I'm so glad it is Friday. You have no idea. Work has been just beating me up silly. But the bottom line is that I am thankful to have a job. I am also thankful to get to do this every day and have for the last five years. And I am thankful even on mediocre results days like yesterday. I needed that walk-off homer by Mike Trout just to break even. And while that made me sigh in relief, it had to be a real kick in the nether regions for the Rays. What a spectacular blown save. The good news was that the Game of the Day has been correct two days in a row, but another extra-inning game went against me.
Friday's picks:
- The Cubs over the Brewers: We need to get Jeff Samardzija a win. He deserves it. He is pitching lights out and is still 0-3. It's not right. Kyle Lohse is better at home than on the road. This is just wishful thinking though.
- The Reds over the Phillies: I do see Alfredo Simon coming back to earth a bit. But I also see Kyle Kendrick at 0-3 and think the Reds have every chance to win this game with their offense.
- The Athletics over the Indians: I need to go with Sonny Gray to save the day. He's my guy. But there is method to the madness too. He has pitched well on the road. It should be a close game because Zach McAllister has been good to.
- The Yankees over the Pirates: I am not too thrilled with picking David Phelps here, but the Yankees should hit multiple homers at home against Edinson Volquez. It will be interesting.
- The Red Sox over the Tigers: Speaking of interesting, this should be lots of fun to see what happens. Jon Lester is among the leaders in fWAR for starters and has pitched very well. Max Scherzer is Max Scherzer, one of the best in baseball. Very interesting.
- The Rangers over the Blue Jays: Another really interesting game with Yu Darvish trying to hold back a very good offense. A lot will depend on if Drew Hutchison can pull it together. He has been up and down a lot this season.
- The Orioles over the Royals: I like Chris Tillman a lot more than I like Jeremy Guthrie. The pick is pretty much as simple as that.
- The Astros over the White Sox: Collin McHugh has only given up one homer in four starts. Three of those four starts have been very good. McHugh faces a White Sox team with the hottest home run hitter in Jose Abreu. It should be fun. Jose Quintana has pitched three very good games in a row with nothing to show for it.
- The Twins over the Mariners: How good has Chris Young been for the Mariners!? But can that continue? The Twins' offense has been pretty good of late. And Kyle Gibson has been solid as a starter. I'm going with the home team here.
- The Cardinals over the Braves: St. Louis fans have a term they call, "Lynning," that is a lyrical way of saying that Lance Lynn often has an inning that undoes him. If he avoids that inning, he should strikeout ten Braves on the way to a win. The Cardinals can hit Ervin Santana.
- The Rockies over the Padres: The Rockies are at home? Let the mashing begin. Jorge De La Rosa needs to pitch decently and Eric Stults should be the victim here.
- The Dodgers over the Diamondbacks: Wade Miley is so hit or miss, it's hard to count on him. On the other hand, Zack Greinke is the Dodgers' good luck charm. I'm leaning that way then.
- The Angels over the Bay Rays: Jered Weaver has a noodle arm and yet simply knows how to pitch. Every time I count him for dead, he wins. Chris Archer has been a disappointment thus far. He should find a way to see every team as the Yankees and he would never lose.
- The Giants over the Marlins: This one confuses me. Yusmeiro Petit has pitched mostly in relief. He has started twice and one time was very good and one time was very bad. On the other hand, Henderson Alvarez has been very good at home and very bad on the road (just like the Marlins). That sways it for me.
And the Game of the Day
- The Nationals over the Mets: Tanner Roark has not given up an earned run at home this year and while that is subject to correction eventually, I look for him to eek out a win over Jon Niese and the Mets.
Yesterday: 5-5, May: 111-94, Games of the Day: 20-22, Season: 344-266
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