Did the Yankees start celebrating too soon last night? ...

A temporary blip last night for the Rays, who still made a pretty good fight of it in Houston, losing only 2-1 to Astros co-ace Framber Valdez. It was also the latest impressive effort from the Rays pitching staff, which has allowed allowed only 19 runs across a current 8-2 uptick. Tampa Bay has also won the last six starts made by Zack Littell, who goes tonight after working into the 7th inning in four of five May starts, in which he's posted a solid 2.84 ERA. Meanwhile, Houston, worried about pitching depth with Roniel Blanco shelved, continues to look for viable rotation options, and not sure rookie Colton Gordon (5.52 ERA in his three starts) is the answer. Play Rays on Money Line

Was last night finally the buy signal on the Rangers? Perhaps, after Texas has been back-and-forth thru the first two months but might have lit a fuse last night in an 11-1 romp at Arlington. The offense finally clicked with 15 hits and a couple of homers (Marcus Semien, who was 4-for-4, hitting one and Wyatt Langford hitting another) as Jack Leiter also worked 5 2.3 shutout innings. For tonight, note that Patrick Corbin (3.75 ERA) has been serviceable on the mound all season, while Cards starter Sonny Gray has really slipped on the road, with a 6.75 ERA in three away starts. Play Rangers on Money Line

The Yankees have had seven months to stew over the World Series loss to the Dodgers and finally get their chance at revenge this weekend. They hit Chavez Ravine hot, having won 9 of 10, and rested after being in the area with a midweek sweep in Anaheim. Aaron Boone also has the right guy on the mound in Max Fried, posting Cy Young-caliber numbers, at 7-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP into Friday. Meanwhile, the Bronx Bombers can do some business vs. the Tony Gonsolin, a weak link in an already somewhat-ragged LA rotation, and struggling in his last two starts, losses to the Angels and Mets while posting an 8.00 ERA and 2.11 WHIP. Play Yankees on Money Line

Did the D-backs bottom out in Wednesday's 10-1 loss to the Bucs? At one point Arizona had been outscored 19-0 across one stretch covering the back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh, as the breakdowns extended to sloppy defense and featured the latest disappearing acts by the bullpen, which might bear most of the responsibility for Arizona's sub-.500 record. Tonight, pressure is on Merrill Kelly to stay on the mound as long as possible, but not sure he can outpitch the Nats' Jake Irvin, who spun eight shutout innings at the Giants in his last start. Washington also flies into Phoenix after back-to-back wins at Seattle, scoring 9 in each. Let's make the D-backs win before being scared to go against them! Play Nats on Money Line.

We like to adhere to an old handicapping adage...look for reasons to go with, not go against, teams that are winning. Such as the Rays, undoubtedly on the upswing with wins in 8 of 9, allowing just 17 runs across that span, and off a smashing 13-3 win last night in the series opener at Houston. The challenge is more daunting tonight against the Astros "Ace 1-B" Framber Valdez, with Houston a winner in his last four starts. Yet TB starter Ryan Pepiot is off of seven shutout innings last Sunday vs. the Blue Jays, and the Rays offense is smoking after that eruption last night. It's also a very nice price tonight for a team on an 8-1 uptick! Play Rays on Money Line

This is a bit like last season, when the Mariners were prone to flat stretches when the offense went into extended slumps. Into tonight, while losing five of eight, Seattle has been blanked twice (including last night) and held to two runs or fewer on two other occasions. Thursday starter Emerson Hancock does seem blessed by good fortune, as despite a 5.95 ERA, the Mariners have won in six of his last seven starts. But the way the offense is struggling, and Mackenzie Gore (3.48 ERA) mostly solid on the mound for the Nats, not sure Hancock gets customary run support tonight. Play Nats on the Money Line.

Houston...we might have a problem. Roniel Blanco onto the shelf means that the Astros' staff is getting a bit thin, and Ryan Gusto's audition for a spot in the rotation might be turning permanent despite his so-so numbers, including a 4.58 ERA. Houston has also lost in the last four games in which Gusto appeared (two starts). Meanwhile, after a shaky stretch, Shane Baz straightened out for the Rays in his last start, limiting Toronto to one run and four hits across 5 2/3 IP while picking up a win last Saturday, resembling his April form when posting a 2.48 ERA. Tampa Bay pitching has excelled in the current 7-1 uptick, allowing only 14 runs, with the bullpen especially effective. Play Rays on Money Line

Chris Sale can probably sue for non-support. The Braves are guilty of paltry offense behind him, and have scored only 11 runs across his last five starts. That hasn't deterred Sale, who has posted a 1.37 ERA in May and is now working into the eighth inning in recent starts. Atlanta also represents a step up from recent Phils foes such as Pittsburgh, Colorado, and the A's, who helped a recent nine-game Philly win streak. Still, the Braves were also blanked by Ranger Suarez and Philly relievers 2-0 on Tuesday, and Thursday starter Zack Wheeler has an 0.68 ERA across four May starts. Play Braves-Phillies Under (Gm 2 DH).

A belated ninth-inning rally by the Halos got them inside of the Run Line last night, but it was still a fourth loss in a row following eight straight wins. The offense has stalled, having scored just once in 26 innings before the two runs in the ninth last night, but this happens to a homer-centric offense that otherwise can't manufacture runs. Also, note no walks and 11 Ks by Halo batters on Tuesday, another telltale sign of problems, as plate discipline is always capable of hurting the Angels. Note Clarke Schmidt's last four starts at sea level have a 3.13 ERA as the Yanks have won 8 of 9 and go for the Big A sweep tonight. Play Yankees on Run Line

Once in a while we can risk a recommendation on the Pirates, who give us two good reasons to look at them for Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix: 1) Paul Skenes is on the mound, and as a slight underdog to boot, and 2) Pittsburgh rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win last night at Chase Field, 9-6. That was just the latest example of a series of implosions by the Arizona bullpen, which has kept the D-backs at a .500 ceiling to date. Relievers are likely to be working on Wednesday afternoon, too, because Zac Gallen's recent efforts on the hill have left much to be desired (7.56 ERA last three starts). Play Pirates on the Money Line.

Can't win 'em all, and the Rays were going to cool down at some point, though it took some solid work from Joe Ryan and Twins relievers last night to give Minnesota a chance at a rubber match for this midweek set on Wednesday afternoon. The Twins have won four straight starts made by Pablo Lopez, though today they're going to have to try to do some business vs. Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen, who hasn't allowed a run across 12 IP of his last two starts, covering 12 IP. The Rays, whose six-game uptick ended last night, have allowed just 14 runs across their seven games as the rotation and the bullpen have started to click. Play Rays on Money Line

Re: the Halos, this is what can happen to a team of free-swingers. For a week or so, several of them got hot at the same time (with eight straight wins a result), but it can turn around quickly, and since the Angels have few other ways to manufacture runs, the offense can also stall in a snap. Now a three-game skid, only three runs total, with types such as Janson Junk, Edward Cabrera, and Ryan Yarbrough tying them in knots. Carlos Rodon, off of two superb starts vs. the Rangers and Mets, can similarly fluster Halo hitters as the Yanks look to win their 8th in 9 games. Play Yankees on Run Line

Wow! The A's just snapped a debilitating 11-game spinout with a comeback win on Sunday vs. the Phils, and we often like to back teams who have just snapped extended losing streaks. Maybe they just want to get out of Sacramento, and Northern California; in all other locales, they are 14-9 this season. JP Sears was also one of the AL's hottest pitchers until his last two starts, and he did fare well last season at Minute Maid Park, with an 0.82 ERA in two outings. As for rough starts, Houston's Hunter Brown had one of those his last effort, battered by the Rays for five runs and seven hits (three homers!) in 5 IP of an 8-4 loss. Play A's on Money Line

Joe Ryan is usually a good option for the Twins. Minnesota won four of his last five starts as he's posted a 1.96 ERA in May. But the headline at the moment is the Rays, now on a tear with six wins on the spin, allowing only 10 runs the entirety of the win streak. The offense is starting to stir now, banging out 17 runs across wins the past two days. No problem with Tuesday starter Taj Bradley, who's won three of his last four starts, and has fared well enough in all but one of his last six outings (that on May 16 vs. the Marlins) while usually lasting thru at least six innings in recent efforts. Play Rays on the Money Line.