St. Louis is warming up, just as we've been expecting, while Pittsburgh is running rough at the moment. And momentum means a bunch to us when handicapping baseball games. We're taking the Cardinals for our free MLB pick for Wednesday.

The Dodgers get our baseball handicapping check-marks in all three of our major handicapping factors. Also, seven of their last eight wins have come by at least two runs. So we'll take a chance and play the Blue Crew against the run line.

Based on recent performance against these opponents, we give Miley a slight edge in the pitching match-up here. We'll also give Houston a short edge in the bullpen comparison, and Astros bats are hot. But all of that still doesn't warrant a price so high. Oakland is a team that's 16-6 over its last 22 games and 18-8 on the season against left-handed starters. We see betting value with the Athletics at the underdog price.

We're calling this pitching match-up a push, thanks mainly to both teams' unfamiliarity with both starters. And while San Francisco owns a terrific bullpen, it struggles with the sticks. Also, the Giants are hot, but we're very dubious as to how long they can keep that up. We're betting Chicago for our free MLB pick for Monday.

We don't know who's going to win this game. However, when we take into consideration Sabathia's road ERA of 5.84 ERA this season, plus New York's hot bats, plus Minnesota's ability to hit left-handed pitching, we do expect some runs to be scored. So we're playing the over here for our free MLB pick.

Woodruff is going great at the moment, but Young's been tough, too, and unfamiliarity may play to his advantage. Also, while Milwaukee might own short edges in the splits with the sticks and in the bullpen comparison, they aren't enough to warrant a price of -150. We see baseball betting value here with Arizona as a home dog. 

Houston owns a short edge in the pitching match-up and significant advantages with the sticks and the bullpen. So we like the Astros here. But we don't like that line. So we'll chase a better price and give the run and a half with Houston against the run line.

We don't know who's going to win this game. Neither team is playing too great as of late, and neither starting pitcher is throwing too well. Now, throw in a couple of the most flammable bullpens in baseball, and we expect a few runs to be scored. We're going with the over here for our free MLB pick.

Strasburg and Washington own the edge in the pitching match-up, but Atlanta holds advantages with the sticks and in the bullpen. We like the Braves here at the home-dog price.

Texas owns the edge in the pitching match-up, but Arizona might hold a short edge with the sticks and in the bullpen comparison. We see betting value here with the Diamondbacks at the underdog price.

Los Angeles owns advantages in the pitching match-up, in the splits with the sticks and the bullpen comparison. So we like the Dodgers here. And considering three of its four wins over Philadelphia this season have come by at least two runs we'll play LA against the MLB run line.

Atlanta is playing in the right direction as of late, while Milwaukee is headed in the wrong direction. And momentum means a lot in our baseball handicapping guidebook. So we're betting the Braves Monday night.

We're calling this pitching match-up close to a wash, and the same goes for the battling splits and the bullpen comparison. So we see betting value here with Tampa at the underdog price.

Astros starter Verlander has owned the Rangers hitters in his last two which included one here at Globe Life Park, but he did have his struggles in his first visit allowing four runs over four innings. He has been out of form in his last four with just one QS and allowing nine HRs. Rangers starter Jurado pitched well against the Astros in his only career start, and while he has been mediocre at best this season, he has been better during the day with a 3.49 ERA. Texas is a very good 31-18 at home this season, are hitting well and can get the money here at a big price. Jurado did get blown up in his latest so his confidence may be an issue, and with Verlander's recent struggles, the total looks good as well.

We give Maeda the edge in the pitching match-up, and while Boston might own an advantage with the sticks, LA owns the better bullpen. Also, revenge isn't always a reliable handicapping factor, but it might mean something here. We like the Dodgers for our free MLB pick on this game.

Giolito owns the better numbers this season, but Lester holds the better recent track record against Saturday's opponents. So we're calling this pitching match-up a push. And other factors are about even, too. But the White Sox are playing the better ball as of late, so we like the home team getting a short home-dog price for our free MLB pick in this spot.

We're calling this pitching match-up a wash, and while Minnesota owns edges with the sticks and in the bullpen, they don't seem to warrant such a stiff price on this game. We see excellent betting value here with Texas at the underdog odds.

Verlander gets the check-mark in the pitching match-up, and Houston gets the check-mark in the bullpen comparison, so we like the Astros here. Also, of Houston's 13 wins with the "Big V" this year 10 have come by two runs or more. So we'll take the Astros and give the run and a half against the run line.