The set-up: I’m going to lay the price for the extra 1.5 runs. Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the call for the visitors, while the home side counters with David Price.

The pitchers: Ryu (10-2, 1.73 ERA): "He's been the epitome of consistency," LA manager Dave Roberts. "He's been the best pitcher in the National League."

Price (7-2, 3.24) has been the best pitcher on the team this year, but I still think he’s over-classed on the mound tonight.

The pick: LA bounced back from a series opening loss to win convincingly last night and while the outright win isn’t out of the question here either, in a contest which I see being decided late or in extra frames, I’m going to lay the price for the extra runs.

6* RUN-LINE BLOWOUT

The set-up: Milwaukee enters off a 5-4 win on Saturday and I think it’ll carry over that momentum in what I believe to be another favorable matchup for it on the mound. The visitors hand the ball to Tyler Beede, while the home side goes with Jhoulys Chacin.

The pitchers: Beede (2-3, 5.64 ERA) has been hit or miss this year, although both his victories so far have come on the road.

Chacin (3-9, 5.40) has struggled mightily of late, but a date vs. the Giants is just what the doctor ordered for the veteran to get untracked, as he’s 9-7 with a 3.11 ERA in 22 games vs. them.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but San Fran is a poor 13-20 this year as an underdog in the +125 to +175 range, while Milwaukee is a sharp 21-13 (+6.9 units) this season in all “day” games.

7* BALL BASHER

The set-up: Toronto pulled off a rare upset over the Yankees yesterday and it’ll be trying to do it again here. New York will be out to atone for that subpar effort and when the smoke does finally clear, I expect this total to sneak above the posted number. The Blue Jays hand the ball to Marcus Stroman, while the home side goes with Masahiro Tanaka.

The pitchers: Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) hasn’t pitched since June 29th because of a pectoral issue. Overall Stroman is 6-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 16 career starts vs. New York.

Tanaka (5-5, 3.86) last took the mound on July 5th vs. Tampa Bay when he’d allow four runs off six hits over six innings.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but the Jays have already seen the total go over the number in four of five this year on the road when the total is between 10 to 10.5, while the Yanks have seen the total soar over in five of seven at home when total is set in the same range. This number is a little low, play the over.

8* TOTAL ECLIPSE on the over Jays/Yankees.

The set-up: Kyle Freeland makes his first start back in the big leagues after a stint in the minors for the Rockies and I think he’ll make the most of it. Freeland went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA last year. The visitors hand the ball to Tanner Roark.

The pitchers: Roark (5-6, 3.51 ERA) had a “dud” of a performance in his final start before the break, giving up three home runs to the Brewers.

Freeland (2-6, 7.13) struggled in May, going 0-2 with a 10.17 ERA over six starts.

The pick: I’ll call the starters a “wash,” but note that the Reds are still a poor 9-19 on the road this season as a road dog in the +100 to +150 range, while the Rockies are 14-4 (+8.3 units) this year as a home favorite in the -125 to -175 range. Lay the very reasonable price.

10* COACH’S CORNER Rockies.

The set-up: The Rangers came from behind to knock off the Astros 9-8 yesterday, but I think the division leaders will bounce back here. The visitors hand the ball to Wade Miley, while the home side counters with Mike Minor.

The pitchers: Miley (7-4, 3.28 ERA) beat the Rangers 4-2 on May 9th at home, allowing two runs off two hits with seven K’s over six innings. Houston is 5-4 in his last nine starts, despite Miley posting a sharp 3.04 ERA in that span.

Minor (8-4, 2.54) is 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA over his last six starts. Difficult to say too many negative things about Minor, so I won’t bother. I simply feel he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time here vs. the hungry Astros.

The pick: Additionally note that Houston is still 14-6 this year as a road favorite in the -125 to -175 range, while Texas is just 24-30 in its last 54 after scoring nine or more runs. Look for the hungry Astros to get back on track after last night’s loss.

9* SITUATIONAL PITCHING BEAT-DOWN on the Houston Astros.

The set-up: The massive talent discrepancy on the mound absolutely justifies in laying the 1.5 runs for the reasonable mid-sized price in my opinion. New York comes in off a satisfying 4-0 win in yesterday’s opener and I believe an even bigger blowout is in the cards here. The visitors hand the ball to Clayton Richard, while the home side goes with JA Happ.

The pitchers: Richard (1-5, 6.23 ERA) is so far 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA in two stars vs. the Yankees this season. Happ most recently allowed three runs over six innings in an 8-1 loss to the Orioles.

Happ (7-4, 5.02) is 14-4 with a 4.05 ERA overall since coming over to the Yankees from Toronto. Most recently he gave up one run over six innings in a no-decision vs. the Rays.

The pick: Happ has dominated his former team in the past, going 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA in four career starts vs. Toronto. I expect Happ to easily out duel his volatile counterpart. Lay the 1.5 runs.

8* RUN-LINE DESTRUCTION on New York Yankees.

The set-up: No need to overthink this one in my opinion, as the sheer talent discrepancy on the mound absolutely justifies in laying this larger price. The visitors hand the ball to the volatile Ivan Nova, while the home side goes with the steady Mike Fiers.

The pitchers: Nova (4-7, 5.88 ERA) has the third worst ERA in the majors among qualifiers.

Fiers (8-3, 3.78) comes in on top form, having won six straight (he’s allowed just one earned run in each of his past four starts.)

The pick: Fiers is also 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA in six career match-ups for the Chi-Sox. I’m banking on Fiers continuing his domination of this match-up and I expect him to carry over his recent momentum in this favorable position. Lay the price.

7* Athletics

The set-up: The Giants closed the first half on a 5-1 run and they’re only 5.5 games back of a playoff spot as the second half gets underway. The Brewers scuffled down the stretch of the first half and they sit a half-game behind the Cubs for a playoff position. The break couldn’t have come at a worst time for San Fran in my opinion and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Milwaukee. The visitors hand the ball to rookie Shaun Anderson, while the home side goes with veteran Chase Anderson.

The pitchers: Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.23 ERA) has allowed between two and four earned runs in all of his ten starts this season.

Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.32) comes in on top form, having gone 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA over his last 15 frames of work.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but San Fran is still just 73-103 (-28.1 units) the last two years after a victory, while Milwaukee is still 11-5 this season as a home favorite of -150 or higher. I’m expecting a blowout from start to finish.

8* BREWERS

The set-up: Neither of these veteran starters can be happy with how they’ve performed this year. Each side comes out rested after the break and I think that “home field” can’t be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this matchup once it’s all said and done. The Pirates hand the ball to Chris Archer, while the Cubs go with Yu Darvish.

The pitchers: Archer (3-6, 5.49 ERA) has only pitched beyond six innings twice this year.

Darvish (2-4, 5.01) won’t be lacking for motivation here as he’s 0-6 in his career at Wrigley Field.

The pick: Take it for what you will though, but Pittsburgh is a poor 10-13 this season as a road dog in the +100 to +150 range, while Chicago is a “lights out” 18-6 (+10.8 units) this year at home as a favorite in the -100 to -150 range. Expect the Cubs to continue their dominance in this role to open the second half.

10* COACH’S CORNER Cubs

The set-up: Chase Anderson of the Brewers squares off against Joe Musgrove of the Pirates in the final game before the Mid-Summer Classic. Both have looked brilliant at times this season and very pedestrian in others. For a number of different reasons though, I believe each will get chased early and because of that, I look for this total to fly over sooner, rather than later.

The pitchers: Anderson (4-2, 4.31 ERA) is 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 career outings vs. Pittsburgh.

Musgrove (6-7, 4.13) is 0-1 with a 7.13 ERA in three career starts vs. the Brewers.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but Milwaukee has seen the total eclipse the posted number in 29 of its last 49 vs. right-handed starters, while Pittsburgh has seen the total sail over in 30 of 49 this year vs. clubs with winning records. Both teams are hungry for the series victory and everything points to a classic “slug-fest.” Play the over.

Milwaukee Brewers/Pittsburgh Pirates OVER

10* play