Sports Handicapper Jim Feist's Picks & Predictions

The San Francisco Giants are 75-74, just ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild card picture at 75–75. The Giants sit fourth in the Wild Card, 1.5 games back of the Mets while the D'backs are 2-games out. That means this series could have major implications on making the postseason. 

Arizona is led on the mound by Zac Gallen (11-14, 4.84 ERA). Gallen has made 30 starts this season and averages about 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He has struggled to maintain a low ERA but generally comes around and settles in alright. He has definitely been more consistent at home in Chase Field and will likely need to give Arizona a solid start. For the Giants, Kai-Wei Teng is expected to start but with much more inconsistency. The righty is 2-4 with a 7.54 ERA in his few starts. He shows the ability to miss bats (11.1 K/9) but is all over the place with command and location. He also gives up a lot of baserunners and hasn’t been able to make it into the later innings of games recently.

The Arizona offense has been the better of the two in recent weeks with some solid home power and just more reliable bats, especially in big situations. The Giants bats have been up and down, including a bit of a cold spell coming off a loss to the Dodgers. However, they have managed to cobble together enough offense when they needed to to stay relevant and have had a better road record than their record would lead you to believe for a team generally at or around break-even.

I expect this one to come down to the depth of the pitching and usage of the bullpen. Gallen has to give Arizona a chance with a solid start and Arizona bullpen will be called upon; if the Giants can manufacture early traffic in the game, they can create some trouble. Teng has not been able to consistently get into the later innings and it puts Giants in a more tenuous position.

I’m taking Arizona to win this one with the better recent offense, home field and veteran starter.

Jim's Play: 908. Diamondbacks

The Reds are 74–75 and just under .500; the Cardinals are 73-77, which is atrocious but still not quite dead yet in the NL Wildcard Race. Since neither club is yet comfortably in playoff-territory, this one and the rest of the remaining games take on a greater sense of urgency. Cincinnati currently is 2.5 games back in the Wildcard race while the Cardinals are 4-games back. 

Probable pitchers: Zack Littell for the Reds and Matthew Liberatore for the Cardinals. Littell, as usual for a young pitcher with flashes of promise and success, has had stretches where he’s been quite good and other times where he’s been a hot mess. When he’s right, the right-handed Littell has put up a 9-8 record with a 3.78 ERA and about 120 strikeouts in just about 140 innings of work. Liberatore, on the other hand, has had a more tough time finding his footing. The lefty’s overall numbers so far are a 7-12 record with a higher ERA (4.35), with road games showing more extreme tendencies in terms of run suppression. For Liberatore to win this one, the Cardinals’ bunts, command, and hard contact suppression on defense will play significant roles.

Offensively and defensively, this one is very close and the pitching matchups gives the Reds the edge. Cincinnati features a relatively balanced attack that should be able to do some damage; Elly De La Cruz has been one of the big stars in this series for the Reds, with timely hits for power and speed that should put pressure on the Cardinals’ mid-pen. On the other side, if the Cardinals are to have a chance here, they’ll have to do so with offense from the likes of Willson Contreras, and hope to get an early lead since Liberatore, if he continues his recent past struggles, will likely put this game away early. On defense, this series has exposed some cracks in the bullpen and defense for both teams; which bullpen can step up in the later innings here will likely determine this one.

Taking into account the current situation, the pitching matchups, and recent performances by both teams, I’ll go with the Reds here on Monday. 

Jim's Play: 906. Reds 

The Chargers and Raiders both enter this game at 1-0, and have early divisional opportunities to get a leg up in the AFC West. Las Vegas had a hard-fought Week 1 victory over New England, while the Chargers came out with a statement victory against the Chiefs in Week 1 in Brazil. Both teams have everything to play for as they vie for one of the best divisional spots in the NFL. 

One of the most important developments of the week for the Raiders is the status of rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and is considered a game-time decision for Monday. If he is available, he can provide a big-play ability for the Raiders through the middle of the field. Should he miss the game, Michael Mayer’s role will only increase. The Raiders will also be without guard Jackson Powers-Johnson this game after suffering a concussion last week. The offensive line will need to step up for the QB to be able to stand in the pocket and make plays. The Chargers will be missing safety Elijah Molden and linebacker Denzel Perryman in the defensive backfield, and Del’Shawn Phillips is questionable. These injuries will present Las Vegas’ passing attack opportunities if they’re able to capitalize.

The Raiders are best to control the game through their tempo offense, utilizing the tight ends and their running backs to help establish the run game. The defense will need to create pressure on the Chargers’ offensive line to have success in this game. Los Angeles will need to take what the defense gives them and play efficient football. Their quarterback play will be huge in this game, as spreading the ball out and taking care of the football will lead to them having a chance to win. The Raiders will likely have a lot of momentum coming into this game, but divisional games come down to the wire often, and this one should be no different. There is sure to be plenty of turnovers and late-game aggression, as each team wants this win more. Las Vegas will have home field advantage here under new head coach Pete Carrol. I look for the underdog home team to cover the spread tonight and I wouldn't be surprised by a straight-up win. 

Jim's Play: 280. Raiders +3.5 (7 PT / 10 ET)

Two teams looking for answers will square off in a Week 2 Monday night contest when the Houston Texans host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans are aiming for redemption after a disappointing Week 1 loss, while the Bucs are coming in at 1-0 but have a couple of question marks on offense that could disrupt their production in this primetime matchup.

Houston is still going to be a little thin on offense, with Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios both out at wide receiver, and starting center Jake Andrews is also not going to be on the field, so that puts extra pressure on Nico Collins and the rest of the skill group. With the offensive line shuffling some around up front, the top priority for that unit will be to try to give C.J. Stroud some time against a Buccaneers defense that has a front seven that can get after quarterbacks.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. on the shelf and as a result, Mike Evans will be the clear primary option for Baker Mayfield’s passes, so it will be interesting to see if the defense will double him or play him one-on-one in coverage. Tristan Wirfs will not be protecting Mayfield’s blind side, as he is officially out, and some of the other names on the line are questionable to go, so this could be a critical issue in the battle of the trenches and if things break down against the Texans’ front, it may force Tampa Bay to lean on the ground game more or use short passes to move the chains.

Defensively, both sides will be looking to create big plays off of turnover opportunities and Houston will be in Mayfield’s face looking to force a mistake, while the Buccaneers will have to move the chains against a stout run defense and try to limit big plays from a Houston group that will be a little thin in the secondary and without Andrews at center.

This game looks to be on the lower scoring side with the offenses struggling right now. 

Jim's Play: 278. Bucs/Texans UNDER