The Rockies got thrashed on Sunday and suddenly we’re on a losing streak after a big run in the middle of the month. I’m going to throw out an underdog play that I really like tonight to try and break the losing.
Free Play
I really like San Diego this week, at home against Seattle. The Padres just got swept in LA but the Dodgers played well and this is a young team we’re talking about; it’s no small thing to go into LA (or Colorado the series before) and beat a team fighting for its playoff life.
So San Diego will try and snap a five-game losing streak tonight and it will give the ball to a young man named Jacob Nix, making his fourth Major League start.
The Astros took Nix in 2014, the same year it didn’t sign Brady Aiken, which led to a ripple effect and sent Nix back to amateur ball for a year at IMG Academy. He pitched well and improved his draft position to the following year: a third rounder of San Diego.
He’s a Fullerton kid, though he didn’t go to Cal State. He’s just twenty-two and has pitched well in two of his three big league starts after tearing up the minor leagues as that young age. His last start, five innings in Colorado, was particularly impressive for a kid in his position.
I can’t quite put my finger on why I like San Diego so much tonight but I believe in my gut the Padres should be favored and that they will win. It’s a young team with a lot of talent, though not much of it is recognized on the national level yet. The front office expects to compete next season and often times, that begins in September the following year.
It isn’t September yet but the Padres are coming home and the Mariners are playing for their playoff lives right now themselves. That catches up to a ball club eventually, especially one that can’t honestly believe it’s better than any of the top five in the American League.
I think Felix Hernandez gets knocked around a little bit tonight and the Padres win to double your money, plus some.
Play: San Diego +110
petco park • san diego padres • seattle mariners