Game Picks - Saturday: June 23, 2012

Yesterday was one of those days where finishing a perfectly flat .500 was a good thing (one game was rained out). After the Yankees, Reds, Nationals and Red Sox lost, it seemed like it was going to be a really bad night. It was a delightful surprise to wake up this morning to find that the day had climbed out of the hole that would have caused major damage to the tallies. The Red Sox were the Game of the Day though and that's the second straight incorrect pick there.

Saturday is the penultimate day of this round of interleague games as things get back to normal on Monday. This picker has had a pretty good run through the interleague session, so no complaints here. But watching AL pitchers bat is getting really, really old. Saturday's picks:

• The Blue Jays over the Marlins: There is no way to rationally pick the Marlins these days. They have gone into the dumpster and you have to wonder how much more of a leash Ozzie is going to have. Picking against Josh Johnson isn't fun. But still. Brett Cecil goes for the Blue Jays.
• The Cardinals over the Royals: Despite how the Cards have been playing, the Reds are allowing them to stay in the hunt. Still think this is the Cards' division to win. Adam Wainwright over Luis Mendoza.
• The Rangers over the Rockies: Josh Outman reached his 75 pitch limit in the middle of the fifth inning last time out. That's why this whole thing is so stupid. Colby Lewis wins this one.
• The Indians over the Astros: Dallas Keuchel bamboozled the Rangers for five innings in his first MLB start last time out, but he really doesn't look like he has the stuff to be successful consistently. Jeanmar Gomez should be the beneficiary of some run support.
• The Pirates over the Tigers: Andrew McCutchen is becoming the best player in baseball and the Pirates are going to go as far as their pitching can take them. They can sniff first place the way the Reds have been going. Brad Lincoln will have to come up big though. He can do it. Max Scherzer is either great or not so great. Which will today be?
• The Phillies over the Bay Rays: James Shields goes for the Bay Rays. He was supposed to pitch last night but the game was rained out. The game line is confusing. Cliff Lee was supposed to start last night and didn't. But Kyle Kendrick is listed today. The Phillies wouldn't skip Lee, would they? This pick is predicated on Lee pitching.
• The Braves over the Red Sox: Franklin Morales is getting a second start? Seriously? Sure, he was pretty good in his first one. But still. Then again, the Red Sox can beat up on Carlos Delgado. Seriously screwy pick on this one.
• The Dodgers over the Angels: Chis Capuano makes the difference in this pick as he should be able to slow down the Angels and allow the low-flying Dodger offense to steal a win. Seriously, Donny, you know this picker loves you. But Dee Gordon leading off is killing your team. Smarten up. Ervin Santana nearly threw a no-hitter his last time out.
• The Brewers over the White Sox: Randy Wolf will keep the Brewers in this one long enough for his team to get to Dylan Axelrod.
• The Yankees over the Mets: Ivan Nova is a winning machine. He gets his tenth win tonight as the Yankees pounce on Chris Young.
• The Giants over the Athletics: The Giants got a big win last night in great come-from-behind fashion. That momentum should carry them over tonight as their best pitcher, Madison Bumgarner, gets the win over Tyson Ross.
• The Orioles over the Nationals: Edwin Jackson is the weak link in the Nats' rotation and Wei-Yin Chen is the real deal for the Orioles. Bryce Harper has been quiet for a couple of weeks now though and is due.
• The Mariners over the Padres: Jason Marquis and Felix Hernandez were both brilliant in their last starts. Which one was the fluke? We will find out tonight.
• The Diamondbacks over the Cubs: Ian Kennedy will need to pitch a decent game but the D-backs offense has showed up bit in the last week and should hit Paul Maholm.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Reds over the Twins: Okay, so a lot of this post has been bashing the Reds. But Johnny Cueto has been a lock every time out and the Twins are starting Brian Duensing who has not been stretched out to start. Not a good combination for the Twins.

Yesterday: 7-7

Week: 43-30

Month: 168-124

Season: 566-465

Games of the Day: 47-30