Game Picks - Thursday: May 14, 2009

Nine correct out of fifteen is a lot better, but not good enough. Still need to have that breakthrough couple of days to feel better about things. The Zito pick was misguided. Apparently, so is the notion that Nolasco is going to return to last year's form. To be fair, it would have been impossible to predict that the Angels would get to Wakefield in such a consistent fashion. And really, who would have thought a Hampton/Haran matchup would produce 26 runs?

But like the Energizer Bunny, the Fan will plug on and on and on. Here are today's picks:

• Marlins over the Brewers: Can't pick against Josh Johnson. Especially against Bush.
• Dodgers over the Phillies: Great matchup here with Billingsley versus Hamels. Two studs. Here's hoping that Billingsley comes out on top.
• Tigers over the Twins: Another great matchup of Verlander versus Baker. Baker finally pitched a great game last time, but Verlander has been nearly unhittable of late. So let's go with Verlander.
• Mariners over the Rangers: The brain is overruling the heart in that King Felix will be better than the Rangers' Harrison.
• Padres over the Cubs: This is the upset pick of the day. Have no faith in Dempster.
• Houston over Colorado: Wandy Rodriguez is pitching. Here's hoping his big yakker isn't impeded by the thin Colorado air.
• Red Sox over the Angels: When the Fan saw that Penny was pitching, he wanted to pick the Angels. But Ervin Santana is pitching his first game of 2009 so that goes against Rule #4.
• Pirates over the Cardinals: The Cards are scuffling a bit and have lost in Pittsburgh something like eight times in a row. Pujols has to be salivating over facing Karstens, but still...
• Yankees over Blue Jays: Sabathia seems to have turned a corner. He was awesome last time out. The Blue Jays have a tough schedule coming up and it will be interesting to see if they are for real or not.
• Bay Rays over the Indians: Like Shields over Carmona. Like the Bay Rays over the Indians under any matchup.
• Royals over the Orioles: Gil (ga) Meche has had a couple of rough outings. Betting here that he breaks out of it against the Orioles. Though that's a tough call because the Orioles are smoking at the plate.
• Mets over the Giants: Maine hasn't been himself, but the Mets are a better team overall than the Giants.

So that's the rub. Now we'll see what happens.

Yesterday: 9-6
Week: 22-27
Month: 74-74