Jim Feist

Tampa Bay has a fairly sizeable lead in the AL East of 6.5 games and doesn't look like that will be in trouble. Tonight they take on the third place AL East Toronto Blue Jays who are 7.5 games back. More import though is that the Jays hold that 2nd Wild Card spot right now with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Yankees. Robbie Ray will start tonight for the Jays with a 12-5 record and 2.64 ERA. Ray has been even better of late with a 3-0 record and 1.91 ERA in his last seven starts. The Rays will start their No. 1 prospect in Shane Baz, who last played for the USA in the Tokoyo Olympics and helped his team to a Silver Medal. Baz has been impressive in the minors. Baz is 5-4, 2.06 overall this season with Montgomery and Durham, striking out 113 in 78 2/3 innings and walking only 13. At Triple-A, he is 3-0. 1.76 in 10 games, with 69 strikeouts and 11 walks in 46 innings. I have to take a wait and see for the Rays starter, but Ray I know and will take a chance with. Play Toronto.

If the NY Yankees hope to make the postseason they will have to better then they have of late. The New York Yankees are now 1.5-games back of that final Wild Card playoff spot in the American League. They have lost two straight games and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Yankees will look to get a bit closer on the back of today's young start, Nestor Cortes. Cortes is 2-2 on the season with an overall 2.70 ERA. What impresses me is that in his 11 starts he's allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of those outings. And, in that other start, just four runs. Today, the Yankees will face Rangers starter A.J. Alexy who is 2-0 in his two starts with a 0.00 ERA. Alexy has look excellent, allowing just two total hits over his 11 innings with five walks and 11 KO's. I'm impressed with both these young starters and if they hold form this game will be an under. Play UNDER

 The Green Bay Packers looked horrible last week against the New Orleans Saints. The Packers lost 3-38 and had just 229 totals yards and three turnover. Aaron Rodgers was pulled from the game as many speculated he performed that way on purpose because he is unhappy in Green Bay. The Lions almost pulled the shocker of the week as they trailed the 49ers by 28 points and then scored the games final 21 of 28 points to pull close, but lose 33-41. They had almost as many yards as SF (430 to 442) and they had 27 more offensive plays and a +2 turnover ratio. They played even or better than the Niners in most statistical categories. If you only looked at the stats you would figure they had won the game. Question is, who will show up here in week 2, the same Packer team from Week 1 or last year's No 1 ranked offense? The Lions are only 4-9 ATS in their last 13 road games and 3-7 ATS when the road dog. The Packers usually rebound from losses well, going 16-5 ATS in their last 21 following a ATS loss. I believe Rodgers will be ready to show last week was a fluke and he's ready to return to his old self here against this poor defense of the Lions. I look for the Packers to take out those week 1 frustrations here on the Lions tonight. Play Green Bay.

The Cincinnati Reds still have a shot at that 2nd Wild Card spot. They trail the Cardinals by three-games for that playoff position. The Padres are one game back of the Reds and the Phillies 1.5-games back. So these games against the last place Pirates are important. Mitch Keller starts today for the Pirates with a 4-11 mark. He has a overall ERA of 6.14, but has been much better of late. Keller has a 4.80 ERA over his last seven starts and allowed six runs over his last 16 innings. Tyler Mahle will toe the rubber for the Reds. Mahle is 12-5 with a 3.58 ERA. He's been better of late, going 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA over his last seven starts. I'm going to take the UNDER here today with two decent starters.