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:

• The Rangers over the Astros: Derek Holland should not lose to Erik Bedard. That is all.

Yesterday: 7-9

Week: 22-21

Month: 158-115

Season: 1061-828

Games of the Day: 80-56   -1