Game Picks - Monday: August 17, 2009

Well, you can't start a week much better than that. Fifteen games picked (sixteen, but one was rained out) and twelve were correct. The only incorrect picks? The Phillies beating the Braves. The Royals beating the Tigers. Whuh? And the A's beating the White Sox. Cahill threw a good game. It happens.

Short schedule tonight, typical Monday. With only nine games to pick, let's see if the Fan can keep a good thing going:

• The Braves over the Diamondbacks: Two good young pitchers: Hanson versus Scherzer. Going with Hanson and the Braves.
• The Pirates over the Brewers: Another Villanueva start for the Brewers.
• The Angels over the Orioles: The other Santana versus Hernandez. Going with the Angels' offense on this one.
• The Mets over the Giants: This has every earmark for the Mets to lose. Wright, their only healthy and good player is now out too. Livan is starting. But, somehow, the Mets will win.
• The Rangers over the Twins: Two straight correct Twins picks! Can we make it three? Liriano has been better. But the Rangers are on a roll.
• The White Sox over the Royals: Buehrle should beat Bannister, who will make a great coach some day.
• The Cubs over the Padres: Ted Lilly is back. Hope that's a good thing.
• The Yankees over the Athletics: Burnet versus...Brett Tomko??
• The Cardinals over the Dodgers: Chris Carpenter versus a rookie. Got to like those odds.

Yesterday: 12-3
Week: 12-3
Month: 116-100