MLB Game Picks - Monday, May 5, 2014

Buenos Cinco de Mayo amigos! Sunday was a struggle all day and when all the day games finished, the picks were sitting at 7-7. A positive (though not very good) result depended on the Cardinals beating the Cubs on Sunday Night Baseball which translates to: "Way too late to be well rested on a Monday morning."

Remember, I had picked the Cardinals for the past two days and the Cubs had won them both. I picked the Cards again on Sunday, so I wasn't in a good situation. I felt better after the Cards took a 3-0 lead and held it to the bottom of the fourth when Lynn gave up two runs to make it 3-2.

When the Cardinals brought in Carlos Martinez in the seventh, I knew he was going to screw up because he is on my fantasy team. And he did. But somehow the Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the ninth, held on through a scare in the bottom of the ninth and won by a run. Whew! I finished over .500!

Speaking of over .500, have you noticed that every team in the NL East is over that mark? Very cool. 

 Monday's picks:

• The Nationals over the Dodgers: Yes, Zack Greinke is 5-0. But Jordan Zimmermann is coming on strong and is pitching at home. Puig is banged up (again). I think the Nats take this one.
• The Indians over the Twins: The Indians got their guts ripped out yesterday when their closer gave up three runs and blew the save. It ripped out my guts too. Ugh! Zach McAllister (shouldn't all the Zacks and Zachs get together and standardize?) will win. Kyle Gibson has three great starts followed by two bad ones.
• The Pirates over the Giants: Sometimes a win like yesterday's ninth inning walk-off can spur a team on. MLB.com lists TBO for both teams as to their pitchers. Yahoo.com lists either Petit or Matt Cain for the Giants and Jeff Locke for the Pirates. I think it will be Cain. And I like Jeff Locke coming up and getting a win.
• The Phillies over the Blue Jays: I think the Phillies' players are keeping the team relevant just to keep from having the team broken up at the trade deadline. Kyle Kendrick doesn't thrill me, but neither does J.A. Happ. The latter's lefty tosses might throw off the Phillies though.
• The Marlins over the Mets: The Marlins' homestand is lasting forever. And that's how their opponents must feel as they do not seem to lose at home. The Mets come in hot too, but Nathan Eovaldi will beat Jon Niese at home.
• The Cardinals over the Braves: Aaron Harang complained that the Marlins stole his signs in his last outing. He could not consider that his old mediocre self had reappeared. He'll make the Cardinals' batters feel better about themselves today. But Shelby Miller has to pitch well.
• The Cubs over the White Sox: I am soooo torn over this one. The battle for Chicago is not taken lightly. Jeff Samardzija is a good pitcher. Jose Quintana pitches better at home than on the road. Oy!
• The Brewers over the Diamondbacks: Matt Garza is being his usual inconsistent self. But he has the ability to shut the Diamondbacks down. Mike Bolsinger has had three bad appearances and one good one. Have to go Brewers.
• The Rangers over the Rockies: Martin Perez discombobulated me with his last start and getting shelled. He was so good before that! Now he goes to Coors! Well, Dillon Gee did well there, perhaps Perez can too. The Rockies start Jordan Lyles.
• The Angels over the Yankees: Which pitcher has better odds to tame the other lineup? David Phelps against Trout and company? Or Jered Weaver against a stacked lefty lineup? It's pretty close.
• The Athletics over the Mariners: Chris Young, all 6' 10" of him, looked great against the Yankees, but the Yankees have a way of making mediocre pitchers look great. The A's will pound him and Scott Kazmir will make the M's sing, "WoeWoe, WoeWoe."
• The Royals over the Padres: The Royals will be far from home and won't have the DH, but if Yordano Ventura is on his game, they won't need one. Eric Stults goes for the Friars.

And the Game of the Day

• The Tigers over the Astros: Should be an automatic pick, right? With Max Scherzer on the mound against Jarred Cosart? Yeah, so why am I so scared about it then?

Yesterday: 8-7, May: 31-25, Games of the Day: 14-17 (unreal), Season: 264-199