The 2017 MLB season continues this Tuesday, the 16th of May. Around 40 games into a long 162 game season, many teams are still trying to find their feet, however, it won't stop us from trying to find some value in the games as we preview some of the key matchups on Tuesday below.
Houston Astros at Miami Marlins (9.10am AEST ESPN2HD)
The Astros are the hottest team in the west at the moment with a 25-11 overall record. They head into a three-game series against the Marlins having won the last five straight and are 8-2 in the last ten. Astros have selected right hand pitcher Joe Musgrove to kick things off in Miami. Musgrove is a young pitcher who is still trying to find his feet. Even with a record of 2-3 and an ERA of 5.02, there are still some positives and talk that he could be a top three pitcher. Even with the pitching being talk of conversation with the Astros, they are still finding ways to win.
The Marlins are having a tough time gathering a win at this current time and are last in the NL East division. With a record of 13-22, the Marlins are at the opposite end of the scale to the Astros. The Marlins have dropped the last five and got swept by Cardinals in their last series. Things won't get easy as they meet the top team in the Western Conference. Right hand pitcher Dan Straily gets the nod for this game. Straily has allowed no more than four hits per game in six starts and has shown consistency with the ball.
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Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians (8.10am AEST)
The Rays travel to Cleveland to take on the Indians. This is the first time these two teams have met for the year. This game looks like it has the potential to be a pitchers duel. Rays right hand pitcher Chris Archer 3-1 will start as he tries to take home his fourth consecutive win of the year. In his last three starts he has allowed no more than four runs and has strikeout over 27 batters in just over 21 innings. The Rays are down the bottom end of their highly competitive division and are 7-11 on the road this season.
Cleveland have spilt the last ten games and need some of that early form to lift themselves over the Rays. Indians Carlos Carrasco will pitch on Tuesday morning, he is highly rated as he had the fifth best ERA (1.86) in the league. In 48 innings, he has just allowed 10 runs and has won three of his last four starts. Cleveland have an outstanding Bullpen and it was on show early as they posted the second-best bullpen in the first month of Baseball. Cody Allen is 9 for 9 in save opportunities when closing out this year and has allowed only two runs.
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Atlanta Braves at Toronto Blue Jays (9.10am AEST)
Atlanta will have their work cutout in this battle. The Braves are at the bottom of the NL East with an 13-21 record. They are coming off a loss to Miami and are 3-7 in the previous ten. Bartolo Colon will start for the Braves and will need his best performance of the year as he was on the verge of being dropped out of rotation. He is 1-4 this year and has a ERA of 7.22.
The Blue Jays are running hot in the month of May and have won four of the past five series. They also have won five in a row after a walk off victory on Sunday and are starting to send a message to their rivals in the AL East. Mike Bolsinger gets the nod for this home game at Rogers Center. He is 0-1 this year but did hold the Indians to only two earned runs in five Innings.
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