Finally! A good day. I was right about May. I just needed to get out of that month because on the first day of June, only five picks were incorrect out of sixteen games. Those five were the Yankees...hehe...yeah, that was a good pick, the Pirates (Liriano pitched great, Leake was better), the Angels (to Houston again!?), the Cubs (all good things come to an end), and Texas (a tip of the cap to James Shields). I will take that. I called both games of the Cards - Giants double-header. I called the Marlins over the Mets. I called Ubaldo Jimenez over the Rays. So, yeah, it was a good day.
Sunday's picks:
- The Indians over the Bay Rays: I went back and forth on this one. Zach McAllister has pitched well against weak-hitting teams and really struggled against good teams. He did beat the Rays in his first start of the season. He and Jeremy Hellickson are pretty similar. I am going with the home team.
- The Mets over the Marlins: You know that Matt Harvey is going to pitch well. The only question is whether the Mets will get him any runs. Harvey has no-decisions in half of his starts. Kevin Slowey is of the "crafty" pitching variety, so this is a big contrast in pitching styles.
- The Reds over the Pirates: Jeanmar Gomez is giving me fits this season. He really has become a ground ball pitcher and really has not had a bad outing since he joined the Pirates' rotation. But the pick has to go to the big stud, Mat Latos. Joey Votto has to figure into this one somehow.
- The Tigers over the Orioles: This is a bit of a tough one. Rick Porcello is coming off probably his best outing as a Tiger. But the Orioles could really whack him hard. But on the other hand, Kevin Gausman has not been able to get Major League hitters out in his two starts.
- The Braves over the Nationals: I am not too impressed by either of the team's starters. Nathan Karns was just barely passable in his first start. Paul Maholm is a contact guy who needs the balls to be hit at somebody. The Braves have not been giving the Nats any room to breathe thus far this season, so that is the pick.
- The Twins over the Mariners: The Mariners are starting Jeremy Bonderman. Holy cow! Bonderman has not pitched in the majors since 2010. Now that is a cool kind of thing. But picking him to pitch well would be another thing. Scott Diamond goes for the Twins. Jeremy Bonderman...wow...
- The Cardinals over the Giants: I thought Bonderman was a surprise until I got to this pick. The Giants are listing Chad Gaudin as today's starter. Chad Gaudin? Yeesh. Tyler Lyons tries to keep his stunning early success in the big leagues going.
- The Diamondbacks over the Cubs: This pick is a bit troubling. First, Edwin Jackson has to win a game sooner or later. Second, as good as he has been, Patrick Corbin has to lose a game eventually. Will these two events happen today? Unlikely.
- The Rangers over the Royals: The Rangers should hit like five homers today since Ervin Santana is pitching. Yu Darvish is confusing. Does anybody have better stuff than him? And yet, him winning a game is never a guarantee.
- The Angels over the Astros: Hey, if I keep picking this outcome, it has to happen eventually. I am a bit stubborn that way. C.J. Wilson needs to live up to his Head and Shoulders commercials. And Jordan Lyles still sounds like a country singer or some soap opera name.
- The White Sox over the Athletics: I do not know how healthy Chris Sale is. If he is healthy, he should dominate. If not, then the pick will blow up. Jarrod Parker has had a troubling season for the A's.
- The Rockies over the Dodgers: I am not sure how well Hyun-Jin Ryu's stuff will translate at Coors Field. And Jorge De La Rosa is just a better option pitching in that wild place than Ryu. He is more of a know entity there.
- The Red Sox over the Yankees: The Red Sox are just a better team right now. Their infield defense is spectacular with Iglesias at third. Clay Buchholz and his health are a bit of a concern. The only way this pick goes awry is if Buchholz is not healthy and if Hiroki Kuroda pitches at the top of his game.
- The Padres over the Blue Jays: Edinson Volquez's biggest problem is his command and control. But that is less of a problem against a Blue Jays' team that is undisciplined at the plate (except for Bautista and Encarnacion). Also, Ramon Ortiz starting for the Jays is just to unfathomable.
And the Game of the Day!
- The Phillies over the Brewers: Mike Fiers will not be able to go deep in the game as he has not pitched longer than four-plus innings all season. Cliff Lee, on the other hand, is having a great season. Domonic Brown has been killing the ball.
Yesterday: 11-5
Last week: 55-48
Month: 11-5
Season: 473-355
Games of the Day: 37-23
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