Free Pick | MLB | Tuesday | July 22

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#952 Miami Marlins (Cabrera) -110 over San Diego Padres (Kolek) 5:40 PM CT

The Padres own strong pitching results this season, but Stephen Kolek hasn’t been a big part of that equation. In 12 starts and 68 innings Kolek has a 4.24 ERA, but his K/9 is just 6.5. In half of his starts he has allowed at least four runs as he has been a high risk option, though he also has four scoreless outings of at least five innings. A closer look reveals two of those great starting efforts came against the Pirates and Rockies at the bottom of the NL, however. Miami has seen Kolek already this season and tagged him for six runs in May. Miami lost 2-1 to open this series yesterday but the Marlins are 16-8 since late June as the pitching staff has performed at a high level, featuring some of the best numbers in baseball in the past month. That includes a nice season from Edward Cabrera who has a 3.61 ERA in 16 starts despite only picking up three wins. Cabrera has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of his 16 starts this season and owns a 3.16 ERA at home. Miami had a 9-5 edge in hits yesterday and San Diego had to use its top four relievers to hold on to the narrow lead. San Diego is just 24-27 on the road this season and the Padres are a below .500 team overall since mid-April despite being able to maintain an NL wild card position as the 7-0 and then 14-3 start to the season has hidden rather mediocre play from this group most of the season.