Jim Feist

The Cardinals and Pirates square off Monday, June 30th, with Eric Fetty on the mound for St. Louis and Andrew Henny getting the start for Pittsburgh. On paper, this matchup features two capable starters, but the recent trends suggest a different kind of game might unfold, one where the bats take over. Fetty has shown decent control at times, but he’s also been vulnerable to crooked numbers, especially when he falls behind in counts. Pittsburgh’s lineup, led by Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz, has enough pop to punish mistakes, and they’ve been more productive at home.

Andrew Henny has some upside but remains unproven over a full MLB workload. He’s had trouble navigating lineups more than once, and his pitch-to-contact approach could spell trouble against a St. Louis squad that’s shown signs of waking up offensively. The Cardinals, with Nolan Gorman and Paul Goldschmidt in the middle of the order, are capable of piling on runs in bunches, particularly if Henny struggles to put hitters away.

Neither bullpen has been especially reliable this season, which adds fuel to the fire. If this game turns into a battle of relievers by the sixth inning, expect plenty of scoring chances. With two starters who could run into trouble and offenses that are due for a breakout, this game leans toward going over the total, especially if one side breaks through early and forces the other into catch-up mode.

Jim's Play: 953. Cardinals/Pirates OVER

The Baltimore Orioles take on the Texas Rangers in Arlington, TX on Monday, June 30, 2025. Baltimore turns to lefty Trevor Rogers, who’s been sharp in limited work this season. Rogers' is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA and two quality starts in just three appearances. Texas counters with veteran Patrick Corbin, sporting a 4-7 record and a 4.24 ERA. He’s reached at least five innings in each of his 14 starts but has yet to complete one without yielding an earned run.

Offensively, both teams have struggled for consistency. The Orioles are batting around .240 with middling power, though Ryan O’Hearn (.293/.380/.473) and Cedric Mullins provide some pop. Baltimore’s earlier meeting with these Rangers saw Rogers spin eight shutout innings, though Texas answered with the bats in their own 7-0 win. Meanwhile, Texas ranks poorly in hitting overall with a .227 batting average and bottom-five across the board offensively.

I expect a pitcher’s duel with Rogers aiming to replicate his previous outing while Corbin trying to crack through Baltimore’s lineup. Offense coming at a premium in this matchup.  I'll take the O's here on the road against a Rangers team that hasn't live up to expectations this year. 

Jim's Play: 961. Orioles

The New York Yankees are riding a wave of momentum, holding a tied or narrow lead atop the AL East as they head north, despite a mid-June 4-9 slump. Manager Aaron Boone maintains confidence in their core and believes they're built to last through a long season. They'll start Ace Carlos Rodón, who enters this outing with a 9–5 record, a tidy 2.92 ERA, and an impressive 0.97 WHIP. Rodón has been a fortress this year, tossing five scoreless starts, including three on the road, making today’s matchup a strong foundation for the Yankees to control the game.

Opposing them is veteran Max Scherzer, who’s has spent much of the first part of the season on the IL. Scherzer has a troublesome 5.63 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through 8 innings. Even with his big-game pedigree, Scherzer’s early-season struggles offer the Yankees an edge. New York ranks among baseball’s top-ten in runs and hits, and with sluggers like Aaron Judge (30 HR, .356 average) leading the charge, they present a potent lineup that can break open a tight game.

With Rodón’s consistency, a powerful offense ready to pounce, and a struggling Scherzer on the bump, this game sets up well for a Yankees victory. If they jump out early, they should maintain control and cruise to a key series win in Canada.

Your Free play: Yankees