Free MLB Picks for Wednesday, June 5, 2019

On Monday night, the Baltimore Orioles selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick in the MLB Amateur Draft, which stretches through Wednesday. Takes a while to go 40 rounds! It was the second time in franchise history that the Birds picked No. 1 overall: They selected LSU pitcher Ben McDonald in 1989. He had a solid if not great career. Hard to say when Rutschman (who has been compared to Buster Posey) or any of these players selected might make the majors - many certainly won't at all. Last year's No. 1 overall pick, Auburn pitcher Casey Mize, still hasn't been called up by the Tigers even though he already has thrown a no-hitter in the minors this year. The 2017 top pick, Royce Lewis of the Twins, also has yet to debut in the majors. He was chosen out of high school. Some current excellent players who went No. 1 overall: Carlos Correia, Gerrit Cole, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg and David Price.

White Sox at Nationals (-166, 10)

MLB Network game at 1:05 p.m. ET and the Pale Hose lose the designated hitter, who is usually Yonder Alonso. He can play first but doubtful the team benches Jose Abreu to allow that. So, of course when I made fun of the White Sox's Dylan Covey (1-4, 4.73) before his last start and mentioned that you are silly for not betting against Chicago every time he takes the mound that Covey would go out and allow just one run over six innings in beating the Indians. Only two Nationals have seen him. Brian Dozier is 3-for-4 with a double. Washington's Anibal Sanchez (1-6, 4.47) comes off his best outing of the season, shutting out the Braves on one hit over six innings. Abreu's not sitting because he's 13-for-24 off Sanchez career with two homers.

Key trends: The White Sox are 2-19 in Covey's past 21 road starts. The "over/under" has gone under in eight of his past 11 overall.

Early lean: Nationals and over.

Yankees at Blue Jays (+165, 9)

Yanks lefty James Paxton (3-2, 2.81) is Canadian and threw a no-hitter in Toronto last year while a member of the Seattle Mariners. It his first time back since. The "Big Maple" returned from the injured list last Wednesday vs. San Diego and threw four hitless innings but was pulled due to a pitch count. The Jays' Devon Travis is 2-for-5 with a double off him. Toronto's Trent Thornton (1-4, 4.53) has had three straight no-decisions but has a 3.63 ERA over his past four outings. It's his first career look at the Yankees.

Key trends: The Jays have lost five straight Thornton starts vs. teams with a winning record. The over is 5-2 in Paxton's past seven.

Early lean: Yankees and over.

Twins at Indians (-137, 9)

We somewhat figured that regression to the mean was coming for Twins lefty Martin Perez (7-2, 3.71) as he had been pitching out of his mind. Perez was smacked around at Tampa Bay in his most recent start, allowing six runs in just 2.2 innings. His Twins debut was March 31 vs. Cleveland, and he gave up three runs over 3.2 innings in relief. Carlos Santana is 7-for-11 with two doubles and a homer off Perez. The Tribe's Carlos Carrasco (4-6, 4.98) lost his third straight start Thursday, tagged for six runs and 10 hits over 6.1 innings at the White Sox. Nelson Cruz is a career .360 hitter off him with three homers in 25 at-bats.

Key trends: The Indians are 2-6 in Carrasco's past eight at home vs. the Twins. The under is 5-2 in Perez's past seven.

Early lean: Twins and under.

Rockies at Cubs (-118, TBA)

MLB Network prime-time game. Colorado's German Marquez (6-2, 3.48) hasn't lost since the end of April. He held the Blue Jays to two runs and six hits over seven in his last start. He has been much better on the road (2.08 ERA) than at home (4.93 ERA) this year. Javier Baez is 1-for-8 off him with a homer and four strikeouts. Chicago's Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.02) hasn't had many quality starts as a Cub but had one Friday in St. Louis, giving up one run and three hits over six innings. Alas, he took a sixth straight no-decision. The Rockies' Nolan Arenado is 3-for-8 with a homer off Darvish.

Key trends: The Rockies are 11-5 in Marquez's past 16 road starts vs. teams with a winning record. The over is 5-1 in his past six overall.

Early lean: Rockies.

Red Sox at Royals (+202, 8.5)

Kansas City has placed third baseman Hunter Dozier on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 31, with a chest injury. The 27-year-old is having a breakout season, batting .314 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs. One less worry for Red Sox ace lefty Chris Sale (1-7, 4.35). He lost yet again Friday at the Yankees, surrendering four runs over six - although Sale did strike out 10. His run-support average is a staff-low of 3.03. No Royal has had much success against him. Alex Gordon hits .234 with 23 strikeouts in 64 at-bats. Kansas City's Jakob Junis (4-5, 5.35) stopped a personal three-game skid by allowing two runs over six in Texas last time out. Boston's Rafael Devers is 2-for-3 off him with two doubles.

Key trends: The Sox are 8-1 in Sale's past nine on Wednesday. The under is 3-1-1 in Junis' past five vs. teams with a winning record.

Early lean: Red Sox on runline and under.

Read more articles by Alan Matthews