Game Picks - Monday: April 18, 2011

Sunday again showed how tough this season is to pick MLB games. While some picks were very good such as the Pirates beating the Reds and the Yankees beating Ogando and the Rangers, others weren't so good. A blown save cost a pick and the game for the Cardinals. The Brewers lost both games of their double-header and not just one. The Mets played a game like it was the 163rd game of the season, using two starters in relief to pick up a win they must have wanted badly. And the Twins finally got a save against the Bay Rays. After two days of .500 results in a row, it seems two picks over .500 will have to do.

There are eleven games scheduled for Monday, which is quite a few for a usual day off. The games include the annual Patriots' Day game in Boston which starts at 11:05 in the morning:

• The Blue Jays over the Red Sox: Interesting game to pick. An impatient offense goes against a pitcher with a lot of walks per game. But the Blue Jays pitch their ace in Romero who should win over Dice-K.
• The Bay Rays over the White Sox: The White Sox can't seem to get going and now face David Price. He'll beat Jackson.
• The Brewers over the Phillies: Marcum will have to be good after Sunday's debacle for the Brewers. He'll face Blanton, who is vulnerable.
• The Orioles over the Twins: Liriano and Tillman have had a tough time getting past the fifth inning. Who knows how to pick this one. The Orioles are due for a win.
• The Reds over the Pirates: The Reds should get to Correia and Travis Wood comes up big for the Reds against a young line up.
• The Rangers over the Angels: Big early-season series. C. J. Wilson needs to come up big after a tough series for the Rangers in New York. The Angels counter with Santana.
• The Cubs over the Padres: Zambrano has been steady. The Padres should pose no problem for him. Stauffer the hard luck loser.
• The Indians over the Royals: Whoo boy. Carrasco versus Davies. We'll just go by their current ERAs with the Indians winning 9-5. Yeesh.
• The Giants over the Rockies: This is a big series for the Giants if they don't want the Rockies to run away and hide. Lincecum nees to come up big against Emil Rogers, who is 2-0.
• The Dodgers over the Braves: The Dodgers play well at home and are coming off a big ninth inning win. The Braves are on the wrong coast. Lilly over Hudson.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Tigers over the Mariners: The Tigers should get a good outing from Scherzer and Vargas gets no run support.

Yesterday: 9-7
Week: 9-7
Month: 119-104
Season: 119-104
Games of the Day: 8-10