Game Picks - Saturday: July 23, 2011

What a wild ride yesterday was! And this picker isn't just talking about the games in Major League Baseball.  A tornado touched down in our little town in northern Maine last night. No, it wasn't the kind of tornado that is a mile wide like they get in the Midwest. but it was a tornado just the same. Trees were down. Power was out. It was wild. We lost a tree and our grill got beat up, but everything else seems to be okay.

While everyone is okay, the twister did seem to change the fortunes of the picking day. At one point, this picker was 8-2 with the only bad picks being the Indians and the Mariners. It's still hard to believe that King Felix couldn't do a better job against the Red Sox last night. But still, 8-2 is cooking, right? There wasn't another correct pick the rest of the night. Not one. This Fan whiffed on everything west of the Mississippi.

This Fan is still kind of shaken by yesterday's events. So let's call this Surreal Saturday and see what the games look like:

• The Cubs over the Astros: This picker loves Wandy Rodriguez, but not much else is going on for the Astros. Meanwhile, the Cubs are pitching Randy Wells, Aramis Ramirez is hot and Alfonso Soriano hit his first homer in a month yesterday.
• The Yankees over the Athletics:  If ever a team seemed to be in the heads of a team's pitchers, the Yankees seem to be in the nightmares of the young A's pitching staff. But Rick Harden isn't one of their young pitchers. He's been around and will be tougher. Plus, the Yankees pitch A. J. Burnett. But again, the Yankees are the much better team.
• The Reds over the Braves: This picker is torn over this game. Derek Lowe is just so-so this year. Homer Bailey was great his last start. Tempted to flip-flop the results. Oh well, it is what it is.
• The Tigers over the Twins: It galls a bit to pick Brad Penny to win any game, especially against a division rival. But the Tigers are going with Scott Baker, just back from a strained arm.
• The Phillies over the Padres: The Phillies will win this one despite facing Matt Latos. Kyle Kendrick has been surprisingly good in the rotation. 
• The Angels over the Orioles: Brad Bergesen at 1-6 with an ERA of 5.76 has been as bad as that record sounds. It truly is amazing what has happened to the Orioles pitching this season. The Angels, meanwhile, feature their own wreck of Joel Pineiro, who only got one out in his last start. Anything could happen in this game.
• The Indians over the White Sox: Edwin Jackson has been impressive but this Fan doesn't trust him. Then again, the Fan didn't trust David (Hassel) Huff in his first start of the year and he threw seven shutout innings. Why does the Fan do this to himself every day? Sheesh.
• The Cardinals over the Pirates: The Pirates can beat the Reds. The Reds can beat the Brewers, the Brewers can beat anyone at home. The Cardinals can beat the Pirates. What a division. Jaime Garcia over Kevin Correia.
• The Mets over the Marlins: Chris Capuano has been decent this season. Clay Hensley was great for five innings in his first start of the season .But can he repeat it? The Fan is confused though. Wasn't he Cla Hensley, without the "Y" or is this picker confusing him with another pitcher?
• The Bay Rays over the Royals: Not only has Jeff Niemann been great lately, but he is 3-0 lifetime against the Royals with an ERA under two. Jeff Francis pitches for the Royals. Evan Longoria is on a homer streak.
• The Blue Jays over the Rangers: Matt Harrison has been good. But the Blue Jays destroyed him the last time they faced him. Plus, Carlos Villanueva is a tough pitcher for the Blue Jays.
• The Diamondbacks over the Rockies: Apparently, this Fan didn't learn his lesson last night and is picking the Diamondbacks again. But it's Josh Collmenter! He faces Jason Hammels.
• The Giants over the Brewers: Despite yesterday's win, the Brewers are a bad road club. Randy Wolf likes pitching in San Francisco because he throws a lot of fly balls. But Ryan Vogelsong has been singing a good tune this season. Got to stick with him.
• The Dodgers over the Nationals: Another game to throw up all the cards and see where they land. Tom Gorzelanny hurt his ankle in his last start and can't seem to win. Ted Lilly has had elbow problems and gives up homers like crazy. Who knows.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Red Sox over the Mariners: This is certainly a soft spot on the Red Sox' calendar. No way they lose with Josh Beckett on the mound and facing the young Blake Beavan.

Yesterday: 8-7

Week: 48-31

Month: 148-115

Season: 812-676

Games of the Day: 70-41