MLB Game Picks - Sunday: May 18, 2014

Yesterday was bad for this old picker. Real bad. "How bad was it?" shouts the crowd. The Diamondbacks scored 18 runs in a game where Clayton Kershaw started. Edwin Jackson threw seven shutout innings and his bullpen did not blow it.  Homer Bailey was terrible after being brilliant the game before. Cole Hamels actually got...you know...run support.  Who would expect all those things to happen? But they did.

Okay. It's just a day. I can make it better with a good Sunday. I am buckling down. And here come Sunday's picks:

• The Athletics over the Indians: The way the rest of the weekend has been for the Indians, this has to be the pick. Yes, Justin Masterson could have a good day. But Jesse Chavez could too. And if the two cancel each other out, then the A's have the better bullpen.
• The Yankees split with the Pirates: A good old-fashioned double-header where one ticket can get you two games. Holy cow, what a concept. I like the Yankees in the first game with Hiroki Kuroda over Charlie Morton. But power pitchers like Gerrit Cole gives the Yankees problems and I like him over Vidal Nuno.
• The Phillies over the Reds: Cliff Lee still doesn't walk anyone, but he has given up 69 hits and five homers in 61+ innings. I still think he has a good day against the Reds and I don't like Tony Cingrani coming off the DL and not having pitched for eighteen days.
• The Nationals over the Mets: This pick did not work out yesterday. And one of these days Zack Wheeler will put it together. I still like and will stick with Jordan Zimmermann.
• The Orioles over the Royals: One of two things will happen here. Either James Shields will be too much for the Orioles OR they will notch him for three homers. There is no in between. Ubaldo Jimenez is pitching against the AL Central, something he does better than against the AL East.
• The Astros over the White Sox: This one has a lot of options. Brad Peacock had been pretty awful for most of the season. But his last two starts were much better (even though he didn't win). So I am looking for him to get his first win of the season today. I do this because I think the Astros have enough right-handed bats to hit John Danks.
• The Mariners over the Twins: The Mariners need this one, especially with Felix Hernandez on the mound. He should enjoy pitching in the big ballpark. Ricky Nolasco is the wild card.
• The Braves over the Cardinals: Ugh. I hate this one. Jaime Garcia is starting his first game in like forever. He only pitched seven innings on his rehab in the minors and did not look great with lots of hits and homers. But I also don't like Gavin Floyd for the Braves either. Like I said, Ugh.
• The Cubs over the Brewers: The Brewers are free-falling a bit. And Gomez has a bad back. And the Brewers are facing the Cubs' very good pitcher, Travis Wood. I don't think Marco Estrada is the answer to reverse the weekend thus far.
• The Blue Jays over the Rangers: Nick Martinez, who starts today for the Rangers, is not stretched out. He has been in the bullpen. He walks too many batters. He hasn't given up any homers despite more fly balls than ground balls. That will change today. At the same time, I am unsure about R.A. Dickey in Texas.
• The Bay Rays over the Angels: Matt Shoemaker hasn't been bad for the Angels. But he isn't David Price. And David Price hadn't been David Price until his last outing. So this is a tough one to pick. I have to go with Price.
• The Giants over the Marlins: This pick wasn't right yesterday and I am a bit afraid of the Ryan Vogelsong to Giancarlo Stanton match-up. But Jacob Turner persuades me to go with the Giants.
• The Dodgers over the Diamondbacks: Will the La Russa effect continue today? I don't think so. I think it was just a coincidence. I like Dan Haren over Josh Collmenter on most days.
• The Tigers over the Red Sox: To begin with, I think the Tigers will hit Jake Peavy. But how well will Anibal Sanchez pitch? He has been nonexistent all season for the Tigers. The Red Sox are in a bit of a disarray though with Bradley and Bogaerts struggling and problems at third base.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Rockies over the Padres: Donn Roach has made twelve relief appearances for the Padres. And he is being asked to start in Coors Field. Good luck with that. Juan Nicasio for the win.

Yesterday: 6-9, May: 125-109, Games of the Day: 21-23, Season: 358-281