MLB Game Picks - Wednesday: April 2, 2014

Yesterday did not go nearly as well as Opening Day did for the picks. The tally ended up at .500 with the picks going 4-4 with one postponement. I should have known that CC Sabathia was always terrible as an Opening Day starter. The Diamondbacks did not start the season 0-4 as that team beat the Giants and Matt Cain. I picked the Rays to win again and they did not.

To me, today is the real Opening Day because for the first time in this baseball season, all thirty teams are in action and with the postponed game being played today, there are sixteen big games on the schedule. Baseball is back as a daily force. Yessss.

The picks:

• The Brewers over the Braves: Not that I am a big fan of Matt Garza and of his chances of pitching a great game, but I am not a fan of Aaron Harang, a pitcher the Brewers should get to early and often.
• The White Sox over the Twins: Felipe Paulino was a nice pickup by the White Sox in the off season. He has good stuff, though his command sometimes lacks. The Twins are going to struggle on offense and Chick Kevin Correa is just not a guy I count on.
• The Athletics over the Indians: This early game is the remake of the match up that was supposed to happen last night. I still like Scott Kazmir against his old team and over Corey Kluber.
• The Orioles over the Red Sox: This is an interesting game. First, was John Lackey's comeback last year for real? Secondly, how will Ubaldo Jimenez fare against tough AL East opponents? This is a hard game to pick.
• The Cubs over the Pirates: Edwin Jackson is such an enigma. This spring, for example, his strikeout to walk ratio was ten to one and he still gave up four runs per nine innings. Pittsburgh should be a good park for him to pitch and Charlie Morton is never a guy I trust.
• The Marlins over the Rockies: Sure, why not have the Marlins start the season at 3-0. Stranger things have happened. Henderson Alvarez and Jordan Lyles both had good springs. Both were efficient. Perhaps I am just too shell-shocked by all those Astros starts for Lyles.
• The Cardinals over the Reds: Michael Wacha was dominant during the spring and looks pretty darned good at this point. Tony Cingrani is pretty good too, but not on the same plane as Wacha. The Cards also have the edge in the bullpen.
• The Bay Rays over the Blue Jays: This pick was wrong last night, but let's go the same way again today. Besides, I like Matt Moore over Mark Buehrle anyway. Though Buehrle can kill you quickly...and softly.
• The Nationals over the Mets: Old Shrek, or Bartolo Colon as most people call him, goes for the Mets with nothing but fastball strikes. The unpredictable Gio Gonzalez starts for the Nats. I like the Nats here.
• The Rangers over the Phillies: This series has been sort of weird so far. Both teams are kind of in flux. I'm taking the Rangers because Robbie Ross throws from the left side and that is a weakness of the Phillies. Kyle Kendrick goes for the Phillies.
• The Yankees over the Astros: Hiroki Kuroda should have a better start than Sabathia had and though Jarred Cosart is a promising young pitcher, his command is not all there yet.
• The Athletics over the Indians: Yeah, I don't know who is pitching for the A's as there is a TBO next to the slot. But the A's will come up with somebody good. Zach McAllister had a brutal spring but pitched well last season.
• The Giants over the Diamondbacks: I have no idea how Tim Hudson will do for the Giants this year. But I like his track record a whole lot better than Trevor Cahill's.
• The Angels over the Mariners: It's hard not to like the way the Mariners have started their season. And it's hard not to wonder if the Angels are going to start terribly again this year like last. But I will take Hector Santiago over James Paxton. At least, I think I will...
• The Dodgers over the Padres: The vaunted bullpen of the Dodgers is off to a rough start. I don't have much faith in Tyson Ross for the Padres and think Dan Haren of the Dodgers will be better.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Tigers over the Royals: Max Scherzer is now the ace of this Tigers' team with all due respect to Mr. Verlander. He should hold the Royals' lineup down while the Tigers should be able to deal with Jason Vargas.

Yesterday: 4-4

Games of the Day: 0-2

Season: 17-7