Wednesday, August 21, 2013

MLB Game Picks - Wednesday: August 21, 2013

Ah, baseball. Anything can happen. How can some picks be so good like Kyle Lohse beating the Cardinals and Lance Lynn giving up a big inning in the fourth or fifth inning (I called it perfectly), or Patrick Corbin beating the mighty Reds and yet turn into such a bad night of picking? That's baseball. A nice commenter yesterday gave a long dissertation on why the Phillies would win yesterday. But on any given game, that does not work. I picked the Rockies and was correct. Every game on every night is a crap shoot.

For example, I picked the A's. I was all excited about Sonny Gray pitching and he did indeed pitch brilliantly and left with a 4-2 lead. But then Sean Doolittle did little to help the cause and coughed up the game. The Red Sox were picked and Jake Peavy was terrific. But then, manager, John Farrell, fell into the National League trap of doing a double-switch in the sixth inning with Peavy only at 89 pitches and the bullpen coughed up the game. Heck, even Phil Hughes pitched well at a Yankee Stadium game. Anything can happen.

Wednesday's picks:

  • The Braves over the Mets: I mulled this one around quite a bit. One of four afternoon starts today, Jonathon Niese has pitched well since coming off the DL. But Alex Wood has pitched really well for the Braves too. My sort of rule has always been that if the pitchers cancel each other out, take the better team.
  • The Cardinals over the Brewers: The Cardinals really need wins. As such, it is hard to figure why they continue to start Jake Westbrook. Perhaps they feel they have no other options. The Brewers start Tom Gorzelanny, who really is not more reliable than Westbrook. High scoring game?
  • The Athletics over the Mariners: Another really tough pick. A.J. Griffin is a better pick at home and that is where he is. But Hisashi Iwakuma is back on his stingy ways. The A's win this late.
  • The Red Sox over the Giants: Felix Doubront had a rough outing against the Yankees, but you kind of saw that coming. But overall, Doubront has pitched well. The trouble with this pick is that Barry Zito gets the start for the Giants and you never know what to expect.
  • The Pirates over the Padres: I picked Ian Kennedy to pitch well in his new and big ballpark his last time out and he did not. I am kind of gun shy now. Gerrit Cole has held his own and his good stuff should hold the Padres at bay and allow the Pirates to win.
  • The Indians over the Angels: Again, a Trout-less Angels are wingless Angels. And Justin Masterson should have no trouble with them. Jerome Williams could have a good game to match him. But that is a pretty good stretch to think so. Wow. I am picking way too many visiting teams. I hate that.
  • The Phillies over the Rockies: I do not really think the Phillies are a lock here or that they even might win. They are just spinning helplessly and Charlie Manuel was not the problem. But I need a home team to win and Cliff Lee gives them a chance. Juan Nicasio goes for the Rockies.
  • The Orioles over the Rays: Again, I am not sure this is the correct pick. I have been wrong in this series every day. But I feel stronger in this one. Wei-Yin Chen can hold down the Rays. And Chris Davis and company could do damage to Jeremy Hellickson. Wieters is hot too.
  • The Yankees over the Blue Jays: There is no way the Yankees should win this game. They are starting Adam Warren. The Blue Jays are starting R.A. Dickey. But the Yankees are so hot and the Blue Jays so bad and the pick cannot be anything else. Besides, Jose Bautista went on the DL.
  • The Tigers over the Twins: The Tigers lost to Pelfrey? Oh well. Anibal Sanchez is definitely not Porcello and Kevin Correia is still Kevin Correia.
  • The Reds over the Diamondbacks: This has been a good series. But the D-backs come up on the short end. As much as I root for Brandon McCarthy, I cannot pick him until he pitches well consistently. Mike Leake is a much better pick.
  • The Dodgers over the Marlins: Zack Greinke has been pitching so well that I would be a fool to pick against him. Plus, he can hit. Yasiel Puig came out of Purgatory last night to hit a big homer. The only wild card in this game is if Nathan Eovaldi will be more "up" for this game against his old team and if there really is such an effect.
  • The Cubs over the Nationals: Jake Arrieta was terrific his last time out. He has always had that kind of talent. But Ross Ohlendorf always seems to come out of the woodwork and win. Will he today? That would not be good for the pick.
  • The Royals over the White Sox: Andre Rienzo was really good in his last start. And the White Sox have been winning more of late. But the Royals are at home. Their fans have been good as always and Jeremy Guthrie can have really good games.

And the Game of the Day:


Yesterday: 7-9
Week: 22-21
Month: 158-115
Season: 1061-828
Games of the Day: 80-56   -1

2 comments:

Pendo said...

Who wants a close run to the last MLB day? The only good reason why
pitchers like Westbrook start in the Big Leagues for serious contenders:

Lohse is not a perpetual Loser
as he beats his old squad the Cards for the very 1st time in his life !!
That's also the first home victory over the Cards this year !!
Also, it's the 1st time this year somebody besides Marco Estrada won vs. StL.
(he won twice this year Vs. StL) and so this "Lohse non-Loser" is but the
3rd win against their southernly division rival.

Looking at Jake the Snake, how he starts with so mant minor league all stars in
the farm system just has got to be that they don't want to loose any nor pay any
whilst they owe Westbrook a lot every game he shows up to:
JAKE WESTBROOK'S 4-5 VS. MILW., but:

• 2013 Salary: $8,750,000 for a 35 year-old.

/// /// ///

Card's mgr. Mike Matheny said Westbrook will start Wednesday.
Matheny will give Westbrook at least one more chance to right the ship,
rather than pull the plug on the struggling right-hander.
Westbrook was blown up again Friday, and if he can't turn it around,
Matheny may consider giving his rotation spot to Carlos Martinez or Michael Wacha.

/// /// ///

He should loose, but because it is so evident to me,
and because Mr.Tasker took the other side,
I'm compelled to go with Saint Louie here.
––– ––– –––

Does Mr. Wm tasker know the ring a round the rosey Buster?
Pitt handles StL, StL hands it to Cincy, and in turn Cincy takes care of clobbering Pitt.
All three may contend in the post season...

Pendo said...

Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs

Hot pitching stat: Nationals right-hander Ross Ohlendorf is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.

Cold batting stat: SS Starlin Castro has just three hits in 15 at-bats against Ohlendorf, though two of them are triples.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-80s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow out to center field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Washington has won seven straight games with umpire Mike Winters behind home plate.