. At home this season has been nearly unbeatable, sporting a 6-1 mark with a 2.32 ERA. As I mentioned a moment ago, I feel the big difference in this matchup is the starting pitchers. I’m gonna’ stick with that and take the Cincinnati Reds. Thank you.