If you cannot depend on aces, what can you depend on? <grumble> <mumble> Doggone it, Felix. Doggone it, Jenrry. Doggone it, Anibal. Perhaps if you would like a lesson in winning, you all should talk to Phil Hughes. That's right, Phil Hughes. Phil Hughes!? What is this world coming to?
Okay, so it was a bad day. Next! Here are Sunday's picks:
- The Red Sox over the Blue Jays: R.A. Dickey has pitched 26 times at Rogers Centre (I hate calling it that) and has a 4.90 ERA there. Add a run to that with the Red Sox lineup. Jon Lester will bounce back from his encounter with the Yankees.
- The Mets over the Marlins: Dillon Gee is a good pitcher and if he can avoid hitting the sweet spot of Stanton's bat, should win. Tom Koehler has been pitching fairly well for the Marlins though.
- The Braves over the Reds: This pick has me way torn. Every time I pick against Johnny Cueto, he burns me. But Julio Teheran is really good too. Say the pitchers match each other. Then it becomes a bullpen battle. Whose bullpen do you trust? Exactly.
- The Royals over the Orioles: Chris Davis out of the lineup hurts the O's. Miguel Gonzalez has not been very good. James Shields has been pitching well. So if the Royals can score a few (no mean feat for them), they can win this one.
- The Nationals over the Padres: The two starters in this game, Taylor Jordan and Ian Kennedy are a combined 1-6 so far this season. So it's not like a solid choice abounds here. I will go with the Nats as the home team.
- The Brewers over the Cubs: Both Wily Peralta (Can I please call him, "Wily Mo?") and Jason Hammel are having very good seasons. But as long as Ryan Braun doesn't injure more of his own players, the home team should win here.
- The Tigers over the Twins: The Twins are playing much better this season and except for his last start, Kyle Gibson is doing well. And Justin Verlander isn't the amazing force he was two years ago. But wouldn't you always pick the Tigers here?
- The Astros over the Athletics: This pick has to be an overreaction. The last time Collin McHugh pitched, I made fun of him as a 4-A pitcher. And he struck out 12 in six innings and looked completely dominant. Besides, Tommy Milone doesn't do it for me.
- The Cardinals over the Pirates: The Cardinals are still not hitting and lost big yesterday. But you have to pick Adam Wainwright over Edinson Volquez. So sue me for going what seems to be obvious and probably won't be.
- The Giants over the Indians: Danny Salazar has had about as much command as grandma over her bladder. Watch today be the day he puts it all together. Until he does or shows he can, I have to go with the Giants and Ryan Vogelsong, who is at least a little better at home.
- The Dodgers over the Rockies: Hyun-jin Ryu has been messing with my head lately and I can't seem to get him right. I have to go with him at home though Jorge De La Rosa is certainly capable at stringing some zeroes together.
- The Diamondbacks over the Phillies: This could be ugly. Or not. Brandon McCarthy is 0-4. A.J. Burnett is 0-1. I fear this will be a slugfest with whichever team slugs the most winning.
- The Rangers over the Mariners: Matt Harrison makes his first start of the season. I don't usually like those situations. But I like lefties against the Mariners. Brandon Maurer was really good in his last start. We'll see.
- The Yankees over the Angels: The big match-ups are Masahiro Tanaka against Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Garrett Richards will also factor heavily. Unfortunately, we have to wait until tonight to find out how this goes.
And the Game of the Day
- The Rays over the White Sox: Scott Carroll makes his Major League debut today and I would love to root for him. He has kicked around the minors for eight years despite not being a big strikeout guy and finally gets a chance at the age of 29. But I have to be practical here and figure he is not going to beat David Price.
Yesterday: 7-8, Games of the Day: 11-12, Season: 204-156
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